JACC

Thanks so much for the new chapter, even though Jack’s death is really sad. it will be interesting to see how the whole family reacts and how their lives will change. No, this time I won’t be complaining about the chapter being too short, I’m doing my best to rein in my greedy reader self. Thanks, Mark, love your way to create worlds.

I do, PrivateTim. There are every couple of weeks a need to rehash the origins of this saga and, as you say, there’s always one detail or more that make sense. I’m now at a point where I’ve just re-read the complete CAP series and keep jonesing for new chapters. I guess (an educated and respectful guess) Mark is dealing with a whole lot of work-related things and still finds the time to share his storyteller’s gift with us. Just plain happy he can manage his time so well. I have practically abandoned my multilingual blog with my poetry, I can’t find the time… Thanks for your nice advice, @PrivateTim

I know, Mark, they just seem so short… I’m just one of those greedy readers who would spend hours and hours reading about the same well-crafted characters you create!

Why are the chapters of your stories so short? Thanks for another wonderful chapter, Mark J.A.

Thanks for the treat, Happy Bastille’s Day! Thanks for this new chapter, @Mark Arbour!

Just thought about starting a new poem collection to give some insight in what life is now throwing at me… or what I think I have to deal with now… always better than later on.

Thoughts, reflections, rethinking life

Spiraling into a void, an ocean of loneliness, of lacking skin contact, of missing hugs, a pat on the shoulder. Spiraling once again into feeling not only alone, but lonely and unloved. Drowning into a maelstrom caused by being by myself, helped by being still ill, streamlined by my overactive brain. Is there a way out? Would love to know, would love to find out and follow that path t

Thank you for your Christmas’ gift! And for all the good writing and storytelling you share with us throughout the year. Merry Christmas and a wonderful new year! All the best, JA

Mr. Arbour, one chapter a week is just not enough, you’re “forcing” me to start binge-reading CAP all over again… guess I’ll start “in media res”, just Bloodlines. An “Arbour fix” a week is definitely not enough. Ok, JA, pull yourself together and stop whining: simply masterful writing, consistent characters, a plot that develops very carefully and consistently since ever. Thanks, Mark, for sharing your writing with us.

A garden between home and road, a street with the name of a teacher. A high school with a splash of philosophy, a school afterwards with a new language. An apartment on the riverside, a small house on a lucky island. A dark studio in the big city, a big one in a happy town, a smaller one later on, another one. A place shared with family, exile, new place in historical setting. Back to the city with another language, new place, new family, then a second exile. A house on

Not easy dealing with Carlos being gone… just re-reading CJ’s series. I think it would be nice, if you could finish up this story, but I’m also aware of how feelings of loss and missing can affect creativity. Thanks for the treat, it’s surely not been easy to complete this. All the best JA

Mark, it’s always the same: a chapter, however long it is, is never enough. Thanks for sharing, thanks for creating these alternative worlds and telling us masterfully about them. Waiting for the next installment! All the best!

The color of an academic gown, the scent of loved ones, the touch of my favorite tree, the tinkling of a heartfelt toast, the crackling of flames in the cold, the flavor of sharing a table, the landscape from my window. A much longer list is easy to make, but these are all around me tirelessly bringing on peace to my days, health to my body, harmony to my soul.

A Step Beyond Like a light once so bright, I will vanish in a memory without anger nor regret, without missing nor being missed. From afar, my new home, I will enjoy the happiness once shared and find my way through the turmoil of life in solitude.