sojourn

Still not a fan of TC's and his shrink is professionally weak in promising, "you'll be ready" when he should have legitimately encouraged TC by saying, "let's work on getting you ready to converse with David in an exchange that can address individual needs from a perspective of mutual respect that can rebuild trust in each other." Instead of making empty promises. Is this guy a classmate of Dr. Phil's? TC wanted and needed to Dominate David. David wanted to love and be loved by TC. I look forward to reading more, I think.

Is love enough to overcome a lifetime of perceptions, misconceptions, and self-limiting definitions? Labels are best left to canned goods where they provide a real service. You could have had the major conflict be business, religion, hell one could have thought himself straight and the other gay. The real conflict here is the only "giver" is David TC only takes. Selfish love,TC's, is not love, it is obsession even if it is couched in terms of "caring for" or "looking after" just like a farmer or herdsman. I care for my chickens but I harvest just the same. I wanted to like TC. His only insights showed him to be gleefully aware of his machinations. That made me mistrust even his most "caring" actions as in the case of the private jet. David made himself vulnerable and trusted TC. TC only made himself vulnerable when confronted with his domineering father and then reasserted his "manhood" by dominating David. I like David. I want to see him happy. He deserves to be happy. He does not deserve TC. TC loves David, David loves TC. Is love enough? On to book two.

Really great story that I intend to read again but not before I read the next volume. This is a complex and intricate insight into a man who is redefining his family, friendships, sexual relationships, and emotional entanglements within that all encompassing, churning cauldron of testosterone, egocentric insecurities, misconceptions, and fears that make up the human male, psyche. My gut feeling is that the pace seemed to vary and the overall time span being much longer than I expected for the final reveal. But then perhaps love makes us blind to the changes we go through when we let our hearts rule. This story asks the age old question, "is love all that matters?" I was surprised at what I learned in reading this story, I think you will be too.

Just learned the who? Not what I thought but not giving up the notion that TC as health issues. And its 12:34 here, we should both be in bed. Then old age and retirement says my chickens can get up without me. Just let me finish the trip to Boston and I will contentedly doze off.

why do I get the feeling a medical emergency is on the horizon?

2 Dons reuniting after 20 years. My money favors TC as the one who holds onto his Dominant standing. After all he has continued to live the life. Can’t wait to see if I am right or wrong. Thanks for sharing it holds great promise. Jim

I respect your opinion but this is like repeatedly poking oneself in the eye with a sharp stick. It feels better once you stop but the damage is done. That suffering became BORING! "Preditor becoming prey" is the reason I found this tale. That story was a satisfying read. I gave that tale a 5 Star review. This I cannot. Jim

As my Daddy used to say, "Son, I have enjoyed all this I can stand." Meaning that was the end of our labors for the day. I think I stopped enjoying this early on but kept reading in hopes of finding some redemption for the suffering the author has depicted. Now, I just give up. I hope I can forget I wasted this much time trying to find some satisfying escape in his prose.

Truly satisfying tale. Be prepared to go from praying for fate to act in the most heinous way against "Scot", the predator, to praying that divine intervention will somehow save "Wally", the prey. Read as the heart of this heartless, ruthless, uncaring, blight upon society is laid bare with the callous dispassion of a coroner wielding rib shears. It is almost magical how the lifeless is reanimated and we learn to love the undeserving even as he learns to love himself, for the first time. I don't read poetry. I can't say why I scrolled through three pages of poetry submissions looking for something in prose I could read by this author. I am so glad I did and I know you will be too. Jim

Totally satisfying story. I love an effective morality tale, especially one that involves hot sex and romance. I suspect we haven't see the last of Graham and his spear gun.

This tale is a good as it gets when it comes to showcasing those elements of courage, passion, strength, and compassion that should be the hallmarks of real men. If you ever watched and enjoyed a movie involving Roman warriors or gladiators, if you enjoy well developed characters, dialogue, and scenery, and if you like to see love and passion overcoming obstacles that seem to always inflict themselves whenever hearts ignore the social niceties, then this is a story you will enjoy reading. As for me, I have read it twice and have no doubt I will do so again. Perhaps I will not wait another year or so next time. I especially enjoy historical gay fiction. (Kudos to Mark Arbour and masterfully constructed historical sagas.) The idea that men through the ages have felt as I have; not only the passion and emotion in loving another man but in dealing with the challenges that come with being gay in even the most "gay tolerant" societies. ( A nice glossary of terms is also included. So you may also what their swords were called and what they wore under those togas. Think of it as one of the more enjoyable history lessons ever.)

Thoroughly enjoyable and satisfying read! Corbin and Paul are men of courage and integrity. These are folks you would like to count among your friends. This is a fast paced tale that smolders and slowly builds into an inferno of action and intrigue. It is so well written you feel like the other shoe will drop in the next paragraph if not then surely next chapter. There are plot twists that are more convoluted than any within "Game of Thrones". You will see a tenuous relationship bud into a profound and lifelong love. You will see that love tested to its limits... If you enjoy edge of the seat excitement... Then you will most definitely enjoy this tale. Be forewarned! If you like to think you can see the end, long before others, whether reading a story or watching a movie... be prepared to be somewhat humbled when it all comes down to that "AHAH!" moment. The pieces are scattered throughout the story and are all brought together so smoothly you will wonder why you hadn't figured it out sooner. Even after you relax and begin to think all is well... there are still surprises.

I read the whole thing thinking there was some room for debate. I was wrong. I don’t know whether to laugh at your absurdities or cry at your ignorance. I swallowed the same propaganda concerning religion, politics, and sexual orientation. I regurgitated that years ago. As for abortion, I was raised in extreme poverty in a loving family. The people who oppose abortion scream about support for welfare and education. I adopted and two special needs children and raised them to adulthood along with my three “natural” sons. I received no assistance from anyone. I am not patting myself on the back, I am stating facts. It was not easy. I believe anyone opposing should adopt. It does not make sense to me that people rally in opposition to abortion and in the same breath oppose any taxation that might ease the financial burden of rearing a child. Religion... made a friend while under suicide watch who said, “They put me on medication because I heard voices and talked to imaginary friends. Now, they say that I can talk to their imaginary friend and no will think I need medication. It’s kinda hard to be normal. I feel safer in here” I believe that trump is on a path that will destroy the representative form of government our founding fathers set up. (They weren’t too fond of religion either.) They had less faith in the wisdom of the unwashed masses.) if you found an inaccuracy, don’t hesitate to bring it to my attention. If you simply disagree with my observations perhaps you should ask yourself, “Could I/we be wrong?” That would require analytical thinking and it is obvious that your beliefs don’t allow logic to get a foothold. WOW! Is there any right wing propaganda you have not espoused. i am old an won’t likely see the oppression that is already evolving under trump. Do me a favor remember this exchange 20 years from now and remember...”Na, Na, Na, Na, Told you so!” Ps, You not reading my stories affects/effects me how? You really aren’t very bright, are you? As a parting shot “God have mercy on you.” Was a gutsy move. Aren’t you afraid of telling your imaginary friend what to do? I mean he is OMNIPOTENT, isn’t he? .

The “shame” is how few readers even noticed. Jubal is my mentor. I think that book should be required reading in all middle schools. It encourages thinking and more importantly, questioning. Two of my three sons are big fans of Heinlein.

It was intended as a one chapter tale. Chapter one is a complete romantic tale. sorry this response is posted months after your query but GA has never sent notifications no matter what boxes I select. Jim

It was written at a time when I was finally able to touch the emotions that I felt after watching my “significant other” die from prostate cancer. There are arts that make me choke up when I read them even now. I am dealing with an online publisher to get it out on kindle and such. I hope it’s ready. Thanks for commenting. Jim

I am aware of the shift you describe. The shift toward events was a reflection of the characters shifting focus from intimate interpersonal developing relationships to engaging extraneous goals. I felt it was appropriate. I am glad you liked some of it. Thanks for posting your comments. Jim

Strange how "making a living" interferes with our lives. thanks for commenting. Jim

Their beliefs are as impactful as that of the "Green Party" in national politics. When beliefs are on the line, facts and logic hold little sway. Your argument doesn't really serve as an example of why I might be wrong. First off, I think the denominations you site are almost insignificant in representative numbers. Unitarians have less than 200,000 members. The United Church of Christ, less than a million members. (I wasn't sure you meant the United Church of Christ or the United Church of God, so I googled both. The United Church of God damn sure doesn't believe in gay rights... I got to the "just like other sins" and quit reading.) The number of Jews in the world is declining, not increasing. The total impact of those "supportive" folks you cited is slightly less than that of the green party in our current national political scene. I am not even sure what Unitarians actually believe without googling them. Exactly what percentage of "christians" do you think support gay rights? By support, I mean what percentage of denominations welcome and respect gay members as equal in the eyes of god and man? Over 70 million American Catholics, 66 million Assemblies of God members, 16.5 million Southern Baptist Convention members vociferously oppose gay rights. That was just three I thought would be easily recognizable or at least somewhat familiar to the average reader, unlike your heroic examples. You may list "christian" and jewish denominations that support gay rights but they are in a very small minority compared to the membership of those that outwardly and actively oppose gay rights. I offer a comparison... Not all people under the Axis powers of WWII supported the attacks on foreign sovereign nations or the resultant killings, devastation, and destruction that ensued. However, a hellavu lot of their citizenry heeded the call to war. Our country declared war against Germany, Italy, and Japan, not some representative, political party, or royal family. There were no exceptions made for those who didn't agree with hitler, mussolini, or hirohito and yet stayed to fight against us. I would suspect that the percentage who didn't wholly support their leaders were a far larger percentage than the percentage of christians who may indeed support gay rights in spite of their denominations leadership's opposition and yet those nations fought for 6 deadly, destructive, and devastating years. Many, many, more christians oppose gay rights than support them. Let those that support gay rights make their church leaders come out in support of gay rights... then you may defend them with some dignity. I suspect that most christians and most republicans don't really give a damn about gay rights one way or the other. That is also a problem. I think your point is that "not all christians/jews/muslims hate gays. I never said every one of them did. I just said religion and republicans oppose gay rights and the facts bear me out. (I don't think it is any coincidence that 1/3 of all republicans are evangelical christians.) If you took the whole of the Abrahamic religions today, christians, jews, and muslims, what percentage would you say "support" gay rights? You sound like the guy who insisted that republicans were not all anti-gay. And yet republicans proudly oppose gay rights as a party platform, ipso facto, if you are a republican you support anti-gay legislation. They have promised to work to overturn "gay marriage". The republican led DOJ recently faced off against the EEOC by defending a boss who fired a man after learning he was gay. The man was represented by the EEOC who supported his claim of discrimination. And yet the Department of Justice went to court in opposition of gay rights. Your tax dollars at work on both sides of the issue of gay rights and discrimination. There's a lot that I don't know. There are a lot of things science cannot effectively explain but that doesn't mean that god has to be the answer to anything we can't explain. Early man couldn't explain nature so he turned to god. Ignorance is a transitory state if we choose to educate ourselves. We no longer worship the gods associated with the harvest, the sea, and our heroes are no longer identified as offspring of the gods. If we elect to not question then we will never find the real answers. I believe that all religion is bad, corrupt, and evil. (Please note I did not include philosophies in that statement unless some individuals get rich from espousing said philosophy.) I believe that republicans are anti-gay and more concerned with protecting their individual wallets than defending or even upholding the Constitution let alone "christian values". Democrats are only marginally better than republicans in that they are currently the only viable alternative. At least they openly say they support gay rights. I believe that if Constantine the Great had not realized that having one religion with one god would simply things all around and better unite his empire and his military we would likely be worshiping a plethora of different deities today. By god, he was right. It worked. You may believe in imaginary friends but I have indeed outgrown the need. I look for explanations, not rationalizations. If you want to discuss my views or just rant, my email address is sojourn1950@yahoo.com. As always, thanks for posting your comments. Jim When

You are dirty-minded. That makes you my kind of people. Thanks for commenting. Jim

I actually consider your confusion as to who to root for a compliment. Thanks for reading and for commenting. Jim

Actually, shortly after this story began, I considered letting Jeff read the "Personal Journal of Winston Nathaniel Adams" with the idea of shifting the focus of this story to Texas in the 1870’s with "modern life" visited only in vignettes. I gathered enough "period" information for a viable tale and wrote the first chapter. I then decided, or more to the point my characters decided, Jeff and Paul's story deserved more attention. I don’t regret that decision but as this tale evolved, I felt the characters, Winston Adams and John Grant, stretch and grow more insistently in my conscious thoughts. I look forward to exploring cowboy, actually "Waddie" life through the eyes of a Bostonian lawyer seeking his fortune in the Wild West and a quick-tempered, down on his luck cowboy in a time that folks could not discuss straight sex without using euphemisms and alluded to gay sex, if at all, in only the most obscure terms. A time when "deadly" disagreements were more likely to be settled by "shoot first", "ambush", or "shoot 'em in the back" rather than the Hollywood myth of the "Main Street, quick draw, face-to-face, showdown." Thanks for posting your comments. Jim

I agree with you about fear. We tend to associate fear with potential physical harm or the threat of death but the threat of change or possible loss may also inspire fear. Fear is one of those "lizard brain" functions that are hard to control. (Many people call it “The Lizard Brain” because the limbic system is about all a lizard has for brain function. It is in charge of fight, flight, feeding, fear, freezing-up, and fornication.) I may be crazy but I suspect the lizard brain maybe the root source or perhaps the cause of certain diagnosable mental disorders. Specifically, depression and feelings of inadequacy which I suspect relate to survival instincts. Yeah, I am still pondering the validity of that concept. Thanks for posting your comments. Jim Jim

Screen writer huh? My sons and exwife often complained when I would guess a major plot twist or who the "perp" was in TV and movies. Only my youngest son shows the same "irritating" trait. Thanks for posting your comments. Jim

We all have our issues, likes, and dislikes. Obnoxious bully is one I choose to not be around. thanks for posting your comment. Jim