sojourn

Thank you for letting me know my story has moved you. Apparently your questions about Wylie, Linda, and BJ were answered. I'm glad. Thanks for posting your comments. Jim

Humans behavior is complex and unpredictable. Even in hindsight it is impossible to say why someone reacted in a certain way to a given stimulae or situation. I was married and loved my wife, although I knew from childhood I was gay. So to me, them getting married was not a stretch. But, we all know their marriages, just like mine, will not end in "happily ever after". Thanks for posting your comment. Jim

Your comment reminded me that my then editor reacted very strongly when he read the rape scene. He said, "Wiley would never do that!" I was flattered that he felt he knew the man I had literally created. When I persisted with my plot line, he quit. On the upside he has become a devoted fan who consistently posted comments both favorable and otherwise. Thanks for posting your comments. Jim

I often wondered if you looked at the chapters after they were posted. It was sometimes a pain for me to read them 3 or four times before you saw them and still there would be glaring errors. Thank you Naboy.

The scope and focus of the “Gay Us Carnival in Texas” drew a lot of attention. What started a few months ago as an idea of an “in-your-face” celebration of being gay in Texas was fast becoming a juggernaut that ate up his time. He’d had to hire another attorney in order to continue providing free legal aid to the community. He, Paul, and the family initially agreed that the event would likely attract some locals and perhaps some folks from Dallas and Abilene, much along the lines of a county fai

I prayed most of my life for god to make "normal". I couldn’t understand why I was "afflicted". Finally I understood I was always normal, just gay. Which, as you say, is "atypical" but perfectly normal. I am glad you are at peace. I understand that your faith comforts you. Mine gave me, at times, my only solace. I have found my real strength and comfort in accepting the truth. Thanks for posting your comments in a way that expresses your beliefs without trying to deny me my right to disbelieve. Jim

I was a believer for many years. Leaving that behind was a painful period for me. I think I am a better person now. One is not a more moral person because of one's faith. Religions have often used faith to commit heinous crimes against other men. (God directed the murder of men, women, and children.) Moralty is a shared concept agreed upon by the prevailing society. (Human sacrifice is immoral today but was accepted in many ancient societies. Old Testament Abraham thought it was acceptable and he fathered the two largest religions in the world today. I am convinced that there is no god, no Satan and no demons, no angels etc. Having said that, I have had personal experiences that make me think there is much more to the human condition than science can currently explain. I am equally convinced that science is the best route to gain better understanding not some imaginary, mythical, being whose existence is touted most often by those seeking to influence or control others. We believe primarily because we are raised in a society that is permeated with rituals, opinions, behaviors, and values attributed to a Judeo/Abrahamic deity that stole "scripture" from older religions just as Christianity and Islam stole from the Jewish faith. Thanks for posting your comments. Jim

Not understanding your first statement but I think "orgy" implies more than two individuals. Thanks for commenting. Jim

Today, an announcement of impending fatherhood is a statement that may stand with little or no preamble. We readers would have been accepting and perfectly comfortable with Daventry making such a statement. The language and tactful approach Daventry used to reveal the impending arrival of an heir is a classic example of Mark's respect for not just "historical accuracy" but his desire to give his readers a sense of the "rules of decorum" that were in observance among the nobility and gentry of that period. Thank you Mark for painting a more detailed portrait of Granger and his peeps. To paraphrase Ensign Pulver, "Now, what's this I hear about no sex between consenting adults on this ship?.

The only pain I felt was that the characters were somehow diminished by a too aggressive plotline. A reader, of this story, emailed me to let me know that there were two types of gay stories posted on these sites, either masturbation motivation or romance tales. He advised me to chose one or the other since it was obvious I couldn't do both well. That hurt a little since I was trying hard to satisfy both needs. Your comment lets me think about something on a much higher level as a "writer" and that is balancing the characters so they don't get lost in the plot. I find that flattering. I read your comment and left it alone for a day. Reading it again gives me the same smile as when I first read it. The 'phantom laughter' was one of my asides that wasn't intended to blatantly spark that association with Gordy. Although the opportunity to make that association was totally intentional on my part. I think, only one other reader mentioned the laughter and tied it to Gordy's ghost. It's like that old David Steinberg comedy routine in which he says, "Now, a joke for those of us who are psychic". A long moment of silence and then laughter. He states flatly, "We know who we are." I put subtle remarks that have a meaning within the story. Most readers are like me and it doesn't even register. I am sure I would miss every one of them. I figure I include at least one or two lines taken from popular music in each chapter. They were all top forty hits from decades gone by. Although, I have used lines from Adele and Sam Smith. Theirs most definitely melded into the story rather well. Thanks for such a thought-provoking and insightful comment. Jim

Early in the morning on Valentines Day, the house seemed to be overflowing with very hurried and excited strangers. Paul had thought it impossible that the place could look any more like a tropical paradise, he was admittedly wrong. Big Time! Colorful flowers adorned every flat surface and even more dramatic arrangements hung from any convenient support structure. The fragrance was distracting. Even the smell of breakfast bacon was all but smothered beneath the strong exotic floral scent. Paul r

"the intimacy of the early chapters of this story and the others in the overall cycle. Somewhere along the way this grew into a Dallas-style soap opera while I was being charmed by the characters rather than the small story of new love and discovery it seemed to start as." Your sentiment touched me greatly. I was also hurt somewhat by this passage in particular. Because just as flattering as the rest of your comment was, this part was special because it is so insightful. I knew when Paul's house burned that there was no going back. It shifted then from a character-driven love story to a plot-driven... whatever it has become... a saga? I knew it for what it was when it happened. I just couldn't see sustaining a storyline much beyond their getting together and I wasn't ready to let them go. I could have done many things that could have kept the focus more intimate but I didn't want to expose too many flaws in Jeff or Paul. I wanted them to be receptive to love, to be vulnerable but strong. I like it but it's not my favorite story. That will always be my first effort, "Gordy comes Home". It still chokes me up to read some passages. It has a lot of personal pain that I was experiencing in that tale. Still, there are good things to be said about this one also. I will miss them, one and all. Thanks for an honest review. Jim

Thank you for your kind words. I am having a hard time leaving these characters on their own. But, I am confident that they will continue to live lives guided by integrity and wisdom. Thanks again, Jim

Let us examine your comment... "Nope"? does that mean that Nathan was less than perfect? Less than adequate? Less than effective? I don't recall your volunteering to edit in any comments you have posted over 48 chapters. "I am sure he did his best" I edit whatever Nathan edits before it gets posted. I am responsible for each posted chapter, NOT Nathan. He never made a single chapter "perfect" but he made every chapter he edited better. "But for a non US reader..." Does that somehow validate your criticism or soften it? I have readers who use translating software to read this story and tell me they enjoy my efforts. I have readers who identify as speaking multiple languages and state that English is not their mother-tongue and they too tell me they enjoy the story. So don't use your residence in another English-speaking-country as a qualifier, I don't accept it. It's like the Australian herein who harshly criticizes our politics and yet uses his "non US" status to feign ignorance when it serves to his advantage. Having his cake and eating it too. Aren't you trying to do the same? Cultural barriers aside, I should take your words as a sincere compliment. You, despite the poor editing, have hung in there for 48 chapters of over 280,000 words and played hush-mouth this whole time. It must have been one helluva story. Thanks for posting your comments. Jim Jim

The arrangements to include Jeff and Paul in the wedding were seamlessly integrated and really required only minimal adjustments. More flowers, a few more chairs, and… well, that was about it. The only reserved seating was for the family. Mellie and Daniel’s Mother happily embraced the notion of a double wedding. Daniel’s Mom was thrilled that Jeff was sharing her son’s special day, just as he and her son had shared so many ‘special’ family days in their youth. She felt there was a certain c

Each time I get an alert that a new chapter has been added, I think to myself, "Self, I don't remember this story." Then I read a paragraph or two and just smile. It soon feels like snuggling under familiar, warm, covers. It amazes me that neither man has died from sexual frustration. Still, I suspect many other men have lived life knowing such attractions and yet never acting on them. I know I did for decades. "Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way". Write faster (As if you could write any slower.) Post sooner (I would be most disappointed if I learned there were advanced chapters just languishing, waiting to be posted.)

Consider this an official complaint... Daventry has not seduced Granger! As an aside... I do like that now I can google unknown words such as "razee" without leaving my place in hte story. In the old days of The Gun Room and such, I had to open other browser pages. It was such a chore, I used it only as a last resort. Thank god for groogle. Spell check is also so muche better now two. The only thing that remains unchanged is the supurb story telling skills of Mark Arbour. Mark, Consider this well worded advise... get those too toghert. Write faster. Post sooner.

LOL! It is interesting that the hinted at "lining up" has garnered more comments and emails than any explicit sex scene except maybe one particular scene. Doc is like a lot of "overly endowed" men, he sees it as a matter of genetics over which he had no control. He also sees it as having serious implications as to its implementation. Thanks for your comments... who knows, maybe an impromptu gathering could see some serious exposure. Jim

...f hanger. This chapter brought home two points, first, I keep forgetting this story takes place in the past and that I could care less about fashion if I really, really, really tried. Who is this nes JJ? He is clinically self-aware and is consistently considering others. I am rooting for him but not so much for Carullo. As for Dillon, I want someone to erase Zack from Will's memory. Dillon can be shallow and a slacker but I'm betting there is more to him than that which was first presented. If he removes Zack from Will's affections, more power to him. Thanks Mark. Now, write faster, post sooner to end that clif...

100 guns of intimidation aside, I need to know if Daventry will keep Granger warm through that cold Nordic winter. BTW Mark, good job on the clif....

ail You have wanting to google “Last American Virgin”. I guess that makes us even. Thanks for posting your comments. Jim

Thanks for validating my approach. in a few days it will be “Aloha” from Hawaii. Thanks again, Jim

Well, Gary and I are both glad you found this chapter. Dennis was jealous of the rapport and support Gary got from his father. I think Gary is in good hands with Seth and his Mother. Thanks for your comments and thanks for caring about Gary. Teens need lots of support especially gay or transgender teens. Jim

The day had started early and promised to be equally as tough as the day before when the murder victim had been Daniel’s virulent political opponent. The man had tried to destroy Daniel both as a professional lawman and as a well-respected member of his community. Now, Daniel had to put on his professional demeanor that would leave no avenue of interest unexplored. It was only moments after hearing the news that Daniel notified Ranger Young. It was a simple matter of having his number at hand an

Oh, Great Mistress of the Multitude of Mobile Emojis, I am not worthy. But, you do know how to get on my good side. Thank you for the kind words. Jim