Andrew Todd

Lessons Learned By Andrew Todd Chapter 16 “Oww,” Zak moaned as he slowly opened his eyes. He sat up slowly, his whole body ached. He tried moving his arms and legs to make sure nothing was broken or sprained. Everything seemed to move ok, they just all hurt. He looked up and down the trail and saw no sign of Zephyr. She had probably bolted back to the barn. He didn’t know how long he had been out for. “Well,” he said to himself as he slowly stood up. “Looks like I’m walking.” He sl

Lessons Learned By Andrew Todd Chapter 15 Tanner took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Dylan reached over and rubbed his back--he could feel the muscles bunching up and tightening in Tanner’s back. Dylan knew exactly how he felt. “When Dylan stopped coming to the farm and stopped talking to me at school, I was lost,” Tanner started. “We had been best friends since we were seven or eight--we had done everything together. We rode together, we trained together, had sleepovers.” He looke

Lessons Learned By Andrew Todd Chapter 14 “Tanner!!” Dylan yelled in surprise. “What are you doing here?” Tanner just grinned and ran to Dylan. He grabbed Dylan in a bear hug and lifted his friend off the ground. “I missed you,” Tanner said, his voice choking with emotion. “Put me down,” Dylan laughed. Tanner complied and Dylan hugged him hard. “I’ve missed you, too,” Dylan said. “It’s great to see you, but who…how…?” Dylan looked around, his eyes landing on Zak, who nodded. “Well,

Lessons Learned By Andrew Todd Chapter 13 CJ drove his jeep through the wooded mountain pass. It was Friday night, three weeks since the night of his birthday party. He and Danny were finally taking advantage of the weekend away that Zak and Mattie had given them. They were supposed to have gone the weekend after the party, but the sale of the ranch, the moving and the departure of their parents had taken so much time, that they decided to put it off a few weeks until things had settled

Thanks, Lisa. I thank my editor everyday...if you saw the messes I usually send him, you'd know why...he makes me look good... As far as Ace and Dylan, there is a relationship there, eventually, but not a romance...Ace is something else for Dylan...probably the closest description would be a 'brother'...Ace is (as Zak says) 'hopelessy straight'...what happened with Devon, was just that...with Devon...it didn't change Ace or make him 'bi'...it was a kid's way of saying goodbye to his friend...whether or not he made the right decision is something that Ace struggles with...

Nope it's what happens when i forget what name I used and then give that name to someone else...thought I had caught them all...

Thanks. My editor, Jim, is amazing. If you saw what my stuff looked like before he got it, you'd REALLY be impressed...

When your best friend is in love with you and you're not gay, how far would go for them?

Ace: A ‘Riding Lessons’ Interlude By Andrew Todd Adam ‘Ace’ Evans could remember vividly the first time he realized his daddy was going away. His daddy, Sergeant Major Ernest Evans, had been deployed most of his early life, but he was never really aware of his absence until he was about three years old. His daddy had been home for a long stretch, almost six months, and Adam had become used to him being there every day. Then one day, his mommy and daddy took him to a hanger with a lot of ot

Lessons Learned By Andrew Todd Chapter 12 CJ and Danny took another look at the photos. They looked as if they had been taken at the farm they worked at in Florida. Obviously they had been taken after they had been working since they were both shirtless. Before CJ and Danny could recover from their shock, Mr. Alvarez pulled another envelope from the desk. “Mateo,” he said. “I have one for you as well--perhaps you would like to share it with Anthony.” Not knowing what his brother had re

Lessons Learned By Andrew Todd Chapter 11 Zak was running late. He and Danny were supposed to pick up Dylan ten minutes ago for CJ’s party. The boys had all agreed to get to Mattie’s early to lend CJ and Mattie moral support. Zak ran out the front door and hopped into his SUV where Danny was waiting. He backed out the driveway and hit the gas trying to get to Dylan’s house without getting the first speeding ticket of his young driving career. It had been a crazy week. Starting with Monday…

Lessons Learned By Andrew Todd Chapter 10 Dylan was laughing so hard his sides were starting to ache. He shakily wiped the tears that were coming from his eyes. Zak and Danny had been arguing for ten minutes over which of them would be riding the gray Arabian mare, Shimmer. Zak was arguing that since the mare ‘loved’ him he should get to ride her and Danny was pointing out that since Zak had already ridden her the mare deserved to be ridden by a more experienced rider. Dylan knew that

I. too, was aiming for TJ and Dylan...but another young man came and introduced himself to me and he is a much better fit for Dylan...Dylan's not quite ready now, so his new friend should be there about Thanksgiving or so (their time)...

Lessons Learned By Andrew Todd Chapter 9 “Dodger?” Zak asked, confused at Dylan’s sudden emotional outburst. “Wait. That’s Dodger? Are you sure?” Dylan couldn’t stop crying, he only nodded at Zak. Zak wrapped his arms around Dylan and tried to comfort him, but Dylan was beyond comfort; he was crying uncontrollably and shaking. Zak was scared for his friend. Mr. Carson just stood there watching the two boys. He didn’t know what was going on, but he was concerned for Dylan who seemed

Yes and No...none of the horses in my stories are based on the actual horses I know and ride...but like alot of the human characters, I drawn on certain characteristics and stories...I do ride at a ranch that rescues abused and abandoned horses...I tend to use breeds in the story that I like...the only ones I mention that I have no experience with are Freisians and Andalusians...the others Arabian, Throroughbred, Quarter Horses, Warmbloods are breeds I am much more familiar with...in fact, I just started working with a Selle Francais (French Warmblood) and so now I have to put one in the story...I actually posted an entry on my blog that has pictures of the different breeds that I mention in the story...http://andrewtodd867.blogspot.com/?zx=92127e5aad7cdaad

Lessons Learned By Andrew Todd Chapter 8 Zak awoke before anyone else in the bunkhouse. He looked at the alarm clock on the nightstand. It was only 5:25, but he was awake and would not be falling back asleep. He quietly extracted himself from Dusty’s grip and rolled out of bed. He felt his way over to his duffle bag and took out some clothes and his toiletry bag and crept into the bathroom. He quietly closed the bathroom door and then turned on the light. He didn’t want to turn on the show

Only one, huh? Well, I guess I have to go with the one that brought me to GA in the first place, years before I decided to try my hand at writing...Bill W's 'Castaway Hotel'...not only is it a fantastic story that I can read over and over, but it so positive and affirming, building a family through love and not blood is one of my favorite themes.

Thank you so much.

Thanks.

I like the 'flowers and roses' I'm a silver linings and happy endings kinda guy...some of us just have to work a little harder and pay a little more to get that happy ending...Dylan will get his happy ending...

Thanks...it was probably as hard to write as it is to read...but I feel that the both subjects (sexual violence and depression/suicide) are so prevelant in out society that I needed to address them...Dylan's happiness is a goal for me now and for Zak...

Thanks. The original plan for the Interludes was just a brief story on Danny and CJ to join the two books, but I like being able to do these background stories and fill in the blanks for new characters...I'm sure Cody will pop up somewhere along the line...just not sure when...need to heal Dylan first...

There isn't a conventional follow-up to the story, but Dylan will be a part of 'Lessons Learned' and he will get some help in his healing process...

I'm sure we'll see Cody again...can't let him get away scott free...but the focus right now is on healing Dylan...

Dylan's going to go through a healing process...but he'll learn that it helps to have friends and a support system.