layla

The dialogue is wonderful between them as their friendship develops and I love that the preacher isn't a huge bible thumper at home. As they reveal bits and pieces to one another in conversation, they really develop into beautifully well rounded characters. I'm totally enjoying this story and look forward to more.

Desolation Angels is finished, wow, what a month, I never expected that a short little draft scribbled in my journal while sitting in a little blind squirrel hunting would morph into what it did. I loved every step of the writing process, even the chapters where I knew the characters were going to hurt were exciting pieces to write because I knew that in the end, there would be good things for them. I want to take a moment to thank again everyone who read the story, everyone who ‘liked’ it and everyone who reviewed, because that was the encouragement I needed to put fingers to keyboard each day and get the next chapter done. I have too many starts and not enough finishes, so many notebooks filled with ideas and drafts and outlines but hardly any completed works so to finish “Angels’ was a huge accomplishment for me, one that I’m glad I could share here on GA. This isn’t the end for the Angels though, in fact, I suspect it is just the beginning. I’m sure in time they’ll tour and there will be a story to come out of all their exploits on the road. Ray’s story as well is tumbling around in the back of my mind, and I think Jonathan might have a thing or two to say as well. I guess we’ll all see what time brings. Until then, I hope some of you will check out Guitars and Crossdressers as some members of the ‘Angels’ crew will be filtering through that as well. While Angels went up pretty quick, I don’t expect Guitars to be so easy to write, especially with snow finally on the ground here in my little part of the world, I can get the camera back out and take some more pictures before school kicks off again. I do plan to have Guitars finished by Jan 20th, the day before my next class starts. Its Advanced 2D animation, which means a ton of drawing, which I loath, especially when it’s the same figure over and over but it’s the last 2D class required for my major, thank the gods. I much prefer working in 3D or a photo medium. So glad I found my way to GA, this is a great community to be part of and I look forward to doing a ton of reading, writing and reviewing in the upcoming year. Happy (soon to be) New Years Everyone. Stay safe and have fun.

I like the interaction between Eddie and Danny, and I found myself wondering what turned Eddie into a Bully and how Danny is going to fare when he tries to take the quarterback spot from Joey once school starts. I love the idea about teaching Danny to drive the machines the way Eddie's grandfather taught him, it made a ton of sense and it looked like it worked out well. I look forward to reading more.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yasSkqJBytk this one is my favorite 12 days parody.

YEY, three cheers for UZZY! I'm glad Gabriel got his, at least for now, im sure he'll be back to cause more trouble.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone!

A goose and a duck are the main course with dressing of course, the vegi will be brocolli and cauliflour in a cheese sauce, then baked mac and cheese and candied yams. for desert I'm making an eggnog cheesecake and a white chocolate cheesecake. My daughter helps with the deserts, my son usually helps with dinner. They'll be wine for the adults and sparkling cider for the kids. My mother comes down the block to join us for dinner, so that makes six at the table.

The squarepusher, wow, that is trippy weird, i had to bookmark that one so I can listen to it a few more times and maybe some more of his stuff too, I think I could find a mood or two to listen to that in.

Wow, hey thanks Chase! Downward Spiral and Fragile are mainstays on my comp, I couldn't write without them. I too wish he'd put out some new stuff. I love Hurt, both his version and Johnny Cash's, man that is an emotional piece of music. I am seriously digging that Amon Tobin piece you linked up, that's going on my playlist for sure, that's got that mellow, drifting feel to it that I could listen to all day. Thanks man, i can't wait to listen to the rest too.

I absolutely can’t work without sound, doesn’t matter if it’s drawing or writing or sewing or cooking, I have to have music playing or I have to sing, no other background sound will do. I’ve tried the TV, but unless I want to put it to the classic rock or alternative music channel, then the TV is useless too and usually it’s on for sports so I can watch the game, (like now- Minnesota’s winning!) but not really have to listen to it. So as I was sitting working on another chapter of Desolation Angel, I thought I’d take a moment (because lord knows I love to distract myself lol) and share the playlist I’ve used for the story since it started, and ask the question of others out there what they listen to when they’re writing or creating, and if the music ends up fitting or influencing the mood, theme or emotion of the piece. Playlist: John Moreland – Earthbound Blues (entire album) John Moreland –Everything the Hard Way (entire album) Elton John – Tiny Dancer Black Label Society – (just about anything and everything) Nine Inch Nails –Something I Can Never Have Shawn Mullins –Soul’s Core (entire album) Danielia Cotton – Let it Ride You and Tequila – Kenny Chesney Even If it Breaks Your heart – Eli Young Band Pink Floyd – Wish you Were here and One the Turning Away (and just about anything else) Emily Browning –Asleep Tom Waits (just about anything and everything) Greg Holden – The Lost Boy Bruce Springsteen (anything and everything) Charlie Parker (anything and everything) Stevie Ray Vaughn (anything and everything) Bob Dylan (anything and everything) The Doors (anything and everything) Neil Young (just about anything) Jimi Hendrix – All Along the Watchtower, Hey Joe, Voodoo Child I'm always open to musical suggestions, i love hearing about and learning or new bands and new music and am pretty open to most types of music, though pop/boy bands have never been my thing. I love Jazz, Country, Gospel, Metal, Rock, Classic Rock, Industrial, Alternative, Blues, some Classical, and just about ANYTHING that is guitar heavy. I don't have a playlist planned for the new story I'll be starting after the first of the years, when 'Angels' is done, so I'm really looking for ideas and suggestions for songs I can really get lost in while i work.

Fun story, I like what i've read so far. All of the characters seemed believable and interacted well, i hope you'll add more to this.

I am so curious as to where this is going to go. Dee seems like an honest, moral person and Sys, comes across as very curious and lovely and vulnerable. I want to learn more of both of their stories and see how they end up interacting with one another. I will def be following this story.

Don't worry about outlining and planning things out, just put words on the page and see where they take you. An old English teacher of mine used to call that "collecting underpants" because it was the underlining of the story. So give yourself permission to just write all those ideas down and let them go where they will, and remember that as long as it's fun and your enjoying what you're writing, that's what really counts.

I love the pacing of this chapter, serious and sad when it needed to be, funny and upbeat when the time was right, and all the while, through the actions and conversations of the characters, their lives are beginning to entwine with one another more. I love that they are trying to do the relationship as right as possible despite the circumstances, and the conversation with Will made him seem more human. He made a mistake, hopefully he learned from it, but he seemed to really want to make amends and see that he was wrong. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and thank you for this one last chapter before 2013.

What a moving story, i loved the interaction between the brothers, it really made the accident and the feelings afterward believable. I loved the up and down, how the result and the expectation didn't match only for there to be a realization later that others had it much worse and at least he'd had the chance at the treatment to make a difference in the healing. Great story.

My 15 year old son was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders, and while he does enjoy video games, and sometimes can get really into them, he also played Hockey as a child, played football all through Jr. high and now wrestles on his high school wrestling team. in addition, he is a martial arts student at the local studio, a member of 4H and an avid photographer who plans to major in photography in college. He loves cars, is learning to play guitar, and passed his hunter's safety course so he could start bow hunting. While socially, sometimes he may not always get a joke when it's made and in class may require more time, he has made the B honor role in the past, and works hard to do his best in his classes. He's learned woodworking and welding while in school, and enjoys anything hands on he can do in terms of building and creating. In other words, he has found many interests and defies those who try to imply that he cannot learn something just because it might take him longer to catch on. I think it is important to remember that there are all kinds of people with autism and that describing them a "people" or a "class of people" is as wrong as trying to put a label of "class" or "type" to any person or group.

Wow, what a small world that he rescued his enemies mom! I love the idea of Ed having painted Zune, and that the painting makes him smile, maybe it's because Zune dares to do what Ed doesn't and that's stand up for what's right. I felt really bad for Becca, to have a husband like that who spews his garbage to their son and basically keeps her in a little prison not letting her work is just a destructive person to have around. She clearly wants her son to find happiness and not feel like he has to hide himself to have his father's approval, but I'm not sure how that will be possible unless she kicks that toad to the curb. I look forward to seeing where you take this, and whether Zune's efforts to befriend Ed will mess up his relationship with Kev. That's gonna be so tricky and soo cool to read. Great job, can't wait to read more.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nX1h5d4_T5A

My 21 picks would be... Interview with a vampire Skinwalkers Freaks The Greatest Show on Earth Eddie and the Cruisers 1 Eddie and the Cruisers 2 The Doors The Wraith Legend Pride and Prejudice The Outsiders The Ledge Memoirs of a Geisha Boondock Saints 1 Boondock Saints 2 Lord of the Rings 1 Lord of the Rings 2 Lord of the Rings 3 Fire and Ice Permanent Record Robin Hood

1. Cutting class as a junior one day I drove up to his seaside hangout I knew and ended up spending the whole day hanging out with this street guitarist I met, he played through a ton of classics and I got to sing along, and later that night, we went and hung out at Blues Fest, it was awesome and while I did end up getting busted for cutting class, i'll never regret the experience and fun of that day. 2.Some of the stupidest things I've ever done have been done while bored. In this case, it would be hitching from Virginia to New Hampshire. It was one amazing adventure after the other, and the people I met, and the stories I heard, and the places I saw have stuck with me ever since, but when I think about the danger I could have found myself in at so many points along the way, I know it was stupid, but i wouldn't change a thing about that trip.

It's hard to feel like you sort of stand out or are not fully a part of something you belong to, especially when it comes to family. The up side is, whiskey IS great for that, it does kind of bring people together. I hope you have a wonderful trip and Merry Christmas.

Wow, major emotional chapter, good to see they are hashing out past issues and feelings, and the reveal of what took place was beautifully woven in. I look forward to seeing how they work through things, because it's clear neither one has fully worked through the past or their seperation, and it's clear now where the guilt and loyalty towards Gabe's memory (and shop) come from.

This was totally hilarious, hope there will be more, I have never seen so many epic fails in one place at one time with tristan's attempts, that was awesome.