Ron

You've certainly created quite a story, Bill. This sure has a lot going on in it, including a bucket to piss in. That's one heck of an imagination you have. As I've come to learn from reading the work of your labors, I find myself interested in what you have to say even if the subject matter is not always easy. At least here I find a silver lining of hope for your main characters. I didn't think you were going to end it horribly for the boys but I wasn't entirely sure you weren't. Keep em guessing. Thanks once again.

Oh my goodness, Bill, from 'A Tragic Love' to this story. What a juxtaposition we have here. This is pretty easy stuff now isn't it? I have only one nagging thought and that is why, other than for major simplification, didn't you not get Adien's parents involved after both his sickness and the attack even if only peripherally. Seems like those two important events would have drawn them in as caring as you wrote his Mother and Father to be. Otherwise, it was a neat little story with quite likable characters and an enjoyable read. Thanks.

Interesting take on the future or other world western. Nice little reveal about the empty grave.

I'm not sure I get the whole unwanted at 48. Heck, I always liked older men when I was younger. When I was 25 in the 80's, I dated a man 11 years my senior and the reason I lost him was due to downsizing because of the economic turmoil that was going on then. So 13 years difference isn't too much of a stretch really. Besides, nowadays older men don't seem to want to date within their age group so besides the mutual attraction these two are feeling for each other, it would be viewed as fashionable. In addition to being pretty good looking, in decent shape and the perhaps over abundance of very descriptive sex with Chad - you make me want Jim. I write this while laughing a little bit.

Like Andyboi, I too read the whole story in one sitting. When you killed Tanner off I was about to give up on it because like many, I quite liked the character. Mostly, I guess, because you made Gibby such a sympathetic character that I was hoping they would get together. I went so far as to get up and walk around the room trying to decide if I wanted to continue reading. During my meandering the thought came to me that this 'thing' that I was reading (sorry, I was kinda ticked) was very similar to one of those movies where the powers that be kill off the good guy, because they can. So you can imagine I was not too surprised to find when I returned to your story that you had noted at the bottom that you had originally wrote this as a screenplay. It was interestingly done keeping Tanner in the story as a vital part of it and not just as a footnote towards an wholly different tale. I wasn't expecting what I hesitate to call a ghost story, which it isn't entirely. You kept it focused on Gibby rather well I thought. The half-way into the light scene was probably the least successful part of the story. Unlike the dream sequence earlier where Tanner get sucked into Gibby's nightmare, well done by the way, we get another dreamlike situation that seemed there just to wrap up all the dead people and get them out of the way. It would have worked more as a visual than it did as written. One runs into this out-of-body, meeting dead loved ones and coming back type of scene from time to time over a long (many years) period of reading and this does seem to be a very difficult thing to capture with just the right feel. Doesn't help that folks more than likely have their own interpretation of how this might happen. Myself, I've never really given it much thought. I am surprised that many people were upset that you put Scott and Gibby together. Clearly in chapter two you made a strong case for mutual attraction before the lady started screaming and causing all sorts of confusion. To walk into that while not knowing what's going on. To suddenly be confronted with Gibby's scars. That would be a shock, especially if you've never seen or been given a reason to imagine such a horrible thing could happen to the human body. "What's wrong with him.", seems a rather mild reaction and wasn't on par with the mindless response that others were giving. That Gibby avoided the grill and Scott was indication enough that he was more embarrassed than angry about the whole thing. Scott seeking him out to apologize and Gibby still finding him handsome tells us there is an attraction yet. So, no rant from me, you made your case. "Tanner." Last words have a funny way of sticking don't they. I thought for sure you killed her off and deservedly so too. We find out she didn't die and yet it was still her last word. That was genius.

I just watched a video of him on the USA Today app on my iPad. He really is in love with himself... But he's probably gonna get a job out of this.

Sorry to hear about your own adversary. The weather sure has been odd this summer. Ian poking at Mikie is not unusual among close friends. Being close and long time friends often gives people a false sense of license to 'do what's best for you'. Good job with the story, KC. Definitely keeps me coming back.

Fireworks, huh. Greatest place on earth indeed. Too funny.

I can understand why this was a premium content story. That was one heck of a ride what with one unexpected thing after another happening. Highly unbelievable, highly fantastic and highly entertaining. Bravo!

I know that people can do some f'd up crap when they're hurting but Will's behavior, it doesn't fit him. I get that having his buddy interested in Scott would hurt more than if it were some other man but having Will impart the info about Noah with such malicious glee doesn't seem right. Otherwise, I'm enjoying the heck out of your words.

Ive mentioned before that I lurked here at GA for some time before I finally registered. During that time I read Dom's writing, all except for one story. Since then I've not only registered but I picked up the option to read the premium content. Just yesterday as I was figuring out how to get favorite authors to show up on my profile, I realized I had never gone back and read the story, 'Leave the Pieces'. I wanted to take my time and savor the story as I figured it was the last, new to me, words I would most likely read of his. As you might imagine, I could not hold off. The writing is powerful enough that I found myself jumping up from my seat to walk around the room to get my head and emotions under control before I could continue reading. When the last chapter arrived I found myself hoping against hope that Dom had some how - some way imagined an ending to the story, one that I couldn't fathom. If GA were a college course, Dom Luka should be required reading.

I've made it to, "I love you so bad it hurts.", on day four of the relationship and I have to quit. I can not suspend belief any longer. A love story, which essentially this is at this point, needs to have some relationship to the real world, even fantasy needs to relate to be believable. This story, I'm afraid, has not made that connection. If the profession of love had been worked into the story after establishing a history between the two main characters, even beyond the Big Bear weekend, this might have been a better read.

I find the whole professing of love so soon after meeting, two whole days, to be unbelievable. This is not the first time I've run into this scenario in a story and, sadly, probably won't be the last time either. I get the whole 16 year olds are full of hormones and randy as hell thing. I get that telling someone you love them, before you even know what it means, is a part of growing up. That's all possible and likely. But having your characters profess love for each other without any progression from meeting to getting to know each other or even jumping in the dang sack, which happens at 16 by the way, or even experimenting a little before saying it just makes your characters seem a bit stupid. I'm sure that this wasn't your intention and I do hope the rest of the story than this chapter. I do like the idea of change, new beginnings, meeting new people and the possibilities they may provide. Obviously I'm late to the game and the story has progressed beyond my little rant, so I look forward to seeing what you've done with these two.

As a writer and author, no less, I find your 'confession' hard to believe. But I do believe that you've just engaged in the discussion at hand. A lack of courage therefore, is highly doubtful.

I agree with Kitt about the overworked eyes. I read a lot and I was lucky to read Dom's stories as one of my first 'finds' here on GA. But seriously I have sometimes read for hours some days after discovering new authors. It's summer here and between the air conditioning and the reading, my eyes feel like two wet holes in a blanket when I go to bed some nights. Do I regret it, not one bit. Although I could do without the red and scratchy eyeballs.

I would like to thank everyone that has replied to my posted topic. I suppose it shouldn't be surprising considering the topic header but I was especially delighted to hear from the authors who replied. There does seem to be some confusion and maybe it's me but I've re-read my original post a few time and I don't see it. What I posted wasn't a demand for authors to finish their stories and the closure I was speaking about wasn't about finishing stories either. I did state that there were many reasons why we may not have heard from these and other authors. And many replies have expanded the reasons that this may be so. I appreciate all of them. The question was and still remains a simple one. What has happened to these three authors? From topic 'Do newbies not read Dom Luka' posted by Private Tim, I've learned that no one knows what has happened to Dom and his absence is much discussed and worried about and not just by me. I've learned through Viv's own profile that she is, as of a year ago, in the midst of an possible divorce and I feel very bad for her. Even in her parting post to us she was eloquent, if sadly so. There still remains, Gabriel Morgan. I hope no one asks me if I'm happy now knowing why Viv isn't writing. I will say that knowing has allowed me to exercise compassion and that's no small thing.

While I don't normally comment on the chapters of a story, I do on the story as a whole when I've been moved enough to do so. I generally run back through and read any comments by other readers and the comments left by authors, if they respond, before doing so. The reviewer, William, brought up a good point though. I also was thinking, 'Ah, crap!', when Justin became involved. I'm glad my interest in the story propelled me to read on though. I think you integrated that plot twist into the story very carefully through following chapters. As to your reply to William, i find your response interesting. I don't think that had I read this story on another site geared more toward the sexual aspect of things that I would have found myself interested for the sex. There is just enough naïveté at the beginning of the story and then too much of an emotional aspect to the sex later to find it titillating. I do admit to glossing over some, but not all, of the descriptive sex scenes to move the story along at a quicker pace. Now, after having exhausted my own creative writing skills on this chapter, I will have to think carefully before responding to the story as a whole. Cheers.

When you take the story as a whole body and not by it's separate parts, it is one of the gloomiest things I've read in quite sometime. Those two boys were frantic and grasping at life from the beginning until the end. Sure there was some happiness but that was pinched from life like it was a miser. Understanding that it was a story about intolerance did not make it any easier to disassociate myself from the tragedy of these boy's lives. Call me disturbed.

This chapter has been a delightful read. '..., always near at hand, cutting yet diminutive proof...', this is one good example of both wit and humor in your writing, I find it so appealing. I found myself laughing many times while reading this. One can believe that a group of characters such as these might have become friends and then family. The fact that blondie is so beautiful, intelligent and insightful is, well...

Well, I just posted the topic of 'Missing Authors' and then this topic popped up. DomLuka was one author I mentioned in it. At least I have somewhat of an answer... No one appears to know. Yes, folks, I used to be what you call 'a lurker' but I suppose since I've registered, I am now a 'newbie'. DomLuka stories are one of the first that I read when coming to the site and I have seriously been wanting a fix since I've finished the posted stories. Is what is posted the extent of the body of work? or is there more on another site somewhere?

I find that I'm missing a few authors that have written and published here on Gay Authors. Perhaps someone can enlighten me as to why they may be here no longer. Dom Luka - nothing published since 2010 Gabriel Morgan - nothing published since 2011 - '52 Panhead, is incomplete viv - nothing published since Jan 2011 - 'Underneath This Big Ol' Sky', this I would buy as a novel if it were complete There are more, I'm sure, but these three so far have stood out among the authors works I have read. I know there are many reasons we may not hear from an author and whether death, illness or just moving on are the culprits, it would be nice to have some closure as a reader. Thanks

Your first attempt here was quite an enjoyable read. The progression from the parental tension and on to Trevor's feelings of freedom and adventure set the tone for the actual journey very nicely. I didn't find a stagnation in the writing for the journey. It was important to the character to create the time and distance needed to separate him from home. The connecting at the beach and the revelation of the facts later was nicely done. The ending left us a promise for the future and was very appropriate for a young man beginning his adult life.

The ending of the story in such a blunt force manner sucked all the enjoyment out of learning about the characters. The adventurous road trip disappeared somewhere along the journey without finishing and then the author slapped the reader in the face with the end. If more of a connection were to have been made between those two points, the ending still wouldn't have been easy to digest but it would have made more sense.

I rather enjoyed the story. It contains some rather too frequent issues facing some youths, gay or otherwise, but it deals with the situation rather even handedly in the context and length of the story. A more lengthy read would be required to explore anything further with greater depth.