Carlos Hazday

Because of how several stories fit chronologically, I'll be revisiting certain events from Ranger and Cadet in this one. Most of the Squad will have at least cameos.

What's 20 years among friends? LOL

You REALLY made me LOL last night when I read your comment. There will be a few digs at Orange but there's not that much domestic politics in this book. Stick around long enough and you'll be writing a check to CJ's political action committee.

Nope. It's not so much admiration I'm looking for as a dialogue. I guess I miss the days when stories would be dissected in a forums thread and readers speculated on possible events while the author played coy and tried not to give away too much. It also gave the author the chance to share details developed when creating the story that never made it in.

@dughlas Like most mornings, I'm sipping coffee, waking up while waiting for the ibuprofen to kick in. Once the joints aren't aching, I'll go out for my walk. The days of jumping out of bed ready to go are long over. LOL

“Osh, hungry.” Unable to climb her fathers’ tall bed, Liebe tugged at the sheet covering them. Owen grunted and burrowed his head further under the pillow. “Come over here, Munchkin.” CJ hitched himself into a sitting position. When the girl reached his side of the bed, he leaned over and picked her up. He carefully sniffed the air. “Good, no poop. But your diaper’s heavy. Oz, get up. I did it yesterday morning so it’s your turn.” Toddlers tended to defecate soon after going to sleep,

Maybe you min will meet mine one day. It seems to wander around a lot. Often I'll see/hear/read something and how CJ would deal with it occupies my thoughts.

Give us details sooner better than later. I keep my word. I'll participate.

Good to be back and to have you along for the new ride. I think this might be the last really long book I write. Since I don't like posting before the entire story is written, it leaves me with long gaps in posting. I think I'm going to focus on novellas under 50k words in the near future. Amd to that effect, I'm already working on the next book. I outlined as 9 chapters, but the first one's so long and packed with so much stuff, I may have to split in in 2 or 3. There goes the 9 chapter limit. LOL

You want naked Russians? I'll see what I can come up with. Give me a few chapters. This story was crafted without plot devices. At least obvious ones. Although as somebody commented, I used a cocktail party as a way of introducing a variety of characters. I'll warn you I do something similar with rugby matches and a dinner party. Had this been set in Iraq or Chicago, I would say security would have been a bigger issue. CJ and Owen can afford what most other diplomats can't. We'll discover more about their new digs next chapter, but it's not a typical State Department employee home. State might have had to sign off on it, but I suspect the US places less restrictions on their diplomats than another country might. Remember this is the US with it's exaltation of personal freedoms. Spouses do go through briefings. Not sure Owen's would have been as detailed or in Mexico. Those will be referred to in a future chapter. CJ just found out about Yevgeny in the short time since arrival. And Owen wouldn't be high profile spouse. He's just a lawyer married to a visa clerk. Of course, thatmay change. Lol Does that help?

Thank you my friend. The rest of the USA may be cold and chilly, but here in South Florida it's gorgeous. Sunny and warm (70s F)with cool mornings and nights. I'll be posting on Fridays again, but don't be surprised if I sneak in an extra chapter here and there.

Good, that was my hope since I thought of you when figuring out the posting schedule. Thirty-eight total chapters with an average word count of 3500 but the first three are all under 3k words. I figured you'd think those were too short so I decided to post them on consecutive days.

I'll send you a PM in a minute.

Thank you, it's good to be back. I don't trust Yevgeny either. I mean, an experienced older man hitting on a green, younger, innocent--never mind, I forgot this was CJ we were talking about.

Something to read during lunch time? Should I warn you if there's a tearjerker chapter coming up? LOL We'll start the Friday thing tomorrow.

Hmmm... you're the second person who mentions them not checking on their daughter. Did everyone miss this line? And there's another one in the same conversation where CJ asks Ozzie to go check her diaper while he goes to the kitchen. Are we good?

I wish! So you're even south of Tarragona. My next book opens in Barcelona at the Mandarin Oriental. The characters visit La Sagrada Familia and spend the afternoon at a vermuteria. I was hoping you'd be willing to read a very early draft of that chapter to make sure I didn't muck things up.

You've been an integral part of the CJ series for a while now and deserve credit for helping keep CJ and Owen as popular as they are. Thanks, Wolf.

No Russians and no Mexican socialites in the next chapter, but everyone introduced in this one will play a part in the story. With over 400 named characters in the series, I tried to limit the number of new ones, but based on what beta readers have said, a couple of them are good enough to stick around in the future. I do recycle some of the previous one. Even a certain redhead makes an appearance! I'm talking about Brad!

It's good to be back Jose. After almost two years of posting spinoffs and spinins, CJ and Ozzie will be in the forefront for a long while. They also star in the story that will follow this one. By the way, are you anywhere near Barcelona?

You have no idea how good it is to see you here. You're sorely missed, Def. Should I text you whenever a new chapter posts? Next one's tomorrow.

You're welcome. Chapter 1 will go live tomorrow and I may post another one on Saturday. What the hell, I'm feeling reckless. That opening line was designed to capture readers' attention. Plus, it's so CJ I couldn't resist. He may be a big-shot visa clerk now, but he's still rude, crude, and socially reckless.

Yep... LOL I'm scared of responding because you came close to describing some of what will happen. I haven't been to Mexico City in decades, but I remember walking around the Zona Rosa marveling at the broken-glass topped high walls surrounding most homes. The fear and potential dangers were in the back of my mind when I decided to have them move into a high-rise with a doorman. A little more about their new crib in the next chapter.

Good to be back, Kris. I had planned to start posting on 01/01/22, but I couldn't wait any longer. I needed my fix of reader comments!