Carlos Hazday

Thanks, Mac. From the start of the CJverse, I've tried to show how much influence a family can have on how kids turn out. Ritch's been lucky in having supporting parents who've taught without too much preaching. Get ready, Lucy shows up again real soon.

Just remember you always have options.

Nice surprise to find you here. LOL Yep, Ritch's ready for the real world. Funny thing about Lucy, she was arm candy for the longest time, and now I've had to actually define the character. I keep thinking of some of those kickass women scientists and using that as the driving force. Wait until you see what I have planned for her starting in 2026 after she completes her second degree. Phil and Riley seem to be popular. I may have to think harder about what to do with them.

The Alaska was an homage to 21's history. Thanks a lot. Now Zero Mostel won't stop singing in my head.

Thank you! It was all meant to show Ritch's relationship changing with those he holds dear. Glad it worked.

You noticed that, huh? LOL He goes from being borderline introverted around Lucy, to aggressive with basics.For me, it's always been fascinating to watch people change when they get involved with someone else.

Thank you! Although it's Ritch's story, I wanted to show CJ also growing since graduating from college. Some of that was based on how my relationship with my two younger brothers evolved. There's a large age difference between the youngest one and myself. As for the NFL players, you never know when I'll get an idea I can't shake and must write. I have a couple of incipient ones floating around my head. At a minimum, I'll do with them what I'm doing with Squad members: occasional updates on their lives in different books. Phil and Riley will show up again.

Thank you, Parker. Guess my goal of showing Ritch evolving from confident yet apprehensive basic, to borderline cocky officer-in-charge was achieved. I included the line about him and Mitch meeting on I-Day just for that purpose. Introspective chapters are always a challenge trying to balance different elements, and I think this is as close as I get to it.

@BlueWindBoy Read your comment and had to react but back now. Chipper's choice of songs, here and in his spinoff, were carefully thought out. The 4 NYC songs are all positive while MIami 2017 is a downer. I liked the symmetry of being in a NY state of mind in the song and in the passenger. I still have an outline for a story based on Miami 2017. Originally intended for publishing that year, I have maybe 100 words written. LOL This is the Acela to Manhattan, not whatever club Mrs. Maisal's playing this week. Gay or straight, I'll trust CJ's way of dealing with them. Lola? Lola! Where are you, baby? I researched drinking laws in a shitload of states and I'm pretty sure in NY if it's a bar bar and not a place like TGI Friday's, you have to be 21 to even walk in. Ritch and Silas weren't even 18 at the time of the party. Check your Private Message box.

Kids... they grow up so fast these days.

Ritch's the youngest one except for Simon. The other guys are all piling into Heinrich, driving to Denver, and taking Ritch to a gay leather bar. Joel thought that one up.

I'll be back with more comments in a bit. In the meantime, what's this story's title?

Thanks, Theo. This was meant to be a turning point, peace with the past, acknowledgement of the present, and hope for the future. Because his birthday falls on a Wednesday, The Wing will FORCE him to celebrate that day and again over the weekend. Coming up next week.

Let's just hope there won't be any kids for a while this time around.

Thank you, Frank. My goal's to improve with each book. I've been cleaning typos and punctuation in the original story, and I can see the difference. I'm not changing much since I like readers to see the characters and the author evolving together.

Thank you! I've often said even though I write feel-good stories, a little rain must fall on my characters now and then to help them grow.

No matter how long chapters are, you're gonna want more. I'm used to it by now. His senior year began the day the Class of 2023 graduated. Ritch's now part of the hierarchy and there'll be lot's of expectations. I think he'll do okay.

Thanks, Dugh.

Glad the graveside moment worked. I don't particularly enjoy writing that type of scene. I just read an article this morning reporting an increase in STI infections within the military. The rate's higher than in the civilian population. At least Ritch's been careful and worn condoms!

Thank you! This was a little difficult to write, except for the last scene which was just plain fun. I wanted Ritch to confront his past and take stock of his life before the start of his last year at the Academy. It's hard to move forward and excel while dragging heavy baggage. Reaching a sense of peace about his parents' death, realizing how good he has it and how much love he gets from his family, and starting on the road to reconciliation with Lucy, should serve him well.

Anyone interested in reading more about Riley and Phil may do so here:

Ritch recoiled when he stepped outside the terminal. The humidity was palpable in the blast of tepid air striking him. “Fuck! If it’s this bad in May, I’d hate to be here in August.” He chuckled, realizing he had become accustomed to Colorado’s dryer, cooler weather. “I’m turning into a wimp.” A car horn blasting the last few notes of “Shave and a Haircut” made him glance left. Waving at him, Sebastián Abelló stood by the driver’s side door of a brand new Lexus sedan. The juxtaposition of t

@BlueWindBoy LMAO! Nope, he did not decline the offer. I thought everyone around here knew vellichor. I mean this is sort of an electronic library/book store. I'm outlining a story set in 2027 and I'm trying to find a spot to use the "Who's that next to CJ?" line. That same story may include a short discussion about guns and by then the NRA may have gone under. I'm creating a new fictitious organization. How about ARA? Cory and Efrain could have become recurring characters, like Parker's guys, but their creator has abandoned their story and I don't want to mess with them. Those two were the MCs; Parker boys were secondary characters so it was easier to create events that included them. I promised to publicize causes I believed in. Food banks/shelters are a recurring thing. Did you ever get high over the tombstones? Last time I was on the main campus, recalling what I had written, I was tempted to do so. LOL

Here, the requirement for that course was eliminated before I had to take it.

It was called Home Econimics when I went to high school, and it was a required course. Basic cooking, household finances, and similar subjects. Even if they use electronic fund transfers instead of checks or cards, everyone still need to understand a bank or credit card statement. How many readers will jump on me if I say get rid of art or music?