Carlos Hazday

SPOILER ALERT "RITCHIE!" that's the opening line for the next chapter. And careful what you ask for, we have a little something-something coming up that features the high school senior. Every now and then I would get messages from @Reader1810 while she was beta reading. They were often a quote from an earlier chapter in which I'd dropped something readers didn't realize was significant. I do it so later I can prove I had it all neatly planned out in advance.

So much I could say about the house and grandchildren... I'll settle for the royalties discussion. I read Netflix is expanding their presence and production capabilities in Brooklyn and Manhattan. Considering all the Marvel shows they filmed in the City, I think they'd be perfect to adapt CJ for the screen. How about bit parts instead of royalties. Or you could help me run the casting couch department. It's gonna be tough and we may have to audition a few Seans.

Thanks, Tor!

Careful, don't get too attached to Tilda. Spencer could kick her to the curb during the New York portion of their trip.

Music's always played a big role in my life. Many a song's inspired a scene or more in this series. With this book, I decided to share whatever I used as inspiration or something I listened to while writing. I'm glad my choice for this chapter fit the action. First Minsky and in this chapter Duckworth but CJ's not done. However, you get a respite, put the tissue box aside, there's only an oblique reference to Brad in the next chapter. Took me forever to come up with the name for the house. When I googled it, I discovered there's an old plantation in Alabama by that name functioning as a B&B these days. I figured it was good enough.

Told ya they would be around. We get another 'dads snippet next chapter. Most parents send their kids off to college knowing they'll be back on holidays and maybe for a while after graduation. The dads had to deal with CJ marrying and moving out after his sophomore year. With Ritchie at the Air Force Academy in Colorado, it'll be different than having CJ living at home and then a short walk away. Plus, summers for military cadets aren't the free time civilians have. Training is almost year-round. Kinda convenient they own a place in Vail if you ask me.

We get some more Spencer next chapter. He and Tilda welcome in 2020 with CJ and Owen.

I hope the other side of the coin shows you delighted each time a new one posts.

We all have self-views that sometimes diverge from reality.

That's too complicated for me to figure out.

LMAO Quiet before I revoke your privileges.

Gotta give readers a chance to breathe between the drama point. LOL

“You know something? This is the first time I wore a coat and tie since your birthday party a year ago.” Brad Kennedy tossed his walking stick in Sparky’s back seat, belted himself in, and shut the car’s door. “You should do it more often, Red. You look good.” CJ had approached his friend the previous week with a lunch invitation. Searching for increased funding, he had quietly lobbied on behalf of Heroes Haven and wanted Brad to meet one of the individuals he had spoken to several times.

I've found the older I get, the less judgemental I've become. First impulse might be to judge, but I seem to slow my roll and think before it gets too far. I think judging others is innate. Hell, I've had readers judge the actions of fictional characters. One insisted two of my characters were unfit to get married because they were part of a four-way! It's not only sexual practices that get dissed, appearances are often the main target. I know I'm judged every time someone sees my sleeves, but I've come to realize most people objecting lead a boring life and often justify their existence criticizing others. I think that realization helped me become more accepting. Live and let live. Don't allow an emotional response to someone else rule your life. Great post, Mac.

Get ready, another chapter coming at you tomorrow morning! Glad you've enjoyed this one so much; it's amongst my personal favorites. Are you implying I drop hints and Easter Eggs into my stories? LOL. That line could refer to twins or to CJ and Ozzie planning on more than one pregnancy. Let's see what happens. We'll have an answer before this book's over.

LMAO - You'll get another dose of CJ in a couple of days. Friday's still belong to him!

I tried to make the entire chapter about family. It seemed appropriate to end it with the baby news. Let's see what I come up with between now and the birth.

Thanks, bud. As with CJ proposing to Owen after a long build-up, we now get to wait for the baby's birth. Since this chapter takes place in November 2019 and the kid's due in April 2020, we only have to suffer for 5 months.

Thanks, Tony!

And we have a vote for one boy! If I had to start over, I'm not sure I would use the name for CJ or his dad. It's a pain with all those accents!

Because I have the books done before I start posting, reader's suggestions and requests are rarely satisfied. Not sure how some authors keep multiple stories going, I looked at one recently with over a dozen marked as In Process. It's gotten to the point I rarely read anything unless it's marked as complete or I know the author has the story entirely written.

We have our first entry into the sweepstakes! If I recall properly, fraternal twins are common with in vitro fertilization. Something about implanting multiple embryos to increase the chances of pregnancy.

If I wasn't writing in the future already, I might have taken the guys to Capetown for the Mr. Gay World contest. The 2018winner was from Australia and I could have woven that in. Don't despair, CJ's going to work for the US State Department, you never know where he'll be posted.

The number of scenes leading up to the proposal was on purpose. I wanted to surprise readers after lulling them into thinking it was just a regular ole' chapter. And for the record, that wasn't me writing the romantic stuff; the Romance Fairy temporarily took over my body.

CJ may have a thing or two to say about Trump in future books, but this is it for heavy political content. I've tried to write a positive story and CJ's optimism is part of it. He's young enough to be an idealist although he's slowly learning we Americans don't always make the best choices come election time.