Carlos Hazday

Damn! I included all that in the story? I'm impressed! LOL I'm not done with these guys. You'll get a glimpse here and there at what they're doing but I don't foresee a full novel about them for a couple of years. I actually have my writing schedule pretty well set for the remainder of 2019 and all of 2020. Thanks, buddy!

Thanks, Mark. Maybe this story's success will inspire others to write positive stories. Life's imperfect and I've tried to show that. It's how we react to difficulties that define us. Now all we need is a real-life CJ to appear.

You're welcome and thank you for following it. We'll be back in a couple of weeks.

Thank you, my friend. Although this part of the ride's over, I do have a couple of short stories percolating. We'll get a look at CJ and Owen soon enough.

Are you a mind reader? Working title is Leaving Atlantis. I've wanted to revisit the premise and that will be how I do it. An origins story about how the dolphins came about and ended up in Eastern Canada. If I can keep to my tentative schedule, I hope to write it later this summer and publish it early next year. Unsure if it'll be a one-chapter short story or something a little longer. I'll figure that out once I have a good outline.

Thank you! I do repeat myself now and then. But when I do, as with motorcycle trips, I try to differentiate them enough so the reader doesn't get bored. Authors are encouraged to keep the story moving and I've tried to do that. Sometimes, I may have skipped mundane events but that was by design. Sunday Chinese food's a good example. Once I established the pattern, a line or two seemed sufficient to evoke the atmosphere and the event. I'm so glad you've enjoyed the adventure. Stay tuned, it's not entirely over yet.

I've repeatedly said I don't write silly romances, but that does not mean I don't write love stories. The entire CJ series is just that. A love story about life. About loving who we are and not allowing others to demean us. Thank you for reading and for the praise.

LOL The White House is actually mentioned in the next book! We don't go inside but we meet the residents. See you the first Friday in July.

Thank you for summarizing my writing philosophy. There are plenty of authors who believe you need tragedy to write a successful story; they concentrate on the half-empty glass. I see it as half-full instead. Yeah, I write about painful matters at time but I will always concentrate on the positive. Let's celebrate life and particularly the achievements of gay men. I've said it countless times; angst and indecisive characters are not for me. THe title of this book being perceived as a bad omen never entered my mind. I'm glad I was able to pleasantly surprise readers.

Thank you, Michael. It's been a pleasure to share CJ's story and I look forward to doing it again real soon.

He's decided to go by Rich now that he's a college man. LOL Now the question is: If CJ runs for President, would you vote for him? I'm starting a Draft CJ move. I'm glad you came along for the ride!

The story of CJ and Owen is the stuff of lore and legends. The events recounted in this series will be spoken of with reverence and delight years from now. How's that for total bullshit? LOL I've been using this trans-dimensional doohickey that allows me to peep into the characters lives, and it broke. I have like zero reception right now so until I can find someone to fix it, we're at the end. I tried the Geek Squad at Best Buy and they had no idea how to get it working again. Anyway, your comment about this not being a gay story left me thinking. Early on I decided that the dads would be surrounded by a group of gay men but I wanted CJ's group to be mixed. I think it reflects evolving sensibilities. I carried it further in this chapter with the comment about the Juniors having males and females unlike the Elite and the Squad that are strictly male. I hope one day soon a character's sexual orientation will become irrelevant in most stories. Or in movies ad TV shows.

LOL Sorry but July's offering has been in the can for a while.

Thanks, Mike. You have no idea how much it means to me readers emotionally connected with the story. It's something most authors strive for but not always accomplish. Stay tuned, I may have a surprise next month.

Thanks, Dave. I considered making this chapter an epilogue but that wouldn't have made much of a difference. I had two momentous events to end this book with. Having a kid and graduating from college a couple of weeks later may have been a lot but I wanted to go out with a bang.

LOL- I can provide relief at least for the first Friday next month and in August. Maybe more after. Make sure you follow me so you'll get notifications. Thanks for sticking with me.

A Patrick spinoff is on my list of possible stories. But you're gonna have to be patient, I have half a dozen others in the planning stage. Maybe I can put something together late next year. It takes a while to get a story published. At least it does if I want it to be any good! LO:

I have a list! Around 250 named characters so far. Lincoln's the FBI agent CJ & Owen met when the building inspector tried to black mail them.

I know, right? I never thought it would go on for so long or be as well received as it was. I'll be forever grateful to readers like you who helped motivate me with your comments. See you back here in a couple of weeks.

Sorry... not really. If I make readers cry it means I touched them. That's good in my book. Make sure you follow me so you'll be notified next time I post something. But be careful, I may incite more happy tears.

LMAO! You don't know the half of it! What you've seen is slotted for September through November. I think you'll like what I have coming up in July. Not the magazine interview you read at one point, but something similar.

Oy! Tears again? I admit CJ's speech and then Brett's made my eyes water. And I wrote the damn things! It's been quite an experience. As I mentioned above, CJ's story isn't the most popular on GA but it's up there. THAT has blown me away. I've not followed trends, I've not had an antagonist to kick around, and I've had my character express opinions not always well received. But I tried to ground everything in reality. If we accept some basic premise like his wealth, everything else is possible. Maybe after the 2020 elections I can write about CJ jumping back into politics! That's sure to drive some readers away but it would be fun. You and I seem to tear up over similar things, I look forward to seeing how you react to next month's offering.

Thanks, Mike! I think it's totally unfair you don't get to read ahead. if the boy won't share, I will. I have two stories you may be a good beta reader for at least portions of. I'm an anal retentive accountant so I have a schedule of what I want to write over the next twelve months. Once story involves someone who wants to enter law enforcement and another one involves the main characters hiring live-in bodyguards. I'll call on you with questions. And you can hide them from tim so he has to wait until they're posted.

I became frustrated toward the end. Since I was writing in the future, I couldn't reference real life events and some locations I became scared of using fearing they would close down. Maybe once real life catches up to CJ and Owen I can revisit them. In the meantime, there are some very good authors on GA. If you like my style, try some of @Mann Ramblings He's not only my primary editor but an accomplished author. Most of his work is science fiction but it's always entertaining. Who do you think taught me about cliffhangers? LOL

I wanted CJ to be naked underneath his gown, but having him introduce Liebe to the crowd was much, more interesting. At my graduation a bunch of fraternity brothers carried Champagne bottles hidden in our sleeves. I'm not sure who spoke since I may have been slightly drunk. At least CJ waited until after the ceremony to start drinking.