Carlos Hazday

When I started the CJ series, I said Washington would be a major character. It's too great a city not to pick locations all over town as settings. I'm doubling down on that now that the guys are back in D.C. for a while. The zoo's perfect for a precocious 2+ year-old, but I plan to have J and Owen also expose her to museums, monuments, sporting events, and arts. Those two will want to raise well-rounded kids.

There's no cure for that CJ addiction; there's only treatment. That's why I keep publishing new stories. If you start feeling withdrawal symptoms, read two chapters and check back in next Friday for a new one LOL

You're right. Pam's changed, Geoff confirmed that in the last chapter, and she'll probably never be the same. However, much like an alcoholic must learn control, she has to start keeping some of her comments to herself. Owen might be her son, but he even admits his "family" are CJ and Liebe

Excellent point about the male-centric environment. Having Taisha next door should provide some balance. As we saw in Flying Circus so will Lucy Wilkinson. In an upcoming Summer of '22 entry, we'll see he interact with Cristina Prado and her daughter Caroline. Liebe will grow up as a rough and tumble girl thanks to CJ's exploration gene, but she'll also learn how to act like a lady in public.

It's not the first time I use interviews in the series, and it won't be the last. Heck, next chapter has part two of this one. They give me a chance to delve into details without using pure narration. We get to hear from CJ and Owen themselves. There's a possibility Pam's triggers are CJ, Owen, and Liebe. The girl because of the resemblance/connection to Liz, Owen because he tends to side with CJ, and CJ because he can be a sarcastic, hard bastard who she's already scared of. Apart from a few snide comments, all made with humor and not malevolent, I tried to show him practicing patience. The problem's when you poke the bear once too many times, the bear will strike back. Thanks, Dugh!

“G’day, mate.” Owen held the door open so the smiling man could step inside. “James Fairfax, Mr. Liston. Good to meet you, and thanks for inviting me to your home.” The man extended his hand for shaking, but his gaze shifted to the girl behind Owen when she spoke. “Who’s he?” In CJ’s arms, Liebe was being an inquisitive toddler as usual. “He’s the reporter we told you about at breakfast. Remember I showed you his picture on the tablet?” When Owen agreed to the interview, he reques

I love Wade, almost as much as a built, furry ginger. Can I operate one of the cameras in the Only Fans shoot? In the past I may or may not have brought home a trick from Publix. The one from Office Dept was the hottest one ever, though. Trevor being open to new experiences will serve him well in life.

I'm that predictable? Myr once praised me for having a great opening that hooked readers; it's something I try to replicate frequently. Starting with a bang is fun. The close-knit group of friends started with Harley and Thiago and grew over the years, I've tried to retain some of the ways they dealt with each other while taking into account changes due to them growing up and facing different circumstances.

Better a late reply than nothing. LOL Maybe CJ read Melvyn Ford, and it inspired him?

Welcome back into the fold! I look forward to reading your comments as you work your way through CJ's graduation, the Squad's spinoffs, and CJ and Owen's life once out of school.

Glad you enjoyed it, Libby. I think the two stories I suggested are heavy on the sappy/sentimental side which isn't always how my work goes. LOL Careful with CJ, he's been known to entrap readers and force them to binge the entire series. I love seeing someone react to the first chapter in Summer and following as they work themselves through the CJverse.

It's actually a side effect of his addiction to Four Loko.

@Clancy59 Considering I have no personal experience in child rearing, it's been quite interesting to read reactions to what I've written. This is fiction, so the children's reactions are not necessarily how most kids would act, but a lot of it is based on observation. CJ being betrayed by his mother and stepfather, as horrible as it was, is based on reality. Heck, we have a couple of authors on GA who have experienced exactly the same thing. Yes, mothers and fathers can be horrible people. I knew I would be killing off Lourdes and Ritch and couldn't wait to do so. The thought of keeping them alive to increase drama was too much for me. Had I been writing today, I may have kept them around a bit to make them suffer, but those two were destined to die from the moment I created them. Hell, I wish I could kill all those parents who hurt and at times murder their kids. My first beta reader ever objected when I had Cesar give CJ a beer in the first chapter; she claimed no father would do that. She was quickly dismissed. My father gave me my first shot of Scotch when I was 9 or so, I was allowed beer at times, and I've never had a DUI. Hell, I hate hangovers and barely drink. One of my nieces had her first taste of beer as a toddler when my brother and I would dip a finger in ours and let her lick it. She's an attorney these days. The first time I had CJ smoke pot, an irate reader wrote me to tell me CJ would never do that. I laughed wondering how they would know what CJ would do, considering he's fictional and my creation. I think I know him better than anyone else. CJ getting high at 15 was based on statistics--the percentage of high school kids who admit to smoking pot--and anecdotal evidence. When I had season tickets for the Florida Panthers (hockey) my buddy and I became friendly with the couple sitting behind us. Eric and I showed up at a couple of games stoned, and the woman laughed at us. She admitted she had smoked pot when she was our age and that she got her daughter stoned at 16 so the girl wouldn't try it on the street. CJ and Owen not allowing baby talk with Liebe is based on scientific studies. That crap can rot their brain. Speaking to a child as you would an adult has been proven to stimulate the brain often leading to earlier speech. We know Liebe's a chatterbox. And them not coddling her when she throws tantrums but forcing her to tell them why she's crying is based on how one of my best friends (a therapist) dealt with her daughter. In the first chapter of Capitol Hill, when Owen disciplines Liebe and she cries, Pam's gut reaction was to hug her and probably tell her everything was okay. Reader1810 made a comment while beta reading about how Geoff handled the situation properly by deferring to her fathers. I REALLY liked that observation. So, even though it's all fiction, I've tried to base a lot of it on reality. Maybe because I'm not a parent I was able to distill everything I read and saw better than someone with fixed ideas they're unwilling to admit may not always be right.

You should check the artist who drew the mermaid I shared. Google Albron. Hell, if I ever need inspiration for a story, I could write stuff about the men he creates. Alex Bronning (Albron)

Thanks, Fae. It would be easy to place them in situations similar to what they have experienced before, but finding new angles to show their lives is fun.

Hmmmm... keep writing new stuff or spend time combing through 29 stories to find food references. Tough choice, but I think I'll write for now. LOL Thank you, my friend; these guys have wormed themselves into my heart and it's truly a pleasure to write them.

Although I try to maintain consistency in the series' main theme, varying locations, supporting characters, and events hopefully keep it fresh. What happened in Mexico has changed CJ and Owen's lives and I want to explore what they did last (2022) summer. The nine stories outlined to cover it I split between Washington and various other locations. Key West I'd used before, but Newport was new. At some point I'm having them spend a week in New York (Manhattan/The Hamptons/Fire Island) and also taking them to Michigan and Cuba. And although the locations are fun to write, the main goal is setting the boys and Liebe up for what 2023 and beyond will bring. Geoff I see as a stereotypical laid-back Aussie; let's hope Pam doesn't do anything silly to ban her from their lives.

And a companion wine/cocktail list. I'm sure Gunny would be willing to try some of that stuff for you.

Those are the benefits of Hazday's Time Machine.

@frosenblum True story. The family's gathered at my brother's house for something or other and his daughters are going out with friends after dinner. They are 16 and 18 at the time. Their grandmother (my mother) kisses them goodbye and tells them not to drink alcohol, smoke pot, or spread their legs for their boyfriends. Cue simultaneous eye-rolls from the girls, their father, and their uncle. Pam's helicoptering is loosely based on my mom.

She did mention she wasn't going to pass up the opportunity for a Rose Garden wedding. I imagined her as a socialite without being stuck up. Growing up with money and a father in positions of power has probably made her aware of how much image matters. Regardless of what she winds up doing in the future, being married at the White House will always be something few others can lay claim to.

I think the white letters against the bright blue background makes it pop in this one. Did you see my comment about the image?

I firmly believe we are all the product of our experiences. Liebe may be reprimanded when she misbehaves, but she'll know unconditional love. He was older when Cesar and Brett got him, but I wrote several instances of his fathers putting their foot down. Just because you love somebody doesn't mean you have to put up with their crap. Funny you mention the prenup, I bring it up in the current story.

I aim for consistency in the series and the character's behavior. In Flying Circus, one of the twins tried a similar move with oysters. CJ slapped him down while telling him to keep his 'slimy hands off the slimies. It was almost 5 years to the day from the current incident, but it showed CJ and Ozzie not slacking off from their parental duties. Even in Loving Anniversary, CJ put his foot down about who could be invited to Liebe's wedding. Too many stories out there with Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde characters who change the way they act. Hell even with Pam, when I turned her from a pleasant mom to a psycho, I took pains to show why it happened. With this long and complicated series, I try to build on what's happened.

@dhphllps And although you didn't ask about it, the image in the banner's from a picture I took in April 2018 when I went to check out the house they were buying.