Carlos Hazday

In those instances when the word seems used in the wrong context, you may consider asking the author about it in the comments. I know I pepper my stories with American slang and word usage which isn't always clear to non-Americans. More than once, I've expanded a scene a bit when my older, Canadian, beta reader gets confused by something I wrote.

@dughlas Following the election debacle, I wanted levity in this opening chapter. Hopefully, I accomplished what I set out to do.

@Bushman50 Thanks, mate! Ritchie's been in Washington for over a year and he's feeling more a part of the family. He's relaxed and acting as a normal teen. He'll be getting quite a few scenes in this book.

@northie Thank you! Tony and Colt have made appearances in a few other stories and their bar and gym are places CJ and some of the other characters in that series frequent. This is the first step in your journey to the dark side. Can't wait until you read the CJ series (you'll have to put up with some simplistic storytelling in the first couple of books) and you find out how these guys fit in.

CJ Abello moves on from his involvement in the 2016 presidential campaign. Follow along with him, Ozzie, Brett, Cesar, and the supporting cast as he completes his freshman year at Georgetown University and circumnavigates the globe over the subsequent summer.

CJ moved to Washington at the height of the Miami HEAT’s domination of the National Basketball Association. At the time, in an effort to help ease their son’s transition to a new city, his fathers subscribed to NBA TV so he could continue watching the out-of-town team’s games. Over the subsequent three years, his interest in the Miami franchise waned somewhat but Ritchie’s arrival convinced the men it was a good idea to continue the service. They thought if it had helped the older teen acclimate

Love amongst the ruins. A dark tale about facing insurmountable challenges and accepting defeat is inevitable. The love portion happens in flashbacks to a few hours before the end but it might as well have been ages. A good old zombie tale sure to be enjoyed by those who appreciate the macabre.

Although written a decade ago, the stories geopolitical entanglements ring true today. The human race faces extinction and some people may be required to make personal sacrifices for mankind to survive. The good of the many over the good of the few--or the one--is an idea popular to Star Trek fans. Maybe because the author hails from Australia, the story evokes memories of On The Beach by Nevil Shute. How horrible it would be to watch everyone you've ever known die without being able to stop it, while one waits for death to strike. A very well written story with interesting if not always likable characters. The flood of varied emotions assaulting the reader will keep you reading even when you dread what the outcome may be.

@Parker Owens Thank you! I think my writing has improved but I realize some things I was experimenting with here have crept into my writing on a permanent basis. I've been so caught up in other projects, I've allowed ideas for other SciFi stories to languish even though it's the genre I enjoy most. I always intended to write an epilogue to this one showing all the extraterrestrial stuff was wiped from their minds when Colt became fully human.

Tony and Colt were created while the first CJ story was being edited and I had time on my hands. It all began with a prompt respons. Since they're in NYC, I folded them into the large series when CJ started visiting the City. It was lazy of me but I liked the characters so much... I just us tread it over for the first time in ages and realized it's a damn romance story!. Let's meep it quiet, it. Oils ruin my carefully cultivated image. Yep another dark hair/blonde hair couple. Chalk it up to me growing up in South Florida and our multitude of mixed couples. Ther's even a joke about this in an upcoming chapter. Thanks for the reaction and comment, bud.

StarBridge Train Station is a story with an outstanding premise and setting which doesn't quite deliver on its promise. A series of individuals pass each other at the terminal, each lost in their own misery which could be developed into their own story. Instead we're granted a glimpse into their lives through flashing scenes designed to... I'm not sure what they're designed to incite in the reader since each one is truncated before being allowed to blossom. The characters seem interesting in their own ways but there's no cohesion to their tales.

I can't wait to see how many long, first-kiss scenes pop up after this advice. LOL Won't be in my work since I don't write this type of story (my characters don't do angst or drawn-out self-doubts) but it should be popular with a large segment of the GA stable of authors. It's good of you to share what has worked for you, Comsie.

I heard faint echoes of Galaxy Quest, one of my all-time favorites. Your story was just as enjoyable. Thanks for making me smile, kiddo.

The story opens with a scene designed to hook the reader. It works. And then the author attempts to reel you in with a slow buildup lovers of angst and chick movies will grab onto and not want to relinquish. It'll work for many but it doesn't for me. Except for transcripts of a handful of e-mails, the entire story's a long first person narrative by someone who thinks he has a secret he should share but is too insecure to do so. I missed the connection to character we usually get from well written dialogue. The author is good at their craft. The story's well written and there are few errors in it. Just not my cup of tea.

A quintessential American rite of passage, a road trip. It hooks you from the start and four likable characters build anticipation for an enjoyable vacation. The story's fairly well written and disposing of a bunch of homophobes on a California beach gives you a shot of adrenalin. How three days later they're in the Smokey Mountains is a mistery. Sounds like the raced across the country and we miss the in between. One character failing to notice another one did not have tan lines before the trip seems inconsistent with how close they all seem to be. Those two items can be ignored but the ending can't be brushed aside. If you're looking for happiness you won't find it here. The shocking conclusion manages to wipe away the good feelings. My low rating is due to my hating how the author concludes the story.

If possible, a staff member should edit the story and adjust the font size. I think one of the software updates didn't interact well with whatever the author did.

Simplistic story that fails to deliver on its potential. The lack of a real conflict leaves you wondering what we missed. Although the premise is adequate, it's development is weak and all we're left with is someone second guessing themselves and a too convenient happy ending.

I first read this story nearly four years ago. At the time, I commented to the author I had enjoyed it. I did so again with the second reading; maybe a bit more than before. Biology plays a strong role in how Jayce and Keef end up meeting and becoming entangled. A different type of entanglement that that experienced by their fathers without their awareness. This simple, cute tale does touch upon subjects of interracial/interspecies relations, family obligations, and political and military matters. Quite a lot to cram into such a limited number of words. But you can ignore all those if you want and not search for hidden meanings. The good feelings engendered by Day-Glo Afterdark are enough for me to recommend you read it.

Some of us have been lucky enough to have that perfect summer when time wasn't a hindrance and adventure beckoned. I think in the future, Trevor will look back at the break between high school and college as just such a period. No Shirt? No Problem! is a feel-good tale which should put a smile on readers' lips. Trevor sets out for California to meet his future and in the process meets Jason. What could happen when two young men meet at the beach and be thrown together by a simple accident? Read this great little story and you'll find out. You should come back here after and thank me for the suggestion.

I enjoyed that. Look forward to more.

I smiled from the first paragraph on. Excellent take on the Day of Silence theme by an author who can definitely write. When friends support friends, a chain reaction begins which can inspire a school, a town, and maybe the world.

Obligation to Myself is a gem of a short story. It moves and it teaches. About intolerance, about what we do out of love, and about standing up for what's right. It left me wondering why some people bother to have children and while others become educators. The ones in this story have no business being either. But the protagonist inspired me. If you believe one person taking a stand can make a difference, you should read this story.

The story is a collection of somewhat related recollections thrown together seemingly at random. Disjointed is the word that comes to mind. This is one of those instances where I want the author to explain what he was trying to accomplish. Not sure I can figure it out on my own.

Short and concise short story tinged with sadness and resolve. The concept is clever but the writing leaves something to desire. Instead of a current journal entry, it reads like someone remembering a long ago event. I think using a simple past tense would have improved the immediacy of the story.

Interesting story with a nice twist at the end. Well written and thought out but it requires the reader to pay attention. Otherwise the confusion on the court may spill over to the reader.