Carlos Hazday

LMAO! I've made myself tear up a few times while writing or reading over certain scenes. Most of the time it's when I feel like a proud parent over something CJ's done. However, if you want me to shed a few, all you have to do is show me clips of returning service members surprising their kids in school, a basketball game, or a birthday party. Guranteed water works from me.

I won't tell anyone. Wouldn't want your rough and tough image to suffer. This chapter garnered the most likes since the one where CJ admitted he loved Ozzie. I was somewhat surprised. I tried to keep the tone serious but never thought of it as being a teary moment. CJ's straight-to-the-point approach and at times innoportune sarcasm kept wanting to interfere and treat is as a joke. I figured he'd restrain himself because it was Patrick who he's come to think of as a brother. Good to hear from you, brother. Next chapter's dedicated to you.

Happy birthday, Val. I hope it's a great one.

@Defiance19 Oh yeah the bike gets a name before he even rides it. And Harley has a nice monologue next chapter so you'll get your fix. So, Defiance, Lola, :X, and :X. The last one is so secret not even the Russians know about it. It would take a savvy international spy to squeeze it out of me. The secret, that is.

I'm impressed! You're all caught up after binge reading the entire series. Glad you've stuck it out and I hope you've enjoyed the ride.

Thank you, sir! CJ has wormed his way inside my head and I find it hard to write about anything else right now. I'm so fixated on his life my list of possible project grows but also accumulates dust. Translating my ramblings to English, There's a lot more coming in the future!

Thank you! I keep a pad and pencil on the table next to the couch and often end up jotting down notes while watching the news or almost any other show. Those are ideas for things I might want to incorporate into the stories. As some TV dramas claim, parts of the CJ series are 'ripped from the headlines'

@Reader1810 and @Wesley8890 I find it amusing both Macon, Georgia and Burlington, Ontario made it into the story. Seems unlikely considering they're not as well known as some larger cities.

Good. I've been reading a thread about politics in stories with interest since I have some of that in the CJ series. As I said, I always try to ensure whatever political or social commentary is in the story is relevant to it. To be honest, having CJ in Washington lends itself to a lot of political content. The Paul Ryan scene I mentioned in my reply to Spikey is a perfect example. Mr Ryan did speak at the university the day I had him do it and some of the comments were based on his actual responses to questions. Of course, the entire exchange with CJ was fictitious. But his appearance on campus at Georgetown isn't an isolated event. It's a fairly regular occurrance. I like weaving my fiction with real events and that was the case there. Hopefully most of the political stuff follows suit instead of it being just preaching on my part. Heck! I don't even agree with all the positions CJ will end up taking. LOL

@spikey582 You're gonna have to wait until the next book for answers to most of your qustions. Georgetown will revisit some of the events of the first six months of 2016 in the first chapter. Not repeating stuff I've already written but expanding on some. Like the appearance on MSNBC which I mentioned in passing while on the way to having Patrick come out. There's one chapter and an epilogue left. The action in both all takes place on June 14, graduation day. The Pulse shooting was the 12th and on the 13th there was a candlelight vigil at Dupont Circle in Washington. Both events will be mentioned and play a part in the first chapter of the next book. CJ, Ozzie, and Lola will be at the vigil and we'll get a postscript on gun ownership and specifics on CJ's new friend.0 I've tried to steer CJ away from relying on his martial arts training as he grows up. He limited his involvement with old man Kennedy and stood back when Ethan tried to molest Owen. Two reasons for having him use his fists again. One, he hasn't gone soft, he keeps practicing and can take care of himself. Two, just because he has a gun now doesn't mean he'll shoot first and ask questions later. I want him to be a responsible gun owner like most other Americans who have firearms are. CJ told Paul Ryan in a previous chapter he didn't think the left or the right had all the answers, and even though he's supporting Clinton, we'll see some more of his independent streak in the next book. The Pink Pistols are part of that effort. I don't want CJ to become a cookie cutter person and he'll surprise a few people before the next book's over. Not sure about the officer showing up again. I've introduced a few characters in the past, thinking they'd play a role in the future but their parts ended up being cut. In this case, the trooper's in the outline for a future appearance but it has to make sense once I get to that point. But one thing I did want to show here was CJ making an effort to use the guy's name. It's an ongoing thing with him and Ozzie has even commented on it before. Damn! Did I address all your points? This reply got involved!

There was a line or two which ended on the cutting floor when I was paring back details. CJ saw a Pep Boys a couple of exits after the stop by the cop, pulled off the interstate and replaced the bulb while on the parking lot of the store. Two bulbs per package so he now carries a spare in the glove compartment.

Thanks, Tor!

Georgia and Louisiana have both marketed themselves as film locations and I know of a bunch of blockbusters filmed in both places. We go through similar stuff here in South Florida and I'm always happy to see the signs. It means money being pumped into the local economy. Same reason we put up with Canadian drivers in qinter. Although we know enough to steer clear on anyone qith a Quebec license plate! Go ahead, Canukcs, I'm expecting to be trashed for the cheap shot.

@BlindAmbition You're a good boy, JP. I enjoy your comments no matter what inspires them or when you write them. There'll be plenty of good byes in the next chapter and in the Epilogue when a large chunk of the Squad graduates. They man not be in the same town in the future, but I think then bonds forged while at Walls will stand the test of time. It's hard to narrow down the theme of this series but I think the title says it best. It's all about CJ, his coming of age, and what he does with the advantages he enjoys because of his wealth and looks. Brett had the same opportunities and didn't waste them. I don't think CJ will either.

Moi? Commentary on social issues? LOL OK, maybe a little. But in all cases I've tried to make it relevant to the story and applicable to CJ's circumstances. I started the gun debate two years before, when CJ was visiting Owen in Australia, and tried to show the Aussie's attitude changing albeit slowly. Hopefully it rings true.

Thank you! We'll never know if the cop would have reacted differently if CJ didn't have a tire cover proclaiming his association with the marines, but in this case the 'old boys network' I'm certain helped.

CJ's had his mouth and fists to defend himself and now he has Lola which he'll hopefully never have to use. Not all of us are that lucky but all of us can learn how to defend ourselves one way or another. Still, the most important lesson is CJ won't allow himself to become a victim.

Yeah, I'm Hispanic but between being lily-white and having light-colored eyes most people assume I'm another white boy. And let me tell you, racism works in all directions. I've heard more than one derogatory comment aimed at blacks or latins. Plus a few against white people when the speakers didn't realize I'm fluent in Spanish.

LOL- I KNOW Macon isn't that small but still, compared to Atlanta or Washington... I've driven through it a gzillion times and stopped there more than once. The Harley-Davidson dealership's always a great place to stop for a bathroom break and a free cup of coffee while on a motorcycle trip!

Yavonny's reaction and comments are loosely based on conversations with a good friend in my motorcycle club. The large majority of us are white and we sometimes fail to realize how different things are for someone with darker skin. Hopefully this will raise awareness amongst readers about how things in the real world are. Anyone who claims racism doesn't exist in our country is nuts as far as I'm concerned.

@JayT I wanted a little fun and excitement before the book's final chapter and a road trip with the boys seemed appropriate since CJ likes traveling so much. Don't you wish you had the same abilities my boy does? I sure as hell get jealous of fime now and then.

@gazza456 Sydney hosted the Bingham Cup in 2014. Even though I had CJ in Australia that summer/winter, the dates of the competition didn't fit with my timeline.And anyway, it worked out for the best since with Owen playing for the Scandals it gave me a realistic reason for CJ to be there. The 2018 contest will take place in Amsterdam!

@Butcher56 Thank you! I try to mix things up within a chapter whenever possible. Humor has been part of the story from the beginning and hopefully I've been able to make readers smile and laugh along with the characters.

Ritchie will definitely benefit from having his big brother in the same house again. And the dads will take good care of him too.