Carlos Hazday

I'm nuts about dry-roasted cashews.

I read this paragraph repeatedly before the pull to comment was irresistible. Writing the same MC for the past 8 or so years, I'm not sure sequels are actually easier. Having to maintain consistency, with previous events and character personalities, can be taxing. That MC, and the large cast I've surrounded him with allow me to explore plenty of story lines, though. While the MC's, introduced at 15, is a political beast, his friends have allowed me to write about a music competition, American football players, fine art, an Air Force Cadet, and a few other disparate subjects. My guy's now 25 and the way I write his actions and dialogue are not the same as in the first installment. Partially due to me learning some things about writing but also because a government official does not look at life the way a teenager does. It's definitely comfortable to write the same characters repeatedly, but it could get boring if the sequels are simply more of the same. My last multi-chapter story included a travelogue of Mexico, a Russian spy, and the MC killing someone with a gun. Based on reader reactions, I'll keep the train running for a while. Nice interview, James.

Damn senior moments. LOL

My apologies, entirely my fault. I've been cleaning typos and punctuation on my older stories (not trying to revise them although they could use it) and somehow I screwed up this one. Should be fine now.

Thank you, sir. I'm trying.

You're nuts. Something tiny coming next month

Moving him out of the main house gives me a chance to write about CJ, Owen, and Liebe without always having Brad in the mix. Plus it gives me a place to park him until he graduates and I decide on his next move.

I've been known to write something, decide it's too sappy when reading it later, and deleting it or changing it. Sometimes, I figure readers would enjoy it and leave it alone. Yeah, that little CJ speech was a tad cloying.

I admit I've had my moments...

Pay per view live action and Only Fans clips... smells like money

Take a look at my previous reply... peas in a pod

Ultimate senior moment, I looked it up and gave you the wrong chapter. Try chapter 3. It was in February and Liz died later that year

Further proof it was my intent to have CJ run for office one day. When I wrote that, I had no idea how much more I'd write about our man. Glad I've been able to follow up on those comments.

Hmmm... Not sure why you'd be disappointed. I've made it clear he's not opposed to violence and can think on his feet. Elpidio kidnapped Liebe, shot at her, hitting Lincoln instead, and turned the gun on CJ. Had I been in that position and able to, I would have pulled the trigger just as easily. The man deserved to die at that point regardless of the conditions leading to his actions. As CJ said, it's sad the guy died but he wasn't sorry about his part in it. That attitude will help prevent him spiraling into darkness because he killed a man.

I made mine. The joy of reading reader reactions can't be easily matched.

I knew you'd react. A little background... Everhope sits on the left half of a double lot. The carriage house in back stretches over both lots. On the right side of it, either a third or a quarter (haven't worked it out yet) is an apartment with its own entrance from the alley and inside access to the garage and house. Downstairs there's a storage unit and the one bedroom apt's on top. Small but serviceable, it's been used as storage. Lots of t-shirts and sports equipment. Over the summer, they'll move everything to the storage space, freshen up the apartment, and Brad will move in until he graduates from college. See why readers should peruse the comments? You never know when I'll overwhelm them with details.

LOL - Carousing with the cadets was mild; think of the ones from his 21st birthday. CJ dancing atop a bar in Chelsea, pants pooled around his ankles, his new tattoo visible since he wore a jockstrap. Or the ones of he and Owen dancing on stage at a circuit party. That happens at Cherry Fest DC in 2027. I'm thinking voters would flock to a ripped candidate with good ideas instead of a flabby old man.

Just helping out two brothers in need. The fact I'd love to get into their pants had nothing to do with it.

You do remember I mentioned him in CDMX, right? Considering the family's interest in art, it was impossible not to mention Diego and Frida.

He's a troublemaker!

I didn't want CJ, Owen, and Liebe becoming recluses; someone else will try to push them in that direction soon enough. But they had to be a bit less open at least for a while. Alhough most readers won't make the connection, to me this was in clear contrast with how easily Liebe jumped in Spike's arms back in Mexico. Thank you. How many times have I hinted or mentioned CJ would move heaven and earth to protect his family? I think his admission to Ritch was more impactful than if I had mentioned the same thing in the immediate aftermath. LMAO - I doubt CJ would have sounded so sappy. Over The Rainbow chapter 10. Pretty sure the conversation(s) about the future took place way before the proposal. CJ wouldn't have asked if Owen had said he was unwilling to deal with everything running for President would entail. I mean, CJ was talking about 20 years in the future. BTW for anyone who thinks that's too young/early to plan that far in advance, that part of CJ is based on a real person. A few years ago, at Palm beach Pride, I met a twenty-something guy about to start law school. He looked like what central casting would send out to play a senator. Tall, dark-haired, and handsome. During our conversation (flirting) he mentioned he planned to be the first gay president. I think CJ beat him to it.

Here's a little background. I didn't watch the Oscars, so I had no idea who Yatra was. Can't recall exactly how I came across him, but he kind of reminded me of Chipper. I fell in love with a couple of songs of his and decided I wanted to use them in a story. Having just left Mexico, I could imagine all of them, particularly Liebe, being attuned to Spanish music. I thought that's what Liebe's nanny would play when she took care of the girl. Mr. Google to the rescue. I found out he had performed at the Oscars and Manuel Lin Miranda had written the song. CJ, of course, would have introduced himself to Miranda and met Yarra in the process. I'd written part of that meet up when I found out Miranda wasn't at the Oscars because his wife had tested positive for Covid. I regrouped and the scene in Key West was the result. And that, my friend, is how convoluted my thinking can be.

LMAO I'm not that devious? Am I?

A couple of days relaxing in the sun can help anyone regroup and get ready for the upcoming battles. And we know if CJ's involved, sooner or later he'll battle someone.

You're right, Brad has acknowledge leaders, both military and civilian have disappointed him. But as with religion, some attitudes get entrenched and are hard to change. I don't think Brad would ever vote for someone like Bernie Sanders, but someone a bit more centrist like CJ might be his cup of tea.