Carlos Hazday

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.

Brad 4 Harley 1 Northman 1 Brad would seem like the obvious choice, wouldn't he? I mean, he's living with them even if I'm about to move him to the garage. LOL

Brad 3 Harley 1 Northman 1 Work on Everhope slowed this week, but it's already longer than Key West. You know that dinner party for 10 I mentioned before? It's not easy to write a conversation between so many characters covering half a dozen subjects. Fashion, furniture, babies, abortion... Come on, it wouldn't be a Carlos story without at least one controversial subject being raised. Shooting for the middle of August, but we'll see. Not making any promises. In the meantime, here's a teaser.

There's a novella length story written and almost entirely edited. Although it's set in the future, it called to me and I had to write it before returning to 2022. It'll go live at the end onf this year or on Jan 1, 2023.

LMAO - Ah, yes, dear old Stevie. I'll dispose off him in one paragraph in the next book.

so far... Brad 2 Harley 1

I hope readers don't mind the lack of spies and kidnappers. But I do plan on having a couple of FOX reporters show up so CJ can beat up on them.

When Pete announced his candidacy, my brothers sent him money. The youngest one said Pete was middle of the road enough to piss everyone off but he thought he'd make a good president. That attitude of people being radicalized is what I want to change. Yeah, it's fiction but you never know. CJ will have to be crafty and build a cadre of supporters if he wants a chance to win.

That's a good point. Although Brad's a Republican who voted for Trump and is very conservative, he was the first one in the group to encourage CJ to run.

It could be if CJ's able to get a word in. LOL While writing this story and the one I'm working on right now, I've kept a list of Squad members who interact with CJ and Owen post Mexico. So far it's Ritch in person and Ethan over the phone. Brad will show up as soon as they return home since he's now their housemate. Harley I think will show up on the Fourth of July. I want to have the OGs together.

Thanks, Theo So, what kind of stuff did you discover. I know I throw in things that make sense to me but are often missed by readers.

Thanks, bud! I read over the Cadet chapter a couple of times before expanding it and was kinda surprised I covered the weekend in less than one chapter. This one had me give Biden dialogue, bring back Stone, and give myself a bigger part. LOL What I wanted to show was CJ and Ritch interacting more like equals with each interaction. I also got to sow the seed of a future presidential run. They have a goal, now they have a few years to implement it.