frosenblum

What a delightful story. Just the right balance and mixture of seriousness and lightness/sweetness. Thank you.

Wonderful chapter. Very moving.

@Howzat, that's a great image: "kicking butt "from Idaho to the moon and back."

As I remember, Peter Nichols doesn't have that large a pack. How are they able to abduct kids across such a large area, Idaho to Maryland?

The tension is very high already. It would disastrous if you lost control of your commas and they began running amok.

What does "Connollyesque" mean? Is it Aussie specific? Thanks.

Alex is acting like a rich spoiled brat. He bought property on Airlie Beach so he could "live on a remote island in peace and quiet." While visiting Christmas island (and before the blowup with Sebastian), he also bought 99 acres and contracted for a very expensive, very large house to be built as his & Lang's "tropical dream home." He then decides it would be a good idea to buy a (very expensive, even if on sale) six-story super yacht as "a floating home and work base for just the two of us" (Alex & Lang). Which requires a "minimum" of 15 employees to run and take care of just two people (Alex and Lang). Do two people really need three super homes?!/!?! It seem to me Alex is out of control and needs a reality check and metaphorical slap upside his head when from his dad when he visits his father's grave.

How wonderful, I take it we're all invited this year. I better book my flights. Will the embassy be putting us up or do I need to make hotel reservations?

It's a good thing Everhope has lots of closets.

One more thing that you could do for us memory-challenged is to mention the ages of the MCs from time to time. You're keeping us up on Liebe's age and occasionally Ritch's, but I lose sight of how old CJ, Owen, and the dads are from story to story. Thanks.

CJ? Rags? When was that?

I wish you well with the remodeling. Getting your office set up the way you want it will support you in doing the writing you are so good at.

I was an Orson Scott Card fan at one time. I even read his book on how to write SF. The only thing I remember from the it, he said there were three types of stories. Those that are plot driven (like a lot of action stories). Those in which world building is most important (like 'The Hobbit", where we meet all these beings along the way that have nothing to do with the plot). And those that are character driven (where the characters are fully developed people that act from who they are rather than because of plot demands), which is the kind of stories you write and that I enjoy the most. Scott Card gave an example of one of his stories in which the plot he'd started with required the hero to kill that villain at the end, it seemed the only right ending to the story. Except the character he had developed as he wrote the story would never, ever take that action. The author had written himself into a corner. Scott Card naturally chose the character over the plot, but then had to figure out how to make the story ending work as "real" for us readers, i.e., without introducing a deus ex machina.

Every year or two, I reread this story. Each time, I'm quickly drawn and can't stop reading till the end. Now that you laid out the parameters of this world, I hope you'll soon be expanding this story and adding others.

Great writing. I agree with drsawzall, lots of nuance in depicting the characters. You express a lot, but with economy of words. I'm totally drawn in, excited to know what happens. Brava!

What a great image!!

And I can understand why Lincoln said Badu didn't really fit in. Everyone is ever so polite at cocktail parties rather than 'I'm taking no more crap from you' attitude...except when someone over imbibes and let's it rip.

I also have enjoyed all the singers CJ played including some early Erykah Badu. Years ago, she co-hosted a weekly hip-hop/rap show with Davey D on KPFA radio here in Oakland, with lots of socially conscious commentary. That how introduced me to rap and helped me see that the media, as usual, completely misrepresented and demonized black life. Thanks for the link. What a great song "Tyronne" is, and Ms Badu's delivery is perfect. The humor is a nice balance to all the serious rock and roll & country songs about the singer's relationships.

Spies being subtle or considerate??????? Sounds like an oxymoron. (or a just plain moron.)

Let me add to the (possibly true) paranoia. There might be others besides Domogarov and the Russians who planted some of the listening devices, maybe when everyone has been out of the apartment. To people trying to manipulate the future in anti-democratic ways (the 1%, the Agent Orange/Steve Bannon brigade, etc.), CJ is likely on their watch list as someone who is likely to be a major power person in the U.S. that would be opposed to those forces, possibly holding high political office. Now would be a good time for them to start collecting dirt on him and Owen and their friends.

Another great chapter. We get to know about the people, about who they are. The townspeople have opened up to Ben, now they know he's Zev's true mate. Happy New Year to everyone!

Another great chapter, very pleasant, very peaceful. Is this what you meant by hoping for a return to normalcy? Today, I noticed something subtle about your writing that I sure do appreciate it. Here's an example: “Any news from Luca?” Luca Biaggi was the Amazon Mexico executive supervising the construction of the CBC Technology Center at Lupe Romero’s school." Quite a few GA authors expect readers to remember each and every character who made an appearance chapters ago, Sheesh! You're kind and considerate to us mature citizen readers who have minds like sieves some days. Gracias!

And I've got five years on you...1943

Yay. I really enjoyed the first story and can't wait for more!

When I had my broken right wrist in a cast for a month, I thought "what a great opportunity to become ambidextrous. Didn't happen. Just try using chopsticks with your non-dominant hand, it's pure slapstick comedy.😂