northie

Here's part of the latest email from my commentator:

Yes. Would the old Eric be able to marshal something like that? No. He's changed so much, though sometimes, he doesn't like to admit he has. 🤨😄

One of the main things is the actual meeting. Victim and perpetrator look each other in the eye. Plus it's not a cross-examination, more a chance to communicate how one person's actions affected the other. On that basis, it worked, I think.

My gut instinct is to say he grabs the opportunity. It wouldn't be straightforward - not with his family situation - but the general trajectory would be upwards.

That's something you'll have to imagine for yourself. Although my editor did push for me to write Tyler's story. To which, the answer's 'no'.

Hasn't he just. Coupled with increased self-awareness and a stronger connection to the outside world.

Eyes slitted against sunshine that had no fucking right to exist so early, Tyler Jackson scowled at the shirt he held out at arm's length. Supposedly white, various stains on the thin, greying fabric were now joined by a small burn on one cuff. Small, but fucking obvious. “Bollocks.” He'd left the iron for two seconds to catch a notification. Story of his fucking life. He only possessed two school shirts – both second-hand – and the other had splodges of grease and ketchup from the day

There will be a chapter tomorrow. Yay. Only one more to go after that. 👀 Will that be the end for Eric? Yes and no. I have no plans to continue his story (though my editor made a wild suggestion for Tyler's to be written). What I do intend is to combine all 3 volumes and give them a thorough (possibly quite vicious) overhaul. While the overall story arc will remain the same, the resulting novel will reflect my growth as a writer. Character development and psychology, back stories, better integration of secondary characters will help as will stronger and more complex plotting (including foreshadowing). What won't be lost is Eric. I hope to give this favourite character of mine more depth and more complexity. The same mindset applies to the other major players in his story. What the timeline is for this is anyone's guess. While I love being in Eric's world, I have been there for quite a while and I need to spread my wings. It will happen. I can promise that. I've put too much of myself into this story to leave it as it is.

OK - having got the last chapter in by the skin of my teeth, I then went on holiday. Sigh. Any plans for getting going on the next chapter didn't happen. It's now well on the way but it won't be ready for tomorrow. Next Friday - sorry.

That's true. I think Eric's had more effect on Andy, simply because they've had more time together. And, you could argue, because Andy's had more of a journey to go on.

Here's the link:

Yes, I know from my own experience you can lose any facility you possessed for making conversation and generally being sociable. I'm not sure Eric ever was a conversationalist. 🤨

No, it's a drama with a general romance tag for Andy and Adam. Definitely not Eric.

He does. Getting through life on your own requires grit, however that life pans out.

A couple of comments from my email reader: And...

👀 Now that's one twist I hadn't considered. 🤨😄 I haven't said a huge amount about his former carer but she definitely isn't Tyler's mum.

Maybe it's something you'll have to imagine for yourself?

Yes. Maybe he's not quite as blunt as he was at the start? There's still the tendency to call a spade a spade. I don't think that will ever change. I largely regard that as being done with the move to Ross on Wye and the start of her new life. It may not be tied off with a bow but it brings her story to a satisfactory conclusion. As for the court case against her husband - justice grinds exceeding slow. In the time frame of the story, knowing he's been charged is as much of a conclusion as is possible.

If you were to say the epilogue is the wedding reception, I wouldn't correct you. 😉

A lot? 👀 There are some loose ends, yes, but I wouldn't describe what's left as a lot.

Eric lay in bed listening to rain pounding down on the cottage's tiled roof. Grey light crept round the dingy, yet aggressively floral, curtains. He lacked the energy to start his day. A swirl of air hurled more rain against the window, rattling its casement. What had happened to the previous weekend's glorious weather? The bedroom's dim, monochrome flatness suited his mood. Eric squirmed under the sheets until he found a more comfortable position. The mattress lurched and complained. It ne

Thank you, you're very kind to say so. Melodrama isn't usually my thing. Some people might say, drama isn't my thing either. 🤨😁

You may be waiting a while (if you're talking about Eric initiating anything). Quite possibly beyond the scope of this story.

Update... and suddenly this morning, I can get on the site no problem. That's without me updating my router or doing anything else this end. Weird. Thanks for all help and suggestions.

At least Eric's giving it a go. I imagine he'll stick with the phone even though he might regard it as being a pact with the devil.