northie

I don't think that's fair. Yes, Eric recalled Rob well after such a long gap (don't forget he couldn't name Rob for quite a while after he spotted the other man Leominster) but I don't think he 'lusted' after him. Yearning or a need for a connection with someone like him is more like it. Rob wasn't introduced into the story as a love interest. I know a number of readers have wished for that but it's not my intention.

A slightly eye-opening comment from my usual email commenter:

❤ You and me both. Plus a few other people as well. 🤨😄 Whatever else I write, Eric (and the other characters) will occupy a special place in my heart.

I beg to disagree. Rob is fairly typical of one sort of gay man of his age. Some will be married, others not. Some will be playing the hook-up game. others, not. Being somewhere new was an excuse to hook up. He doesn't in Herefordshire, partly because there isn't any scene to speak of. As a volunteer, he doesn't get paid for the mentoring work he does. He may not be perfect but he does take his work (paid or otherwise) seriously.

😄 It's easy enough when your mind's elsewhere not to see what's in front of you.

Yes, we're seeing more of who Rob is. Eric has been changing all the way through this story really. Small steps; sometimes, larger ones.

Some people find this easier than others. 🤨😄

In his workshop – studio, if he needed to be posh – Rob stared aimlessly into space. He sat slumped back in his seat, fingers draped over the edge of his functional IKEA desk. People laughed when he said where the desk came from. What did he care? Office furniture wasn't his thing. Instead of the usual Tuesday afternoon chore of writing up that morning's session with Tyler Jackson, or indeed doing anything useful, his thoughts slid back to the holiday in Norwich. A smile played on his lips. His

Deeply, achingly personal though they are, these poems are also universal. They celebrate the dances of two human bodies, two souls, two lovers who wish always to make the physicality of their desires real. The poems are a masterclass in erotic writing. Without ever engaging an internet blocking filter, the deep and lasting heat of desire and the joining of bodies is portrayed with a loving intimacy. Love is love. In the heart, in the soul, and in the celebration of two kindred spirits coming together.

Hmm... 🤨😁 I'm one of these annoying European writers whose stories stop at a point, leaving the reader to imagine the rest. There are 4 more chapters to come (or 3 plus an epilogue).

You are too kind. I think I've learnt gradually where to put more detail and where to hold off.

That's spot on. Andy realises only too well what an idiot (if a well-meaning one) he was back then. Eric can now laugh the incident off.

Thank you - you're very kind. The emotional element kind of came out of nowhere. I wanted to circle back to the start of everything and this is where my imagination took me.

Yes. For Andy, the memory brings both laughter and acute embarrassment. Eric is now able to laugh it off - a great improvement.

Getting towards the end of the story, I thought some attempt at circularity and explanation was due. Letting the characters think about the start of their relationship brings our minds back there too.

It was Monday morning, Eric reminded himself. Standing in the garden, he was hanging out washing that should've been done the previous Friday. A sharp breeze tugged at the sleeves of a formal shirt as he pegged it to the line. The chill meant one of the faded red plastic pegs fell from his hand. Bending stiffly at the waist, he retrieved the peg from the grass. The shirt billowed and flapped in his face as he straightened up. At least it appeared to be a good drying day. He grimaced. Doing

OK - getting back to original question... (Everything else has been fascinating as well 😉) There are plenty of stories on GA that have no reviews at all. Would that stop me from them a look? No. If a story has consistent reviews of 3 stars or less, then I'm unlikely to seriously consider it. Maybe I'd sample a chapter to get a feel but that's more likely to be a looking for issues way rather than intending to get into the story. Should people only give glowing reviews? No, but any comments should be fair and if possible, constructive. Some members will feel more able to do this than others. The lowest rating I'd leave (I'm taking my Audible experience here) would be 3 stars. If a story warranted anything lower, I'd have given up long before the end. Should authors only expect glowing reviews / ratings? Again, no. It's what we'd all love to see, but if all ratings are 5 star, they are largely meaningless. I'm much more interested in the review / comments. I remember receiving a comment on an earlyish short story which basically said it was a poor reading experience (I'm paraphrasing). Yes, it hurts but when I stood back and reconsidered, it was largely warranted. I went back and rewrote the story. I understand that not all writers will be happy taking that level of criticism. I wouldn't be happy giving that sort of comment. At the end of day, you're putting your work out into the public domain. Yes, it's *only* GA but that's what it is. As an author, I care about what my readers think. Good or bad. Every comment adds to the experience. I might not agree with them all but that shouldn't prevent readers from giving me their honest opinion. If an author contacted me in this way, I'd not bother leaving any further comments or reviews on that author's work. Such a one-sided expectation isn't worth the time.

Thank you! You're very sweet to say so. The ending was one of those which I'd settled on several months before actually writing the chapter.

I do come up with them occasionally. 🤨😄

Thank you. The word 'carapace' just popped into my head and demanded it be used. 🤨 It is a big step to get in tune with yourself, or maybe start to reinterpret the earlier feelings you've had.

Maybe most, but certainly not all the work. Eric has his part to play as well.

Thank you. You're very kind. It's one of the main areas in which my writing has improved hugely since I first started on Eric's story.

Yep. Did you really think I'd allow it to go any other way? 🤨😄

Yes, whatever's gone on, whose fault it might've been and all that, on one level or another, they do care about each other.

Within the confines of Eric's galley kitchen, Andy shook out empty shopping bags and placed them on top of the elderly fridge. He knew from habit that was where Eric expected to find them. The older man had retreated to the living room, that week's local paper his excuse. Andy peered round the door to see him staring into space, newspaper forgotten in his lap. Their trip to the supermarket had gone smoothly enough, with each assuming their habitual role. Andy smiled to himself. The other ma