northie

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 - just a quick note to say after tomorrow's chapter, the remaining parts of Eric's story (4 🤞) will post fortnightly. Why? Simply because the previous 6 chapters or so took longer to write than I anticipated. They're bigger (sometimes a lot bigger), more complex, and explore more complicated feelings than any of the previous chapters. So, I'm running out of time. 🙄🤷‍♂️ Making the posts fortnightly will hopefully give me enough leeway to keep up a regular posting schedule. If anything changes, I'll let you know.

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

PT 27 is intriguing. To be clear @Aditus, are you talking about simply a geographic position? Or might we be looking at time, situation, things going round in circles?

Yes, it's still very much a work in progress.

CJ and his crew aren't really my type of guys. 👀😄 That doesn't stop me from being in awe of Carlos' writing discipline and the mass of devoted followers his stories attract. Long may it continue.

Thank you! Rob is only human. A poor night's sleep, hungover, and generally in that early morning, pissed off frame of mind I can identify with, it's not perhaps surprising he loses his cool somewhat. How will it all play out? Keep reading... 🤨😄

The physical contact I was referring to was the hugs and occasional non-sexual kiss he gets from Andy and Adam. I agree Eric isn't ready for anything more, even if the idea occurred to him. Rob would make a good friend and guide but not one who's in any way exclusive to Eric in the way you describe. At least, not for now.

He would like Rob to be a friend, although I'm not sure he quite understands what that means. He's already said any physical contact is reserved for his two lads. Will this change? Who knows.

Here's more from my email commentator, written in his usual style... 🤨😄