Krista

I think we all have those secrets. There aren't too many people out there walking around as open books... There are things that I will never tell. Not because I don't think no one would accept hearing them. There's pain and if I can spare them the 'history' that caused it, I think it is best that I am the only one carrying it around. Especially since I've made peace with those things myself. But that is my thinking. A smarter person might tell you --- it is a lighter burden if there's more people around you willing to carry it.

Aww. I do hope that gave you peace.

My revenge for these comments will be swift and glorious.

It was a shock to me too, mind you... and I lived it. Luckily I picked something that I ended up enjoying... but it all started because my undergraduate studies opened the door for me... lol. I'm lucky, because if I didn't like those doors I was screwed and wasted years of my life.

I do like writing them. For me, these characters are interesting in their overall growth. It is a time in a person's life when they're figuring it out... and they have the freedom to do so. As in, they're not burdened down by adult expectations like a job, bills, keeping a roof over their heads. There is also this knowing feeling that all that is coming and those big decisions are looming like a mountain on the horizon and the only road available is the one that goes right over it. Having the freedom to still be... naive? I don't want to say innocent... for reasons. That's why I also like to depict older teenagers that are on that journey, because there is a fleeting timetable and I can live in the happy medium of that and depict those fears of growing up, but still living fully in the 'now' of late teenage life where they think they're a little bit invincible. Still have time to be reckless. That they can be messy and still recover. It is definitely not a time period in ones life that people should belittle or take for granted. I did not have the upbringing my characters have had, I did not have to come out. I did not have to wonder what people thought about me, if they'd accept me for such and such reasons. I was allowed to be as I am and take what came. Although, I still "came of age" my own way, and could reflect on some of those feelings, then inject them into the writing... as people usually do. And honestly, people do 'come of age' well into adulthood. It can be a lot to finally be sure in the shoes you're wearing... so they say. I know it took me a bit to land on my profession. I'm glad it was something that my undergrad was supported by or I would've been a lifer in college... at least for a time. There was a time in my life when I wanted to be a Math teacher... yikes. Glad I came to my senses. but yes, with saying that... I have been writing these stories for the bulk of my writing here. I dabbled I believe once in Fantasy, and didn't do all that well with them. Then I wrote a full-blown soap-opera. Roommates was still a coming of age story, although it depicted older characters, but that story is rather old. I kind of want to lean into ideas that have never been on the burner for me. I just wish I honestly knew what those ideas are so I can settle into writing my next story whilst this one is still in the posting phase. Who knows, I may still do coming of age/slice of life stories... I may just do them in Fantasy, or period pieces, etc. Maybe this type of story is the butter to my toast.

Well you made writing a 54 chapter nearly 500k story sound like a stroll in the park. If I had that schedule in my college years, I'd lose all sense and sanity. Right out the window. And, I have a Doctorate degree in my field... and even with that in mind, your college years sounded daunting. I am glad you came out the other end of it knowing what you just accomplished. My goodness.

Thank you! The 'idea' could work with new characters without established relationships and such a lot better. I don't want to do it though, I've never been an author that liked to depict a lot of drug use in my writing... at least when it comes to something more advanced than alcohol and tobacco... which I don't think I've ever really depicted tobacco use a lot either. I think it did feature some in AYC, but I can't remember. So, that would be another issue I'd have to overcome, I couldn't force a fast resolution on it either. I have a few more snippets that I'm weighing my options on. I may re-release "The Vagina That Heals," for giggles... but I don't know that in this day and age people would get that it is 100% a joke.

Aside from making Jackson a bit annoying and difficult to like, I do like to write coming of age stories. That is what I set out to do with most of my writing so far, with a little break here and there. I do want to step away from coming of age though. I've been in that sort of genre for a bit. I always knew how I wanted to end 'The Best Year,' that was never a doubt in my mind. Getting it there was the issue with me at times, because the story to me just never felt like it was going to get over that hump of getting there. I could have, numerous times jumped it up there, but I kept introducing little bits of conflict and adding more character stuff to the plot that I then had to turn around and resolve all over again. I am glad you feel that TBY told the whole coming of age arc, with both Jackson/Luke and the rest of the teenagers, but the parents as well. I remember a lot of you not being too happy with Jackson, or the parental figures in the story at one point. I'm glad you thought they grew together throughout. What helped me along with TBY was also coming to the mindset of, "I've not done this in my writing yet..." I never had a character go to their prom. So I wrote the prom portions of the story. Then I thought, "well I never had a character get married..." and that fell in line with how I wanted the story to end anyway, so I just upgraded the ending from Jackson and Luke's anniversary party, to their actual wedding itself. I was going to marry them off-screen. I actually thought about jumping from pre-'epiclogue' to them moving into their first home together as a married couple. Backtracked that a bit. But yes, it will always be a story that I am proud of, but it was also a story that I have to admit almost done me in with this whole writing thing.

Aww, I'm glad you came back to the story. As much as I fought and scraped by at times to gather up the motivation to continue it... to see people reading through it again, or starting it, or whatever.. it does make me proud to have finally actually finished the dang thing.. lol. I hope to never hit the 400k range in words ever again though, that was a task and a half.

I do wonder how many of my friends describe me in such a way. And, I am not in the least a UNC fan. I can't be. No... no... no. I do like the powder blue though.

We lost some members due to illnesses that were reading that story, it does weigh heavily on me that I couldn't get them the complete story before they left us. I know one kept joking about my weeks to months between chapters. I miss him. I also did lose a lot of readers during that story, because of those delays. It was a wakeup call for me to finish anything that I plan to post. I know some writers can't do that, they need the motivation. I do as well... readers carry this for me. I do writing for me, but I take the time to post and such for y'all. And for me, but mostly for y'all. I was of the mind that I lost a lot of you with TBY, that I almost said I was finished with the work of working up a story for posting. Ridley and Elias kind of convinced me to move forward with more writing and here we are. It is symbiotic. The Author should work for and with the readers in a nice and healthy community building way, and the readers should, if they're a reader.. give something back. I have been so... grateful with this story so far, for y'all taking the time to leave me reactions, comments, and just small-talk banter. So, I thank you guys too.

Aww. It took me 5+ years to write, "The Best Year..." people suffered a really long time for that one. Sadly.

Rest easy, for better or worse this story is completely written and waiting to be posted. What's taking it so long is that I'm splitting massive 20 - 50k chapters up and doubling the chapter count. If I left it alone, this chapter would have been 20k in words. In my documents I think it is the first half of chapter eight. Here it is chapter twelve. I am nervous that me splitting these massive chapters up may be doing some harm to the story. He did open up, but it it was in a way that wouldn't be beneficial for Celia to really act upon, because she knew it was him reeling from that phone call, I'm thinking. But yes, there are some hints into how Davin's parents are as well... and there are some connections there, with both twins really, because none of them have a stable family life it seems.

I agree. That is why I cancelled this sequel. It was too much of a change for all the established characters to overcome. I posted this, because I had the idea to release some unfinished/abandoned stories. To show some of the works that wouldn't ever see the light of day. Explain why I no longer would be continuing them. So, the sequel to 'Are You Christian,' isn't something that I'll ever consider working on. I probably needed to explain that better before I posted. I have a few more unfinished stories just like this, but if it isn't something people would really bother with wanting to read, knowing the idea will never be finished, maybe it would be best if they stay just with me and not posted here as "prompts..."

Looking out across the trees and houses below, Landfalls looked a lot bigger up here on the water tower. I sat with my legs dangling over the edge, my arms crossed on the safety railing, resting my head. Landfalls Water Company was in faded Carolina blue, with rusty patches from the lack of repainting and over the years it became one of my favorite places to think. I had graduated from Landfalls High and in a week I would be heading off to the University of North Carolina. Looking back, I

Yeah, bravery can go a lot of ways for teens. Showing out as a hero being the best case scenario... and only good one really, and teenagers are stubborn, you will not get the 'props' you deserve for that bravery unless you do it well above their lofty expectations. Finding yourself in a hospital with your leg in a cast... then the worst, the naysayers winning if you fall on your ass in front of them.

I used to not be good with comments. Jury is still out if I am, some may disagree. It is good that you think so though. I do try to be open and honest, and I know that my writing isn't the most polished. I don't claim to be. I have opinions on writing and techniques that I share, but I know as I'm typing it all out that it is coming from a place of 'my' personal understanding and that it may limit me. For everything else, I do like privacy, but I can't help telling you all the lived experiences that help shape my stories. If that helps you understand a character better, then it is good that I did share it. If that allows you to understand where I'm coming from, the type of stories that I like to tell -- then me keeping that all to myself might be a detriment to that. I want you to connect with my writing, and to me and if I can help that along by telling you little bits and pieces of my experiences then I hope I can keep doing that. And, maybe not say things that get the 😮 reaction 'too' often for my liking.. But also, who knows... I may also take up the challenge as well, we'll see. But yes, I added the Twins because I am raising twins and their whole dynamic and how they react to their siblings are an interest to me. My twins are a boy and girl set though, so there are differences... as in, my daughter is a lot meaner than my son... must be my genetics hitting her right in the face, where as my husband's very soft-golden retriever genetics blessed my son. She scares me a little... lol

and, you will have to reconcile the fact that when you leave that island, you're opening yourself up to pain that you don't know if you can handle. People don't isolate themselves to protect themselves from pain. They're feeling it, constantly. The reason they're isolating is because of the thought that nothing else can hurt them, because they're not going to ever be open enough to allow it. That island is a sanctuary and a prison.

Yeah, I think it is safe to say that he quietly did tell Celia the 'extent' of how he found Joel. It would be a disservice to her if he didn't. He may not have shared Joel's secret, either. Trace had to weigh the options very quickly, he had to determine if this kid on the side of the road was a danger to his family before taking him in. Or just a danger to himself, and he thought capable of undermining anything Joel would attempt to do. If he went into this whole thing and didn't tell Celia what she was about to step into, it would never have worked... I don't think. She wouldn't know how to approach him, where to stand down, where to push... how to do it... A lot of what they did was just naturally in them too... but yeah, if there wasn't information shared, then it wouldn't have worked... I don't think.

All I'm going to say is, that I am fully aware of that study. That I have read it, and I also covered it in two psychology courses I took in College. *whistles* Gavin and Davin aren't identical either. They look similar, but there's distinct differences about both of them. Much of Joel's confusion came from not being able to place a name with the correct twin in the beginning. Now that he knows them, he knows which one he's looking at because of those non-identical differences. Now, in the writing I've had to edit and switch out letters to correct myself on which twin I am talking about or interacting with in the scenes. But I've also called Colt - Cody numerous times... and some of those were embarrassing when I've had to go back and correct them.

Maybe it won't be so easy to blindside him now that Trace is a buffer by taking the phone calls he may receive from them in the future. Maybe that will be as far as their cruelty will go? If we're thinking they've gone beyond the point of no reconciliation, that is...

DSB, sounds dreadful. Poor guy. He does seem grouchy at times... quiet. Maybe a bit whipped by Sierra, so maybe it is the opposite? Maybe he's gotten a taste and has tunnel vision and will now clash with what is expected of him if it doesn't align to his plans involving her, or her plans involving him. It was very embarrassing for me when I dated as a younger teenager and thought my boyfriends were more central to my world. Looking back, the relationship didn't deserve that level of commitment. They were all too shallow when we thought we were hanging the moon. But I guess that's what makes it all count too... Then again, he might also just be a bit spoiled and a bratty little shit. What betting odds are we thinking? Trace promised to get Cody up to the Ranch for a visit. Honorable. We all also know who holds the true power to make that happen...

Yeah... it was an unavoidable pothole in the road... maybe he won't let it get in the way of his entire trip. We'll see if Lacey can convince him to take another lesson. He might think he has to behave if riding lessons are a form of small punishments.