Wayne Gray

We'll see. 🙂 Thanks, Thorn.

Very good question. You ask a lot of those! 😊

I'm a nice guy. I think about how others feel, consider their beliefs, and I try to be respectful in as many things as I can. So when I write I do my best to adhere to those same principals. Yet, therein lies a limitation. Not rocking the boat of the reader, not challenging their beliefs, not forcing them to grow is a failing. It's one that I struggle to move beyond, and it has kept me from posting work. I know some of the things I've written will simply not pass muster for some readers who are decidedly experts in their own slice of experience - an experience I seek to depict as an integral part of my story. A friend had to remind me that I'm not claiming to be an authority. That I am only showing the lives and struggles of my characters, and not staking ownership on the only path. I've put in the work. I've done my diligence, and it's time to set it free. Anyway, this one means a lot to me. It means a lot. Maybe that's a part of why I have such a tremendous trepidation around turning it loose. The pictures embedded in most of the scenes are part and parcel of the work, which is why I am only linking it from my Google drive vs posting. By the way, Pexels is a fantastic place to dig up free to use pictures for your own artistic endeavors, and BeFunky was the program I used to tinker with them and add captions. Fleeting Eternity It can be a tough story to read. There's a lot of emotion here, but I love how it turned out. So, here we go. As terrifying as it is, I'm setting it free.

Wren isn't just a hedonistic party boy. That's him in San Diego because that's what the city expected of a cute, young, gay man. Those expectations fall away when he goes home. There's more to come. Thanks for reading!

Thanks, tim. Wren is still under stress, but now he's dealing with people he loves. That changes things for most of us. We'll get to see more of his true colors as time goes on. Thanks for reading!

Yep, I do. 🙂 Thanks again for editing, I appreciate that. There's a lot more coming, so buckle up. We've got a fun journey to take together.

I grew up near a boy named "Wren". We all thought his name was cool because we had never heard it at all before (boy or girl name). *shrug* It's nearly impossible to explain the rural mindset and the absolute knowledge that you will help your neighbors with their struggles. You don't ask for help but it comes to you. Rachel feeds them, and the boys help her. And that's the same trade with kids on farms. Farmers had kids for a reason apart from the desire to raise a family. And we'll have to see about Wren's dream to actually build a beautiful little eco-friendly house. Maybe if he had help ... 🙂

Thanks, Chris! Travis is definitely confused. Funerals are crappy ... but also a way for people to pay respects and get closure. Mom is very nice. Charles and Caleb will burst onto the scene soon! 🙂 Thanks for reading, rating, and commenting!

The next morning, Saturday dawned bright and clear. For Wren, the day began as an awkward study in silence and avoidance as he and Travis went through their a.m. routines in the small space of the apartment. Wren regretted what he had done the night before under the influence of the booze but couldn't find a way to apologize to Travis without doing even more harm to their strained relationship. Instead of hanging out at home and in the path of his uncommunicative roommate, Wren walked to a l

Nice! Congrats, kids!

I am willing to accept that I find value in things you do not. 🙂

I am very careful to avoid politics. You guys take it to DM, please. @Jason Rimbaud @droughtquake

Hi Carlos. My superpower is a willingness and ability to learn from anybody. I know my limits, and I'm willing to accept there are teachable moments in everything which means I'll always improve. Thanks for noticing (and thanks to Thorn for the editing). Of course, it's your call to wait until it's complete. I've never failed to finish something once I start, but I get it. Thanks for reading/commenting.

I don't, unfortunately. Lots of Google Translate, help from a couple of Italian speaking beta readers, and a lot of back and forth until it was as right as I could get it. I'm glad it flows well. I had to work really hard for it.

Yep. I know. He's not a very likable guy right now. Give him a chance. Under stress, many of us are not pleasant to be around. And, have no doubt ... he's stressed.

When I was in San Diego 2003-2004 it rained once. The rest of the precipitation (all five inches all year) was from the marine layer. I HATE that city. lol

Perhaps. Or perhaps the author is a truly shifty bastard, and you don't know who to trust until the very end of the story? We can always hope.

tee-hee!

You still get full credit since you set the curve. 🙂 And thank you. Guarded is the only suspense/mystery I've ever completed. I've started one in Silverwolf that I hope will turn out well and suspenseful. But I don't know. I'll have to see how it ultimately plays out.

You're not detracting at all, I don't think. I'm glad it's worth reading again, Peter. Thanks for the nice comment!

Hehehe ... thanks! I'm happy you liked it. This genre and increased erotic elements are new to me. But, I'm all in! Thanks for commenting.

Eventually, all is revealed. That I can guarantee. Corbin's hormones aren't allowing him to do well at laying low. Paul is trying ... but Corbin is really making that tough on the poor guy. Keep on truckin'. And thanks for the comments.

No need for apologies, Kitt. You're doing me a favor by commenting, so, thank you. I don't want to ruin things for you, so all I can say is to keep on reading. I think Paul clarifies what he does in the next chapter as well. I've said repeatedly that if a reader isn't hooked after chapter five then it's not going to happen. I love getting feedback on all of the chapters, but I really want to know what you think of that one! 🙂

I’m glad you’re intrigued! And hell, that cabin is my kind of place too. 😊 I hope you continue to enjoy it, Kitt. Thanks for commenting and reading.

I really don't like stories with "perfect" characters. NONE of my folks are perfect. They're all flawed and messed up, and they make mistakes that the reader watches occur with a hand on their forehead, and a disappointed sigh. "What the hell are you DOING? I get it, but you are being such an ass right now." That's a thought I want people to have. 😋 Wren is so flawed. He's struggling, frustrated, and at a crossroads of sorts. A young guy trying to figure out which way he's going can be someone who is really difficult to deal with. That's my goal with this chapter. I hope it came through.