BryanC

You're more than welcome. The nature of the weird feeling is something all people of an artistic nature endure. I go through it, too. Maybe it's reading other people's work, and too much comparison? At any rate, this is something intimate. Your skill-set is nested in your vision, I think. You've never failed to weave a compelling narrative. Just a few chapters ago, quite a few of us were raising lighters in the air over the Greg coming back to himself. That wouldn't have happened if you hadn't sold the deep doubt he was feeling and expressing. It is a personal thing though. Good luck working your way along the path. And, thanks again for a great Camp volume.

Hell, no! This is where we hear that you're writing a new piece built around Mamma's House, Lee, Avery, and Harlan pays a visit. When there, we get the backstory of how Harlan became involved with Mamma "G" and Stumpy, and Elias warms to Lee when he an Avery visit the camp for Reasons; he thought just as he began typing ... This is really a nice way of wrapping up this chapter of the Camp. These chapters were almost like the omelette: we'd get the ingredients, the grill was warming up, and then the feast. Just in time for a new chapter. And, it worked greatly. It allowed for the investment of time into a lot of people's lives over short periods of time. Nice work, Wayne! I'm eager to see where you take us next.

As I was considering the title -- 'Broken' -- and in getting to know Lee, I thought the title fit a single character. It was a mistake of focus, as every individual in the camp, is or was at one time or another, broken. This latest chapter served to bring that heart of the story back into focus. Broken pieces can be mended, but it takes a tender hand, a subtle touch, a lot of care and understanding, and trying to understand what you missed. Then the mending agent -- kitsukuroi: that precious material that only the best of us have to give. Like, Avery: caring for someone he'd never met before; Greg: shelving his apprehensions and trusting his heart and good nature. Kindness. Kindness and maybe love. I genuinely hope that Lee doesn't push helping hands, also a particularly invested helping hand and a loving heart, away because he believes himself to be too damaged. Doubting his own worth. We're all worth helping. We just need the helping hand. ... In closing, definitely glad to see Greg back to himself. I think a lot of people are.

It was a terrible eventuality. A lot of Red Threads are hanging on the same ragged edge, and the ends of those threads are in hands full of emotion. Sadly, amped-emotion clouds judgement more than it clears and validates it.

Huh? What, escape? Its difficult to be insular when there are people who are interested in your well being -- genuinely interested and engaged. Greg was the one who encouraged Clay's reconsideration of Mason and Jeremy. It would feel awkward if he didn't consider Lee just as logically. Of course, he has eyes on everyone. Avery is fragile. Lee's an orphan of the storm, too. Two broken pieces trying to find the proper fitting before the metaphorical kitsukuroi. Harlan's notice of Lee was a nice drop. I wonder if Lee's once reason for fleeing in the night will even be an issue in future chapters. Still... Great chapter. Applause, applause, applause!

I agree wholeheartedly there.

I kind of think that parting slight by Avery, and Lee's sense of self may lead to "Rotten". The jar, the knowledge of who Robin Hooded his loot, and the whirlwind of newness happening within Lee -- equal parts mind-blowing, and it probably tastes a little like the mess he left by his tent. This is going at a great pace, and the plot is weaving nicely. The potential of the broken mending the broken -- apologies if I misread that. Eagerly awaiting the next installment. Welcome back, sir. -- B.

A fifty-something year old man, having done one thing his entire life, his (maybe) sole companion dead: that could -- scratch that; would -- feel like the end of the world for him. Assuming, and it sounds cool on this path too, that the fire was an act of God, then it's even harder. The man's sad, angry, he's lost everything and the only thing he can fight back against -- no pun intended -- is like punching at smoke. A friend in another part of the country. The Southwest -- New Mexico? A counselor the encourages him to start his life over, but he's wondering what life is left. At the insistence of the friend -- a male friend? -- he strikes out for a new start? The obvious connection reestablished. The kindling romance of what their friendship was and what they both secretly wanted? Deserts have fires all the time. PTSD? Learning to live again with the only helping hand he's got? Maybe the friend has his own scars? A veteran? I see a lot of potential here. If you go down this road, I'd definitely be down to read it.

Harlan was the first questionable character, since the tricky wildlife agent (from the previous iteration of the story), but I'm glad his connection with Gary was made. They needed each other. That said, a Raven is about to spread its wings? If this site will allow, I hope you can post that awesome photo that inspired the sculpture idea. I'm reminded more and more of something you said, Wayne, about broken pieces mending each other, and how that relates to nearly every single character in camp. And, yes, Orson and Elias.

I've read this one a couple of times before -- Camp Refuge. Elias is the kindred spirit I latched onto. To see his part of the story take this much needed turn to brighter days is something I was looking forward to, even knowing where it was headed. I'll reserve commentary from there out. Been reading, Wayne. Sorry for not commenting much.

That was my thought, too. Things always seems to shine a little brighter before it gets dark for a while. The thing about reading this, is that it's practically non-fictional in its fiction. This can, has, and will happen -- different folks, different gender, different setting, and circumstances -- but this is someone's life, somewhere. The element of fantasy is set aside for the logic and practical aspects. I adore that.

Not wanting to forget the opening of this chapter. The immense pressure that Ian felt when telling his best friend his most deeply guarded secret -- the secret that almost every gay person is certain will break, destroy, sink, that friendship and brotherhood -- was written so well! That adage, "You'll never understand unless you experience it", was so well handled. I'm curious what the dichotomy of the experience will be for Ollie. I'm guessing we're heading there soon. Which leads to... An experience that requires no comment. You're writing did all the work, amazingly so. I'm not only talking about the intimacy. Ian's fear of coming out to Devan. Ollie's fear of what will happen due to his brother's blackmail. The way that Ollie's fear is meeting Ian's insecurities is like a broken heart necklace? The entire idea is that, through your writing, they feel custom made to have met each other. To share the board together. Great writing, sir! Great chapter.

I'm trying to keep from saying, "There's nothing like a two-parter to raise the stake." There's an emotional range in the love that you share with someone as a teen that is incomparable to nearly everything else during those moments of life. You captured those elements so well in these most recent chapters. And, across an amazingly cool landscape. This is seriously one of my favorite reads. Great chapter, sir! Ready for the next move.

I wish I had the chance to comment more, but you know from earlier emails that I love these folks, and your (re)telling of their lives, Wayne. Its great revisiting the campground. Just out of a kindred feeling with the character, and knowing we still have a ways to go, I'm eager to meet Elias again. (Not) Sorry, but the artist in me loves reading into the minds of other artists. Curious to see where you go with that aspect in this second edition. Great writing, as always! -- B.

Well worth the wait, man. I can't write a review-esque post at the moment, but this is a great chapter!

Story prompt: Survivor's Guilt. 'Ash and Ember' dealt with loss, and pain of loss, but not what defines survivor's guilt in someone who has cared for a partner for a long time and recently lost them, wishing it was them instead. Might be a decent foundation to built on? This is cool topic, if you choose to keep it going, Wayne.

Hickory is also a good source, as it's Walnut's closest relative around here. The thing about Walnut Ink is its timelessness. It has analogs that go all the way back to prehistory. The scent camouflage that makes Walnut so useful made it a great multi-tool: clothing dye, tattooing, cooking oil. The multiple application made it seep from the very pores of the people using it. There's even a wine that can be made from it. Certain tribes of indigenous people would even use it as war paint. Really interesting history there.

Southern Gothic, via the western slope of the Appalachian mountain chain, at its finest. Well done, sir!

I think I've read this chapter more than any other in this story. Its moving, endearing. I'll go out on a limb here, and say that it's even inspiring. As grim as things were for our trio, Tad's motivation to leave his legacy, and the luminous ray of hope for Markus; how could it not be?

Good luck, dude!

Don't think any words are necessary today. ... Waga tomo yasuraka ni. Eien no heiwa.

I actually understand the difficulty of escape better. I'm seeing this through to the end.

I think that's what makes Markus' subplot almost equal to Tad's. I identify with Tad the artist, the manic mindset regarding projects. At the start, I was looking over his shoulder, and going "Yep! I'd be there doing that, too." Then the terminal illness reveal set Tad in a new light. With Markus ... OK, you have to appreciate this from the backwards, small-town, anti-everything-but-us mentality of certain geo-political regions. You may know someone that's happy go lucky, but private in some regards. All of a sudden they start having a lot of bad days. If that person doesn't ask for help, it is really difficult to see just how dark their mindset is. The one thing that people in trouble are good at is hiding it. Shane is thinking about his bigotry; the lady Markus was with and failed to make love to, she had a kind heart, but no real question to Markus, "Are you OK?"; Lucas thought of himself and didn't offer Markus anything really; and then there's Heather that is finally reaching out. As I was reading Markus' last section in this chapter, I was thinking of him planning, contacting his landlord, giving a weeks notice to his employer, arranging his affairs, maybe finding a campground online with an open cabin rental (hint, hint), and then hitting the f!@#$%g road. I was also thinking that he was considering his best way out. Maybe he has a few more people to tell, maybe ask for help? Find the right means to end the pain (apologies for the gravity of that). For the sake of his mental and physical health. Get. Out. This is hitting me hard, but I think sometimes the worst thing is learned from as well? Not that Markus succeeds, but that he tries, fails, and finds that way out, or is helped out. Maybe via a message in a nice graphic novel or via the author or ... via something. Someone intrinsic to this story. Maybe not even finding love right away, but know that it's there and, more importantly, that he is worth it and is loved. I'm not sure how you feel about suggesting other works. If this is against the guidelines, I'll edit it out. There's a book called One Boy's Shadow, by Ross A. McCoubrey. If you have the means, it's more than worth checking out.

Its interesting how this works, right? Its not cook-cutter; no one person's experience matches the next. Still, being Out and having a proper support structure is across a vast chasm from being Out, being alone, and having nearly everyone weaponize it against you. I'm stoked that Shane's wife neutered him for his response to Markus, especially giving no room to wonder how she'd handle the situation if their son happens to be gay -- her response referred to harshly because Shane deserved to be brought down, like being knocked of a fast, galloping horse with a 4X4 wood post. Some things about this story: nothing is certain, expect the plot twist, and all the better reading for it. Still, I think Tad is, despite his terminal state, in comfort because of his friends and family. Markus may be all too willing to shorten his life abruptly because he feels so alone. I think we're going to lose Tad, at that's going to be a heartbreaking moment. I hope like hell we don't lose Markus, because that's going to be equally (maybe more) heartbreaking, because it's the death that doesn't have to happen. I get the life lesson if we do lose him, but it'll feel no less the crime against a person's missed life if it's being read here or in a news article. This is another great chapter and I don't want to distract, or take away from that. We've all been there, though, right? If you haven't lost someone down to hate, abuse, bullying... maybe thought about it yourself for those same reasons or others? You're in rare air. -- B.

Another great chapter! Tons of emotion. The keyword -- well one of them anyways -- for, well, caregivers is "compartmentalize". You have to be able to wear a smile, even if you want to cry. You have to hold up, even if you can barely stand on your own. You have to benchpress a semi, even when everyone else is telling you that you can't... The time to drop the herculean efforts will come, and you hate the relief you feel. The time to cry will be there, even before your loved one is gone sometimes, and you feel glad for the relief. The dichotomy of the lives of a person with a good heart is breathtaking and awe-inspiring. Cya next chapter.