astone2292

There's a lot of should've and could've in fights. In the heat of battle, sometimes we don't think of possible combinations, and instead go with what we know that works. Hmm, spin it like a top you say? Is this a version of sit and spin? See and spin? With the frost layer, I'm hesitant especially against Cyrus. With the heat of his lightning, it could melt the ice into water and conduct the electricity. I might also be talking out of my ass; physics and whatnot was my worst subject in school.

Writing off Yakob already? Daaaaaaang... I mean, with a title like Death in the Shadows, there probably should be more death aside from Shaw and Sarah. I guess we'll see in the next chapter.

I'll definitely keep your offer in mind. Noah and I love going on vacations every now and then. Knowing Jake's love of sugary and sweet drinks, he probably has a bastardized Old Fashioned. I think a sugar-coated orange peel would sit in the base of the glass with a dash of orange bitters. Maybe a wheated mash bill bourbon (possibly Wilderness Trails or Bernheim 7yr Small Batch). I'd go as far as using an orange marmalade glob, either on the rim or shake it in.

Yakob has been such a great teacher. I really like writing for him. Teehee, I guess there needs to be a crossover...

Half an ounce of: gin, vodka, tequila, coconut rum, triple sec, amaretto, Southern Comfort, raspberry schnapps, peach schnapps. Shake with ice, fill the glass with half cranberry juice, half pineapple. 😋 Yakob has lived a long life, 96 years if I remember. My grandma used to say "when you reach a particular age, you lose your fear." She was a fearless and kind lady, and would stop to help just about anyone with anything. Stefan might be his only student that went to the dark side. 🤔 So quick to assume Stefan is up to no good. How cute. Thought I would tease y'all for a bit. It's not just a danger, but a tool. Remember when Shaw first met Stefan? When Stefan phased through Shaw's cuffs? I planted that seed a while back, didn't I? A shadow mage can manipulate another mage's shadows, yes. It all depends on who is stronger with control. Trouble or a wrinkle? I'm going to say 🤐. I'll have to think about the Sheboygan trip. Let's worry about Vincent for now. I'm still weighing my options for wins the big fight... Just try it! If you do, and don't like Dr. Peppermints, I'll let you decide which story I'm writing next 😉 (Cernunnos sequel, Zombies in the Shadows, Cow-man, or my mail-order husband story I just finished the plotgraph for). Ah, but if he can manifest his fear in mid-battle, he can dodge effectively... And what makes you think the gods are involved? 😛

His assignment in Japan was interesting. Vincent was quiet for most of the meetings but kept his translator app on. Only able to keep up with half of the conversations, his resolve to learn another language was strengthened. I doubt Marlo would want an auditor just for the States. Looks like I'm learning German. Having Jake along for the ride was entertaining. Just like RJ's initial description of him, the human was a literal cub. He was a few inches taller than Vincent, but he had stout s

Just you wait for next month's edition. I'm picking up the wind-blown caution and shoving it in a wood chipper.

I'm sorry I'm an eager beta-reader...

Thank you to everyone who make the anthology possible. Val, Cia, Myr, the proofing team, as well as all who helped out with editing at the last minute. Y'all are heroes!

Aside from my personal beef with the fact I got no action like this when I was in Boy Scouts... This was a great story! The emotions within the words brought me back to my teenage years, and I resonated with Josh so much. I was the "trembling little twerp" just like him, surrounded by guys my age with twice the amount of muscle mass. Reading this was a blast, and I'm looking forward to more of the author's work.

I am so jealous!!! I put in my umpteen years in Scouts and I didn't get a single minute of hot action like this! Even did an Eagle Scout project and I'm 99% certain no hanky-panky was committed. Soapbox aside, wonderful story, @Comicality

I had some skepticism involving this story, as I am the opposite of a car-buff. Got no idea where a muffler is or what an alternator does, but what I do know is good storytelling. Listen here, I was suckered in by the slow pace and attention to detail. The calm romance is very addictive. Great work, @Mancunian!

Pfft. Went ahead and wrote the review without leaving a comment. Whoopsies. I forkin' love this story! I resonated so much with the main character, knowing I would never be happy in today's society and expectations. Being a Boy Scout, there were times I wanted to spend summers outside. Lovely story, @W_L!

This year's anthology stories are ones for the record books, this one in particular. The inspiration for this one can be felt through every line. A very passionate attention to detail and pacing sits througout the adventure. Brilliant writing, Mancunian!

I'm so excited!! Already left a review for one, and got another cookin' in a different tab. These stories are awesome! Get readin', y'all!

I'm almost speechless. My fingers want to move and type, but my brain can't formulate how amazing this piece was. Your inspiration for this story was spot-on. This was a great story to read as I get ready for bed. The peaceful tranquility of the campsite, the connection between the reader and the main character... It's so powerful. It subtly hypnotizes you, making you smile throughout the whole way. The ending was unexpected, yet satisfyingly unsatisfying... If that makes any sense. Bravo, W_L!

Dr. Peppermints will change your life. Just pick up a can and a shot and you're golden. Had to look up Ballotin. Ain't got that here in KY, as far as I'm aware. I'll stick schnapps in a chocolate cream liqueur with a Smucker's Shell topping then let it sit in the freezer for a few minutes. Liquid Klondike bar.

Apple pie shine goes with salted caramel whiskey. 😋 Although, I've been stuck on Dr. Peppermints for a bit (Dr. Pepper + high proof peppermint schnapps).

Gurl nooooooo!! Birddog is gunky! Blegh! Stick with your Ole Smoky Blackberry. Much more delectable. Slightly less alcohol but it'll make you wanna drink more. Or I can send you some Howler Head Banana bourbon we make here in Owensboro. Tastes like if Willy Wonka stuck Laffy Taffy in a whiskey barrel.

What a juicy chapter! Love it all! The battery being mentioned as old tech made me giggle. I think Essell being turned in is a great idea. Timok can portray as the guy bringing him in. Then he can reveal it was himself who knocked out Garjah like the cuck he is. Bouncer's sentience didn't even register until the comments. Daaaaaaang, I'm slackin'.

@weinerdog you do see doc's profile picture, right? Knights have helmets. Gotta go the joints. Suggestion. When all's said and done, the gang should compete in the mini-van Olympics. Events take place in the cargo holds and can include Soup-Eating, Texas Hold'em, and a tequila shot competition, all while whizzing down the highway with reckless abandon. Oh!!!!!!!! That's why you listed them all. Sorry, my sociopathic self took the wheel when editing. My feels took a back seat. Just wait until she mixes peanut butter whiskey and blackberry moonshine for PB&J shots. Nothing, and I repeat, nothing is more poetic in life or literature than peanut butter and jelly.

Thanks so much for reading! I'm tickled you enjoyed Cyn and Shea's story.

Are you ready for the best intro to an Ask An Author article? I certainly am! Honestly, it could be a great title to the series we're featuring this month. "Ask An Author, Charlie Boone!" That's right! We got a set of questions for @Geron Kees's wonderful series, Charlie Boone. Even if you haven't read any of the stories, you've probably seen the titles in the Story Archives. With twenty completed stories, I'm sure it was difficult for our anonymous reader to only ask four questions. Let's get right to it! • • • • • Charlie Boone Geron Kees 20 Stories / 760,120 Words / Rating: Mature When you started the series back in 2016, did you expect to still be writing the series 6 years later? I never had an inkling that there would ever be more than one Charlie Boone tale. The first one was just a stab at a Halloween tale, and the title was an obvious parody of another writer's title. That first tale had no supernatural, fantasy, or science fiction elements to it. The response was better than I expected, and several readers mentioned the possibility of a story for Christmas. So I decided to do another. That first Christmas tale was the one where Max was introduced, and the fantasy element entered the story line. The treatment of the title was repeated, sort of, and has become the standard for the series. Do you find it easy to come up with new adventures, for whichever holiday? I actually don't have trouble thinking up plots for new stories. I'm a lifelong reader, and that sort of develops a melting pot of ideas inside. I never plot out any of these tales first. I start with the germ of an idea for a new story centered on the holiday, and then just go from there. The stories tend to write themselves as I go along. I know some writers create outlines and plot their stories in great detail before they ever sit to write. I tend to wing it, research things as I move along, and wake up in the mornings with new ideas. Seems to work, more or less! Did you envisage Charlie and Kip having such a large group of friends, and is it easy to keep track of them all? Um....no. I never imagined Charlie and his immediate friends getting to know so many others. But new characters popped up as the series progressed, and many somehow managed to find fans that wanted to see more of them. The character list is so large now that I can't include everyone in each story without pulling my hair out. So I try to rotate among them from one story to the next so everyone gets a turn to adventure a little with the guys. And yes, I do have trouble keeping track of each character's specifics now, as all of them have developed and changed over time. I have to keep notes, definitely. Remembering to update them is the hard part! Do you have more adventures planned for Charlie Boone and friends? After spending so much time with Charlie and the gang, they've become friends of mine, too. I really have no desire to let them go, though I have had to make concessions to time. With the holiday theme of each tale, I pretty much have to drop whatever I'm doing as a holiday approaches in order to write a new CB tale. This has seriously interfered with efforts to write other stories, and I had to drop the Valentine's Day-themed Charlie Boone tale as a result. I plan to keep with the series as long as readers read them. But the holiday themes may have to become less a part of the story, so that I can write these in between other tales. But I'll have to see how it goes! I also have plans to add some stories to the series that revolve around some of Charlie's friends, but may not include the regular group of main characters. All the characters in the series have lives that go on when they are not with Charlie, Kip, and the others, and it seems like a fun idea to maybe write a few tales about them as they move through their own days. Stay tuned! • • • • • And there you have it. I hope these questions and answers encourages y'all to go reading. If you like Ask An Author and the insight the authors provide, send me three or so questions for your favorite story. I'll go knock on the author's door with my little notepad and jot down their responses. Don't think I forgot how much fun everyone had when I gave the asking power to the comment section. Let's have some fun. For the fans of the Charlie Boone series, if y'all have any questions of your own, drop 'em in the comments. Just don't go hog-wild; one question per person. We don't want to overload @Geron Kees, do we? Until next month.

RIP coffee. Your temperature went to a good cause. 💙