Ieshwar

Thank you so much for such kind words.

Congratulations to the winners 🥳 Hide and Seek was amazing!

It's been over 10 years since I wrote this and your comment made me come back to it. Thank you - for reading, for this amaaazing comment and for making me rediscover a story so dear to me.

Thank you, Mark. That's really kind of you. Glad that you liked it.

We see the story from the narrator's POV but he is very much flawed - like the other two characters. So I understand your reaction; his passivity, stoicism and naivety can make this a frustrating read. Confession time: The mother is my favourite character as well. Thank you for reading

When I wrote Ceramic Dreams, I wanted to put part of me out there. I didn't expect many to connect or even identify with it. I'm happy as an author but I'm sad such a tragic theme speaks to so many. Thank you for reading and this touching comment.

Well, now that the secret is out, I'm truly sorry for breaking your heart. But I will admit that I'm glad that Ceramic Dreams touched you.

I prefer tragic stories in tiny doses as well. I totally understand. Thank you for reading.

Ok, only I can make someone swoon and then leave them feeling trampled by boulders. What can I say? I tend to have this effect on people. Ha! Thank you for reading. Sorry for making you feel sad but glad that you liked it.

Thank you for this nice comment. Life goes on and who knows, maybe (and hopefully), the teapot and its owner will find the happiness they deserve.

Thank you. Your description of the narrator's sadness as polite and sedate really struck me. It's so apt and way too real.

Thank you for these kind words. I appreciate it.

Sorry to hear about this. Here, we have seen the narrator at his lowest but people are far more resilient than we think. Sometimes, we simply need to accept that we deserve to be happy. Thanks for reading.

Thanks, Cassie! It was tough writing something so sad but the fact that it resonated with readers like you makes it worth it.

Thank you for the praise.

Thanks, kbois! Glad that you liked it.

At the risk of sounding hypocritical, I'm glad that we now have more happy and light gay stories - whether it's novels or movies. But I believe stories like Ceramic Dreams still need to be shared - as a mirror of those left behind. Thank you for reading.

First, I was happy that Parker Owens read my story and then, I was sad that I made him cry. Jokes aside, I'm touched that the story resonated with you. Thank you for reading.

Thank you. That's really kind of you.

And I thank heavens for wonderful readers like you. Thanks Tris!

Thank you, Chris, for these kind words.

I intentionally left out all mentions of name, location or timelines because ultimately, Ceramic Dreams is the story of gays across the world. Many have faced this dilemma in the past and despite all the progress we have made, it's still the case for many. I live in a somewhat conservative country and at its core, Ceramic Dreams is rooted in real experiences - if not mine, then of those around me. At least here, the loneliness and stoicism is offset by the pretty poetic prose; in real life, it's just stiflingly ugly. Thank you, Mancunian, for this touching comment.

And a hundred times thank you to you, Cane! You have been very generous with your praise and I have to say that your kind words really touched me.

Thanks a lot for these kind words, Gary. It's impossible for me to have a favourite part from the story but the part you quoted and its ensuing paragraph are truly close to my heart.

I’ll start with the most obvious part - the cats. They were adorable! Add to that the nod to the HP world. That was brilliant. I really like how Lumos and Nox live up to their name. At one point, Lumos is basking in the sunlight, almost shining. And Nox is the lost one, hidden in the shadows. And then, there’s Minnie, of course, a key part of the ending. What struck me though is how the story is brimming with hope. Yes, Evan and Maison have their own problems, whether it’s the lost kitten or being outed. But you know somehow everything will be fine. It’s in your characterisation, the bond built between them and your writing style. It’s buoyant and empathetic even in difficult moments. Someone said that each word in a short story should move towards one single mood. It’s something I aspire to and you have done brilliantly here. I also want to tip my hat to those fine poetic lines which just cut through you. The narration is judiciously restrained and light and then, you come across sentences like this: “It’s okay,” I said. I wasn’t sure what I meant… okay that he was crying, okay that he was staying here, okay right this second because he was safe. Maybe all those things. It just hits you because it feels so real. And the contrast makes it even more effective. We had some great stories in the SA contest but this was my favourite. So thank you for sharing this gem!