James K

I thought when you mentioned everything about London in the eighties you had left out the drugs, but they get mentioned too. I think you captured the period brilliantly, it doesn't really sound like the the view of an American in London, although of course it is, but coming to live there I think the narrator, Todd, became absorbed into the scene as another person like everyone else in a multi-cultural city with a lot going on. The depressed life of the period with Thatcher, strikes, and an emerging gay world were depressed, but not depressing. As mirrored in this opening chapter the youth rose above it, rebelled, even if no one won the war. There were a host of notable personalities and I'm reminded of one, Stephen Frears, who directed a film of the epoch, My Beautiful Laundrette. Anyway, great opening, promises a great story, and you told it well.

A wonderful story of a boy's journey from loneliness towards friendship. A journey full of as many twists and turns as the mountainous roads and paths on the Amalfi coast. A sometimes dangerous adventure which tests the limits of friendship and self-reliance. It's all about growing up and self-discovery and hopefully not getting hurt along the way. Overcoming obstactcles and triumphing in the end. This really is a boy's own story written with the panache of a seasoned author, James Carnarvon. A pleasure to read.

There are lots of good stories which don't use the tag "no sex" and are not books with graphic sex scenes. I remember reading a story set in France, I think it was titled Milo, I forget the author. Then there is James Carnarvon's series, which I am reading now and does have the tag. I guess you take a chance, but in my reading experience if the author doesn't use the tags for sex, like anal etc. it is a good bet the story is not graphic, so you could also search: without .... highlighting all the sex tags you don't want.

I liked chapter one, I loved chapter two, it just gets better. You have done a fantastic job of describing the details of lunar life. It's not too much, and like the fashion trend on the moon, it adds colour. Snoopy fits so well as the AI for Mike and how it functions is awesome! Great story.

I suppose every author has their unique writing style, maybe some are more distinctive. I love the way you write your dialogue, because you are very descriptive, which brings the story alive and makes the conversation real. Her voice had taken on a bossy tone that she hadn’t used since they were kids, See what I mean, a wonderful description of the dialogue that brings it alive and at the same time deepens our perception of the characters, in this instance, Ellie, Jake's sister. Or how about: The words simply tumbled out. “I think I’m falling for a guy.” That adds so much colour and flavour, Jake didn't simply say... but we live what he said, that simple description says such a lot and adds such a lot. Your writing style is unique and really excellent, which adds immensely to the enjoyment of the story.

Together We Can Fly is a superb sequel (and the fourth book in the series) to James Carnarvon's first book The Summer of the Firefly. I can only admire and applaud the way this story repeats the coming of age, self-discovery, and coping with family, that tug at the heartstrings as we hope and pray for a good outcome. With the consummate skill of a seasoned author James Carnarvon immerses us in the Italian hilltop villages and the life drama as it unfolds and touches the soul of several youngsters. This book is a gripping rollercoaster that plays with our emotions and takes us on yet another unforgettable journey. You cannot help but fall in love with the place and the all the characters that live there. The picture painted by the author is a wonderful backdrop to a powerful story which will leave a lasting impression. An absolutely wonderful story which you should not ignore!

Very good, I do all that when writing and ignore the school of thought which dictates only use he said, she said, nothing else is needed. However, my word processor does not have an em dash so I use ...

I was wondering if when you said: The story he was reading, which had been recommended to him by one of his language teachers at school, was written in French, a memoir of the writer’s boyhood adventures in the hills of Provence. Are you referring to Marcel Pagnol? The gift of an identical pendant was touching. (PS. I downloaded the story and am reading it on my ebook reader, so much better because the ebook reader keeps your page making it easy to pick up and put down).

Whilst everyone is speculating I would add that our author has within his repertoire the ability to misdirect, the sort of red herring that you read, but don't pay attention to because your focus is elsewhere. In this chapter we are thinking about Toto and Michele, Toto and Danielle, and may have overlooked Giacomo - For reasons he can’t quite explain, Daniele finds himself drawn towards a dark-eyed boy called Giacomo...

In this second novella, Michele - book three in the series, narrates what happened to Michele after the kiss from his best friend Toto. It nicely expands on the previous story and shows us the difference between real friends and those others whom you can't ever count on. There is a pervading sense of despondonce on the part of Michele due to the loss of his best friend. We used to talk about how it would feel if we could fly. We would spread our wings and soar right down to the sea, Michele reflects in a way which sums up his gloomy mood. Led into bad company the story could be tragic. It leaves us with the same questions the previous book posed. The series continues and so perhaps we shall discover some answers, because you cannot help but be drawn into the lives of these teenagers so eloquently described by the author.

This novella, a story of 14k words in four chapters, picks up the theme of James Carnarvon's first exceptionally good novel The Summer of the Firefly. It is a sequel in the sense that the protagonists of that first story are adults now and time has moved on a few years. We are once again immersed in the beautiful Italian towns and villages on the Amalfi coast which we grew to love in that first book and which are so exquisitely described and brought to life by the author. The ordeal of coming to terms with being gay, facing family, and friends, is repeated with the next generation in Toto, the boy who has grown into a teenager and whom our now adult couple, Gianni and Angelo, along with others, try to help It is as well to have read that first book to understand where we are now. I think this move forward in time is a rather clever way to revisit the past and at the same time tell a new story which echoes that previous history and revives the familiar and rather delightful setting. As a short story it is both light and deep together, the depth resonates from the past although we do not have quite the time to discover everything here, more stories promise to resolve both this new history of friendship and love, as well as our somewhat insatiable appetite for more of this world and more from this author. I recommend you start at the beginning of the series and take your time to enjoy being immersed in the place, the characters, and the histories that unfold.

Brilliant ending, there was a little tear in my eyes! Loved the story.

A second book is always a challenge, even more so when the first was such a blockbuster. I read that book before I ever joined here, it was recommended by someone who loved it, and I loved it too. You are one of the best authors on this site and this second novella in what has become a series is a great way to continue, and I am so pleased you decided to continue. The descriptions and characters make for an exquisite story. I am greatly looking forward to reading the whole series now I have the time, and like a gourmet meal these stories need the time to be savoured.

There is a document which compiles the artwork of Daniil Vinogradov, titled Expo 1863. The artwork is pointed to in the story, notably Boys in the Hay Loft, The Wrestlers, and L'érotisme des jeunes, which are depictions of actual events as is The Governor's Ball. The other pictures are examples of Daniil Vinogradov's art, but not directly related to the story, they do not appear in the story, although the Life Study may be a portrait of Aleksander Nikolaev. I had the idea to include the pictures I have mentioned, but decided not to as they perhaps detract and in a way subvert the narrative, so I took them out. In any event, the story was serialised here as I wrote it on Gay Authors where it would not be possible to publish the associated pictures. I compiled the artwork into a document intended to represent the art exhibition of Daniil Vinogradov's work in 1863 the same year Aleksander writes: It was a battle I never wanted to fight and one which you would always lose. I do not blame you for the conflict, that responsibility rests with Daniil. I forgive you for everything, just as I forgive Daniil. There is no joy in a victory which is no victory at all, only inevitable, even if you did not recognise what the outcome would be, because no doubt you thought me too weak. I can tell you now, now you are no longer here to hear it, it was not strength, but love, and love conquers all - Aleksander Nikolaev, Ryavda - 26 March 1863. Those words and the exhibition are a sort of epilogue, in that they are later reflections on earlier events, the events of the story. Daniil would never have read or heard Aleksander's words which are not directed to him, but Aleksander may have visited the art exhibition which would have been a private affair in Saint Petersburg or perhaps Moscow. However, I doubt Aleksander would have, the two former lovers separated for good in the story and did not then move in the same circles. Aleksander made his life with Petya, at least as far as we know, and if you want to believe in a happy ever after. Now the story has finished publishing here it is being rolled out on other online sites. It is possible the associated artwork (should this interest you) will be available later, perhaps on Castle Roland, but this has yet to be confirmed.

The gardens at Balapa had been greatly influenced in their design by the late Grandfather Stepanova. He had erected a building which resembled a Greek temple, with classic columns, constructed in brick and rendered in a creamy white lime. It led an odd ruined charm to one corner of the garden, now rather overgrown. Inside the portico was a hidden place obscured by bushes and vegetation of all kinds which had developed naturally in a wild and savage fashion. It was here that Petya would often com