Adam Phillips

Hey there, Lord Skovo. But I thought you were a bear, not a dog... I have read and admired everything Joe Hayes has written. I'm especially crazy about A Map of the Harbor Islands, although I'm equally crazy about the short story "Regular Flattop." I used to correspond with Joe fairly regularly. He has read Crosscurrents, and I have had the honor of reading a draft of his latest, as-yet-unpublished, novel. It's been a while since I've heard from him, but he's a hell of a guy, and I'm honored to be mentioned in the same breath. I'd like to have a tenth of his ability. Anyone who hasn't read his stuff is advised to pick up a used copy of the short story collection (it's out of print) This Thing Called Courage and especially to check out the first story, "Regular Flattop." It's as close to perfect as a literary work can be. Then, after he's warmed and broken your heart with that one, read the rest, and then pick up a used copy of (also out of print) A Map of the Harbor Islands. Joe is, for my money, the undisputed king of gay coming-of-age narrative. He writes with skill, instinct, and heart. And he writes true.

Chapter 29 of Crosscurrents has been posted. True to his resolve in the previous chapter, Andy decides to Walk A Different Way. Finally. I was getting pretty sick of that kid.

I wasn't on the market, and I wasn't in the market, either. I was tired of it. Sick of it. As I looked back on all of it, it made me a little queasy. What the hell had I been thinking? I hadn't been thinking, of course. I'd been running from something. And I'd been using drinking and drugging and sexing and raising hell to put roadblocks between myself and that thing that was coming after me from my past. That thing that had been coming after me and getting closer all the time. But what

I have just sent Chapter 29 of Crosscurrents to my proofreaders. As soon as they turn it around and I have a chance to make final corrections, I'll post it at G.A. Stories.

Intriguing thread. I'm writing to please myself, or, more accurately, I should say that I began writing Crosscurrents as an exercise in self-therapy. But I first posted it hoping that there would be readers out there who could relate to the theme. I've been more than gratified over the years that this has been amply the case. It's a problem for me that there are so many stories here! One of my closest online friends is also a Hosted Author, and in the early days of his writing, he sent me drafts asking for some feedback. I gave it, usually at length and ad nauseam. Be careful what you ask for. But he's become so damn prolific--he seems to ship an entire new novel every nine days--that I've lost the ability to stay current. And that's with a guy who's one of my closest online friends. Not to worry; he gets more than his share of acclaim, don'tcha, Mark? But there are so many stories here I want to get to, and just haven't been able to. There are a lot of books in print I want to read, too, and never seem to have time to get to. And that's even considering that I usually have at least three reads of some sort going at the same time. What I'm trying to say is that I sympathize with readers who are overwhelmed at the thought of leaving feedback to all the authors they read, and I sympathize with authors who want feedback and don't get it. And I guess what I'd like to say additionally is that readers don't have have to respond to every single thing they read...but maybe as a nod toward compensating people who provide them with free entertainment, it would be good if readers would commit themselves to a small number of reviews/responses per month and just plug away at giving those reponses. Don't make it an all-or-nothing thing. And authors could do all the things mentioned in the previous posts to get people to see their stuff. And someday I'll get back to your Cramptonworld saga, Mark. I promise. But would you please quit writing for a while?

A number of you who follow my story have also read "Dan Kincaid's" autobiographical It Started With Brian, and you're aware of my relationship to Sam (his real name) and my involvement in the writing of that story. I wanted to let you know that Sam's man has asked me to post a sort of "final word" wherever I thought it might be appropriate, preferably in a place that wouldn't get "buried" like Sam's Forum might, since there's little reason for activity on it any more. He asked me to do this because he keeps getting the same questions from people over and over (via Sam's old email account), and he wanted to speak to some of them for once and all. Cia graciously consented to add this text to ISWB in the form of a Postscript; it appears essentially as the final chapter of ISWB in G.A. Stories. I just thought I'd give you all a heads-up in case you were interested in what "Brian" had to say about it all. Here's the link: It Started With Brian, Postscript

I've said my piece on this already. Here. And here.

I'm not absolutely sure...but my best educated guess is somewhere between 34 and 36. Yes, and you need to pay me the $29.95 to which I'm entitled if this novel's going to be delivered up according to your timetable and expectations. But seeing as how it's a free read and seeing as how I'm doing this without expectation of financial compensation, how 'bout you hold your damn horses?

Oh, c'mon, people. You've had this telegraphed since the Prologue.

You're funny! The story's not even done yet and you're asking about a sequel! I've already said there will be a short sequel. But let's get this one finished first! There are miles to go before we sleep! As for Angie. well, you saw from the prologue that she was destined to be significant. But as I told you, we're far from done with the story, so don't go all maudlin on me!

The latest chapter of Crosscurrents, Chapter 28, has been posted to G.A. Stories. Things start to head in a different direction in this chapter...

Of the new batch of freshman soccer players, Ryan Cannon was the fastest and the cockiest. And the hottest. And the one who ended up making me forget that I'd decided to stop hitting on straight guys.It wasn't because he was hot, though. He was; but the cockiness was a little irritating. I'd taken to calling him "Cap Gun" instead of "Cannon," and the name stuck, much to Ryan's irritation.Personally, I thought the bravado he brought was enticing. But there was something else; something under the

I've finished Chapter 28 of Crosscurrents. My three proofreaders are looking at it, and as soon as it's made it through their gates, I'll post it.

For what it's worth, Tu me fais bander is idiomatic. It means "You make me hard." Je te ramène chez moi et je vais t'enculer jusqu'à ce que tu ne te tiennes plus debout means, basically, "I'm gonna take you home and f**k you until you can't stand up anymore."

Nobody said you did. I was just curious to see who bothered.

Ok, I'm curious-- How many of you either understood the French or took the time to plug it into an online translation machine, and how many of you didn't understand it and just passed it by un-translated?

Since you led off with Mozart--and man, what's not to love in his catalog?--I thought I'd link to one of his that grabs me real hard. It's the Lacrimosa from the Requiem, K. 626. Yeah, I know, there's probably some Sussmayr in there since Mozart died before the Requiem was finished, but I'd like to believe that, at least for this piece, of which Mozart had written out only the first dozen or so bars, Sussmayr reconstructed it from Mozart's own discussions with him.

Well, I love music in just about every category imagineable. I have a particular warm spot in my heart for grunge and some of the emo guys. The Ataris are my favorite band ever, and I love Foo Fighters. Just about anything by Chris Cornell (showing my age). But of course, I do love classical. Btw, "classical" is an odd sort of misnomer, in my opinion. Strictly speaking, it should refer to just a slice of music, say, from Mozart's time, right? But not Bach. Not Brahms. Not Debussy. But we call it all "classical." Anyway, it's hard to name favorites. That's like asking "what food do you like best?" On any given day I'll answer differently. This morning, though, I'd choose the Bach Brandenburg Concerti. Specifically, #3.

I'm in agreement with much of what you said; I think college should be all about a liberal arts education and not primarily about getting a job. Could be that it's inevitable, though. I have to take issue with you on your characterization of math. As a college math teacher, who also has a minor in philosophy and has studied more than his share of music and literature and history, I have to tell you there's ever so much more to math and science than "linear thinking." A brief walk through the world of theoretical math would blow the doors off your conception of math and science. Beyond that, the mathematical and scientific accomplishments in Western Civilization arose not in opposition to the liberal arts, but in dialog with them, and often inspired by them. The type of inquiry characteristic of the liberal arts is also what has fueled achievements in math and science. Commitment to the liberal arts makes for better mathematical thinkers and better scientific thinkers, just as math-and-science guys can keep the folks in the liberal arts/humanities/etc. honest.

Thank you. If you ever wonder why I love you, just return to this post. The Great Conversation has brought us to where we are. College is supposed to be about immersing oneself in that. With mind...and, as you observed, with body. But it does seem that things have gotten to the point where people--from their little individual spots in the Vast Stream--question the whole enterprise now. I'm sure the ridiculous expense has something to do with it. And you do have to wonder about the wisdom of sending everybody off to college as a matter of course. Maybe that's the problem with college right now, and maybe that's why the question comes up. It seems manifest that it's not for everyone.

Congratulations, Cia! And thanks for all your help making the transition to G.A. Stories!

Hey!!!! It's about time!!! Congrats!

It was late afternoon, and the weather had been perfect for a long, hard run. I'd made about ten miles, and I was ready to shut it down. Walking it off, I passed by the baseball field, where I saw several guys from the team playing catch and shagging balls. I stopped, stripped off my shirt, sat down in the stands, and watched. They could have been Abercrombie & Fitch models, or maybe it was just my mood and all the elements of the moment. The leftovers of my runner's high. The perfect te

I have a finished draft of the latest chapter (at my GA website it'll be Chapter 28; at GA Stories, it'll be Chapter 27 [long and boring story. It'll all be made right some day]). It's in the proofreading stage right now, but it won't be too much longer. Sorry for the delay. Adam

Ugh. Sorry. What y'all have said is correct. I'm optimistic regarding posting schedules. Best of intentions, and all that. So will I be finished by March? I have to make myself believe it. But if you take it with a grain of salt, I won't be offended.