Tim Hobson

I can't remember the first book I read, nor how old I was, but I used to check out as many books as the library would allow, take them home, and tie a rope around them and hoist them up to a platform I had built in a tree next to the house. My little "reading room" was a haven all summer long. I think what started me on binge-reading was The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum. When I learned that there were more in the series (many by other authors who carried on the tradition after Baum's early death), I was hooked. The library had to send for some of the books from other sites in order to fulfill my endless requests!

I'm so happy to see this new story. I don't know how I missed it earlier in the year.

The characters are angels, demons, and those undefined beings from the Hebrew scriptures, the Nephilim. While there is no definitive theological explanation for them, the author follows a brief passage in Genesis and suggests that they are the offspring of angels and humans, and that their descendants still exist and live among us. Hence, our protagonist. Add in supernatural powers, immortality, relentless pursuit by angels who want to destroy him, and finding himself in the hotbed of demons, Sin City, and you have the ingredients for a delightful and erotic story--one which cries out for more episodes and adventures. Well worth the read, but be sure to leave the author a comment begging for more!

The story took us directly into a series of "jumps," i.e., hyperspace intrusions that defy the laws of physics and the limitation of the speed of light. The mission was dangerous and became instantly deadly, and then a cliffhanger, of course!

Like everyone else, I wasn't expecting a cliffhanger and am hoping that more will be forthcoming. The irony was that the "leap of faith" was what the readers had to make!

I went through a monumental life change over the summer, and I just stopped caring what I look like. Turns out, letting my hair and beard just grow freely...gave me the freedom to accept and love myself as who I am and begin rebuilding. I have no idea how long I'll let them get, but since they grow so slowly, I've a long way to go before I even need to care. I do agree with the comment about washing my hair, but I've just made it a part of my daily morning routine. I don't shower every day because I live in a cool climate and rarely exert myself enough to sweat, so I wash it in the kitchen sink while my tea is brewing, and I'm set for the day in three or four minutes (drying does take a while longer). I have begun experimenting with a ponytail of sorts, but it's still too short to look very good. Letting go of one thing that boxed me in has proven to be quite liberating!

Mark, I am binge reading nine years after your stories were first published, so I didn't comment or react as I made my way through them. However, this feels (a word that I strike out of everything I write -- "show, don't tell") like the time when I need to say something. In one sense, I'm glad I didn't see your works before I started writing my own because I would probably not have taken the plunge, knowing I could never write as prolifically or as well as you. Having the benefit of reading them now (and looking forward to continuing through all the others) is the equivalent for me of taking a Master Class from you. Thank you for inspiring me and showing me so much about good writing. I hope my readers can tell how much I have learned "at the feet of the master!"

Nature can be beautiful and vengeful. I hope you are safe and sound, and the property is still standing!

This was an outstanding story and an essential part of the multi-generational family saga. Mark, I absolutely loved the device of the journal and its ability to bring us back to the events in the several families in the 1940s. Kudos! I can't wait to begin the next part of the history, entering the 21st century - or maybe not, who knows what our author has in store for us! To anyone who wants to read a gripping and rewarding story: look no further!

As someone who lives in, and loves, Appalachia, I get so tired of the put-downs. There are shitheads in every region, as well as wonderful, interesting, and supportive people. Let's please get some perspective! I'm OK with Brian (the villain) coming from this part of the country, as long as we we all agree that he was no different than assholes from everywhere else in the country and the world. His character was depicted well, and he is someone we can all love to hate, but his origin does not explain his fucked-up evil behavior.

I am totally fucking awed by this great story. It has everything: love, hate, loss, tragedy, suspense, family drama, fear of HIV, coming out, dealing with family members who reject gay sons, and of course steamy, explicit, arousing sex scenes. @Mark Arbour is my role model as a writer of erotic stories, and I recommend this one, and all of the series to everyone, but be warned--you'll find it hard to put it down (and that's not the only thing that'll be hard!). Thank you for yet another knockout of a story, Mark!

I really enjoyed the contest and thank all the other secret authors for their willingness to contribute. It was fun writing in a different genre, too.

Heartfelt congratulations, Libby. What a touching story!

Loved reading all of them, although some were a stretch to my tastes (not a bad thing). I'm eager to see how the voting goes next Tuesday. How long will the voting last, and what comes after that?

Thank you to all of you. I'm sorry to bring a downer to this exciting Secret Author event, but this story just hit me hard. I appreciate all the support and care you're showing.

Thank you.

I can barely write this. The One I Love was diagnosed two years ago and is slipping away before my eyes. Thank you for the touching story. I can only hope my version ends happily, too.

I, too, thought that perhaps they were both ghosts. What a heartfelt story!🥰

This is my first Secret Author go-round (I assume there have been others before this one). I am grateful for the opportunity, and also the challenge, to read genres I would normally skip over or perhaps quit reading as soon as it became difficult. Some of these stories, and most of the comments, hit too close to home for me to respond more than generically, but I do thank @Cia for this opportunity to stretch my thinking. I'm looking forward to the continuation of the series.

Wow! What a great beginning. I, too, hope the Secret Author will take us further. Since Joel wasn't yet 18, in the state where I live his mother could be prosecuted for child abandonment. Unfortunately, that frequently means she pays the State for his foster care until he's 18,and then he becomes homeless or starts selling drugs and/or his body. There are so many ways this could turn out well or badly. I'm a crazy optimist, so I hope for the best.

I don't see anything more from the author. Do you think he stopped writing, or maybe something bad happened to him? Fingers crossed

I've been loving this story, but it seems to have ended a couple of years ago. What a disappointment!

I sure do! I just wrote a chapter where a character dies, and it makes me cry just editing it! I think that's the true test of honesty in writing--you feel what the characters and readers are feeling. Thank you for writing this delightful story. I'm looking forward to many more.

"it's all about Tommy and Matthew" -- say it ain't so! The anticipation is killing me, but the knowledge that we won't get scenes like this with all the other guys, in couples and maybe even all together, is unbearable. Please at least say there'll be a sequel.

Why do I think Tanner might be homeless?