Josh Aterovis
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“Hey, Hillbilly, how’s it going?” “I wish he wouldn’t call me that,” I seethed quietly while waving as if the nickname didn’t bother me. “They don’t mean anything by it,” Jason said. “I know, but I hate it. It’s demeaning.” “Have you told him that?” “Well, no...” “Then you can’t really complain.” I hated it when Jason was right. Which was always. We were only one month into my freshman year of college, and I already knew I’d won the roommate lottery with J
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Adam Connelly married young, determined to be the man everyone expected—husband, father, straight—while quietly denying his true self. After a painful divorce and estrangement from his children, he’s left to confront a life built on repression and regret. When a sharp-witted gay elder named Charlie offers him a place to heal, Adam begins to rediscover who he really is. As their bond deepens and Charlie’s health fades, Adam must decide whether to retreat into grief or step into the life waiting for him. Eden Revisited is a story of chosen family, queer resilience, and the long journey home to oneself.
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Well, I, for one, am glad you're here. This one is only four chapters, so it'll be a quick one. The next story I have lined up (unless I finish Adam's backstory) is a short one-off, but Kane is the narrator. I can't say I've ever been a big fan of Eve (Adam's ex-wife and Seth and Kane's mother) either.
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Yeah, I feel you... I was in the middle of writing a new fantasy series when I got side-tracked with rewriting the Killian series, plus I technically have a new mystery series that I was working on that's also been sidelined. This is too much fun though. LOL
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Two things I can promise... One, while you know how Seth's story ultimately ends if you've read Bleeding Hearts, this story has a happy ending! Really! If you just stopped at the end of this story, Seth is happy! Two, even after this story ends, it isn't the last you'll see of Seth. Sorry about the therapy, though. I owe you a hug?
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A bloodcurdling scream ripped through my dreams, snapping me awake in an instant. I sat bolt upright in my bed, heart hammering in my chest. Had it been real or just a nightmare? I heard angry voices coming from elsewhere in the house and my heart rate slowed as I realized it was just my parents fighting again. Nothing new there. I wondered what it was about this time. Just then, I heard a crash and decided this fight seemed worse than usual. I felt my stomach clench up. I slipped fro
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Before he ever met Killian Kendall in Bleeding Hearts, Seth Connelly was a smart, guarded teen trying to make sense of a world that rarely made sense to him. In Bright Things Come to Confusion, Seth shares how he came to terms with his identity—from the painful clarity of coming out to the bittersweet sting of a first crush. At its heart is a search for belonging, truth, and the father who vanished from his life. As Seth unearths long-buried secrets, he begins to see family—and himself—more clearly. Honest, sharp-witted, and deeply human, this coming-of-age story shines new light on a beloved character.
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For the record, my next posting will be a short story filling in Seth's backstory (and by extension, Adam's). So...technically another story with a tragic ending, but Bright Things Comes to Confusion ends at the start of Bleeding Hearts, so it ends on a hopeful note.
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Thank you for this. I know a lot of people are upset and devastated over Aidan's murder, and I understand. Even I put off returning to this book for a long time. Your perspective is appreciated. For the record, Caitlin did survive and she will spend the rest of her life in prison. (And your diagnosis is also correct...narcissist and con artist.)
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Thanks, Jeff. I really struggled with how to end it this time around. I knew it would be controversial, but I wrote this book over 20 years ago and knew I had to stay true to the original ending. (I did change a few things...Caitlin was still pregnant in the original ending and had the baby in prison and Will adopted it...which...was just too bonkers for me to keep.) I also understand that constant background buzz all too well. All I can say is I'm glad you've found the strength and you're still here. Me too. And even though he's fictional, so is Will. ❤️
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Yes, this one does have a very dark ending. I considered changing it so Aidan survived the shooting, but in the end, I decided to stay true to the original ending. This book was originally not part of the Killian Kendall series, hence their relatively small role, but my publisher at the time really wanted to make it the second book so there were some rewrites to include them...such as it was. The rest of the series (at least the main books) returns to Killian as the POV. I can also promise that this is the last time (so far, at least) that I kill off a main character.
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"Looking back, it's so clear. I should have seen it, should have known." "Known what?" Doctor Wohler asked. "That your new friend was a very sick young woman? That she ruthlessly killed your best friend and two others? That she would try to kill you and your husband? How could you have known any of those things, Will? Your only crime was trusting someone." "And it got Aidan killed." "It's useless to blame yourself. We've talked a lot about how we can never be responsible for someo
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The one (and only) time I ever did drag (for a themed party) I was Kitty Somerset. And no, I will not share photos. I was one ugly woman. 🤣
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I should have said one more chapter and an epilogue... Dropping all of them back to back this weekend. Enjoy!?
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Did you...did you just give me a new drag name? HAPPY PRIDE MONTH!
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Family is far too often a complicated creature for queer people. I prefer the version of that saying (that is probably a modern interpretation) that says "the blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb," meaning chosen family is stronger than biological family ties. But that's just me. 😉
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Another famous, but perhaps somewhat lesser known, denizen of Baltimore is John Astin, who played the original TV Gomez Addams back in the '60s. He's quite the character, but still alive and kicking (though perhaps not as high) at 95. I've always heard that the actor who played Lurch, Ted Cassidy, was a super nice guy. Oh, and the original TV house was decorated in shades of pink because it read better on black and white TVs!
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I looked up to find the whole room had gone deathly quiet and every eye was on me. "It's, um... It's my dad," I said hoarsely. "I'll drive," Aidan said as he swept into action, scooping up the car keys and my coat. "We'll come, too," Killian said, and Asher nodded. "Me, too," Laura said immediately. "We'll stay and clean up the apartment," Adam assured me, and everyone else was quick to agree. "Don't worry about anything here. Just go." We were out the door in recor
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We're nearing the end...only two more chapters...so hopefully all your questions will be answered soon!
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I called Mom first thing the next morning while Aidan made breakfast. She said there'd been no change since the night before. While I was on the phone, a polite knock came at the door. "Who could that be? Can you get that?" I asked Aidan. "Well, we know it isn't Nikki, or she'd be beating the door down by now," he said as he started for the door. When he opened it, Adam swept in with his arms loaded with shopping bags, which were brimming over with flowers, ribbon, and Christ
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The next morning at work, I was busy in the back room, attempting, without much success, to force some sort of organization on the mess that had accumulated back there over the years. Hearing a noise, I looked up to find Nikki in the doorway with a worried expression on her face. "Will?" she said. "There's a Detective Grafton here to see you." I straightened quickly, dropping the clipboard in my hand with a clatter. Why was he here? Did someone else die? Grafton's unpleasant face
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Coming Tuesday...
