Josh Aterovis

Nothing can stay the same forever. We get in trouble in life when we think it can and will. Everything changes, or as King Solomon said in the Bible and The Byrds sang in the '60s, to everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven. It's not a particularly easy lesson to learn. Or a fun one for that matter. I learned it the summer between high school and college, and my life would never be the same. We burst into the house, laughing and shoving each other playf

Will’s world is spinning out of control. The preacher’s son is finally out on his own — navigating a new job, new relationships, and coming to terms with his identity. But when his childhood best friend dies under suspicious circumstances, Will is thrown into a whirlwind of grief, secrets, and unanswered questions. The police call it an accident. A cryptic note says otherwise. With the help of amateur sleuth Killian Kendall and friends, Will sets out to uncover the truth. But the deeper they dig, the more dangerous the search becomes. Can they stop the killer before the killer stops them?

Thanks for reading, @RichardWrites! And for sharing your thoughts now that you've finished it. Some attitudes about LGBTQ+ issues have evolved in the last 25 years, especially in more urban areas, but I think as recent political news proves, not as much as we'd like, and there's an enormously coordinated effort to roll back even that much progress. In more rural areas, I think the progress has been very small overall. Maryland may be a fairly solidly blue state (although we did have eight years of a Republican governor in the very recent past), but that's almost entirely because of the Baltimore/DC corridor. If you get outside of that, it gets very red, very fast. Luckily, we do have very progressive laws (some of the best in the country) so women and queer folk enjoy more protections than in many other states, but even those will be put to the test over the next four years. I'll just say that I am very grateful to live in Maryland right now, and I'm still scared about what is about to happen.

No spoilers here! I love reading your speculations and guesses! Thanks so much for commenting and for reading!

Thank you so much!

Yeah, I was still a kid myself when I wrote it back in 1999! I've definitely evolved!

Oh my gosh @Jace Ferver, I love that you were able to compare side-by-side, so to speak. Was your copy the 2001 printing or one of the later ones? And thank you so much! That means a lot. I'm both looking forward to and dreading Reap the Whirlwind because I think that's probably the book I've touched the least over the years and I know I've changed a LOT since I wrote it, both as a writer and as a person. I often hear that it's people's favorites, so I'm always afraid to change it too much, but I also feel very distant from it at this point. I think I would approach the story very differently now, so it will be a challenge to find the right balance. I'm glad you're along for the ride!

Thank you! You haven't seen the last of Jake...

Thank you, Ken! I've had a family emergency that has set me back a bit, but there is more coming, I promise.

Hey, Steve! Thank so much for this. It's great to hear from someone who has read all the various versions. Some of this ending was inspired by a screenplay I co-wrote with a dear friend and filmmaker that unfortunately never got made into a feature, but there was some really great stuff that I thought worked really well so incorporated bits and pieces. I'm definitely proud of that first version, too. It'll always hold a special place in my heart as the one that started my writing career. Thanks again!

Thank you for reading! And for your thoughtful comments. ❤️

Thank you!

Thank you, @Philippe!

They are written but I'm doing a LOT of rewriting as I'm posting. You do learn a bit more about the gifts throughout the books. It's a slow process though. As a few of you have noted, Killian can be a bit stubborn...

I think it is! That's why I chose it. I'm watching Scooby Doo Mystery Incorporated right now with my partner. It's a lovely throwback to one of my childhood favorites!

Thank you so much! I always looked forward to your comments with each chapter! And I think chronological was the winner. Next up is Adam's backstory, a short two or three chapter tale. All I'll say about Killian's driving is you'll especially enjoy the start of the third Killian novel, All Lost Things. 😂 Stay tuned!

Yeah, I agree that Todd is as much a victim as he is a villain. He was made a monster. His character makes me more sad than anything these days. This isn't the last you see of Jake. That's all I'll say for now... Thank you so much. That means a lot. And thank you for your feedback. I think I'll go with the chronological order, which means the next story will be Adam's backstory...

Thank you for going on this adventure with me!

Hmm, yes. Good point!

Huzzah!

Thank you, @Geron Kees. High praise coming from you. I wonder what Charlie and Kippy would make of Killian... 😂

I promise I'm on the good list...

I always feel a little sad when I come to end of a Charlie Boone story. I love being lost in their world, even for just a few hours. Another great story. Thanks, Geron. Can't wait to see what you're cooking up next.

Thank you!

So true! And judging by many recent actions, a lot of adults as well.