Mark Arbour

Posted a blog entry on this...sorry for being a 'no show'

Thanks to those of you who have sent me e-mails, pms, or otherwise showed concern as to where the fuck I’ve been. To answer the first, most obvious question: I’m fine. Life has its challenges, and I have mine, but there’s nothing there that’s debilitating. There are three major areas of my life that can impact my writing. My health/wellbeing is obviously one of those, but as I’ve said, that’s pretty good. The next one is the relative level of activity in my life, and I’ve had an awful lot to do. This looks to be a pretty active year for me. To do what Will does to JP, that means I’m busy. J The combined forces of work, home stuff, research, etc. are a bit crushing right now. The third factor is my muse, or ability/desire to write. For some reason, that has temporarily left me. When I’m busy, but still want to write, I usually find time to do it, but my production fades. In this case, I really haven’t wanted to do much writing, so with the added pressures of real life, I’ve let my online life sort of drift unattended. And I’m finding that there’s really no fighting the relative apathy that envelopes me when I’m in this mode. In the past, this has happened when I’m in a conundrum about a story, but I have a very clear idea of how I want to proceed with both of my series. With CAP, I have an idea of how I plan to end “Streak” and the initial parts and premise of the next story is already forming in my mind. With Bridgemont, it’s a bit more open-ended, but I have some pivotal events in store. I’ve been feeling a bit more motivated lately, and I’ve actually done a little writing, but I’ve spent more time reading than anything, and that includes going back over my recent stories for reference. Spring Break approaches, so I hope that in the next month or so I’ll be productive again. I really do appreciate all of you who read my stories and give me feedback, and I feel bad for leaving you in a lurch. At the same time, I know that you’ll understand life’s pressures, and how a perfect storm like this can really impact my writing.

Hey everyone...I've been slammed in my real life, and I haven't had a chance to do any writing lately. I'm sorry to leave you all hanging, but I'll do my best to get productive again.

December 7, 2002 Goodwell, VA JJ I looked at the digital clock, the glowing numbers telling me that it was 12:01am. We were officially a minute into my seventeenth birthday, and Alex wasn’t here. He’d vanished to go fuck Mary Ellen four hours ago, and he still wasn’t back. I lay there in bed, fuming. I was pissed at Alex for blowing me off to be with Mary Ellen, and I had hyper-charged that by having a pity party for myself since it was my birthday. That let me conju

I think JJ would find it amusing that you all think he needs a job.

That is awesome! Just ditch your board and swim under that bitch.

December 4, 2002 Goodwell, VA Wade “I hope this trip goes better than the last one,” Matt said, as the big Suburban limo pulled up to the front of the house. “We can hope,” I said, smiling at Alex. “When does your grandfather arrive?” “Your grandmother was somewhat vague, but I was led to believe he would get here within the next few hours,” Alex said. “Nana likes surprises,” I said. “And she likes to make a grand entrance.”

Thanks. I think that Will is changing in a more subtle way, so it's tougher to pinpoint it, while JJ and Zach are relatively new characters, developing in our minds.

Thanks! JJ is a seventeen year old guy figuring out what gets him off. I think it's reasonable to think that having lost a couple of cherries over the last month would mess with his mind.

You're right about Marc. The verdict is still out on what Brad wants. He's got a guy who's pretty devoted and supportive...that's what he seemed to dream of when he fought with Robbie.

It's entirely possible that this is the calm before the storm. Or it's possible that the storm has passed.

I think that Alex is actually pretty fond of America. He's got a bit of a disdain that is probably not unusual, but he seems to be happy in this world populated by Americans. Having said that, he is a Briton first and foremost, so sticking around in Boston is not in the cards for him. Ponder this, though. For people like JJ and Alex, they really don't have to let international borders impede their relationship. There's nothing to prevent JJ from spending the bulk of his non-competition time in Britain.

Thanks! Keep in mind, though, that JJ appreciates vaginas much more than you do. He is, indeed, a very mixed up young man.

I'd like to think that I'm better with gay sex scenes because I know my audience will appreciate them more. (SMILE) I think your observation about JJ is spot on. It must be weird for him to be in this relationship with a guy when he probably swings more to the straight side of the sexuality scale; it makes sense that his first hetero experience would blow his mind. I think Will and Zach understand each other perfectly. It's really a shame that they have this wedge (football) that keeps them apart.

SMILE. Well that was pretty brief. We'll see how you feel after Chapter 41.

Good points on Matt...he has rejected both of his brothers sexually. I guess now he only has to turn Darius down, and he's completed the trifecta. (SMILE).

Thanks. I think it's easy to look at JJ and think that he should have things all figured out, but he's clearly been into women, and this is his first heterosexual experience. It's bound to change his views just a bit.

I think that Wade can read his sister well enough to tell when she's lying and when she's not. In this situation, when she said she was pregnant and the baby was Alex's, he felt that she was sincere. I also think that Wade is aware that this must be a big scheme on her part, and that she wouldn't lie when it's working. Regardless, it's entirely possible that Wade is living in denial...or perhaps he's seen some changes in his sister since 9-11

Thanks Maarten. I didn't respond to the reviews because I really didn't have much to say about it. I have the ability to be clairvoyant, since I've written the last few chapters, and while I realize that the last few chapters have been uncomfortable, there is a method to my madness. And JJ is not sweet and cuddly by any definition.

LOL. And who is better qualified. Well, maybe Stefan.

LOL. And who is better qualified. Well, maybe Stefan.

I'd have to believe Darius read Stephen's diary, although he probably cringed at the MM sex scenes.

November 30, 2002 Goodwell, VA JJ I finished eating dinner, but I was nervous about what we’d be doing next. Mary Ellen had been so nice to me it was strange, while Alex seemed to be really happy, probably because he had dealt with a lot of the unpleasant shit he’d have to handle. He really did not like conflicts, and would avoid them if he could, so having to deal with Mary Ellen, me, the rest of Wade’s family, along with his grandfather, and to have to do that all in

December, 1799 Palermo, Sicily “That was a wonderful breakfast, ma’am,” Granger said to Lady Hamilton. “I must thank you for your generous hospitality.” “It is a pleasure to host such a charming visitor,” she replied pleasantly. She had a way about her, a joie de vivre that seemed to project good cheer onto others. Lady Hamilton “If you ever have a chance to sail with Granger, then you will understand the true meaning of generous hospitalit

Jeremy asked me how I felt about the latest controversy over this plot, and I told him that, quite frankly, I didn't give a shit. That's not exactly true, because I do in fact enjoy it when people get emotional enough to really vent. Having said that, I'll put a few more of my thoughts about this out there: 1. I love feedback, but it will not change the general direction of this story, or the plot line. It's not unreasonable to dislike a plot direction, but it's incredibly unreasonable to expect me to change it. 2. These characters live in my mind, along with many other scary things. They're acting quite in character at this point. That's a common bullet pulled out and shot at me when people don't like the plot direction. See number 1 above. 3. This generally happens at least once in a CAP story, where some readers freak out over something. I'd ask that you wait until the events play themselves out. 4. Finally, consider that with Mary Ellen, JJ, and Alex, they're all largely getting what they want in this deal...so far at least.