Mark Arbour

Thanks Bud! I'm glad you like them! No battles for a bit. Hang in there.

I think you should spend your Sundays with hot, sweaty men.

This book should take us quite a distance. This looks to be a long one.

You act like the story is done, and that the opportunity has passed. I'm surprised at you. You raise many interesting ideas. We'll see how well I keep up with the posting. I will do my best, but things will get really busy over the next month. LIke you don't enjoy hot men, covered in sweat and saltwater.

Great to see you hanging around again! I think you're absolutely right.

It does seem like a terrible idea. I'd be nervous too.

Well, I did describe the ship (not boat) in the last story, but thanks for the prompt. I'll do it again in this one.

The adventures of George Granger continue! I'll try to post updates weekly, but no promises!

April 3, 1797 It may have been an honor to attend His Majesty at Windsor, but as far as Sir George Granger was concerned, it was deadly dull. Yesterday had been Sunday, the worst of all, where the tedium was magnified by the ad nauseum church services. Granger had decided that he had done his duty and built enough goodwill with the King, and was thus determined to take his leave of his sovereign. The excuses were piled onto his tongue, ready for delivery in a most co

It is April, 1797, and England is still celebrating the victory at the Battle of St. Vincent. Sir George Granger is given orders to set off on a voyage to the East Indies, but there are several challenges that await him before he can even sail.

This is exactly the point I was planning to make, but you did it for me.

I think that most people who read this genre want to read about a very polite teenager who is being victimized in some way but is saved from himself, or from others, preferably by a guy who is his age or slightly older, and who he ends up having wild monkey sex with. That monkey sex partner would ideally have a parent who is truly golden, who will intercede to help the other, troubled, monkey sex partner. When you bring in a more realistic approach, where the kid has real bratty tendencies, is myopic and self-centered, it doesn't play as well. I have my own personal, anecdotal opinion on why that is. I think that unless you deal with your own kids, it's hard to understand this kind of conflict. I remember when my son was young and we'd go out to eat for family events. He'd be really antsy, and have a hard time sitting through dinner. (2-4 year olds are a real challenge when it comes to that). My sister and brother-in-law were just appalled at his bad manners, and how he couldn't sit still and not cry at a restaurant. Now they have their own 3 year old, and he's so bad they refuse to go out to eat with him at all. Now they get it. Same thing on airlines. "Why can't they shut that kid up?" people without kids are saying. People with kids know it's not that easy. Teenagers don't usually cry in restaurants or throw tantrums on planes, but they have their own special challenges. It's easy to decide that they simply aren't being respectful of their parents or their elders. It's easy to forget that respect is earned. Some will tell you that in their day, kids that were like Will would get the crap beaten out of them. That's why they didn't act like that. Kids need that kind of discipline. Spare the rod, spoil the child. In other words, you should break their spirit. In about three chapters, I'll show you what happens when you do that with a bright, and very high-spirited, free-thinking teenager.

Some thoughts, since I actually have a few minutes to spare today. 1. Tim's right about the level of intellect required to get into Stanford, but you do run into those people who are smart but have absolutely no common sense, or people like Cole who are math freaks and only competent in other fields. 2. Regarding Will and Brad: There doesn't have to be, and there probably isn't, a true "right and wrong" here. They are both at fault. Personally, since Will's the kid, I tend to give him the pass. And I also think that it's important to note that being neglected is still rejection, and money won't make up for that. 3. I think that Matt and Wade are doing well with this. So far.

Thanks. I think Wade is just lobbing a grenade into the bunker to see what happens.

To be honest, I had to pick some arbitrary numbers for money, but I figured that would probably be adequate. And I noted that the suggestion came from Tiffany; the point there is that she's not trying to rip Wade off. We'll see what the payback turns out to be.

So the reason you don't think they're snooty at the Ritz is because you're even snootier. Got it. ;-) I think a phone call is a little to bland for this story, don't you?

Well, you may be right (although executors would work with a will, and trustees would work with trusts), but I didn't want to build a whole estate plan for Wade in the story. I'd really get bitched at for that. ;-) A comfortable place, perhaps, but what happens when one of them meets a guy who doesn't want a threesome?

October 8, 2000 San Francisco, CA Wade “So where are we staying?” Matt asked. “The Ritz Carlton. It’s close enough to the law firm, and it’s real close to the Chinese restaurant we’re going to.” “And it’s probably really nice,” he joked. “Probably.” Matt swallowed hard, a gesture he made before he embarked on a more serious topic. “You know, Wade, if you want to do something with him tonight, I’m fine with that. I have shit to do for school,” he said, gest

Actually, I think they all might be industry assholes, courtesy of Robbie.

First of all, Sharon has always been classy. She also gets frustrated. I think her use of the "F" word shows that to be the case. Strong words are used to make strong points. What makes you think feedback wasn't wanted? I've been listening to what readers say, and I've even made some changes along the way. I'm really surprised, though, that you would write a 14-year-old bratty kid off. Personally, I think the evolution to maturity is fascinating, and rewarding in it's own way. It's almost like watching someone who has a problem genuinely reform. Will is a big part of Wade's story. Wade is watching him intently, watching how this plays out. What a great learning experience for him! Wade may think his attitude towards Will is fraternal, but there are strong paternal vestiges there as well.

Dude, I'm no tease. I totally follow through.

I've got the first chapter of the next story roughed out. FYI.

I try not to write characters that are too similar, but if I had to pick two that were, I'd probably choose Wade Danfield and George Granger. Granger is definitely sluttier, but they have that same sense of honor, and of obligation and entitlement.

Thanks LEN. I'm not sure that JP would want to get too involved. I think grandparents would prefer to avoid those types of conflicts. Besides, he doesn't always have the smoothest relationship with Brad either. :-)

Wow. That was pretty insightful. Not sure I can answer your questions...but I think that you really focus on the issue of balance, and that's a major challenge for busy parents, and an especially big challenge for Brad and Robbie.