Former Member

Definitely a rebel-type PK. But I’m still not a fan. And it’s not about those fake rivalries with other shallow pop singers…

O ye of little faith! (quoted the Agnostic.) ;–) Why do writers persist in thinking we don’t care enough about their characters to return for that reason alone? Why do they have to torture us? Some writing techniques are counterproductive when used too often, they become clichés. Think outside the box – Eric was hiding under the box, so he was never inside it! ;–)

Eric continues to discover new things and have exciting new adventures! Through Eric, we learn how closed up and suppressed some elderly LGBTQs have been to survive a previously extremely hostile environment. While rare these days, it was common in the not-so-distant past for LGBTQs to feel they were the only ones in the world to have same-sex attractions. Eric struggles to figure out where he fits in an often youth-obsessed LGBTQ community. He finds joy in things that many of the rest of us think is commonplace. This is not a fast-pace, sex-filled romp. This is a gentle stroll through the life of a proud, stubborn man who has lived his life in isolation, but is now beginning to see other possibilities. This is a reminder of all the freedoms and benefits we enjoy through the struggles and forethought of all the pioneering LGBTQs who came before us. ;–) It’s much better than the alternative! ;–)

Evil writer! I’m sure Adam would have stopped if Eric had pointed out Rob Bairstow! The boys wouldn’t have been too tired to meet Eric’s former coworker. ;–) But Eric is still very reluctant to express his desires. He feels like an imposition at the best of times. He didn’t think to even ask Adam to stop! :–( When my family transported elderly relatives, they were usually given the front passenger seat because it’s usually easier to get them in and out through the front door than the rear door (which is often narrower and awkward to get through). It’s also a sign of respect to allow them to see the view more easily. And the conversations can be heard much better. ;–)

Haven’t there been studies proving that Danielle Steel causes IQs to drop 20% with each cover viewed? ;–)

Sometimes people get permanent injuries. It would be more realistic if protagonists sometimes had to deal with the psychological changes this forces. Disabilities (visible and invisible) are a part of life. There are times when things get resolved too easily and the coincidences can become unbelievable. Readers might like everything to get fixed, but that’s not always how life works. We read these stories as a form of escapism, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that everything has to be perfect.

I’m thinking that Donald Harper decided to attack Eddie at East Mecklenburg since he’d been suspended from their school and presumably been banned from returning to campus. An away game would have little or no security to prevent Donald from attending. That Eddie had a great game would have enraged him even further. I’m sorry, Geoff, I can’t give my usual Love reaction with an ending like that…

Even if I chose to make that information public, I almost always choose to follow authors rather than stories. Partly because then I’ll get a Notification if a sequel series is posted. I also tend to un-subscribe from stories when they conclude.

If you happen to check the Profile of a person who has Commented on or Reviewed a story (not just a chapter), you can find that by clicking on the See their activity button, then under the Stories grouping view the Story Reviews or Story Comments. My theory is that people are only likely to Comment on a story when they’re invested in the story (often to ask the author when new chapters might be forthcoming). And generally, people are only likely to Review a story they really liked since there’s extra effort involved in the process (but a Review is only possible for stories that have been completed). And this is where I recommend Reviewing stories. I know I should do it more often, but I’ve Reviewed 25 different stories. I know the authors truly do appreciate the extra steps you take to make the story more likely to be read by others. It’s my way of paying the author for the free stories. (I do try my best to avoid spoilers in my reviews so later readers will have as much fun reading the story as I did.) ;–)

It sounds like Jason was more careless than intentional when he threatened Adam. But he went out of his way to hide the body. He plotted to frame his brothers. Had he threatened his brother with a knife, the chances are much higher that Adam would have survived…

I hope this isn’t the final chapter. I know there are authors who would tell me that the major conflict has been resolved. That we have gotten all the answers we need (and, it is implied, deserve). I have faith that we will be able to read more about this family.

I got a Notification today that reminded me of Headstall’s The Watcher series (1/2/3). They are tagged mature adult, which in this context is a euphemism for not-a-kid – not graphic sex and violence. ;–)

The grooming standards for a groundskeeper probably weren’t as high as for, say, a butler or valet. ;–)

There are people who will try to monetize anything. If they got it free, that means they can sell it really cheaply and still make a profit. Buyers can purchase desirable items at next to nothing. :–(

…And some people seem to wear ‘curry’ as a cologne. ;–)

Why have you started wearing a helmet everywhere? Have you started riding a motorcycle? Is this some new fashion trend among the young people these days? ;–)

I’m not a fan of curry either. My mother used to make a Beef Tomato dish when we were inundated by literal fresh-off-the-farm (and too ripe to ship to market) tomatoes. It was a Chinese-style dish, but it used curry. :–P

There was a relatively recent meme with Betty Windsor ordering 007 to ‘Make it look like an accident, James.’ with a different blonde target in mind.

On the one hand, allowing clients to select exactly what they want and need is a more efficient use of resources since there will be less waste. On the other hand, how do you ration out the most desired and least available items? There is a fear that a few would take all the best stuff and sell it to others, subverting the whole purpose. I’ve seen a story on the news about one food bank that’s set up like a grocery store. I’m not sure how they handle the issues I mentioned above, but the only clients allowed in must be referred to by outside agencies. That would minimize some of the widely reported problems when large agencies (like Glide Memorial) give away bags of food for the holidays (people going through the line multiple times, throwing out undesired items, and selling the best stuff instead of using it as intended).

Good thing most of us read both stories! ;–)

And you need to start planning the 125 chapters of The Cockney & the Canuck! ;–)

At 30 or so chapters each, that’s only 90 more chapters to write. Spark & Stone could age much faster than the rest of us. Say, a couple years for us equalling a couple decades for them! ;–)

Or maybe, like parents of young children, they want to make sure they hear any signs of distress or need… ;–)

That will be Book Four of the Spark & Stone saga, right? ;–)