methodwriter85

I qualified that statement by saying "somewhat", because I don't think they're permanently off canvas. Just being rested and getting to live nice, normal lives for now.

I meant that you had a different narrator with Stefan instead of keeping JP as the narrator, who was the narrator for CAP and 1968. You didn't start doing multiple narrators until Poor Man's Son, but Wade did get a cameo as a narrator in Bloodlines.

JJ has been so defined as being a figure skater in this story. He'll have to find ways to define himself outside of that.

Mark made the choice to allow different narrators in the third book, The Land Whore, which moves the narration away from JP to Stefan building his empire in 1973-74. Then it was in Poor Man's Son where Mark decided to have multiple narrators in one story. (There is a brief cameo with Wade taking over narration from Matt in Bloodlines.) It was the right choice. Gives a fuller experience. It also allows Mark to let characters somewhat ride off happily into the sunset, like Wade and Matt essentially did.

JJ is such a bitchy little thing, it's sometimes difficult to write his character. I have to get myself in the mood, usually by causing some unsuspecting mortal untold pain. 😉 I did a JJ playlist. It should make it easier to get into his head: JJ Playlist "Art is Calling for Me" (A Prima Donna song) from The Enchantress "Circus" by Britney Spears "The Fame" by Lady Gaga "Daniel" by Elton John "Drive" by the Cars "Here I Go Again" by Whitesnake "I Want To Know What Love Is" by Foreigner "Alone" by Heart "Wishin & Hopin'" by Dusty Springfield "All Too Well" by Taylor Swift "Lose Yourself" by Eminem "Disarm" by The Smashing Pumpkins "Last Resort" by Papa Roach "Scar Tissue" by the Red Hot Chilli Peppers "You're A God" by Vertical Horizon "New York, New York" by Liza Minelli "What I Did For Love" from a Chorus Line "Only in New York" from Thoroughly Modern Millie "I Started A Joke" by The Bee Gees "The Only Living Boy in New York" by Simon and Garfunkel "I Am A Rock" by Simon and Garfunkel "Style" by Taylor Swift "Uptown Girl" by Billy Joel "One" from A Chorus Line

He doesn't "want" to, per se, but Alex is smart enough to know that his family really needs the cash, and Mary Ellen's family really likes the idea of title, even if it doesn't actually mean anything.

He needed the reality check, though. JJ will be alright.

I honestly prefer being 30-something as opposed to 20-something. Although I miss being able to party until 3 A.M. in the morning and not needing the entire next day to recover. LOL I did think JP dying would make sense as the end point of the series. I already have JP's funeral song picked out: Or I could rip off the ending of This is Us:

I remember suggesting that Will gets a Hummer because that was such a popular rich kid status symbol in the early 2000's (think Luke in the OC) but both Sharon and Mark shot that down, saying it's just too much of a jock type car for Will. lol I did think Matt Carrswold would have gotten one if he hadn't become a dad in Flux. I wanted JJ to drive an Austin Healy but Mark decided instead on JJ getting a driver, which to be honest is pretty in-character. If I didn't have to drive as a resident of suburban Delaware, I probably wouldn't, either. Lol It's not like JJ even really needs a car- where does he go to except practice or a ballet recital to make eyes at Alex?

Who was the "Will" in your life, and how did he hurt you?

Most of the hardcore environmentalists seem to be from rich backgrounds.

I agree.

Kelly Rowen from the OC as Claire? I think I can reasonably see her being Mom to Taissa Farmiga, who is the canon Marie Hobart. (Thanks Blue, wherever you are.)

LOL. Never in a million years would figure skating allow that as a costume. LOL I did love that version of Peter Pan. Kind of a shame that Jeremy Sumpter never quite took off. (He does seem to be doing a lot of obscure television work, so good for him in being a working actor.) Mark and I eventually agreed on a JJ- it's Dylan Sprouse. . I've always said JJ needs to look like he belongs on the Disney Channel. lol

I dig it. It's funny, because I was thinking about Taylor's co-star Nicholas Galitzine for Wade. He definitely has that prissy prettiness to him. (Yet at the same time, you can buy him being a jock.)

Chapter 77 -When the gang listens to 1960's surf music as they fly to Hawaii. "Surf City" by Jan & Dean -When Will and Trevor decide to spend some alone time together. "I Only Have Eyes for You" by The Flamingoes I really just want to use 50's and 60's music around Travis chapters. LOL He would probably agree with me.

I did think Mark made the right choice for JJ's first boyfriend experience. Alex is a gentlemen who will treat JJ with kid gloves and respect, and JJ needs that. Now, eventually I want JJ to have that bad boy Dylan McKay/Brenda Walsh on 90210 type of romance, but that can wait. LOL

JJ has for the most part sat back from the general drama tornado that Brad and Will cause, and I think it's made him a pretty observant person. Being a bitch also means less people think they can take advantage of him, so that helps. Brad should do pretty well. I'm picturing Henry Cavill, but lean. LOL

I think JJ tries to keep himself immune from the annoyances of modern life, like driving, cooking, and laundry. 🙂 JJ should have lived in the Edwardian era as a Rich American Cousin being pampered on at Downtown Abbey. Lol

Realistically, I think Mark will have to employ at least a few small time jumps when he decides to get to the Gen Z characters. Then again, Will is a drama magnet and JJ is an unintentional trainwreck so there's still plenty of drama with the CAP Millennials to cover.

I just mentioned Courtney Clearrault and I think model Kaia Gerber would be a good fit for an Adult Courtney. I could see her being Ace's daughter. You'll NEVER guess who her mother is! 😅 Kaia is currently dating Austin Butler. I'm pretty sure I had Teenaged Austin as a fancast for one of Mark's friends in On The Mark- I think Van? The Adult Him wouldn't be a bad Alex, though. (Still have Joe Alwyn as my official Alex Granger.) Maybe Ryan? (My OG Ryan pick is Hunter Parrish, but like I've always said, this list is fluid.)

I did like getting the different POV's. Will's fun but unless he's really pissed at you, he's generally got rose-colored glasses with people. Especially post-emancipation Will. Zach and JJ are ruthlessly honest about people. As for the "scary" part, despite JJ having issues, I don't think Mark would ever feel comfortable writing the POV of someone who was deeply disturbed. That's just not Mark's bag. Also why, while Mark does touch on drug addiction, it's from the POV of someone observing a loved one with a drug addiction instead of the POV of someone with it. Once upon a time, Sharon (Mark's longtime friend and editor) told me to keep in mind that this is a soap opera, and that we're supposed to be having fun. I just don't think Mark would have fun getting into that mindset. In the real world, it would be creepy, but this is a soap opera, and there's only so many characters that Mark can create and have our heroes interact with. Like Mark could technically have a 23-year Courtney Clearrault and an 18-year old Riley Danfield date in 2018, even with the questionable family closeness. lol

It's funny, because I never really did the (gay) club thing at all in my 20's- much more likely to just hang out at tavern type bars. Still basically true as I'm now approaching 40. When I have gone, I'm pretty much only there to dance my ass off to some Abba or Whitney Houston. Sometimes some straight girl will grind up on me and it's fun, but I'm good dancing by myself. Going to a gay bar with the hope of trying to hook up with someone feels like chasing a unicorn, one that gets harder and harder to catch the less you can be called a "boi."

A more apt comparison is likely Andy in Crosscurrents, who I think probably would have pulled the kind of bullshit that Will did/does if he had grown up as wealthy instead of merely upper middle class, and didn't have a "Matt" to ground him the way Matt grounded Andy. Both Will and Andy had that precocious puberty thing (it's commented on in Crosscurrents that Andy doesn't look like he's still in high school), and both had pretty hedonistic streaks. I don't think Will has Andy's dark mean streak, though. Will gets angry but he doesn't try to intentionally destroy people the way Andy does. At the same time though, both Andy and Will are very studious National Honor Society students so they get a bit more slack. Also, being six feet tall and good-looking helps a lot with people. LOL Again though, you have to remember that Will (and Andy) both have precocious puberty and it definitely affected the way they interact with people and the things they got into.

Let's be real here though- if Will was one of those perfect acting teenagers in those horrible Netflix teen movies that want to be as inoffensive as possible, Mark wouldn't have made him the star of so many books. I'm honestly kind of dreading how Mark will manage to cover Gen Z characters like Riley Danfield given how obsessed with political correctness that generation seems to be. Then again, Mark could make them into vapid influencers ala Olivia Jade and I'm sure it will be hysterical.