JasonDiggy

Thanks David! I also remember your support.

Thanks Sharon!

Thanks! Facebook is great at spreading news...fast!

My short story collection, A Vigil for Joe Rose, will be released in October 2009. The novella, “The Last Coming Out Story,” was workshopped and improved here on GayAuthors thanks to the help of many kind members. A Vigil for Joe Rose is a collection of stories told with empathy and humour about the experience of being out in high school. As a unified collection, these eight short stories and a novella chart the journey of the main characters from first coming out to their growth into confident young gay men, and the challenges, triumphs, and losses along the way. A unique insider’s look told from the point-of-view of teens in high school. To become a fan of A Vigil for Joe Rose on facebook and receive news, click here. A Vigil for Joe Rose will be available in the UK, USA, and Canada through Amazon, in Canada through Chapters.Indigo.ca, through bn.com (Barnes & Noble) in the US, and worldwide through local book sellers.

Who says relationships are supposed to last forever? In one way or another, they have to end, whether by break-up or death. What if we're meant to learn and experience what we do with another person, and that's that? A boss of mine was almost suicidal because his wife of 25 years was divorcing him. He saw the marriage as a failure because they were divorcing. But I asked him how those 25 years were together, and he said they were amazing save for the last 3. Well, isn't that a success? 22 years of a great relationship is often more than most people will have, and I don't mean the length but the quality. Like everything in this world (and here's where it gets depressing), everything has an expiry date. Why not relationships? Look at what was good and not what was lost.

This is one of the few shows on TV that actually makes me laugh. That says a lot.

Jinx! When I saw the thread's title I immediately thought the ending of Six Feet Under. It's the only end of a series that I felt satisfied when it was over, and I hated to see it end. "Breath" will always make me think of it.

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Does anyone have an "inside" contact at Alyson Books? What do you know about them as publishers?

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I love you Sharon! JF originally came out to stop being bullied. It was a mistake to have done that, but he did what he had to do at the time in desperation. However, he did know that by "passing" as gay he was being deceitful, so as "restitution" he did all he did to try and make it up. He came out again at the graduation ceremony because he couldn't continue the lie and accept an award for it as well, and, I'd like to think, his relationship with Spencer and the other members of the gay club taught him whom the true heroes are. Ironically not the person whom everyone was looking up to and drooling over. And it actually happened! Jason

Exactly! And did you get the second part, too?

Well, I know the reasons aren't spelled out in so many words, but I was hoping if readers look carefully, all the pieces are there. In chapter 4, JF explains why he came out (as gay) and the benefits he had by doing that. In the last chapter, Madame Maria proves herself to be a lot more with it than Spencer knew, and she provides the other piece with one simple word. I guess it isn't clear enough, but hopefully others will wade in on this. Of course, the last piece is that JF is a bleeding heart and feels the need to "rescue" people, even if sometimes he realizes he isn't a superhero, but he "doth protest too much" about it. Interesting.

The last chapter has been posted today. All comments welcome. Was it a story worth reading? Was it unique enough? Were you satisfied the story had a conclusion by the end?

I did post one already, "The Holy Ghost," but I can't say people were too thrilled.

Yup, there's one more.

Oh, I'd love to know what your suspicions are as to JF's motives.

Hi Cynical. I guess I couldn't fool all the people all the time. The story does take place now. This novella is part of a collection of 9 stories I've written about being out in high school, called, A Vigil for Joe Rose. All the stories are linked by that event in one way or another, and I took creative license to re-imagine it as if it happened today. The prologue to the stories is a flyer announcing the vigil. The epilogue is a newspaper clipping about the murder. J

The school I'm writing about is on the South Shore, but combined with part of a school in Vaudreuil-Dorion. Well observed though. And you totally reminded me of "franglais," which is now stolen property. Thanks for that.