I think I remember reading this one when you first wrote it, Justin. Sorry you have a stomach bug on your spring break. But maybe it's good that you can take your time getting better, and you don't have to worry about school!! I don't really love fantasy, but right now I am reading a really good book called The London Seance Society by Sarah Penner. I read her first book, The Lost Apothecary, which was interesting and maybe a bit of fantasy. This new one takes place in Victorian England. Feel better!!
Thank you, Andrea! Yes, I believe I sent this one to you a long time ago. 😄 Not having to worry about school makes all the difference! I’m feeling a bit better already. Very interesting to hear about your current read! Do you think it’s something I would enjoy? I’m not sure if you’ve ever read The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt, but I just finished it the other day and it’s up your alley. I was hesitant to start it, but I quickly fell in love. The premise drew me in. It took quite a few unexpected turns!
🤣🤣🤣🤢🤢🤢 We need lighthearted stories like this for entertainment, even if they are more ridiculous than normal! Thanks for the recommendation of the fantasy series. I'm going to check it out. I hope you feel better soon!
Haha, thank you Brian! 🤣 Oh man, I think you’ll love it. I couldn’t put it down. I haven’t gotten to the second book in the series yet, but it’s in my TBR pile.
That was great! You had me envisioning the poor guy and laughing. Of course if I were in his predicament I wouldn't be laughing or smiling. But I like how you wrote this story to be an awkward student who learned that he had the power to be somebody even though everyone else looked down on him. Nice work.
Is it weird that I wanted to read this BECAUSE the editorial people said it was "a disgusting reading experience?" You should use that as your pitch next time you submit this story somewhere. 😊
I had an experience similar to Howard’s in Egypt. I was in shabby lodgings on the beach. Woke up with something deeply wrong in my guts. Grabbed my headlamp a d the nearest thing to hand—a paperback edition of something Faulkner wrote that was t holding my interest. Two steps from my hut I dropped the headlamp. Did I mention there was no moon? I stumbled toward where Ibremembered the bathrooms to be clutching my guts and Faulkner. Fell over a fence. Found the bathroom which was every bit as gross as yiur would expect a bathroom in a cheap camp in Egypt to be. Went in. It was even darker inside. I felt around in vain with my feet for the hole in the floor. Then decided it wasn’t worth rhe risk of my foot slipping in. Then my guts made rhe decision for me. It took about 50 pages of the Revelators or whatever that book was called to clean up.
I think this Howard story could be the start of a longer story. The hell with that editor who didn’t like it.
Jim, what a horrible experience! (With that said, it deserves to be written in story format!) I’m sorry for you and the book to have gone through that. I once had a similar experience in Mexico, but it doesn’t come close to yours by any means. At what point in life did you travel to Egypt? I’d love to visit someday.
And thank you! It’s funny, I once thought the same thing about the story. I can almost see the bard popping up in random locations during Howard’s travels, putting on outlandish performances. Maybe I’ll come back to it at some point. At minimum, it felt good to let Howard see the light of day!
I've never read The Goldfinch, even though it was on the best seller list for a long time as I recall. I think you would enjoy the book I'm reading. There are some quirky characters and the Victorian England setting is very atmospheric. I am going to reserve The Goldfinch! Thanks for the recommendation and glad that you're feeling better!!
PS I will order that book you recommend. I am generally not a reader of fantasy, other than Tolkein. AND twenty years ago I read Gabaldon's time-travel book, Outlander, and ended reading ALL of her books, several times over right up to today. A marvelous series!
My wife has several of the Outlander books and she loves them. I believe she watched the show, or started to, at least. It looks like a really neat concept!
Sounds great! I hope you like it and enjoy reading Locke’s story as much as I did. The city/setting, Camorr, is based on Venice during the Renaissance. You’ll have to let me know what you think!
I will! I also recommend a very small, unusual book to you - How I lIve Now. Slightly dystopian, but closer than we think... Or see the film. Very thought provoking.
"Howard floated between life and death" 😂😂 that really got me. Being sick is the worst!! I hope you get better quick! I haven't read any fantasy books lately, but "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor is on my TBR list. I've heard nothing but good things about it!
Eeeuuuuw! You gave a fair warning, but I read it anyway. Let's just say the best part was where he had a bathe in the river and cleaned himself up, poor lad. Ha Ha Ha. So sorry to her you are ill, my friend. Me too. Three days of it. Must be something going around. I am finishing my coffee and going back to bed.
Haha! Thank you for giving it a shot. 🤣 I’m starting to feel a bit better, thanks! And ugh - sorry to hear you’re not feeling well, either. I hope you get well soon!
Ha! I don’t think it’s weird at all. Oh, I don’t know if I’ll send this one out again...maybe at some point. Do you think a separate editorial team would read it at all if given that information? Or would they just click reject and move on? Tough to say!
I think I remember reading this one when you first wrote it, Justin. Sorry you have a stomach bug on your spring break. But maybe it's good that you can take your time getting better, and you don't have to worry about school!! I don't really love fantasy, but right now I am reading a really good book called The London Seance Society by Sarah Penner. I read her first book, The Lost Apothecary, which was interesting and maybe a bit of fantasy. This new one takes place in Victorian England. Feel better!!
Thank you, Andrea! Yes, I believe I sent this one to you a long time ago. 😄 Not having to worry about school makes all the difference! I’m feeling a bit better already. Very interesting to hear about your current read! Do you think it’s something I would enjoy? I’m not sure if you’ve ever read The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt, but I just finished it the other day and it’s up your alley. I was hesitant to start it, but I quickly fell in love. The premise drew me in. It took quite a few unexpected turns!
🤣🤣🤣🤢🤢🤢 We need lighthearted stories like this for entertainment, even if they are more ridiculous than normal! Thanks for the recommendation of the fantasy series. I'm going to check it out. I hope you feel better soon!
Haha, thank you Brian! 🤣 Oh man, I think you’ll love it. I couldn’t put it down. I haven’t gotten to the second book in the series yet, but it’s in my TBR pile.
The burning branch line reminds me of a film i watched yesterday on the ten commandments - interesting reading here - well done :)
Thanks so much for reading some of my stories, David!
That was great! You had me envisioning the poor guy and laughing. Of course if I were in his predicament I wouldn't be laughing or smiling. But I like how you wrote this story to be an awkward student who learned that he had the power to be somebody even though everyone else looked down on him. Nice work.
That makes me so happy to hear, Penny. I’m glad the story made you laugh! Thanks for reading and for the kind words! 🙏
Is it weird that I wanted to read this BECAUSE the editorial people said it was "a disgusting reading experience?" You should use that as your pitch next time you submit this story somewhere. 😊
Hope you're back on the side of "life" now.
What a great story! This is a story written for readers and not editors! Everything about it is pitch perfect!
Wow, thanks so much for the kind words, Jason. I’m really happy you enjoyed it!
Good one, Justin! Hope you get better soon.
Thanks, James! I’m feeling a bit better day by day.
Hey Justin, hope you feel better. I like bathroom humor now and again.
Thanks, Steve. I’m feeling a bit better. Much appreciated!
I had an experience similar to Howard’s in Egypt. I was in shabby lodgings on the beach. Woke up with something deeply wrong in my guts. Grabbed my headlamp a d the nearest thing to hand—a paperback edition of something Faulkner wrote that was t holding my interest. Two steps from my hut I dropped the headlamp. Did I mention there was no moon? I stumbled toward where Ibremembered the bathrooms to be clutching my guts and Faulkner. Fell over a fence. Found the bathroom which was every bit as gross as yiur would expect a bathroom in a cheap camp in Egypt to be. Went in. It was even darker inside. I felt around in vain with my feet for the hole in the floor. Then decided it wasn’t worth rhe risk of my foot slipping in. Then my guts made rhe decision for me. It took about 50 pages of the Revelators or whatever that book was called to clean up.
I think this Howard story could be the start of a longer story. The hell with that editor who didn’t like it.
Jim, what a horrible experience! (With that said, it deserves to be written in story format!) I’m sorry for you and the book to have gone through that. I once had a similar experience in Mexico, but it doesn’t come close to yours by any means. At what point in life did you travel to Egypt? I’d love to visit someday.
And thank you! It’s funny, I once thought the same thing about the story. I can almost see the bard popping up in random locations during Howard’s travels, putting on outlandish performances. Maybe I’ll come back to it at some point. At minimum, it felt good to let Howard see the light of day!
Thank you for reading and sharing!
I was in Egypt back in 2000 and 2001. Was working in Israel excavating a Roman harbor on Scuba. Good times.
I've never read The Goldfinch, even though it was on the best seller list for a long time as I recall. I think you would enjoy the book I'm reading. There are some quirky characters and the Victorian England setting is very atmospheric. I am going to reserve The Goldfinch! Thanks for the recommendation and glad that you're feeling better!!
Yeah it was for at least a couple years, I believe. I’ll have to add yours to my list as well. Thanks, Andrea! Looking forward to it. 😊
PS I will order that book you recommend. I am generally not a reader of fantasy, other than Tolkein. AND twenty years ago I read Gabaldon's time-travel book, Outlander, and ended reading ALL of her books, several times over right up to today. A marvelous series!
My wife has several of the Outlander books and she loves them. I believe she watched the show, or started to, at least. It looks like a really neat concept!
Sounds great! I hope you like it and enjoy reading Locke’s story as much as I did. The city/setting, Camorr, is based on Venice during the Renaissance. You’ll have to let me know what you think!
I will! I also recommend a very small, unusual book to you - How I lIve Now. Slightly dystopian, but closer than we think... Or see the film. Very thought provoking.
Sounds intriguing! I just looked it up. I’ll definitely add it to my TBR pile. Thanks, Sharron!
"Howard floated between life and death" 😂😂 that really got me. Being sick is the worst!! I hope you get better quick! I haven't read any fantasy books lately, but "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor is on my TBR list. I've heard nothing but good things about it!
Haha, thank you Claire! Ugh, it really is. I try not to be a big baby about it, but I’m pretty sure I still am anyway. 🤣
Oh, awesome! Thanks for the title. I just looked it up and it sounds like it’s up my alley!
Eeeuuuuw! You gave a fair warning, but I read it anyway. Let's just say the best part was where he had a bathe in the river and cleaned himself up, poor lad. Ha Ha Ha. So sorry to her you are ill, my friend. Me too. Three days of it. Must be something going around. I am finishing my coffee and going back to bed.
Haha! Thank you for giving it a shot. 🤣 I’m starting to feel a bit better, thanks! And ugh - sorry to hear you’re not feeling well, either. I hope you get well soon!
I’ve returned, thank you! 😂
Ha! I don’t think it’s weird at all. Oh, I don’t know if I’ll send this one out again...maybe at some point. Do you think a separate editorial team would read it at all if given that information? Or would they just click reject and move on? Tough to say!
Thanks for reading, Meg!