Interesting characters, Justin. Draw you in straight away. A tender switch there, first the youngster doing the ‘looking after’ then the dad. Intrigued about the nightmares and what caused them. Great writing, of course … the dialogue is great, instantly believable. Nice work!
Thanks so much for reading, Barrie! I’m happy you liked the characters. I’ve been having a blast “going long” for a change. I’ve still got a long way to go, but I think these characters will propel me to the end!
Kids and their nightmares. Such a sad thing. ( I know from my own personal experience.) Smitty's dad is a complex character. Works hard, comes home, drinks, falls asleep in front of the tv Doesn't seem to have much of a life, yet he obviously loves his son fiercely, is patient and kind. I am so glad you made him this kind of dad, Justin. I want more, please!
Thank you, Sharron! I really appreciate you reading and sharing! I also had awful nightmares as a kid for a solid year or two—I still remember them. I’m trying to figure out what I should do here with this novel. Finish it first and then maybe serialize it? Ahh, I don’t know. I’ll keep writing for now and figure it out later, ha! Thanks again, my friend!
Eyes open. Eric Satie plays. Afternoon of the faun. Wets my appetite for more Justin.
Peach fuzz pubescence a time of fear. Music soothes. Plays a tune of walking in the woods alone. Shadows grow long. Eyes perceive but fear teenage years. Vincent can only do so much after a few beers.
Thank you for sharing this with us, Justin. Interestingly, this read like a first chapter to me. Posed lots of questions and revealed so much about the characters. Makes me curious to find out how you chose to start the novel... And where this shares chapter will lead... Wonderful work!
Thank you for reading, Meg! I’d be happy to email you my draft if you’d like to check it out. I have a solid outline and hope I don’t run through molasses somewhere in the middle!
The father and son make an interesting pair. The way they look out for each other makes me think the mother/wife is absent. The building that echoes and has marble walls sounds like a mausoleum. I'd like to know more about the dreams and those boys with braces and peach fuzz. I can see this is going to be a captivating book. Best of luck in your writing it.
K.C., thank you so much for checking this out! I’m considering serializing it, but I’d like to finish writing it first. You nailed it. All of your wonderings are pretty much spot-on. I’m having a ton of fun fleshing this story out. Right now I’m hitting the middle third of the book and it’s going pretty smoothly. I’m waiting to run into a wall! Hopefully I don’t hit any. 😄
That's an unexpected reaction from his father ... so tender and understanding ... especially after seeing him passed out in the barcalounger. Stereotype, but it works somehow. I look forward to the before and after stories.
Thank you for reading this, Sue, and for sharing your thoughts. Our characters truly do take over the story when we write (sometimes) because it was unexpected for me, too. I look forward to sharing the rest, too—thank you!
Aww, thank you for that. It was an extra busy month over here so I only logged on a few times, but hopefully I can be a little more consistent moving forward. I appreciate the warm wishes! 🙏
I'm just thrilled you didn't fall off a bar stool or walk purposely in front of a bus and are gone forever. Carry on in your own schizophrenic timeframe through your alternate universe.
Thank you, Stephanie. I really appreciate the kind words! 🙏 It’s funny how quickly I’ve become attached to this father/son tandem. They’re always somewhere in the back of my mind!
Interesting characters, Justin. Draw you in straight away. A tender switch there, first the youngster doing the ‘looking after’ then the dad. Intrigued about the nightmares and what caused them. Great writing, of course … the dialogue is great, instantly believable. Nice work!
Thanks so much for reading, Barrie! I’m happy you liked the characters. I’ve been having a blast “going long” for a change. I’ve still got a long way to go, but I think these characters will propel me to the end!
Characters have a way of getting a fella to tell their tale!
That's what I was going to say. I want to know more about this relationship.
Thank you for reading! I appreciate the encouragement!
Me, too.
I guess you and I will be buying this book!
Give me a year or two or three and we’ll see what happens, ha! 😄
Kids and their nightmares. Such a sad thing. ( I know from my own personal experience.) Smitty's dad is a complex character. Works hard, comes home, drinks, falls asleep in front of the tv Doesn't seem to have much of a life, yet he obviously loves his son fiercely, is patient and kind. I am so glad you made him this kind of dad, Justin. I want more, please!
Thank you, Sharron! I really appreciate you reading and sharing! I also had awful nightmares as a kid for a solid year or two—I still remember them. I’m trying to figure out what I should do here with this novel. Finish it first and then maybe serialize it? Ahh, I don’t know. I’ll keep writing for now and figure it out later, ha! Thanks again, my friend!
I like the idea of serialization for substack. Whether you wait until it is finished or post each chapter as you complete it, I can’t wait to see it.
Eyes open. Eric Satie plays. Afternoon of the faun. Wets my appetite for more Justin.
Peach fuzz pubescence a time of fear. Music soothes. Plays a tune of walking in the woods alone. Shadows grow long. Eyes perceive but fear teenage years. Vincent can only do so much after a few beers.
Thank you so much for reading, Rich!
Thank you for sharing this with us, Justin. Interestingly, this read like a first chapter to me. Posed lots of questions and revealed so much about the characters. Makes me curious to find out how you chose to start the novel... And where this shares chapter will lead... Wonderful work!
See you Friday! 💜
Thank you for reading, Meg! I’d be happy to email you my draft if you’d like to check it out. I have a solid outline and hope I don’t run through molasses somewhere in the middle!
Absolutely terrific! Really hooks the reader in - look forward to reading more!
Thank you so much for checking it out, Chris! I’m happy you enjoyed it!
The father and son make an interesting pair. The way they look out for each other makes me think the mother/wife is absent. The building that echoes and has marble walls sounds like a mausoleum. I'd like to know more about the dreams and those boys with braces and peach fuzz. I can see this is going to be a captivating book. Best of luck in your writing it.
K.C., thank you so much for checking this out! I’m considering serializing it, but I’d like to finish writing it first. You nailed it. All of your wonderings are pretty much spot-on. I’m having a ton of fun fleshing this story out. Right now I’m hitting the middle third of the book and it’s going pretty smoothly. I’m waiting to run into a wall! Hopefully I don’t hit any. 😄
Brr, chilling! You made me feel scared!
Thanks so much for reading, Nevena!
That's an unexpected reaction from his father ... so tender and understanding ... especially after seeing him passed out in the barcalounger. Stereotype, but it works somehow. I look forward to the before and after stories.
Thank you for reading this, Sue, and for sharing your thoughts. Our characters truly do take over the story when we write (sometimes) because it was unexpected for me, too. I look forward to sharing the rest, too—thank you!
Writing a novel is a form of schizophrenia, you know.
I was relieved to learn that you were writing a novel and that's why you hadn't shown up in my in-box. Bravo! and Vaya con Dios!
Ha! So I’ve heard! 😄
Aww, thank you for that. It was an extra busy month over here so I only logged on a few times, but hopefully I can be a little more consistent moving forward. I appreciate the warm wishes! 🙏
I'm just thrilled you didn't fall off a bar stool or walk purposely in front of a bus and are gone forever. Carry on in your own schizophrenic timeframe through your alternate universe.
Thank you for sharing a peek at your WIP. I wish I were this brave!
The other day I realized a month had gone by, so I figured I ought to share something, ha! How is your memoir coming along?
Slow but steady. It may outlive me.
Slow and steady is how my own is unfolding, too. Nothing wrong with that! Best wishes to you, Amie!
Looking forward to reading more, Justin!!
Thank you, Andrea! I have more chapters coming your way soon!
The treatment of these characters is so tender. Seems like a great story! Best of luck with the continued novel writing!
Thank you, Stephanie. I really appreciate the kind words! 🙏 It’s funny how quickly I’ve become attached to this father/son tandem. They’re always somewhere in the back of my mind!