Husbands: The Conclusion of "Heart and Soul"

Well, Book Nine is now complete.

Click here to read the conclusion, Chapter 16 of Heart and Soul.

Certainly, it has ended dramatically differently than previous works. I have never killed off a major character before. Yes, there have been some deaths for protagonists to deal with, but never someone so significant to the plot. I will fully admit I was teary as I wrote it.

For those of you who will say, "I'm going to miss Don," please realize that was a significant time jump in this chapter. Don will still be around in subsequent books.

When Emory first mentioned meeting Don in Coffee at 9, I thought it a good seed to plant if I ever did a story on Emory. Don appeared heavily in Books Six and Seven. Please note that I didn't create him just for the purpose of killing him off. It wasn't until I sat down and outlined how Heart and Soul would go that I felt that would be the true finale of showing their love.

When I began Heart and Soul, I assumed a story of retired gentlemen wouldn't have the heat of "young studs." But I still wanted to show all ages in my stories, and I know men of all ages experience love and are still sexual individuals. (If anyone is wondering, I am younger than our two gentlemen.) For those readers who told me they appreciated a story showing senior men falling in love and enjoying sex, I hope the conclusion still played true. Honest, authentic emotions are always my primary goal.

So, what's next?

Book Ten will be called Controversy. Brad, our favorite barista at Joe, will be the headliner. In our timeline — while Brad will certainly look back on his life's backstory — it will take place as the first story to follow Corey and Aiden's freshmen year in college. It begins with them returning home. Eventually, that sets the stage for our lads heading off to Notre Dame for their sophomore year (the following book).

Brad always seems sassy and confident, but we will find out that the gentleman has a lot to unpack. In addition to established characters, there are new friends to meet along the way.

If you don't want to overlook it's debut in a couple of months (yes, unfortunately, it is not finished), send me an email to be notified. timothylane414@gmail.com And feel free to email at any time. I enjoy hearing from readers.

Before I wrap up things With Heart and Soul, I once again thank the friends who did some proofreading for me. Their assistance was invaluable. I also thank the readers who shared their own lives. Writing their experiences into the sharing sessions really meant something to me.

Five years ago as the pandemic started, I never would have dreamed I would ever write nine novels. Just putting an open-ended conclusion to Extracurricular was enough. But our gentlemen of Jackson Bend have a way of burrowing into my brain. Bless 'em.

Stay tuned.

 

Weddings

I would have to assume if you are reading this, you have read the latest chapter of Heart and Soul.  Click here to read Chapter 15.

I'm not sure if readers saw the title of the chapter, and thought, "Oh, Emory and Don are getting married. Ah. No. It is Cooper and Laramie's wedding. Oh wait, it is Emory and Don." If it all bopped around in a bit of surprise, well, dandy.

Of interest to me is that it is the third time I have written Cooper's wedding, but it has always been from various perspectives other than the grooms themselves.
Corey: A Bed, A Desk and My Unfortunate Soulmate, Chapter 4
Mitchell: Say Goodbye to Sparkleland, Chapter 29

Perhaps, one of these days I will write it again once more so that we can see it from Cooper's or Laramie's perspective. It would have fit in either of their books, but I found the endings to Books Five and Six to be where their arc reached a satisfying conclusion.

Overall, I tried to bring a natural progression to Emory's decision. None of my stories are ever about me. But a few of my experiences do make it into the text now and then. I was at a convention many, many years ago. A longtime friend in our industry asked if my partner and I were going to get married. We noted it wasn't really in our plans. He pushed for it for legal reasons, owing to a hospitalization that had occurred. Granted, this man was straight, but he wanted to make sure we wouldn't ever have to deal with a "family decision" situation. He urged us to make it legal. So, the seed was planted.

Hopefully, our lovable grump deciding to propose to Don seemed authentic. I didn't want to go off the rails in some showy spectacle. If you enjoyed it, then that pleases me.

One chapter left...

Sharing

I really like this chapter.

Click here to read Chapter 13, Heart and Soul.

The reason for that is two-fold. The entire scene at the radio station was fun to write. Trent was my very first character way back in Extracurricular. Well, along with Mike, at least. It's always a treat to bring back past protagonists from my books. I enjoyed crafting Trent's coming out in that first book, although "his" book was really If It Weren't For the Two of Us. In the timeline of all these stories, we see Trent five years after his graduation and how he has grown as a person.

The bigger reason I like this chapter is because several readers contributed to it. While they shared their stories to me personally, I have included some interpretations in an anonymous way. I won't bother clarifying which shares at the Heart and Soul meeting were ones I created as the author and ones that were derived from readers. I just love the authenticity of the chapter.

I do take this moment to thank the readers who have shared with me. Your honesty and trust is taken to heart.

Each of us has a story in our own way. As different as our circumstances are from other people, we still should be aware that we have so much in common.

I appreciate the support of Emory's and Don's story, as well as your time invested in my work. Hugs to all.

New Arc

As Emory's book begins its downward slope to the conclusion, Chapter 12 introduces a new arc.

Click here to read Chapter 12.

Within this chapter, the book's title comes to light.

After writing several books that featured Emory in it, I knew his story should be told. I had done divorced, college, alcoholic, etc., but I hadn't done a full story of people of retirement age. Just as I knew when I wrote Say Goodbye to Sparkleland, many of my readers would shy away from a story of someone who had cheated on their true love. But those that stuck with it, I feel, learned to embrace Mitchell in all his mistakes. Likewise, I'm sure some of my readers were disinterested in a story of "older" guys. Hopefully they realize that men are still sexually active as they age. Every age can be "hot" and loving and tender.

Now we have Emory's idea. Heart and Soul has given him purpose. I am not aware of such groups. I might hear from someone who says, "Timothy, don't you know of this and this and this?" If so, I'll just say (with a smile) none of those groups have existed in Jackson Bend. His idea is small, but as Lorenzo has conveyed, it was something important and meaningful. And for that reason, I'm glad Emory has a new direction.

I have known people who felt lost once they retired. They just sat around the house feeling like there was nothing to do. Even some wives have nudged them to do something with themselves. Having a wide open canvas sounds amazing to me. I'll be happy when the day comes that I have no deadlines. I long for the day when someone asks me when I let go of everything: "What will you do?" Like Emory and Don, whatever I want, whenever I want. Retirement scares some people. I find an absolute freedom to it. One day.

When I first created Emory in Coffee at 9, I just wanted an older gay guy to befriend Cooper. I had no real backstory for him. Even when I teased Don in the final chapter of that book, I had no grand vision for Emory's book — or even if I would do one. But once I envisioned Heart and Soul as a fellowship group, the big picture came into focus for me. I just had to figure out how it would overlay Books Six, Seven and Eight.

Would you attend such a group?

The Stroke

So. 

Read Chapter 10 of Heart and Soul here.

Those with good memories or who simply looked at my timeline in the previous post knew this chapter was coming. We saw Emory's stroke in Chapter 21 of Laramie. At the time, I didn't necessarily know I was going to do a book with Emory, but since I did, not only did I have to include this, I think it is very important to the plot.

While there is erotica in my work, I write LOVE stories not just sex scenes. I'm sure many people will see the title of the chapter and think, "Well, that's not sexy." Nope. It's not. But the companionship between the two men should be. I felt this chapter really showed the depth of both characters and their relationship.

And look who's back? Lorenzo Barker. Readers might recall his introduction in Chapter 22 in Say Goodbye to Sparkleland. When I wrote that book, I knew I was going to make use of him.

For anyone who didn't think they would care for this chapter and wound up liking it, I hope you tell me. After writing so many lovemaking scenes, crafting these passages was different.

Showing affection, love and sex at ALL ages is pleasing to me. The young studs (well-hung, 6'5'', quarterbacks — yeah, they get their share of stories) make for easy j/o material, but I hope these senior men show authenticity.

Tell me.

Fitting Together

If all my stories were told in a linear fashion, then it would be so much easier. But many readers will remember the tornado from three books ago. I realize that makes it confusing to go back and forth.

Same event, different houses:
Heart and Soul, Chapter 9
Laramie, Chapter 20

Why would I do this? Well, as secondary characters get their own stories, then you have to make sure things align. To tell the complete story, it is necessary to go back. 

Some of you probably flat out don't care. You read the story because you might like a certain character. Or you just want the hot scenes, but it isn't important enough to commit to memory or keep the timeline straight.

But do you wonder if I do? After several books, I had to create a spreadsheet. That doesn't work well for this blog, but this is a synopsis if it interests anyone. If you've read the previous material, then there are no spoilers here.

Notes are by book and chapter:
5: Coffee at 9
6: Laramie
7: Say Goodbye to Sparkleland
8: A Bed, A Desk and My Unfortunate Soulmate

2022
Feb - Emory spills coffee on Cooper 5,1
March - Coffee at 9 meetings begin 5,2
July - Cooper meets Laramie 5,6
Oct - Corey goes to coffee for first time 5,9
Nov - Laramie and Cooper kiss 5,10
Dec - Cooper's love triangle 5,11; Emory and Don meet 9,1

2023
Jan - Cooper chooses Laramie - 5,12
Feb - Emory and Don have sex - 9,3
May - Don meets Don 9,5, Tampa 6,17
July - Natalie's wedding 6,18
Sept - "Signposts"; Isaiah dies 9,7
Oct - Corey and Laramie fight, Carter's first appearance 6,19
Nov - Mitch finishes therapy 7,23
Dec - Mitch and Layton date 7,24

2024
Jan - Mitch returns to coffee group 7,25
Feb - Mitch and Carter 7,26
March - "L.B." 7,28
April - Tornado 6,20; 9,9
May - Jakob's magazine 4,12
June - Mitch moves in 7,29
July - Vegas 6,21
Sept - Corey's license, Emory's stroke 6,21

2025
Jan - Mitch and L.B.'s new house 7,29
Feb - Aiden spends emotional night with Corey 6,22
Aug - Laramie's mother dies 6,22

2027
March - Corey and Laramie argue 6,24
May - Art exhibit 6,24
June - Corey's graduation 6,24
Aug - Notre Dame begins 8,1
Nov - Cooper and Laramie marry 8,4; Mitch's tattoo 7,29

Obviously there are more details than just this, and there are holes to fill in (eventually).

This is more of an informative blog post than an interesting one, but the tornado in Chapter 9 made me think that some readers would remember it and wonder how things fit together. One of my favorite television shows of all time was This Is Us. It was told much like my Jackson Bend series. I often wondered if they had a huge timeline over many years and slowly filled in the spaces.

Brothers

I am often asked if any of the characters I write are based on me. My standard answer is "no." But at the same time, I tell people there is a little bit of me in each of the characters. I like to believe that my gents are emotionally driven more than their physical traits. That's what I write about, what's inside. I like to take circumstances I see in real life among my friends and family or things I read about and ask, "What are they feeling?"

Well, in this chapter, there is very definitely something me. 

I am somewhat distanced from my older brother. Many years ago, he had some choice hateful words for me, along with "the bible says gay people are going to hell" thing. When I was writing this chapter with Isaiah, I let things that were kind of buried within me rise to the surface. My older brother has not passed away, but we talk very infrequently. Birthday texts and Christmas cards are about it. 

I fear that one day when we lose our parents that we may never see each other again. And the fact that I accept that outcome should be horribly troubling. But I do. We may just not include each other in our lives.

I'm not Emory, but I do share that with that him, even though my circumstances are slightly different.

What's even more sad is that I know from talking with others that this situation is rather common. There isn't always a love between siblings. Sometimes being a blood relative isn't enough.

If anyone out there shares those feelings, you aren't alone. And I care.

Chapter 7, "Family Matters," can be found HERE.