Controversy: The Final Chapter

Here we are. The final chapter of Brad's story. If you have not read Chapter 18 yet, I wouldn't read this yet. Click here to read the last chapter.

So, I do have thoughts to share. For a few years, Brad seems such a principal character that he deserved his own book. Yet, I didn't know where I would take it. I threw in a line in Book Six, Laramie, about Corey saying, "Brad's in love." I figured if I ever did do a story, that line would be a connection.

As I've said before, I didn't know where to take Brad, so I followed the advice of the old saying, "Write what you know." Growing up a preacher's kid, I thought that might be the place to start. Just like Brad tells his family, Natural Attraction wasn't HIS story, just parts of it, I could say the same thing about Controversy. In this last chapter where Brad is finally "seen" by his mother after watching the play ... I never got that from my mother before she passed.

My original title for the last chapter was "Do Me, Baby." It seemed like I "just needed one more chapter" so many times. I had to keep going back to Prince's portfolio to find a title that would fit. I knew the guys would make love in their new home, so I just gave it that line. But, I hadn't used "Controversy" as a chapter title, so I made the decision to make it full circle. I'm not sure if it was the right call, but I think it works.

Each one of my books has its own unique storytelling quirk — Trent's journal, Lance's AA meetings, Jakob's years, Laramie's mixed narrative, etc. — and more than Brad's chapters being named after Prince songs, I liked using Corey and Aiden as a framing device. Most my readers know that all the stories aren't linear. This one takes place over four years. On page one, Corey and Aiden come home after their freshman year at Notre Dame. In the final pages, we see the boys (now men) a year out of college in Brad and Will's home. I hoped that help readers keep up with the passage of time.

And speaking of our collegians, I have started on the next book — but ONLY started. It will be a while. Book Eleven is Corey and Aiden's return to Notre Dame. It will be called The Sophomore Recordings. If you'd like to be notified of when it drops, send me an email: timothylane414@gmail.com 

Heaven knows the last few chapters have given teases of what will happen in the next three books. I've structured it to where no matter what sequence anyone reads one of my stories, if they ever go back to others, it all fits. (And there are a lot of hints!)

My proofreaders (and you know who you are), bless you! I appreciate you so much. 

While I step away to work on the next story, you can refresh the boys' freshman year: Book Eight Nifty shortened the title to My Unfortunate Soulmate. As I reviewed it in preparation, I found myself totally aggravated at the occasional errors, which makes me love my proofreaders all the more. I still think you'll enjoy reliving those characters again though.

Until then, be well.

Nothing Compares 2 U

The last three chapters of the book (this being the next-to-last one) were originally supposed to wrap up the book in one chapter. When I finally got to it, it was clear that outline wouldn't work. It became three, and truth be told, I could have divided Chapter 17 into two.

Click here to go to Chapter 17.

Emotions are high in both halves: Keith and Will. That's kind of why I felt like I could have separated them. It takes place over a few months, and by chapter's end, it was over half a year since the breakup, but I worried that readers might feel I was rushing it — Brad running from one relationship to the next. Hopefully people understood that there was time to process and accept and just "be."

I really like the scene following Brad and Will making love where the timetable of what was happening with Will makes the full story a little clearer. Will explaining what had transpired while apart helps make the whole situation fit together.

In some ways, this was the hardest chapter in the book to write. Brad separating from Will was sad, but this was truly harsh. What made it very difficult was that I had come to love Keith (as an author). From time to time, a character really grows on me. Lance was the first, and I decided I wanted to give him his own book. Actually, each character touches me in some way, but I loved Keith. Knowing he destroyed everything so casually killed him eventually. He was originally intended to be a love interest for Brad during the time before I reconnected Will with Brad. I didn't expect that I would develop him into a person I truly cared about. I had never planned on doing a Keith story, but his emotional journey and tragic pain is starting to inspire me to do so. We'll see.

I know the gay community is often stereotyped (which I hate), but there are so many different types of lifestyles among us. I have numerous couple friends that have been 100% monogamous for decades. Others ... not so much. It was interesting to me that one reader wrote (to Brad): "It's just sex — focus on the emotional connection and on the commitment to be there for each other." Within two hours, another one came in. He stated he knew the characters weren't real, but he couldn't go to sleep. "Because of my personal experiences, I will not be finishing Controversy." That was a dagger in my heart as I would never want anyone to relive pain from what I had written.

With ten stories written, I know as an author I can't keep doing the same story with the same people over and over. There has to be diversity. I hope I am accomplishing that.

One chapter left — hope you enjoy it.

The Move

Chapter 16 has so much emotion. (Click here for Controversy, Chapter 16.)

When watching movies, I find goodbye scenes so much sadder than death scenes.

Uprooting Brad from Jackson Bend after all these years was tough to do, but that's where the story is going. I hated doing it to Jakob and Lance so many years ago, but — that's life. So often, job opportunities or family dictate people we love have to move. It's hard.

I probably could have stretched this one into two chapters (throw in some more sex here, more dialogue there), but I didn't mind letting the chapter expand from summer to the holidays to a new year. The previous chapter was six months long, so this one being about eight isn't that radical of a departure.

This chapter's emphasis was on a new start for our couple. Saying goodbye to what they knew and beginning fresh. My own husband had to make that move to be with me so long ago. (We are a rare example of a long-distance relationship actually working out.)

Of course, there's yet again another three-way. Full disclosure, I have no more plans of writing another one. That' not to say I have all subsequent books figured out, but ... nothing in my mind moves the plot because of one. This one I needed. The three in Book Ten each had their own plot point, even if the first one with Topher and Nolan was to get Brad out of his funk. Aside from the Prince songs, maybe that can be this book's niche as well. Ha.

And if I haven't disclosed this before, no, I have never been in one.

I've never really had readers voice their opinions on them one way or another ("I like the monogamous couples" vs. "totally fucking hot, man"). When writing ten novels, it helps an author to have some aspect of variety with the expected sexual content.

Aaaaaaand ... then there's the bar scene. Stay tuned.

Brad's Christmas

I was so happy to share Chapter 14. It was long, but it had so much.

The situation with Ramona swung the pendulum to the intense side, and then Christmas swings toward redemption.

The family dynamic is what I found most rewarding. Naomi's soul-searching was interesting for me to write. When outlining the book, I never would have thought of such details (I hadn't even thought up Naomi), but her inclusion into this chapter really made everything a cohesive arc. As kids, we expect our parents to not only be perfect but to know all the answers. After years of animosity toward them, her realization that they were trying the best they could I found to be a great plot point.

Children can always throw curveballs. Even when things are going fine, parents always worry. But when a kid makes a serious mistake, oooo, that's tough on all involved.

Brad's dramatic flareup with his parents I find to be spot on. I never had that argument with my parents, but I have felt it so many times. 

What amuses me is the line where Brad tells his father "That's the first time you ever said that to me" during their walk. Saying "I love you" was going to be in one of the last paragraphs of the book. But the story had so much more to offer. There are still chapters left to make Brad's story complete.

Also, I'm a fan of looking through old family pictures when the opportunity presents itself, so that's a Timothy nod in the story.

With his parents, Keith, Will, his sister and nephew, what's next for Brad?

Keith

Noticeably, a new character has taken hold in Controversy. Keith and Ramona have been around for a few chapters, but now Keith is taking a more significant role.

Click here to read Chapter 12.

When I outline a book, I have a very simple framework. I was going to introduce a new love for Brad. I knew it was coming about halfway through Brad's story. What I didn't know is how taken I would be with Keith.

When writing A Bed, A Desk and My Unfortunate Soulmate (Book Eight), Geoff was the college freshman whose sexual development just exploded on him. His addiction to porn and all things sexual placed him in a bisexual (or pansexual) realm, if his identity needed labeling. But Keith, as an older adult, is a new type of character for me.

It's also a challenge. To my knowledge, I don't know any bisexuals personally. I always strive for authenticity in my books, so sometimes I have to make assumptions. (By authenticity, I mean not every character is an idealized quarterback — blond, of course — with an eight-inch schlong. And naturally, everyone on the team has a huge dick and all like to get off together even though they are straight. Right.) As a writer, I prefer the real world. I want every reader to find someone with whom they can identify. I'm hoping Keith comes across as true. I wish I had some bisexual friends: I'd really enjoy talking with them. I'd find them fascinating.

Keith has a wonderful innocence, coming out later in life. It is this youthful quality that Brad (and ME!) find endearing about Keith. I've really enjoyed developing this character. His impact on Brad's life in the upcoming chapters is massive. I hope you are drawn to him as I have been "creating" him.

Watermelon

I will freely admit, Chapter 10 was very different.

Click to read Chapter 10.

Brad thinking of watermelon to take his mind of Will moving on was humorous in its own way, but how many of us have suffered through it? I remember when my first boyfriend (and we were long distance) told me he slept with someone else. My heart was shattered glass. It only seemed natural. But he was my first, and I was head over heels. I think I was No. 17 for him. (We're still great friends, and he is over a thousand now; yes, that isn't a typo.)

Can anyone else relate to their heart being broken by a former love moving on from you?

And then there's that three-way. It's VERY rare that I write about sex with females. For good reason: I have zilcho experience in that department. But because I like to keep my stories grounded — and heterosexual sex is certainly out there — it's appropriate for it to make its way into a story now and then. Certainly, Corey is going to have to debate it in the next book.

The final line of the chapter (mirroring the Prince song title of the chapter) begs the question: How important is Keith going to be in Brad's life?

And has anyone experienced a situation like that?

Stay tuned. 

Will

Since this book (Controversy) started, Will has mentioned throughout.

Chapter 7 — one of the steamier ones — shows us Brad and Will coming together in a flashback. As an author, it is nice to finally show the love growing between the two, even if it is a past love.

Will Fitzgerald is one of my stronger characters. In so many ways (in my mind, at least), he is very different than Brad, almost an opposite. Perhaps that is why they work so well together. It's also why the separation is so heartbreaking because the love was authentic.

Because I have so many things worked out in my head, I have no idea how readers will — or do — picture Will. Is he Brad's true love? Is he a total jerk for moving and not asking Brad to come along? And how will Brad's former partner affect his life moving forward? Can Brad find new love? Or was Will his once chance at the real deal?

Interestingly, a line from this chapter references Corey's statement: "Brad's in love." I didn't just make it up; it happened in Book Six, Laramie, Chapter 23. You can relive it here: Laramie, Chapter 23. So yeah, years ago when I wrote Laramie, I hadn't conceived of Will's character, but I set up something just in case I wrote a book about Brad one day. I like how it all fits.

Oh yeah, there is something else in this chapter — a three-way. As someone who writes love stories, it isn't really a scenario that I go to often. But here is a bit of insider info ... it won't be Brad's last. And I will leave you with that. And do you have any thoughts on them? Too dangerous? Completely hot? Messes things up?

Much more to come...