Book 2, If It Weren’t For the Two of Us, Has Started Posting

 

I am very excited to share this with the readers! Fans who weren’t okay with the less-than-concrete ending of Extracurricular can feel relieved that they don’t have to write the ending themselves.

Read Chapter 1 Here

If It Weren’t For the Two of Us is Trent’s book. After coming out to Mike at the beginning of Extracurricular, we saw Mike counsel — and eventually fall in love with — Trent. Mike’s experience through that book was realizing he had distanced himself from the gay world following a hard breakup. Through all the mistakes he made with Trent, he fortunately found himself reawakened. Trent has a long way to go. You’re going to be thrilled, heartbroken and taken through some raw moments he has to face.

There are two months left before college graduation takes place, and Lance is going to evolve as well. His character is really fleshed out (don’t insert puns here) and there is a lot for him left to process. Trent isn’t the only one figuring out his own path.

I look forward to hearing your feedback as this new story begins. If It Weren’t For the Two of Us is a longer story. Enjoy every part of the ride.

Timothy

Book 2 to Begin Posting Next Week

 

As noted in a previous post, Extracurricular started as a stay-at-home diversion as global events sort of freaked us all out. I was astonished at how much I enjoyed writing. It really was just for me. I had no intentions of letting others read it, and I knew nothing of Nifty at the time. As I continued to tell Mike’s (and Trent’s) story, I wondered how I would end it.

Quite frankly, I didn’t.

I thought “the pause” would be a way to step away. If — for heaven’s sakes — anyone ever DID see it, I figured they could sort of decide how they wanted the story of my characters to work out. It would be up to them.

Not that anyone would ever see it. I was done with it. I had my fun playing author.

Until I wanted to write some more. I wound up really liking these characters. As much as it makes me sound like I needed a psychiatrist's couch (ha!), I found formulating their dialogue and their visits as almost “virtual” company when we weren’t able to visit with friends. The growing romance was so much fun to write.

I knew I needed something different, so if I was going to continue, I figured I would mix it up and start writing from another perspective. Switching from Mike’s to Trent’s point of view would be a new source of energy. I also wanted to give the book its own construct, so when the next book starts, you will see how a journal pulls Trent’s thoughts together.

If It Weren’t For the Two of Us will begin posting next week. Trent makes for a great protagonist. Judging from the emails I have received, many of you could relate to what he was feeling. (Of course, some of you could identify with Mike even more.) Trent has a lot to work through, and his story should really tug at your heart.

More soon.

If you don’t wish to comment below, you can always send a personal email at timothylane414@gmail.com

As always, thank you for your support.

Timothy

Extracurricular, the Final Chapter

 

The final chapter of Extracurricular is now posted. I won’t comment on the ending here in case you haven’t read it yet, but I definitely want to hear how it affected you. It most likely wasn’t what you were expecting.

Extracurricular Final Chapter (13) Here

Extracurricular was Mike’s book. We went through the journey through his eyes. Book 2 will shift. It will be Trent’s book. The story will now follow Trent as he winds down college and figures out his place in the gay world — and the real world.

Keep your eyes open for it. It will be called If It Weren’t For the Two of Us. It’s a longer book than Extracurricular, so you will experience Trent’s life in much greater detail. I think it is very moving and has many powerful moments. If It Weren’t For the Two of Us will introduce more characters that affect Trent’s life, not to mention Lance’s evolution. I’m excited to share it with you.

Thanks for your support through this first book.

As always, you can reach me by email: timothylane414@gmail.com. Feel free to comment below.

Welcome!

As an author, connecting to readers is the ultimate reward. I have been quite touched with several of you who have reached out to offer feedback. Even more impactful are those opportunities you have taken to share why the characters in Extracurricular have resonated with you or why you can relate to these individuals I have created in text. That means a lot, and I thank you.

I pondered on whether it would be interesting to have a space where readers can share thoughts not only just to me but to others who are along this journey as well. Thus, this blog. The intention here is to not make something flashy and full of advertisements. I wish to keep it simple, and with that comes the intimacy of friends talking amongst ourselves. I look forward to your comments, both on the writing itself and also how it relates to you, whether through shared experiences or the emotions the characters are feeling. I hope you feel comfortable jumping in and sharing what’s on your mind.

For this first blog post, I’ll share just a bit on how Extracurricular got started. In 2020, we all found ourselves all but trapped in our houses as pandemic news shocked the world. As many did, I found myself cleaning and while I was organizing some things, I found the beginnings of the book — scribbled on paper, no less — that I had written ages ago. In tidying up things, I intended to discard it but thankfully had the foresight to type it up before doing so. More or less, that became Chapter 1. As I wrote the next chapter … and then another … I found it an incredibly enjoyable distraction in the stay-at-home world we were once in. Several chapters into the book, I realized it was the most rewarding thing I had done in quite a long time. Then with a simple Google search, I found Nifty.

I was astonished by the sheer abundance of material out there. I didn’t devote an enormous amount of time to it, but like many of us, I dabbled with a story here or there. I would stumble across a few I really liked, but so many seemed formulaic with lots of “scenes,” but no real substance to the characters involved. When I found one that really made me feel — feel — for the characters, I knew Nifty needed more honest love stories. Certainly, there is an audience out there for those who just want to read the sex, but I also feel there is a large portion of the reading public who would enjoy true gay love stories. That was my commitment: to write a story that shows real love between men.

So, do you agree? Do we need more such stories?

Timothy