The Crash

The latest chapter of Hi, I'm Lance brings about an opportunity that I like. At Lance's latest meeting, a reflection on a piece of glass-covered art reminds him of the night of his crash.

Read Meeting No. 8 [Chap. 5] here.

Regular readers will remember that event in If It Weren't For the Two of Us. Originally we saw it through the eyes of Trent when he received a phone call. The conversation in the waiting room between him and Lance's father was a significant turning point in the story — and what Lance did with his life following.

See If It Weren't For the Two of Us, Chapter 30 here.

If you were to go back and read it now and see it through both sets of eyes, it is a fuller picture.

Using flashbacks helps paint Lance as to who he is and how he developed into the man he is. I won't use a flashback in every chapter, but as this book is developing, I find it a useful tool. I think it helps get a complete picture.

Feel free to comment below.

"Call me Mike"

With Chapter 35 of If It Weren't For the Two of Us, Trent has now come out to just about everybody. The experience with his father was one that could go either way.

Read Chapter 35 here.

So, was his father's reaction what you expected? How would you have reacted? In our world, experiences are all over the place. Many readers have probably had to feel the same things. The progression with his parents still has a ways to go. I don't think you will predict what happens next.

To regular readers, you might have noticed one passage seemed familiar. The phone call between Trent and Lance was first read in Hi, I'm Lance. As the two books align, they won't necessarily fit perfectly, but the dates in Trent's journal and the ones noted on Lance's meetings will show you how the two stories are parallel. You might find it interesting to see the same story through different eyes.

With Extracurricular finished, in a way, Mike has stepped into the background (maybe just a little bit). Perhaps I should write some original content for him. Thoughts?

First Kiss

My first kiss was not a boy. In fact, my first male kiss was when I was out of college and as an adult. I had "explored" a little (sadly, too little) in my teen years, but it didn't involve kissing.

One would think a first kiss would be an amazing memory. I don't remember my first kiss with a man. That saddens me. I know who it was but not really the occasion. I remember the sexual activity that probably actually came before the kiss. My sequencing is probably atypical, I suppose.

Lance's flashback in this chapter involves his first kiss — male kiss, that is.

Read Chapter 4/Meeting No. 7 here.

How about you? Kissing first? Sex first?

Comment below.

"I have a big dick."

If that title doesn't startle you ... it should.

When I started Lance's book, I was tempted to make those the first words. It summed him up in so many ways. It wasn't just about the anatomy, but his brashness and arrogance, as well. The words didn't work as an opening because I needed to set up the AA meeting format first. "Hi, I'm Lance. I'm an alcoholic" made for a better introduction to the story.

I felt by the third chapter, Lance could be comfortable enough to be ever so blunt.

Read [Chap. 3] Meeting No. 6 here.

I think that what makes it less offensive is that Lance views his endowment as a flaw. It hasn't helped him in life, at least the way he wants. Had I been sitting in on that meeting, I'm sure my own personal opinion would have been one of very little sympathy. But it is very easy to assume someone with lots of money or good looks or claims to fame has it made. There are enough celebrity tragedies to contradict that. No matter who you are, problems have their way of infilatrating one's life. 

And here's Lance. He's trying to turn the corner on his own life. And in doing so, he's learning to listen to others. Their issues are putting his own in perspective. Being a good listener and empathy are helping him grow just as much as being sober. Now in the real world, Lance must grow up.

Lance's big dick didn't shield him from any problems. It probably caused a few, as he surmises. But it is a part of who he is. Now he just has to figure out what that is — and become a better man.

High School

The second chapter of Hi, I'm Lance has been posted. 

Read [Chap. 2] Meeting No. 5 here.

With this third book, I have introduced the flashback. Up to now (in Extracurricular and If It Weren't For the Two of Us), characters have only talked about their pasts, but I think the flashback will really help tell Lance's story.

In this chapter, he reflects back on an impactful moment in high school. High school isn't always an easy time for most people. Peer pressure, self-esteem, grades, adolescence spiraling in all directions ... it can be scary. Even more so, it can be extremely difficult on gay kids. As time progresses, it has slowly become easier for kids to be themselves, but it still takes courage. And bravo to those who are able to affirm who they are at a young age.

I was not one of those kids. Granted, it was a long time ago, but sheer ridicule was waiting for anyone who might express their true self. I remember being teased just on sheer suspicion. Struggling with my sexuality went on into my twenties.

But high school is a time where young men — gay or straight — become aware of their bodies, as well as others. I have heard reports of even straight boys experimenting or exploring with each other. As someone who was/is gay, I can't tell if that is true or not. I do remember my own experiences, and those were a time bomb that exploded all sorts of emotions within me for years.

Having posted my stories in "Adult Friends," I don't expect to have many (if any at all) high school readers. (If I do, please drop me a message.) 

Feel free to comment on any experiences from your adolescent years.

Paycheck

It would be nice to have some deep insight into this chapter, but unfortunately, I do not.

Trent and Lance have received their first checks. I had started working even before I was 16. I've always worked. As an adult, it was very common for me to have two jobs.

It has been too many years for me to recall my first paycheck — both as a teen and as an adult. Having waited tables for so many years, I always just had cash in my pocket. I think my first paycheck as a teacher was exciting because it was the largest amount I had ever received on one check (not that teachers make a lot).

Money is one of the largest issues married couples face. It can often cause all sorts of problems. It might be less so with gay men. Interestingly, it never really crossed my mind to make that a plotline. Obviously, some of my characters have more than others. To me, that is just lumped in with physical traits more than plotlines. However, as Lance meets more people in his AA group, there will be some effects.

For now, that first step into adulthood having received your first paycheck can be found in Chapter 34.

Read Chapter 34 here.

Hi, I'm Lance

Greetings all!

Longtime readers of this blog (or in personal messages to me) know that Lance was a character that grew on me. His book, Hi, I'm Lance (Book 3) is now beginning to be posted.

Read Hi, I'm Lance [Chapter 1] here.

If you are new to my stories, there are actually two books that precede this one. Extracurricular and If It Weren't For the Two of Us are also on Nifty in Adult Friends. Lance, Trent and Mike are all introduced in an encounter in the first book.

Hi, I'm Lance will feature flashbacks from time to time. I think you will easily determine this, but they appear in blue text when you read.

Within this chapter, my regular readers will recall the flashback to be the first chapter of Extracurricular, but seen completely differently through the eyes of Lance, instead of Mike. You can compare here.

Extracurricular, Chapter 1

The structure of the book is very specific. I didn't want to give it chapter numbers. They are noted by meetings Lance has at AA. It appears Nifty wasn't keen on that idea. It just got posted as Chapter 1, not [Chap. 1] Meeting No. 4. It is what it is.

Most of you know that Book 2 is not finished. Trent's story still has a ways to go, so fear not Trent fans. The two books will be intermingled in the postings, hopefully to keep the chronology fairly consistent.

If you haven't liked Lance in the past, I hope this book will eventually reach you. He's complex.

To any new readers, welcome! I appreciate comments on the blog, even if they are anonymous.

So much!

I wasn't sure what title to give this post. I've been excited to get to this point. There is so much to discuss. I thought about calling it Meet The Parents. So many of us have had to do this. In my situation, I actually met my partner's parents before we were out to them. We didn't interact a lot, but I was introduced as a friend from out of town. I attended a few family functions. He, on the other hand, had to meet my parents shortly after we came out to our families. That had to have been harder.

Judging by some communication from my readers, many of them are in opposite-sex marriages and are closeted. In a way, those people have met the parents with twice the pressure. Sending positive vibes to those friends.

I thought about calling this post "3." The red three at the end indicates where Book 3 starts. I am so excited for it to launch. For a while you will see alternating posts. Some will be If It Weren't For the Two of Us. Others will be the third book, Hi, I'm Lance. My goal is to keep the aligning timelines as consistent as I can. 

Fear not, Trent's story is not done. (That could have been a title to this post, too!)

I could have called the post Recovery, as Lance is trying hard to turn his life around. Don't expect him to suddenly become infallible, but he will learn some life lessons which will help him mature some. He already has! Many readers have told me that they can relate to his struggles (and now meetings) because they are recovering themselves. Bravo to those who have met the challenge and have worked toward reclaiming your life. Even if we haven't met, I'm proud of you.

I also love that so many readers hate Lance. If you didn't feel one way or another, then he would be a disposable character. Some of you feel for him, some of you dispise him, some of you just want him to find someone and some of you actually like him. Good. When we get five or six chapters into Hi, I'm Lance, I'd love to hear if your opinion has changed — for the good or bad.

Read Chapter 33 here.

So, I just named this post "So much!" because I wasn't sure what to focus on.

Look for Book 3 to start posting this weekend.

Fights

In any relationship, there are disagreements. I'm grateful that in my own life, my partner and I don't fight hardly ever. We might disagree, but we never have knock-down-drag-outs. I'm thankful for that.

The reasons for the fight between Mike and Trent this chapter are twofold. First, reading about people who are blissful all the time is not a good writing mechanism. To come off as realistic, the characters need to disagree on occasion. Secondly, there is subtext to the argument that becomes pertinent later on.

Read Chapter 32 here.

Many people hold things inside. I'm sure a cavalcade of therapists would be quick to say that isn't healthy. At the same time, I wish people wouldn't have "outrage" as a default setting. Calm discussion — as well as actually "listening" to see how someone arrived at their opinion — lets us all understand each other a little more. I wish everyone much calm and peace when turmoil flares up in your world.

And great makeup sex.

It's unfortunate when a fight breaks up a good relationship.