"29" Signposts, radio and dick privilege

I enjoyed writing this chapter. It was a personal favorite. Yes, the next one is the final chapter. I expect it to be quite rewarding for those who have taken Jakob’s entire journey along with him. I feel you will be glad you did. Still, this chapter has some great moments for me.

Click here to read Ascension: Jakob’s Ladder, “29” [Chap. 11].

Let’s start with the play. Writing the scene where Jakob is at the radio station was fun, as was the premiere of Signposts itself. There were a lot of emotions stirred there.

When Jakob’s father arrives unexpectedly at the house, I could have taken that moment in numerous directions. I hope I wrote this with some authenticity. Mr. Morgan had been quite a dick in both Lance’s book, as well as this one. Had I written him showing up on the doorstep to punch Jakob in the jaw it would have painted him more in the villain role, but I felt treating him as a human being — flawed — made him more interesting as a father when his mistakes were being portrayed before his own eyes on stage. The fact that Jakob wasn’t quick to wash everything away in the past, to me, was the realistic approach more than the “let’s wrap this up in a happy bow” scenario.

When I started Extracurricular, I had no idea I would ever write four books (currently working on Book Six). The dynamic there was Mike’s age difference with Trent. When If It Weren’t For the Two of Us continued their story, each was troubled and human and likeable in their own ways. Of course, Hi, I’m Lance took a secondary character, originally conceived to just be kind of a dick, and made him a much deeper personality. Jakob was introduced there, and I felt I had a diverse set of characters. Backgrounds were different, parental acceptance was different, and they were physically different.

Dick size isn’t something brought up a lot in gay erotica. Most of it is eye-rolling in the implausible notion that every man in the story is unrealistically endowed. Of my guys, I’m pleased that everyone is represented. Lance is huge, Trent is nicely hung, Mike is average and Jakob is short. The line about “dick privilege” both amuses me and also rings true. The emphasis on size is a detriment to our community. There is more to that in the upcoming book as well. I’m not sure if readers approve of my diversity in this regard. Perhaps they would love to read when all penises are ten inches. I don’t know. I at least like seeing ALL men in my writing. [Book Five even introduces a character in his 60s.]

Hopefully, this chapter has touched you in some way. It was a joy to write. I hope the following chapter does the same.

The conclusion awaits…