"Coffee at 9" — The Conclusion ... and what's next

 

Well, friends, Coffee at 9 is now completely posted.

Click here to read the final chapter.

I would have to assume those who are reading these very words have finished reading the book. However, I won’t delve too far into the ins and outs of the book’s conclusion. More than anything, I hope it was a satisfying finale for those of you had invested the time to read more than 500 pages. There were several ways I could have wrapped it up, but the “ending” was what I envisioned from the start.

Relationships can be very hard, and an unfortunate drawback is that people can be hurt in the process. It was inevitable with how Cooper made such a mess of his life. Some of you may have wanted Cooper to choose differently.

Of the five books I’ve posted on Nifty, Coffee at 9 touches me deeply. I’ve enjoyed each of my works.
Extracurricular
If It Weren’t For the Two of Us
Hi, I’m Lance
Ascension: Jakob’s Ladder
Coffee at 9
I think the humanity in each one can make the lead character relatable to the reader in some way. Those who don’t fit the mold of my Jackson Bend individuals have probably moved on to less romantic offerings that are readily available. I continue to be touched by readers who take a moment to reach out to me. Thanks for that. Coffee at 9 has moved me the most so far.

I’m not sure what prompted me to write the sledding scene, but for some reason, I love reading it. Typically, my books are written months before I get around to posting them. [But not next time.] While I always retain the direction of the story after I have written it, there are always details and dialogue that are fun to rediscover when I go back to refine/proofread each chapter before submitting it for posting. I love it that my own creations can seem fresh after I’ve stepped away from it for weeks and months.

I digress. Although this is the last chapter, I should note Cooper’s story isn’t over. We’ve just joined him on a year-long journey. We’ll see more of our divorced gay dad on the horizon.

The next book will feature Laramie as the protagonist. The title of it is … wait for it … Laramie. I pondered many options, but for the first time, I’m just letting the character’s name take the title. Even though the name of the story isn’t necessarily my most dynamic masterpiece in creativity, the format is VERY different. You’ll see.

Like Jakob’s book, we knew some background on the character before an individual story started. Ascension: Jakob’s Ladder went back to his years as a teenager (which we knew about), continued on to where he met Lance and then went on to years past the text of Hi, I’m Lance. Book Six will do the same. Laramie will start with him growing up in Kansas. The move to Jackson Bend and meeting Cooper and all the boyfriend encounters in between will play out. And everything between Cooper and him will play out but from his perspective. It will also go years past Coffee at 9, so expect to see the Jackson Bend cast along the way.

As mentioned before, usually I am done with the next book by the time the current one wraps up. I’ll be honest that I have not finished Laramie yet. I’m about two-thirds the way through it. I don’t like to start posting until the book is done. If you would like to be notified when that story begins, drop me an email if you aren’t on the notification list: timothylane414@gmail.com I’m working on a scene in my head at the moment that just grips me by the throat. I want to make sure I get it right. Give me a few weeks.

When I finish a book, I often think I will stop writing. But then a character has grown on me during the process. When writing Trent’s story, Lance evolved so much — I knew there was more there — that I wrote a parallel story to Trent’s. I thought the trilogy would complete it all. But dang, Jakob grew on me, and Cooper seemed to be a story also. And now … Laramie. The question is, will Book Six be my last? I found myself challenged. I’d like to do a book on Mitchell, but so many people probably harbor resentment for him being a cheater. Would anyone care for such a book? That challenges me as an author. Emory is an interesting character. I’ve never written a story about someone older than me. I actually have mental outlines for both of them if I pursue it. Would any of you have a preference? And, of course, Brad is a hoot. However, I’m not sure what direction to take Brad. Yet. I suppose we will see how long my creative drive lasts.

For those of you reading this in real time as I post it, Happy New Year. I hope 2023 is full of blessings. I count my readers as one of mine.

"December"

 

Okay, feel free to hit me with it. This was a long-ass chapter. REALLY long. Truth be told, it was probably longer than the complete first story, Extracurricular. I didn’t necessarily set out to make such a massive chapter, the story just wrote itself that way.

Click here to read “December,” Chapter 11.

That said, it is probably my favorite chapter ever — not because of its length but the emotions involved. Cooper has made a mess of his life, and when you stir in the family dynamics, his role as a father, the spirit of the holidays and the sincere love between these men, it was a joy to write. I love everything about it. I hope it was an enjoyable read, no matter how you had to break it up.

Some of you may wonder why I didn’t divide it into more manageable parts. I seriously considered it as I like regular posts, but when I began the book, I formed its construct as each chapter being a month. I could have done “Early December,” Mid-December” and “The Holidays,” but I figured my readers could manage their own time as they see fit. I didn’t need to think for them. So I stayed true to the format. If it was an inconvenient chore, I apologize.

I’m often asked if I pull things from real life. Usually not. I look more toward authentic emotions, and I think all gay men share some common feelings, and at the same time, all of us have to contend with our own worlds in our own way. However, there is a moment in this chapter that was inspired by my life though. I was hosting a Christmas party at our house, and when slicing the bread, I went right into my finger. My partner rushed me to the bathroom, and I stayed in there a really long time trying to get the bleeding to stop. My guests didn’t know, but I was one-handed for a while. I kept applying pressure with my thumb. I’m not sure why that particular experience worked its way into the story — Laramie is cursed with bad luck, I suppose — but the line “hold my finger” is my favorite in the whole book. That scene warms my heart.

When I started Coffee at 9, I knew the heart of it would be Cooper’s love triangle, but even more at the center would be his relationship with Corey. I hadn’t expected Cooper’s son to develop into the character he has, but I’ve enjoyed “writing” him. If he were real, I’d be proud to be his dad. [Note: more teen years are coming.] I wanted an intelligent, mature kid, but I also wanted him to come off as authentic. It's nice when I can surprise myself. Although, Jakob's and Cooper's characters both seemed to develop to where they needed their own stories told, so I guess it shouldn't be that unexpected. But for a young kid to grow on me, that's rare.

With only one chapter left, I am aware that some readers are rooting for Mitchell, and some are rooting for Laramie. But no one says those are necessarily the only two options. Just sayin’. Like Cooper, we all hurt a little when someone we care for (a fictitous character or not) is hurt. We can empathize. When “January” concludes Cooper’s book, I hope my readers are satisfied that the story was worth their time.

Christmas wishes to all. Always know I appreciate you.