Click here to read the conclusion, Chapter 16 of Heart and Soul.
Certainly, it has ended dramatically differently than previous works. I have never killed off a major character before. Yes, there have been some deaths for protagonists to deal with, but never someone so significant to the plot. I will fully admit I was teary as I wrote it.
For those of you who will say, "I'm going to miss Don," please realize that was a significant time jump in this chapter. Don will still be around in subsequent books.
When Emory first mentioned meeting Don in Coffee at 9, I thought it a good seed to plant if I ever did a story on Emory. Don appeared heavily in Books Six and Seven. Please note that I didn't create him just for the purpose of killing him off. It wasn't until I sat down and outlined how Heart and Soul would go that I felt that would be the true finale of showing their love.
When I began Heart and Soul, I assumed a story of retired gentlemen wouldn't have the heat of "young studs." But I still wanted to show all ages in my stories, and I know men of all ages experience love and are still sexual individuals. (If anyone is wondering, I am younger than our two gentlemen.) For those readers who told me they appreciated a story showing senior men falling in love and enjoying sex, I hope the conclusion still played true. Honest, authentic emotions are always my primary goal.
So, what's next?
Book Ten will be called Controversy. Brad, our favorite barista at Joe, will be the headliner. In our timeline — while Brad will certainly look back on his life's backstory — it will take place as the first story to follow Corey and Aiden's freshmen year in college. It begins with them returning home. Eventually, that sets the stage for our lads heading off to Notre Dame for their sophomore year (the following book).
Brad always seems sassy and confident, but we will find out that the gentleman has a lot to unpack. In addition to established characters, there are new friends to meet along the way.
If you don't want to overlook it's debut in a couple of months (yes, unfortunately, it is not finished), send me an email to be notified. timothylane414@gmail.com And feel free to email at any time. I enjoy hearing from readers.
Before I wrap up things With Heart and Soul, I once again thank the friends who did some proofreading for me. Their assistance was invaluable. I also thank the readers who shared their own lives. Writing their experiences into the sharing sessions really meant something to me.
Five years ago as the pandemic started, I never would have dreamed I would ever write nine novels. Just putting an open-ended conclusion to Extracurricular was enough. But our gentlemen of Jackson Bend have a way of burrowing into my brain. Bless 'em.
Stay tuned.
Damn you, Timothy! Why didn't you end the book at Chapter 15!
ReplyDeleteDespite using half a box of Kleenex, of course, it was touching. I was very moved and it was so well done. But I still hate you for making me feel like this.
Keep writing!
It’s life. The irony is one day whatever is beyond we will follow people and pets.
ReplyDeleteStanding ovation! What a nice book. I love the older
ReplyDeletecharacters.
What a moving chapter. I suspected you might end this book with a death. It took me a while to read it just because I needed to stop for kleenex breaks. Well done!
D.
"Intimacy doesn't have to mean sex."
ReplyDeleteI agree. The man I am seeing lives a little distance away so we don't see one another that often. When we do get together, my favorite thing is to lay in one another's arms and cuddle. Sex will follow eventually but the physical touch is what I crave most.
Thank you Timothy for another awesome novel. I can't wait to read what you have in store for us in a couple of months.
-km
No words can convey the emotions that this chapter brings.
ReplyDeleteThank you. It’s a beautiful work.
M.Y.
Just read the final chapter and bawled my eyes out. How touching. Loved your stories and look forward to more.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing. I loved your stories. Each and every one.
-j.a.
According to the final chapter in "Laramie," Corey's graduation was in 2027. Emory and Don got married at the end of that year. This last chapter had Emory saying they were together 15 years. They knew each other five before they got married, so that leaves ten as a married couple. If my math is correct, that means that Don died (dies) in 2037 or 2038. That makes the loss more tolerable.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'm weird, but that comforts me thinking about those two together for all that time.
-TB
I agree with your math!
DeleteTimothy
Wow, it was perfect. Used half a box of Kleenex too. I liked seeing all the old characters come to the memorial service, that was a nice touching moment.
ReplyDeletec&k
Timothy, the last chapter was great . Sad but lovely and focused on the issues with respect and kindness. Thank you for writing this part of the life of Cooper and friends.
ReplyDeletejd
I’d like to add my thanks and praise for you writing, to the many who have undoubtedly done the same.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed Heart and Soul very much, the ending was indeed heartwarming.
Thank you again for all your stories and I look forward to reading Brads story when you post it.
- Brian
Timothy, as always, your stories are intriguingly emotional romps of lives woven together to evoke readers' reactions. This chapter was so over the top with emotions which captured the deepest thoughts of my final breath--so many tears. I feel that my wife and I have such a loving relationship as did your characters. This could be a preview of our last moments in saying goodbye. If my wife goes first, I hope to be as strong as Emory.
ReplyDeleteThe perfect ending to a truly remarkable love story.
T.
What a beautifully written end to Emory and Don's story. I've enjoyed each book that has grown out of "Coffee at Nine." Thank you for weaving such wonderful storylines.
ReplyDelete(another) Tim
Just wanted to chime in with how much I enjoyed HEART AND SOUL. As always, many of my favorite parts were reconnecting with Jackson Bend and Von folks we have such an intimate investment in -- now including the sudden flash forward to a Corey we haven't known yet (gasp!), plus less mind-stretching "catch-ups" for some of the other regulars. I was also delighted to follow some of Timothy's links to strategic moments in the earlier books, which wound up going beyond HEART AND SOUL background to two of my most-loved moments in the books: Cooper's incrediblly moving reconciliation with his sister Judith, really the start of a new relationship based on their BOTH truly accepting who he is, and the joy-filled sledding scene, with the blending of Corey's mixed families. Both of these scenes have to do, it occurred to me belatedly, with gay and straight people valuing each other just as people -- something Timothy seems to have a genius for writing. Thanks as always, T! Can hardly wait to see where we go next.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you liked those previous scenes from Book Six. I love the sledding moments as well. They always warm my heart when I reread them.
DeleteBTW, I didn't mean to undervalue all the new people we've met in each new book -- it's a continuing source of amazement and delight how you've kept creating all these three-dimensional, involving characters. After all, ALL the characters were new to us at some point, even Mike and Trent! Thanks again, T, for these amazing gifts!
DeleteSo going over all the books while we wait for Brad, I have four things that stand out because they were surprises across the stories. So if it's fine I'd like to list. Don's patience with Emory in accepting Gene was there first not all men can do that, Corey's constant sexual activities with Aidan to find who he was but that did not destroy the bond between the two which transcends sexuality, the Mike, Jacob, Trent, Lance four-way, you could have had the readers outraged even though they probably did the same things, it was not sleazy or relationship destroying at all, but it was a shock, and finally, the greatest scene across all the books, Larry's confrontation with Mitch in the men's room where Larry wanted to take the blame for taking Mitch's man Cooper even though it was Coop's choice, it was obvious that Mitch and Larry would get past that issue fast, and although not fully explored, Larry was the one who brought Mitch back to the fold. I know men who would rather bash another man for infidelity, that scene was unexpected. You could have had Larry and Mitch fighting and physically threatening each other, instead you took the non-drama path with those two, which was great. Anyway got that out of system have fun with Brad's writing.
ReplyDeleteWhen are we going to get new stories?
ReplyDelete