I was so happy to share Chapter 14. It was long, but it had so much.
The situation with Ramona swung the pendulum to the intense side, and then Christmas swings toward redemption.
The family dynamic is what I found most rewarding. Naomi's soul-searching was interesting for me to write. When outlining the book, I never would have thought of such details (I hadn't even thought up Naomi), but her inclusion into this chapter really made everything a cohesive arc. As kids, we expect our parents to not only be perfect but to know all the answers. After years of animosity toward them, her realization that they were trying the best they could I found to be a great plot point.
Children can always throw curveballs. Even when things are going fine, parents always worry. But when a kid makes a serious mistake, oooo, that's tough on all involved.
Brad's dramatic flareup with his parents I find to be spot on. I never had that argument with my parents, but I have felt it so many times.
What amuses me is the line where Brad tells his father "That's the first time you ever said that to me" during their walk. Saying "I love you" was going to be in one of the last paragraphs of the book. But the story had so much more to offer. There are still chapters left to make Brad's story complete.
Also, I'm a fan of looking through old family pictures when the opportunity presents itself, so that's a Timothy nod in the story.
With his parents, Keith, Will, his sister and nephew, what's next for Brad?
This is just to let you know how much your rich Christmas chapter moved me. Rooting for Brad and Keith (I hope, being a sentimental oldie, you don't let them founder on some as yet unseen shoals later on), I was relieved to see them get over the "bump"... Perhaps--no offence intended!--you let Brad's parents off the hook a bit too easily, but then, I should also be open to the Christmas spirit.
ReplyDeleteG.B.
I was so engrossed in the story there is only one line that captured my "what's next" thoughts...
ReplyDelete"Was she still on the pill following your breakup?"
Oh boy, that could throw a wrench into their relationship.
Loved the Christmas theme! It was spot on for what they were all going through. You are the best Timothy.
Really good and really interesting. Something I had to learn but which helped hugely was that my Mother could only do her best and that was not necessarily what I thought it should be.
ReplyDeleteParents like anyone else come with their own scars and baggage – Their own expectations and it’s hard for us sometimes to negotiate that dissonance between their experiences and hopes for us and our own reality.
O. M G
ReplyDeleteChapter 14
The most gut wrenching, emotionally charged chapter you’ve ever written.
Probably my favorite ever but if I think about it a bit I’d most likely find several.
Wasn’t sure where this story was going to go but why bother to doubt. In Timothy we trust.
Thanks for all the enjoyment you bring and I hope it continues for years.
T.G.