Roman

 

The year for Chapter 10 is 2022, so we’re catching up to Coffee at 9.

Click here to read Chapter 10.

Enter Roman.

Those with good memories — and I would have to assume virtually everybody reading Laramie has read Book Five (but maybe not) — might recall that the events of this chapter are final bits that we saw Laramie share in Coffee at 9. [“August,” Chapter 7]

I liked the scenes between Roman and Laramie a lot. Two people simply longing for a connection. Alas, a connection wasn’t enough. They really enjoyed each other’s company, but was Roman correct? Were they just living in different circles? Could they have had a chance? In a multiverse world, it would have been fun for me to explore this relationship.

So often when I’m writing a book, I unexpectedly get caught up in a secondary character’s life. When writing If It Weren’t For the Two of Us, Lance grew on me in a big way. Big. He’s still one of my favorite characters (probably replaced by Laramie, but Laramie is fresh at the moment). I decided to make a trilogy with the three main leads from the first book. Done. Then Jakob became so wonderfully adorable, he needed a book, as did Cooper. When I wrote Hi, I’m Lance, I inserted Cooper just to be another gay guy with a drinking problem, but his story begged to be told by the end of Book Three. I was just going to do Jakob’s story, but in my mind, I was picturing where I could take Cooper’s story. And voila.

And then … Laramie shared so much of his past history in the previous book, it was obvious I needed to do this one.

But back to Roman. As much as I really like this chapter, I don’t feel the need to do a story about him. And (spoiler), we don’t see the last of Roman. Knowing where he later is, I’m not sure I could really do a story there. Some secondary characters are just best in that role. (And heaven knows I already have three more books circulating in my brain — ENOUGH!)

I liked giving Roman his distinct characteristics. I am pleased that I — and hopefully you — picture each one of our men (and the ladies) as distinct individuals. 

As rewarding as all this is, at some point you know and I know that these fictious characters will run their course. We’ll see. For now, my readers are such a huge blessing. If you are sick of hearing I appreciate you, I’m sorry. But I do.

Next chapter … guess who?

C. J.

 

So. C.J.

It's easy to think he was introduced in this chapter.

Click here to read Laramie, Chapter 8.

Is there something familiar about him? Quite possibly. This isn’t C.J.’s first appearance. If you want to recall when he first appeared, you can go back to “November” in Coffee at 9.

Click here to read Coffee at 9, Chapter 10.

In Laramie’s story, many readers will find him to be somewhat of a douche. In Cooper’s story, he freely admits that he was, referencing the events of this chapter.

However, I don’t judge C.J. harshly. The gay world is full of many types. C.J. was upfront with Laramie, so we can’t fault him for leading him on. As evidenced by the AIDS pandemic of the previous century, there are countless multitudes who just enjoy playing the field. It’s about sexual gratification, not relationships. If that’s who a person is, then that’s their decision to make. It certainly isn’t limited to the gay scene, either. A person has the right to choose how to live their life. The invention of apps clearly indicates there are countless people just in it for the sex. That's where C.J. is in his life (in this chapter).

The sex scenes between two people just looking for lustful gratification aren’t my favorite to write. I’m kind of an open book. “Love stories for the gay male” is right at the top of the blog. Still, if. Every. Single. Sex scene. is warm and loving, then the sexual content finds itself in a rut — from a creative standpoint. I don't want the writing to become predictable and stale. Granted, I freely admit the passionate scenes between people in love turn me on far greater than the raw, random hookups. But as an author, it helps me stretch, I suppose.

If I were able to live my life over again — and grow up in a time with today’s freedom and rights — I sometimes wonder if I would have been someone different sexually. Could I have a book like Mitch? (I have a friend with a list a mile long. It makes me cringe.) I didn't have much experience in the dating world (gay-wise). But could I get addicted to … “variety” for variety’s sake? One never knows.

Aside from C.J., Chapter 8 has a lot more to it. The Christmas scene rips my heart out. While hard to write it, it continues to define Laramie’s character.

One confession here, the scene with the couple making out and moving back and slamming into the movie poster was something I actually witnessed in real life. I was amazed it didn’t either shatter or fall to the floor. I felt the moment had enough impact on me that I found a place to include it in the story.

I hope something in this chapter — Grayson, C.J., Christmas gifts, Laramie’s emotions — was able to reach you and affect you in some way.

Welcome to Jackson Bend

 It’s not like I have a lot of other written work in this genre, but I always refer to my books as the “Jackson Bend series.” As I have often stated, I never intended to continue this beyond my first book. Extracurricular had its open-ended conclusion, and after feeling unsatisfied, I decided to switch protagonists to complete the tale. Then the third book was supposed to wrap it up as a trilogy.

Then those side characters just grew on me. I’m planning Book Seven and Eight to be written at the same time (we’ll see if that is a good thing).

If I seem to identify with the familiarity of the same characters — much like the fondness we might have for a favorite television series — I assumed others might as well. To me, it makes it easier to jump back and forth in timelines when it suits the plot. Whether it be via flashbacks or just starting years in the past (such as Laramie’s and Jakob’s books), those secondary characters make strong figures for their own stories. But it all takes place in the same city.

We just needed to get Laramie there. We knew he would. We fell in love with him (along with Cooper) in Coffee at 9, so we knew he eventually had to arrive in Jackson Bend. And now it’s happened.

Click here to read Laramie, Chapter 7.

If I have detractors, they aren’t overly vocal. Some might claim I’m in a rut using the same setting with all my stories. But it is serving my inspiration well, so I doubt if I make any great effort to change it.

Lance and Jakob have moved to Von, of course, but their stories began in Jackson Bend, so we can consider them hometown boys.

What I like about this chapter is Laramie’s sense of escape. He now has a feeling of freedom. For so many gay people, that is like lifeblood. Those with wonderful, accepting families don’t feel that pull like others do. Sometimes it is just getting out of a certain house. For others, an entirely new place to live is what is needed. Personally, if I had to live with my parents, I’d need to stick my head a noose. Not that I don’t love them, but I would definitely need my own space.

A reader asked if writing the darker chapters, such as the previous one, is hard. It can be. I’ve learned to love the characters I have created. Thankfully, in these types of situations, I knew it leads to a better scenario. The harsher moments have to happen for Laramie to get to Jackson Bend. And he now is. Besides, if everything is gumdrops and butterflies, it isn’t really a good story. It certainly wouldn’t be relatable.

It's nice to get Laramie to where he belongs. He now has a new life — and new men — ahead. 

Family Dynamics

 

Since creating the last post, a few chapters have gone by. So much of it deals with Laramie’s relationship with his family.

Click here for Laramie, Chapter 4
Click here for Laramie, Chapter 5
Click here for Laramie, Chapter 6

You don’t have to be gay to have weird family dynamics. More than anything, politics can be so divisive. As can religion — or the lack of — which can cause its share of turmoil.

When writing my characters, I feel they play more authentically when you understand the complete picture. Family is a part of that. Lance and Mike are fortunate to have wonderfully supportive parents. I wish had more reasons to bring in Lance’s father to stories, as I really liked him. Coming out has its own moment of shock, so I addressed that with Trent and Cooper. Then there are tales like Jakob’s. I wish those were so remotely rare, but I fear it may not be as uncommon as we think.

Laramie’s story becomes more intertwined with family. I hinted at many things in Coffee at 9. Laramie opened up to Cooper. Their relationship grew from being able to share. Those spoken-of hints from the previous book might serve as minor spoilers, but the true nature of Laramie’s environment comes from those entanglements of family, which is why for his story to be fully told, those experiences are fleshed out. We all know where they eventually lead him. And soon.

From tidbits many of my readers have shared, there is both support and family drama in their own lives. My hearts especially go out to those readers who feel they just can’t possibly reveal who they truly are. It is too simplistic to say, “No matter how traumatic it may seem, you can finally be the person you really are. That terrifying moment is over.” But not every situation is as easy as that. If those people just need an anonymous person to unload on, I’m just an email away. The gay phrase, “It gets better,” is true.

Laramie’s family will continue to mold his environment through the end of the book. There is much more to develop in the chapters ahead.

Someone might wonder about me. What’s my family like? Ironically, the most supportive one in the whole group was my father, who was a preacher. The rest are not homophobic necessarily, but they are not “fans.” They accept, they tolerate. They don’t hate. But … not fans. It is what it is, and I’m grateful I am not pushed away.

We can’t choose who our family is — which was the theme of Trent’s play, The Brutal Reality — but there is the family we choose, and those people are worth a million dollars. Surround yourself with friends who love you and love who you are.

Blessings to all.

Timothylane414@gmail.com

Freddy

 

Chapter 3 introduces the character of Freddy.

Click here to read Laramie, Chapter 3.

This is a heart-breaking chapter, as we feel the circumstances of two people that are so right for each other, but the love is “not to be.”

When I first wrote this chapter, it wasn’t necessarily my intention to make Freddy a principal character, but even though they say goodbye at the end of the chapter, we haven’t seen the end of Freddy just yet. I don’t say that as a spoiler but as a point that oftentimes previous loves can remain true friends in people’s lives. I am grateful that my first love is still one of my closest friends. We text frequently each week.

Life can be cruel, so I tried to write that painful unfairness into this chapter.

Three books ago, I had readers pleading for Lance and Trent to get together. Lance was in a similar situation. Had Trent never walked into Mike’s classroom, the two very well could have ended up together. Fate had other plans.

I should point out something here that really separates Laramie from the previous five books: specificity. When I began the first story, I didn’t have any long-range plans to keep writing them (that’s for sure), but when I opted to post it publicly, I realized I didn’t want a real city. Jackson Bend became a convenience because I never wanted anyone to read my work and say “I live there, and it isn’t like that at all.” Part of me regrets that, but I realize it truly is of no consequence either way. By the time Coffee at 9 was winding down and I knew I really wanted to do Laramie’s full story, I became aware that it would make much more sense if I put actual years to chapters, so people could follow along and file things away in context. With that, I made a very specific reference (a movie) in Coffee at 9 that placed that book in 2022. Once I opened that box, I needed to continue it with this story.

There are mentions of early iPhones, and when I placed a year on the chapter, it astonished me that iPhones are still relatively young in the grand scheme of things.

There is a serious drawback to putting actual dates on things. I’m going to eventually pinpoint the present day. When writing the Jackson Bend series, I wanted it to exist in its own fictional world. Now, with it actually being in a calendar context, my plans of keeping it “timeless” is fractured somewhat. I still don’t want to enter politics into the story, nor do I want to make the global pandemic an intrusive plot point. Readers are going to have to forgive me in that regard. It’s not like I wish to gloss over the reality of so many tragic family circumstances the pandemic brought, but it just didn’t move the plot as I desired, so perhaps this is more of a COVID-free multiverse thing.

But back to Freddy. We’ll see him again. With each chapter, we see new people shaping Laramie’s life. It makes the complete story multifaceted. Freddy and Laramie weren’t just a hookup or “exploration.” They formed a deep love, a real bond, that I wasn’t just going to let go.

Stay tuned.

Discoveries

 

With two chapters underway, Laramie’s youthful experiences take him through high school.

Click here to read Laramie, Chap. 2

In Coffee at 9, he had entrusted Cooper with tales of his past. Over dinner he noted the events that were written of in this chapter.

Click here to read “August,” Chap. 7 of Coffee at 9.

Having written the previous five books, I have found it very touching to hear from readers who have connected with the characters. After reading, Hi, I’m Lance, several readers wrote to me that either they or a family member was involved in the AA program. With Coffee at 9, I was intrigued with the number of gay fathers that reached out.

I’m curious about Laramie’s tale. As they got to know each other, Cooper and Laramie shared their deep secrets. Laramie confessed he had always had bad luck with love. The barn scene in this chapter was one example. I’m curious if the readers out there have had some embarrassing experiences as well. Has anyone walked in on you? Have you walked in on anyone else?

Young sex is so infused with awkwardness and insecurity, things surely don’t go perfectly during initial experiences. As magical as it has the potential to be, too often shame and guilt and embarrassment are common adversaries of what could be wonderful first experiences.

Mine were … odd. It was too silent and unspoken of. As imperfect as they were, I can’t deny the impact they had on me.

I’d be interested to actually know how common sexual exploration among adolescent boys really is. I’m sure there are studies, and it is commonly believed that boys experiment together, but do we really know? I have no reference point of what heterosexual men who “fiddled around” feel later in life when they reflect upon those youthful moments of exploration.

Regardless, these are fictional characters. While the words are put together to tell a story, we all can recall what feelings of our own that were real.

Make a comment or email me: timothylane414@gmail.com

Laramie

It’s time to begin a new story.

As is the case with all of my books, the reader comes into it with some knowledge of the character, assuming they had read the previous work.

But what if you hadn’t?

No worries, Laramie will stand on its own. Those who read Coffee at 9 know some of the characters that will eventually surface.

Click here to read the first chapter of Laramie.

Click here to read the first chapter of Coffee at 9.

Authors who write in this genre have a challenge. If you submit quite a bit of material, there has to be some sort of effort to not make it all the same. When I introduced the three main characters in Extracurricular back in 2020, I never envisioned an entire series of books. The continuation of that, If It Weren’t For the Two of Us, had its own take by switching the protagonist to the younger character, and chapters were noted with his journal entries. In Hi, I’m Lance, chapters were AA meetings. In Ascension: Jakob’s Ladder, each chapter was a year, and In Coffee at 9, each chapter was a month. Each book had its own “thing.”

While Laramie will be somewhat like Jakob’s book in that it takes his story back to his teen years and then beyond what we read in the story of where the character was introduced, it also has its own take. While Laramie is the protagonist, the reader will see more than just his voice. To give credit where it is due, I read a story on Nifty called My Roommate/My Soulmate. It flipped back and forth between the two main characters. The format inspired me, and I held on to that concept until this story. However, over the 25 chapters, the secondary character will continuously change. I’m sure there are other books out there written in such a style, so I certainly can’t claim credit for this direction.

Some readers will find this format intriguing. Others will find it annoying as hell (“Why didn’t you just stick with one person, Timothy!”), so I apologize to those who don’t find favor with it. For such a long arc of Laramie’s life, I felt seeing the perspectives of the people who helped shape his life allowed me as the author to fully flesh out the story and the reader to get a complete picture.

Will we see Cooper? You bet. And beyond.

I’ve overlapped before. Hi, I’m Lance paralleled If It Weren’t For the Two of Us for many chapters, but each book had its own perspective. Jakob had told of his own past, so the reader knew hints of it before it was fleshed out in his book. The same happens here. Laramie had shared much with Cooper in Coffee at 9. In this story, everything Laramie had alluded to in Book Five will be fully visualized.

Again, if you’ve never read any of the previous stories, you’re fine. You can start with Chapter 1 here and never worry about anything else. If you are new, I would like to say I enjoy hearing from readers. You can email directly or make comments on this blog.

I’ll make periodic posts on the blog throughout the book when I feel there is something behind-the-scenes worth discussing.

Happy reading.

timothylane414@gmail.com

timothylane414@gmail.com

Book One: Extracurricular
Book Two: If It Weren’t For the Two of Us
Book Three: Hi, I’m Lance
Book Four: Ascension: Jakob’s Ladder
Book Five: Coffee at Nine
Book Six: Laramie