Thank you for posting your bottled embers, I love reading your story; I am anxious for the whole family—knitted together as it is— to come to a place of familiarity and understanding! Wonderful writing and story telling as always!
Thanks again Jenn! I’m so glad you enjoy it, it really warms my heart, every time I see your name in my feed. I can’t wait to see what you think of how this plays out…
First, I like where you have brought the story. There are bits and bytes of character revelation, and there is a steady escalation of tension that threatens dramatic change, barely contained by Elle and Luke mostly. Now I think I noticed something that is true from the beginning of the story, and is fairly significant to me anyway. All of the narrative, both internal and external is coming from either Elle or Logan. They are the joint storytellers! It is all from two dissimilar perspectives. I feel kind of shocked that it took me this long.
One other note, through the narrative as it develops I see a kind of out of sync perception of where things stand between Elle on one hand, and Luke and the boys on the other. Luke and Logan and Tom are still misreading Elle's stoicism and apparent apathy, not realizing how hard she is working to maintain control. They also still misunderstand her intellectual and emotional level. Of course we judge some of that from her internal dialog, which is quite sophisticated I think.
As to your pondering about your dark tale being able to light up someone's soul... a soul is beyond my conception at this point, but I do know that I get a growing anticipation buzz when expecting a new post and a little 'yippee' zap and spark when I see your banner show up in my inbox! Now when you roll all of these scenes together in one contiguous story given to the world, I think there is going to be more than one conflagration occur around the world!
First, I am so glad you are still enjoying my Bottled Embers. That warms my heart quite a bit, even though, to be honest I'm a little disappointed in these scenes. It feels like I repeat myself a lot. But... I see that you have picked up on the thing at last, that I have been getting at this whole time, which is that these two perspectives are totally different! An out of sync perception is actually one of the main themes I was hoping to develop. It's all about never really being able to know someone fully, especially when you think in such profoundly different ways. I realize that may make me sound somewhat pompous, and I assure you that is not my intention, though I have given this a fair amount of thought.
And I think I am also a little shocked that it took this long. Dude, we are almost halfway here.
Also, the guys don't even know the stuff they don't know about Elle. They have no inkling of the kind of tough she is and how that was cultivated - from the innocent little flower wreath weaver that Logan saw in the dream world to the terrified fugitive she was when they found her on Telera. And those two images, how ever different, are both completely at odds with where she is now -a little girl just shy of becoming a young woman, very quickly adapting her way of thinking from that of her experiential age to that of her chronological age. I think you've noticed how she has matured here versus the first few scenes.
I also wanted to say... I feel the same anticipation you have for that banner of mine, when I send out a post, and I feel the same spark seeing your name in reply. I think it actually makes my husband jealous! 🤣
As for rolling this all together... I know I will some day. I want to be able to show a finished product. But no matter what happens then, I don't think it will ever measure up to the joy this exercise has brought me. Knowing that I sold a few hundred books, (one day - very optimistically) or even if it is more than that, will never measure up to the engagement I have with you guys. Had I published this traditionally from the start, I would never have had the opportunity to talk to my readers about their experience of my story the way I can here. The immediacy of it, as it forms and develops... It is an incredible privilege. And even if I never get to feel the excitement of a book deal and publishing day jitters, promotions and all that goes along with the tradpub route, I think I did the right thing doing it this way.
We don't do the whole Thanksgiving thing where I'm from, but my inbox has been bombarded and I've been thinking in terms of gratitude these days. So thanks for reading. Thanks for engaging. I can't wait to share in the conflagrations.
I am not the savvy reader that I wish I was. I have to be wacked by a two-by-four every once in a while. I think I read through these scenes four or five times because something kept nagging in my mind. And I can't disregard the generational differential between me as the reader and you as the author. That was made very clear with your sidebar on 'Bleach'. Some quick google queries and I realize it is going to remain indecipherable to me. Similar to some animation that my grandsons were fascinated by 15 years ago. It is great that what you are writing is so cross generational, even if you take inspiration from such niche genres! Lol!
I bet I could guess the name of that animation with very few clues... Did you ever figure out what it was that was nagging? And I must say I am honored that anyone would read anything I have written more than once twice at the most. Bleach is an old favorite of mine. I am a sucker for a good Manga. I found the GN a few years ago and it blew my mind! I never knew I liked comics, but I've explored others like it and wow! A totally different experience from reading text or watching films. Bleach will always have a special place in my heart. And for the record - I fully believe inspiration can come from anywhere, same as wisdom - you often find it in the most unexpected places.
I bet you could if I could remember the clues to give you. duh..
I hope you didn't think I was making light of you? Never! In a clumsy way I was trying to convey that since I could probably be your grandfather, there are likely some generational differences in perspective. Similar in some aspects to the differences between Ellie's experiences and those of Luke and the boys. I'm not familiar with your life experience which is shaping your story, and you only know me through my observations and comments shaped by my life experiences. Of course all this is way outside the storyline. As far as what was nagging me, it was that realization about the two separate narrative perspectives! And I've bored you long enough I think! Looking forward to Monday.
Elle really is a diamond in the rough, needing pressure to stay sane.
I think that Luke has had it too easy. It's almost as if he doesn't know how to treat a young girl on the brink of becoming a woman. He's almost treating her like glass, and that never helps.
My MC would find a means of punishment that's between flaying her alive and breaking her mind, and treating her like glass.
Without true discipline there can be no growth.
You've given me a lot to think about in this chapter.
P.S. for the record, we are your devoted fans. I guess you could call us sparks.
JW, I've been thinking about you. A lot. Feeling more than a little guilty because I've not responded to you yet. Sorry about that.
Thankyou kindly for your generous estimation of our Elle. She is something special, I'm glad you see that.
You also have Luke spot on. He indeed has no idea how to handle a young lady. You'll note that he is a bachelor, married to his work, and adopted two boys, who pretty much raised themselves, in his care. But also consider his perspective - he is used to being able to pluck people's expectations right out of their own heads. He is used to having all the information he needs to handle someone exactly the way they want to be handles right, at his fingertips. And here he is faced with someone who not only is unable to communicate her own needs, but also one that he can't draw anything out of. Imagine his frustration, and he is now being forced to report on what he has learned, and actually learn something from someone whose mind he cannot access if she catches on that that is what he is trying to do. So he has to be extra careful that she doesn't notice, he has to be subtle even more so than he was with the General. Don't worry, you'll see how this goes. I'm building up to something. Stick around for a few more and you'll see what happens to glass when Doctor Lukas McKeen gets fed up.
As for Sparks, I like that, I think I will adopt it. Thankyou. And thanks for the Note mention the other day. IT kinda blew past me but I did get it and I appreciate. 🧡
Oh my goodness Dude! I seriously just 'got' this now. It bothered me, why you would say that, and I only just remembered that I asked a boring question, and forgot about it because only one guy responded. Thanks for your input. I will add it to the list of possibilities.
Thank you for posting your bottled embers, I love reading your story; I am anxious for the whole family—knitted together as it is— to come to a place of familiarity and understanding! Wonderful writing and story telling as always!
Thanks again Jenn! I’m so glad you enjoy it, it really warms my heart, every time I see your name in my feed. I can’t wait to see what you think of how this plays out…
I’m looking forward to reading!!!
Another enticing post and story!
First, I like where you have brought the story. There are bits and bytes of character revelation, and there is a steady escalation of tension that threatens dramatic change, barely contained by Elle and Luke mostly. Now I think I noticed something that is true from the beginning of the story, and is fairly significant to me anyway. All of the narrative, both internal and external is coming from either Elle or Logan. They are the joint storytellers! It is all from two dissimilar perspectives. I feel kind of shocked that it took me this long.
One other note, through the narrative as it develops I see a kind of out of sync perception of where things stand between Elle on one hand, and Luke and the boys on the other. Luke and Logan and Tom are still misreading Elle's stoicism and apparent apathy, not realizing how hard she is working to maintain control. They also still misunderstand her intellectual and emotional level. Of course we judge some of that from her internal dialog, which is quite sophisticated I think.
As to your pondering about your dark tale being able to light up someone's soul... a soul is beyond my conception at this point, but I do know that I get a growing anticipation buzz when expecting a new post and a little 'yippee' zap and spark when I see your banner show up in my inbox! Now when you roll all of these scenes together in one contiguous story given to the world, I think there is going to be more than one conflagration occur around the world!
Greetings once again my dear Frank!
First, I am so glad you are still enjoying my Bottled Embers. That warms my heart quite a bit, even though, to be honest I'm a little disappointed in these scenes. It feels like I repeat myself a lot. But... I see that you have picked up on the thing at last, that I have been getting at this whole time, which is that these two perspectives are totally different! An out of sync perception is actually one of the main themes I was hoping to develop. It's all about never really being able to know someone fully, especially when you think in such profoundly different ways. I realize that may make me sound somewhat pompous, and I assure you that is not my intention, though I have given this a fair amount of thought.
And I think I am also a little shocked that it took this long. Dude, we are almost halfway here.
Also, the guys don't even know the stuff they don't know about Elle. They have no inkling of the kind of tough she is and how that was cultivated - from the innocent little flower wreath weaver that Logan saw in the dream world to the terrified fugitive she was when they found her on Telera. And those two images, how ever different, are both completely at odds with where she is now -a little girl just shy of becoming a young woman, very quickly adapting her way of thinking from that of her experiential age to that of her chronological age. I think you've noticed how she has matured here versus the first few scenes.
I also wanted to say... I feel the same anticipation you have for that banner of mine, when I send out a post, and I feel the same spark seeing your name in reply. I think it actually makes my husband jealous! 🤣
As for rolling this all together... I know I will some day. I want to be able to show a finished product. But no matter what happens then, I don't think it will ever measure up to the joy this exercise has brought me. Knowing that I sold a few hundred books, (one day - very optimistically) or even if it is more than that, will never measure up to the engagement I have with you guys. Had I published this traditionally from the start, I would never have had the opportunity to talk to my readers about their experience of my story the way I can here. The immediacy of it, as it forms and develops... It is an incredible privilege. And even if I never get to feel the excitement of a book deal and publishing day jitters, promotions and all that goes along with the tradpub route, I think I did the right thing doing it this way.
We don't do the whole Thanksgiving thing where I'm from, but my inbox has been bombarded and I've been thinking in terms of gratitude these days. So thanks for reading. Thanks for engaging. I can't wait to share in the conflagrations.
I am not the savvy reader that I wish I was. I have to be wacked by a two-by-four every once in a while. I think I read through these scenes four or five times because something kept nagging in my mind. And I can't disregard the generational differential between me as the reader and you as the author. That was made very clear with your sidebar on 'Bleach'. Some quick google queries and I realize it is going to remain indecipherable to me. Similar to some animation that my grandsons were fascinated by 15 years ago. It is great that what you are writing is so cross generational, even if you take inspiration from such niche genres! Lol!
I bet I could guess the name of that animation with very few clues... Did you ever figure out what it was that was nagging? And I must say I am honored that anyone would read anything I have written more than once twice at the most. Bleach is an old favorite of mine. I am a sucker for a good Manga. I found the GN a few years ago and it blew my mind! I never knew I liked comics, but I've explored others like it and wow! A totally different experience from reading text or watching films. Bleach will always have a special place in my heart. And for the record - I fully believe inspiration can come from anywhere, same as wisdom - you often find it in the most unexpected places.
I bet you could if I could remember the clues to give you. duh..
I hope you didn't think I was making light of you? Never! In a clumsy way I was trying to convey that since I could probably be your grandfather, there are likely some generational differences in perspective. Similar in some aspects to the differences between Ellie's experiences and those of Luke and the boys. I'm not familiar with your life experience which is shaping your story, and you only know me through my observations and comments shaped by my life experiences. Of course all this is way outside the storyline. As far as what was nagging me, it was that realization about the two separate narrative perspectives! And I've bored you long enough I think! Looking forward to Monday.
Good stuff today. I love this expression-our feral child-what a great way to describe her
Elle really is a diamond in the rough, needing pressure to stay sane.
I think that Luke has had it too easy. It's almost as if he doesn't know how to treat a young girl on the brink of becoming a woman. He's almost treating her like glass, and that never helps.
My MC would find a means of punishment that's between flaying her alive and breaking her mind, and treating her like glass.
Without true discipline there can be no growth.
You've given me a lot to think about in this chapter.
P.S. for the record, we are your devoted fans. I guess you could call us sparks.
JW, I've been thinking about you. A lot. Feeling more than a little guilty because I've not responded to you yet. Sorry about that.
Thankyou kindly for your generous estimation of our Elle. She is something special, I'm glad you see that.
You also have Luke spot on. He indeed has no idea how to handle a young lady. You'll note that he is a bachelor, married to his work, and adopted two boys, who pretty much raised themselves, in his care. But also consider his perspective - he is used to being able to pluck people's expectations right out of their own heads. He is used to having all the information he needs to handle someone exactly the way they want to be handles right, at his fingertips. And here he is faced with someone who not only is unable to communicate her own needs, but also one that he can't draw anything out of. Imagine his frustration, and he is now being forced to report on what he has learned, and actually learn something from someone whose mind he cannot access if she catches on that that is what he is trying to do. So he has to be extra careful that she doesn't notice, he has to be subtle even more so than he was with the General. Don't worry, you'll see how this goes. I'm building up to something. Stick around for a few more and you'll see what happens to glass when Doctor Lukas McKeen gets fed up.
As for Sparks, I like that, I think I will adopt it. Thankyou. And thanks for the Note mention the other day. IT kinda blew past me but I did get it and I appreciate. 🧡
Oh my goodness Dude! I seriously just 'got' this now. It bothered me, why you would say that, and I only just remembered that I asked a boring question, and forgot about it because only one guy responded. Thanks for your input. I will add it to the list of possibilities.
Me too😁
😉