Yes, I open my mail and there you are right at the top! A little endorphin bump!!
You certainly understand the axiom that even the best planning for a combat engagement doesn't survive first contact! And then the ability to improvise becomes paramount.
And then Elle surprised me that she made her choice in very short order! The rescued becomes the rescuer, excellent! Sending Tom to make contact and having Elle respond with a strong positive attraction was a good move! Which, combined with Logan's reaction when he saw the new and improved Elle doing her exercise routine, certainly provides opportunity for additional conflict down the road, of course making the assumption that Tom survives his wounds?A fairly safe assumption I think. You would really surprise me if you introduced that level of tragedy in this story. Of course Tom's status is a key part of the cliffhanger! And wondering about Luke's status, having possibly exhausted his capabilities out in the cold and wet? Is he going to need help as well?
Then the big failure that was key to the operation, not being able to conceal that Luke and company were responsible for the breakout! This is almost certainly treason and with probably a kill on sight order coming. Where do they go? PG likely knows all of Luke's hide outs. Off planet in reverse? There are so many ways this story could continue, it thrills the mind!
As far as IDing key points, I think there was one other, maybe as part of aftermath of the OD ?, when Logan had an earlier empathetic experience with Elle including some tragic experiences from her earlier life at home? I haven't looked it up, so I may be confusing multiple elements...
So I will admit to a certain trepidatious feeling about where this is heading with an awareness that there is an ending over the hill, but can hardly stand the suspense!
Feels like I'm rambling here, but oh well, there it is***
Okay, here goes. Well, of course plans the plans will have to go awry, they always do. But this one worked out nicely enough, so far. Elle's change of heart... Well if there wasn't pressure for time, if Tom hadn't been shot, if they had met her in a different setting maybe she'd have had time to consider whether or not she really wanted to make such a drastic change, but faced with Tom the way she was, I don't think there is any other way it could have gone. Specially since she bonded so nicely with him and he had no part in her interrogation, other than doing as his hesitant nature dictated.
Yes, you're right that Luke wore himself out. He told the boys they only had a few minutes. As for the aftermath, I think the alibi's are pretty solid. And the disguises, and the backup plans. I don't know, maybe I've missed something.
As for turning points, The OD and its aftermath was most assuredly a big turning point. Because of the way it affected Logan's attitude towards little Elle and really cemented his affection for her, but at that point his empathic ability wasn't activated. Maybe you are a little confused? (Sorry!) It was really the encounter with the Ruby Observer that allowed Logan to tap into a very rare ability for a Manorian. I was sure you got that?? Anyway, since I don't plan to expand on this in this book I'll tell you, the Ruby Observer encounter hints at an unknown lineage, also hinted at by Tom, in his short perspective, when he mentions that there are things Logan never has to know and also, Elle seems to see royalty in them even though they don't seem to know about it themselves. This is important for book two, but might go over most readers' heads as there are only tiny hints here and there.
I'll admit that it's very thrilling to me to see that I have caused you some trepidation. I take it as a compliment that you're held in suspense, because that means I've succeeded in my aims. Friday's chapter conclusion should give you some relief though.
And I promise to try to stop reminding you that the end is nigh. It's still a little way's off for now.
Ok Jenny, I apologize for winging some of my comments last night without more detail. Took longer to find what I was looking for but I wanted to follow up on a couple...
About the empathetic experience between Logan and Elle, what I was referencing is at the end of Ch. 3, Sc 10 and continues in Ch. 4, Sc 1. Elle is still in a coma experiencing some horrible subconscious dreams or visions about James torturing her family. She pleads for it to stop and then the scene moves outside under a tree where she is making red and yellow flower wreaths. Logan comes to her room after not seeing her for a long time and notices that she is experiencing something. So he reaches out and his mind makes a connection. When he appears in her dream or vision, Elle confuses him with her father. Logan doesn't tell Luke but wonders if he should. Seems to be a pivotal moment for Logan.
Secondly about the alibi, when Tom drops his energy to make sure that Elle recognizes him, Logan has already noted that monitoring of Elle's room has been restored to live video. This just before he was shot. I made the mental connection that Tom would likely be recorded and recognized, and thought that it was your intent. That scenario is possible but a little tenuous on retrospect.
Now this is not intended to be a gotcha exercise , just wanted to share my thinking🤔 on these two things.
Thanks for the reassurance that the end is not quite so near!!!
Oh I see what you mean! That is definitely a pivotal moment! It's what cements Logan's reluctance to develop his empathic powers in the first place, so you're totally right!
And about the alibi, well the door is out of frame and anyone entering the room would have their back facing the camera. Also we never saw it from Logan's perspective, because he was already on his way to cause a diversion to buy Tom the time to convince Elle to come with them. Tom powered down for Elle to recognize him, and he obviously (to me that is) knew that he could be on camera and wouldn't have done it if there was any chance he could be identified by it. And you guys obviously (again, obvious to me - which should tell me I'm missing something) don't get to see his perspective and are left to guess at his reasoning.
But it's good of you to point that out. It tells me that I probably should state it more explicitly. I'll have to remember to incorporate a reference because I don't think I was going to. How about you let me know when you find it, huh?😉
I don't mind a good gotcha exercise. I love this back and forth, though I think I have a lot more time and patience for it than you probably do. I do enjoy reading your thoughts, so please don't hold back.
And I'm starting to feel like some kind of doomsday prophet: "The end is nigh!" I have to stop doing that.
As always, I look forward to your thinking on Friday's episode and beyond. 🧡
We could 'what if' all day long, but pretty sure the demands on your time are significantly higher than on mine! Anyway, keeping my eye out for that 'reference'! 😏
This exchange did bring an epifeny of sorts, that's probably been quite obvious to you and the entire writing community... Writing fiction for a reading audience is you, the writer, taking a visualized concept like your own personal movie and turning it into words, sentences and paragraphs that you hope will transfer your visualization to the reader with the same emotional narrative that you conceived. But I, as the reader, then put my filter on your words and interpret what was 'your' story to match my preferences for my own visualization. I may significantly mentally edit this 'film' for my own consumption. It's an inherent conflict and challenge for the writer. So when substack enables comment feedback and serialization, it seems a productive tool and an avenue of understanding for both parties.
Oh Frank! You're killing me! I'm going to have to sit on this one, ruminate and figure out which hints to drop, if any. I'm assuming it's pretty late for you, so I'll give you a proper answer a bit later to find in the morning. Thanks for reading, as always. I'm delighted that you're still with me after 65 episodes. 🧡🧡
wow. Thank God I have a couple days to get my heart rate back down, damn you :)
😂🧡
Yes, I open my mail and there you are right at the top! A little endorphin bump!!
You certainly understand the axiom that even the best planning for a combat engagement doesn't survive first contact! And then the ability to improvise becomes paramount.
And then Elle surprised me that she made her choice in very short order! The rescued becomes the rescuer, excellent! Sending Tom to make contact and having Elle respond with a strong positive attraction was a good move! Which, combined with Logan's reaction when he saw the new and improved Elle doing her exercise routine, certainly provides opportunity for additional conflict down the road, of course making the assumption that Tom survives his wounds?A fairly safe assumption I think. You would really surprise me if you introduced that level of tragedy in this story. Of course Tom's status is a key part of the cliffhanger! And wondering about Luke's status, having possibly exhausted his capabilities out in the cold and wet? Is he going to need help as well?
Then the big failure that was key to the operation, not being able to conceal that Luke and company were responsible for the breakout! This is almost certainly treason and with probably a kill on sight order coming. Where do they go? PG likely knows all of Luke's hide outs. Off planet in reverse? There are so many ways this story could continue, it thrills the mind!
As far as IDing key points, I think there was one other, maybe as part of aftermath of the OD ?, when Logan had an earlier empathetic experience with Elle including some tragic experiences from her earlier life at home? I haven't looked it up, so I may be confusing multiple elements...
So I will admit to a certain trepidatious feeling about where this is heading with an awareness that there is an ending over the hill, but can hardly stand the suspense!
Feels like I'm rambling here, but oh well, there it is***
Okay, here goes. Well, of course plans the plans will have to go awry, they always do. But this one worked out nicely enough, so far. Elle's change of heart... Well if there wasn't pressure for time, if Tom hadn't been shot, if they had met her in a different setting maybe she'd have had time to consider whether or not she really wanted to make such a drastic change, but faced with Tom the way she was, I don't think there is any other way it could have gone. Specially since she bonded so nicely with him and he had no part in her interrogation, other than doing as his hesitant nature dictated.
Yes, you're right that Luke wore himself out. He told the boys they only had a few minutes. As for the aftermath, I think the alibi's are pretty solid. And the disguises, and the backup plans. I don't know, maybe I've missed something.
As for turning points, The OD and its aftermath was most assuredly a big turning point. Because of the way it affected Logan's attitude towards little Elle and really cemented his affection for her, but at that point his empathic ability wasn't activated. Maybe you are a little confused? (Sorry!) It was really the encounter with the Ruby Observer that allowed Logan to tap into a very rare ability for a Manorian. I was sure you got that?? Anyway, since I don't plan to expand on this in this book I'll tell you, the Ruby Observer encounter hints at an unknown lineage, also hinted at by Tom, in his short perspective, when he mentions that there are things Logan never has to know and also, Elle seems to see royalty in them even though they don't seem to know about it themselves. This is important for book two, but might go over most readers' heads as there are only tiny hints here and there.
I'll admit that it's very thrilling to me to see that I have caused you some trepidation. I take it as a compliment that you're held in suspense, because that means I've succeeded in my aims. Friday's chapter conclusion should give you some relief though.
And I promise to try to stop reminding you that the end is nigh. It's still a little way's off for now.
Ok Jenny, I apologize for winging some of my comments last night without more detail. Took longer to find what I was looking for but I wanted to follow up on a couple...
About the empathetic experience between Logan and Elle, what I was referencing is at the end of Ch. 3, Sc 10 and continues in Ch. 4, Sc 1. Elle is still in a coma experiencing some horrible subconscious dreams or visions about James torturing her family. She pleads for it to stop and then the scene moves outside under a tree where she is making red and yellow flower wreaths. Logan comes to her room after not seeing her for a long time and notices that she is experiencing something. So he reaches out and his mind makes a connection. When he appears in her dream or vision, Elle confuses him with her father. Logan doesn't tell Luke but wonders if he should. Seems to be a pivotal moment for Logan.
Secondly about the alibi, when Tom drops his energy to make sure that Elle recognizes him, Logan has already noted that monitoring of Elle's room has been restored to live video. This just before he was shot. I made the mental connection that Tom would likely be recorded and recognized, and thought that it was your intent. That scenario is possible but a little tenuous on retrospect.
Now this is not intended to be a gotcha exercise , just wanted to share my thinking🤔 on these two things.
Thanks for the reassurance that the end is not quite so near!!!
Oh I see what you mean! That is definitely a pivotal moment! It's what cements Logan's reluctance to develop his empathic powers in the first place, so you're totally right!
And about the alibi, well the door is out of frame and anyone entering the room would have their back facing the camera. Also we never saw it from Logan's perspective, because he was already on his way to cause a diversion to buy Tom the time to convince Elle to come with them. Tom powered down for Elle to recognize him, and he obviously (to me that is) knew that he could be on camera and wouldn't have done it if there was any chance he could be identified by it. And you guys obviously (again, obvious to me - which should tell me I'm missing something) don't get to see his perspective and are left to guess at his reasoning.
But it's good of you to point that out. It tells me that I probably should state it more explicitly. I'll have to remember to incorporate a reference because I don't think I was going to. How about you let me know when you find it, huh?😉
I don't mind a good gotcha exercise. I love this back and forth, though I think I have a lot more time and patience for it than you probably do. I do enjoy reading your thoughts, so please don't hold back.
And I'm starting to feel like some kind of doomsday prophet: "The end is nigh!" I have to stop doing that.
As always, I look forward to your thinking on Friday's episode and beyond. 🧡
Jenny, thank you for being so patient!
We could 'what if' all day long, but pretty sure the demands on your time are significantly higher than on mine! Anyway, keeping my eye out for that 'reference'! 😏
This exchange did bring an epifeny of sorts, that's probably been quite obvious to you and the entire writing community... Writing fiction for a reading audience is you, the writer, taking a visualized concept like your own personal movie and turning it into words, sentences and paragraphs that you hope will transfer your visualization to the reader with the same emotional narrative that you conceived. But I, as the reader, then put my filter on your words and interpret what was 'your' story to match my preferences for my own visualization. I may significantly mentally edit this 'film' for my own consumption. It's an inherent conflict and challenge for the writer. So when substack enables comment feedback and serialization, it seems a productive tool and an avenue of understanding for both parties.
I know, duh...!
Till Friday 😁
Oh Frank! You're killing me! I'm going to have to sit on this one, ruminate and figure out which hints to drop, if any. I'm assuming it's pretty late for you, so I'll give you a proper answer a bit later to find in the morning. Thanks for reading, as always. I'm delighted that you're still with me after 65 episodes. 🧡🧡