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J J,
I just finished reading "Just Press Send" series.
My opinion of a great writer is one that writes a quality story above and beyond what so many gay stories end up producing. By quality writing I mean,
keeping the reader's interest so high that they can't wait to get to the next chapter. A writer who not only writes a good story but also writes in a way that touches the hearts/minds/emotions and memories of the reader. A story so well written that the characters become real to the reader; fostering a strong desire to be there to meet and know the characters, to become friends with them and even to be healed by their kindness/acceptance/caring/love of friendship; a story inclucing the love of a life time partner and the love of a growing family and the sadness at the unacceptance of parents for their children (like my dad).
I laughed, felt joy, happiness, and the tears that followed; the anger, the sadness, and the hurt that came with all that and the tears that followed.
Then thank you for being that kind of writer with that kind of talant and for sharing that beautiful story. You, and a very few as talanted who I have also thanked for their beautiful stories, have been such a blessing in my life that to just say thank you seems so inadequate for your doing so much. Keep on writing these kind of stories and blessing the lives of so many.
Tad Durham
Belfast, Maine U S A
tad034@gwi.net
Tad Durham
Belfast, Maine U S A
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JimB
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Likes it here |
Registered: December 2006
Messages: 349
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Hi Tad. You said "A writer who not only writes a good story but also writes in a way that touches the hearts/minds/emotions and memories of the reader. A story so well written that the characters become real to the reader...". If I still had copies of the many emails I exchanged with Grasshopper over the years you would find me expressing many of the same feelings. I once told him that the characters in "Just Hit Send" seemed like family to me; and indeed, looking forward to the next chapter became a way of life. LOL
I know that he is extremely busy right now transitioning himself into the next phase of his life, as a college student. I also know that for Grasshopper, like many exceptionally talented writers, it is a labor of love. It is that which provides us with the hope/knowledge that he will be back. He has said to me that he intends to carry "Just Hit Send" to the same time-frame as "Summerfire". If you haven't read "Summerfire" yet be sure that you do. In fact you will find your above description applies to ALL of what Grasshopper has written. A description that I find accurate in all ways!
JimB
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JimB,
Yes, they became like family to me also. My tissue box has a definitely deep dent in it. I did read "Summerfire". The beautiful writing and wonderful family continued. I'm so sorry to lose them but I know they can't go on forever. But they were such a blessing to me while they were here. It was like real friends really visiting my apartment and inviting me into their family and beach house. I already miss that.
J J is adjusting to college life? I know he must be very busy but I hope that somehow he can squeeze in a few minutes to read the posting to him about his story so that he will know what a blessing he is and how much we appreciate him. I am positive he will do well there and like yourself will anxiously welcome his return.
Another great writer with the same talent and results is Charlie: "Finding Tim". Another beautiful story. Same home site as Grasshopper.
Nice to "meet you". Have a nice weekend. Bless you.
Love,
Tad
Tad Durham
Belfast, Maine U S A
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13796
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We have a lot of good authors here. I pick them for eccentric reasons, though. I tend to ignore literary merit, though they have to be readable. Instead I choose stories and authors who catch my heart in some way.
Each is here for a different reason, yet it is also the same reason. Some stories have sex, others not, but all have love.
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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Timmy,
I agree with you. I didn't mean to downplay other authors. I don't have the knowledge for commenting on literaly merit. They are all good. But like you, when I am saying about an author, in my opinion, being great, I am referring to the ability of them to deeply touch the emotions/heart of the reader and make the characters come alive. I find, so far, those authors to be few above the good stories of others. This is not to down play the ability of the rest, but get so deeply touched by the exceptions that I feel like letting them know how much their story has touched my life. Bless you, Timmy.
Tad Durham
Tad Durham
Belfast, Maine U S A
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13796
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We agree completely 
It happens that the majority of authors here are technically accomplished, too, but that is a side benefit.
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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marc
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Needs to get a life! |
Registered: March 2003
Messages: 4729
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Now you know why I don't bother to write anymore..... too huge a shadow to crawl out from under.....
Life is great for me... Most of the time... But then I meet people online... Very few are real friends... Many say they are but know nothing of what it means... Some say they are, but are so shallow...
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If that were true for everyone then no-one would have written a English drama since Shakespeare, an epic story since Homer, a novel since Dickens, philosophised since Plato, studied science since Newton ... well, indeed, by that logic none of those people would have written either, for there would always have been something to outdo when they started their work.
David
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marc
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Needs to get a life! |
Registered: March 2003
Messages: 4729
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and why exactly should I care what everyone else does?
Life is great for me... Most of the time... But then I meet people online... Very few are real friends... Many say they are but know nothing of what it means... Some say they are, but are so shallow...
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Marc said:
>and why exactly should I care what everyone else does?
You just said you do.
>Now you know why I don't bother to write anymore..... too huge a shadow to crawl out from under.....
If you don't care what other people have done then it can hardly prevent you from writing.
David
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marc
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Needs to get a life! |
Registered: March 2003
Messages: 4729
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Is that for me to say or is that for you to say?
I am not going to get into a long protracted debate with you.
I have not the time nor the inclination.
Life is great for me... Most of the time... But then I meet people online... Very few are real friends... Many say they are but know nothing of what it means... Some say they are, but are so shallow...
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I said,
>If you don't care what other people have done then it can hardly prevent you from writing.
Marc said,
>Is that for me to say or is that for you to say?
Well, as Timmy says, this board is for the readers as much as the posters. I'm a reader as well as a poster, and I'm confused by your two comments. In other words, I'm asking for clarification. It looks very like a contradiction if you say that you don't care what other people do, and yet also say that what other people do prevents you from writing.
I don't want a protracted debate, either. For one thing, I'm not sure what we would be debating about.
David
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marc
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Needs to get a life! |
Registered: March 2003
Messages: 4729
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I don't care if people read.... I care not if they write....
All I am concerned with is what I do, how I do it and what effort goes into what I do when it is that I am doing it.
Life is great for me... Most of the time... But then I meet people online... Very few are real friends... Many say they are but know nothing of what it means... Some say they are, but are so shallow...
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In that case it shouldn't matter at all how good Grasshopper is.
David
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marc
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Needs to get a life! |
Registered: March 2003
Messages: 4729
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As I am forbidden from citing my opinion of his writings I shall ignore your comment.
Life is great for me... Most of the time... But then I meet people online... Very few are real friends... Many say they are but know nothing of what it means... Some say they are, but are so shallow...
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Your opinion of Grasshopper has nothing to do with it. I was simply unable to understand your position given that you apparently contradicted yourself. You care how he is regarded by others in comparison to yourself but you don't care how you are regarded by others in comparison to him. We're off-topic for this thread, so let's draw the conversation to a close.
David
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marc
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Needs to get a life! |
Registered: March 2003
Messages: 4729
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then I shall explain it to you sometime....
but not today....
Life is great for me... Most of the time... But then I meet people online... Very few are real friends... Many say they are but know nothing of what it means... Some say they are, but are so shallow...
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Marc,
Don't give up. If you have a talent for writing, just write beautiful love stories and the readers will flock to your story ("build a better mouse trap..."
Tad
Tad Durham
Belfast, Maine U S A
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13796
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He does have a talent.
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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timmy wrote:
He does have a talent.
This is a rather cryptic remark. I take it that Timmy's intention is to refer it to Marc. And I agree completely. If anyone has any doubts about Marc's consumate ability to write a heart-warming story just take a look at the one he submitted to a summer story contest on the main Iomfats site a few years ago. Here's the link: http://iomfats.org/storyshelf/contests/summer2003/attributable/Author_Eleven_Letters_in_the_Sand.html Read and enjoy this remarkable story.
J F R
[Updated on: Thu, 01 February 2007 11:27] by Moderator
The paradox has often been noted that the United States, founded in secularism, is now the most religiose country in Christendom, while England, with an established church headed by its constitutional monarch, is among the least. (Richard Dawkins, 2006)
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Grasshopper "Just Press Send 
Re: Grasshopper "Just Hit Send 
