Comment from Karen Cherry Threadgill

Exceptional

You certainly know how to build a story. You are still one of my favorites. Just because we disagree about stuff, doesn't mean I don't value your work and friendship. Love to you and yours. Karen

 Comment Written 11-Nov-2024

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reply by the author on 11-Nov-2024

Thanks very much, Karen. I really appreciate your kind words as well as the six starts. We'll disagree from time to time, but no worries there. Still friends.

reply by Karen Cherry Threadgill on 13-Nov-2024

Families fight and make up. After I read one of his stories I saw what you mean. Too bad he has no ego right? :-)

Comment from BethShelby

Excellent

This woman is not someone anything would choose to have in their family but Julia is her family and I admire her for wanting to patch things up. I would imagine she she will manage to cause some hard feeling just being herself. It will be interesting to see.

 Comment Written 11-Nov-2024

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reply by the author on 12-Nov-2024

Very perceptive, Beth. Yes, it probably won't come right away. A person can only change so much.

Comment from jmdg1954

Excellent

Wow. The mother sure has loosened up from the first book. Between sharing verb as l jabs with the doormen to having multiple martinis... who is this imposter.

Julie made herself the "bigger person" as she's ready to put differences aside and wants her son to meet his grandmother.

I'm curious to see if this will have anything to go with Fran's problems going forward. Time will tell...

Good chapter, Jim.

Cheers,
John

 Comment Written 11-Nov-2024

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reply by the author on 12-Nov-2024

Thanks, John. Marie wasn't totally without a sense of humor in the first story if you remember the ice cream sundae incident, but yes, she does take a liking to the doorman. She's rather a complex character. Let's see if she softens any more before the end and just what role she will play in all of this.

Comment from Neonewman

Exceptional

Oh, Lord! Mom's back in the picture, lol. I knew this day would come. I freaking loved the way you started and finished this chapter. I had a feeling it was Julia's mother. What an exciting book this is, Jim. My friend, I feel energized and ready to see what the next chapter brings.
Brilliant work!
God bless,
Steve

 Comment Written 11-Nov-2024

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reply by the author on 12-Nov-2024

Thanks so much, Steve. She's rather a fun character to write about. Let's see if we can sand off some of those rough edges before the end. I'll try not to change her too much, though!

Thanks so much for your great review and the 6 stars too, my friend.

reply by Neonewman on 12-Nov-2024

It's my pleasure, Jim. I have to say, it's people like her who make life both difficult and interesting. She did raise a prodigy.
Steve

reply by the author on 12-Nov-2024

Yes, there is that, so maybe there's some small degree of hope for her yet.

reply by Neonewman on 12-Nov-2024

Yeah!

Comment from lyenochka

Excellent

I loved your characterization of Marie Schmidt even before I recognized the name, I was thinking that this must be Julia's mom! She's so awful and temperamental that she's funny! I wonder if she somehow will get into the act.

 Comment Written 11-Nov-2024

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reply by the author on 12-Nov-2024

Exactly! That was my idea--to make her a bit of a caricature to inject a little humor into the story. My wife and I brainstorm ideas for her, and I have to be careful not to overdo it. Let me know if it's too much.

She will get into the act--eventually.

Comment from barbara.wilkey

Excellent

Very interesting. Julia's mother is a pain. I knew she was, but now she's really a pain. I'm curious how this fits in with Fran's problems. I know you'll tie it all together, but right now, I'm curious. I enjoyed reading.

 Comment Written 11-Nov-2024

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reply by the author on 12-Nov-2024

Thanks, Barbara. Hard to imagine right now how she might fit into the plot, but she will eventually.

Comment from Tom Horonzy

Excellent

There is much within that reminds me of Julie and friend, and now you threw in a mother. Charlotte does have a symphony, but I favored Motown instead of Sebastian and Wolfgang.

 Comment Written 11-Nov-2024

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reply by the author on 11-Nov-2024

Yep, we've got Julia and her mother returning in this one. Whether they can manage to reconcile will be the big question.

Comment from Dolly'sPoems

Exceptional

This is a lovely invitation and despite the intervening years an olive branch has been offered and I hope that Julia's Mother takes it and goes to the Christening. This is a lovely chapter Jim. Marie sounds like she is rather a touchy character and a bit buttoned up. I enjoyed your fine descriptions, love Dolly x

 Comment Written 11-Nov-2024

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reply by the author on 11-Nov-2024

Thanks so much, Dolly. I appreciate those 6 stars too. Marie is definitely "buttoned up" and a pretty unlikable character at this point. We'll see if she's able to change any of her ways by the end.

Comment from Wayne Fowler

Excellent

Well written.
I'm struggling to understand or imagine what Julia's mother might add to the plot.Not that I'm an adherent to the philosophy that every word not driving the plot should be removed.
Best wishes.

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 Comment Written 11-Nov-2024

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reply by the author on 11-Nov-2024

Thanks, Wayne. Yes, seems a bit incongruous now, doesn't it? Let's hope I can tie her into the plot in a believable way.

There will actually be two plot lines in this story: 1) the release of Dipraxa and the effort to stop it and 2) dealing with Big Pharma's plans to stop Glyptophan from ruining their business. Marie will figure into the latter.

Comment from Wendy G

Excellent

I hope Julia's mother will change. She still seems such a hard and arrogant person. Maybe getting to know her grandson will soften her, and also help mend the relationship between all three of them. Very fine writing, but now I have to wait longer to find out how Fran is managing!
Wendy

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 Comment Written 11-Nov-2024

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reply by the author on 11-Nov-2024

Yeah, that will be a problem with 3 main characters. Most chapters will be from only one of their POVs (a few will have multiple ones, though), which means the story jumps around a bit and you have to wait, but I'll try to post every 3 days or so, so you won't have to wait too long. Many of the chapters I anticipate will contain 2 or even all 3 of the main characters interacting as the story unfolds, so their stories will come together.