The Heir Apparent
Viewing comments for Chapter 13 "There's No Place Like Home"A family learns their father is a serial killer
27 total reviews
Comment from RebelRose
This is such a great story with lots of mystery and drama but the thing that keeps it flowing so well is how you bring out James' sense of humor when things get tense, in every chapter.
reply by the author on 23-Feb-2012
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This is such a great story with lots of mystery and drama but the thing that keeps it flowing so well is how you bring out James' sense of humor when things get tense, in every chapter.
Comment Written 23-Feb-2012
reply by the author on 23-Feb-2012
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I couldnt survive without a sense of humor. Thats how I manage stress too.
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I couldnt survive without a sense of humor. Thats how I manage stress too.
Comment from Cranial Thinker
Wow!!! so heart rending indeed the absolute first sign of
post trumatic disorder raising its ugly face and the mind
showing its truest desire to make all this just simply go away making time to skip and peace of life return to its
normal every day rhythm....So very well done my friend,I literally held my breath reading this having to remind myself to breath several times....This is so good!!!! Cranial Thinker
reply by the author on 23-Feb-2012
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Wow!!! so heart rending indeed the absolute first sign of
post trumatic disorder raising its ugly face and the mind
showing its truest desire to make all this just simply go away making time to skip and peace of life return to its
normal every day rhythm....So very well done my friend,I literally held my breath reading this having to remind myself to breath several times....This is so good!!!! Cranial Thinker
Comment Written 23-Feb-2012
reply by the author on 23-Feb-2012
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This poor family has just begun the terrible trip of dealing what their father has done.
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This poor family has just begun the terrible trip of dealing what their father has done.
Comment from Showboat
Excellent, Sasha, and I didn't see a thing to fix. I was really rolling with this one. The entire idea of being a family member to a serial killer is incredible, just can't imagine.
The end was so sad, with the photos. Very realistic as well. Loved it, obviously, and can't wait to get to the next one! I've been away for a couple of days!
Hugs,
Gayle
reply by the author on 22-Feb-2012
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Excellent, Sasha, and I didn't see a thing to fix. I was really rolling with this one. The entire idea of being a family member to a serial killer is incredible, just can't imagine.
The end was so sad, with the photos. Very realistic as well. Loved it, obviously, and can't wait to get to the next one! I've been away for a couple of days!
Hugs,
Gayle
Comment Written 22-Feb-2012
reply by the author on 22-Feb-2012
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Thanks so much for the awesome review and 6 stars. I am just thrilled you like this.
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Thanks so much for the awesome review and 6 stars. I am just thrilled you like this.
Comment from Giddy Nielsen-Sweep
Yes...A fantastic chapter. this is the part that brings you down to earth and lets you see the realities of such a situation. One gets the feeling the author knew what she was talking about here. Giddy
reply by the author on 22-Feb-2012
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Yes...A fantastic chapter. this is the part that brings you down to earth and lets you see the realities of such a situation. One gets the feeling the author knew what she was talking about here. Giddy
Comment Written 22-Feb-2012
reply by the author on 22-Feb-2012
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Don´t worry, I always look forward to your comments. I find them very helpful.
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Don´t worry, I always look forward to your comments. I find them very helpful.
Comment from CALLAHANMR
Hi Valerie:)
This chapter is a transition between the past and future for the Mathews family. It is full of visual imagery; mostly negative. Now the past must somehow be abandoned. As usual, I have some specific comments:
1. I suddenly came to a distressing realization; I still didn't know Mom very well. Other than observing nineteen years of apathy, I was unable to say with any certainty, how she felt about Dad. I still couldn't distinguish the robot from the real person. James is just starting to see his real mother as she escapes from years of spousal control. Except for James, I think the whole family has been on automatic control.)
2. Susan can have visitors, but they suggest we wait a few days until they have had a chance to evaluate her."
"No. I told Susan I would visit her every day. She needs to know someone in her life can be trusted to keep their word."{James understands the need to keep his word. His mother must know he can be trusted.}
3. You're pretty feisty for a kid. Although I'm not sure pissing off the prosecutor was the best route to take, I must say it was amusing to see how quickly he started working to get your name on the visitors' list." {Mac is more sympathetic than James realizes.}
4. Half a block from the house, I could already see several vans from the various local television stations parked in front of the house. As soon as we pulled into the driveway, it became an instant replay of our previous encounters. Mom, Charlie, Mac and I simply ignored their questions and pushed our way through the crowd. {Obviously not a great homecoming.}
5. The warm, familiar feeling of being home where it was safe was gone and I knew it was never coming back. {Great line.}
6. There were twenty photographs of Mom, Dad, Charlie, Susan, and me with big smiles on our faces. Each perfectly framed and neatly lined up starting with the first taken before Charlie and Susan were born, and ending with the one taken just a few months ago. To a stranger we looked like the perfect American family. Before realizing I was angry, I suddenly punched my fist into one of the photographs, breaking the glass, and sending it crashing to the floor. To my shock, Mom began smashing all the photographs too, and when she was done, she collapsed onto the floor and began sobbing uncontrollably. {Suddenly the family photos became abominations from a life now gone forever.}
Perhaps the healing process has started, but it will take a lifetime of change and denial.
Love and Irish hugs,
Roger
reply by the author on 22-Feb-2012
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Hi Valerie:)
This chapter is a transition between the past and future for the Mathews family. It is full of visual imagery; mostly negative. Now the past must somehow be abandoned. As usual, I have some specific comments:
1. I suddenly came to a distressing realization; I still didn't know Mom very well. Other than observing nineteen years of apathy, I was unable to say with any certainty, how she felt about Dad. I still couldn't distinguish the robot from the real person. James is just starting to see his real mother as she escapes from years of spousal control. Except for James, I think the whole family has been on automatic control.)
2. Susan can have visitors, but they suggest we wait a few days until they have had a chance to evaluate her."
"No. I told Susan I would visit her every day. She needs to know someone in her life can be trusted to keep their word."{James understands the need to keep his word. His mother must know he can be trusted.}
3. You're pretty feisty for a kid. Although I'm not sure pissing off the prosecutor was the best route to take, I must say it was amusing to see how quickly he started working to get your name on the visitors' list." {Mac is more sympathetic than James realizes.}
4. Half a block from the house, I could already see several vans from the various local television stations parked in front of the house. As soon as we pulled into the driveway, it became an instant replay of our previous encounters. Mom, Charlie, Mac and I simply ignored their questions and pushed our way through the crowd. {Obviously not a great homecoming.}
5. The warm, familiar feeling of being home where it was safe was gone and I knew it was never coming back. {Great line.}
6. There were twenty photographs of Mom, Dad, Charlie, Susan, and me with big smiles on our faces. Each perfectly framed and neatly lined up starting with the first taken before Charlie and Susan were born, and ending with the one taken just a few months ago. To a stranger we looked like the perfect American family. Before realizing I was angry, I suddenly punched my fist into one of the photographs, breaking the glass, and sending it crashing to the floor. To my shock, Mom began smashing all the photographs too, and when she was done, she collapsed onto the floor and began sobbing uncontrollably. {Suddenly the family photos became abominations from a life now gone forever.}
Perhaps the healing process has started, but it will take a lifetime of change and denial.
Love and Irish hugs,
Roger
Comment Written 22-Feb-2012
reply by the author on 22-Feb-2012
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You are right, the healing process has begun but it will be a long, long trip before life will ever feel normal...whatever that is...again.
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You are right, the healing process has begun but it will be a long, long trip before life will ever feel normal...whatever that is...again.
Comment from Roberta Joan Jensen
I was sure[,] after my temper tantrum with Mr. Hurley this afternoon, he planned to shoot me and
To a stranger[,] we looked like the perfect
Another great chapter. I hope youare planning on publishing this.
Roberta
reply by the author on 22-Feb-2012
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I was sure[,] after my temper tantrum with Mr. Hurley this afternoon, he planned to shoot me and
To a stranger[,] we looked like the perfect
Another great chapter. I hope youare planning on publishing this.
Roberta
Comment Written 22-Feb-2012
reply by the author on 22-Feb-2012
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Thanks for catching the spags. Yes, I do hope to publish this one.
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Thanks for catching the spags. Yes, I do hope to publish this one.
Comment from Joan E.
This is an excellent transitional chapter. I admired Mom's expressing her anger with the "hammer and bloody nails" metaphor. I had forgotten that Susan's injury was more severe than first thought. I also particularly liked James' use of humor to help him get through this ordeal. You describe the emotional catharsis in your final paragraphs well. -Joan
reply by the author on 22-Feb-2012
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This is an excellent transitional chapter. I admired Mom's expressing her anger with the "hammer and bloody nails" metaphor. I had forgotten that Susan's injury was more severe than first thought. I also particularly liked James' use of humor to help him get through this ordeal. You describe the emotional catharsis in your final paragraphs well. -Joan
Comment Written 21-Feb-2012
reply by the author on 22-Feb-2012
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I tend to use humor to get through difficult times and thought James might use it too. Glad it works.
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I think many of us use similar survival skills. -J
Comment from psalmist
It is interesting to me how differently people will act/react when catastrophes occur. People find strength they didn't know they had like James and his mom, or are nearly destroyed, like Susan. I could somewhat relate to the phone messages and the way people make judgments about things they know so little about. My husband went through some similar judgments recently when he was on the local school board.
Another great chapter. Linda
reply by the author on 22-Feb-2012
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It is interesting to me how differently people will act/react when catastrophes occur. People find strength they didn't know they had like James and his mom, or are nearly destroyed, like Susan. I could somewhat relate to the phone messages and the way people make judgments about things they know so little about. My husband went through some similar judgments recently when he was on the local school board.
Another great chapter. Linda
Comment Written 21-Feb-2012
reply by the author on 22-Feb-2012
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Sadly, it seems to be human nature to feel the need to judge others. Yes, people do react differently when catastrophes occur.
Comment from cheyennewy
Hi Smurph,
This is another outstanding chapter in this compelling story. Wish I had a six ****** I wondering what James is going to say to his dad, I hope he gives him a tongue lashing. I feel so sorry for all of them as their lives will never be the same. Superb writing here....blessings, chey
reply by the author on 21-Feb-2012
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Hi Smurph,
This is another outstanding chapter in this compelling story. Wish I had a six ****** I wondering what James is going to say to his dad, I hope he gives him a tongue lashing. I feel so sorry for all of them as their lives will never be the same. Superb writing here....blessings, chey
Comment Written 21-Feb-2012
reply by the author on 21-Feb-2012
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Thanks for the great review. You may have to wait a day or two to find out. My computer is at the doctors ofice having another checkup and won´t be back for a few days.
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UGH!
Comment from InterestingRon
Hi Smurphy
I found the dialogue especially good in this chapter. Your writing seems a bit tighter these days, and the story moves at a good piece. Exactly what publishers are looking for at present.
James is really becoming a dominant character.
Ron
reply by the author on 21-Feb-2012
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Hi Smurphy
I found the dialogue especially good in this chapter. Your writing seems a bit tighter these days, and the story moves at a good piece. Exactly what publishers are looking for at present.
James is really becoming a dominant character.
Ron
Comment Written 21-Feb-2012
reply by the author on 21-Feb-2012
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Sadly, he is learning as he goes. I am so pleased you like how this is going.