Alured de Valer: Blog

Chapter 30 of Best Summer Ever has been posted and seems to already be drawing a response. The cheerleaders return and trouble follows. Arlene saves the day again. Kacie and Gary are both feeling under the weather. Maybe a foot rub will help.

This one just kind of forced its way into the story. As much as I like keeping things light and happy, life isn't always that way. Sometimes, shit just happens. Maybe some good will come of it.

Things keep going well. The story is nearing 125K downloads, the score lost and regained a point, there are even more followers and I got two chapters written yesterday. I'm finally getting around to some more of the story points of my original outline. I am now 15 chapters ahead, which makes me feel pretty good. I hope the readers will like them when they hit the site.

Novelist Larry McMurtry died Thursday from heart failure at the age of 84.

McMurtry and Dan Jenkins are probably my two biggest influences as a writer. I discovered both about the time of my senior year of high school/first freshman year of college (McMurtry's All My Friends Are Going to be Strangers, Jenkins' Baja Oklahoma) long before I ever thought of writing or journalism as a career. Both were from Texas and wrote of Texas things. Both are now gone, just two years apart.

As much success as McMurtry had with screen adaptations of his work, I found myself drawn to those that never made it to Hollywood. Somebody's Darling and Some Can Whistle were particular favorites.

McMurtry seemed to have a knack for making a melancholy tale grab hold of a reader and not let go. The Last Picture Show and its numerous sequels captured that perfectly.

From Horseman, Pass By in 1961 to The Last Kind Words Saloon in 2014, I don't know that he ever published a bad book.

Chapter 29 of Best Summer Ever has been posted. Gary and Morgan escape the cabana unscathed only to find further adventures. Kacie puts in an appearance. Life returns to something resembling normal, at least for a little while.

It's hard to believe how this little story keeps performing. It's almost at 120,000 downloads, the score inched up another tick (I think it's matched its all-time high) and I'm up to 326 followers. Not bad for a new endeavor.

I'm up to Chapter 43 over on my Patreon page if anyone wants to read ahead. It includes a scene I've had in mind almost from the moment Arlene Jenson came into being.

Anyway, thanks for the continuing support. Enjoy.

Chapter 28 of Best Summer Ever has been posted. Gary and the Cabana Crew survive the attack of the cheerleaders, but will Gary survive the attack of the girlfriend?

I'm running a little behind today. I got on a roll late last night and stayed with it until 2 a.m. The result was getting Chapter 42 in the can and figuring out another of those bridge elements that help me connect one story point to another. I think this one will have a long-ranging impact upon our hero.

I'm sure the numbers are a little inflated because I'm seeing them later than normal, but the story was well past 114,000 downloads when I finally looked, the score inched up a bit and I've gained nine more followers. I even picked up a new patron on Patreon (I'm up to six now)!

Chapter 27 of Best Summer Ever has been posted. Kacie grabs her share and gets a surprise. The cabana crew takes workouts to another level. And cheerleaders attack!

Readership keeps growing with the story passing 108,000 downloads this morning, the score is holding steady and I've passed 300 followers. Looks like I'd better keep writing.