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Yolanda D.'s avatar

James, you painted a picture of desperation. You can feel the visceral intensity in your voice as you read. I played over the loudspeakers while reading the piece. I like to hear the sound of trauma that liquefies through every word. You really have the characters' emotions filtered throughout both stories. Great work, James. 🤘❤️🌹

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C. James Desmond's avatar

Thank you so much, Yolanda. I’m so glad folks are listening to the audio. I’ll be honest, since I lost my job recently, I can’t afford the studio anymore, so I’ve been recording the chapters myself. Just me in my untreated bedroom with an SM 58 and a paperback. I know it doesn’t sound great, but I do my best. When I read it, the memories I based each chapter on replay in my mind like a movie. While this is fiction, it’s more real than not, so I think my emotionality bleeds into my readings.

I appreciate your kind words, always.

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Yolanda D.'s avatar

OMG…I’m sorry about your job, James. Was it a job you loved? If you need to talk to someone, let me know more about the situation. You’re doing such a great job that I wanted to let you know that in my comments.

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MJ Bel's avatar

This was so raw and well written. Thank you for sharing.

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C. James Desmond's avatar

Thanks for your comment, MJ.

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Victoria's avatar

Gracefully. 💔

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C. James Desmond's avatar

The woman I based Jules on... she was graceful. Beautiful. And she really did watch me get taken away in handcuffs out front of a diner. A Denny's.

I haven't eaten at a diner since.

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Victoria's avatar

- that word felt so tender in context of situation - the noticing of her gracefullness in the midst of this messy experience invited the reader into such beautiful complexity of you/character. Lovely.

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C. James Desmond's avatar

Thank you so very much, Victoria.

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