A while back I published some stories on the platform in hopes of growing a audience of readership but that idea went to shit.
I got some likes and follows but overall the platform was a waste of potential and Amazon had no idea what the hell they were doing.
The app sucked and interface was nowhere better the competition so now in December of 2024 in to the new year amazon is putting it to sleep with a 45. Magnum.
I’m bringing the stories over here and doing some rewrites a little and adding on value.
Blue Technomancer is the first up to bat.
Beau Lucas had it all. The charm, the looks, the mind, the hot girl and the skills of a true sniper elite in the special forces. All that went to shit in a single blazing hellish day when a giant flaming monster dropped down on him on the day of his proposal and changed his life and destiny forever. He awoke to the dawn of a new day in human history in a broken body mired in blood, steel and strange new elemental powers. The story takes place during the timeliness of Blue Jumper.
I stared into the mirror of the gas station bathroom at the image of the ignma on my left forearm. I held the burner blade up heated and charged up as I prepared to finally burn the damn thing off finally. It cost me a lot trouble and loss of friends and family. I had no one now because of it. I was a roin.
They called my kind ignma. A destination for a type of human that isn’t born with elemental powers like most everyone else in this world. I was born different. I saw things differently but mostly importantly. I grew up knowing I would have to make my own in the world. I wasn’t born to be ordinary. I was special. I didn’t have magic powers to fall back on.
I heard a knock at the door. “Hey. I got to take a shit. Hurry up in there.” A male voice called to me.
I sighed and shipped the blade in the protective sleeve and quickly put on my black shirt and jacket. I opened the door and evaded the man as I walked past him.
I looked at the cashier at the front. He gave me a look and nodded out side. “You got five minutes kid.” He said.
I nodded to him and walked toward the door. I walked over to a bike parked at filling station.
I saw Victor Adam in his ride chating with a model while his bodyguard a big solo agent with bands of fire element that wrapped around his arms as a show of his power and status as a highly powerful elemental. He looked up at me once.
“You looking to make trouble youngster. Think again.” He said sensing trouble from me but not sensing the real danger.
I leaned against the motorcycle like it was mean. “How did you become Solo?” I asked him.
The man stared at me. “You a runner.” He said.
I nodded. “Been a runner part time sense I was twelve. I’m sixteen now. I’ll be seventeen soon. My Pop sent me on the rite early. Is there anyway I can skip past becoming a Solo to be a fixer.” I asked.
“Your powerless.” He said and grinned shaking head at me. “You been working sense your twelve and haven’t advanced yet. You’ll never make it. Head to the out lands.” He said.
“So I have to become a Solo first. Alright. If that’s what I have to do. I’ll do it. I just don’t understand why the order of things can’t be changed.” I said.
The Solo frowned at me. “Your father never explained to you the ranking up of trust and talent?” He asked.
I frowned at him. “The ranking of Trust and talent? What is that? Is that the core to the underground system?” I asked.
“Yes. It’s about trust and talent. Runners are trusted with small jobs because they have little talent and haven’t built up their ranking of trust. Solo’s have built higher skill levels and power to do bigger jobs and get bigger pay. Fixers were trusted with connecting clients to underground agents or figuring out how to plan out a job to get it done in the first place. Though fixers aren’t needed now a days when we have the black market forum to get jobs. No need for a middle man and you don’t have any power so your stuck. I would advise you to the out lands be field hand or slave. Powerless have no room for advancing anywhere in society. Sorry.” He said.
“Thank you the information. You can keep your opinion about me to yourself or shove up your ass for all I care though.” I said.
The Solo blinked at me. “Oh really?!” He said in a dominant tone meant to make me back down but I nodded staring at him in the eyes.
“Yeah. I’m smarter, better and will be more richer then you’ll ever be. Before your hair turns grey Mr. Solo. You’ll be answering to me with the respect due a free king. You can believe that shit.” I said.
He laughed in my face but he froze and pointed a glowing hand of fire at me as I reached inside my jacket. “Don’t try me powerless.” He said.
I looked at him. “Was the information free?” I asked.
“You want to pay me for information I gave you?!” He said in confusion.
I nodded. “Yeah. The last thing I want is for you to think I owe you something when I take over the underground. What’s your account transfer number?” I said.
A slow wofish smile curved around his lips and he shook his head. “I forgot my manners. My account number is 3988b20 ebs. 20 ebs will do fine. Youngster.” He said.
I took out my detapad and looked down and started the transfer as Victor got out of his vehicle.
“What the fuck is the hold up?” Stop talking to this trash, pump my gas and so I get the fuck on to my place. I got Mindy for a few hours until I have to return her to the agency.” Victor said.
“The Transfer is done. Check your account.” I said looking and ignored Victor.
“Hey shit head.” Victor said.
The Solo nodded his head. “You good young blood. Better luck next time young blood. I know why came here. You’ll have to find another job.” He said.
I nodded. “Thanks for the information elder. Oh you better get your money from Mr. Adams quickly because his crediters are coming for his ass in twelve hours from now to take all his shit.” I said and walked away.
Victor laughed nervously but the Solo stared at me. “Oh. I see what this is. Your a runner looking to steal my ride. You little shit. Your dirty lies aren’t going to work on grown adults.” He said. His eyes glowed with elemental green energy of the earth dragon.
I shook my head. “Not really. I checked you out credit history and networth online Mr. Adams. Your a broke ass son of bitch that is in deep debt to loan sharks and running around town banging old models on cheap credit. I wanted to talk to your Solo bodyguard because he had information I needed. This was the only way I could get the attention of a vetern Solo to talk to me long enough to get information. Oh. Respectfully you should take down that job offer. It’s against black market forum rules to put up false job ads. You don’t have any ebs to pay anybody anything. You pay everything down with cheap low grade credit with no show of collateral but your failing family group business and the old classic piece of shit cruiser you own. Your better off selling your ride then trying to get somebody to destory it for the insurance money. Later asshole!” I said showing him my tongue and flipping him off with both fingers as I backed away.
“Mr. Adams. You owe us twenty-five hundred ebs.” A man said.
“Mr. Adams. We need you to sign over your cruiser to my company to pay your debt.” A man said.
Suddenly, men started converge on them. The model was taken out of the car. Victor looked at me. “You set me up!” He said.
I grinned at him. “They paid me more then we’re offering.” I said.
Victor attempted to attack me but the Solo grabbed him and jerked him back. “You’ve been light on my last two checks. I want my money now or I’ll destoy your ride and take the insurance money as payment. Give me my money you little shit.” He said.
The cashier stood outside smoking and nodded to me. “The money is in your account. Did you burn the mark?” He said.
I sighed.
He stared at me. “A deal is a deal. You gave your word. We pay and do what was agreed upon or you and word are worthless and we’ll make sure of that you’ll get work from anyone in this city.” He said.
I smiled and took off my jacket throwing it to the ground and then took off the knife and hit the button on the center. the electrified blade heated up instantly. I placed the blade on my skin where the mark was and pressed into my skin. I smelled burning skin for a few second until I finally dropped it.
The cashier threw my bottle of some type of liquid and I put it on my skin. The wound. A ugly scar was in place. I placed the bottle down and got out my detapad.
“You did the right thing kid. Your already a target being without any elemental powers no use in having a silly mark to make matters worse. You’ll receive a link to your job digital check in station. The company will do right by you if you be a good boy and do what your told. Oh you pay grade will have to go down to 50k. Sorry but your not worth the 80k ebs because of your ignma status.” He said.
I searched the forum until I found what I was looking for. “Your James Martin. Vice president of Credit industries? Aren’t you?” I said looking up at him.
He stared at me. “How the fuck did you know my name?” He asked me coldly.
I looked up at him smiling. “Do you know a Miss Hellen Baker?” I said.
James didn’t return my smile. I nodded. “Yeah. Miss Baker and her tribe came into some money the last time you two were together. She never forgot you or that night you showed your ass and went to far with her. Her family has got a big fat bounty on your head old man. It’s far bigger then 80k. I didn’t just contact you and your corporation for Mr. Adams. I was hoping that your old man would seen you in to to over see matters seeing how much he hated Mr. Adams. It’s funny how things work out isn’t it.” I said putting away my detapad.
James suddenly threw his cigarette into my face surprising me and drew a pistol from under his vest jacket. I lifted up my hand as he shot it. I felt the jolt from the shock waves at it hit my cyberpunk arm taking on two shots before I knocked him back drew my blaster and fired on his ass taking him down with two shots to the chest and sending him flying through the glass of the door. James lay on the floor of the convivence store bleeding and motionless. My ears were ringing. Someone took my pistol from my hand and put me down to the ground.
“Check my detapad. I’m a runner. He had a bounty on his head. I took the job.” I said. I couldn’t hear shit but someone grabbed my detapad and from me and then a second later I was let up to sit on the ground. The Solo smiled at me shaking his head. He showed me my profile on the black market forum. I looked at it and looked at my ranking.
Solo level 1
Well that was a start. Not where I was going to finish but it was a start to something.
I paid the twenty ebs fee to gain entrance into the public library so I could do I a quick research evaluation on my potential client. The client had had a sixteen runners to go for the job in the posting sense the moment I saw it this morning but so far no had been able to get the job done. Which I found remarkable. I was at a computer terminal doing an advanced search on Victor Adams and his networth. It wasn’t long before I was wondering how the hell was this dude even allowed to do a post on the forum.
This was growing problem a lot of young runners and Solos were having with the black market lately. To many losers posting shitty jobs with no background check from the operators of the forum to check if the client was trustworthy enough to pay up when the time came. A bust was what we called them. Assholes that wasted a runner’s time and energy on a job that was either illegal or the client thought they could get away without paying up to the runner or solo on delivering on the goods. Coporate executives were known for this shit and red flag to work for but paid big on a contract granting upward movement for a low grade runner toward the big checks in the solo ranking. It was still a mystery why though. Only those with Solo ranking knew and those old assholes were willing to share on trade secrets to young runners.
Victor Adams was a bust. He looked good on the surface. Corporate Executive from a long line of them from a family of one of the oldest corporations in the city but when you dug deeper that’s when the shine wore off and saw the shit.
He owned nothing. Well maybe not nothing. He owned one thing and it was the very one thing that someone wanted destroyed. I looked into the insurance on the thing and saw it was pretty high. It was a recent upgrade six months ago.
Hmm. It was clear who the hell the client was then. I just didn’t know if I would get any money from the situation. The answer wasn’t likely with a cooperate type doing business with the underground. It was a roll of the dice on whether or not they would pay you for your trouble or threaten you with time in the pin with a charge from the authorities.
I decided to go another route. I looked at the people he owed money to and the people trying to nail his down long enough to get the money. To much of a long list. I saw who had given the biggest I.O.U to and messaged them with offer that if I could find and trap him I wanted a hundred grand ebs. They gave me the waiting game but I decided to put in a few more pitches to people wanting to get money from this clown.
I got several offers and one dude that sent me a image of a nice rifle I could pick up now as finder’s fee. It was several hours later when I had a plan going that I finally got a summons from a corporate office for a meeting as I was on the go on a digital meeting.
I stared down at the image of old man in a expensive suit who looked not at all pleased to talk to me or be in a conversation with him. I got to the point right quick with him. “You pay me a hundred grand ebs and up grade my rank to Fixer then I’ll set up the moment for you to get Adams. If you’ve seen my track record I can get it done. Yes or no.” I said.
“I’ll offer you a job in my corporation in security forces only. You’ll have a decent pay grade of 50k ebs a year. descent enough for your ignma status. But you have to burn your mark away.” He said.
“Your negotiating with me. Alright 80k and work pro bono for your company.” I said.
“80k and you work full time with benefits but you must burn your mark before the job is done. Deal or no deal? Five minute offer.” He said.
I glared at the old man. Greed got the best of me. “Deal.” I said.
His face disappeared from the screen and all I could do was stare at my own image on the black screen. Damn. I really must be desperate. Just like that I gave up my dreams to be the slave for a cooperate asshole. A deal was a deal. I had given my word. Now it was time to pay up or go back on my word. It was time to set up the sting operation.
It really isn’t a lot of words. Man. I remember when that was a real challenge for me. I look back on it in fund memories of taking on that challenge for the first time I completed my November’s kiss run.
The biggest event of the year. Nanowrimo. I haven’t a damn clue what the hell I am going to do.
I have every intention to write a novel the month but things have changed. I’m dime novelist right now my dude.
I’m putting in a thousand or more words a day. I got a gig. I got 5 million word project to put in and a dream to fill in an entire fictional world.
I don’t know. I got to do something though. Why? I like the challenge now. I need it. So. I’m going to do what I got to do. I’m going to do something a bit of old school style. Brainstorming and outlining on the fly. That’s the game. Hell. I might even shoot for 50k words even still.
I currently working on a long term project of a black man in fantasy world in steam punk raw fantasy world. It is a blast so far. My run time for the project is to put in on the high in Five million words in total for the entire run of my project.
It’s all about the money?
In part yes but not really. It’s the challenge. The game of shooting for the moon as the saying goes and hitting the tallest tree or building. The challenge plus the worth value match of added funds adds to the rush I get from doing it.
What does a five million word project look like? Several years of day in and day out work building upward to mansion that is something worth living in and enjoying the conversations of the people there and the views of dragons flying overhead.
I’m forty years old now by the end of the project I will be older with grey hairs at the end but I will have crafted something interesting and perhaps funny. I have the plan in my head and the key to exploring the the entire world and expanding it out into other stories lies in utilizing the fish out of water scenario to it’s fullest.
I wish I could say there will be a chance I won’t succeed but I can’t even fake that noise. I’m invested for the long haul. Once I get to my five hundred mark I’m going to celebrate for the entire remaining long haul to the top.
What is a 21st century dime novelist and why should you become one? Rated G
You want to get paid for your work. You want earn something for your creative efforts.
You can write at least 2k words a day and you have the ability to finish a story.
You don’t give a damn about the love of the art. Your a business minded person. You are in it for the bag.
How to do it?
Google is your friend by chatgpt is your lover that will give you the sources and companies to turn to.
YouTube. If you can find an audience of people that enjoy a audiobook video or write a script for a content creator then you’ve got a audience and a bag.
Plenty of sites online that will take on your work on their platforms and give a piece of the pie.
Patreon. It’s a good site to build up your people that will grab on to your work and voice.
Research people that make money from writing.
I believe in producing a product of art people value and will pay you for. I’m still a bard I love what I do but I’m also a capitalist. The market dictates the value of what you do.
Even with the rise of ChatGpt and the like there is still a need for talented writers to help individuals in need for professional writing work. Here are some legit realistic tips of making money as a YouTube script writer.
Here are 10 tips for making money as a YouTube scriptwriter:
Niche Down Your Expertise
Focus on a specific genre or niche (e.g., tech, lifestyle, gaming, or education). Specializing makes you more valuable to clients who want consistent, high-quality scripts within a particular area.
Build a Portfolio
Showcase sample scripts or links to successful videos you’ve written for. If you’re starting, create mock scripts or write scripts for smaller channels to build credibility.
Leverage Freelance Platforms
Join platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, or Freelancer where YouTubers often look for scriptwriters. Optimize your profile with relevant keywords like “YouTube scriptwriter,” “video content writer,” etc.
Network with YouTubers
Engage in YouTube creator communities (Reddit, Facebook groups, Discord, etc.) to network with potential clients. Offer to write a free sample or a discounted first script to prove your value.
Master SEO and Audience Targeting
Learn the basics of YouTube SEO (keywords, titles, descriptions) to ensure your scripts are optimized for searchability. Understanding what the audience wants will improve your script’s performance and lead to repeat clients.
Offer Full-Service Packages
Consider offering more than just scripts, such as research, video ideas, or thumbnail text. The more you can handle, the more valuable and indispensable you become to content creators.
Create a Personal Website
Build an online portfolio on your own website, showcasing your services, pricing, and testimonials. This gives you more professional credibility when reaching out to potential clients.
Keep Up with Trends
Stay updated with the latest YouTube trends. Write scripts that are timely and relevant, which can help creators grow their channels. Your knowledge of trending topics adds to your value.
Offer Competitive Rates and Upsells
Set fair and competitive pricing, especially if you’re new. As you gain experience, introduce premium services such as script revisions, voiceover coordination, or long-form content for higher-paying clients.
Collaborate with Content Creators
Partner with creators on a revenue-share model, where you get a percentage of the earnings for videos you script, especially if you’re working with creators who have growing channels.
These tips will help you establish yourself as a successful YouTube scriptwriter.
These are some tips and tricks I research that seemed to have done well for most writers.
Many web novelists write in a serialized format, with chapters ranging from 1,500 to 5,000 words, posting frequently to keep the audience engaged. Successful web novels tend to focus more on consistency and pacing rather than hitting a specific total word count.
Web novelists can make money through several different avenues, depending on their platform, audience size, and monetization strategy. Here are some of the most common ways:
Ad Revenue:
Websites/Platforms with Ads: Platforms like Wattpad or Royal Road often show ads to readers. Web novelists earn a share of the ad revenue generated by the traffic their stories bring in.
Personal Websites/Blogs: Authors who host their web novels on personal sites can generate income by placing ads, such as Google AdSense, on their site.
Paid Chapters and Subscriptions:
Platforms with Paid Content: Some platforms, like Webnovel, Tapas, and Radish, allow writers to lock chapters behind a paywall, where readers have to pay either per chapter or for early access.
Patreon: Many web novelists use Patreon to offer exclusive content, early chapters, or special rewards to readers who subscribe. Patrons pay monthly in exchange for these benefits.
Crowdfunding and Donations:
Donations/Tips: Platforms like Ko-fi or Buy Me a Coffee allow readers to give direct donations or tips to support their favorite writers.
Crowdfunding: Some writers use platforms like Kickstarter or Indiegogo to raise funds for specific projects, such as turning a web novel into a physical book.
Sponsorships and Affiliate Marketing:
Sponsored Content: Writers with a large following might receive sponsorship deals from companies that want to promote products related to their novel or writing style.
Affiliate Marketing: Authors can include affiliate links (e.g., to books or products on Amazon) on their site or in their work, earning a commission for sales generated from those links.
Publishing Deals:
Traditional Publishing: Successful web novels can attract the attention of traditional publishers, who may offer a book deal, allowing the author to earn royalties from book sales.
Self-Publishing: Some web novelists compile their work into e-books or print books and sell them on platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) or IngramSpark.
Audiobook Rights: Authors can also turn their web novels into audiobooks and sell them through platforms like Audible.
Merchandising:
Merch: Once a web novel becomes popular, authors can sell merchandise like T-shirts, posters, or other branded items related to their novel or characters.
Artwork and NFTs: Some authors commission fan art or create digital content (e.g., NFTs) that they can sell to fans.
Film, TV, or Webtoon Adaptations:
Adaptation Rights: If a web novel gains a large following, there’s potential for adaptation into other formats like TV shows, films, webtoons, or manga. Selling adaptation rights can be a lucrative option.
Writing Competitions:
Some platforms hold writing contests where web novelists can earn prizes, money, or contracts for top-performing stories. Winning can also provide exposure and increase readership.
Web novelists often combine several of these strategies, especially those who write serialized stories. Many focus on building a dedicated reader base first before implementing monetization strategies, as long-term success often depends on maintaining a loyal audience.
This has been a learning experience. I’ve come to some conclusions about this site and what best to put up and what I will do going forward with this blog/website.
Long form content doesn’t work for this website. My short form stuff does well and I produce enjoyable podcast and audiobook stuff. It is what it is.
The plan
Very short stories 50%
Short audiobooks 40%
Writing tips 1% or less
The readership for James Potter and The Court of Owls on this website was a complete failure. So there is no reason to produce this type of content for this site. So now I have to figure out what readers want from this site and give it to me. That said, I have concluded I am better off writing about things or in genres people care about on other platforms.
Off this site I achieved my goals for writing the story and I will proceed to write more content on other websites and about subjects people care about.
Mara cried and babbled on and on in a strange language as James worked to calm her down and kept speaking back to her in the same language until she finally got a hold of herself and nodded to him in understanding. He kissed her forehead before placing the cloak into her arms. James looked up at Angus to see him holding out his arm. Angus gave him a wink and smile. James returned the smile before he gave Mara one last look. “I’ll send you an Owl every week. But, I’m going to working a lot. Tell your father I will see him soon to tell him my plans.” James said before taking a firm hold on his father’s arm with both hands.
The world fell away for James but he kept his focus on Angus’ even as he felt his eyes being pulled forward and being pushed inside his body and then they were in another place. James blinked twice as vision cleared and looked around to see they were inside a restroom. Stalls were all were to his right and wash basins to his left with tall mirrors attacked to the walls.
James straightened up as Angus helped him to his feet. “You doing better son?” Angus asked him and helped James to steady himself while standing. James nodded though his head was beginning to pound. He would have to get use to it. If he was going to be any help to his father in the hunt for the item the Count wanted. He frowned in thought. “Dad. What’s the item the Count wanted returned back to him. Was it in the file he gave us?”
Angus nodded stiffly and a grim expression formed on his lips. “Yes. It was. Though I don’t think he put it in the report he passed on to the Aurors about what the thieves stole from him yesterday. It was supposed to have been destroyed years ago. How the hell did he get it.” James frowned at him. “Is it something illegal position or magical artifact he isn’t suppose to have?”
Angus shook his head putting a finger to his lips. He waved James to follow him to the back doors. He opened the door going out first and then holding the door open for James to go ahead.
They walked out into short hallway that led into an open area filled with paints and paints on the wall strange sculptures on top a podiums. There were only a few landscapes and but the majority of paints were of men and ladies in different periods of time.
Angus led the way looking for something among the painting. James was about to ask again what they were looking for when he stopped and saw a painting of himself. He blinked twice and then realize it was him.
Angus nodded to the painting. “That’s my grandfather when he was around your age after the final battle with Riddle at Hogwarts.” James frowned. “Did he commission the painting? Shouldn’t this belong to our family.”
Angus shook his head. “Grandpa Harry didn’t commission it. Some jackass took a photo him from he and became an Auror. He was sitting down with Uncle Ron and Aunty Hermiona at Diagaon Alley for a drink.” He said and scowl of discuss was on his lips as he turned away from the painting.
James wondered about his father’s reaction but kept himself from asking Angus the question. Angus was frustrated now and came to a stop when they neared the exit of the museum. “It’s not here. We have this might take us a bit of time.”
“Dad what is this place? A public magical museum? What are we looking for?” James asked.
Angus shook his head. “To many questions. We have to keep moving. Grab a hold.” He said holding out his arm.
James took a breath and grabbed a hold of his father’s arm. He blinked and they were outside on dirt road in the country somewhere. He looked around in confusion. He looked at his father took out a sandwich from his pack and took two bites as he started walking in a direction down the road. James was quick to follow. There was a strange quiet that followed that made James uneasy.
“Dad. What’s wrong?”
Angus reached into his pack and removed a page they had gotten from Harmiona and handed to James. “Take a look that. Tell me what you think?”
James took the page looked over it.
The Counts gallery items thirty-six items: Amber Rod of Sages 1 Honey Gold Love potions 10 Greek scepter 1 Carpet of flight 1 Gloves of ages 2 Mystic Stone of unknown properties 1 Paintings from the first wizard war era. 20
James frowned at the list and then he shook his head handing it back to Angus. “I don’t get it.”
“James do you remember the story about your grandpa Harry’s first year at Hogwarts?”
James stopped and starred at his father who continued walking and James started to quickly catch up. “Yes. It was part of magical history and mother told me more details to make sure I memorized the event. Why? Tom Riddle is dead. Right?”
Angus nodded finishing his sandwich and taking out two more from his pack and handing one to James to eat. “Damn straight. But, some of his followers are still alive and he did accumulate a few worshipers along the way. But more importantly do you remember the bit of trouble with the stone?”
“Of Course. I don’t see-” James paused and went silent. “Dumbledore told Grandpa Harry the stone was destroyed. Dad. Your not thinking that-”
Angus shrugged. “I don’t know anything for sure but the item we’re looking for is an uncommon ancient mystic stone.” James shook his head. “Dumbledore couldn’t have lied about it. He couldn’t have Grandpa Harry nearly died trying to keep Riddle from getting it.”
Angus shook his head. “Who knows. I personally don’t care either way. In any regard our job is just to keep an eye out for it and get it back to our client. Once that’s done. Hopefully we never see this idiot again. One thing you need to keep in mind son as we’re on this job.”
“What’s that?” James asked biting into his sandwich.
Angus looked at him. “The people that stole that damned rock will believe it’s the philosopher’s stone. In that regard they’ll be doing a lot to kill anybody coming to take it away. So less questions from here on end and always have your wand out and ready from now on. One more thing I got to ask you. Did your girl teach you to speak snake tongue or did you learn it to get in her good graces?” He said with a grin. James grinned back. “I found out she could speak and asked her to teach me so I could befriend her and get her to help me with my grades.”
Angus snorted in laughter. “When did she figure out that was all an excuse to get with her?” James’ face flush. “It wasn’t an excuse. I wanted to become her friend and I needed help with my grades all through school.”
Angus shook her head. “Come on man. You can’t fool your old man. I saw that girl all on you. I almost thought you had enchanted her or made her drink two bottles of love potion a day. Though I can’t blame you son. Mara is a lovely young woman.” James’ cheeks glowed with embarrassment. “It’s not like that bro. I just wanted to be her friend. She just ended up kind ah in love with me.”
Angus held up his hands. “Okay. Okay. I won’t say anything more about it.” James stared at Angus. “I do like her. I love Mara a lot. She’s my best friend. I was just afraid of introducing her to you and Mom because-”
Angus nodded turning serious. “I know son. I know. It won’t be easy for her being connected to our family.”
