29 Comments
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Lyndsey Resnick's avatar

How do you do this every time?? Spectacular in the most disturbing way. It's hard to write flawed characters without making them stiff and you avoided it completely. Even though we know something awful is going to happen, we don't know what it will be. WOW. Exceptional.

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Garen Marie's avatar

Lyndsey, thank you for this wonderful compliment. Truly! I’ve been feeling a little down lately and your kind words have helped. 💛💛💛

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Lyndsey Resnick's avatar

I’m glad! I mean it. I hope you get some time to recharge. You are so busy!

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Jennifer Peaslee's avatar

I loved this! It had me leaning forward while reading, totally engaged.

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Garen Marie's avatar

Appreciate your kind words. Thanks for reading!!

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Emerald City Ghosts's avatar

This is so good! Love all the strong, unexpected imagery—the soup, the pot, the lemons!

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Garen Marie's avatar

Glad you enjoyed it!!

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Igor Roytberg's avatar

Tormented Howard. Love the attention to detail. You make him come alive.

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Katharine Kapodistria's avatar

This is so well done.

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Garen Marie's avatar

Thank you so much!!

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Benjamin McCoy's avatar

Ok, first off, brilliant! Even more so because it’s inspired by a great song. Second, last month’s and next are also inspired by great songs. Very cool!

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Garen Marie's avatar

I’m so glad you’re into the songs! The Summer Music Series was kind of a happy accident, but I’m having a lot of fun writing it. Thank you so much for reading!

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Ace of Tales's avatar

Whoa… I can’t think of anything else just whoa

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Garen Marie's avatar

I’ll take whoa. 😀Thanks for reading!

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Stephanie Foster's avatar

It creeped me out!

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Garen Marie's avatar

Alright, mission accomplished! 😜

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A. C. Sanders's avatar

Totally unexpected and eerie Garen! Excellent twist!! 🍋

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Garen Marie's avatar

Thank you so much!! ☺️

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Evelyn K. Brunswick's avatar

That's trippy and surreal. I thoroughly approve!

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Garen Marie's avatar

Thank you, Evelyn! Happy to add a little surrealism to your Friday. 😃

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Liz Zimmers's avatar

Fantastic! Howard is an amazing character, so repulsive and yet so sympathetic. I loved the devilish little girl with her lemonade stand, just for him.

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Garen Marie's avatar

Thank you, Liz! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

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Nick Winney's avatar

This is fantastic.

the heat must be drawing up strange powers today...everything ive read today had been excellent

and this is no exception.

what a perfectly sinister story...perfect internal logic

perfectly damaged characters

the mysterious child setting me off on a fearful path only for the true story to spring its terrible surprise.

One that MUST BE READ TWICE.

thank you 😎

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Garen Marie's avatar

💛💛💛 Thank YOU!💛💛💛

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Nick Winney's avatar

honestly …. that story is superb

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EJ Trask's avatar

oh my god this is horrific! unforgettable character.

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Garen Marie's avatar

Eep! Thank you, EJ! I was a little worried about this one. Glad it made an impression.

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Wendy Cockcroft's avatar

Whoa, this is creepy! Great job!

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Garen Marie's avatar

Thank you! 🙏 💛

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