 Author of 10 ... awesome stories! |
| Author of 10 ... awesome stories! |
 "A Warrior's Promise"  | This is a story about Native Americans, the first people to colonize this continent. The Oneida Indians were originally to be found on land that stretched from the St. Lawrence River down to the modern day Pennsylvania border. Archaeological remains indicate that they have been living in this area for up to 10,000 years. In research for this story, begun long before I wrote Nathaniel Smiley in 2009, I came across some pretty visually compelling ideas. "The standing stone was a granite column, about fourteen feet high and six inches square, covered with strange characters, which were the sacred records of the Oneidas…" I couldn't resist that image, and although this is a story about a uniquely talented Indian boy, this story revolves around just such a stone. The native characters in the story are fictional and do not represent any persons alive or dead. There are some real historical figures included as they impacted the lives of the Oneida people and lend credibility to the story. As always, I like to place my characters in a romantic and adventurous setting rather than portray gratuitous sexual scenes. This is a love story with two unequal partners, and yet the reader will discover that not everything you will be led to think is true. Chris James, 2010 |
 "Exit Stage Left" | I don't know how many of you have sat through a high school play, but it can be exhausting to watch. I just try to remind myself that these are beginners, and the first steps are sometimes the hardest. In truth no matter who produces a show, either amateur or professional, there are always the same elements to consider. This is a story about boys and girls in a performing arts high school. These schools are designed to meet the needs of their students, academically and practically. Theatre, music and film are such competitive artistic fields. It takes a special person to pursue a career in any of the arts. My characters are always special to me and those in this story are no different. I will give you my two leading characters and a large supporting cast. But it will also give you a unique glimpse behind the scenes in the chaotic, and often invisible, world of technical theatre students. As always I must tell you my characters are fictional and only represent the lives of people as I see it. But the thoughts and ideas, the long hours of work, and toil these students endure is very real, I was one of them in a past life. The title of the story will be explained in the later chapters, so pay attention. This is a very real look backstage in theatre because many of the incidents I relate did happen. You get the pleasure of discovering them. No actors died in the writing of this story, but there were some close calls. Chris James, 2010 |
 "The Boys in Blue and Gray" |
The reader is cautioned to understand that this is a fictional story, although I have tried to stick to the facts and timeline of the events portrayed. Most of these characters never existed; they are a product of the writer's imagination. I have included historical figures only to lend credibility to the action; they are accurately quoted whenever possible. There is little adult material in this story, and that which is portrayed is common among young teenage boys. But I wanted this to be a grand romantic adventure for the reader, a unique look at what America was like in the not too distant past. Only your comments will tell me if I succeeded. Chris James 2010 |
 "Whistler's Club" | This story continues the trilogy that began with Angels in the Choir, written in 2007. There will be a final installment, a third story to complete my thoughts. In considering the vehicle with which to carry my characters in this story I chose a classical approach. The writings of Charles Dickens (1812-1870) gave us a glimpse of the class structure in England at the time he began writing. David Copperfield and Oliver Twist are probably his best known works, much of it autobiographical in nature. The reader will probably best remember Oliver Twist through the films that were produced in the last century, and although good works they do not present Mr. Dickens' real story, not at all. To get the flavor of his world, his London at that time in history, one must read the book. I found a great similarity between that old London era and the one that existed in Baltimore at the time this was written. People respond to the pressures of life in much the same fashion no matter what the time or place. With no apology to Mr. Dickens, I have kept his work in mind as I wrote my story. The Baltimore of the late seventies and early eighties was a place of transformation, not all of it good. For decades the city had flourished and then flopped, leaving many residents wallowing in poverty. But while the elderly might depend upon a government handout, there was nothing for the younger generations, nothing that would be considered legal. This story is a glimpse of the lives in only one part of that city. The fictional characters will serve to amuse and then share the ultimate sadness that comes from living a misdirected life. No one could change them, they had it all figured out like most young people. I lived there for a time and viewed much of the activity mentioned in these pages, it makes me uniquely qualified to write this story. Someone had to give meaning to these characters, for although fictional, this story represents very real people. They needed a voice and I heard their cries…or was it whistles? |
 "Nathaniel Smiley" | The research for this story gave me a wealth of information on Native America, some of it conflicting. Where possible I have addressed the disparities, but I cannot guarantee the accuracy of every statement. This is a work of fiction; just believe everything I tell you. The use of Cherokee words is meant to give the reader knowledge of their uniqueness, in most cases they are provided in phonetic form. There are only a few thousand remaining who speak that native language in our diverse American population. An attempt has been made to portray the language accurately. No attempt has been made to represent persons who may be alive; the dead will speak for themselves. The use of family associations, including tribal and clan relationships, have been altered for the convenience of the story, these are all fictional characters. The one thing not affected in the fictional account of these lives is the author's respect for the Cherokee people. |
 "Dumb Luck" | I've always wanted to write the great American fantasy story, and here it is, giving the reader a glimpse of my life as only I wish it could have been. Native American culture has so many fascinating aspects, and through copious research I found just what was needed to make this story work. Once again this story attempts to bring the reader those positive aspects of gay life, love and family, along with a travelogue of the American scene as it was not too many years ago. And yes, as always in my stories, there is controversy and triumph, but what is life without those elements? So come with CJ and Matt as they discover America and the future that awaits them. |
 "Angels in the Choir" | I've never lived in a big city before, how different my life would have been. Could I have survived the experience as a young gay boy...I don't honestly know, but I think not. This is a story about contrasts and character, about love and family, and most of all about the hope I discovered there. Once again I have tried to bring forth the best qualities of gay youth in my characters. The needs they each share, the love they so desire, and the support they need to find. All of my characters are fictional, but the streets in this story are very real...too real. It's a rough town, built of hard stone and even harder people. A tough place to grow up, where even the smallest signs of weakness can destroy a young man's life. Even so, precious flowers grow in vacant lots, amidst the weeds and debris of the crumbled buildings in this city. Only through determination could a young boy survive in this climate. His dreams would have to be bigger than the reality of life. And here on the fertile plain of our imagination, he flourishes. This is a work of fiction. Any similarity to real people is purely coinsidence. This story will describe the love between two teenage boys. By clicking on the chapter links below, you acknowledge that you are aware of the story contents and are of age to read it. Thank you. |
 "A Captain's Dream" | Chris James wrote this story with the Tarheel Writer in mind because he knows I like to sail. He didn't ask me to post it, but after reading it, I just had to ask for permission. Captain Black has a midnight visitor to his Captain's Quarters, who slipped in and then out, under cover of darkness. Such action was worthy of hanging in Her Majesty's Royal Navy. There were more then a dozen ship's boys that catered to the sailor's needs. He was sure some of them had engaged in sexual escapades with the crew, it was often a source of tension aboard ship. But which of them would have the courage to approach his captain…and how did they know he would accept? Thanks, Chris. What a wonderful read! |
 | I was twelve years old before I saw my first television program. Growing up overseas in the nineteen-fifties meant missing out on the conventional upbringing of the average American boy. To entertain myself I read books. Not just some books, but all the books I could get my hands on. Fortunately my international school had a very large library and I tried to consume it. Writing came as a natural byproduct of my voracious appetite for words and I began my first short story when I was in 6th grade. It was also a time of self discovery, and my sexuality seemed to sharpen my writing pencil. I wrote about other boys. In the early nineteen-sixties, I began writing stories to entertain my friends. My closest friends have seen the lot and there are hundreds and hundreds by now. As I became more involved with my extended family of friends in the gay community, I began to realize we needed a more positive image. The biggest need seemed to be in the relationship our adult community has with gay, lesbian and transgender youth. |
 | Over the years I have visited the State of Georgia many times and always found a rich abundance of rural life to inspire my words. The main character in this story was just a strong young man sitting beside the road at a fruit stand. The image he evoked stuck in my head until I began to write this piece. And then I asked myself, are we always what we appear to be? This young man was so soft spoken and yet a great feeling of power emanated from him, a level of self assurance that I quickly recognized as befitting a military veteran. The best part of writing is allowing the reader to see the characters in more than one dimension as they grow within the pages of a story. This is a tale of two young boys in more trouble than they can imagine and how a chance encounter becomes their salvation. But it is also a story about redemption and the folly of youth, especially the gay kind. There are some mean people out there in the world, but there are also some like Charlie who feel the need to put aside doubt and stand up for the little guy. This is a work of fiction. Any similarity to real people is purely coinsidence. This story will describe the love between two teenage boys. By clicking on the chapter links below, you acknowledge that you are aware of the story contents and are of age to read it. Thank you. Home Page | Authors | Stories by the Writer Suggested Reading | Bricks and Musings | Links and Resources Send a Comment All Site Content © 2003 - 2010 Tarheel Writer |