Reply ID: du2g
The Novelist Portent
Johnny E. Mahaffey
May 25, 2017

To Ajj13

Hello, Alyssa.

First off, let me thank you for your interests and time. Time is a precious commodity, and when we give so much as one minute towards another person (or another person's efforts or fruits of those efforts)—we give a gift. I appreciate those that choose to read my posts, especially anyone taking an extra initiative to respond or share links to my work with others that may (or should) find it of interest. Each new response is like a vindication of my existence as a fellow human, on the outskirts of societal structure for the moment. But here, nonetheless, and that's something.

I will answer your questions. And I'll do so in a little more... responsive (and creative) way than you probably expect.

1. You have this response to your response.
2. You'll get a post specifically on the subject of "touch." I'll start on that ASAP and work it in between Skye Yellow chapters.
3. I will assign your questions as writing prompts in my creative writing class. And if allowed, I will have the guys sign release papers giving me permission to post their essays as guest blog posts—in the form of a college essay—with their identities protected by pseudonyms.

I'll try to keep it as legal as possible and, in the process not only provide you with some varied perspectives, but give my students an interesting assignment. I try to push them outside their comfort zones with writing and teach them what I call introspective narration.
4. As a final bonus—since this response IS technically tied to Skye Yellow—I will create an imprisoned character that will be getting out of prison and be dealing with the very issues you bring up.

I'll dub him Charles. And yes, pun intended. Could you give me a female name to use for his romantic and/or touch interests? I'll let her ask Charles all sorts of questions about prison... Name her, give a physical description of her even—and she will enter the narrative of my book.

So stayed tuned and, in the meantime, think of her name. The above collage is a—hint—to an answer on its way to satisfy one of your questions. Can you infer its implications?

[Triangular symbol]
M