~ Chapter One ~ Chapter Two ~ Chapter Three ~ Chapter Four ~
~ Chapter Five ~ Chapter Six ~ Chapter Seven ~ Chapter Eight ~
~ Chapter Nine ~ Chapter Ten ~ Chapter Eleven ~ Chapter Twelve ~
~ Chapter Thirteen ~ Chapter Fourteen ~ Chapter Fifteen ~
~ Chapter Sixteen ~ Chapter Seventeen ~ Chapter Eighteen ~
~ Chapter Nineteen ~ Chapter Twenty ~ Chapter Twenty-One ~
~ Chapter Twenty-Two ~ Chapter Twenty-Three ~ Chapter Twenty-Four ~
~ Chapter Twenty-Five ~ Chapter Twenty-Six ~ Chapter Twenty-Seven ~
~ Chapter Twenty-Eight ~ Chapter Twenty-Nine ~ Chapter Thirty ~
~ Chapter Thirty-One ~ Chapter Thirty-Two ~ Chapter Thirty-Three ~
~ Chapter Thirty-Four ~ Chapter Thirty-Five ~ Chapter Thirty-Six ~
~ Chapter Thirty-Seven ~ Chapter Thirty-Eight ~ Chapter Thirty-Nine ~
~ Chapter Forty ~ Chapter Forty-One ~ Chapter Forty-Two ~
~ Chapter Forty-Three ~ Chapter Forty-Four ~ Chapter Forty-Five ~
~ Chapter Forty-Six ~ Chapter Forty-Seven ~ Chapter Forty-Eight ~
~ Chapter Forty-Nine ~ Chapter Fifty ~ Chapter Fifty-One ~
~ Chapter Fifty-Two ~ Chapter Fifty-Three ~
For successful young author, Tony Scott, coming home is a daunting prospect. It has been five years since he left Thompsonville behind, to go and chase his dreams. Five years since he has seen the only place he has ever been able to call home, the only people he has been able to call family, and the only man he has ever been able to love!
…When the idea of a party to celebrate an anniversary is raised he knows it is too good an opportunity to pass up, and so he decides to take a chance. If he is ever to find happiness, he knows he must face the mistakes of his past. He must face those he left behind.
…What will he find when he steps back in time? Will the place have changed, or will it still be that sleepy seaside town he had so quickly grown to love as a sixteen year old? Will he be welcomed back into the fold, or will he be shunned?
…The only way to find out would be to step off that bus and knock on that door. Only then will he truly know if he really is in a good place!
Ponyboysplace 
My husband n I read a lot from both Nifty n cry. He turned me onto this Mardi Gras story since I lived a lot of my young life n Mississippi (USA) where Mardi Gras is celebrated versus the rest of the states (exception is New Orleans,LA). Have enjoyed this story immensely! Look forward to the end…well sort of…as u wrote n or bio like more story than graphic sex. Thanks 4 sharing or creativity n talent. Look 4ward 2 more.
Thank you very much, and I’m so glad that you are enjoying the story!
The Mardi Gras itself probably won’t have quite as big a part to play in the story as I had originally envisaged, but it will give a good backdrop for the final acts to play out! 😉
I hope you enjoy the rest of the story!
Just my Educated Guess, by the length of this Chapter— we’ve got 3 more to tie up the pieces!!! We’ll enjoy what you give us anyway it works out. Thanks Mark for writing the Story, it makes a BIG DIFFERENCE when the story draws you into it, and makes you want to know more— so thanks a lot, Mark, we ENJOY READING WHAT YOU WRITE!!!
Regarding Chapter 8— although you are excellent at the Fine Art of ‘Cliff Hanging Exits’ found in a Chapter— SO YOU HAVE TO USE IT SO OFTEN????????? Just Curious. However, I would be nice to at least have waited for a few minutes of the MEETING!!!
OH WELL, by now you should have the NEXT TWO CHAPTERS— since you haven’t done anything since Tuesday, as far as posting— we “NOT SO PATIENTLY AWAIT THE REST OF THE MEETING CONVERSATION!!!!!!!”
Thanks for writing, Mark!!!
Just making sure you keep coming back! 😉
Just think of it in terms of reading a real book … you need something there to get you to turn the page and read the next chapter …
🙂
May I say how much I enjoy your writing as you concentrate on a good story. Yes sex is there but its not thrown at us its added as a part of the story and often implied and left to our imagination. Keep going your one of the best writers I have come across and can certainly write a compelling story that makes you keep coming back for more. My day is made when a new chapter is up. I have enjoyed all your stories, but its a pity not all are still available.
Thank you so much Brian for your very kind words. It is true that not all of my stories are available on here just yet, but I’m working on that. In the mean time there are links on the My Stories page to where they are elsewhere on the net, but as I’ve mentioned in my post today I’m getting close to being able to re-post After We Danced and The Rip on here.
Thanks again for sending a message!
PS … I posted two new chapters of A Good Place today! 😉
Mark, after following and reading MGM, and also A Good Place, you have me permanently hooked on your stories, AGP just keeeps getting better, I hope that Tony will buy that big white house and even some of the tim e settle there with Aaron, keep up the good work, I will have to find something else to read until the next couple of chaptewrs.
Thank you John! I’m so gad you are enjoying my stories! 🙂
Just found your stories and having read Beyond Salvation and A Good Place I enjoyed them very much and can’t wait for the next chapter of A Good Place
Thank you Spike! And I hope you enjoy some of my others as well!
Mark,
The more I read your stories, especially ‘A Good Place,’ the more I want to read ‘Shifting Sands!’ After all, it seems to be integral to all of the ‘Thompsonville’ Stories! You tell the stories so well, and it makes for wonderful reading! BUT you also whetted our appetites with ‘Mardi Gras Murders’ which turned out to be phenomenal!!!
We NEVER have to worry about how many turns we are going to have in a story, because you always have plenty!!!!!!!
BTW, I was especially impressed with your handling of the Woman in Elly’s, what was said was RIGHT ON, and it seems that both the Waiter and Adam need to be introduced to each other!
Thanks for ENTERTAINING us with your Great Storytelling Skills!
Chet
Thank you Chet. And, yes, I agree with you about Shifting Sands! 🙂
I do have a few ideas about what I would like to do with it … though it’s just going to be a question of developing those and about the timing being right to be able to actually work on it! lol
As for Adam and the waiter … hmmm … let me sleep on that! 😉
The only problem that I see in your composing of ‘Shifting Sands’ would be the FACT referred to in the outburst of the Anti-GAY Woman in ‘Elly’s’ about the explicitness of the Novel. Since that is not so much of your writing style, it might cause a problem— maybe you could ask another author to assist you, since it seems other’s would not be a problem for others, who on the other side of that dilemma, are quite capable of writing more explicit scenes.
Then again, in ‘Thompsonville’ you got some scenes that were suggestive anyway— i have confidence in your abilities— speaking for those of us who are several years your Senior!
After all, Randy Thompson seems to be developing a story as well!!!
I look forward to the next Chapters!
Chet
I take your point about the woman’s rant, but keep in mind that she says she hadn’t actually read the book, so how can she really know just how explicit it might be? 😉
The main problem I see with Shifting Sands is that it is actually set in Thompsonville, so in some respects would I simply be re-telling a story I’ve already told? I guess that there would be some aspects that would be similar, but I do have a few ideas about what I would like Shifting Sands to be, which would primarily be a story about the change face of Australian culture and the attitudes of that culture toward both homosexuality and racism (hence the title).
Being able to effectively pull off a story look that will be a tall order, but it does have some possibilities! 😉
And if I do get that far down the track with it I definitely think I’ll need some beta-readers to test it on first! 😉
First of all, YES, her biggest problem is she ASSUMES, and we KNOW where that leads!!!
Secondly, I understand your dilemma regarding the retelling of ‘TVille,’ and I really think that maybe you should go with the Concept you describe— after all, things have changed there even more than they have here in the States regarding the Culture and Attitudes toward that Culture toward Homosexuality and Racism! Suggestion as a part of that Concept— the Anglican Church, as well as, the Roman Church of Australia, has seemingly taken a more Accepting Ability of Loving their own People, who are GLBT and/or a different Race, from all I’ve read over the last 15-20 years.
After all, when Cardinal Pell has made more accepting statements regarding BOTH PROBLEMS for the Church, and has thus been propelled to Rome more often to Advise Pope Francis, does make a desire to have a book from the GLBT Arena wanting to explain the changes.
Regarding your final question: yes, I would be willing to be a Beta Reader— not an Editor however— and would be happy to discuss these items directly in e-mail to my regular e-mail of revchet2002@yahoo.com. I’d count it a privilege, since you approach your writing, IMHEO, as a Spiritual Connection with your ‘Family of Choice.’
I’ve found over the years that when someone becomes a part of your ‘Family of Choice,’ is it especially a Blessing when a Member of your ‘Family of Birth,’ also chooses to be a part of your ‘Family of Choice,’ by accepting and supporting you. This is especially poignant considering that so many GLBTs have so many ‘Family of Birth’ Members, who do not accept nor support them.
As a GAY Pastoral Counselor for many years {most of my Ministerial Life— I preached my first Sermon on my 8th Birthday in 1956}, I’ve been challenged to help some GLBT Children to regain some relationship with their ‘Family of Birth’ Members.
Thanks for the response.
Chet
Wow… I didn’t actually realise you were a minister!
I can see that a lot of thought has gone into that response! Thank you!
It’s all food for thought as I start to make some notes before I think about tackling Shifting Sands as a story in its own right. Rest assured I’ll be in touch when I do get started on it! 🙂
One other thought just came to me— ‘Shifting Sands’ could also tell the tale of how the Characters and you the author responded to those Changes of Cultural Change toward the lesser acts of Bullying toward the GLBT Community. Tony did mention how it felt good to be able now to hold Aaron’s hand as they walked together. That would be part of that storyline, right?
Chet
I think it has the potential to make something … it’s just going to be a matter of putting all my ideas down and sorting them out.
In the mean time, you will find a few snippets of Shifting Sands within the recent chapters of A Good Place that I have posted.
Cheers. 🙂
AWESOME!!! Thanks I’ll check them out!
🙂
Again. you are dangling that carrot in front of us—so as Bugs Bunny would say: :”What’s up doc?”. And that is my question as well–it doesn’t appear to me that you can complete this story in a few more chapters. We still have the mystery novel; the ‘move’ (if at all); the house “on the hill” issue and paramount —Arron and Scott’s relationship—–and of course a happy ending. I was most appreciative of THREE chapters coming on line last time. Busy her calving—hope and expect that your horses look as good as mine or better with the “summer” grasses there. Keep writing your very entertaining and compelling tales.
Cowpuncher John
Hi John. No, it is definitely not going to be finished within ‘a few more chapters’. In fact, we’re only just half way through it! 😉
There are quite a few things that still need to happen in order for everything to fall into place Tony and Aaron … and there are also a few false leads that have been thrown into the story to keep you folks guessing … but I’m fairly confident that the place we arrive at in the end will be a place that most folks will be happy with! 🙂
And yeah, the ponies are looking good at the moment … it’s nice not having to pay for feed them all for a change. Last day of summer here today, so it won’t be long before I’ll have to try and find some hay to fill the shed before winter … 😦
Regarding the Woman’s Rant— I never stated that she talked about the explicitness of the story in ‘Shifting Sands.’ In reality, that is mentioned form many of the other Characters in the story. ‘Nuf sed.
Regarding the work on ‘Shifting Sands’ I have already told Mark I would be willing to be a Beat Tester for anything he decided to do with producing it for us to read. My major request however, is to have an emphasis on how ‘Shifting Sands’ brings about the CHANGE IN CULTURAL THOUGHT IN T’Ville because of what is PRESENTED IN THE STORY OF both books, but ‘Shifting Sands’ in particular. I look forward to assisting Mark in getting this accomplished.
Thank you Chet. And when I finally get around to sitting down to write that story I’ll be glad for any assistance I receive! 🙂
Well, I’m glad I read this page. I have been frantic to find the story “Shifting Sands” mention in A GOOD PLACE. It doesn’t exist yet. I can now calm down and look at you other stories.
Thanks Michael. While ‘Shifting Sands by Tony Scott’ doesn’t exist as yet … eventually it will! 😉
loved the story and here’s hoping for a squeal
Thank you Timothy. This story was actually part of a series (a sequel to a sequel to a … you get the point! lol), but, in answer to your question, yes, there will be a continuation! I have an idea in mind, but it needs quite a bit of development first! 😉
Wow … I come back after all this time to re-read your wonderful story (ies) and I find you added to the sequels. It has been a huge effort to read all of this and I can only imagine the love-for-the-craft you have put into all this. Many thanks for sharing all this.
Your friend,
G
Hi G. Thank you so much for your kind words. I’m glad that you enjoyed the continuation of the earlier stories! 🙂
Just read thro the whole lot. Great story
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
I cannot count how many times I have read and re-read this story over the years; It is very beautifully written and inspiring. I would love to see another series written of life after they bought the house, moved in, and started their family. This series makes me want to visit Australia the first chance I get. The scenery described in the story is very idyllic. Thank you for taking the time and effort to write this story,
Hi Zack. Thank you so much for your lovely message. I’m so glad that you’ve enjoyed the story enough to want to re-read it! As for a follow-up, yes, this will be on the agenda, although it will be a continuation of the whole series, not just of A Good Place, and while Tony and Aaron and family may not be the central focus of the story, they will form a major part of it! I just hope that when it is eventually completed it will do the series justice! Thanks again! 🙂
I find myself here again reading this story, I hope all is well and you are staying safe.
OK…I saw the new chapter for Good Place posted at Nifty. Of course, I then saw I had to read a few other stories first. I’ve devoured them all and am now on chapter 41 of Good Place. Thak you for sharing such wonderful stories and the insight into so many fantastic lives.
Thank you so much. So glad that you have enjoyed the stories!