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drea.m.76's avatar

Yay, Hud—I can't wait to learn more about him! I've been planning on getting into gardening fruits and vegetables this summer (when I'm feeling more up to it), and your book and articles definitely make me want to get out there and get started. Until then, I can sit outside and enjoy my trees, flowers, and shrubbery. It's a small yard, but it's really turning into a garden oasis. I hope you're doing well! 🍓💚🍅

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Neil Shooter's avatar

You're in Michigan, right? That means we're probably the same USDA planting zone (5?) so if you have any questions or need any advice, send me a message :)

Bill gives pretty good gardening advice too!

I'm doing well -- just on a course of antibiotics for Lyme Disease though :P

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drea.m.76's avatar

The area of Minnesota I'm in is 4b, so we're probably really similar! If I have questions, I'll definitely send them to you or Bill. He is really good at gardening advice. 😉 Oh my goodness, Lyme Disease?! Dang, I hope everything turns out okay! 🧡

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Neil Shooter's avatar

OH Minnesota! Lucky you :) (I just read some good things about the place!)

We're 5A or B here, but yes, very similar. A lot of the trees and bushes we put in are hardy to zone 3 or 4 :) Just to be safe!

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drea.m.76's avatar

Seriously, Minnesota is great. With everything going on in the US lately, I feel fortunate to be here!

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Kay Flanagan's avatar

I guessed Hudson. I thought he’d be more willing to help out but I’m glad he’s more complex than I thought.

I don’t think I could eat a chicken I raised for eggs.

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Neil Shooter's avatar

Yes, you were right :)

I think he's an interesting character, a lost young man swept up in a life that he didn't choose. He's more than just an extra hand in the garden, anyway.

I didn't think I'd be able to eat one of my chickens either, or process it, but I did, and I stand with what Bill says about it. :)

But everyone is different. I know people who don't like eating fertilized eggs. Well, okay, it was my mum, and she seems to have gotten over it, but, oh, her face when she realized.

I explained that it is just a handful of cells and it's all perfectly natural :)

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Kay Flanagan's avatar

I still eat lamb and they’re in my garden right now.

Bill is such a thoughtful man in thinking about the space for Hudson’s writing.

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Neil Shooter's avatar

And I wish I had had someone so supportive of MY writing at Hud's age :)

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Kay Flanagan's avatar

I think my parents would have supported it but I wouldn’t have had the confidence to pursue it when I was younger .

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Neil Shooter's avatar

It was always all I ever wanted to do, but I was made to feel like it wasn't a valid thing, just a hobby, and that I needed a real job. :(

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Kay Flanagan's avatar

My mother wanted me to have the backup education first. I stopped writing stories in secondary school when our teacher told us nobody could write a decent story in an hour and we needed to stop writing them and concentrate on essays. When I returned to writing I was a grieving hormonal mess. Her dismissal of my passion for storytelling inspired me to become a teacher so that nobody else would have a teacher who sucked their creativity like she did.

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Neil Shooter's avatar

I bet you were a great teacher :)

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Neil Shooter's avatar

Lamb is delicious :)

And cute!

I think Bill is really trying to be thoughtful, and to make things work, despite his misgivings from time to time. He chose Hud based on "Juss' advice", right, so I think he is attempting to honour her memory and that decision. Or just to make the best of a bad situation. :)

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Rusty's avatar

Ahh, Hudson. I had a feeling he might be the one! It will be interesting to see how it plays out!

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Rusty's avatar

You mentioned something about that in one of your BTS. I figured something was afoot 😊. You are very good at character development!

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Neil Shooter's avatar

I put my heart and soul into this story. The characters feel real to me, so I'm glad you're enjoying them :)

Perhaps it's a bit trite to plan things for BOTH other candidates, but, hey, it's too late now :P

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Rusty's avatar

Not my choice, you remembered! But not my story either😉.

Not disappointed, just curious!

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Neil Shooter's avatar

Of course I remembered! I said you'd have to wait until June, and here we are :)

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Neil Shooter's avatar

I hope you're not disappointed? :)

If it's any consolation, I have plans for the other two candidates too ....

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