AuthorStand

What a breathtaking story! Your style of writing is great--you seem to be one of the better authors on this site. Thank you for posting your work, and I hope you will consider reviewing mine.

From: B. Lynn | Created on: 5/5/2012 4:20:24 PM

John Laird is clearly one of the more polished authors on this site and his popularity is well deserved.  This is another one of his heartfelt emotionally moving stories.  I was emotionally engaged in the story from the excitement of the action early on, through the aftermath and the final tender moments depicting the passing of an innocent life.  

Add this one to your anthology, John.

From: Hickory Cole | Created on: 4/14/2012 6:45:06 PM

He got me again!  

Adroit delivery of the surprise ending is Mr. Laird's strong suit.  He demonstrates this in "Going Home", as well as another work, "Redemption".  

The story flows well.  Use of description is well handled, pulling the reader to a horrific scene and laying the foundation for evoking emotions.  

I thoroughly enjoyed this story!

From: Susan Ruth Wilhelm | Created on: 3/4/2012 10:05:57 AM

Good story, I would be vigilant to "over writing". For example the descriptive of the explosion and its manifested devistation took 3-pages. Tighten the language and your narrative voice will resound.

From: gg raymond | Created on: 2/28/2012 2:57:36 PM

I'm adding this one to my favorites, as you have written another amazing story, as with this one i had tears, very suspenseful, with sentimental words and thoughts! Keep writing and i will always keep reading!!

From: jessica worthington | Created on: 2/20/2012 8:46:48 PM

Enjoyed the story,  I go to the lobo games occasionally so I thought the description of the arena and the explosion were very realistic.   I could envision myself there so that made the ending and the message very meaningful.. thanks

From: Janette Diewald | Created on: 2/16/2012 11:16:46 AM

I loved the ending!  I don't know that I will be going to be going to a Lobo game anytime soon now.  Ha!

From: Jennifer Lowery | Created on: 2/16/2012 10:52:35 AM

The author has just launched himself onto my radar. Brilliant writing cannot escape detection. The ending is not so much as surprise as it is skillfully woven into a tightly scripted vignette.

Going Home, from the title, to the final sentence, is as nuanced as any short fiction can be. It is a most enjoyable read.

From: Mitchell Allen | Created on: 2/11/2012 4:41:34 PM

Well, you still owe me an autograph!  This was very moving---although it has a dark story, it is another example of your ability to raise the emotions and show a stairway to Heaven.  Marcia

From: Marcia Salazar | Created on: 2/9/2012 12:30:12 PM

John,

You've done it again! You've taken me into a place that had me feeling I'm in the story...my heart was racing, my heart grew sad then, joyful.can't wait to read your next story!

From: Vikki Wilson | Created on: 2/9/2012 7:45:32 AM

Going Home is fantastic.  Very detailed and fast paced...the story keeps your attention.  I was NOT expecting that ending...absolutely fantastic!!

From: R. Kyle Hannah | Created on: 2/8/2012 10:41:58 PM

As always John does not disappoint. Super well thought out and written, I ate it up like popcorn... However, medically speaking, I do not think that with that injury Jenny would be so chatty. But this is fiction, and I love John's writing so much.

From: Patricia Hale | Created on: 2/8/2012 9:23:37 PM

I can say without hesitation that this is probably the best book I have read on Authorstand in many, many months. Even your cover is great.

When a story makes me literally gasp and shriek out loud, holding my hands over my mouth ... when it brings me to tears so I can hardly read the words. . . then I know the author has done his job. Perfect sentence structure, grammar and spelling. Professionally put together and edited.

Your build-up was incredibly detailed and realistic, proving you had researched this story well before writing a word of it. Without giving too much of the story away, I felt every thrust through Jenny's body as she moved, and I recoiled and twitched in sympathy.

The ending was absolutely and completely unexpected...which is just the way I like my stories to be. In summary, the plot was intriguing and satisfying, and the construction was perfect.

John Laird -- you are a superb writer and I a absolutely thrilled to recommend this gem. I give you an A+++

From: Valerie Byron | Created on: 2/5/2012 4:22:39 AM

OMG!
This story is amazing. It captivated me from beginning to end. You took me right there next to Jenny; I felt her fear, I felt the tenderness and compassion of Michael. I cried as I heard her faint whispers of the Lord’s prayers fading away. The ending was a delightful surprise.

It truly is a pleasure reading your work John. I can’t wait to read your book of short stories.

Greta Gardner

From: Greta Gardner | Created on: 2/2/2012 5:02:17 PM

Right away the powerful words of the story and the immense action pulled me in.  It is clear that this story has been written with imagination, education, and emotion.  Though the action started quickly and died quickly, the story did not slow or grow tedious in any way.  I found myself hoping for a miracle for poor Jenny and realizing that having Michael with her was the miracle.  Tears welled up in my eyes as she began to recite the Lords Prayer.  What a great moment!
To make things even better, the ending did not disappoint.  The twist didn't really surprise me only because I've read John's other stories and knew to pay attention to normally common things (like Michael being a common name, but also the name of an archangel).  It had the right amount of fantasy- that I hunger for in every fictional story- added to reality.
The ending might seem sad or despairing, but it left me feeling good and surprisingly hopeful.  The last line is my favorite.  Wonderfully done!

From: Jenni Darby | Created on: 1/31/2012 12:00:27 PM

Loved the concept of the story.

From: CJ Wells | Created on: 1/28/2012 8:46:43 PM