81 Comments
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Julie Gabrielli's avatar

Wow, let's f'ing GO! I love how mysterious and a little creepy Wild is. Like, this could go ANY way.

"He hadn’t had one this bad in over a decade at least and the Rube Goldberg machine of his mind, once so capable of beautiful invention in these scenarios, was a garage sale of disintegrating boxes filled with cast-off odds and ends from a vagabond’s life."

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Ben Wakeman's avatar

He is a little creepy, right?

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Julie Gabrielli's avatar

Understandably.

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Adam Nathan's avatar

First like of many! I haven't even read it yet!

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Ben Wakeman's avatar

You can reserve the right to unlike after you've read/listened to it.

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Adam Nathan's avatar

Please delete that comment!

Kind regards,

The Substack Police

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Kathleen Clare Waller's avatar

This is what I'm doing, too ha

To be fair, I read a couple paragraphs and liked it. I'm coming back when I can listen at the same time!

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Ben Wakeman's avatar

You certainly don't have to apologize. I can't imagine the backlog of reading on your plate, Kate! I don't know how you do it.

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Chloe Hope's avatar

Oh, I am hooked. And I want to live in Wild's apartment...

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Ben Wakeman's avatar

I'm so glad you've decided to move in, Chloe, at least virtually. You might find it a little noisy, what with all the rock and roll concerts happening downstairs.

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Nathan Slake's avatar

Haha, same!

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Larry Hogue's avatar

I enjoyed it! Fascinating character with an intriguing affliction and/or power. Nice pacing of details about what that is while keeping it mysterious for a while longer.

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Ben Wakeman's avatar

Thanks, Larry. I'm glad you enjoyed the first chapter. There's a lot more to come.

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Nathan Slake's avatar

What an amazing start, Ben. Hooked right in. Superb sense of character already. Lots of intrigue and sense of the strange (right up my alley!) and whoah what an ending to the episode.

Soundtrack is oh so good!

I'm excited that this is my new weekly audiobook!

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Ben Wakeman's avatar

I’m so glad you’re in, Nathan. As I mentioned to Kim, it’s nice to have the Tuesday Harmony House gang back together.

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Nathan Slake's avatar

Sure is! I think I'm going to save tomorrow part 2 to tomorrow morning … possibly 😆

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Kimberly Warner's avatar

Daaaaang!!!! Hooked within moments…every single time. I have to read the next chapter NOW!

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Ben Wakeman's avatar

Yay! I’m so happy you like it, Kim and I’m so glad you’re here from the start. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

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Shannon W Haynes's avatar

I was saving this as the best treat on my plate to look forward to, but I couldn’t wait any longer and I am NOT sorry! 😊

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Ben Wakeman's avatar

Aw, thank you, Shannon. I’m glad I could provide your Saturday night treat.

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Diane Price's avatar

Great beginning. I already know that I will be binging this all weekend.

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Ben Wakeman's avatar

Awe, thank you Diane. I'm so glad you're here reading/listening along. We miss you and Rob!

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Dungeon Mistress's avatar

Found it again! I read this first episode and loved it, then couldn’t find it again to read the next one! Well… it’s saved now!

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Sara Santa Clara's avatar

I’m totally hooked. I will read the second chapter as soon as I possibly can. Probably before that.

I just wished I hadn’t read the intro and didn’t know what made Wild special/different. But what’s been read cannot be unread. Besides, something tells me I’ll enjoy the ride anyway.

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Ben Wakeman's avatar

Thanks Sara! That’s annoying isn’t it? I find it’s always the problem with promoting these types of stories. You have to give some bit away to get folks interested but then you wish it could be a surprise. Have no fear, there will be plenty of revelations and turns as the story unfolds. Thanks for being here.

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Sara Santa Clara's avatar

Well, having read the second chapter (I did predict I would read it before I possibly could…), I know now it’s not a secret you keep to reveal at the end, so it’s a good hook.

Thank you! I’m happy to be here. Looking forward to continuing reading.

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Shaina Read's avatar

Ben! This is incredible. The writing and the narration. Just wow. The characters have teeth and skin. They’re living beings. Can’t wait for the next episode!

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Ben Wakeman's avatar

Wow, thank you so much, Shaina! I so flattered to have you reading my work.

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Maia Duerr's avatar

First chapter, and I'm hooked. Evocative writing, compelling plot.... getting ready to click "Next episode"!

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Maia Duerr's avatar

oh and this --

"It was barely seven but the Atlanta asphalt could not forget it was August and the heat radiated through the soles of his Chucks even though the city was still mostly in shadow."

one of the best descriptions of hot summer-ness i've ever read.

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Ben Wakeman's avatar

They don’t call it Hotlanta for nothing! Thanks for reading and commenting Maia, I’m glad you’re hooked.

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Dungeon Mistress's avatar

Okay, first chapter down. Loving the cliffhanger. I'm confused, and I don't know what is going to happen. Following to continue.

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Silvio Castelletti's avatar

You had me hooked from the very beginning. All the requisites of a delightful story are there. I really enjoyed episode one: I read it first and then listened to your voiceover. Beautiful and intriguing. Bravo!

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Ben Wakeman's avatar

Yay, thank you so much, Silvio. The fact that a writer of your caliber enjoys this means the world to me. Thanks for being here and commenting.

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Silvio Castelletti's avatar

No caliber whatsoever here. iI really is a pleasure to read you. Looking forward to the rest!

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Brian Funke's avatar

So compelling! Everyone has a story…I’m thrilled to have this to listen to during a walk/my commute!

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Ben Wakeman's avatar

Hi Brian, thanks so much! I’m glad you like the story.

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Nick Winney's avatar

Terrific! It did not go where i thought it was going to go in chapter 2 and i suspect it will go somewhere else again in chapter 3...

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Ben Wakeman's avatar

Thanks for reading and commenting, Nick. I can assure you this story will go into a lot of different and unexpected places before it’s over.

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