Tal’s Comments (group member since Oct 15, 2016)

Tal’s comments from the Frenemies group.

Enemy Within ARC Giveaway!!!

If you haven't entered already, you can check it out and enter below!

http://talbauerwrites.com/enemy-withi...

Good luck!! :)

Love the speculation. LOVE the diabolical image. :)

Jack does have dirty blond hair. Light on top, darker on the sides and neck, where it's trimmed closer. It says brunet in book one, and I *say* it's because that's by the neck, where it's darker.... but to be honest, that's an error. GASP!

It will need to be corrected. *kicks sand*

Jack is dirty blond. :)

I can't wait for the release date! It's so close! :D

Karen wrote: "Jerry wrote: "A niggling question about life in the White House, and partly based on what we hear about Trump. The limited time of the First Lady with Trump seems to have the social aspect of the p..."

Hey Jerry! Hey Karen! Hey everyone! :)

I'm glad you all are enjoying the re-read. You have no idea what it feels like to see you all enjoying the book. I'm still amazed at it all. (And, Jerry, you've caught me on the napkins! LOL You're totally right about those.)

So, with POTUS and down time. -

Yes, they're allowed off hours. They set their own hours, in fact. Most presidents have been married and have had kids, so the evening hours are precious to them. George W Bush, in fact, kept a STRICT bedtime. He was in bed at 8:30pm every night. If there was an event scheduled after 8:30pm, he had to be notified well in advance so that he could plan a power nap into his daily schedule. Obama liked to go up and have dinner with his family and spend time with his daughters and his wife. Also, consider the staff. The West Wing staff operates around the president. If the president insists on working from 0500 until 2300, then the staff will drop from exhaustion. The president sets the pace, and the staff follows. Smart leaders recognize this, and adjust accordingly.

(So, in the Bush WH, for example, everyone had to become early birds. He started the day at 6am or earlier.)

Of course, USSS, NSC, etc. have rotating staff, but I'm talking about the political staff of the West Wing. Chief of Staff, Press Sec, etc.

The First Lady/Gentleman is an *unpaid* position. It's ceremonial only. The president can designate any member of "his family" to serve in that role, according to the United States Code. (In EOME, there was a legal quibble about whether Ethan was considered "family".) The First Lady and the WH Social Secretary are responsible for setting the social agenda of the WH and the administration. In the absence of a FLOTUS, the Social Secretary would take their lead from the Chief of Staff.

Trump's on pace, actually, for his social events, or ahead of pace. (No president has held a post-election rally.) State Dinners - true, official State Dinners - are actually pretty rare. In 8 years, Obama hosted 14 in total. Less than 2 per year. His first was in November 2009, a full 10 months after taking office. My "excuse" (lol) for Jack's first being delayed for aprox 14ish months from his inauguration would be the state of the world (big conflict in book 1), and then his unsteady standing following the revelation of him and Ethan. My "excuse". I'm sure in the real world, Canada would proudly visit Jack. :)

Presidents do like to host access to themselves, and I think Trump more so than most. Most hard core political negotiation takes place one on one - phone calls, meetings, golf courses, etc. Dinners and balls are terrible places to conduct business. No one wants to be professional there. (It's the luncheon and the golfing before!!) The most fun times I ever had in DC were at Inauguration Balls.

So, presidential off hours are guarded and set by POTUS, as leader of his staff. Evenings, barring calls with world leaders, operations overseas, security crises, evening calls prearranged with congressional leaders, etc., are the presidents. Weekends are usually the president's as well, but half to 3/4 days of work are common. Intelligence and operations in the NSC and in the Situation Room are 24/7/365.

If POTUS is all work and no play, he/she WILL snap. George W Bush used to go for long bike rides to center himself. Obama golfed. Relaxation is important for the soul. :)

Karen -

Your observations on Scott are pretty good. ;) Since he remains an active suspect by some readers, I will have to "recuse" myself from any further comments, however!!! :D

Christina -

I have always loved your "gateway drug" analogy. That's exactly how it happened. Ethan was, honestly, boring and stuffy before Jack. Pretty much Welby, lol. He even said he'd behave exactly the same way. But he kept giving in and giving in and giving in... until...

As Jerry put it, he fell, completely out of control, and humiliated himself, in front of Jack, in front of Scott, in front of Levi. Everything he'd worked for, to him at least, seemed to vanish after that mistaken kiss. In many ways, the series is as much about Ethan losing control as it is Jack finding love. A little twist, and it could be a VERY different story.

Thank you guys!! :)

Christina wrote: "Tal. I think you'll always be my Ethan. You're resilient, brave, patient, kind, and just like Ethan, have a beautiful soul."

I'm just seeing this now. Thank you, Christina. <3 You are the Levi to my Ethan! Fun-loving... and keeping me on my toes! :)

Alright, I'm in. :) Thank you. Truly.

In case anyone wanted to chat about the Bauer's Bytes!

http://talbauerwrites.com/blog/bauers...

<3 Christina

Thank you, Ariana and Cintia. I'm happy to blab about the books and the characters until the cows come home. :) If you guys want to hear, then I'll keep yapping.

I'm excited about this reread. :)

Do you guys want me to chime in with thoughts and insight from my end, or do you want me to butt out and let y'all have your fun? :)

Thank you!

Everyone, check out the new banner and group icon, too! :)

Welcome everyone! So glad you're here. :)

The book is now loaded into GR! :D

Thread for the group re-read in advance of Book 3.

Christina wrote: "Tal is making research students of us all with this mole business. You can't accuse one of his characters with hard evidence, psh. So we have to put on our conspiracy hats (I never take mine off), ..."

Can't accuse someone withOUT* hard evidence. :p LOL

I'm also applying to the Witness Protection Program, in advance of the book release. It was nice knowing y'all. See you in Bora Bora! ;)

I'm so excited for this release.

Jerry wrote: "Ariana wrote: "Jerry wrote: "Ariana wrote: "In a Moment, Shame: Jack's POV,:
Just read that and wow! Tal certainly wants to make clear that Jack was totally gutted in that moment. And so overwhelme..."

Jerry, you hit the nail on the head.

I'm really, really, REALLY glad that you unpacked the societal homophobia and pressure to "convert" as well. That was a large unstated theme that I ran through both books. Jack ran headlong into what gay/bi men experience: society's overbearing opinions and heteronormative pressure. It comes out viscerally in Gus's reaction to Leslie, but he is a foil that represents overt homophobia.

In the news articles, in the comments from the Senator (also overt), in the protests, in the reactions from world leaders, in the gossip that raged about Jack and Ethan, the prevailing, ongoing, everpresent message was "Jack is Bad because of this choice. Because of Ethan."

I didn't make it a huge part of the plot because that's not what the story was about. People who have felt it, experienced, seen it, etc., can pick it out. Others might have glossed right over it.

But, yes, the pressures were building around Jack - society's pressures, his own pressure from the presidency and trying to keep everything going with Ethan, the messages he constantly received about how he was broken/bad/wrong/unnatural/pick your homophobia, etc.

As Jerry also said, it was the perfect attack by Madigan. Jack never had closure with his wife and wanted her back for years. Ethan's convinced that he's second choice. Drop the opportunity to prove both points into their mix, and of course they'd fracture. Ethan had always been waiting for the other shoe to fall. He told Scott he was expecting it, and he acted like he was living in a dream. He was waiting to prove himself right, and when it all came apart, it was "easy" to tell himself he knew all along it was going to end up like it did (in that moment at least). Does that mean it didn't rip out his heart? No, of course not. He was devastated. But he was waiting for something awful to happen. He never truly believed he deserved Jack.

Jack, on the other hand, had finally *just* moved on after Leslie's death. At that point, it hadn't even been a year since Ethan and he had kissed in Prague, and Ethan was his first relationship following Leslie's death... a decade and a half ago. They were going well, and on track for a long happy life, but when Leslie showed up, everything instantly went on pause. It's as if she were abducted by aliens and then returned. He never got closure, never got to say goodbye. Never ended their marriage, honestly. He also turned his whole life and career into a memorial to her. And then she showed up, almost invalidating every moment he'd lived for the past sixteen years.

His challenge was to figure out if he wanted to resume their marriage or end their marriage. Ethan, and everything about their relationship, had to be put on hold to answer that question.

Ultimately, Jack came to the conclusion that he was a different man with different desires. His love for Ethan had grown, eclipsing his desire to rekindle his marriage with Leslie. Faced with choosing his future, he chose Ethan.

And then, the truth came out.

Ethan has his flaws - he's quick to react and has a hot anger, and he's slow to talk. Jack is slow to anger and chooses to discuss and negotiate as a rule. Jack was in the process of reaching out to Ethan, and would have brought him home and put them back together, if Ethan was simply just crashing on Scott's couch.

By the end of EOME, Jack has figured out where his heart is. Ethan, too, but it's still aching. Look for more certainty from both in Book 3 as their relationship continues to evolve. :)

Jerry wrote: "Tal wrote: "I love it, Jerry. That is beautiful. And yes, Sasha definitely has a lot of growing within him to do. Soul work, and self acceptance. First, love thyself.

I was utterly committed to ba..."

:) Adorable, Jerry. (and, 70s fashion was truly atrocious. May it never, ever return again.)

I was stunned by my husband from the get go. We were volunteering in the same organization, and he just seemed like the brightest soul I had ever met. All my commitments to being single vanished... but I still had to deal with my issues of self worth. It's easier to bury things than talk about them, most times, but I exorcised my demons for him.

I completely understand, Jerry. I have watched bits and pieces, but I can't hear another replay of either speech again.

Today, I've been holding on to the belief that we have reached a true tipping point in the nation regarding our equality. How joyous were the celebrations regarding marriage equality? Remember how Kim Davis was vilified and made into a laughingstock? Remember our victories, both big and small. In a way, progressive corporations are at the forefront of equality - they have shamed NC for their actions this year. That won't change now, because the drivers of those corporations are still the same people from before Trump was elected. Economics will drive continued and ongoing equality in the absence of progressive politics going forward. For every bakery refusing to make a cake for a LGBT wedding, there is another company doing so much more for us.

And, all the legal organizations that exist for equal rights and human rights protections are already gearing up. Already there have been pledges from Lambda Legal and the ACLU to stand firm in the face of this election.

It's a difficult pill to swallow - the platform elected embraces an ideology that finds me - as a human being - abhorrent and disgusting. It's incredibly difficult to internalize that the leadership of the country I live in truly despises who I am. Has made statements about not accepting me as a person - as a human being.

That's heart-rending. It truly is. It makes me want to go be with people who DO accept me, who want me, and who support me. Where I am welcomed and embraced as a human being. I do understand the desire. 100%. The level of disrespect toward someone's fundamental identity is shocking.

But we are not alone. We have each other. We have allies. We have strength. We have the world and history on our side. We have critical eyes and passionate hearts and an abundance of love for each other.

Think of the good things that happened last night. Each of the incumbent openly LGB member of Congress — Reps. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), Mark Takano (D-Calif.), David Cicilline (D-R.I.), Jared Polis (D-Colo.), Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) and Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.) — all won re-election in their respective districts. Non incumbent candidates did not win their races, tragically, and both transgender candidates lost in their races, but they were close. McCrory lost NC, and down goes the NC bathroom bill. Kate Brown won the gubernatorial race in Oregon.

It's going to be rough these next four years. There's so much uncertainty. So much to be concerned about. I'm nervous. I'm unsettled. I'm uneasy. There's a creeping sense of terror and dread. Dread that clings to the foundations of that soul. But we're together, and we are huge, powerful, and strong. United, we can fight back against that dread and that fear.

We will not be erased. Ever.

I feel you, Jerry. I stayed up until the bitter end. I had to see it on screen. Had to see what the electorate put in place. Then I crawled in bed with my husband and let the tears flow. I've been in a daze all day. I just feel numb. I think I'll feel numb for a while.

Natalie wrote: "Not entirely on topic but; Can anyone picture Bill Clinton in this role?! I think Ethan handled it so graciously."

Nat.... We will never know how Bill Clinton would handle being the First Gentleman. :(

damnit, liz wrote: "I love that we all have these different theories and can't agree on one. A good sign that Tal has succeeded in thoroughly screwing with us ;) Now we have to wait for months for one of us to be able..."

LOL - that's what Sasha said.... OMG :)

I'm actually super glad to see that there's no consensus here. I like that it's so up in the air and that you guys are totally thrown. So suspicious!! Even suspecting each other. :) (Love it)

I hope that means I did well.

So, who are the current suspects you guys have?

Elizabeth
Scott
Levi

???

Who else have you guys tossed around? Who else is under the microscope? Does anyone want to make a full case for their preferred candidate? Or is it all going on gut, gritted teeth, and terror right now?