[Jade]

Hello. (Very ominous noises ensue.)

I know... it has been a silent couple of months. Almost nothing from Jade, me, of many titles. I am writing this as my dog, Buster, sits behind me.

Know that I have not forgotten of you. I think of Roddy all of the time. I look at your books as my quiet collection sits on my bookshelf. I visit the Forum, lurking. Waiting. Wondering.

Junior year was something else. Especially second semester. It was not good for a while there. But it is summer, and I am about to be a senior. I am about to graduate!

So let this be my most active year on the Forum. Actually, I don't know if that's possible. I just know that I had a pretty good run there in 2024. But I am back! Hence, the title, the Homecoming.

This is directly inspired by J.R.'s Return. I'm actually making this post because I haven't seen much of a return on his part. Come back, boy!

But yes. Hi, Gord. It's been a while. I forgot about this place for a hot minute there, and I was unsure of making a post for a looong minute there. But heya! I have returned :)

And I'm definitely not copying J.R. At all. Hehe.

Welcome home. In my mind, you've never been away!                                               -G-

[Jade]

Yay! Wow. I just find it so hard to believe I first found the Forum the summer before I went to 8th grade... and now it's the summer before I go to 12th grade. I remember that day. It was late June. Goodness... the way time flies. From rising senior of middle school to rising senior of high school.

Look at it a different way: You also don't seem to have outgrown my stuff, which probably means that middle grade is what you should be writing for. Or maybe it's just loyalty. Either way, I haven't heard much about what you're writing these days ...    -G-

[Jade]

Yeah, that's a really good point. You're still my favorite author. I just love Middle Grade! My heart's always been there. You haven't heard a lot about my writing because I haven't written in eons. It just feels like my dream's being crushed, really? I got a job this summer, I'm a legal intern, and it kind of feels like my mom's been pushing being a lawyer on me. Not a lot, I said sure, but it was kind of like "the real world" slapped me in the face. Life kind of like imploded in 2025 so I don't know if I'm going to write anymore. I want to, but is there hope?

Hard to believe that you're looking at college at the end of next year! Go to your computer and google TOP 10 LAWYERS WHO BECAME AUTHORS. You'll be astonished, and even encouraged! Or maybe your desire to write The Great American Novel is waning a bit. It happens.

Just enjoy! And there is nothing quite as wonderful as college. Ask anyone. For a lively bright person like you, the best days are just beginning, and ambitions come and go, linger and vanish. 

See you in September, I hope!                                                                                                                     -G-

[J.R.]

I'm still here, reading almost every thread. I actually have to get permission for my mom (due to family link thingy on my computer) every time I post. So that delays a bit.

Glad to know you're with us!                                                                                  ---GK---