Date: 06/14/14 09:12 pm Title: Chapter 25
Awwwww such a nice way to end things off! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story, and I'm glad that I picked it for my first ever challenge story. :)
FYI, I did not intend to sit down and read the rest of this today, but I just had to know how it ended! You were quite good at leaving cliffies all the way through to keep me guessing.
Well Done!!
Author's Response: I am so glad you enjoyed this one. I admit at first I was a little worried you weren't going to like it, especially since you mentioned not being a fan of the supernatural thing. I wanted to say "But wait...it's not really a ghost story..." But I could not do that and ruin things for you! I do have a problem with cliffies in general, it's a sickness! Thanks for reading and reviewing and giving me some insights on this. I think I've mentioned I'm in the process of re-reading and editing the OF of this, so it's been a big help. I'm going to miss your reviews! :O( and one away from 300! I knew I should have made it one more chapter long! LOL
I also wanted to add that there is a short story called "Into the Woods" that is the prequel to this story, told from Kevin's POV about what happened prior to Nick ending up in the woods. :O)
Date: 06/14/14 09:01 pm Title: Chapter 24
Ha! I knew that Casper was at least semi-bad. The idea that he and Grim were one in the same was a nice touch.
As much as I enjoyed the happy imagery of Nick's mom and dad sitting beside him in the hospital, the cynical side of me was thinking that they were only upset because their primary breadwinner was about to bite the dust and then they would actually have to work for themselves. Is that terrible of me?? :P
Author's Response: NO, you're probably spot on with that one, actually. *sigh* They both seem like truly terrible people. One day I hope I am proven wrong on that one! Yes, Casper and Grim one in the same. So semi evil ghost. Woot!
Date: 06/14/14 08:49 pm Title: 23
No, Nick!! Don't go towards the light!! (That response just felt very cliche - LOL)
Best line of this chapter: "I knew even evil Brian couldn’t be that evil…I mean he’s Brian!" hahahaha!
Author's Response: LOL This must be the chapter where evil Brian helps Nick? And yes, that was pretty cliche but only because the going towards the light is equally cliche! :OP
Date: 06/14/14 08:35 pm Title: 22
OMG! I did not see the part about Nick being sick coming at all. I was just finally clicking in to the fact that this was a coming-of-age story and then you threw that curve in there to mix things up. Nicely done!
I like the way that you have brought everything together in this chapter. Even now, I sometimes feel as though Nick doesn't fully believe that he is capable of doing things on his own. I think that's why he's pushed so hard with his two solo albums, his reality shows, etc. Perhaps he is looking to prove to the world that he can be just Nick Carter, not only Nick from the BSB. That being said, I think that he has come a long way from where he was when the group first started.
Of course my prediction is that Nick will make his way through the woods (essentially proving to himself that he can stand on his own two feet) and live to see another day. However, I would not put it past you to twist things up and end the story with Nick not waking up.
Author's Response: YAY!! You finally got to the big reveal chapter! I love waiting for people to get to this chapter and see how everything comes together. I'm SO glad you didn't guess it! No one has actually. I agree with you about Nick and his lack of self confidence. I really think he is one of those guys who needs to be constantly pushed to do and get things done because he doesn't think he can handle it on his own. I also wanted to tell you that you are the featured author on AC next month. The last one before we start our countdown to 100. So, you need to chose between the two stories you have posted and let me know which one you'd like to be featured. I was going to tell you to leave it in your next review but it looks like you actually finished this story! So, just PM me on AC or in your author response to when I review your next chapter or the next time you review one of mine. I'm updating the new one tonight so.. lol
Date: 06/14/14 08:21 pm Title: 21
The river of regret. Nice touch. I like all of the subtle things that you have alluded to throughout this story, and I can finally see them coming together. The appearance of both of Nick's parents in the last two chapters was interesting. His mother pretending to be warm and loving and his father showing his true colours right away by trying to pull him under the water - very realistic. Although, I'm still a bit confused about the whole evil Brian and Howie situation. Why has there been no evil Kevin and AJ? Hmmmmmm
On a side note, I can see by your ending banner that you have been published!! Amazing!!
Author's Response: I loved the river of regret. That was the easiest thing for me to visualize when writing this one, in fact it's the first thing I saw in my head that gave me the initial idea. Oh yup, Mel's Tree. That was an exciting time. Within a month of that I also got a short story published by Adam's Media for a gift book. That was about it though lmao
Date: 06/14/14 08:07 pm Title: 20
No need to apologize for the "baby" stuff. There's no way that I can fault you for something that you did years ago. :P I have never read any of Cecilia's stories, but if they contain "baby" I may have to give them a pass. LOL - Kidding! Quite honestly, I wasn't even reading fan fic back when this story was written. I used to read a lot when I was in high school, then I stopped for a good while, and I have only recently started up again.
I had never even thought about turning a fan fic into an OF. I struggle with ideas for OF, but it seems as though I have tons of ideas as far as the boys are concerned. I would love to have something published one day, but that's just a pipe dream for now. :)
In terms of the story, I like that you have separated the guys into two groups. I can see Nick and the Kentucky cousins getting into heaps of trouble ... especially now that they've just fallen in the water. Oi!
Author's Response: You should check out cecilia one day. She does use the baby thing but her writing is worth it. If you like the Kevin Nick group bromances. LOL Izzy is another one I recommend. It's easier to write for the boys because we know them so well. It's really easy to turn AUs into OFs but I think it really depends on the type of story you are telling, whether or not it'll work as a non BSB one. Most of mine wouldn't but this one was pretty easy to change. Just turned three of them into brothers, one best friend tagging along and Howie turned into Kevin's girlfriend. lmao Sorry Howie :OP
Date: 06/12/14 01:42 pm Title: 19
Well, at least they've ditched the tent. Oi! - It took Kevin long enough to make that decision. *rolls eyes*
The way that you've described the ghosts just randomly wandering around makes me visualize the walkers from The Walking Dead. I have to keep reminding myself that ghosts and zombies are not the same and that the boys are not going to have their faces ripped off. LOL
Author's Response: I have never watched The Walking Dead. Zombies and vampires just have never interested me. I can see why getting one's face ripped off might be a bad thing though. Especially their beautiful faces lmao I don't remember the whole tent thing. I might have to go back and read that. It's so funny because my OF of this is really very different than the fanfic one. You are making me really realize that!
Date: 06/12/14 01:30 pm Title: 18
Why are they bothering to carry all of their stuff through the woods? It's not like they don't have enough money to buy some new tents. Sheesh! I doubt they will ever go camping again after this experience anyways.
I'm also going to ask Nick's question: why are they calling Nick 'baby'? I'm not gonna lie that nickname is driving me crazy!! I always associate that nickname with really annoying girls and their boyfriends. (Let me apologize now if you happen to call your boyfriend/husband 'baby' - LOL.) That is the only thing that I have disliked about this story so far ... the use of the nickname 'baby'. :P
Author's Response: I'm glad you brought up the "baby" nickname and no, I don't use that one at all in my real life. In fact I DETEST nicknames!! LOL When I first started reading fanfic, I didn't really have that extensive of a reading list. One of the people I used to read religiously was Cecilia and she used to always use the nickname baby when referring to Nick, especially when he and Kevin would have conversations. I knew really almost nothing about the guys at the time so I figured that this was a real 'thing' *facepalm* at the time I thought it was very endearing, until I got a better idea of the guys and their personalities etc... Now I actually cringe when I see it and forgot that in my very early stuff, like this one, I tended to use it every so often. It's one of things I wish I could change and maybe will one day (Yeah, I probably won't though because I'm too lazy!) I do apologize for it though, because as a reader I would probably think it was a little creepy and child molester-ish now!
Date: 06/11/14 08:51 pm Title: 17
So, I see that you've already posted replies to my other reviews. Sorry to give you another one for today, but I had some time to kill and now I really need to know what the heck is going on. LOL
Tell me, please, how Casper can be such a nice guy if his father is the Grim Reaper. Isn't he going to take over the family job one day?? I still think that he has to be a bad guy. Maybe his map through the woods is going to lead the guys directly into his father's clutches.
FYI, the bit about the guys all sleeping in a circle around Nick was super cute. I had an "awwww" moment.
You make Supernatural sound pretty appealing. Although, I always thought that it sounded kinda lame when I saw it on the guide. :P
Author's Response: Never apologize for leaving a review. Aww once again, poor Casper! Just because his father is Death doesn't mean that HE is going to be all horseman of the apocalypse-like! Glad you enjoyed my little bromantic circle moment and Supernatural is not lame at all! You should check it out. You will not be disappointed! Season's 1 - 7 are on Netflix! :O)
Date: 06/11/14 06:41 pm Title: 16
WTF Casper? First you tell Nick to stay out of the woods and now you tell him that he has to go in the woods? Now, I think that Casper is the bad guy and that he has been playing Nick this whole time. Casper the friendly ghost, my ass!
Of course it was AJ who unzipped the tent ... who else would it have been?? LOL
Author's Response: lmao aww poor Casper! He tells Nick to do one small, little thing like go into the creepy woods and you suddenly turn on him. :O(
Date: 06/11/14 06:26 pm Title: 15
I was dying over the image of Nick attacking Howie with the stick (a.k.a. the spear)! I could totally picture Howie getting all hot and bothered and wanting to choke Nick out.
I don't watch Supernatural (is that the show with the guy who played Rory's first boyfriend, Dean, on Gilmore Girls?) I always seem to tune in right at the end of that show when I get home from work and I'm waiting for another show to start. I had no idea that it was about shape-shifters. I find the whole concept of them fascinating!
Author's Response: I actually remember that scene. I could just picture the surprised look on Howie's face when he hits him with that stick. LOL And yes, Supernatural is that show with the guy who played Dean. Shape Shifters are a small part of it the show. If you enjoy suspense, comedic bromances, then this is a great show to watch! End of my plug!
Date: 06/10/14 02:06 pm Title: 14
Now there's ghost Howie and real Howie? I agree with Nick, one Howie is more than enough! LOL Is the mystery woman a shape-shifter? First she looked like Brian and then she made herself look like Howie? That's my guess at the moment. I seriously want to keep reading, but I have work to do. :(
Author's Response: Ooh I love shape shifters! Do you watch Supernatural? That's what I think of when I see shape shifters. Glad to know you're curious enough to keep reading. Soon I believe all will be revealed in a I hope "I did not see that coming!" type of way! LOL
Date: 06/10/14 01:17 pm Title: 13
Yay for AJ being the hero!! LOL
So, to sum everything up ... Kevin is going to get help with Matt (who I now think is a ghost), Nick, AJ and Brian are going to find the secret late (a.k.a. get lost in the woods and get in all kinds of trouble) and Howie is still possessed and is plotting to murder everyone. Bahahaha!
Also, I swear that Nick was already taller than everyone (except for Kevin) when he was like 16 ... my memory is clearly fading in my old age. :P
Author's Response: Yikes, you know when you sum everything up for me to see I think to myself "Wow, this seems like a really dumb story!" LOL I made AJ heroic? He lucked out on that one! Usually I have him in a fetal position in a corner somewhere. Poor AJ! Maybe Nick was tall at that point. Was he 16 in this one? I just started rereading the OF of this but I don't remember how old I made him.
Date: 06/05/14 01:09 pm Title: 12
So, Mary-Beth's parents know that she is possessed (or has been in the past) and they still take her on a camping trip? I'm pretty sure that's a big no-no in Parenting 101. LOL
The image of Nick cowering behind Brian was laughable and believable. Nick is so much taller and I can just see him trying to squish himself down to fit behind Brian.
The Kevin/Nick bonding moment towards the end was sweet. I really do love those two together and you do a good job of writing their relationship.
That's all for now. I'm off to fill out the half way survey on the forum. :)
Author's Response: Well what better place to go than the woods for a possessed kid? They act up, start levitating but you're already outside. They could attach a rope to her and instant evil child kite! Best of both worlds!! LOL Remember this is when Nick is still kind of teeny. I know it's hard to believe that at one point Brian and AJ were bigger than he was. I don't think Howie ever was. He's like 2 feet tall that guy! I love writing Kevin and Nick. They are my favorites. And thanks for your comments on the survey. I'm glad you stuck with it and I enjoyed reading your thoughts on what you think is going to happen. ;O) hehe
Date: 06/03/14 01:22 pm Title: 11
So the three goofs are now a united front, Howie may or may not still be semi-possessed, and Kevin is trying to remain in control ... Yup - Everything is clearly normal in Backstreet land. :P
The end of this chapter confirms that Mary-Beth is scary!!
Author's Response: Sometimes I cringe when I think of how stereotypically I wrote the boys back then, well except for semi possessed Howie LOL Mary Beth = creepy child. No doubt about that one!
