The 17th installment of Allmeyer and Company is complete. While Matt didn’t set out to craft a “dark” chapter, it sure turned out that way. One longstanding character leaves this world, while another character’s demise is reflected upon. Three chapters remain to round out the complete novel.

As Matt crafts Chapter 17, he realized he needed a Forty Story refresher. He re-read the entire saga and made a few notes along the way…

You thought this project was stalled. You thought wrong.

Chris has delivered an entertaining sixteenth chapter that has Allmeyer bumbling through some kind hearted actions.

Chapter 15 is complete and features a broad collection of characters spanning the previous 14 chapters. They inadvertently rendezvous at the residence of the recently passed Allmeyer and personalities collide.  A continuation of Chapter 13, the dialogue-driven storyline provides further proof that our loner protagonist had a larger impact on the world than he probably realized.

Chris brings Allmeyer’s struggles with his photographic secret to the forefront in a sharp and entertaining story that has the old man attempting to uncover answers and yet hesitant about what he might learn.

Written in most part in route to/from NYC, Matt has introduced yet another important character to the Forty Story universe – Elizabeth Lexington – a (finally) confirmed love interest of Allmeyer’s. This chapter touches various points of time as Allmeyer meets and loses (or does he?) Elizabeth. As their relationship becomes less clear, Allmeyer’s own self-identification seems to emerge with stronger definition.

A relationship is shaped by its history and Chris dives into the relationship complexities of Celeste and Simon in Chapter 12.  The meddling Allmeyer serves as a catalyst, forcing Celeste and Simon to examine what they should expect from each other as life partners. Succinct and well executed, Chapter 12 continues to round out the Celeste character by looking at her history and present day with Simon.

Special thanks to Ody, Vivianne, Alex, Amber, Liz, Katie, Robert and Marie for agreeing to critique the first 11 raw chapters of Forty Story. Looking forward to your feedback!

Chapter 11 is now in the hands of Chris. Matt was not shy about covering a spectrum of topics including a dissertation on funeral parlor bathroom graffiti, the spirit of a dead rabbit, trespassing on your neighbor’s property, getting kicked in the balls and the joy of eating a ham sandwich when the vegetarian spouse is not around.