Loud

Preface

Dear Readers,

VINTAGE ROB and LOUD were originally written as one story. Sequentially, VINTAGE ROB takes place before LOUD, so you might assume that starting with LOUD will lead to confusion.

It may be confusing at times, but I unrolled this story very slowly... VINTAGE ROB is not a waste of time - far from it, but I did take my sweet time getting to the main part of the action, which happens here in LOUD.

If you like detailed character studies and want to see how Rob put a target on his daughter's back (Ch. 18 - 20 of VINTAGE ROB), then you may want to start with VINTAGE ROB, but I don't think it is necessary. Rob spends a lot of time there grappling in the present with his past and trying to figure out how to get in touch with and meet Makiko, his daughter, who he lost contact with after a messy divorce and a messier marriage that he fully, ahem, mostly fully, acknowledges was his fault.

So if you've never read my work and want to start with LOUD, please do! LOUD is where Rob realizes he put Makiko in danger and sets out to protect her. (I will compare the comments of readers who have read both with readers who have not to see what I can do if there is confusion from the risk-takers!)

Or, if you read part of VINTAGE ROB, stopped for whatever reason, and want to read LOUD to see where the story is now, thank you and welcome back!

Rob assumes Makiko does not know anything is wrong, but QUIET, my other work, shows what happens to her. That one is YA. Some events in VINTAGE ROB and LOUD overlap with QUIET and take place from different points of view, but most events are unique to each work.

Whatever you end up doing, thanks for taking a peek at my work! I hope you become a dedicated reader!

Sincerely,

Jon Peto

PS

LOUD is written from the point of view of Robert Pirone, a white, cisgender male character. Warnings about representation may not be necessary.

However, if you want all lgbtq+ secondary characters to be good, then VINTAGE ROB / LOUD may not be for you. Some lgbtq+ characters in VINTAGE ROB / LOUD are good, but some are not. I've tagged VINTAGE ROB / LOUD lgbtq+ because I believe they are safe spaces. However, if you believe that means they should depict an lgbtq+ paradise, then you may disagree, since VINTAGE ROB / LOUD include some depictions of homophobia etc.

Finally, I am not lgbtq+. I am open to feedback, of course, if anyone is willing or compelled to give it, especially about the climatic scene, which I have doubts about, especially from an lgbtq+ standpoint...