1970
Will has known Bran since he first taught him to swim, when Bran was eleven years old. But now, seven years later, Bran has returned from a year of hard work on a ranch outside of Houston and he is no longer the boy Will remembers. He is now eighteen, quite grown up, and making no secret of the fact that he’s interested in a sexual relationship with Will. At first, Will is horrified. He has a hard time forgetting the Bran he knew as a child, and given their seventeen-year age difference, he can’t understand why Bran is interested in him. But everything changes when he finds out that Bran has been drafted.
Will and Bran will have only two weeks together. But two weeks may be enough to change Will’s life.
Buy it here:
Translations:
- Un soldato in più – Italian
- Un Soldat de plus – French
Note: This story was originally released by Silver Publishing in 2010. The new edition has be re-edited, but the content is unchanged.
One More Soldier is also available in print in this anthology:
*****
A month or two ago, my good friend Ethan Stone sent me a story to read. It was one he had written several years ago, and was trying to decide if it was worth doing anything with. Although it was decidedly too porn for my taste, it did inspire me. I liked the characters and the premise. I thought it had potential.
Ethan and I spent a day or two tossing it around. We thought maybe we could expand it into a novella. We debated trying to co-author it. But after much discussion, Ethan told me that he wasn’t really feeling it, and that I should just take it and make it my own. Once I started writing it, it changed quite a bit. It became shorter than I had envisioned (it’s only about 13,800 words), and it moved back in time to the late 60’s. Isn’t it odd when that happens? I ended up doing more research for this little story than I’ve done for any of my novels.
Once it was finished, I sent it to Ethan and told him I was going to submit it for publication. I offered to put his name on it too, but after reading it, he felt I had changed it so much that it wasn’t warranted, and so it will be published under my name alone. But Ethan still gets all the credit for getting those little wheels in my head a-spinnin’.
*****
Spoiler Warning: There are many spoilers in the comment section below, so you may not want to read them if you haven’t read OMS yet.
I really like your books, both novels and short stories. I’ve read many of them, both the ones translated in Italian (I live in Italy) and many directly in English (got no patience to wait for them to be translated).
You have a special way to describe your characters that makes them alive and breathing. I also love your sometimes unexpected point of view, like how you created the non conventional relationship between Zack and Angelo in the Coda serie.
I liked many things of this novella, the characters, how the relationship grows between them, the story too, but…
– the end is cut and seems missing something. Not only the usual happy ending, which was a really sad surprise, but has a meaning in this context. It seems a bit like a summary, not an actual part of the novel. Nevertheless I cried for 10 minutes after reading it, so I cannot say it is cold or ineffective. XD
– when Will goes to Bran’s house to help him with the stereo, Bran’s sister is getting out of the house speaking at a mobile phone… Mobile phone… in the sixties…? Are you sure? The first mobile phone was tested in 1973, I think, but this is just a small detail anyway
You know, nobody is perfect, and I really liked the story for the most part.
I’ll keep waiting for new amazing books from you, and try to finish reading all previous ones I missed (less than 10)
Go on like this! You are great!
Hi Giovanna, and thanks for your comment. The mobile phone was definitely an error in translation. In the English version, it says only that she continues her phone conversation and waves Will in. There is definitely no reference to it being “mobile.” LOL.
The first of your books I’ve ever read & I am looking forwards to reading more! This story is one of the few I’ve ever read that have actually made me cry, it was so good! Great characters and such detail, it broke my heart. Is there any plan for a sequel? I’m VERY interested to see how Will becomes part of the Gay Rights movement in San Fran. Thanks!
Thanks Carrie! I’m so glad you enjoyed it. No plans for a sequel at this point, but never say never. 😉
Thanks again!
Hi,
Just discovered this title on Amazon, while looking for gay historicals to review – would it be possible to have a review copy for Speak Its Name?
Wow! I have to say I love the Coda men! I read the whole series and I am hoping maybe you will write more about them some day. I left wanting to know what happens to Zach and Angelo with the ending you had in Paris A to Z and there is always Cole’s wish at the end of Strawberries for Dessert. You make these characters so likeable and funny. Actually I had so many emotions with all of them!!! Just wanted to tell you I love this series!!!
Thanks very much, Tammy! I’m so glad you enjoyed spending time with my boys. 🙂
I just finished reading it and cannot believed I cried like a child. It has been a very long time that a story took hold of me and touch me so spiritually. I could not put it down. The way you wrote the characters and how after so many years together neither did not know about the others feelings for each other which was heartwarming. The story showed how love was suffered by two people that if it was toward this time in life they could have had a better life together. There are so many men and women who are old that can relate to a story such as this since they had to live in secret and mourn for those they loved. This was the first story that I read of yours and I will truly keep in eye out for all of your books. This one will always be on the top of my list of “must reads” for any occasion. The only problem I had with the book was that you did not put a picture of Bran on the cover as you did Will. It would have been nice to see a picture of the person that Will was in love with. Either in a pool scene or in his uniform would have acceptable.
Thanks very much for your comments, Daniel. I’m so glad you enjoyed the story. 🙂
Just bought and read on my iPad. The feeling is that I would have liked to have been there for both characters. Sandy’s request for a purpose is pointless. Life is what life is. Beautiful. Thank you.
Thanks Philip! I’m glad you liked it.
I finished One More Soldier last night and it just broke my heart. Beautifully done and you definitely need tissue with this one. Thank you!
Thanks so much Marsha! I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Oh wow… My heart is broken. That was so moving, sad, wonderful. I’m trying to hide my tears from my husband who is sitting beside me. Sandy is nuts. Ut was perfect. Thank you Marie for reminding us there isn’t always a HEA.
Thanks Vicki. I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Oh Sheesh….CRY! My god i’m still waiting to stop….BRILLIANT, heartbreaking and TOTALLY amazing.
Once again you have blown me away.
Vikki xx
Thanks Vikki! I seem to make people cry with that one a lot. If it ever goes to print, maybe I’ll have kleenex included. 🙂
Glad you liked it!
You have yet to put out a book that I ‘ve disliked and that includes this novella. Someone said you packed a whallop in 13k and they were correct. I think it shows your depth as an author that you can not only write meaningful books with HEA’s but also stories that do not have an HEA, yet still leave people full of feelings and thoughts to reflect. I thought One More Soldier was great, thank you.
Thanks so much, Nicole! I knew when I wrote that it wouldn’t be for everybody, but happy ending or not, it was the story I needed to write. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
I have to disagree with Sandy. First off, it’s not a book, it’s a short story. Secondly, you explored the characters very well within the limited length of that short story. Adding pages would not have added to them in any way, other than padding the story with superfluities. Having talked about going to San Francisco made the reference to our people in Cali clear, as well as mentioning gays and gay milestones. And her contention that you had to explain that Bran died for something was absurd – he died because he was a soldier, in a war, and that has nothing to do with the feelings which people had for Viet Nam at the time. If they’d liked it or approved of it, he’d still have died, and that was the point. He was 18, he went to war and he died.
It’s a great story, Marie, and it says a lot in a few words. Great job!
Thanks so much, Julie. I’m glad you enjoyed it!
I disagree all of Sandy’s contentions. I was born after Bran died. I understood both points as they were. And the frustrations of the Vietnam war wasn’t on Will’s mind. The story wasn’t about Vietnam, or how people felt about Vietnam. Any more about that war would have taken attention off where it was properly placed…Will loved Bran and he turned his energy toward honoring the memory of a soldier.
@Marie you packed a wallop into 13k. You should be proud of this 🙂
Thanks Whitney. I’m glad you liked it!
I have enjoyed reading several of your books, Promises, A-Z, The Letter Z, and One More Soldier. You are a very talented and gifted author. But I have to say I was disappointed in the ending to One More Soldier for a couple reasons: a) you were telling a period piece to a new generation and many of those reader have no idea of your reference to “Our people in Cali” ….a second sentence was at least warranted in my opinion. b) you could have left the reader with a feeling of either that Brian died for something or at least put two sentences to explain the frustration of the Viet Nam war’s feelings at the time and why it was suggested that they go to avoid the draft. You did just did neither which I think make the book weaker. Sorry but I really liked these caracters and they deserve a full lenth novel that does them justice.. I’ve read better from you.
Sandy, I’m very sorry that the story didn’t work for you. Thanks for your comment.
Oh, wow! That looks fantastic!! I can’t wait to read it 🙂