An excerpt from my new novel: Throwing Bears for George…

/ J. F. Riordan

Now available for pre-order wherever you buy your books

***

Eddie was accustomed to listening to his customers’ problems. He rarely told his own. In fact, most of the time he would have said he didn’t have any. But Dirk had a quality of empathy that resonated around him, and after pouring a generous scotch for him, Eddie found himself talking, for the first time, of Danni.

“I guess, the thing is, I don’t know why I’m thinking about her now, after all this time. I mean, my life is pretty good. I’m happy. But I screwed up, you know? And I can’t help wondering where she is, and whether she’s happy. Probably married to someone else with a couple of kids by now.…” His voice trailed off.

Dirk was silent, considering, before he spoke.

“Well, if you go looking, there are only two things that can happen, really: A) You find her, and realize you still love her, or B) You find her, and you wonder what in Hell you were thinking. There are variations of both A and B, of course, but those, essentially, are the primary options, and then the road branches out from there. The question is: Do you want a new kind of regret, or are you content with the regret you already have.”

“What do you mean?”

“ Well, think about it: Sometimes, the old, familiar griefs are a kind of comfort. You can fantasize about how wonderful she was because you never had any of the normal struggles of a long-term relationship. You never got bored with one another. She never said anything cruelly cutting to you. She never nagged, or rolled her eyes. She never had annoying habits. You can have a beautiful and romantic dream of your perfect lost love. Because that’s all it really is: a dream. If you act to find her, then you will have to cope with reality, with all its flaws and joys.”

“On the other hand, what is life, but stepping off into the unknown to see what will happen? Maybe you owe it to yourself to find out.”

They were both silent. Eddie, usually a whirlwind of activity behind the bar, now stood still, his gaze fixed at something he wasn’t seeing. Dirk stared into his glass.

There was the sound of a car door slamming in the parking lot, and they were jolted out of their reveries by the impending arrival of others.  Dirk was the first to speak. 

“The thing is, you always get grief in life, and you don’t get to choose what kind, how much, or how serious it is. This way, what you have now is a sad longing. But you could choose to give that up to get a reality-based grief. One way or another, it’s all grief in the end.”

They could hear another car drive up, and the sound of cheerful voices in the parking lot. 

“What about happiness? You get that, too.”

Dirk shrugged. “Maybe. Some people do. But there’s no guarantee of that. Grief is the only thing you can really count on.”

Eddie stared at him curiously. “I didn’t take you for being so dark.”

“Oh, I’m not. At least, I don’t think of myself that way. But I am a realist. Grief comes. It’s inevitable if you’ve lived at all. But I’ve known plenty of people who have never been happy, and never will be.”

He smiled a small, almost mischievous smile. “I, however, am not one of them.”

Ask to preorder at your favorite bookstore.

42 thoughts on “An excerpt from my new novel: Throwing Bears for George…”

  6. YES! I have been waiting and eagerly looking forward to this book since it was first announced on Amazon, and the excerpt assures me it will be worth the wait!!

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  13. Okay, so here’s my plan. About a week or two before ‘Throwing Bears for George’ is delivered to me, I’m going to reread the previous four novels. My memory will be refreshed and I’ll be ready to devour your new book. Cannot wait! So excited.🤗

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  17. Fascinating and titillating. Do you have a date on the availability of Throwing Bears for George? And will it be available in digital format? Thanks.Katie Keeton

    Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPad

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  24. .I just pre-ordered your new book. Can’t wait to get immersed and captured by another story that makes me want to live among these interesting characters. When I read your books, I transport myself to a place I never knew. Thank you for your gift of writing and sharing it with us.

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