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Lor's avatar

Enjoy your time away from Substack. And when you’re ready, maybe in classic Jackson Pollock style , words will spill out, splashing wildly, in a tornado of colors. Left to dry, and it all makes perfect sense. Behold a masterpiece for the ages.

Happy new season and a joy filled, healthy & happy new year. Here’s to new stories buried deep in those crevices from unknown places. Will be patiently waiting to see the word SLAKE in my mailbox again. See you when I read you…😊📬

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Nathan Slake's avatar

Thanks, Lor. Couldn't ask for a more attentive and willing reader. I so appreciate you being here. Hope you're enjoying the holiday season.

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Lor's avatar

Thank you Nathan! It has been a busy season. I played

‘master sushi chef’ for our Christmas celebration ,ready to go out and play in the snowy mountains, hopefully until spring.

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Nathan Slake's avatar

Impressive work! Enjoy those snowy mountains and the wintry wonder.

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David Kingsley, PhD's avatar

My friend, I greatly enjoyed your reflection on 2024. It's always a pleasure to visit your Stack.

"of how some mornings I have deliberately missed my train stop just so I could remain hidden in my seat to keep reading"

I hope this is true! Keep this part of yourself.

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Nathan Slake's avatar

Thanks so much, David.

I will endeavour to keep that going. ;)

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Josephine Croft's avatar

Some day…soon

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Nathan Slake's avatar

Hold me to it. ;)

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Brian Wilcox's avatar

Looking forward to reading what takes shape for you in 2025! Hope you have, and continue to, enjoy the respite. Happy New Year!

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Nathan Slake's avatar

Thanks Brian! Same to you my friend. Happy new year!

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Mr. Troy Ford's avatar

Lovely end of the year reflection, Nathan - and a great rec - All of Us Strangers looks right up my alley. Happy new year to you. 💜

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Nathan Slake's avatar

Thanks Troy!

I really hope you enjoy the film. We were equal parts emotionally crushed and amazed.

Advanced happy new year my friend!

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Jim J Wilsky's avatar

I smelled the sea as I read and felt the warm breeze on my skin. You are a very talented weaver of words Nathan. Never disappointed by anything you write. I raise a bottle of Michelob to 2025. Looking forward to more Slake.

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Nathan Slake's avatar

Thanks Jim, appreciate the kind words.

*Raises bottle in return.*

Advanced happy new year!

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Alexander Ipfelkofer's avatar

Here’s to 2025, filled to the brim with all things Precipice & Brae and other wondrous things!

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Nathan Slake's avatar

Thanks my friend. Here's to many stories to be read from you too!

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Vanessa Glau's avatar

And a happy & healthy 2025 to you too! I've enjoyed the journey with you here immensely & cannot wait to see what next year will wash into this space. (That might sound throw-away but it isn't, promise! Collect ideas like we collected shiny or oddly shaped rocks from the beach as children.)

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Nathan Slake's avatar

Thanks Vanessa. And exactly the same to you too! 🤗

Hope you're having a lovely holiday break and looking forward to what emerges from the Lab in 2025. ;)

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Caz Hart's avatar

I quite like the pace, but definitely not loving the British accent for audio narration. I've noticed it's becoming a popular choice by male writers on Substack.

Why?! 🧐

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Nathan Slake's avatar

Yeah I tried it recently and the British accent is pretty janky. It sounds like British done by an American. Lots of words mispronounced. I need to go back to settings to see what other options there are.

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Caz Hart's avatar

There are some decent neutral accents.

I always expect to be listening to an Anthony Trollope novel when I hear the British guy!

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Nathan Slake's avatar

I will investigate the neutralness. Thanks!

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Kimberly Warner's avatar

Beautiful reflections—generous, vulnerable, aspiring. Your love affair with writing is alive and well and clearly eager for another spin around the sun of your creating. We are all so lucky to bask in it.

And this is just, wow: “Here I form an intention to allow an outward breath from my soul. To see what residues of creativity can crystallise as the vapours of my own hope are exhaled onto the page.”

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Nathan Slake's avatar

Thanks so much, my friend. You've been such an important presence here, and my time chatting to you that day already many months ago remains a true highlight and joy of the year. 🤗

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Kathleen Clare Waller's avatar

Solenoid 😍 funny, I just reshared our post about that. The prose is so immersive and moving.

Like the way you leave things to be discovered. It’s both trusting and humble, zen and reflective in its absence of explicit reflection.

Happy end of year, Nathan. Look forward to what’s coming next and hope you are feeling good by the sea.

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Nathan Slake's avatar

I just saw that! How funny.

Thanks for the great year, Kate, both in terms of collaboration and being here and for all of your own output I have so enjoyed. Hope you're enjoying a well-deserved break.

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Beth T (BethOfAus)'s avatar

Happy sigh. ‘Hemsworth country’. Grin. Have a wonderful holiday dear Nathan. All the best for the year ahead. 🤗🤗

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Nathan Slake's avatar

Thanks Beth. And the same to you too. :)

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Susie Mawhinney's avatar

Just keep sending us those outward breaths from your soul Nathan!

Happy New Year to you, may 365 new days bring more residue of creativity, crystallising as vapours of hope than you know what to do with! 🥂

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Nathan Slake's avatar

And the same to you, Susie. Hopping over to your latest post(s) in just a moment. Here's to 2025! 🥂🥳

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Ann Collins's avatar

i’ve taken a running start at Solenoid a couple of times and had a little trouble getting past the crawling critters and the umbilical extractions. But you know what? I respect that in an author. It’s like here you go—Chapter One—this is me. Are you in or not? Fair warning! Anyway, I’m in. Is it too late to turn back?

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Nathan Slake's avatar

Hehe, that's great to hear, but I can totally understand it's not for everyone. There's certainly plenty of bodily stuff in it, though that opening with the umbilical extraction might be the peak of it. (Don't hold me to that, haha.)

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Ann Collins's avatar

That’s reassuring! I’m ready to take the plunge.

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Troy Putney's avatar

All Of Us Strangers… Woof. Brilliant film. Wishing you joy and contentment in the new year ahead, Nathan!

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Nathan Slake's avatar

Yeah, incredible film. Want to watch it again through the lens of knowing the full story.

Thanks Troy, happy 2025!

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Terry Freedman's avatar

I felt relaxed just looking at that photo of the sea: how glorious. (The sea I mean, not my relaxing.) You've had a great writing year, Nathan, and have provided many people with a lot of pleasure. Mind you, I could be speaking only for myself of course, but I doubt it. Thanks for your encouraging me to write fiction. So far, all I've managed is my to-do list, but I'm working on it. Happy New Year, Nathan, and thank you for all your thought-provoking posts and beautiful writing.

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Nathan Slake's avatar

Thanks Terry, I always value your thoughts and encouragement so much, and your own words and creativity too. You're a constant source of inspiration.

Take care and here's to 2025 (and me getting to read more of your fiction)!

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Terry Freedman's avatar

😁

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