It’s Time to Review Time Addicts: Nothing is Permanent
So, what, exactly, do I mean by ‘nothing is permanent’?
A certain trilogy of terms came to me after I had been writing the first book for a few weeks. But it snapped it all into sharp focus with these terms. I loved the terms so much that they are the subtitles of each of these three books.
So, in a society where you can change time on a whim, how could anything ever be permanent? And, just as importantly, are there any anchors in life?
As the timelines start to really melt and change, Josie’s life turns upside-down.
Background
After receiving the aforesaid message, Josie realizes she’s feeling physically worse and, at the same time, getting more confused about the shifting timelines. They are still relatively coherent. At least, for a while.
Plot
As the timelines continue to shift, Josie witnesses odder and odder changes. Many of them seem to be almost pleasant. Could the other side be, perhaps, trying to change time in order to please her?
The idea is intriguing. Because, could it be that she’s somehow, and in some way, being recruited?
Nothing is Permanent But the Characters
The characters are Josie James, Dalton Farouk, Keisha Darnell, Jerry Brodie, Tad Lewis, Cyndi Mendez, Dr. Carmen D’Angelo, and Tommy 2000. Plus there’s also Josie’s family, who flit in and out of the storyline. And, there are the bad guys, namely Marty Quinlan and his two nonbinary employees, who go by the names Velvet Monroe and Daisy Dukes.
Memorable Quotes from Time Addicts: Nothing is Permanent {Josie and Bobby are entering the office at the New Howard Theater, where there are puzzles and barriers to entry to OIA HQ}
But it turned out that she didn’t need the umbrella, as she did not arrive alone. “Hi, Bob.”
“Heyas.” He was carrying a fairly large bakery box from Ashmont Annie’s.
“You’re here early,” she said, as she started the process of getting through the first barrier to entry.
“What are you talking about, Josie? I’m always bright and early.”
“No, you aren’t.”
“Yes, I am.”
“No, really, I have never, ever seen you early. Your habit is not to be early.”
“I am always bright and early. C’mon,” he said, voice taking on an edge of frustration.
“I, no, I don’t think so. I don’t think anyone in the Department of Temporal Narcotics has ever seen you come in early. You just aren’t an early kind of a guy.”
“For fuck’s sake, Josie, I am.”
She backed off.
No, you aren’t. You have never, ever been early in all the time I’ve known you, Bobby Brodie.
“Sorry.”
“No problem; we’ll all under stress. Can you hold these so I can get the wheel on the ceiling?”
“Sure thing.” She peeked inside the box. It was a dozen assorted doughnuts, including her absolute favorite, Boston Cream.
“Who’re all these doughnuts for?” she asked as he turned the wheel and a door slid open to yet another antechamber.
“The team, silly.”
“Really? Since when do you bring in doughnuts for everybody?”
“Since when do I not?”
“Since ever.”
“Wrong again, Josie. Y’know, if you piss me off enough, I will stop bringing in Boston Creams for you.”
“You buy those just for me?”
“Yeah. And I get blueberry for Tad, sour cream – I have no idea why she likes it – for Carmen, you know.”
No, I don’t know.
Rating
The story has a K+ rating.
Upshot
So, one thing about middle books, for me, is they tend to be more romance-centric. Also, they tend to be the shortest books. And while I do not amp up the romance, it is still the shortest of the three books, clocking in at under 70,000 words before editing. I don’t feel the need to increase this one. Rather, I still want to cut it and the first and the first 40% of the third book.
So, while I won’t go until 50,000 words, I will still, I hope, get this one to under 60,000.
When nothing is permanent, where are your temporal anchors? #amwriting
Want More About The Time Addicts Trilogy?
If this article resonates with you, then check out my other articles about this sub-trilogy that’s all about time travel and how it can go more than a little bit, shall we say, ca ca.