This week we have a great installment by Yettie One once again, focusing on what keeps GA going ... the members! Read on to find out more...

So as I hinted last month, we are going to meet a member of the horse loving community here at GA this month. Yup, I’m going to have a good chat with the writer of the Riding Lessons series of books that can be found on the profile works of Andrew Todd.

Andrew has been writing and sharing his stunningly detailed stories of boys and horses here at GA since November 2012, and if you haven’t check out his stories as yet, I would suggest you do. You’ll get lost in summers of fun, childish pranks, the wonders of sexual awakening and the joys of a youth spent in the freedom of large open spaces, and in the company of some quite majestic animals.

But enough about the writing, let’s discover a bit about the man. It may come as a little bit of a shock to us, but Andrew is a passionate horse loving man. 45 and a resident of Florida, Andrew describes himself as a man who’s been after finding happiness as possibly one of the more important things in life. A guy who had a thing for Jaclyn Smith, despite nature explaining to him at a later stage in his life, that she was clearly on the other team in the cricket squad.

Andrew came to GA in search of the Castaway Hotel series by Bill W, a hosted author here on GA. On his blog, Andrew speaks fondly of GA, and the support and community spirit that he found here, and at the suggestion of a reader he finally plunged in and began posting his Riding Lessons series here.

I asked Andrew what his favourite features of GA were, and he instantly pointed to the freedom as an author. “On GA, I am free to post stories as I want, when I want. I’ve been frustrated by being at the whim of an archivist or webmaster on other sites, so this is one of the freedoms that I cherish here at GA.”

“I would have to point to ‘The Foley-Mashburn Saga’ by Brew Maxwell as my all time favourite story. Brew only submitted the one series, a wonderful legacy of love, acceptance, gay kids growing up strong. It’s a story I’ve read about 7 or 8 times and one I’ll never get tired of.” Andrew’s exuberance as he talks of this story has prompted me to add it to my list of books to find and read. Others included in his top five favourite tales include. The Adventures of Trey and Jay, The Castaway Hotel series by Bill W, A New Life & Life Goes On by The Eggman and Andrew indicated to me he couldn’t leave out ‘Dust and Ash’ by TMcCallahan.

When it came to his favourite authors, Andrew struggled a bit. “It is so hard to chose just five,” he complained at me, but still, at my insistence he managed to come up with this list. “If you are going to check out some really great writers, then I’d recommend; Brew Maxwell, Bill W, Sequoyah, The Eggman, Jeff Allen.”

I asked Andrew if he was ticklish, and with a cheeky giggle he answers, “Hell yes, but please stay well away, I don’t want to squeal like a girl.” I can’t help but giggle with him at the thought. Weakness discovered.

Andrew finds deep blue eyes attractive. “Actually the deeper the better,” he confirms. I asked Andrew about a positive impact he’s experienced from his time on GA, and after a short pause he points firmly to the feedback he’s experienced on the site. “Everyone has been so welcoming and encouraging. It’s a great community to be a part of. Writing, for me, started as a whim, and the fantastic encouragement I get here has only helped me continue.”

It is a common trend I find talking to members each month. There is a wonderful sense of community here at GA. I ask Andrew if he had one thing he’d improve about GA, what it would be. “I’d make the site a little more navigable,” he suggests. “I’ve had readers that read my stuff on other sites refuse to come to GA as they find it too hard to navigate,” he tells me.

As ever, meeting, chatting to, and listening to Andrew has been a pleasure this month. I really do enjoy my time finding out about the Pulse Behind the GA Crowd series of interviews, asking writers about their time on GA, and discovering more and more hidden gems here at GA.

Next month, I have a chance to chat with a rising star here at GA, a young man who’s writing I’m learning to admire and thoroughly enjoy. Until then, I am so greatful to Andrew Todd for his open and candid answers to my questions, and please if you haven’t met him yet, visit, read, say hi and get to meet a really great guy, just one part of the big picture that makes GA such a special place to be.

Until next month, be good everyone.
Hugs and snuggles
The Yettie.