Blogs

classic author excerpt September Classic Author Excerpt: What Might Have Been by Luc

Did you catch Monday's blog featuring Luc's novella What Might Have Been? There's a banner there if you want to download it and share it in your signature, maybe along with a link and promo to help fellow readers find the story? You never know what sort of gems the older stories are hiding! Clearly this emotional story fits in with the CSR story, Willpower, and that's what I chose to share this month because holding on to your memories and never knowing where life will take you and what choices

September 18, 2019

classic author feature September Classic Author Feature: What Might Have Been by Luc

Oh, the summer has passed, yet another school year begins, and I'm forced to acknowledge that my children have grown older and made me older. It's so strange to watch them grow up and remember my own youth in contrast. We make memories, I try to help them make memories, but it's so true that you can't go back and you never know... what might have been. This is just one more of many amazing stories posted by the promoted authors who have been shifted to Classic author status that new site readers

September 16, 2019

Weekly Wrap Up (Sept. 8 - Sept. 14)

So I was thinking this week . Does that make everyone cringe? Today when I wrote this up. it is the 14th, so just a reminder to you all that we are now 10 days from my birthday and tomorrow will be 3 months away from Christmas. Now I don't want all of you all to fret and worry over having to get me pressies for both celebrations in the next 3 months! I know you all were planning on spending at least $50 Canadian ($12.50 US) on each present, so why don't you combine the two and each of y

September 15, 2019

Prompt 782 and Prompt 783

Welcome to another Friday. Is it me or are the weeks flying by? Anyway time for some new temptations. Prompt 782 - Creative First Line I'm done forgiving you, so get out! Prompt 783 - Creative Dance You were invited to a friend's party. The last thing you expected was to be swept off your feet and be the center of attention with an incredible partner dancing all night. Who was it and what happened after your dance? So that is the prompts for the week. Reme

September 13, 2019

Anthologies

Anthology Flashback Fall 2013 Part 2 of 4

Myr in Anthologies

September 12, 2019

Signature Feature

Signature Author Special Review

Yep, you read the title right! Today, we're going to take a look at some of the stories by our Signature Authors and what the review team thinks of them. We're doing something a little bit different this go around though, because the review team didn't just each pick one author to review, they picked all the authors. Below, you will find a one line review for a story from each of our Signature authors! A huge thanks go out to our review team for taking the time to put this together for our enjo

Renee Stevens in Signature Feature

September 9, 2019

Weekly Wrap Up (Sept. 1 - Sept. 7)

The first week of September has arrived and things are a changing! I've notice a bit of a uptick in the forums and stories and also feeling a change in the weather and length of days. I never understood how people who live closer to the equator have little to no deviation in the length of days. Just seems strange to me . Then the further you go south or north towards the poles, you get longer days/shorter nights and visa versa as the equinoxes are reached. But then again, it would be strange to

September 8, 2019

Prompt 780 and Prompt 781

Another week has come and gone, yet I'm stuck here with a rainy Friday. Rainy days and Fridays usually mean I've got prompts for you. Onwards, brave souls. Prompt 780 - Creative Tag - Enemy Mine The war between worlds has left both sides devastated. Chemicals released on by the warriors from both planets have caused major changes on the people, plants, and animals. With a little less than a fifth of both populations surviving, the remaining leaders attempt to make peace. Unfortuna

September 6, 2019

Anthologies

Anthology Flashback Fall 2013 Part 1 of 4

Myr in Anthologies

September 5, 2019

Author Interviews

author questions Ask an Author 2.0 #23

Hi there! Although I have a couple of questions and responses predating the ones in this issue, I felt these responses were time sensitive. The question came in soon after someone claimed Ask An Author only featured established, popular authors. Wrooong! The member who sent in in suggested asking it of newer authors and provided a short list of candidates. Here’s the message I sent out: In case you haven't come across it, the first Wednesday of every month I c

Carlos Hazday in Author Interviews

September 4, 2019

CSR- Can't Stop Reading

csr September CSR Feature: Willpower by northie

Well, September is the start of Fall in the US, and this story was written for the 2017 Fall anthology "The Fall Out"... so this is the perfect month to feature it! Plus, I don't know about everyone else but with school kicking back off, September is a rude shock to my system. I have a routine to get back into, kids to nag back into their routine, and a school full of K-5 students ready to run me ragged. Naps are a biological imperative! Much like Will's father in the beginning of the story, it'

Cia in CSR- Can't Stop Reading

September 2, 2019

Weekly Wrap Up (Aug.25 - Aug 31)

I wonder if you are the same as me. Do you like being lied to on a consistent basis? I think not!! So why do we plan our days according to the local weather person? All week up to and including last night and this morning, they said this Labour Day Long Weekend would be mainly sunny with a chance of brief showers on Monday. Fair enough. So this morning, I get up, shower, put on suntan lotion because the also said the UV Index was going to be high. Dress in shorts, t-shirt and sandals and of

September 1, 2019

Prompt 778 and Prompt 779

Hurricanes, storms, and more! Oh my. Sending out my best wishes for everyone's safety as we head into the weekend. Being Friday that means it is time for new prompts. Hopefully, something will strike your fancy. Prompt 778 - Creative Tag - First Line Silence filled the room as he stalked his way toward me, literally tossing people out of his way as he bore down on me. Prompt 779 - Creative Tag - School When the letter arrived informing you that you were invited to t

August 30, 2019

CSR- Can't Stop Reading

csr discussion day CSR Discussion Day: The Heart of Oskar Prinz by Mike Arram

How's your August? Happy to be over? My summer vacation is rapidly coming to a close, with this being my last week "off" so I am cramming in everything fun and relaxing I can. Of course, I spent a couple of hours this month completely absorbed into Mike Arram's story, The Heart of Oskar Prinz, which was a thoroughly enjoyable escape. Did you? If you did, I'm sure you have some thoughts to share in the comments. And you CAN'T miss the answers he shared!! Make sure you read on, comment, and prompt

Cia in CSR- Can't Stop Reading

August 26, 2019

News Archive

Catfishing

Catfishing I’m sure you have heard of it, and I’m sure you know what it is, but here is the definition that I found on the word: INFORMAL•US lure (someone) into a relationship by means of a fictional online persona. "he was being catfished by a cruel prankster" Being that we are an online community we are always prime for catfishers to join and then lure possible members to lie to. We do have members who come and for their own personal sense of saf

wildone in News Archive

August 25, 2019

Weekly Wrap Up (Aug. 18 - Aug. 24)

First off, I need to remind everyone that they have one month to go out and buy me my birthday present Well we are about to head into the last month of the 'Summer Months' in North America. I know the southern states kids, teens and adults are back in skewl and the northern ones and Canada are about to head back in about a week. Not totally clear on how Europe works Summer here is also a time where we slow down at GA. With College/University Students home for the summer and working or suc

August 25, 2019

Prompt 776 and Prompt 777

Another week is over and it's my turn to torment, um, I mean offer you some inspiration. Yes, ladies and gentleman I have new prompts for you. Prompt 776 - Creative Tag - First Line "I need to, um, tell you something. Okay?" Prompt 777 - Creative Tag - List of Words Use the following words in a story - A full moon, a cracked window, an old letter, a skateboard, and a stuffed toy. Those are my offerings to you this week. Luckily, there were some brave souls who

August 23, 2019

classic author excerpt Classic Author Excerpt: Consolation Parents by Bill W

Did you catch Monday's blog featuring Bill W's story, Consolation Parents? It's a short story written for the 2014 Summer Anthology The Backup Plan. The story is one of many of Bill's short stories written for the anthologies. Have you read them? He explores many different themes, social conventions, and more all packed into tiny bite-sized plots that can capture readers. This one pulled me in as a parent. I picked this scene because it resonated so well with the emotions and showed

August 21, 2019

classic author Classic Author Feature: Consolation Parents by Bill W

As the year speeds up, seasons change, and my own kids grow and continue to make me older (so not nice of them!) I often find myself pulled toward stories that feature parents. But not every story is always sweetness and light and happy--and life is truly represented in this tale that will tug at your heart and maybe make you reach for a tissue or two as well. One of Bill's many anthology entries, you will have missed out if you haven't read Consolation Parents before.

August 19, 2019

Weekly Wrap Up (Aug. 11 - Aug. 17)

So I really have nothing to talk about this week in the Weekly Update preamble, so I thought I would throw out a joke and some useless trivia Why did the chicken cross the playground? Did you know that giraffes only need 5 to 30 minutes of sleep in a 24 hour period They often achieve that in quick naps that may last only a minute or two at a time! Now, onto what happened around these parts this week! Monday, Renee gave us a great story review from @Puppilull: Wednes

August 18, 2019

Prompt 774 and Prompt 775

Wow. This week has been crazy, but we made it to another Friday. You know what that means? No, not a night out and no work tomorrow! It means I have prompts for you. Prompt 774 - Creative Tag - Doppelganger It has been a long week and you decide to treat yourself to a nice meal. You spot this nice restaurant as you go home and decide to give it a shot. As you walk in the door the loud noise in the place becomes suddenly silent. You pause as you fear the place might be in th