I have been a member for a mere 18 months, and the first few of those were spent skulking in the shadows mostly. I joined simply to be able to comment on the few stories I'd read. Gradually, I was drawn into the more social aspect of the site - my first experience of any social media site. Then, something very strange happened. A very dear friend (as he now is) planted an idea my head, and it took hold. The idea? That I could write. Now, some 12 months later, I have written roughly 100k words (give or take some verse). Before that, I had no inkling that I wanted, needed, desired to be an author. None whatsoever. I'm sure that if I hadn't arrived at GA and been given that prod, I wouldn't have written a word. Writing is now an integral part of my life, as necessary as anything else you need daily. And it is a personal boost like no other, when people who read my writing enjoy it, and say so. Thanks, GA!  And happy anniversary!  

Hehehe, a couple of hours early...but let'sparty anyway! Congrats, GayAuthors! And thanks for everything!

Forever grateful! And here's to many more years!

Like @Valkyrie and @northie I'm a relatively new member.  I joined GA in the summer of 2014, and for nearly the next year, I was a "lurker" on the site. All I did was quietly read all the wonderful stories GA had to offer. It wasn't until the Spring of 2015 that I began to become more active on GA. I began visiting Chat, joining the games in the Forums (LPW was my first, and if I recall correctly, I took the  from the Pesky Penguin herself.  ) and I also posted in the many other sections of the Forums, specifically, finding threads dedicated to authors and stories frequented by their dedicated fans. It was through that perusal, that I found the COTT thread and met many of my closest friends, not only on GA but in my life in general. 

So, I want to thank the admins, moderators, authors, editors, and readers for making GA the amazing site that it is.  And I digitally toast to GA's Fifteenth GAnniversary and to many more years to come.  

I celebrate a much deserved 15 years of GA. A site of quality writing and authors. 
I've been coming to the website for 5 years. Only joining as an active member in March. I have made friendships that mean the world to me. This site is a place where I can be me... 
The staff is outstanding. Some becoming friends. I've enjoyed interacting and learning from people I respect. 

Came here to read, joined to say, "wow i like that."    Talked to the author, who convinced me to post some poetry I'd written when i was on the street. Then i met others like Headstall and AC Benus who encouraged me to write prose.  AC has edited most of my work and is a dear friend as are many others i've been lucky enough to meet.  The last thing i ever thought would happen was to be promoted to Promising author.  I've been here since August 2015.

G.A. has changed my life and me. I believe in myself, i'm proud of myself.  Things i never thought i'd be. 

Congratulations on 15 years. You've built something special here.  All of you who read, and write and the excellent and supportive staff, make this place what it is. 

Thank you

tim aka Mikiesboy

Congratulations GA!! I am another one of those who lurked anonymously at the beginning, probably for a couple of years. I finally became a member in order to comment on whatever Mark's current story was at the time. Yes, he got my cherry post.  That was in April of 2014. A momentous day for me, because I was finally able to express my feelings through chapter reviews. I found it a very rewarding thing to do, and it didn't take me long to feel at home in this wonderful place. I soon found friendships I didn't know could exist on the internet. To this day, it amazes me how real and important they've become to me. 

The following January, in 2015, I began writing my first ever story. I wrote feverishly for about seven hours, and then posted it before I could chicken out. I was terrified... but, like I've seen too many times to count, this wonderful community showed me incredible support, and the fears were slowly replaced by a confidence that this was right for me (it helped too that Timothy offered to be my editor... Robin to my Batman). This was what I had been looking for, without me having any idea I was searching for anything at all. Thank you to GA, for giving me wings. I love writing, and I love writing HERE. It's home.   HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

I, too, lurked in the shadows for a long while when I first discovered GA. I simply could not believe the breadth and depth and quality of the writing here. Later, I joined, just so I could comment on a chapter of a story which affected me deeply. It wasn't long before I asked a far more experienced author what I would need to do in order to post a story of my own. I expected a long, and discouraging answer. Instead, I received a pleasant, and genuine response, laced with the hope that I would someday post something. 

I offer my deep thanks to those who created and maintain GA. I am even more deeply grateful to those who encouraged me to write: Val, tim, AC, Carlos, and many others, too. In this place, I have been befriended, gently taught, and frequently encouraged. Here I have learned more about poetry and writing than I ever learned in school. And I have been given gifts beyond measure, in the friendships and easy, accepting collegiality that exists here and no place else I have been. 

Happy #15, GA.  

No I won't do my stripper routine for the anniversary!

I'm retired.

I'll probably break a hip or something.

Oh, all right but I get to keep all the tips...

I'm enjoying reading these recollections of how members came to be on GA and how this site has had such a great impact on their lives. I myself am a newbie. I haven't even been here a year yet, although it feels much, much longer. In searching for a viable author site to start posting a story I was working on in the Fall of 2016,  I decided upon Gay Authors, because I could tell that this site is full of quality writing and quality people, and authors are taken seriously, which, as a writer, is an important aspect. Unlike other gay story sites that focus more on smut, this site showcases stories containing intelligent subject matter and deeper content (with the occasional smut thrown in for good measure).

The camaraderie, support and feedback offered here inspires creativity. For me, the 10 months I have spent on GA have been utterly rewarding. I have read inspiring prose and poetry, blogs and forums, and I've met some amazing people, both readers and writers. I have made a circle of friends that I cherish, and I have been driven to continue to write and hone my skills. So, thank you GA, for offering members an inspiring and safe place to express ourselves - as authors, as readers, as friends, as people. Cheers! 

Fifteen years in the internet era is a lifetime.  Smart phones were still five years in the future.  The iPad was not introduced until 2010, yet now much of the traffic to the site is via mobile devices.  Congrats to everyone who has contributed expertise, time, ideas, oversight, money, and especially content!  The stories are what make the site a destination.

I started coming to this site about nine years ago to read Mark Arbour's stories.  I joined his Yahoo Group before that but group access was a bit twitchy at times and so I came here.  I joined in April 2009 and saw the changes that occurred in 2010-2011 and the major change earlier this year.  A tip of the hat is in order!

Like @Valkyrie I found GA by following Rob Colton and was amazed by the number of authors and stories I found. I lurked for months before finally joining in 2014, so I could follow a couple of authors as I impatiently awaited  their next chapters.  

I've been writing for years, but it took me a long time to build up the courage to finally post a story here.  I don't think I would have done it without the support and encouragement of an author I highly respected (who has become one of my dearest friends), @Headstall.  

I, like so many other authors, have benefitted from such a supportive atmosphere.  This is a community like none other I've been a part of and I'm grateful for all of the hard work put into making this site what it is today.  Happy 15th Anniversary, GA, and I wish you many, many more.  And @Myr I think you deserve several   for all of the blood, sweat, tears and sleepless hours you've put into this place.  None of us would be here without you. 

congratulations GA on 15 years. may you have many more! from

Wow! Fifteen years! That deserves a cake! 

I'm very pleased I followed @Timothy M. here with the crumbs of slightly naughty stories he left. To read all the stories here, from the very serious to the most for fun, has become a favourite. To write myself has been deeply rewarding, with all the encouragement.

What makes me the happiest, though, are all the friends I've made. One in particular has become so important in my life. Now, I can't imagine life without him. For that I'm forever grateful. 

Happy 15th Gay Authors!

I came to this site, looking for stories written by @Comicality, specifically the one called Shelter, as I read it on Nifty, and hoped that he had finished it here on GA. After lurking about for a month or two, I decided to create my account, and I started posting stories that I wrote because I felt there was a lack of good Gay SciFi. The old "If you write it, you will find it," premise. I'm happy to say, that I've developed several friends on GA, and hope to continue with GA for a very long time.

GA changed my life and my opinion of myself. In the past, I was told that I wrote great research papers, but I had never tried to write anything creative/fiction. I still struggle with being too technical in my stories (ie writing as if my audience was a college professor instead of general public). But, I would like to think I'm getting better with the help of people from the community. @Mikiesboy and @Kitt have both been very helpful in getting my stories to the level they are. Thank y'all for the site, I plan on being here for as long as y'all will have me.

Having only turned up a couple of months ago this feels a little like being at a party I wasn't really invited to.  But It's a significant achievement to have survived that long, and to have done so whilst building both a quality site and an engaged community is even more remarkable.  Well done, and thanks.

39 minutes ago, Sam Wyer said:

Having only turned up a couple of months ago this feels a little like being at a party I wasn't really invited to.  But It's a significant achievement to have survived that long, and to have done so whilst building both a quality site and an engaged community is even more remarkable.  Well done, and thanks.

I understand how you feel, as I felt it a few times too. However, it's a great site, with fantastic members.

8 hours ago, Sam Wyer said:

Having only turned up a couple of months ago this feels a little like being at a party I wasn't really invited to.  But It's a significant achievement to have survived that long, and to have done so whilst building both a quality site and an engaged community is even more remarkable.  Well done, and thanks.

7 hours ago, BHopper2 said:

I understand how you feel, as I felt it a few times too. However, it's a great site, with fantastic members.

I, for one, am very thankful for the both of you. You have both supported me and my works since you got here. A small thing, perhaps, but one I'm very appreciative of.

Congratulations on this proud occasion, to those who built our home and kept it alive and intriguing from the start! 

I don't know if I'd have done any real gay fiction without GA's existence; once I discovered the site I too lurked for about a year before events made me take the plunge.  Writing isn't new for me--I'd written cheesy science-fiction stories since elementary school back in the 60s, and in my last year of high school in 1977, I sent the first chapters and outline for a fantasy novel off to several publishers, all of whom sent me very proper rejection slips.  In a college Creative Writing course I was informed that I had a little talent, but that my work shone when I wrote some historical pieces rather than the imitative sci-fi and fantasy previously explored.  Ten or so years later, I found online fiction which was practically brand new in the early 90s, and found a group devoted to research and role-play writing in the Ancient World...and thus began my love for online writing.  I took part in several groups set in ancient Rome, and wrote as part of a team of like-minded amateurs for nearly fifteen years.  Rome gave an outlet for non-graphic homoerotic writing, but it was GA where I tried writing the real thing in 2014.

It might not have happened if I hadn't had colon surgery that Spring, which made me take a look at myself.  I wanted to write something relevant to my psyche--modern gay fiction--and thereby come to terms with some events in my private life.  I envy those who have found their 'better halves' in this world because that for the most part escaped me, until that was met from a most unexpected source--a casual acquaintance I'd been told was homophobic.  No one was more surprised than me when I was approached by him (really a bi man), and thoroughly shocked that we lasted more than ten years until pressures he couldn't share forced him to take his own life in 2007.

So, GA is allowing me to come to terms with that, and the rejection of my father when he discovered my sexuality--fortunately just before we sold our house and moved to separate ones in 1987.  I had been close to him until then, but after that discovery he never spoke to me again.  He died in 2001 aged 83.  That is the other keystone to why I'm writing my 'mini-magnum-opus' Jay & Miles...my fictional 'me' will take the chance I passed up in high school and live a happier life as I could have done with a little more courage....

So, a heart-felt Thank You to the people who created this site, and to the wonderful writers who drew me in and became friends who I cherish to this day!

Congratulations on this milestone moment. I'm happy to have played my small part these last four years.

Wow! GA.. 

Ok, so I followed  @Timothy M. and his twins here, and found a wealth of quality authors and their stories. Once I crawled out of the shadows, there was no going back. (As a Former Lurker, the Lurkers 12 step program is awesome) 

 My own few attempts at writing have been encouraged by some of the most talented writers on the site and I have never been disappointed following the advice of those I sought. I'm forever indebted to @AC Benus and @Mikiesboy for getting me started. It is a very rewarding experience - writing and reading. The level of support from writers and staff is incredible and generous. I continue to benefit from all the information and advice so freely given. 

The staff- GA staff are some of the hardest working people around. I maybe don't say that enough! Hats off. 

I'm grateful for and value the friends and friendships that I've made, as a result of being a part of this community. Some I know, will last a lifetime.. 

So, Thank You, GA for being around long enough for me to find you. Thank You for being a place where we can all grow as we experience this fantastic community of writers and readers. 

Congratulations on 15 years, and continued success for years and years and years to come!!!  🎉🎉

In the short three years I've been here, most of you who know me, know I won't show up to this party without the wine... 😏🤗 SALUTE!!! 

It's hard to believe I've only been a member here since June of last year.  Seems like a lot longer, and I believe it's because everybody's been so nice and helpful.  It's truly an honor to be able to contribute in some small way to the continued success of the site.  The well of great writing is very deep, and there's a little something for everyone.  I'm a "Comicality Guy," having lurked in the shadows and enjoyed his style of writing for eons.  To have the privilege of sharing a little digital space with one of my inspirations is amazing.  I guess it's the great fear of the writer to pour your heart, soul, time, and effort into a story and have someone come along and say, "that sucked."  It's like someone telling you your kid is ugly.  No one does that here.  It's very encouraging.  It makes you want to be better at what you do.  So thanks for letting me tag along and helping me grow, and for the community that has supported so many for so long.

I joined on March 21st 2013 and I left my first comment two days later for podga, who I think was the one who told me about GA. Sadly, he's no longer active here.

At the time I was looking for a place where readers appreciated the efforts to write a good story and also gave real feedback to the authors. At first I read a lot of stories (maybe even before I joined  ), working my way down the Most Favorited list, and it soon became clear that GA was indeed a place with quality authors, stories and readers. In fact, for a while I thought I'd never be able to post any stories here, because they wouldn't measure up. But one of the great things about reading so many wonderful stories is the chance to improve your own writing. Of course, having awesome editors/betas help just as much, as well as the great advice and discussion in the forum topics.

Looking back at my early comments I realize they're a lot more critical than what I'd write today. I seemed to mainly write a comment when I wanted to point to an inconsistency in the story line. Maybe that's why most of them were ignored, although it may also be because some of the authors were not active on GA.    But I recall the thrill of getting a reply - @Andrew_Q_Gordon  was the first, then @Krista , @Bill W , and @Jwolf . I've learned to comment mostly about what I like about a story, and that it's better to send a PM with constructive criticism. But I still love to do a good rant now and then, only I focus on the characters and situations which the author wants us to yell about, right @aditus ?  

Anyway, to cut a long story short, GA soon became my second home, with many friends and people I admire. I've never considered posting stories anywhere else, and I rarely look for stories elsewhere. My thanks to everyone who contribute to making GA such a wonderful place.

PS @Puppilull and @Defiance19   I'm proud to be the one to have lured you here.  You fit perfectly in the GA family.