Welcome to the end of May... how did that happen? No, seriously! It's crazy how fast the year is flying by, and we're almost halfway done with 2018. And what does flying have to do with this month's author and featured story? Well, did you read Lie of the Serpent? Or you can check out my interview with Craftingmom. And don't forget to share your thoughts on her story below. 

If you could have one superpower, what would it be?

Of course, I've recently watched the Infinity Wars movie, so the Marvel superheroes and their powers are what's coming to mind.  I think manipulation of time, like Dr. Strange, would be cool so I could fix things I feel I did wrong (but then you get into the whole question of how that change would affect future outcomes and all), but, still, I have regrets that would be nice to not have.  Of course, a lot of my dreams involve flying, so maybe that's my subconscious telling me I'd prefer flying as my superpower!

What are you wearing (and no fibbing!)?

A grey comfy nightgown and cozy slippers—it is 2 am, so yeah...

What’s one location you’d love to go to research for a story?

I'd love to go to Greece.  Mythology was my specialty in my English minor and I'd like to eventually write something with a Greek or maybe Roman setting.  It would be hard because there is so much out there involving the Greek and Roman gods, but maybe twist off of a minor myth. 

What brought you to the GA?

I originally had started posting at AFF and Fiction Press with Tears of the Neko.  Then I found GA in looking for stories, and tried posting Tears of the Neko here.  The feedback/critiques I received here were (and have been) by far the most helpful and insightful.  They helped me to revamp Tears by adding over 20k words from its original form.  Comments and questions from readers have greatly helped me to advance my writing and grow as an author.  And now I only post here!

What’s the best part of being an author?

Well, I've been writing since at least middle school (so over 30 years).  Obviously, the 'old' stuff is mediocre at best, but even then the thrill of creating my own world and characters has been a driving factor in my writing.  Of course, there's the tiny part of me that enjoys sharing my writing with others and hoping they like it.  For the longest time (years—until college anyway), the only person who I ever allowed to read any of my fiction stories was my best friend, and she'd try to steal my spiral notebook while I was still writing.  In college, I allowed a few more friends to read my stories.  I would publish short stories and poetry in the school's literary journals, but never any of my longer works.  I didn't put anything major out for the mass public to view until putting my young adult works on Amazon in 2013, and then Tears of the Neko on AFF in 2014—the start of my journey into writing m/m fiction.

How did you come up with the title for Lie of the Serpent?

Well, I think of a snake laying in wait to pounce and devour its prey.  They're stealthy and slithery and can often hide in plain sight.  So that's how I think of Bryan's mother.  And of course she's lying to Bryan about Wyatt and how she feels about his relationship so.... Lie of the Serpent.

Lie of the Serpent is actually based off of an idea of a story I wrote back in high school.  The title then was The Sexton Keeps the Key, a line from an Emily Dickenson poem.  While some basic plot elements are the same (the mom kidnapping and trying to kill her son's significant other and the disabled brother helps save them), Lie of the Serpent became so much more, as the original was not nearly as engaging, detailed, or planned. 

I kinda suck at coming up with titles.  So sometimes when reading poetry or listening to music, I'll jot down a line or phrase that intrigues me and keep a list.  Sometimes those help trigger me to think up more interesting titles... sometimes, not all the time...

Is there anything you found particularly challenging when you wrote Lie of the Serpent?

I find writing a hateful or abusive parent rather difficult, but they are out there as we see in the news all the time.  There has to be some motivation behind their actions and detailing that can be challenging.  Eddie was also difficult, because while he's complicit in Wyatt's captivity, he also wants what's best for his brother.  The conflict his mother creates for him is difficult for him to reconcile because he wants to please both his mother and brother.

Did you do any kind of research for it?

A little research on the health problems Wyatt would be facing during his captivity and after his rescue.  A lot of times readers will offer suggestions or ask questions that has me looking things up as well.

What’s your favorite scene in the story?

Probably Wyatt's rescue where Eddie brings Wyatt out to Bryan.  Bryan and Eddie's utterly unconditional love for each other is what familial love should be, contrasted with their mother's selfish betrayal of her sons. 

If you could write a spinoff story for character(s) in this story, which one would you pick?

Oh Eddie, definitely.  While Bryan and Wyatt are whom I would consider the main protagonists, Eddie is a strong third and is definitely a dynamic, sympathetic character who deserves his own love interest.