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Thanks all! Since this has proved to be a very popular event and is relatively easy to plan for authors, I hope to keep doing it year after year, but we have to keep it fresh! That's why I've expanded the games this year. I wanted to give our speedy readers some new games and also hint around in various ways, but not give away too much for the members who take a bit more time or digest stories slower because life is busy or something comes up (we all know about that!) This way the Secret Author event isn't going too fast or too slow, and everyone gets to go at their own speed while enjoying the event. It makes me happy it seems we're walking the line just right so far. Next week there's a bit more of the usual sort of guessing/voting, and then reveals (because the evils of day-to-day work is coming for me!) so keep having fun at whatever pace you're going.

Two Truths & A Lie! So... we all know the theme of this year's Secret Author contest was Forbidden Knowledge. In order to "help" you figure out who wrote which story, I've asked authors to share 2 Truths & a Lie about their story writing process, the story itself, or... you know, stuff you should or shouldn't know. Will it help you? Maaaaybe. Let's get on with it, shall we? These are shared in no particular order, so have fun! Story Title: Undeliverable I wanted to write something different from my current stories, something more lived-in and introspective. That's what led me to the idea of present versus past. One title I seriously considered was 'You Won't Read This'. I scrapped it because I didn't want to jinx the story. The ending was the easiest part to write. I had the final scene in my head long before I wrote the opening sentence. Story Title: Gemma The entire story was written in under a week. The story was originally written in third person POV. The story was inspired by a YouTube video. Story Title: Subtle Signs Based on a true story. Written in less than an hour. Inspired by TikTok videos featuring men singing in bathroom stalls. Story Title: The Empty Library The story is inspired by a visit to Berlin as a student One of my hobbies is reading World War II historical books I love a good romance Story Title: Coffee With Supervision The concept originated from a television program in which the protagonist awoke beside a stranger. Having written the opening line, the narrative progressed naturally in a supernatural direction. This represents my first attempt at writing within the supernatural genre, and I found the experience of exploring a new style enjoyable. Story Title: Murder at 9th & Tom I firmly believe everyone and everything has some sort of way to tell their story. I love cats. I have never written about a murder before. Story Title: The Ledger I've always had a fascination with the Civil War and its ramifications. Also, a case of what-ifs: how history is a sequence of random events leading to life-changing encounters The most difficult issue in writing was dealing with the bisexuality of the main character and his fear of leaving his safe, comfortable existence. Story Title: Peeping Tom I love cats. I don't love cats. Animals are better than people. Story Title: No Official Reason I loved reading the boyband collection in the celebrity section on Nifty and wanted to try writing my own. I love the drama created by being closeted and wanted to weave it into the story. I have never written a romance story before without some speculative element involved, so I was determined to write one this time. Story Title: The Ivory Fig Ceremony I was hankering for for fig newtons. It was fig season. I was eating buckwheat crisps. Story Title: Wrong Window The story came from a song title I found randomly on Spotify The story came to me while listening to someone brag about a weird night. I was getting Pork dumplings and saw a fire escape in Hong Kong and thought that's a great setting. Story Title: Just The Facts, Man I remembered reading about this a few months before the secret author topic came out. ChatGPT didn’t like translating about a crime. https://www.history.co.uk/articles/the-greatest-mysteries-in-history ranks this as #1 on their list of history’s 19 greatest mysteries. Story Title: The Ledger of The Howling Void The story idea came to me whilst in the library at school This is my 100th story on GA I have a huge presence on GA and have written many genre of story using prompts. Story Title: Sweet Sour Paradox Logic While I was cooking sweet sour chicken got the idea with the sauce. I like mixing random leftovers to cook, so Caden did the same. Running through the Golden Gate park showed the best place for the boys to meet. Story Title: Unexpected Discovery The setting was an area I was familiar with in real life. The idea for the story evolved from a true story that I fictionalized. Part of the story was based on personal experience. All right... which are the truths? Which is the lie? Can you decide and do any of these little tidbits help reveal the author of the story(s) to you? Share your guesses below!

Hey, I thought that "Help...." was inspired. Set the tone right off.

Did you expect me to make things easy??? It's like you don't know me at all!

Who wants to play a game? For those who want to hit an easy button, check out the spoiler below. You'll find the list of attributions for the quotes in this list from the great stories from the our Secret Author Forbidden Knowledge category. Click the picture banner if you still need to read these great stories, catch up, or want to pair up the quotes yourself! Then come back to play the first of this week's games! Remember as you read, you're also trying to figure out which character you'd most like to meet for later voting. Now, ready to play? If you want a challenge, try to remember who said which quote below or find them on your own! Story Quotes "Help…" 'You didn't stop' “I am, in truth, right sorry.” “Now we have all the time in the world.” “If you were carrying something that large around, it would affect the way you walked.” “Come on up to my lair,” “Enough. Give me facts, not funerals.” "But I can tell you I don't have to give him a spanking about it.” Truths don't like to be locked away. "You were my monster," He dropped like a college kid’s laundry bag after a month away from home.” “I always knew!” "I've had dozens of girlfriends," “I don’t have any money to play poker,” “The ghost of the chicken is strong in that one.” Quote Attributions - Click below to open spoiler

Monday!

Always interesting to learn how other people decide how to read stories. Maybe it's just me, but I'm a list person. I go top to bottom. If I'm really feeling froggy, I go bottom to top. 😮🫢🫣😉 But is that how I share things? Or list the quotes in the first game soon to come? Nahhhh.... I'm far more evil than that. Plus I use randomizers because I hate being predictable. Did you think you could get me that way? HA! 😈

On the upside, the stories will stay live (and secret!) and the games will continue for the next 3-4 weeks, so everyone will have plenty of time to read!

It might have taken a bit, but the secret stories are going live today for readers to enjoy! What mysteries are being revealed, secrets are being shared, or forbidden truths are being uncovered? Well, you'll just have to read the stories to find out! Let's go over the name of the game, just in case we have a lot of newbies here... plus I have some extra fun twists to reveal! Read, comment, and review the Forbidden Knowledge stories posted by our Secret Author. Wonder who wrote them... because no one is telling! 🙊 Game 1: Connect the Quote: Can you name the character and story the quote came from? Pretty self-explanatory! Game 2: Guess the Authors: I hope to get input from all the participants this year with a fun twist of 2 Truths & A Lie to help readers out where authors share information about how they came up with their idea or wrote their story. Game 3: Favorite Character I Want to Meet (and poll): We'll have more than one poll this year. I want to have one topic where readers get to share the character they would most love to meet from all the stories they read (and why!!). I'll use those character names to then create a poll for voting to determine a winner of the most popular character to meet. Game 4: Favorite Story: Voting poll with a topic to share thoughts on your favorite stories with reader conversation. No choice is forbidden! Game 5: Author Reveal: Can you connect the right author to the right story? How many will you get right? So keep an eye out for blogs, topics, and more to post over the next few weeks. Don't worry, you will have plenty of time to read, comment, vote, and just all over have fun with this event. The only fun that's forbidden is revealing who the real author is before the end! So click on the banner above or the link below to begin your reading adventure! https://gayauthors.org/stories/browse/category/210-2026-forbidden-knowledge-secret-author/

That's what I usually do when I'm looking up stories or checking out different options from authors. I'll open the author's listing of stories and do a right click "open link in a new tab" on the story title so you can close that story and go right back to their author page and list of stories when you finish the one you were enjoying to find the next one that catches your fancy from their listing (because that tab is still sitting open).

Now, there has been some.... misinformation out there. 15th... 16th... what was the true date? Was someone trying to keep your favorite author from playing this game or you from knowing all the juicy details of the forbidden truths hidden in this year's entries by changing it up from blog post to blog post? I will admit nothing! Neither will the team! But since there MAY have been some confusion out there, I will accept late stories on the 16th if they come in while I *coughs* the Forbidden Author, works on formatting everything for the event. So get your guessers ready, your game faces on, and let the fun ALMOST begin. I know some of you late night Lucies out there YOU CAN get us a story!

I don't post the stories for a few days, so due to the mix up on a few blogs posted, I will accept Secret Author stories on the 16th if they come in that day as I work on formatting and the contests. Thanks,!!

Peanut butter & banana... Yum!! I like this in yogurt, in a wrap, smoothied, blended and frozen in coins for a cool down treat... Really, you can't go wrong any way you put them together!

That's right, to whet your whistle, so to speak, this month we're looking back at last year's submissions to the Secret Author contest! Authors maybe aren't sure how to incorporate a Secret/Forbidden topic into the story or just how tangential it can be, these stories could be the inspiration needed (you never know which new author may take up the mantle for the contest once they have a reference!) Readers, well... sometimes we all enjoy a 2nd, 3rd, or more look back at content from our favorite authors! And mayyyyybe it will help you decipher who wrote which story this year? 2025 Secret Author Contest - Reveal the Truth Thoughts from readers on some of the submissions: @Jeff Burton on Unmasked by @BendtedWreath As I said in my comment, this story is stupid-cute. Years can keep people at bay, but the feels always bring them together. @Headstall on Four Hours by @Cole Matthews: And now for something completely different. This short story takes the reader all kinds of places. Give it a read. @Thirdly on Liminal by @Camy: Dag-friggin-nabbit. I want to read more about this story's world and characters. @Mikiesboy on Septima's Potential by @Lorenz Qatava: Lust for what you'll get when someone dies can blind you. Don't be greedy, be grateful. This was an enjoyable read. @Gary L on Carpe Veritas by @kbois The title says it all, or does it? An intriguing read with some fantastic language and imagery. I loved all 1300 words of it. Try it and prepare to be teased! These were just a few reviews on a few of the stories submitted to the contest. Did you read and guess these authors last year? Or did they, and the others, keep their secrets???

It's always been due the 15th, BUT you did make me go check just in case I was passing along misinformation. Who, me?? Now, stories don't post that same day but the fun does begin soon after!

Wow, it's July 1st already?! There's a time warp somewhere, I swear. Or some sort of spell on my life at times, perhaps from a book of Forbidden Knowledge? Or each day I pass through the front door and enter a rift through which I lose time due to... well, who knows? What isn't forbidden is reminding all my site author friends that they need to get their themed stories to me ASAP if they want to participate in this year's fun! Click the banner to go to the event details. And readers, get ready to play.... Maybe I've already gotten yours? Hmmm... Maybe someone new has joined in, or someone who swears they just don't have time? Or someone on the site who never plays but decided to try for funsies because the third year's the charm? Do you think I have double digit submissions yet? You can't torture the names out of me, just the deadline again. JULY 15th! Tick tock... time's counting down.

Typically we ask all authors who create stories that connect to post them by creating a series or world. That will connect the stories with a link that shows up right next to the title. Readers can click on that link in order to go to a page with all of the stories listed on it in order to be able to read them. A series obviously will connect the stories in a specific reading order. A world connects the stories by the similar content the author has created but not a specific reading order usually. In this case, it appears the author has used the title to indicate this is a second story instead of following the guidelines. That does occasionally happen. You can use the author tab to search for this author's story listing and find the matching title that doesn't say volume two. You could also just use the story search field that shows up on the main stories archive page above the story listings, type in the title for volume 2, and see if it appears there with a matching title. When I did that, it did.

Did you catch Monday's feature and read this short story yet by Parker Owens? At just a few thousand words, you can read it and leave your comment, likes, or reviews immediately. Share what you think! Want to read more? Click here.

A short read for a long month! This will give you more time to make those connections count. Length: 4,430 Description: A sad visit to a new grave; an unknown mourner. What does it mean? A reader said: Stranger at the Grave is a poignant short story centering around themes of familial neglect and the consequent loss. It gives us pause to consider what is truly important in life and why it is that we seem so absorbed in the trivia of career over family. ~Doha If you want to spread the word about Parker Owen's story, download the graphic below and add it to your signature! Make sure you come back on Wednesday to see the excerpt I chose to share!

Well, we're hitting the halfway point of the year, so why not a story that literally mentions a halfway point of something? Some might also consider parenthood a halfway point in our lives in adulthood, between youth and middle age (I'm not old just because my children are grown!) Here's this month's feature for you to enjoy, rated 5 stars with several recommendations as well! Fourth Down: Second Quarter by @FrankD Length: 38,744 Description: Hunter and Dale are all set for the next chapter of their lives; parenthood. Having just moved to Cedrich Falls, a small town in the Midwest, they become fast friends with their neighbor. After taking in two kids in need, they soon find themselves up against the towns self proclaimed authority on what is morally right. A Reader Said: Following the traumatic events in his university days, with the love and strong support of the man he loves, his friends, and family, Hunter has not only survived but flourished. In the opening of Fourth Down: Second Quarter, we witness Hunter and Dale, along with their children, moving forward in life, settling into a new home and a new town, surrounded by the tight-knit family of choice they’ve created. As new friends are welcomed into their circle, they come together to celebrate their reunion and the next chapter of their lives. Trouble lies ahead, though, as they face new challenges and forces intent on destroying their lives. ~Vcs Don't forget to come back to comment on the Discussion day, Monday, June 29th!

Have you read this month's short story feature, Ghost in the Guitar, recently finished by Lee Wilson? I often feature older stories but sometimes you just have to put a light on the recent gems too! Share your thoughts below, but first enjoy this interview! Chocolate or Vanilla? Chocolate; with chocolate syrup. What’s something personal about you people might be surprised to know? This is/was the hardest question, so it requires a preamble. “People” are all part of one of two very disparate groups for me. Those that know me here, and those that know the man behind the pen, pretending to be Lee Wilson. That man is buried so far deep in secrets, it’s hard to know what to share. Not that there’s much that’s all that surprising about me. I guess one that might be surprising is I’m probably going to be deaf at some point. I have almost no hearing in my right ear, and probably only about 60% and fading in the left. What do you like to do when you’re not writing? Read, play games on my phone, watch sporting events, mostly hockey and NASCAR, and listen to music. What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What has been the best compliment? Toughest: Hands down the comments about how badly I ended ‘Rocked to the Core,’ before adding the extra chapter. Best: Fortunately, it is a lot more common, simply hearing that people enjoy my writing. What brought you to GA? When we were thinking about a place to retire… Oh, you meant the site, hee hee. I had written a few stories on nifty and one of my readers made a comment about this site. I was starting another story that didn’t fit clearly into their categories. After I checked GA out, I was hooked. What’s the first thing you do when you start to write a story? Type letters on the keyboard? No, generally I just try to hash out the idea in a summary, making sure it sounds reasonable for where I initially expect the story to go. Although sometimes it strays from that overall idea. What made you choose ghosts as a paranormal theme for Ghost in the Guitar? The original idea was simply a young guitarist fills in for a deceased member of a band and the man’s ghost guides him. Do you have a background with music since that is also a theme for this story? If you can call playing the clarinet somewhere around middle school age a background, yes. But nothing more than that. I just love music. What’s your favorite line or scene in Ghost in the Guitar? I think in chapter 6, where Russell is explaining what Fabian will need to do to solve his murder. Can you share a little of your current work or upcoming with us? I’m currently working on my entry for October’s anthology. I picked Horizons but am merging that with another of my series. I won’t say which series now, though. It’s kind of an unexpected turn in the story. I also have a story going continuing another series, going back to Carlo, Brandon, and Karl from ‘My Friend and Protector’ and its sequels.

Did you catch Monday's feature of northie's story? As I get older, and I also take care of my older parents and parent-in-laws, I often find the theme of this story is quite on point. The village we gain in our older years might not be the one we expect, but it might just be the one we never knew we could count on! Want to read more? Click here

I can't believe it's already May! We're looking forward to the change of the season, so I wanted to feature another story that is all about change. Have you read this story in the past? There's a whole series for you to enjoy! Length: 42,145 Description: A lonely, older man has spent his life hiding his sexuality. One day, by chance, this changes. Then a young man arrives to help him widen his horizons, as he slowly comes to terms with life as a gay man. A Reader said: A heartwarming story. Elderly people are often lonely. There must be many older folk like Eric, counting their pennies and working out if they can afford to put the heating on for a few hours. I enjoyed the development of the story and the way that each little step brings Eric further out of the shell into which he'd withdrawn and shows Andy that there is so much in his own life he's taken for granted. ~Mawgrim If you want to spread the word about northie's story, download the graphic below and add it to your signature! Make sure you come back on Wednesday to see the excerpt I chose to share!

Just because it's on Wikipedia doesn't mean that someone else didn't originally steal that photo and post it on there. That website is rife with bad data because anyone can post to it and not have to verify sources, technically. I'm not calling out any names, just reminding all members that images have owners too. Not everyone is okay with it being shared, unless it's purchased.

Here I come again... well, not really. Wildone formatted the post and chris191070 reviewed the story for this blog, but hey, I hit copy and paste and added the title and blog banner. Go team! Now it's your turn to read the review, get intrigued, then read & share some love for the story. Rough Strokes by the Golden Egg by Soren Kraft Reviewer: chris191070 Status: Complete Word Count: 11,116 If you fancy a swim, then jump straight into this story. We have an annual swim meat between GWU and Georgetown. There is a huge rivalry as they compete for the Golden Egg. Each University has there own star swimmer. GWU has the charamisratic Austin, who is always happy and Georgetown have Petr, a grumpy Czech. These two have been rivals for many years, but this year Austin is determined to find out why Petre is so grumpy. What will transpire in and out of the pool for our rivals. You will need to join them in the deep end to find out more. . Category: Fiction Genres: Romance Sub-genres: Sports Star Romance, Grumpy, Sunshine Romance Tags: Young Adult, gay, university, anal, first time, sports, holiday, funny, uplifting, athlete, competition, rivals Rating: Mature