Well, Halloween and just about everything creepy is creeping up on us (I hate clowns, and they are everywhere, like everywhere!) Did this month's CSR creep up on you in a good way or not? I do say one answer by Aditus surprised me, but maybe that's just because here in the US we have a holiday nearly every day if you want to pick one. Like, Jan 8th is National Man Watcher's Day. 🫣That could be taken in soooo many ways. October 30th, Haunted Refrigerator Night (I'm sorry, it's been 2 weeks since I've been really functional, my fridge is haunted RIGHT NOW!) LOL Anyway, read on for my interview with Aditus, enjoy his great answers, and then share below on that and your thoughts about Halloween Horror Themes 2013: From the Ashes Spring New Life!
Chocolate or Vanilla?
Dark chocolate with cocoa nibs.
If you were an animal, what would you be?
An owl. Nocturnal, big eyes a.k.a. glasses, and a sharp beak.
What’s something personal about you people might be surprised to know?
I collect swords, mostly from favorite movies and TV shows. For example, I have Glamdring, Narsil, and Andúril from LOTR. My dream sword right now is Sephiroth’s Masamune from Final Fantasy VII.
What’s one location you’d love to go to research for a story?
A spa. I’ve never been to one, and I think the chances of that happening are slim. I mean, you can’t go there and stare openly and ask weird questions like, "Do you really enjoy bathing in seaweed, chocolate, or beer?"
How do you celebrate your favorite annual holiday? How would you celebrate it if time/money, etc… were no obstacle?
I don’t have a favorite annual holiday.
What is the best part of writing for you? The hardest part?
The best part is that everything goes. The hardest part is making readers see, even when it isn’t what I see.
Do you have any writing rituals?
I write when I’m alone. I close my eyes and immerse myself in the world, character, or conversation I want to write. It’s usually a fragile thread, which is the reason why I really hate interruptions.
What is your favorite supernatural creatures, vampires like this story or another creature from a different tale?
It’s definitely vampires. Any kind of vampire, with one exception: no sparkle. I love to play with the vampire trope and expectations.
Do you have a favorite line or part of From Ashes Spring New Life?
What about: My frenzied gaze darted through the room, found the door again, so out of my reach, and finally fell on the mirror on the opposite wall. What I saw was a naked man with a really hot ass in my bedroom, and rationality took over at last.
Can you share something about your current or upcoming writing with readers?
There is always The Cat Burglar. I plan to end this story, promise. And maybe, if the stars align, another Halloween story.
Monday I shared a feature for Topher Lydon's Reunion. How many of you went to your school reunion(s)? I don't, but out of the 18 students I graduated with, yeah... I'm good. I am still besties with my "person" who I met on the first day of first grade, and we get chat and get together as regular as possible, but she actually abandoned me for high school when her folks made her move. The nerve! On the other hand, she met her husband and introduced me to his roommate, who is my husband, so the high school tales and love really can come true. What about you? Are any friendships or loves still going strong? Did any part of Topher's story, Reunion, resonate with you? Share below the excerpt I picked out!!
Want to read more? Click here
It is said that at the end of this month the veil thins and a reunion of sorts can happen between souls and those they leave behind. What about reunions of a different sort and people that get left behind in our lives? Can those reconnections be made again?
Length: 3,756
Description: Two best friends. Ten years of lies. One reunion that changes everything. Kyle and Nile have spent a decade pretending they're fine—pretending they're successful, pretending their marriages weren't mistakes, pretending prom night never happened. When they finally stop performing, the truth is messier, funnier, and more terrifying than either expected. But maybe the boy you almost kissed is the one you were meant to end up with all along. A bittersweet, hilarious second-chance romance about coming home.
A reader said: Two men reunite at their 10th anniversary of graduation. They tell each other about their successful careers, marriages, and lives. It is all lies. They move to an out of the way place to have a drink. While talking they admit that they are both failures at work and in relationships and remember fondly prom night when they nearly danced. You will need to read the story to find out what happens next… I highly recommend this story and the incredibly talented author. ~flesco
If you want to spread the word about Topher Lydon's story, download the graphic below and add it to your signature!
Come back on Wednesday to see the excerpt I chose to share!
Well, October has hit... and it's in the 70s and 80s here. Like, what a switcheroo. Where's my cool and rainy fall? Boo! Just like the character in this short story by Aditus was expecting one thing and got another in this horror-themed short, perfect for this month! It's an older story, so many of the members on this site may not have read it. I've been here for 17 years now, apparently, so I remember when this was posted and popular. Like a vampire, I also live FOREVER, muahahahah! (Nah, I'm just OLD and cranky now, lol) But you read on, get in the spooky season spirit, and may it bring on the appropriate Octoberness we all need (and I want!)
Halloween Horror Themes 2013: From the Ashes Spring New Life
by @Aditus
Length: 3,541
Description: Skylar enjoys a quiet All Hallows Eve at home until he has an unexpected visitor.
A reader said: Vampire in the mail, huh? What a clever tale you've woven, Aditus. ~ Ron (from Cia: Doesn't this comment just intrigue you???? Like... whhhut?)
Don't forget to come back to comment on the Discussion day, Monday, September 26th!
While the Wildone is away, you get Cia to play. Okay, so I'm totally not playing. Saturday was my day of getting stuff DONE. Chores, laundry, errands, kidult stuff, the hubby took his dad to a funeral 2 hours away and had my car, it's fall so I made homemade chicken pot pie and then there was a SPIDER on the CEILING and my son told me to get it. I almost had to kill him. It. I mean it. The spider. Then he did it like a good son who is NOT afraid of his mother. 😇 Sunday is for fun though. My daughter, also a kidult, invited me as a guest adult pass to the zoo since it's not supposed to rain. Will it be crazy with kids? Yes! But I don't have to tell any of them to walk, not run, and the weather is cool so more animals are out. What's your favorite animal? (FYI, Check out tomorrow's CSR blog to see if that was a question I asked andy cannon) Now let's see what other blogs you should have checked out (hint, it was lots of me!)
Monday I featured Stellar's story Hidden Sunlight. Huge hit with scifi fans.
Tuesday Myr did a Deep Dive into Horror *shivers*
Not sure if you like scifi? Check out Wednesday's excerpt blog for Hidden Sunlight.
Thursday Valkyrie whispered the Anthology deadline is creaking up on you and asked for feedback on blog features! Comment there!
Friday, well... what twisted little tidbit did you try?
Myr's Words of the Day were in alignment with the twisted theme, I think. Did you try saying any of them 5 times fast? I dare you! Double dare....
winsome sprezzatura tenebrous susurrus numinous psithurism effulgent
Upcoming Writing Events
2026 Yearly Anthology "Horizons" & "Unspoken" - Due October 1, 2026 - Find all the information right here. ONLY 4 more days to make your intentions clear to @Valkyrie.
Member Participation Blogs - Great way to promote yourself!!
Ask an Author 3.0 If you have a author you want to get some answers from, write a PM to @astone2292
Author Guess Who Get our members to guess who you are and also let everyone know who you are. Also write a PM to @astone2292
Here is the look at the past week's postings on all our Authors and Poets!
1 Recently Updated 'Premium' Stories
The Tainted Relic by Topher Lydon In Process
8 Recently Updated 'Signature Author' Stories
Carter's Revolution by Topher Lydon In Process
Carter's Hand by Topher Lydon Complete
Take the Long Road Home by kbois In Process
USS Zodiac by Topher Lydon In Process
TRAVISTY by Mark Arbour In Process
The Tainted Relic by Topher Lydon In Process
Out of the Blue by Mark Ponyboy Peters In Process
Roping the Moon by Headstall In Process
1 Recently Updated 'Classic Author' Stories
Love on Trial by Ronyx In Process
2 Recently Updated 'Promising Author' Stories
Blades of Ashes by lilansui In Process
Bold Desire by lilansui In Process
45 Recently Updated 'Author' Stories
Aethan's Reign by ValentineDavis21 In Process
Safe Distance by Tony S. In Process
Blades of Ashes by lilansui In Process
The Impostor by vanalas In Process
It’s All Baked Inn by Autumn Dream In Process
Stingy Jack’s Last Trick — A Halloween Tale by Mark Paren In Process
Robbie and Mark: Latest chaos by unilive In Process
Another Role of a Lifetime by KKirk In Process
From Maine To The Pentagon by Lee Wilson In Process
Pompeii by Boy Mercury X Complete
Worship Me by Littlelovestories In Process
Supernova by Thightide45 In Process
Dad's Helping Hand by M. Harding In Process
A fruitless Deal by Celian In Process
Bold Desire by lilansui In Process
Barnaby and the Tomorrow Paradox by chris191070 Complete
Cove of Quiet Things by Enoch Complete
House of the Moon by Albert1434 In Process
At Tempest Island by Grayson Rose In Process
The Curse of Love by Yeoldebard Temporary Hold
Heart of Teutonburg by Mark Paren In Process
The Blood Between Us by mastershakeme Complete
Brian & Gordon: Doing their Damnedest by Robert Hugill In Process
All In Or In The Way by Thightide45 In Process
Monstrum by Laura S. Fox In Process
Blueblood 5.1: Red Alert!! by R. Eric Long-Term Hold
Whispers in the Circuit by Enoch Complete
The Lab Partner by KC Stone In Process
The Mirror of Dreams by Lupus In Process
Unraveled by jkwsquirrel In Process
Fault Lines by sumtimesIwrite In Process
In the Barb by Vcs In Process
Between the Two by Grayson Rose In Process
Beyond suspicion by Thomas Lindblad Complete
Sapphire in the Stars by JujuTheDruid In Process
The Prince and Ai by W_L In Process
Draft Dodgers by Jonathan E In Process
Seducing The Cambion by BendtedWreath In Process
The Field of Love by Enoch Complete
Beyond the Veil by Laura S. Fox In Process
GFD 13: Fallen Angels by MrM In Process
Boymom by Boy Mercury X Complete
Breaking Masks by Josh Aterovis In Process
Notice by AusGlitterati Complete
What I Want by Paul Zhy In Process
Read, Write, and REVIEW!!! (Don't forget to Recommend too!)
Well, tis a cool day here in the end of September, though in the past it's been blazin hot. In this month's featured story from the first Monday's blog post, the past, present, and maybe even the future? weigh immeasurably on the main characters. Can they bear it? Could andy cannon bear my questions? Read on to find out the answers to all that! Share your thoughts on his story, The Tor, below in comments!
Do you eat your fruits and vegetables? I’m a big fan.
If you were an animal, what would you be? Probably a dog.
What is one thing readers would be surprised to learn about you? I’m really three raccoons in a trench coat.
What’s one location you’d love to go to research for a story? My bucket list countries, all fertile grounds for literature, are India (very possible), Cuba (less likely because of the expense) and Russia (probably not happening any time).
Is there a literary character (in the whole universe of fiction) that you’ve read who you really identified with? Ignatius Reilly in John Kennedy Toole’s A Confederacy of Dunces.
What brought you to GA? I was looking for a new community of writers and readers and was incredibly lucky to stumble on this one.
What’s the best part of being an author? The hardest part? The best part is seeing a story come to life on the page that I really enjoy reading. The hardest part is discovering that not everyone agrees with my assessment!
Did you like to write in school? I wrote some ephemera in school, but none of it was worth the trees that died in the process. I have always liked looking at strangers and assigning them a more interesting backstory than ‘man drinking coffee’. Oddly, every attractive man subjected to my scrutiny turns out to have a secret gay alter ego. Weird.
In The Tor, do you start with the plot idea or did the main character, Christopher, come to you first? I was thinking about the relationship between memory and grief in the wake of some deaths in my family, and the story grew as a kind of therapy.
Do you have a favorite line or scene in the story to share with readers?
Can you share something of your upcoming or current work with readers? I have a couple of projects that I will share before the end of the year. One is a toss at the currently popular genre of hockey romances, and the second is a dystopian Christmas fantasy with cynical nicotine-addicted elves and handsome studs who are shape-shifting reindeer.
Don't forget to share your comments on the interview & his story, The Tor, below!
Did you catch Monday's feature to Stellar's story, Hidden Sunlight? It's well worth a read, but if the member's review didn't convince you, please check out this excerpt from chapter one!
Want to read more? Click here!
Well, after a longer haitus than usual, we're back! This is a long, long story by an author many of us have enjoyed for years. Have you read this classic story? It's a go to favorite of mine when I'm looking for that apocalyptic style OMG WHAAAAT story, even though I know exactly what's going to happen, I still love it. Give it a try, especially if you love a LONG read!
Length: 175,313
Description: Facing a life-changing medical procedure, 14 year old Shay approaches it with the same detachment, confusion and dread that has haunted his emotions for as long as he can recall. Yet what follows instead is something that he could not have anticipated in his craziest dreams, and everything he knows is about to change forever.
A reader said: Although I read this story years ago, a recent note by the author compelled me to leave this review, so here goes.
Content on GA, like most human endeavors, follows a Pareto distribution: only 20% of it is worth reading at all, only 20% of that is any good any only 20% of that is truly art. Hidden Sunlight falls into that last category.
This book isn’t a great story by GA standards - it’s a great story by any standards. It ought to be published and read widely.
From the first chapter until the nail-biting conclusion, the adventures of Shay and those he meets on Aspira draw you in. The world-building is first-rate, the science believable (I’m a physicist by training and my disbelief was suspended) and the characters made me care about them. I read this while it was being posted, with sometimes long gaps that only heightened my anticipation.
If you like science fiction at all, you’re doing yourself a disservice if you don’t stop what you’re doing and start reading this book right now. Stellar’s three books are all in my GA top 10 and I’ve been reading this site for 15 years. ~ Bill Corley
If you want to spread the word about Stellar'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!
Welcome back to the CSR! Feels like it's been a while, and since it's a holiday weekend I was off by a day, whoops! But hey, then I figured I could feature another story about being off about time that recently showed up as complete. Have you read this slow-burn romance?
The Tor
by @andy cannon
Length: 68,944
Description: Teacher Christopher Edwards believed his life began in the seaside town of Penmere. When memories return beneath the ancient Tor, he discovers another truth: he has lived before.
Across two thousand years, he and one other soul have found each other again and again, only to be torn apart. At the heart of the mystery lies one act of unbearable grief, when a priest's desperate refusal to accept death transformed love into an endless cycle of remembrance.
Christopher must decide whether the life he is living belongs to memory or to choice. For the first time in centuries, love may offer not a beginning, but an ending.
A reader said: A subtle and sometimes intricate tale of nearly two thousand years of repeated rediscovery and loss, as two souls linked in love try to be together over the centuries, watched by a third whose role and intentions only gradually become clear. It is a search for happiness repeatedly thwarted by fate and a quest for a way to escape.
Beautifully written, highly evocative, well judged. If you like urban fantasy you should definitely read it. If you're not so sure, this should convert you. ~Charles26
Don't forget to come back to comment on the Discussion day, Monday, September 28th!
So here it is, what you have really been waiting for! Which story did you vote as your favorite use of the "Forbidden Knowledge" theme for this year's event? Ahh, did you think there is more to this reveal? Of course there is! You'll also find out who wrote the story with the favorite use of the theme! And all the other stories, too. This is always one of readers' favorite parts, getting to know just how right you were (or wrong!)
Favorite Use of the Theme Winner!
Emptying the Library
2026 Secret Author Contest - Forbidden Knowledge
The Ledger of the Howling Void by chris191070
The Ledger by drsawzall
Wrong Window by Topher Lydon
Subtle Signs by Thirdly
Coffee with Supervision by Mikiesboy
Sweet Sour Paradox Logic by Kileoli
Just the Facts, Man by Lee Wilson
Murder At 9th and Tom by astone2292
No Official Reason by Myr
Undeliverable by Ieshwar
Gemma by CassieQ
Peeping Tom by kbois
The Ivory Fig Ceremony by BendtedWreath
Emptying the Library by Gary L
Unexpected Discovery by Bill W
How many did you get????
I'll be returning all the stories back to their authors so they can reply to comments and reviews today, but I hope you've enjoyed this year's event and games! Make sure you share your final count below on your Story/Author match ups. And, if you haven't had time to like, comment, and review on your favorites this year, take time to do that!
I forgot to say, THANK YOU! to everyone who took part this year, sharing stories, playing the games, reading, commenting, etc... This event wouldn't be fun if you didn't take part!
Woohoo! It's what all of you have been waiting for! That's right, the grand reveal of... just the author's names. That's right, we have another game because where's the fun in just TELLING you who wrote your favorite story? Right now there is a 3 way tie between who used the theme in readers' favorite way, but with just 3 votes each, we can do better! Vote here on your favorite use of the Forbidden Knowledge theme.
Now, for your match up fun! I've listed in numerical order, all the authors who took part in this year's event in NO particular order. You might be surprised at some of these names, but maybe not. Maybe it was not Forbidden to YOU, and you figured it all out. Can you figure out which story they match up with, also shared below?
Authors in the 2026 Forbidden Knowledge Contest
Topher Lydon
CassieQ
Myr
chris191070
Mikiesboy
Lee Wilson
Ieshwar
drsawzall
astone2292
Thirdly
BendtedWreath
Bill W
Kileoli
GaryL
kbois
Stories in the 2026 Forbidden Knowledge Contest
The Ledger of the Howling Void
The Ledger
Wrong Window
Subtle Signs
Coffee with Supervision
Sweet Sour Paradox Logic
Just the Facts, Man
Murder At 9th and Tom
No Official Reason
Undeliverable
Gemma
Peeping Tom
The Ivory Fig Ceremony
Emptying the Library
Unexpected Discovery
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!
Ha! Did you think it was time to share the stories and authors? No!! Total clickbait. Heehee!
That's right, time to vote on your favorite! Now, to be fair, it would be ideal to have read ALL the stories. Can you vote without having read them? YES! Because this is about your favorite use of our theme of Forbidden Knowledge that you read in this year's Secret Author Forbidden Knowledge stories. Pick a SINGLE title, this isn't your top three. It doesn't even have to be your favorite overall story... just how did the author use the theme in a creative and/or twisted way that made it into the story.
Make sure you share why it's your favorite use of the theme in a comment, because inquiring minds want to know! That's not forbidden!
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/
So today's blog leads to a double feature on the main forum page (have you read Graeme's story, Heart of the Tree? Check it out here, it's not forbidden!) but the theme of today's blog is there can be only one! That's right, which ONE character from the Secret Author Forbidden Knowledge stories have you read would you LOOOOOOVE to meet in real life?
Share your favorite character to meet in a comment below (and why!). Seems simple, right? As with all discussions on GA, muahahahahaha! You guys always make things interesting I can't wait to find out more.
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
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!
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.
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???
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!
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
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.
2026 GayAuthors Secret Author Contest: Forbidden Knowledge
This year’s Secret Author contest theme lends itself to rebellion, intrigue, drama, romance, fantasy, mystery and more! What will you come up with and where will you take your ideas?
It’s not just something that’s hidden; it’s something that shouldn’t be known. Why? Who or what forbids it? And the most important part… who rebels against that boundary, and what will be the consequences?
Deadline: July 15, 2026
2026 Secret Author Contest Information
Write the story in Word, Docs or preferred editing software.
EDIT it first!
Then send via email to Cia (cia@gayauthors.org) or PM (please PM Cia if you email or share via Docs to make sure she got it).
Stories will be posted via our Secret Author account.
Games will be played! Guess the Author is a fan favorite where members try to match the authors & the stories. We will also do "Favorite Forbidden Knowledge" this year. Do NOT reveal your Forbidden Knowledge of any authored content!
Yes, authors can play the games. Yes, authors can comment on their own content. Yes, authors can LIE. That is not forbidden!
Stories will be returned to the authors and the winners of the Guess the Author (Reader winner) & Favorite Forbidden Knowledge (Author winner) game will be revealed. Authors will then be able to reply to comments & reviews.
Story Rules Information
Stories must be between 1k - 30k in length.
Stories will be posted as 1 singular chapter but can be separated with double space breaks/timeline jumps.
Stories must adhere to all of GA's content & editing guidelines. Please plan for appropriate genres, GA tags, rating, and content warnings if needed.
Stories must have some use, even tangentially, of the theme "Forbidden Knowledge".
Metadata needed/must be sent in the message/email/manuscript for staff posting:
Title:
Description:
Story Note:
Chapter Note:
(Content Warning, if needed):
Genre(s) (3 Max):
Audience Rating (Everyone, Teen, Mature):
Tags (8 Max):
