Jump to content

Cia

Site Administrator
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    16,537

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Blog Entries posted by Cia

  1. Cia
    How's your March coming along, like a lion or a lamb? I don't know about you, but sometimes this time of year, it feels like the weather is shifting back and forth, coming and going... maybe just like the characters were coming and going in each other's lives in the anthology entry by Bill W that I'm featuring this month. Did you read A Friendship Lost and Found? If you haven't, now's your chance! 

    Length: 12,029
    Description: Tristan Rader and Gavin Munson met as four-year-olds and almost immediately became best friends.  However, their time together ended the summer before fifth grade when Gavin’s father got a new job and his family moved away.  As the pair grew older, their paths would cross and bring them together in unexpected ways, only to have fate intercede and cause them to lose contact yet again.  Will the journey of life win in the end or will fate triumph?  Only time will tell. 
    A Reader said: Tristan and Gavin experience the ups and downs of growing up, friendship and losing friendship. This is a beautiful story that leaves us wanting more, not everyone is as lucky as Gavin and Tristan. ~ chris191070
     
    If you want to spread the word about Bill W'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!
  2. Cia

    March CSR Feature: Ridley by Krista

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    Welcome to March's CSR! I've decided to feature a short-novel length story that's bound to create a connection for many of us to those youthful teen days which resonated with the many readers who read, commented, and reviewed Ridley by Krista. I hope you will enjoy the story if you haven't read it yet and will come back on the discussion day to help encourage Krista to write part two... if she isn't already. Hmm... maybe a question for the interview?
    Ridley
    by @Krista
    Length: 33,422
    Description: Ridley wants a lot of things. To be left alone, for people to forget a stupid nickname, and for time to stop and rewind two years. What he doesn't want is to be featured in the school paper.
    A Reader said: ... This story was phenomenal. From start, where we experienced Ridley's self-denial, to finish, where we rejoiced in the main character's awakening, @Krista immersed us in mixed emotions we all remembered from our youth.
    I couldn't have asked for a more compelling short story. ~ Danners
     
    Don't forget to come back to share your thoughts on Monday, March 28th!
  3. Cia

    CSR Discussion Day: The Connecticut River Boys by TallguyCT

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    Well, for once I've no interview to share with you, fellow GA readers! So I thought I'd share an excerpt from The Connecticut River Boys that I liked, and you can share your favorite line, scene, character, or any thoughts from when you read the story below. 
    The Connecticut River Boys
    by @Tallguyct
    Don't forget to share your thoughts below! 
  4. Cia
    Did you catch Monday's feature with the graphic for this month's Classic Author feature for The Other Side by Mellicat? We try to bring these older stories to light so new members won't miss out on the great content from our past promoted authors who might not be actively be posting on GA anymore, and this is no exception. To tempt you further to read this coming of age story about 3 college graduates going about this great adventure called life, I'm sharing an excerpt below. Enjoy, and I hope you'll read further!
    Want more? Click here
  5. Cia
    Life... it's those dramatic events that keep on happening while we try to keep our heads above water! The last few weeks have been a strong reminder of that for me, and my daughter's 18th birthday this last weekend just drove it home. What happens when these young adults all finish school, split to New York, California, and Texas, and start to find their way in life on The Other Side by Mellicat? Well... I hope you'll read it and find out! 
     

    Length: 29,083
    Description: Three friends set out on new lives following their graduation from university.
    A Reader said: This turned out to be a great story...it was kind of ironic that... (censored for spoilers! Find out more in the final chapter of the story) ~Headstall
    If you want to spread the word about Mellicat'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!
  6. Cia

    February CSR Feature: The Connecticut River Boys by Tallguyct

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    Well, can you believe we're already one month into 2022? How's your year going? Do you have plans for this month's love fest day? Or is the day after chocolate discount day more your thing? Whatever your love life is like, you can enjoy this month's tale of love, loss, woe and wooing in Tallguyct's short novel, The Connecticut River Boys. 
     
    The Connecticut River Boys
    by Tallguyct
    Length: 45,178
    Description: Following the party where Dave and Craig, both in their 60s, celebrated forty years of love and togetherness, a life changing event shattered their world of happiness.  Forty years earlier, two very different appearing guys in their 20s, an auto mechanic and a college student, met during a Vermont snow storm.  Their different backgrounds helped blend them into a loving couple. After the tragedy following the fortieth anniversary party, the move forward is complicated and challenging as a brawny Scotsman and a twenty year old naive nephew intertwine with the life of a sixty year old.
    A reader said: I liked how this story started out somewhat simmering but reached a full boil by the climax.  Keep writing. Hugs ~alexlittel
    Don't forget to come back to share your thoughts on Monday, February 28th!
  7. Cia

    CSR Discussion Day: Dragonborne by Xfighter1984

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    Welcome back to this first CSR feature of the 2022! I couldn't help but start off with a bit of magic and one of my favorite fantasy creatures, dragons! What did you think of Xfighter1984's story, Dragonborne? Share your thoughts in the comments below, but first enjoy this interview where he shares a few insights about him and teases about more! 
    Do you eat your fruits and vegetables?
    Fruits more than veggies
    Chocolate or Vanilla?
    Vanilla, but really strawberry if I can find it
    If you were an animal, what would you be?
    Shark (Great White)
    What’s something personal about you people might be surprised to know?
    I am a total nerd at heart (plastic models, games, anime, books)
    What brought you to GA?
    Years and years ago a story caught my interest and the entire collection was on GA, I never left
    What’s one location you’d love to go to research for a story?
    Australia
    When did you first gain interest in Arthurian fiction?
    Reading and anime(Code Geass used a lot of Arthurian references)
    Why dragons versus knights in this tale?
    Dragons have always been my favorite ‘mythical’ creature but they are usually depicted as the ‘villain’ and the knights the always the hero, I like the conflict being a little bit greyer.
    Do you have a favorite line or scene in Dragonborne?
    I do, Levi’s first time transforming into his true dragon state! The events leading up to and after were a joy to write
    Can you share anything about your current or upcoming fiction with readers?
    Levi and the gang(Dragonborne) are on a bit of a break until I get further into “A Slice of Life” as I am really flowing with that one at the moment and is updated weekly, but they will be back in grand fashion and I planned on at least three books for the “Fire and Shadows” series.
  9. Cia
    This month I'm keeping the fantasy theme going and featuring the second of one of David McLeod's series that have one of my favorite mythological creatures, Dragons! The last ad was for Pilots, so I wanted to make this feature for Pilots II. I admit to indulging myself a little. Hopefully you'll join me (and continue to read on in the next story in this series too).  

    Length: 50,999
    Description: Two boys from Earth Analogue III awaken on World, and learn that if they ever will fly again they must find a dragon. You may recall that these boys, Paul and Larry, died when their plane crashed on a search and rescue mission north of J’ville, Wyoming.
    A reader said: You never cease to amaze me in the way you are able to weave the modern with the mystical or magical. Being able to weave the fabric of a story so well in both cultures is incredible and truly a gift. And I wait for the time when you weave all the stories together. So many dovetail already. Masterful! ~ricky
    If you want to spread the word about David McLeods'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!

  10. Cia
    Welcome to our last CSR Discussion day of 2021! What better way than with this interview with Headstall's story, Sidewinder. Did you read it? I admit I'm a country girl so I enjoy a good western tale done right. What did you think of the story? Share your thoughts in the comments below, but first you get to enjoy my interview with Headstall! 
     
    Chocolate or Vanilla?
    Chocolate, hands down.
    If you were an animal, what would you be?
    A faithful, devoted companion, like a dog or a horse. I might also have a little bit of tiger mixed in.
    What’s something personal about you people might be surprised to know?
    Something surprising? Hmmm. I’m pretty much an open book about my life. Maybe it would be that I’m a pretty good public speaker—I seem to have an easy time of fitting in and making people laugh—and I’ve usually been successful in the things I’ve wanted to accomplish. I’m struggling to come up with something interesting, but I’m drawing a blank. I guess I can add that people tend to confide in me, and look to me for advice. I’d like to think that means I’m a good listener. Sorry… that’s all I got.
    What’s one location you’d love to go to research for a story?
    Oh, that’s a tough one. I’ll say the Yukon, but Greece and Switzerland would be up there. I have story ideas for all those places. Actually, since I’ve been watching Yellowstone, I might choose a working horse ranch in Montana if I could go somewhere tomorrow, but that would be for fun as much as research. 
    Do you have any writing rituals or concrete habits when writing a story?
    I don’t believe so. No… not really, although I most often tend not to read what I’m writing when I’m on a roll. Does that count? Sometimes that will go on for an entire story, and then I’ll have to divide an 80,000 or so word document into chapters after it’s completed. That was the case with “Endings”, and “Sidewinder” was pretty much that way (other than I did separate chapters along the way after I got a ways in). I just kept writing and researching, and had no idea whether my western would be good enough to post when it was finished. Once done, I read through the whole thing in two sittings, editing the obvious stuff here and there as I went along. It was a relief to feel it was good enough to post (the pandemic was still screwing with me). After that, I spent weeks editing and reediting… and researching. I continually edit right up until I post, with every story I write… and am usually still editing in the GA editor before I submit a chapter. I’m a tough man to please in that regard.
    Others, stories that don’t flow so easily, that’s not the case. I might write a few paragraphs, and then go back over it right away. So, I suppose that means I was right that I don’t have concrete writing habits. I don’t usually listen to music, but sometimes I do. I might have the TV on in the background, or I might not. I write when I’m tired… or not. Sometimes I write for twenty minutes, and sometimes I write all day or evening. I guess I do have a habit in where I write, though. In a big, usually empty house, I always end up writing in one corner of my bedroom at my desk. My chair is comfortable and the lighting is good, and I can stare out the window at the trees when my eyes need a break.
    What book first inspired your love of the western genre and why?
    I’m not sure how to answer this. I was a voracious reader, but I don’t remember the names of a lot of books I read as a kid. I do know a lot of the westerns I did read were by Louis L’Amour. I remember someone giving me a box of them. “Hondo” was one of those, as was “Sackett”. And of course I read “Lonesome Dove” by the incredible Larry McMurtry when it came out.
    I don’t think my love for westerns came entirely from those books, though. I’m sure some of it seeped in because of reading—I’ve been horse crazy my whole life, and read all of Walter Farley’s books about “The Black Stallion”. I also devoured Marguerite Henry’s books, like “Misty of Chincoteague” and “Justin Morgan had a Horse” to name a couple. But even those weren’t the reason for my love of westerns.
    I would watch any TV show or movie that had horses in it, and I came to love TV shows like Bonanza, The Big Valley, The Virginian, Gunsmoke, The Rifleman, Rawhide, The Cisco Kid, Have Gun—Will Travel… I could go on. All of those spaghetti western movies too, were like candy for me, so that’s where a lot of my love for that genre came from. To this very day I will watch just about any western that comes on television.
    Even so, I’ve always known, even as a kid, that a lot of what was presented was not true to life. Indians weren’t savages, and the bad guys didn’t always wear black hats. One of the most powerful movie experiences I’ve ever had was watching a ‘western’ called “Soldier Blue” in the theater. The Indian massacre in that movie devastated me in ways I can’t even describe, and continued to affect me for many years. I’m not sure I could ever write about something so tragic.
    What part of writing a western story came easiest? Was the hardest?
    Easiest? I think that would be how I understand that pioneer spirit. I might have been born in the wrong time period. I’ve built two farms from almost nothing, and I had that drive to work from sunup to sundown, building barns and fences and clearing land, all while doing any chores that were required to be done… and working fulltime. Showing horses successfully takes tremendous dedication and a strong work ethic, and is a dream that takes a lot to achieve, and I rose right to the very top. So yeah, I’m familiar with the challenge of that kind of life. I can even make my own horse shoes, being a trained and licensed blacksmith/farrier.
    The hardest? That would definitely be creating a dialect that sounded authentic to my own literary ear—one I felt comfortable using for my characters. I did a lot of research, and believe me, it is sporadic when it comes to how folks talked back then. There existed such a regional variation that it was almost a series of different languages. Tenses were the biggest thing… they were often mixed up and improperly used, and word choice was vastly different. Language relates to the time period we are in, and so much was different in those times on the frontiers. It was a process, but I believe I found the rhythm, cadence, and word choice I needed to make the characters come to life. I actually find myself ‘thinking’ in that dialect now.
    Your story description mentions a lot of research. When it came time to write, did that help you develop Boone and Coy’s characters or was it more about the setting and authenticity?
    It was definitely both. Let me clarify. I needed to understand what made these guys tick, like with any characters I write, and research gave me the biggest key for that. It soon became clear that despite the lawlessness of the time, most folks were god-fearing. Their faith was what kept them going through the tough times in the harshest of environments. Sometimes a cowboy had no company but the Lord’s for miles around, and for months at a time. Faith wasn’t something they paid lip service to… it was the backbone of their existence, and once I understood that, I had my characters.
    And of course there were a lot of scenes in the story that had to feel right. They included aspects of hunting, weapons, terrain, types of game and edible plants, equipment, and cooking—even types of cattle. They are just some examples that required a lot of tedious research (not that I really minded). I did go down a few rabbit holes… okay, a lot of rabbit holes, but I believe I ended up with an authentic feel to the story. If that isn’t the case, it wasn’t from a lack of trying.
    And word choice! I can’t forget that. There are so many words we use without thinking today (like ‘okay’), ones which would seldom or never be used back in those times, so I spent a lot of time searching word origins and when some sayings came into existence, or when they were popular. That was ongoing throughout the entire story and its sequel.
    What is your favorite scene or line in Sidewinder?
    Can you share anything new about your current or upcoming work with readers?
    Sure. I am working on chapter eleven of a new story. It’s been waiting in the wings a long time, and it’s just a simple human drama set in contemporary times. I started it a long time ago, but the pandemic played games with my head, and I lost my desire to write. After writing my anthology entry, “Finding Refuge”, I’d always wanted to write another western, so out of the blue I started “Sidewinder” late one evening… and my research began. Later, I returned to this story, only to leave it again to write “Larkspur: A Sidewinder Tale”. Those voices wouldn’t stay quiet. I must admit I am having strong urges to write another western, so we’ll see if this one gets set aside again. I’m not doing a good job of selling this new work of mine, am I? J
     Thanks for the great questions, Cia. This was fun.
     
  11. Cia

    January CSR Feature: Dragonborne by Xfighter1984

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    Well, I don't know about you, but I sometimes have a hard time facing the rest of winter after the magic of the holiday season has ended. Now it's just extreme weather and no fun... so I thought we'd enjoy some magic of a different sort and the fun of a coming-of-age short story with Xfighter1984's fantasy tale Dragonborne. And for those who like their tales to continue... a little birdie (read: the author note at the bottom of the last chapter) says there more in store for this world. So if you fall in love, never fear, more to come! 
    Dragonborne
    by @Xfighter1984
    Length: 23,082
    Description: Step into a world of magic, mystery, swords, and of course dragons. Young Levi doesn't quite know who or what he is, until one day a mysterious man shows up and everything changes
    A reader said: This is an exciting chapter. These are a well written series of chapters. The plot is interesting and the characters are well developed. I really look forward to the next chapter. ~JCtoGO2
    Don't forget to come back to share your thoughts on Monday, January 31st!
  12. Cia
    This story captured many of the years, and it is one of the favored genres by a large group of readers on GA. Why? Well... tell us in the comments what you thought about Crosscurrents! If you haven't had the chance to read it yet, maybe these promos and the except I'm sharing on Wednesday will draw you into its web! 

    Crosscurrents
    by @Adam Phillips
    Length: 266,118
    Description: Andy and Matt, best friends and teammates from childhood, grow together, learn together, and struggle to remain friends when their evolving relationship outpaces their ability to understand it.
    A reader said: ...  I can count on my fingers and toes the number of net authors who have the craftmanship to write words that can shine the lights on various characters that elicit those emotions.  Adam Phillips has done a superb job giving his readers such expansive insight into the thoughts, actions, reactions and events that cause his characters own actions.
    He also built a well-crafted story, using great characters inside a well-painted setting to bring the reader to a conclusion that satisfies all of the threads within the story.
    Well Done, Adam Phillips.  Thank you for the hard work and effort you put into painting Crosscurrants for us to share.  We - the readers here - will never be able to fully thank you and the other authors for such hard and great work. ~ DaveinLA
     
    If you want to spread the word about Adam Phillip'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!

  13. Cia

    December CSR Feature: Sidewinder by Headstall

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    Well, it's come. The final CSR feature of 2021... and what better than a time-traveling tale of the Old West? Headstall shares his passion for the genre with this comment on his story: "What was life like for a gay man in the Old West? Westerns are not a popular genre, but this author grew up on them, and I wrote this for me. This is my second story set in these times, and I wanted to explore how these men coped... how they survived, and what the attitudes of the times were. A lot of research went into this, but the trappings of the story are only a small part of it. This is a simple human drama about wanting what we all want... to stay alive, have a place to call our own, and someone to share it all with. Sometimes, it's just a dream...." ~ Headstall
    Sidewinder
    by @Headstall
     
    Length: 71,019
    Description: Life in the Old West was harsh. The work was hard, but the men were harder, and death.... well... it came easy. Boone had no one until he met Coy, a handsome cowboy with a good heart. Their friendship was quickly formed, and meant everything to him, but after five years of being at each other's side, it was time to move on. Coy didn't need him anymore, and Boone wanted someone made like he was. Finally accepting that was never going to be Coy, and tired of being rootless, he sets out to find a home... land that was his, and a place he could belong. Coy? Left on his own, what path will he take?
    A Reader said: This story with it's wonderful characters...Coy, Boone and others (Blue and Daisy, especially), ticked all the boxes for me, written so well, there was laughter, tears, adventure, cliffhangers, LOVE, a uniqueness, etc, etc, etc!!! Loved it, the ending was perfect!! ~ Onim
     
    Don't forget to come back to share your thoughts on Monday, December 27th!
  14. Cia
    Welcome to November! I can't believe it's the second to last month of 2021. In some ways it feels like this year has taken decades, and in others, it feels like it has sped by. In a fun twist, I'm featuring the 2nd story in Underthehoodster's series, Perry and Jessie, series. 

    Discoveries
     by @underthehoodster
    Length: 69,297
    Description: Perry (A fairly rich kid who always seems to be in some sort of trouble) and Jesse (A poor kid who is a blackbelt and has a bad past reguarding his previous schools and his father) find love for each other after Jesse moves to Perry's school from another city.
    A reader said: Nicely done with a lot of characters. ~ Dodger
     
    If you want to spread the word about Underthehoodster'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!

  15. Cia
    Well going again with the theme of doubles, I've picked a scene in Underthehoodter's novel-length coming of age story, Discoveries, where the narrating character is reading a story written in a spiral notebook by the other main character... a story they sort of lived. So a story within a story. Read on! 
    Want to read more? Click here
  16. Cia
    October's a month for fantasy and fun, so who and what better to feature than Myr's short story, A Ranger's Duty? This is one of my favorites of his work, and I always hope he'll go back to write more. Let's encourage him, shall we?

    Length: 3,930
    Description: A trade caravan left on the King's Way as soon as the roads cleared, but Winter hasn't quite given up yet. A storm is bearing down on them, and Ryn needs to get them off the road before it hits.
    A Reader said: I hope this is the beginning of something grander. This world is intriguing and I'm enjoying learning about the cultures you're creating here. This story was a very nice way to re-introduce your writing to some of us who haven't had the pleasure before now.  ~ Mann Ramblings
    If you want to spread the word about Myr'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!

  17. Cia
    Did you read this fun, twisted tale from Richie Tennyson before or after I announced it earlier this month? Readers really seemed to like the new take on the old fairy tale genre. What did you think? Share you thoughts before, but make sure you check out my interview with Richie here first! 
    Do you eat your fruits and vegetables?
    I certainly do!
    What’s one location you’d love to go to research for a story?
    A small country town with colourful locals. I read lots of books set in small towns and would love to write one.
    What brought you to GA?
    I came across GA when I was looking for a place to share my first story, Self-Portraits.
    Do you like original fairy tales or are you more of a Disney tale fan?
    I loved Disney fairytales as a child and was also obsessed with a lot of picture book adaptations. I wasn’t as familiar with early versions of fairytales but, when I was researching Happily Ever After, Ltd, I became a big fan of the gory Brothers Grimm version of Cinderella.
    One of your readers left an excellent review stating how the twists and turns had to be plotted out. Are you a plotter or pantser when you write?
    Yeah, I did plot most of Happily Ever After, but I was bit of a “pantser” for Ryan and Dorothy’s backstories.
    Did grown ups read fairytales to you when you were a child?
    Yes, my parents did – and I spent a lot of time re-reading them on my own too.
    Do fairytales have an influence on your writing outside of this story, or was it a one-off?
    I always enjoy playing around with the “happily ever after” cliché. When I’m writing, I like to find ways to subvert expected endings, and bring characters to endings that are realistic and earned, but hopefully still satisfying.
    Ryan and Dave both have quite the adventure. Do you identify more with either character?
    I identify more with Ryan. His backstory is adapted from my own life, and as a person, we share a range of traits. We’re both a bit awkward and often exasperated - and we both have a very crude best friend.
    What is your favorite part of Happily Ever after, Ltd.?
    Without spoiling anything, my favourite part is the scene where two characters are on a boat. It combines action, horror, comedy, love, absurdism, and more.
    Can you share more of your upcoming writing or story plans with readers?
    I am currently writing a psychological thriller about a group of old university friends (including three gay guys), who are reuniting ten years after they graduated. They stay in a very isolated lodge, but one of them has murder on their mind. So again, I’m using a well-known story structure (the “whodunit”), but trying to subvert expectations/tropes.
    Don't forget to share your thoughts below! 
  18. Cia

    Drama for Authors & Volunteers!

    By Cia,


    News Archive
    Heads up, Authors! We're still working on creating a great new sub-system for genres for authors, and during Myr's recent mine for data, one thing we noticed was that "Drama" is being used for many stories with no other genres on a TON of stories. Drama is going away with the new sub-genre system, and we want everyone to have a heads up that those stories will need to be moved to the correct new genre or sub-genre. Is your story primarily a romance? Comedy? One of the sub-genres we're coming out with like Historical Thriller, Tech Noir? Keep an eye out for more to come soon so you will be ready to move your story!

    Readers, do you love to find hidden gems to read and want to help others find stories to enjoy on GA? Are you a whiz at looking up stories for tags? Good at summing up stories in a few sentences? We're looking for volunteers to help assess the meta data on stories for genres, tags, and even the descriptions for inactive or deceased authors. We'll need helpers to find stories missing the data, and readers willing to help add the correct info for stories as much as possible. Let us know if you're interested! We'll be creating a space for this so you can comment here or send me or Myr a PM via our profiles. 
  20. Cia

    Weekly Wrap Up (Oct. 10 - Oct. 16)

    By Cia,


    Weekly Wrap Up
    Welcome to your weekly update brought to you by yours truly!  Big reminder to all our site authors, you only have until October 31st to get your Anthology into the Review Team. If this is new to you, see the anthology info below for more details.
     
    Monday readers got a glimpse into The Thousandth Regiment by AC Benus with a review by Parker Owens on the humanization of war and the power of poetry. Please check it out! 
     
    Want to brush up on your Word-smithing? Learn what these words mean in Myr's    
    luftmensch     cumshaw     enhance     chimera     reverie    duopoly     volant
     
    Friday brought a refresh to Wayne's Prompt #7. Please look forward to a return of this feature coming soon from some new Prompt Volunteers!! 
    Comicality created dread in our Saturday Writing Tips, and if you're an author and you don't know what that means, take a peek now!
    Story goals for October have a lot of red! Can we bump these up before the end of the month?

    Upcoming Anthology
    2021 Anthology #2 Top Theme 1 - A Winding Path - Due October 31st, 2021 2021 Anthology #2 Top Theme 2- An Unconventional Gift - Due October 31st, 2021 2021 Anthology #2 Pot Luck Themes - Due October 31st, 2021 Anthology 101 - In the Anthology Forum. Everything you need to know about GA Anthologies
    Ask an Author 3.0 - Submit a story you like and 3 questions you would like to ask the author about. Send them to @astone2292 or @Renee Stevens **Please submit so Aaron can have a  bank of stories and questions**
    Blog Opportunities
    Guess the Author: Open to all GA authors. PM @Renee Stevensor @wildone to participate
    Story Review: Send it in to @Renee Stevens or @Timothy M. 
     
    Now, let's look at new stories and chapters posted this week!
    Premium Updates:
    On Fire by Cia *Premium*
    Classic Updates:
    Bloom by Dabeagle
    Stuff People Do by Ronyx
    The Brilliant Boy Billionaire by Altimexis
    Signature Updates:
    Ancalagon by Cia
    Gap Year by Mark Arbour
    Larkspur: A Sidewinder Tale by Headstall
    On Fire by Cia
    Picture Me And You by Comicality
    The Great Mirror of Same-Sex Love - Poetry by AC Benus
    The Great Mirror of Same-Sex Love - Prose by AC Benus
    Promising Updates:
    Never Too Late To Believe by northie
    Let's get those goals up.... Read, Write, and REVIEW!!! (and Recommend with a share to the forum topic!) 
  21. Cia

    October CSR Feature: Happily Ever After, Ltd.

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    Who wants a happy ending? 😆 Come now, I meant this month's feature, Happily Ever After, Ltd by @Richie Tennyson. This lighthearted Cinderella remix is just what the season ordered!
    Happily Ever After, Ltd.
    by @Richie Tennyson
    Length: 62,791
    Description: Prince Charming goes missing from the pages of Cinderella, resulting in chaos in the offices of Happily Ever After, Ltd. The manager of the Cinderella division, Dorothy Weaver, has to try to salvage a happy ending. She temporarily replaces Prince Charming with nineteen-year-old Ryan Hooper, without realising he’s gay. Inside the fairytale, Ryan tries his best to find a happy ending …
    A Reader said: This fantastic story is a modern day re-writing of the Cinderella, but not as you would expect. ~Chris191070
    Don't forget to come back to share your thoughts on Monday, October 25th!
  22. Cia

    September CSR Discussion Day: Thwarted by Renee Stevens

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    I can't believe it's the end of September already! This month has flown by, unlike the 56 weeks it took for Renee to write her 1k a week Wednesday Briefers flash fiction story, Thwarted. Did you read it? Make sure you share your comments below, but first my interview with her! 
    Chocolate or Vanilla?
    Chocolate
    What's your favorite room in your house? Do you plot or write there?
    My favorite room in the house is my craft room. I don’t really plot or write there though, partly because that room is honestly disorganized chaos. It definitely needs an in depth cleaning. I do mostly sewing in that room, as well as crafts for my at home craft business.
    What is your favorite book?
    It’s been so long since I’ve been able to do any reading, that I honestly couldn’t pick a favorite book. And many of the books that I read now are the books that I read to my little man. And while I cherish being able to read to him, I wouldn’t say any of his little books would be my favorite.
    What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
    My favorite things to do are camping, fishing, just being outdoors. Lately I do a lot of crafting, and playing with my little guy, but for the most part I love to share my love of the outdoors. We haven’t got to do much camping the last couple of years, for various reasons, but hopefully soon our summers and fall will  be back to spending time at the lake or in the mountains. Ironically, camping is always where I seemed to do my best writing.
    It’s been a while since you had time to write. What’s the best part of being an author you miss?
    Losing myself in the story. I used to be able to sit down and write and everything else just fell away. It let me get whatever I was feeling out, and at the same time allowed me to focus on something other than whatever was going on in life. I tend to bottle things up and for some reason, when I would be really into a story, everything just kind of melted away. I miss the release I got from writing, but I’m still hopeful that I’ll get back to it. The stories are there, I just struggle to get them out since I can’t stay up until all hours of the night, which is when I did most of my writing.
    If you could give advice to yourself when you first started writing, what would it be?
    The first one would be not to post until something is finished, with the exception of these 1K chapter stories. It puts too much pressure I think and trying to rush it in order to post can affect the story. The other thing is to not worry about it being perfect, just get the story out, as it can always be edited to fix major mistakes.
    What is the best part of writing a 1k a week story? The hardest challenge?
    The best part is that a 1K chapter is easily doable in a week, so it helps to keep an author writing. In fact, if I ever manage to get back to writing, I may very well start with flash stories just to get back into the groove of it. The hardest part is keeping chapters to the 1K word limit and have smooth transitions. In fact, while I really stuck to the 1K format for the first half or so of the story, in later chapters I have many that are a bit longer.
    Did you connect more with Mark or Trey when you wrote the story?
    I honestly can’t even remember. But that being said, I will say this. When I write, I have to have a good connection with all the main characters, or the story doesn’t get written. I’ve had stories before that I completely changed one of the characters because they were just not someone I could connect with. That wasn’t the case with Thwarted. I stayed connected with both Mark and Trey throughout and their characters never strayed from who they were to begin with.
    It’s been nearly 10 years since you wrote Thwarted. Would you change anything about it now?
    I don’t think I’d change anything about the storyline, but I would like to go back into it and smooth things out a bit. Maybe combine chapters and provide better transitions.
    Do you have a favorite scene or line from the story?
    It’s been so long since I wrote Thwarted that I really can’t remember any specific favorite scenes or lines. But, if pressed I’d have to choose the first prompt line, which was “Count sheep? I’d rather count…” mainly because it was the prompt that started it all, and I really think that scene kind of set the tone for Mark’s relationship with Jackie and Brent.
  23. Cia

    Weekly Wrap Up (Sept. 19 - Sept. 25th)

    By Cia,


    Weekly Wrap Up
    It's not me, I'm in disguise! 🥸 🤡 😜 In the absence of your usual wrapper, you get me... sorry, I'm simply not nearly as entertaining. Well, unless you watch me stumble around the classroom trying to to kill myself on all the student's things strewn about. That's hilarious. 😒 Last weekend Wildone said he was older than dirt and this week I'm a clown in disguise. I certainly entertain the students enough. Fortunately, we have one more day of weekend to enjoy. Why don't we take a look at what was shared this week in case you missed that!
     
    Myr made some BIG updates to Stories. What were they? Spoilers, a death knell for readers! Follow his blog, or click below to read all about it.
     
    Did you get started on your anthology story yet? It's coming soon!
     
    All week long Myr posts words of the day. Some features this week are wyvern, veridical, nidus, and will-o'-the-wisp. Which words do you know, and which ones are new to you? Check out all his Word of the Day blogs through this gif link: 

     
    Monday I brought you this month's Classic Author feature, Topher Lydon's Sigil of the Wolf. Now, this SOUNDS like it would be maybe medieval or perhaps paranormal. If you just go by the title, not the genre, that is. But it's a pretty compelling sci-fi story. (psst, keep reading for more about the importance on genres at GA from Myr)
     
    Wednesday I tempted readers with a snippet of story. I do so live spacey stories, and these are long and... well, what genre would you put them in? 
     
    Thursday Renee Stevens whet your anthology appetite with a revisit to Wombat Bill's story. 
     
    Saturday Myr revealed survey results that are driving a new format that will help authors and readers sift through the genres on GA to really drill down into both what is wanted for reading and what authors like to write (or wish to explore). Please check out the amazing information he collected and ideas on how to move forward!
     
    How did we do with our goals so far this week? Down to just one red bar. Let's get that fixed!

    Upcoming Anthology
    2021 Anthology #2 Top Theme 1 - A Winding Path - October 31st, 2021 2021 Anthology #2 Top Theme 2- An Unconventional Gift - October 31st, 2021 2021 Anthology #2 Pot Luck Themes - October 31st, 2021   
     
    Anthology 101 - In the Anthology Forum. Everything you need to know about GA Anthologies
    Ask an Author
    Ask an Author 3.0 - Submit a story you like and 3 questions you would like to ask the author about. Send them to @astone2292 or @Renee Stevens **Please submit so Aaron can have a  bank of stories and questions**
    Blog Opportunities
    Guess the Author: Open to all GA authors. PM @Renee Stevensor @wildone to participate
    Story Review: Send it in to @Renee Stevens or @Timothy M. 
     
    Now, let's look at new stories and chapters posted this week!
    Premium Updates:
    On Fire by Cia *Premium*
    Classic Updates:
    Bloom by Dabeagle
    Stuff People Do by Ronyx
    The Brilliant Boy Billionaire by Altimexis
    Signature Updates:
    Ancalagon by Cia
    Disasters, Delights and Other Detours by Parker Owens
    Larkspur: A Sidewinder Tale by Headstall
    My Only Escape by Comicality
    On Fire by Cia
    The Great Mirror of Same-Sex Love - Poetry by AC Benus
    The Great Mirror of Same-Sex Love - Prose by AC Benus
    Promising Updates:
    Never Too Late To Believe by northie
    Don't forget.... Read, Write, and REVIEW!!! (and Recommend with a share to the forum topic!) 
     
  25. Cia
    I went in the opposite direction, and I'm bringing you Book 2 in Topher's popular Falcon Banner series as this month's feature. Yes, this is a super long novel, and yes, you should read it! 

    Length: 173,703
    Description: Darien Taine has resurrected a forgotten hope, freedom to his people, and set his sights squarely on Earth. Shadows of the Empire's dark past reach out to ensnare that hope, a fallen General strives to restore the one symbol that would unite the Empire again. The architect of the fall of mankind weaves a dark net; to lure the Excalibur into his clutches as he brings an ancient superweapon to bear. And fate, wielded as a weapon by a man 300 years dead, is Taine’s last recourse
    A reader said: Another excellent story, and follow up book to the first in the series. Well written, and thought out, it kept a good pace. However, it ends on a cliffhanger. If you read the series, just on this site, then you are left wanting more. ~ Brayon 
    If you want to spread the word about Topher'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!

×
×
  • Create New...