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Cia

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Blog Entries posted by Cia

  1. Cia
    Are you in lock-step, trooping right through March with me? I can't believe how fast this month has gone! Well, lucky lucky you, today is the Classic Author feature, and you get to see another oldie but goodie, No FairyTale World by @Tiff. 
     

    Length: 68,847
    Description:  False hopes, crushed dreams, and an unknown future--life really isn't a fairy tale.
    Andy can't hide his true feelings anymore. The only way out of his misery is to face the consequences. His life takes a hard turn as he struggles with his regrets, and the pain he inflicted on the people he loves. Even if waking up to a new day is difficult, he still has one good friend, Mark, at his side to support him. Pete's past was everything but pleasant. He can run away from people, he can run away from places, but he can't run away from his demons. His attempt for a fresh start and for a better life is not so easy. He comes to realize that some people are not meant to be saved, and that some ghosts never completely go away. A Reader said: This was a beautiful, full of emotions, train ride, but I absolutely loved it. I laughed, cried, and cheered for the two guys who took their broken worlds, and put them one big one together. Thank you for such a great story. ~ joann414
     
    If you want to spread the word about Tiff'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: Elixir by Comicality

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    How's 2020 treating you so far? Hopefully a little better than the ups and downs faced by the characters in the story featured in this month's CSR blog... Elixir by Comicality. We all know teens have strong emotions, but this strong...? 
    Elixir
    by @Comicality
    Length: 7,221
    Description:  Young Danny has suddenly found himself having strange and powerful feelings for another boy for the very first time. He's never experienced any homoerotic feelings before...but one day, out of the blue...it was like he couldn't live without him. Almost as if a 'spell' had been cast upon him. So the real question is...why is he feeling this way? What does he plan to do about it? And...
    ...Just how deep do those feelings go?
    A Reader said: very exhilarating to start off, kept you reading more  ~ Tsukihana
     
    Don't forget to come back and share your thoughts about the story on Monday, March 30th! 
  3. Cia

    Topics and Moderation

    By Cia,


    News Archive
    On GA we like to allow members to discuss a variety of subjects relating to writing, reading, gay fiction, the LGBTQIA community, and more. There are many places on the site to post topics and information, depending on where the conversation fits best. In recent months, we have discovered that topics regarding 'inclusivity' regardless of the subject being sexuality, gender, culture, etc... continually veer into either a heated debate or political commentary or themes. Due to this creating a repeated need for moderation and removal or moving of topics, the forum moderation team has come to a decision to hopefully prevent any site disruptions. From today on, any further topics that will focus on themes of inclusivity such as posing questions to readers or authors, posting recent events relating to the subject including those in other forms of entertainment or local communities,  sharing quizzes, articles, etc... MUST be posted in The Pit. 
  4. Cia
    February is a month people tend to focus on that cute little angel with the diaper and wings, the bow and arrows... but Archangel is not about Cupid, oh no no no. What kind of angels? Well...

    Length: 10,683
    Description: Everyone thinks Nick is the 'nicest guy they know.' But is he really as 'angelic' as they think?
    This submission is dedicated to Cia - who challenged me to write something for this Anthology. Hopefully it is worthy of she whom it is dedicated to. A Reader said: I loved the story. Especially the begining. It was fabulous. And then there was the twist. Like Trevor, it kinda threw me off, but I liked the ending. Perfect piece of work. Thanks for finding time to write, even when you were "pushed" into it. ~ Michael9344
     
    If you want to spread the word about Andrew'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!

  5. Cia
    Did you catch Monday's blog featuring @Andrew Q Gordon short story, Archangel? This is an older anthology feature from the theme "Walk on the Wild Side". What does that have to do with angels? Hmm....
    Well, I picked this excerpt because it doesn't show that, but I really wanted to feature some of the smooth flow of Andrew's work and how well he could craft characters and stories that suck in readers from the beginning. He has many popular stories featuring characters who are evolving into themselves, either as adults or... something else. Which is it in this story?
    Want to read more? Click here
  6. Cia

    February CSR Feature: Self-Portraits by Richie Tennyson

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    Happy February! Do you have some time for Cupid this month? Feeling the love? Or just living through the end of the season and hoping for the change in weather wherever you are? Or maybe you're still focused on those New Year resolutions and working on you... No matter what February means for you, the first Monday of the month means a new CSR feature for readers to enjoy! And this one is another newer story I hope you will enjoy!
     
    Self-Portraits
    by @Richie Tennyson
    Length: 41,750
    Description: In one short day, sixteen-year-old Richard has his entire world turned upside down. His coming out attempt backfires, his parents announce they're divorcing, and his secret boyfriend wants time apart. At least things can't get any worse ... right?
    A reader said: This story has been a thorough joy to read. Sad as I am that it's the end, I must congratulate you on a job gloriously done. You couldn't had written it any better really.   ~ tepei
     
    Don't forget to come back to read my interview with Richie Tennyson and share your thoughts on the story on Monday, February 24th, 2020! 
  7. Cia

    January CSR Discussion Day: Silverwolf by Wayne Gray

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    This month's feature is a popular one, Silverwolf by Wayne Gray! Did you read it? Well, you have the chance to share your love for the story below, or ask extra questions, or beg for a sequel... whatever quirks your fancy. But first, you get to enjoy my interview with Wayne.
     
    Have you ever gone out in public, realized your shirt is on backwards, and just didn’t care?
    Backwards, no. Inside out? Yes, and I didn't care.

    If you had 30 minutes of free time, what would you do?

    Hrm. A half hour. Sit in an old, deep, wooden hot tub with my husband. We have them here at a place called Cafe Mokka, and they're amazing. A half-hour spent there with a glass of iced hibiscus tea is great.

    What brought you to the Gay Authors? 

    It was when I was in the process of writing Fleeting Eternity. That story included Dom and sub dynamics, and one of my readers, Fae Briona suggested I contact Mikiesboy on GA. I wanted to get it right, so I did. And I'm glad I found this place though him. I love all of the ways authors can get feedback on their work, so I decided to begin posting here. Here we are.

    Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

    Commas.

    What’s the first thing you do when you start to write a story? 

    Most of the time it begins with a single scene. Something pops into my skull while I'm driving, or during a conversation with someone. I vividly see character interactions, and all of the wild complexity in relationships people build with one another. Though, sometimes a story is prompted from a reader. A reader's email prompted Fleeting Eternity, and another's got me going on Camp Refuge.

    Silverwolf is set in a small town. Do you prefer a small town or big city? 

    I do prefer small town/rural settings. I grew up that way, so I know how those places work, and how people deal and relate to one another. I also love the option of escaping to nature whenever I want, both in the real world and in my writing.

    What inspired your take on were-creatures?

    Mikiesboy and cider. I jokingly said to him over messenger that I should do a story starring a "werewolf with a silver problem." he said "do it." When I started, I wanted Jed to be very different from anything else I had ever seen. The dynamic between him and Wolfgang really makes it unique, I think. I really like how it turned out.

    Most of your stories don’t have the “paranormal” tag. Was this story inspired by something special to push you to the genre? 

    See above. Heh. I just wanted to do something different with the genre. Most were-creature stories run along a similar theme (Alpha, beta, Omega), and I really wanted to turn that on its head. There's nothing wrong with something that has been done, I just didn't want to do it.

    Do you have a favorite scene in Silverwolf?

    When Evan McAllister, under the influence of his cadre of spirits reached with a single hand and stopped the blow of what was a tremendously strong opponent. I loved that bit. I could very much see it in my mind, and I hope the readers could too.

    Can you share a little of your current work or future story plans with readers?

    Just a little. This one is my "mainstream" idea for a novel.
    I have started very preliminary steps on it (outlining, and the basic research needed). I've had it in mind for a long time, and I've sharpened my teeth on erotica until I felt I could write something that's more of a challenge. We'll see if I can really pull it off or not. All I can really say about it is it will be a novel-length, near-future genre, with a little apocalyptic flavor too.
  8. Cia
    Did you catch Monday's blog featuring long-time and uber-popular author, Dom Luka, The Long Way? This story has always been one of the most read on GA, a popular coming of age story that leads readers on a journey of self-discovery along with the main character. Domaholics know just how addictive these stories can be, so it should be no surprise this one was featured for your reading enjoyment. 
     
    Now on to the scene I picked! It should be fairly self-evident why...
    Want to read more? Click here!
  9. Cia
    New month, new year, new round of features of stories by GA's Classic Authors from years gone by! So many loved stories from the past are missed by current readers, so we like to feature the great stories by promoted authors so they don't fade into obscurity. Now this month's story... well, it may be one of THE classicest of classic stories on GA, lol, and is still loved by many. 

    The Long Way
    by DomLuka
    Length: 319,403
    Description: When a secret gets out and things unexpectedly go awry, Owen finds himself living with his twin brothers, an ideal situation for him. But not everything's perfect under the surface, and as he falls for his neighbor, makes new friends and learns to trust again it's a long road to making things right.
     
    If you want to spread the word about Dom Luka'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

    CSR Feature: Silverwolf by Wayne Gray

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    Welcome to 2020! Well, no one wanted to revolutionize the CSR posts, and the author interviews still seem to be popular with blog readers enough to get at least a few comments each month, so I'll keep this going on to Year 8 of monthly suggested reads by yours truly! One of the best parts of this blog is I get to feature new and experienced authors and stories of all different types and styles; the only criteria for the CSR is that the story is 1) complete and 2) between 10,000 to 75,000 ish words preferably (though we do make short story exceptions from time to time). This lets people have a different variety of lengths to read, but we want to make sure they can finish the story. I occasionally get story recommendations to feature, but I ALWAYS am happy to get more! And yes, YOU can recommend YOUR story to me via a PM. 
    Now, for this month's feature... I'm going with one of my favorite genres to kick off the new decade and the new year! Paranormal stories really make me wonder what might be lurking just out of sight of 'normals' or creeping about in the dark waiting to pounce. So let's see how Wayne Gray treats the genre in...
    Silverwolf
    by @Wayne Gray
    Length: 43,705
    Description:  Jed is a man of interesting talents used to life on the northern coast of California.  Things are fairly sedate until a spate of murders begins to occur, bringing an interesting stranger to town.
    There will be sex between consenting adults in this story.
    This story is dedicated to @Mikiesboy, who encouraged a cider-drunk Wayne to take on such an erotic take on the werewolf genre.
    A Reader said: That was a great wrap-up to an amazing and thoroughly engaging story!  I can't imagine a better vehicle for my first read into the paranormal genre.  I kept waiting for the new Conduit, but Shane's reveal caught me totally off guard.  Looking forward to lots more.
    Tom 
    Don't forget to come back to read my interview with Wayne Gray and share your thoughts on the story on Monday, January 27th, 2020! 
  11. Cia
    In the past, I've done Caption This Challenges in the newsletter, and since we have an open blog today, I thought we'd have some Halloween fun with one on the site blog. It's a super simple challenge that helps get your creative juices flowing... write a caption for this image below that tells the story in a minimum of words and share it in the blog comments. You have just 30 words or less to share what you think is happening in the picture. Narrate the scene, share what's going through the viewer's mind, give us a peek at the events about to happen... Is it exactly what it looks like? Will there be a twist? 
     
    You tell us! 
     

    CAPTION THIS
     
     
    Remember, authors, you can get featured in the site blogs with several author features but you have to sign up for them! 
    Story Critique: Open to all GA authors. Sign up here
    Story Recommendations:  Open to all GA authors & readers. PM your recommendation and why you recommend it to a Site Admin.
  12. Cia
    This challenge was so popular two weeks ago and we have another open blog today, so I thought we'd have some more Halloween fun. It's almost here! It's a super simple challenge that helps get your creative juices flowing... write a caption for this image below that tells a story and share it in the blog comments. You have just 30 words or less to share what you think is happening in the picture. Narrate the scene, give a spooky reason why those jack-o-lantern's are clustered there, or give us a peek at the events about to happen... Are they about to get revenge for the carving? Eeek!  
     
    You tell us! 
     

    CAPTION THIS
     
     
    Remember, authors, you can get featured in the site blogs with several author features but you have to sign up for them! 
    Story Critique: Open to all GA authors. Sign up here
    Story Recommendations:  Open to all GA authors & readers. PM your recommendation and why you recommend it to a Site Admin.
  13. Cia

    Members Make a Difference!

    By Cia,


    News Archive
    If you receive GA's monthly newsletter, you know we’re looking for feedback from YOU! Now’s the time to share your thoughts on site features and potential future changes. *Let’s be constructive and give ideas on what will help encourage new membership and activity among current members, not just what you don’t like, please!!*

    Forum Moves and Shake Ups
    There have been changes to the forums. Some forums were moved or removed with their content moving to new places, some Clubs removed or consolidated, and Myr shared the Fluid View option in last week’s announcement.
    So now that it’s been a week or so, how’s it working for you? Have you gotten used to the new locations? Never really noticed the change? Like it way better?
    Share your thoughts below!
     

     
     
    Stories Comment, Review, and Chapter Comment Guidelines
    These guidelines are pretty intuitive to long-time members, but there’s now a pop up field at each section for comments and reviews on stories. They explain what each section is for and how to best support authors by readers. The idea is to have the information ‘on the spot’ for users to encourage them to use the features.
    Do any of the guidelines not make sense to you? Thoughts about them? Comments in general? Share them below!
    Example of Story Review Guidelines below in the Spoiler! 
     
    Site Membership, Activity, and Clubs
    Hello, members! Can you tell us what prompted you to join GA? Literally, why did you click that button and make an account? Were you browsing for stories and decide, why not join? Did you see an ad or a pop up? Did you want to comment on a story you were reading? Reach out to an author?
    We need YOUR ideas about how to encourage readers and lurkers to join the site. Share them below!
    Favorite Areas-Features of the site…
    So when you joined, what areas or features of GA kept you coming back? Where do you spend your time? What can we do to keep those areas active or create more activity in other areas or features that you enjoy or think would encourage more lurkers to join the site to take part in?
    Share your favorite site spots and ideas below! 

  14. Cia

    Halloween Hunt is On! Scary Short Stories

    By Cia,


    Fun Stuff
    It's the Halloween Hunt Short Story Reveal Day on All Hallow's Eve eve! Which story will scare you the most? The rule was for authors to check their comments, then write a story being chased by their story creation. A criminal cyborg, a vengeful spirit... Who did they get? Read the following and find out. Don't forget to share your appreciation via some likes, comments, and reviews! 
     
  15. Cia

    December CSR Feature: Hypno-trouble by Palantir

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    Can you believe we're at the last month of 2019 and our final CSR story for the year? I've yet to hear any suggestions from members/readers on what they'd like to see on the first/last Mondays of the month blogs as an alternative... any ideas? In the interim, we have a great story for this month, an oldie but funny from Palantir, Hypno-trouble. Sure, I could have picked a holiday story or something light-hearted, but I totally thought something from the naughty list might be more fun. Enjoy!! 
    Hypno-trouble
    by @Palantir
     
    Length: 27,436
    Description: A relaxed and light-hearted take on the Erotic Mind Control genre. Hopefully you'll get some smiles from the ridiculous situations portrayed.
    Warning, explicit scenes throughout.
    A reader said: Lmao payback can be such a bitch but they so deserve it. Thanks for a great story. ~ Daithi
     
    Don't forget to come back with your thoughts on the story, Monday, December 30th, to comment on the Discussion blog! 
  16. Cia
    This is it, the final Classic Author feature of 2019. I've picked another story that tugs at the heartstrings for this month, one by a currently posting Classic author, Ronyx. A coming out story, one where the choice isn't always made but taken, and the consequences that one teen faces at home is something many of us can relate to--especially at this time of year. Read on to find out just how it turns out! 

    Length: 22,819
    Description:  Gary gets outed at school by his best friend. After his mother discovers his 'secret,' will he still be the apple of her eye? Find out as Gary discovers love, friendship, understanding and forgiveness in this heart-felt story.
    A Reader said: If you’re looking for a Ronyx story in easy to digest bite-sized chunks, this is the one to read! Chapters are much shorter than in his later work, but this was his very first story. Ron’s talent shines even from the beginning.  ;–)  ~ droughtquake
    If you want to spread the word about Ronyx'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 catch Monday's blog where I featured this month's story by a site Classic Author? Keeping in the mood for family and drama, I couldn't pass up the story Apple of Her Eye by Ronyx. Did you check it out? Have you read it before? What did you think? 
    This month's excerpt was chosen because I can't help but know just how realistic it is (being the mother of teenagers). The drama and angst, the total horror of a moment that can't be taken back, the feelings of ups and downs... those are all so very UP and DOWN. I think Ronyx captures it very well in this scene...
    Want to read more? Click here. 
  18. Cia

    December CSR Discussion Day: Hypno-trouble by Palantir

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    Wow, the last Monday of 2019! And what a CSR Discussion to end it on with Hypno-trouble. Did you happen to read this laugh-out-loud horror of hypnosis? Not sure if it's horrifically embarrassing or hilariously endearing at the way the couples are acting in the story. What did you think? Before you comment, of course, enjoy this interview with Palantir first! 
    Chocolate or Vanilla? - Chocolate is ok but I'll put myself in the vanilla camp.
    If you were an animal, what would you be? - If we're going by characteristics I'd say a labrador. If we're going by choice, I regard dolphins with wonder and awe, so I'll go a step further and say orca.
    If you were writing a book about your life, what would the title be? - Good grief! It takes me months sometimes to decide on a story title. - Hm! I've made a snap decision on 'No Man's Land' as it gives a sense of the otherness of my orientation (strong for my generation) as well as the otherness of my outlook.
    Is there a literary character (in the whole universe of fiction) that you’ve read who you really identified with? - I'm one of those readers who gets so immersed in a (good) story the characters are real, so in a way I identify with the heroes/protagonists of all the great novels I've read. - Yes, Will Stanton in the Dark is Rising series by Susan Cooper.
    What’s the best part of being an author? - This changes with time and situation. Sometimes it's a sense of achievement. At one stage when I was confronted with my mortality it was a sense of legacy. Sometimes it's that special gift from a reader when they share that something has touched their heart or mind. 
    Many of your stories have a lighter element, but Hypno-Trouble takes that even further. What prompted this fun teenager take on the theme of hypnosis?  - I was purely and simply trying my hand at a new genre. At one stage there were a number of 'mind-control' sites and Hypno-Trouble was my take on what was usually a much darker story-line.
    Where did you get your information about the hypnotic elements for the story? - In my younger days there used to be shows by hypnotists travelling the countryside which amazed me, and in my late teens I read a number of books on the subject out of curiosity. 
    What would you say this story is more about… revenge, karma, or hilarious fun?  - Purely for fun, with a bit of a plot-line to hold it all together.
    Do you have a favorite scene in Hypno-Trouble?  - The imagery of the situation and what's going through the Jerry's mind when he's sitting in his car, realising he's walked past several groups of people while wearing his jocks outside his jeans.
    Is there anything you’d like to share about your current or upcoming work? - My current work, Widderkin, is my first attempt at the 'Fantasy' genre and is very close to a finish.  It has adventures in Australian wild settings then the Realms of Faerie. Life matters have interfered recently and I'm also battling with a bout of writer's block but that will pass.
    Don't forget to share your thoughts on Hypno-trouble!
  19. Cia

    November CSR Discussion: Those Cerulean Eyes by Arran

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    Happy November! Are you ready for Thanksgiving, my US friends? Maybe you can take some time this break week (if you have one) to enjoy this story, if you haven't already. I hope you have, though, and can share your thoughts on Arran's story, Those Cerulean Eyes, after you enjoy this interview! 
     
    Do you eat your fruits and vegetables?

    Definitely. There isn’t a fruit or vegetable that I don’t like.


     
    If you were an animal, what would you be?

    Probably a puma because it is a stealthy, patient and efficient hunter.


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

    Florence, Italy because of its rich history associated with the Renaissance.


     
    What brought you to Gay Authors?

    Dom Luca’s stories. I enjoyed every one of them.


     
    If you had to only work on one writing-type project for the next year... what would it be?

    I enjoy Catherine Ryan Hyde’s books, so probably something of that nature.


     
    Why cerulean?

    Because blue is my favorite color and cerulean is the most beautiful shade of blue for me.


     
    Okay, are you a fan of Starbucks or do you prefer local joints?

    I am definitely not a fan of Starbucks. I chose to use Starbucks in Those Cerulean Eyes because the story takes place in downtown Portland, Oregon where there seems to be a Starbucks on every block. I don’t make a practice of going to either because I have a Keurig at home that makes the best coffee that I could ever want. However when Borders Books was in business, i spent a fair amount of time sampling books over a great cup of Cafe Americano.


     
    Do you ‘identify’ with one character better, Mark or Mickey?

    Mark, because I wrote the story from his perspective; however, I think both characters have their own merits and goodnesses.


     
    What is your favorite scene in Those Cerulean Eyes?

    The scene between Mark and Mickey’s mother at the end of the story.


     
    Would you like to share a little about your current or upcoming work?

    I am currently working to get I Will Sing for You published. While it has already been written, I am editing each chapter before publication to make it as good as it can be. I’ve gotten good comments relating to some stylistic problems of my writing, so I’m trying to incorporate them into the final product. I guess the one thing that I can share is that I, like Callan, am a geologist who finds Arizona geology fascinating, from the very ancient 1.75 billion-year-old Vishnu Schist at the bottom of the Grand Canyon to the remnants of the very recent (less than one million-year-old) San Francisco Peaks stratovolcano near Flagstaff. And I find the Arizona-Sonora Desert one of the most thrilling and beautiful places on earth.
  20. Cia
    Did you catch Monday's blog featuring Duncan Ryder's short story, Sorry Mom, from the 2010 Anthology "I'd Never Do That"? Maybe you read it before, or maybe it was a new to you story. Or maybe I wasn't able to convince you to read it yet... maybe this excerpt will do the trick! 
     
    I picked this part of the story first because I didn't want to give away the whole story and second because I wanted something that shows the poignancy of this story and Duncan's writing. Enjoy!
    Want to read more? Click here!
  21. Cia
    November is here, and with it a story that many readers enjoyed back in 2010 during the Spring Anthology. With a theme like "I'd Never Do That" and a title of Sorry, Mom the story could have gone anywhere. Well, I'm not going to tell you! I'll feature a reader's thoughts below, but then you'll just have to check out the story yourself to find out. 

    Sorry, Mom
    by Duncan Ryder
    Length: 2,042
    Description: When you find your future, you shouldn’t have to give up your past.
    A Reader said: The nervous anxiety is brilliantly portrayed, you can feel the relief at the end.  ~ cognac69
     
    If you want to spread the word about Duncan Ryder'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!

  22. Cia

    Featured Story: A Vampire to the Rescue

    By Cia,


    Featured Stories
    Well, you get an extra dose of me this week, since it's a US holiday and I had some time to spare to help out with the blog this morning. Speaking of, thank you to any and every veteran who has ever served to protect the freedom and security of their country! And, without further ado... please enjoy Aditus' review of @comicfan's story, A Vampire to the Rescue! 
     
    A Vampire to the Rescue
    Comicfan
    Reviewer: Aditus
    Status: Complete
    Word Count: 3,949
    Halloween is over, and all the creepy folk are back behind the veil for one year with the help of fireworks and Jack-o’-lanterns. Except for one vampire. Him we still want around because he is a hero.
    Terry is out to get some food when he overhears a heated conversation between two men in a darkened street. Just when he is about to turn away, he hears something that reminds him of how cruel humanity can be to a child. How cruel it has been to him. This is why there is no way Terry will allow what is about to happen.
    While he is still considering what to do the argument turns into a fight, and one of the men kills the other. When the survivor pulls a frightened kid out of the trunk of a car, Terry sees his suspicions confirmed. He can’t wait any longer to intervene. An epic fight enfolds, and Terry finds out he’s battling an old enemy.
    In the end, Terry is still hungry, but the kid has the perfect idea of how they could change that.
    The story has some nice twists and surprises I really liked. There might be some parts where I want to know even more, but that’s because I’m greedy. And now I have that damn song in my head: Oh..someone’s in the kitchen with Dinah.
    Category: Fiction  Genres: Fantasy, Horror, Sci-Fi  Tags:  teen, mature adult, were-creatures, vampire, modern  Rating: Everyone
  23. Cia

    November CSR Feature: Those Cerulean Eyes by Arran

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    Happy November! Just 2 months left until 2019 comes to a close, and I thought I'd feature a story that just came to a close as well, Those Cerulean Eyes by Arran. Long-time member of the site, this is one of a few stories Arran posted this year. Did you read it? If not, here's your chance before the Discussion day at the end of the month! Also, I'm still looking for ideas on how to feature site stories and authors to change up the first/last Monday of the month blog. The CSR format has been going on for about 7 years now, since we first started doing weekly staff blogs again, and I'd love to ensure we're keeping things fresh and fun to encourage member participation. 
    Do you have an idea of a blog format? A new type of feature? Share it with me via PM! 
    Those Cerulean Eyes
    by Arran
    Length: 32,605
    Description: Mickey is a rather shy twenty-year-old first-year college student majoring in interior design and Mark is a more worldly twenty-two-year-old first-year law student. Mark has an eye for Mickey from the moment that he sees him and strikes up a conversation with him as soon as Mickey seats himself at the table next to him in Starbucks. As fortune would have it, Mickey moves to Mark's table and they forge a friendship. But sensing that there is more to this enigmatic young man than meets the eye, Mark sets out to confirm it, hoping that he and Mickey can become more than just friends.
    A Reader Said:  This is a tale about two college students Mark and Mickey. Mickey is a rather shy guy whilst Mark is a more worldly guy. We follow them as they meet in a coffee shop and forge a friendship which develops into more. What follows is the wonderful tale of there time together and the problems that they overcome.
    A truly wonderful tale that I recommend as a fantastic read. ~ Chris191070
     
    Don't forget to come back and share your thoughts on Monday, November 25th!
  24. Cia

    CSR Discussion: Spirit & Spare Parts

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    So begins the week of Halloween short stories!! We featured several stories this month and welcomed members to decide why they liked them to share with other readers. What drew you in? Title? Description? Type of monster-riffic plot to enjoy? Well... I can't wait to hear it! Share your thoughts and comments below. 
     
    me Zombie
    Tired of the same old zombie thing? Looking for different?  Well drop in to visit with Stephen and family. Nice twist on this well-worn genre. Great job, tim!   ~ MichaelS36 June 30, 2018
     
    Shepherd's Crook
    I have been waiting for this story to be posted in full in order to read it, and as the number of reviews grew I figured it must be a good one! You write very realistic dialogue, K.C., which I admire. So easy to be taken out of the story when the dialogue is stilted. There were a number of surprises in here, definitely an original tale. They kept me turning the pages...or scrolling down in this case. Engaging characters throughout though I would have liked a little more insight into the foundation of Amanda's cruelty and lack of remorse. Pure mental illness or were there other factors? Well done K.C. And I look forward to your next. ~ Percy September 30, 2012
     
    Z is For Zombie
    It may say "Z is For Zombie," in the title, but don't let that fool you into thinking this is just another Walking Dead clone. It's not. Geron creates a world that feels alive in the post-apocalyptic sense of what happened during the Changes. It follows a brief period in the lives of a group of survivors who after two years, are more family than just a collection of people. And they are all under the age of 18.
    Five stars for this terrific tale. ~ Brayon September 29, 2018
     
    Purpose
    "To borrow a famous quote, this story is "a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma" with deadly and frightening consequences. The two main characters are bonded by forces outside themselves and it takes luck, persistence and danger to tease out the meaning of it all. It is wrapped in a love story between two men. So those who are repelled by homoerotic love should be warned, but love scenes are not explicit. Their journey to self-awareness and knowledge of the forces that bind them is tense and dramatic. I heartily recommend this story for everyone with a sense of danger and adventure."  ~ Daddydavek August 8, 2017
     
    Don't forget to share your thoughts about these stories in the comments below. And on Wednesday, we have even more coming with the Halloween Hunt short stories! And Thursday's the Anthology Haunted look back. 
  25. Cia
    Did you see Monday's blog post featuring this month's Classic Author story and ad? This month's selection is a short story, so I don't want to share too much of it with you because that might spoil too much before you read it. Andy has a real knack with writing one shots that draw you in and make you want to know (and force him to write) more, and The Leanai Scath is no exception. 
    So much of this story seems like it's just a normal tale, but then there are nuances that let you know that something is very, very different about the characters... and you wished you knew more. This section gives you a taste of that along with insight into the characters. 
    Want to read more? Click here. 
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