Cia

Kertyn was nothing like I’d expected. Restrained when I figured he’d be demanding, defensive yet honorable when I’d assumed he’d be haughty and deriding. The Verlast were an avaricious lot, greedy and materialistic. The whole damn war between our planets had started when one man was told no. Granted he was their ruler, and we had been discussing a trade treaty, but still. What did that matter compared to the fact the rocks he wanted to mine and exploit were the only things keeping my people fro

See, this story inspires so many different viewpoints. I love to read when people think about the story, how the character's feel, and then relate it to their own morals and thoughts if they were in place of the characters. I never expected so much feedback. Thanks so much for all the reviews, hun!

Wow, talk about an OLD review I missed. Thanks so much for your thoughts on Balance, Daithi. That's the thing with this story, it inspired so much dialogue from readers. I love to hear different takes on the theme. Sorry it took me so long to get back to you!

I wish! Find me another few hours in the day! That does remind me though, I nearly tripled the length of Married to the Enemy last weekend on a blog hop, and I need to get that posted! So see, sometimes I come back and write more. You can hold out hope... just don't hold your breath.

I think there are always hidden facets to people. You see the surface, but below that are angles and curves. One of my goals is to always some of those, making my characters feel more real. I'm glad you enjoyed the short. I always seem to leave my stories open to more story, even if I don't intend to write more in the world. You never know, you know?

Well, this is part of my flash group, so I will always have 1k per week, at least, but I'm also trying to do longer updates here and there. I still need to finish Adverse Effects too!

Well, Benny was raised to respect his elders... so, we'll just have to see. I'm glad you could picture the scene. I try to make the visuals as vivid as possible.

Yes! I think there are a lot of schisms within the clans, since up to only 50 years before they were still fighting each other, and the humans. For all his problems as a kid, Velaku had a father who tried to prepare him for the role he would one day have... though he had it much earlier than they expected. As for Benny... well he is poised on the brink!

No kidding! Benny's definitely primed to explode from want and frustration.

Ellis is a very good friend and very forgiving, because Benny can be a hostile ass. Of course he has a lot of reasons for it too, as we see. Thanks for the review, lilansui!

I'm weaving in all sorts of details from past stories, which is one of the things that made it hard to want to write. That's a lot of work to try to remember/read back. But, I've needed to write Benny's story forever, and it was finally time.

Just means you get more to read in one go, lol! Glad you like it so far.

Well, guys, especially teens and college aged guys, can forget how to communicate and have a hard time seeing that from the inside of the problem. But there's a point where it's believable, and then when it just becomes annoying. Thanks for the review, Timothy!

Hmm... got rid of dial-up in 2009 (yes, late, I know... we just weren't computer-centric before then, I had babies) and I began reading online. I found a Mm/MM/MFM/Fm/Mf/Mfff/MMM on an obscure site through search (and have never found again) and all other sorts of combos vampire story that was intriguing but it was way too porn-ish. So I googled 'quality gay fiction' and yeah, GA's tagline hit right at the top. I really enjoyed Don Hanratty's work, and read all of it. Nifty's sidebar images scared the crap outta me so I never read there. The organization and formatting on other sites was okay, but GA was the best (even back with efiction) so I stayed here. Found chat, never shut up, became a chat mod, started writing, became a promoted author, became a site mod, then admin... and here I stay. I do branch out to other sites to read and post some of my work. As for my profile sexuality status. I'm ask me and have never minded anyone actually asking. I am bi, but have been with my husband since '97. He knows and benefits from my equal opportunity sexuality. We're not in an open relationship, but I love to point out hot chicks to him, lol. I'm not very girly, and I've always been more comfortable around guys. Women in large batches usually become bitches. As for writing and reading MM... *shrugs* My tagline on my blog header is 'Love in all forms'. I like stories with other plots, but I love a good romance too. I don't care who the couple are, but I tend to gravitate toward MM for the most part. Just like with being bi, I don't really question it. I'm happy, my readers are happy, so it's all good.

Actually, I did another short story with these guys where things... heat up! Thanks for reading Timothy, I'm really glad you enjoyed the story!

Well, you create the graphic, or ask someone to make it for you via photo/graphic image software (gimp is a free photo layer editing program, for example, or photoshop, CS...). You can use your own photos, free stock, whatever, cut down fit within the 200x600 size maximum. Please don't use copyrighted images, that's against the rules. You can load your graphic into a gallery here on GA, then use the other options button to get the image link. Then go into your control panel to edit your profile, click on the signature in the column of options, use the small green picture icon in the text editor (looks like a pic with a green tree/bush, 2nd row) to insert the picture. Paste the image link into the picture button in your signature, click ok/save. Then highlight the graphic in the text editor. Click on the link button which appears on the 2nd row near the pic button (chain link, has a small green circle/white cross on it). Add in the url for your story listing or to a specific story. (Either click on 'my stories' when on the Stories tab, then copy the page url or go to a specific story detail page with all the info and the chapter listing, then copy that page's ur)l. Paste into the appropriate field on the link button on your signature text editor area, click ok/save... and BOOM, graphic link that takes people to your story(ies). All this info, and more, can be found in the faq through the ? tab in the red menu bar on the site.

That's because there is NO single magic action to promote readership and create a successful eBook venture. Viral marketing sometimes just happens, as is the case with some seriously hack fanfiction that's become immensely mainstream popular in recent years. There are things you can do, however. 1. Know your market. Watch the reading trends, see what's selling. You have to factor things in like story length, genre, plot and character elements, author's existing backlist... For instance, paranormal themes are still popular, but last spring, summer, fall post-apocalyptic fiction was on the rise. It even showed in the movie trends, hence all the sci-fi summer blockbusters. Right now Young Adult and super hero stories are on the rise, and 'family' fiction is still holding strong as a mid-range well-sold genre. Some of the most popular ages for eBooks are college age and young adult. Blue collar professions like soldiers, cops, etc... rank right up there. How do I know this? I check seller site Best seller lists, as well as daily checks on what's released/how fast that hits the lists, how many reviews they get, etc... I also track MM groups on Goodreads to see what books are included into which categories, how they're rated, and how many stories are in each category and when. 2. Network. For every author you connect with, you increase your exposure. This is definitely tit-for-tat. I cross-promote via my off-site blog with other eBook authors for promos and contests, which leads to them using their social media to promote, which often leads to some of their fans using their social media to promote... and thus viral marketing begins. This can include being part of special groups, like my weekly flash fiction group where we post prompted 500-1000 word flash updates on Wednesday, as often as our personal schedule allow, and cross-promote for each other or paying to join professional author groups to going to conferences and regional meet-ups. 3. Grow an existing fan-base and keep it growing. Many of the earlier hints are especially valid here. What works on GA works on other sites. Plus, always be on the lookout for new opportunities to gain new fans. I post on 2 other free fiction websites, plus I took part in one of the biggest MM Romance group's free summer reads event in 2013. Considering they have a massive audience, plus a lot of eBooks authors take part, AND they have editing help provided, post the story in the group and as a free download on a related website, AND create eBooks to post on sale sites... that's a huge spread to the MM niche market with very little effort, other than writing, on the author's part. I'm also part of several yahoo author/reader groups that allow authors to promote themselves. Because face it... all these things take time, time that you cannot be writing. Creating blog posts, setting up promo marketing, actually doing the promotional events like blog hops, contests, posting on social media... can take anywhere from minutes to hours. You have to factor all that in to keep a balance, because obviously you have to write, and write well, first. That means you have to spend time learning how to write, always expanding your technique and editing skills. In other words... if you want to post stories or publish and do well, you need to understand it takes a lot of commitment and perseverance. There are many different routes to success, but you can never stop trying. There are millions of books, and eBooks, and free stories vying for their audience's attention, and authors can't expect to have theirs noticed without making it happen. Last year I saw my first full year of eBook sales. Four eBooks, one novella with a small publisher out in late 2012, one contract bonus for a novel at large publisher that came out last month, and three self-published novellas led to about $5,000 in sales. I've had a TON of help along the way, but that's a drop in the bucket compared to many of the big names in MM eBooks based on their backlist, time between publishings, and general sales numbers.

Or hers, unless you have more info. Oddly contrasting to the eBook world of gay romance authors--which is dominated by women authors--GA is a haven for the gay male author and reader. I think, in many ways, that can help those of us here who are women. Think of the resource info! As a woman author, I try very consciously not to feminize my men, because I see that complaint from male readers on quite a few female authors' work. I am not always successful, but I always try to get, and utilize, the feedback I receive from guys here... including to my question the other day of, 'Do guys actually talk out loud during 'alone time'? cause damn that seemed silly in the eBook I was reading. lol And, despite the prying and slightly off the wall nature of my question, my questionee actually answered, to my appreciation. Also, Daffy, unfortunately not all authors handle critique well, or at all. All you can do is approach those who act/react favorably to other reviews, or who encourage their readers to speak up. I know I've never rejected feedback, as long as it is phrased as a critique. Anything else is mocked, even if just to myself. I received a review the other week on Amazon/Goodreads attacking an eBook (Pricolici) that actually made me laugh, though, despite its flame nature. People here can probably appreciate it: No passion. no link. no important details. very lacking. I can t remember are many time I got lost in the story. this book need to be rethinkers. Pretty sure my story wasn't the real problem, despite its flaws.

As many of you know, we recently changed our group names for our Promoted authors. Previously Rob was a Premium author, but now he gets to be one of Signature authors! GA is happy to host several of Rob's backlist of stories and his eBooks, as well as some very well received premium content. You can check out his story listing HERE and his eBooks HERE. In the meantime, please join us in welcoming Rob to our Signature author group!

As someone who has been known to be a tad too blunt at times, I try to temper my feedback to encourage and inform. I beta for a few ePublished authors, and I've also sent them feedback on stories of theirs I've read that I didn't beta. I bought one, then told the author the next day that I had a few 'quibbles' with her story. Her reply? "When don't you?" LOL. All too often I am so inside a story that I don't have much to question, hence the OH MY GOD! and other times I really like where an author is going but some of the elements of their story, or writing, get in the way. For me, the important thing for every author is to be accepting. You don't have to listen to my feedback, but if you put your writing out there, you better be ready to deal with the outcome.

Well they are still kinda newly-mated. Horny is a state of being, lol. Dav and Benny go pretty far back, so it makes sense he'd be there for him. Thanks so much for the review, hun!

Benny closed his eyes and sighed when Ellis took the papers. “Fine, I forgive you. This time. That was....” “I know. I’m sorry. I will never say anything like that again. I’m just….” Benny rubbed a hand over the back of his neck. “Missing your mate.” Ellis frowned. “I think we’ve missed a lot. You’ve been through a lot too, and hiding just how hard a time you’ve had dealing with it.” Benny shrugged. “Someone has to.” “And with Yuri experiencing medical problems, and Jerret looking to you to

Mann and Jo Ann hit the nail on the head for GA. The graphic signature link helps too. Networking with other authors, and readers, is key. Being active in general, reading, writing, answering reviews, commenting on the forums, etc... is important but just keep writing. The more you write, the more fans you gather too. Honestly, I receive more comments off GA nowadays than I do on it, but I have only so much time on the site so that's relegated to projects, site work, and answering reviews. If I had to say the #1 thing that helps is reading other author's work and commenting for them. We may not have an express tit for tat system, but it's very clear by looking at the Promising that many of them read and review for each other, encouraging better quality and consistent posting. Because, face it, we all tend to write if we know we have an audience waiting for us.

I really enjoyed this chapter! We got a greater look into Mike's family life with just a few short lines, and into his personality with the drinking. I found his inner monologue hilarious, and from Bill's reaction, wondered if he could read his mind. The vamp part is totally not hidden from the reader, but it is from Mike, so the sense of anticipation of 'what will he do' is building with each chapter he doesn't find out. Oh, and the sex... hot! So, when's the next chapter? Soon, right?

I like stories with adults and cops/feds, etc... YUM! Stories with best friends can be intriguing. They know each other so well, yet it's a whole new ballgame for them. Good start. I would suggest you think about the POV you are using, and how that person would share the story. For example, you wouldn't talk to someone and say 'I said into the phone' when it's your POV. You'd think about what you said, and what you did. To let the reader know he's talking on the phone you could narrate him switching to a hands free device or tucking the phone against his shoulder, etc... I would also suggest that you check out the dialogue punctuation topic pinned in the Writer's Corner. Knowing what to use/when with speech tags versus narration threw me in the beginning and that helped me immensely. If you are interested in getting more personal feedback prior to posting, you can place a post in the Editor's Corner to see if any site members will volunteer. My best advice: Keep writing!