Cia

Mann's writing was always compelling, even when it was a tad rougher in the beginning. Great questions, Myeige, and I really enjoyed learning more about how the little men running Mann's brain keep him writing. LOL

I see so many sides of this and all I can say is that abuse is about power. Sensation isn't the be all and end all with sex, though for teens that's often their impetus for becoming sexually active. There are emotional sides to it that come ito play for them, and other consenting partners. But rape... that's about control and power and often hate. There's no logic to it, no understanding it when you're not that type of person. Thank heavens, right? While it is sad that there are those in the public eye guilty of this, in some ways, it helps the cause of finding and prosecuting more of the creeps preying on others. It brings the issue into the public spotlight. But we can never forget the quiet victims who could still need help. Always keep your eyes open, be aware of those around you and their actions. I'm a mama, and I'm a force to be reckoned with when it comes to my kids' safety. The world is a scary place for a kid because of their lack of power, so I try to be there to help shield some of the scarier things.

Aww, you guys are sweet.

Wow... the next to last CSR for 2013. I can't say how much I've appreciated the readers who stuck with our book club and have helped keep it going this year. This month we have a great review from Renee Stevens about And0grene's story, The House Always Wins. Share your thoughts about the story. Don't forget to suggest a story for December!! The House Always Wins by Andr0gene Review by Renee Stevens Before I became a beta reader for Andr0gene, I first read his story The House Always Wins. While I have read all of his stories since then, this story remains my favorite. Though, “Colorado Games” and his “Confounded” series remain a close second! When “The House Always Wins” was chosen for the CSR’s November story, I decided it was high time I re-read the story, for probably the tenth time. The story “The House Always Wins” follows Jason Carter, or JJ, in the days after he has been kicked out of his home for no other reason than he was gay and was caught in a very compromising situation by his ultra-religious step-father. With very little money and nowhere to go, he points at a map and catches a bus to wherever his finger points to, Las Vegas. After being accidentally injured just outside of a casino, JJ finds himself a guest of the hotel and casino. He’s given time to mend, but eventually he has to be on his way. Before leaving, he decides to try his luck with the slot machines, only to find himself much worse off than he was when his journey began. Now, not only is he homeless, but he’s also completely broke. An unfortunate string of events leads up to an offer that is just too good for JJ to refuse. Michael Black, the owner of the casino that JJ has been staying at, has found himself in a peculiar situation. He needs a boyfriend, yet had neither the time nor the inclination to find one. He proposes a business deal that sounds too good to be true; pretend to be his boyfriend for a month and JJ will walk away with a cool twenty thousand. JJ quickly accepts, after all, he doesn’t really have any other options at the moment. Besides, how hard can it be to pretend? Actually a lot harder than he thought. The story follows the month that JJ spends with Michael. When Michael’s nosy mother shows up, JJ has to make sure she believes that he’s in love with Michael and Michael is in love with him, which includes sharing a bed with the man he’s supposed to love. Lines become blurred to the point where it can be difficult to distinguish exactly what is the truth and what is the lie. “The House Always Wins” in an interesting story and I quickly became engrossed in JJ’s plight. Andr0gene shows his skill with this story in that he hooked me from the start and refused to let go until I finished reading, as evidenced by how many times I have re-read this story. It has quickly become one of my go to stories when I want something that I just know I’m going to enjoy. Thanks for the review, Renee!! Okay guys, share your thoughts AND include your suggestion for next month's CSR!

OKay, so I like the update. I enjoy the way Tate is upfront and blase about his sexuality. I see things that way. Men, women... doesn't matter. I don't like to label myself either. Bi is the best description that others can understand, so I guess I see Gavin's point as well. I do hope you don't draw out the misunderstanding between them too long though. I hate when miscommunication is the main issue between two people and it would be a shame adult men can't talk things out and find a middle ground. Gavin's thought about how 'gay' is just how he says he likes men, and doesn't define him, needs to be spoken out loud. As to your writing, I like your plot arc and the way you're introducing your characters bit by bit. I would suggest you check the Writing forum for the dialogue punctuation topic. We have some good informationthere about punctuation and dialogue in general. I noticed you missed a few commas with speech tags, and you used a hyphen to indicate an interruption instead of an em dash. Also, stutters are often indicated in the dialogue itself, rather than tagged. That can clean up your speech tag area if you have it too so you only use one or none at all. For example: “What?” He half stuttered half whispered. would be: "W-What?" he whispered. “You’re gay?” Gavin stuttered, and then became aggravated with himself. would be: "You're g-gay?" Gavin became aggravated with himself. Anyway, keep going! I want to see how Gavin and Tate find what they need in each other.

8 year olds have such a unique viewpoint. I am glad you took the time to explain the hate being spewed at your grandson and his friend, though I am sad kids that age face it. While hitting will not change much, and is rarely advisable against a group of bigger, possibly stronger kids, I do hope he holds on to that understanding and has a variety of tools to reject their hate and not back down or internalize being gay as a bad thing.

Be nice Yang. I think our way of life, and the way the US views our 'safety', was impacted in significant ways on each of those events. We were never threatened at home during war before Pearl Harbor and that had a huge impact on the way our country then responded to the threats of the time. The idea that our president, the person who essentially embodies democracy, was killed in the midst of the cold war climate of the early 60s was a huge impact on the way our country viewed our political and militaristic stance again. Then consider the ways political and militaristic stances shifted, once again, after 9/11. Look at the changes in policy both at home and abroad in the way we view and respond to home-grown and foreign terrorist threats, and the way our society accepted those shifting policies yet again. All you have to do is walk into an airport, in fact. Dave's point is not necessarily the way the generations regard the sanctity of each event, because face it, today's generation is pretty irreverent as a whole compared to earlier generations. His point is that each and every one of those momentous events changed the way our society (the US) perceives itself and the way we respond to threats because in the end those were all attacks on the US way of life.

LOL Mann! I'm that tall, I'm that tall! Great job Daemok and you can certainly keep that story going. Thanks for all your hard work on the prompts each week Wayne!

Schools are pretty serious nowadays about nutrition. What I've found is ridiculous is how the schools have begun to limit caloric intake. For the elementary school kids, it's not too bad but a lot of high school kids, especially athletes, are being restricted from even making additional healthy choices because they've had 'too many calories'. My kids are fortunate to not be in that school or the one JJ was in. I'd flip my gourd. For example, tomorrow my daughter plans to take meatloaf, a cheese stick, a yogurt tube, a orange, and flavored water. Occasionally I do allow the kids to take small candies, especially around Halloween. No one's ever said anything. Now, I do know that a few times the school's told kids getting hot lunch that they have to go back and get some veggies or fruit. Considering my kids' school offers 4 entree choices, both meat and meat alternatives/free, 2 kinds of fruit, a hot veggie and a salad bar... it's not hard to find things the kids will eat on a daily basis.

For us, it's usually about 2-3 weeks before Christmas and it comes down sometime between then and New Year. That depends on how fast it dries out. Living in Washington state, we have lots of tree farms to go cut fresh ourselves. I always make cocoa and we roam around the lot before picking our fav tree and bringing it home. The hubby does the stand, I do the lights, and the kids do the ornaments and the candy canes, then the hubby does the santa on top.

I saw this commercial just last night and LMAO. I mean... really? They're in unders... whoo whoo

Ooh, a shifter story, right up my alley. And it was well written too! Shifter stories with bears as main characters aren't as common, so I always like to see how authors take that aspect and create a new shifter theme. I'm definitely going to be following your story.

No, most of the dreams I remember are either super strange or nightmares. I remember once, I was pregnant, and I dreamed instead of a baby I had a book inside me. I could feel the hard corners through my stomach and everything. LOL I'm glad you had a good dream, Mark!

I don't keep up with nearly as many people as I used to from GA on Skype (darn that program, I want my msn back!) but I'm always here if you want to chat. The best thing about GA is that while people come, and go, and come again... we're always here. The supportive community on the site, whether you're trying to write or read or just live life, will remain for those who need it. It sounds like you have a ton on your plate. While 12 hours every 48 would be amazing... maybe 30 minutes, an hour, two... whenever you can squeeze them in without stressing YOU out is just as good. I'm so glad you've decided to come back though.

Nurture is not always at the heart of an issue though you're right Matt, quite often it is. I've lived it, though not at the heart of a city, but in a small town. Neglect and abuse can happen anywhere. Kids with shattered backgrounds come with a lot of baggage. They are more likely to act out and have issues, but sometimes no matter what the parents try to do kids can be 'wrong'. Then again, you have kids who live that life and they turn out okay so obviously there are always exceptions. Kids CAN overcome their upbringing. There are also more than a few kids with privileged backgrounds that get into drugs and other issues too. The problem is that some people who are completely outside the situation think it's okay to judge. Without being one you can't know the day in and day out slog of parenting. Condemning THESE parents and/or the kid without walking a mile in their shoes is wrong. Obviously they all need support and thankfully we have systems set in place for just that reason.

The prompts are fun! It's great to see how a phrase or scene can inspire authors to such variety. That's why the anthologies are so much fun. Thanks for the review knotme!

LOL! Yeah, I did leave a lot of the world-building behind. Just enough to add a supernatural flair that could SO be expanded on. Then again... it seems like all my short stories are like that. Thanks for the review, Wayne!

This sort of thing really is moot. The issue boils down to this: Those who are capable of looking up the word and taking in the nuances of the definition are all old enough to understand the social connotations. At that point they are either 1) aware that it is an offensive use of the term and shouldn't be used or 2) use it already and don't care. Also Yang, I agree. I used to hear this term on the playground or halls of the elementary school when staff wasn't around quite a bit more, even so recent as 5 years ago when my daughter entered kindergarten. It was sad to hear that sort of talk from kids that young. Recently it has definitely passed from popular use but I think in a lot of ways that is because the 'accept others and do not use disrespectful terms' has become a major component of their yearly lessons from the guidance counselor about socially acceptable behavior.

LOL! We'll see. Glad you liked it Mann.

“Please, I can explain.” He looked up at me from his knees. “Don’t worry.” I tilted my head and stared at him. “You don’t have to.” “But—” His head rolled across the floor. His wife screamed and scrabbled back. Her body hit the floor with a dull thud. The silence was broken by the pattering of blood dripping from my nails. I flicked my hands, annoyed with the sound. “I know you’re here. I can smell your rot. Come out, come out wherever you are.” I prowled the room, trying to find the scent t

That is sad when you lose a pet. I'm sorry hun. Some people find a new pet helps ease the sting of losing a loved animal, and others can't handle it. Even if you're traveling and busy, I'm sure you're doing the best you can for your mom and what she needs from you.

Humans ARE herd animals. We do not live in microcosms based on singular aspects of who we are but like DOES tend to gravitate to like, in many ways. As Tetrefine basically pointed out, we like to feel like we are accepted and 'part' of those around us. Color, creed, socio-economic status, regionality, and yes sexuality, DO play parts in how we define ourselves and those we commonly interact or 'relate' to. Is this a hard and fast rule? No. Is any one of those factors, specifically sexuality in this discussion, HAVE to be that defining element of our personality and/or dictate our behavior or peers? Of course not. That would make for some very one dimensional people. Just as our personality is built upon many layers of who we are as individuals, so are our 'cultures'. There are many, many areas of overlap. Trying to box people in like that just isn't logical. Look at me. I am a woman who had a strong Southern upbringing (read: homophobe Southern parent) in the very liberal Pacific NW who happens to be bi but married to a man. I am a stay at home mom and interact with other typically hetero parents, but I also write man on man fiction and have a very wide circle of gay friends, though mostly online. I am Mom and wife. I am erotica author and school volunteer. I am a general acceptor of anyone who is accepting of me... be they the local 30 something Catholic mom married to her high school boyfriend who accepts I am *coughs* quirky or the single gay 20 something who can't imagine the boring hetero-normative, white picket family thing as they enjoy their gay hook up bar crawling. I have so many toes dipped into so many scenes.... But that just means my life is fun. Sometimes conflicting, and often strange, but I like it weird.

My bff and her younger half brother were adopted at the same time by the same family. I am not saying their lives were picnics but we all had shit happen. Yet at one point as a young teen he just went wrong. Accusing people of things, horrific things, hurting animals, running away and committing petty crimes and some not so petty. He ended back up in state care after juvie then a lock down facility and then eventually into drugs and prison. Then again I knew a whole lot of other kids taken from their bio parents short and long term and another adopted teen with rage issues that stayed with her family with therapy ongoing when I was growing up. Another boy I knew of in town was 11 and in a state mandated anger management class I was in when I was 16 because he convinced another boy to help him lure a not quite friend of theirs to a train bridge and tried to throw him over. Trust me, not all kids are innocents. Not many young kids are as capable of that level of problem... but some are. Sometimes it's nature, sometimes it's nurture, and sometimes it's both. Every person, every family, every situation has its own dynamic and it's easy as hell to stand outside and judge. Unfortunately, sometimes there is no easy answer or a right thing for everyone.