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Cia

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  1. Cia

    July CSR Feature: The Tampa Chronicles by BHopper2

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    What? Another 2 story series? Yes, that's what's on tap for this month's CSR feature too! Of course, instead of two short stories, we're featuring a prompt and a novella-length story written by BHopper2. This contemporary coming of age story is rife with feels, but also contains some graphic content (no sex) so please make sure you check out the tags and the story description. It's quite popular already, so I'm hoping we'll have a great Discussion day on the last Monday of the month. And hopefully lots of reviews posted on the stories too! 
     
    A New Life and a New Home
    Length: 2,254
     
    Description: Sixteen-year-old Brayon came out to his Progressive parents, but they did the one thing he didn't expect. They disowned him and kicked him out. This is his story. 
     
    A Reader Said:  This had me hooked! There's a style here of 'just the facts, ma'am' that's balanced and nuanced. I was drawn right in, like I was watching it happen and not reading about it at all.  Read it for yourself, and you won't regret it. ~ AC Benus
     
     
    My Son
    Length: 32,530
     
    Description: Adam Smith is a successful businessman, who recently came home to Tampa, Fl. Retired at age 38, living in a newly constructed house, he feels like he's set for a new chapter in his life, with plans to set up a Micro-Brewery.
     
    A Reader Said: An interesting plot, well-drawn characters, and realistic dialogue take us through the joys and fears of meeting your child as a teen.  ~ JeffreyL
     
    Don't forget to come back on the Discussion Day, Monday July 30th, to share your thoughts!!  
  2. Cia
    I'm back again! Happy Friday! Did everyone make it through the week? Did you get some writing done? There's always time for a little flash, right? Well, maybe you wrote for the game featured last week or maybe you wrote for the weekly prompts, or maybe you wrote something of your own. Either way, great job! Or perhaps one of this week's prompts will catch your fancy. Give it a go!
     
    Prompt 680 – Creative
    Tag – First Line
    Don’t bother trying, kid. I’ve been trapped here a week, I think.
     
    Prompt 681 – Creative
    Tag - The class
    When you were hired, you were told you’d be teaching English as a second language to aliens, and you’d have five students. When you heard aliens, you thought you meant children from somewhere south of the border or perhaps Asian. Instead there are five literal aliens from another world. What do you do?
     
     
    Did you write a prompt response last week? Don't forget to share it below. And here's a link to the site newsletter with links to all of the Gay Pride Headline Prompt Game responses! 
  3. Cia

    Cia's Torturing Me: Mod Queue Tips

    By Cia,


    Writing Tips
    Cia’s Torturing Me!
    by
    Cia
     
    If you’re an author, I’m sure you’ve thought that at least once, right? I swear, it’s nothing personal! GA’s posting system is complicated, and there is always a learning curve for new authors to figure out the ins and outs of posting here. I'm also the primary staff member who reviews Stories submissions, so I am not picking on any one person if you receive more than one PM; I'm simply the staff member who reviews everything in the queue unless I am away from GA for some reason. That being said, there are a few things that will get you on my hit… uh, kindly message list.
     
    Posting Issues Most Likely To Trigger a Moderation PM:
     
    *A posting bug issue noted by some authors since the update: Chapter text or other content uploads as files instead of pasting as text. This should not happen. If it does, try a different browser. 
     
    Posting More Than One Chapter New stories should always be posted with a single chapter only. These should be properly edited, ready to go live and be read by readers. A prologue can be added when you post the new submission, and published separately from the story and chapter, but you can't go back and add a prologue later. Additional chapters CAN be posted, but only if you post-date them. You can read about the post-dating system in the faq here.  
    Paragraph Spacing This might be the most common mistake I see. You can check the spacing using the "Preview" button in the text editor (looks like an magnifying glass over paper) to view how it will appear after you save your content.  Check your story content after you post, please.   Some writing programs, browsers, and/or devices (tablets/phones) are not compatible with the text editor. It can either strip out or add extra spaces between the paragraphs. Reviewing your chapters allows you to fix that before I find it in the queue. A fix in Word for extra spacing can be found in the faq here.   If you use other writing programs, like Google docs, tablets, etc… try posting with a new browser or placing your text in another program before you copy to GA until you have the correct spacing. We can't always tell you what the exact problem is in these cases to fix the spacing issue.  
    Flash Fiction and Poetry Short stories under 1k in length, such as prompt responses, or poetry must be placed in a ‘collection’. This is as simple as creating a title that implies a collection, such as ‘My Shorts or My Haiku’ and then posting a single submission as the first chapter. Then subsequent posts would be made as chapters to that ‘collection’. The chapter titles can be edited and notes can be placed in each chapter as a description, if you choose. You may have more than one collection, though we ask authors to limit them to 4 or 5 at most, to separate types of poetry or stories if you have a large number of varied content available.  
    Posting a Series Title If you are posting a story that isn’t a follow up story to one already existing on GA, you do not have a series. Please don't use this field. Once you post the 2nd story in your series you can go back and edit the first story to include the series information for the search engine. Also you can never have story 0 of a series.  
    Content Yes, we have limits of basic editing standards and quality for stories posting on GA. If you don’t know the word ‘I’ should be capitalized, or how to use a basic spellcheck, you will be placed under review and your story may be rejected until you can edit it up to a minimum level of readability. Yes, we allow stories with erotic content. We also allow stories that show drug use, suicide attempts and actual suicides, abuse, rape, etc… but there are criteria for each that must be followed, such as not glorifying the acts and adding content warnings to the story/chapter notes for extreme content. Erotic content must be integral to the plot and cannot be more than half the story plot. There is a narrow band of acceptable incest and bestiality themes, but necrophilia is NEVER allowed.  
    Various Meta Data Fields Filled Out Incorrectly We have a 3 step rating system for stories for authors to use. They include Everyone, Teen, and Mature. Teen and Mature ratings apply for stories containing content like sex, violence, abuse, or suicide stories. Mature would mean any ‘on-screen/graphic’ content. Teen includes those themes, but it might occur in the backstory or off-screen such as a ‘fade to black’ sex scene not actually written in. Everyone means no graphic content.  
    We have a story status system that has 3 levels. In Process means you’re still posting the story on GA (even if you have completely written, until you post the last chapter live it is not complete on GA) and On Hold means you’re not posting the story for whatever reason. Make sure you post to the right category for your story. There is a drop menu with many options, so please check them all to ensure you have chosen the best ones for your story.  
    And there's more… This is why we ask that authors read the entire Author and Story related faq topics before they post.  
    Any story deemed suspect for any reason will be placed under review and discussed by the forum moderation team to ensure a fair team decision on acceptability. I am not a dictator with the only say in what does and does not get approved.
     
    Questions I Get The Most From Authors:
     
    Why are you checking my stuff in a moderation queue? We check to ensure proper posting procedure is followed, that the content falls within our guidelines, and that you’re not a plagiarist. The fact is, we’ve been burned before with people stealing stories and posting on GA. We don’t always catch it, but we try our utmost to protect authors’ rights on this site.  
    How long does the queue take? Typically 24 hours, at the most. I say this because I check the mod queue once a day. Usually I attempt this between 5-10 AM, Pacific Standard Time, but I do have a life and things sometimes crop up. If you post at 9:00 AM and I already checked the queue, and something comes up the next day and I don’t get to it until the afternoon… you may wait longer than 24 hours. Sometimes I can review and approve submissions several times a day. Anything with questionable content triggering a team review can take several days, as all staff are volunteers.  
    Please remember I’m one person who dedicates time every day to this process, but I am not perfect. In the past we’ve found bugs with the posting system when author’s work didn’t post to the queue properly as well. IF your submission remains in the queue for an unreasonable amount of time without any contact from me, you can PM me.  
    How long am I in the queue? There is no set time limit in the queue, but there is a cut-off point. You must have 250 likes on your forum content, stories, and chapters before you're moved outside the queue. Once you have achieved that level, your stories and chapters will post when you publish them. So, it behooves an author to be active, posting consistently, and interacting with readers and other members on our forums as well.  
    Is your decision the sole factor in submission approval? No, it’s not. As I said before, any story deemed suspect for any reason is reviewed by the forum moderation team for a fair discussion and consensus.  
    Why can’t I edit my story/chapter or why did I get an error message when I tried to edit my story/chapter? The system has a fail-safe set in place to prevent large amounts of text in a chapter or story from being removed. We expect that you post your best work that has already been edited. If there is a serious problem, or you do not take advantage of the offer, I will remove the story/chapter content for you to repost if you PM me.  
    Why can’t I delete my story/chapter(s)? Again, there’s a fail-safe built into the system to prevent that from occurring. Authors can place their work unpublished so no one but the author or staff can see it, but they cannot delete. No, we will not refuse to remove your work, but you must PM me to ensure complete deletion from the system. I will usually want to know why, because if there’s a problem with the story, posting, or a moderation issue with another GA member, a cooling off period and discussion can sometimes resolve the issue without the story actually being deleted.  
    I’m so confused! How do I find help? We have a FAQ you can find under the Help tab in the red menu bar. The topics there explain all this and more, plus there is a step-by-step explanation of what each field is for in our story submission form as well as various things unique to our system. If you’ve read the FAQ and still don’t know the answer to your questions, please feel free to PM me. It can often be easier to ask ahead of time than to sort out posting issues after you submit your story.
  4. Cia
    Surprise! I'm popping in this week! Cia's offering an extension, so if you want it, you still have a little time for just today to write something (even a short paragraph or two fictional promo blurb for the headline you choose is okay if you make it creative enough!) for the Gay Pride Headline Prompt Game for the newsletter. You can get your work linked in the site's newsletter and featured in the forum game topic if you can send her a submission by midnight Pacific (US) time. Play along with fellow site authors in the game, or you can choose one of these prompts if that doesn't strike your fancy. Remember, though, any prompt response under 1,000 words must be placed as part of a collection. 
     
    Prompt 678 – Creative
    Tag – The character
    Your doorbell rings and you rush to open it. When you do you see someone who could be the main character from your favorite story. Before you can say a word they shake your hand. “God, I love you and your story. However, I really hate the ending. Do you think we can change it?” What happens?
     
     
     
     
     
    Prompt 679 – Creative
    Tag – Buried
    The two of them were covered in mud and blood. The shovels were cracked, and the rain washed the tombstone cleaned. They had just buried their friend for the fourth time this week. What was going on?
     
    Have you written something for the Prompt Game? Last week's prompts? Share a link to your headline, if you shared it in the conversation topic, or your prompt response! 
  5. Cia
    June flew by! Alas, all too many years have passed since these times in the stories written by Mark Arbour in this month's CSR selections, Furlough and War's End. Did you have the chance to read these anthologies? They do tie together, so you really should read them that way so you can review both of them. If you haven't, first enjoy this interview with Mark and then go check out the anthologies and then come back and share your thoughts in the comments below!
    If you had 30 minutes of free time, what would you do? 

    When I have half an hour of spare time, I generally pick up my iPad and catch up on games (like Words with Friends) or the news.  I guess the preferred answer would be that I’d write, since that goes with the theme here, but to do that it takes more than time: it takes motivation. 

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

    I’m hoping to get to England in the next year or two.  I’ve spent limited time there, and what time I spent was in London, which I loved.  My plan is to spend some more time in London, then head down to Portsmouth to the Royal Navy Museum, and most importantly, to visit HMS Victory. 

    What's your favorite room in your house? Do you plot or write there? 

    The bathroom.  No one bothers me there.  I don’t write there (SMILE).

    What’s something personal about you people might be surprised to know?

    I flew on the Concorde from Paris to New York and I’ve travelled on the Orient Express (train).

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

                  My ADD addled brain finds the idea of working on just one project absolutely abhorrent. 

    What draws you to work on period pieces when you write stories?

    There’s really two pieces to that question…there’s the time period and there’s the location.  I’m an avid reader, so during my reading travels, occasionally a time and place will intrigue me, and I’ll store that away for a potential story topic.  For a longer story (like the Bridgemont Series), it has to be an era that has truly captivated me.  You didn’t ask, but if I were to write another historical series, it would probably be set in Ancient Regime France, most likely around the reign of Louis XIV or XV. 

    Did you pick WWI as a time period for a particular reason for Furlough and War’s End?

    I picked World War I for three reasons, the first two of which are books.  I’d finished reading John Keegan’s “The First World War,” then I’d read Jeff Shaara’s “To the Last Man.”  Keegan did an excellent job of outlining the war from a historical perspective, and then Shaara made it come to life in the talented way that he has.  The final reason was that my grandfather fought in WW1, and I had been going through some boxes in the basement and I’d uncovered his gas mask and helmet, stark reminders of the hell he’d gone through at Verdun. 

    Do you have a preference for one story over the other?

    I like War’s End better, because I’m a sucker for happy endings. 

    Both stories have strong themes relating to soldiers/war and recovery. Was this just their story that came to you, or was there an underlying theme to the story from events in real life at the time?

    I wrote these stories in 2009-10, and during that time frame our soldiers were coming back from the debacle that was the Iraq War and Afghanistan.  There was much talk of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), but unfortunately the talk didn’t seem to manifest itself into action.  Suicides were much too frequent, and when it happened to a family friend, that brought the whole issue to the front of my brain.  I continue to agonize over how we, as a nation, glorify our soldiers when they go off to fight, yet after they are done and come home, we really don’t give a shit about them. 

    Do you have a favorite scene/moment/sentence in either story that resonated with you that you’d like to share with readers?


  6. Cia
    Well, it's Wednesday. Did you check out this month's Classic Author feature on Monday, or download your copy of the graphic for your signature? It's definitely an unusual little tale and has an ending I don't think you'll expect. Well, if you read Lugh's stories, you probably already know that the story won't go like you think it will and the ending is never far from assured. But let's talk about another part of the story, because there's a hint in the beginning that just captures the attention and hooks you, and that's the excerpt I chose. 
     


    To read more, click here . 
  7. Cia
    June is transition month... hot to cold, cold to hot, the spring equinox. The month of weddings for many; gay pride month. The end of the school year and the start of summer vacation. And this month, June is also the month we're featuring a different kind of transition, and union, with Lugh's short story, The Union of Darkness and Light. An interesting tale spanning years in the lives of the characters, we see the tale from multiple POV and learn that all we think is good and light and bad and dark is not always as it seems. 

     
    Length: 19,719
    Description: Some faery tales start with a kiss; some end with a kiss. They all take place in a perfect world. Well, if you don't count the wicked step-mother and the prince-eating dragon. This is my version of a modern faery tale. There are no wicked step-mothers nor prince-eating dragons, but not everything is exactly perfect either. And it all starts with a kiss...
     
    A Reader said: Sweet... a lot of fun Lugh. I look forward to reading more of your work. ~ Stephen ODonohue
     
    If you want to spread the word about Lugh'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!

  8. Cia
    Today, we're doing something a little different! This is the newest newsletter prompt writing game. So, play along with some other authors, have fun with any headline that catches your eye, and get a link to your story featured in the site newsletter! 
     
    HEADLINE PROMPT GAME

    Happy Gay Pride Month, everyone! How are you celebrating? Does your city do a parade? Special event weekends? Ban celebrations? *boo hiss* Or are you not quite ready for the crowds? Well, how about GA celebrates together with a new game?

    Very loose rules with this game, just have some fun with it. You're going to google "Gay Pride" and then click on the (News) option. Then DON'T click on the results! All you're going to do is use one of the headlines that catches your eye to create a scenario and write from there. Any length, any genre is fine, but the theme is sort of obvious, lol. You can share your headline in the game topic, talk about your story/writing as you go along, but don't do a full reveal to anyone but your editing team so we can all enjoy them later!

    Fine print: Deadline is June 28th. Post story/chapter unpublished with no date. Send link to Cia via PM. Story release will happen with July 1st newsletter. 
  9. Cia

    Featured Story: The Lilydale Leopards

    By Cia,


    Featured Stories
    What's better than another great featured review from the hardworking review team here on GA? When it's about one of my fellow admins (you're reading that right, if you missed that Graeme is now stuck on our unruly team) that members might not know is also an accomplished author with a very popluar sporty epic. Sound intriguing? Check out Timothy's review we've been keeping under wraps to surprise @Graeme with today! 
     
    The Lilydale Leopards
    Graeme
    Reviewer: Timothy M.
    Status: Complete
    Word Count: 821,737
     
    Would you like to meet a team of hunky Australian footballers? If so, then Graeme’s Lilydale Leopards series is the perfect place to go. You’ll experience plenty of game action and footy skills, but no intimate bedroom stuff. Graeme’s writing never goes beyond kissing and cuddles. However, since most of the guys are straight, perhaps that’s OK? As for the locker room and shower scenes you’ll have to use your imagination.  
     
    Of course, there’s an exception to the rule — the gay footballer— who makes the story even more interesting. In the first book, Leopard Skin Cover, ‘Ken’ is deep in the closet, mainly due to the lack of acceptance in the macho sport of Australian Rules football. He knows his chances of advancing to AFL, the major league, would be hampered by coming out. On the other hand, staying in the closet has several disadvantages, one of which is being unable to date Tony, the new marketing employee of the Leopards club. Another problem is the stress of pretending he’s straight to everybody around him, something many GAreaders can probably relate to.
     
    The sequels, Leopard Spots and Leopards Leap, are just as well written and the full story explores not only relevant themes of friendship, bullying, and bigotry, but also the striving for achievement and acceptance. I’ve returned to the series several times to spend time with the friends I’ve made there. The core group of team members and supporters, both staff and fans, are described and shown in such caring and fun ways that we readers engage ourselves in their lives and fortunes as if we know them personally. We cheer, groan, laugh, gasp, and keep our fingers crossed for the success of the Lilydale Leopards, and some of us occasionally rant at the stupidity of various characters. 😊
     
    Don’t be put off by the sports setting. I had no knowledge about Australian football, but Graeme seamlessly weaves the information into the story. The training, games, and constant need for sponsors and winning strategies provide a rich background for the main story arcs. This is a tale with passion, drama, sadness, and joy, as well as love and the kind of loyal friends we all wish for. Well, maybe except for Alex.    Once you’ve become part of the Lilydale Leopards family you’ll never forget them, or in the words of another devoted fan:
     
    Defiance19: Thank you for creating this family of football players whom we came to know as friends. For sharing their lives, and telling their story. We loved them, shared their pain, celebrated their highs, suffered their lows and everything in between.

    Take your time to savor the first three books and join the rest of us in the ongoing Book 4. See you there.
     
    Category: Fiction   Genres: Drama, Romance  Tags: young adult, Australia, no sex, coming out, psychology, sports, friendship   Rating: Teen
  10. Cia

    June CSR Feature: Anthologies by Mark Arbour

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    This month I thought we'd try something a little different. Instead of a single story, I picked two of Mark Arbour's shorter works (instead of his epic series, sorry to his fans!) from his anthologies. I hope you're in the mood for a trip into the past, something Mark does all too well, with his stories from the Carpe Diem and the I'd Never Do That anthologies. 
     
    Furlough      War's End
       by Mark Arbour
    Furlough
    Length: 4,853
    Description: Two wounded men meet in Paris during World War I. One is wounded on the outside, both are wounded on the inside. Will their accidental meeting help heal both of them?
    A Reader Said: I found this beautiful story very touching. I think the war setting added a tension and immediacy to the encounter between the two men, causing me to feel compassion for them quite deeply. Thank you ~ DonR2D2
     
    War's End
    Length: 6,287
    Description: World War I is coming to an end, but for two men, both former soldiers, peace means a return to their separate homes and their separate lives.
    A Reader Said: 
    Stop!  Read Mark's story Furlough  before reading this story which is more than an epilogue!
     
    This is a fitting finish to Furlough and is a fast and scintillating read!  
     
    As always with Mark's stories, there is a bit of sex, a lot of love and much thought.  ~ Daddydavek
     
    Don't forget to come back on the Discussion Day, Monday June 25th, to share your thoughts!! 
     
  11. Cia
    Welcome to the end of May... how did that happen? No, seriously! It's crazy how fast the year is flying by, and we're almost halfway done with 2018. And what does flying have to do with this month's author and featured story? Well, did you read Lie of the Serpent? Or you can check out my interview with Craftingmom. And don't forget to share your thoughts on her story below. 
     
    If you could have one superpower, what would it be?

    Of course, I've recently watched the Infinity Wars movie, so the Marvel superheroes and their powers are what's coming to mind.  I think manipulation of time, like Dr. Strange, would be cool so I could fix things I feel I did wrong (but then you get into the whole question of how that change would affect future outcomes and all), but, still, I have regrets that would be nice to not have.  Of course, a lot of my dreams involve flying, so maybe that's my subconscious telling me I'd prefer flying as my superpower!
    What are you wearing (and no fibbing!)?

    A grey comfy nightgown and cozy slippers—it is 2 am, so yeah...
     
    What’s one location you’d love to go to research for a story?

    I'd love to go to Greece.  Mythology was my specialty in my English minor and I'd like to eventually write something with a Greek or maybe Roman setting.  It would be hard because there is so much out there involving the Greek and Roman gods, but maybe twist off of a minor myth. 
    What brought you to the GA?

    I originally had started posting at AFF and Fiction Press with Tears of the Neko.  Then I found GA in looking for stories, and tried posting Tears of the Neko here.  The feedback/critiques I received here were (and have been) by far the most helpful and insightful.  They helped me to revamp Tears by adding over 20k words from its original form.  Comments and questions from readers have greatly helped me to advance my writing and grow as an author.  And now I only post here!
    What’s the best part of being an author?

    Well, I've been writing since at least middle school (so over 30 years).  Obviously, the 'old' stuff is mediocre at best, but even then the thrill of creating my own world and characters has been a driving factor in my writing.  Of course, there's the tiny part of me that enjoys sharing my writing with others and hoping they like it.  For the longest time (years—until college anyway), the only person who I ever allowed to read any of my fiction stories was my best friend, and she'd try to steal my spiral notebook while I was still writing.  In college, I allowed a few more friends to read my stories.  I would publish short stories and poetry in the school's literary journals, but never any of my longer works.  I didn't put anything major out for the mass public to view until putting my young adult works on Amazon in 2013, and then Tears of the Neko on AFF in 2014—the start of my journey into writing m/m fiction.
    How did you come up with the title for Lie of the Serpent?

    Well, I think of a snake laying in wait to pounce and devour its prey.  They're stealthy and slithery and can often hide in plain sight.  So that's how I think of Bryan's mother.  And of course she's lying to Bryan about Wyatt and how she feels about his relationship so.... Lie of the Serpent.

    Lie of the Serpent is actually based off of an idea of a story I wrote back in high school.  The title then was The Sexton Keeps the Key, a line from an Emily Dickenson poem.  While some basic plot elements are the same (the mom kidnapping and trying to kill her son's significant other and the disabled brother helps save them), Lie of the Serpent became so much more, as the original was not nearly as engaging, detailed, or planned. 

    I kinda suck at coming up with titles.  So sometimes when reading poetry or listening to music, I'll jot down a line or phrase that intrigues me and keep a list.  Sometimes those help trigger me to think up more interesting titles... sometimes, not all the time...
    Is there anything you found particularly challenging when you wrote Lie of the Serpent?
    I find writing a hateful or abusive parent rather difficult, but they are out there as we see in the news all the time.  There has to be some motivation behind their actions and detailing that can be challenging.  Eddie was also difficult, because while he's complicit in Wyatt's captivity, he also wants what's best for his brother.  The conflict his mother creates for him is difficult for him to reconcile because he wants to please both his mother and brother.
    Did you do any kind of research for it?

    A little research on the health problems Wyatt would be facing during his captivity and after his rescue.  A lot of times readers will offer suggestions or ask questions that has me looking things up as well.
    What’s your favorite scene in the story?

    Probably Wyatt's rescue where Eddie brings Wyatt out to Bryan.  Bryan and Eddie's utterly unconditional love for each other is what familial love should be, contrasted with their mother's selfish betrayal of her sons. 
    If you could write a spinoff story for character(s) in this story, which one would you pick?

    Oh Eddie, definitely.  While Bryan and Wyatt are whom I would consider the main protagonists, Eddie is a strong third and is definitely a dynamic, sympathetic character who deserves his own love interest.

  12. Cia
    Did you catch Monday's blog featuring Gabriel Morgan's sexy contemporary Texas story, Stonegate Stables? If you're a fan of his story, don't forget to download the signature graphic to share it through the month. If you haven't read the story yet, maybe this excerpt will help change your mind! 
     
    I chose this short excerpt from chapter three because it's incredibly descriptive in a way that makes you desperately want to see what the characters are seeing, for one, and two, because it gives you so many ideas about what is going to happen next. You get a glimpse of Sean's day-to-day life and then, bam, a big moment hits. Those sorts of you'll know it when you see it, if you're ever lucky enough to have it happen to you, life's about to change because this person is just... them. 
     
    But life doesn't always turn out how you think it will, and Stonegate Stables might be a contemporary story with a hefty dose of romance (and sex, lots and lots of sex) but the author didn't forget that either. So this excerpt might just not mean what you think it means... but to find out, you'll have to read it, and then read the story!
     


    To read more, click here. 
  13. Cia
    It's May... already?! How did that happen? I swear the time keeps flying by, but that just means we have to remember to take some time out to stop and enjoy ourselves. This month, that means you get to read Craftingmom's story, Lie of the Serpent. This contemporary crime mystery will hopefully keep you on the edge of your keyboard from start to finish! 
    Lie of the Serpent
    Lie of the Serpent
    by Craftingmom
     
    Length: 70,591
    Description: When Bryan finally finds the man he wants to be with forever, he thinks his life will be perfect. But it's taken time to convince not only Wyatt that he's sincere, but his own mother as well. Between Wyatt's anxiety to trust again after a brutal breakup with an ex, the ex still trying to wreck havoc in Wyatt's life, and Bryan's own mother's doubts, Bryan is over-stressed. So when Wyatt disappears days after their engagement, he's left devastated and confused.
     
    A Reader Said: I love all the books by this author and have read them all. 
     
    This one was slightly different from her usual writings, but still a compelling read. 
     
    I liked the storyline in this one because even when you find out who is the bad guy, you still can't see how the good guys are going to work it out in time. The bad guy isn't unexpected, but the lengths they go to are. 
     
    As always a well written and thought out story from an imaginative author.  ~ Caz Pedroso
     
    Don't forget to come back on the Discussion Day, Monday May 28th, to share your thoughts!! 
  14. Cia
    All you have to do is look at the title to know there's going to be a lot of *coughs* fun going on in this story. Because where there are stables, there are horses, and where there are horses, there are guys dressed in tight pants who ride horses... and... I'll let your imagination take it from there. Or, you could just go read Gabriel Morgan's Stonegate Stables if you haven't already! 
     

     
    Length: 221,486
     
    Description: Against the backdrop of a horse stable in Texas, Sean deals with the lives and loves of his friends and neighbors as he pursues the biggest prize in show jumping and works to keep his own relationship strong and steady. 
     
    A Reader Said: I think this is the sixth or seventh time I've read Stonegate Stables, stem to stern. Delighted to do so again here at GA, discovering some new (to me) authors and writing. Gabe, I love your style, your honesty, your ease with which you create both the characters and the relationships. Most of all I appreciate your sense of normalcy that each of these relationships expresses, the richness of being true to one's nature and being engaged and contributing to community in the here and now. You're a model for the greatness of being within all of us in these stories, and I thank you! ~ Sclyburn
     
    If you want to spread the word about Gabriel Morgan'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
    Did you have a chance to read these short stories featured in Cris Kane's fantastical tale, X-Dream Makeover this month? While there is a common thread in all 4 chapters, they do standalone quite well, so I hope a lot of people got a chance to read at least one of the four. Did you have a favorite character? Makeover? Make sure you share your thoughts below in the comments, but first, as always, I grilled the author to find out a little more about him and his writing! 
     
    If you had 30 minutes of free time, what would you do?
    Nap.
     
    What's your favorite room in your house? Do you plot or write there?
    The bedroom. That's also where my computer is located, so I guess the phrase "that's where the magic happens" actually applies in this case.
    The stories I've posted here are unusual for me in that I haven't outlined them in advance. I've come up with a premise and let the writing process tell me where it needs to go. That said, once things start to fall into place and a structure reveals itself, I end up jotting down lots of notes for events and details that should fall later in the story, if only so I don't forget them.
     
    What’s the best part of being an author?
    As many have said before me, I like having written more than I enjoy the actual work of writing. That said, my favorite part of the process is the moment when a particular phrase or sentence pops into my head or flows out of my fingers and surprises me. Something that perfectly fits the precise situation. Something that could ONLY work at that exact point in the specific context of the set of characters and circumstance I've put in place.  Some realization that I would never have come to if I hadn't been writing this particular story. I don't feel like I can take much credit for such brainstorms, but I do feel lucky that I'm the first person who gets to enjoy them at the moment of conception. I hope they eventually give the reader a similar amount of pleasure.
     
    What kind of research did you do for X-Dream Makeover? Location? Theme? Character?
    The most helpful "research" for this series of stories has been my visits to San Francisco over the years. I don't live there, but have been there enough that I have a general lay of the land that I figure my sense of geography won't be glaringly off the mark. Otherwise, this group of stories didn't require a lot of intense research. Despite the fantastical nature of the transformations, I did try to treat the situations as realistically as I could, exploring the potential drawbacks that might come about if Mr. Lee's various potions and devices actually existed.
     
    The line in the first chapter, “So what is it you wish to have that your money cannot buy you?” feels particularly… sinister. Sort of in a ‘Beware, go no further, danger, danger’ vibe that directly contradicts the modern Mr. Lee we see at first. Did you deliberately merge these two natures of his character or did it develop organically as you wrote?
    From the very beginning, I wanted to paint Mr. Lee as enigmatic, leaving his origin and even his age intentionally vague. He might seem like a stereotypical "old Asian wise man" but he knows more than he's letting on. He's clearly putting on an act to some degree, speaking in a stilted manner and purposely coming across as less worldly than he actually is. From the get-go, I have him hiding a Whopper Jr. and a Mello Yello from his customer. I like that he's fundamentally a benevolent person, but with a sly sense of humor that he hides behind his created persona. Perhaps the key descriptor in that first chapter is "When you've been doing something as long as Mr. Lee, it becomes inevitable that you start to fuck around with the clientele, just to keep it interesting for yourself." I enjoyed taking his point of view, as someone who had been doing this a long time and had seen many situations, so little surprised him. He knows the pitfalls of his clients' requests because he's seen how wishes have backfired on people in the past who haven't thought things through. He also wants to stay under the radar, so it's to his benefit to discourage ill-advised transformations.
     
    Each chapter has a very different tale with insightful lessons the characters learn about themselves. What message do you think the story has, beyond ‘be careful what you wish for’?
    We all have things we would change about ourselves if we could, so there's a definite wish-fulfillment aspect to these stories. I would hope the stories also convey that sometimes what we think is a flaw could actually be a strength, or that often what we want to change about ourselves isn't actually what's causing our problems. In the end, hopefully the characters end up with a better understanding of their true selves. Nobody goes through an encounter with Mr. Lee without being changed, although probably not in the way they anticipated.
     
    Do you plan to write more stories for the people Mr. Lee helps?
    He's such a fun character to write that I would definitely go back to using him if the proper story presented itself. It helps to have an established character who we know can do fantastical things, rather than having to come up with a brand new story device every time you want to bring about a magical transformation.
     
    I did write one additional chapter, titled "Where'd He Go?", which I consciously did not post as part of this series. I like it, but it's a bit darker and more cynical than the other four chapters, which I feel have a more consistent tone that allows them to hang together as a coherent group. That standalone chapter can be read here, along with some other transformation tales I've written over the years:
    https://www.gayspiralstories.com/newStory/show/2320
     
    What other projects are you working on that you might like to share with us?
    I'm attempting to motivate myself to write a screenplay, so I haven't been too productive lately on the fiction front. I do have one story pretty well mapped out that could find its way to GA someday if I somehow find the time to write it. All of my stories seem to have an element of the fantastical, although it doesn't reveal itself immediately in this one.
     
  16. Cia
    Oh, those tumultuous days of teenage angst, as the high school years are winding down and graduation looms--real life is coming. How do they bridge the gap between child and adult? Well... Yeah, so it's not necessarily a complicated question. But then again, for some, it's not that easy either. Check out this great short story by Sara Alva, that just so happens to be our featured Classic Author story this month. 

    No Strings
    by Sara Alva
     
    Length: 11,010
     
    Description: Josh's friend has made an important life decision. Given the opportunity, will he make the same one?
     
    Some Readers Said: Really cute tale with some interesting switches, role reversals and a clever take on strings attached. Thoroughly enjoyed it. ~ Bill W
     
    The story is powerful and impactful without the length, something I hadn't expect Sara to be able to grasp immediately since her last story was technically a multi-part story. ~ JT
     
    Oh. My. God. I am literally the slowest person on earth. I FINALLY GET WHY BRENNAN TIED THEIR SHOELACES TOGETHER LOL, I think I read it too fast the first time around.
    OH GOD SO ADORABLE *dies* ~ Luc Rosen
     
    If you want to spread the word about Sara Alva'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 featuring Sara Alva's coming of age short story, No Strings? If you're a fan of her story, don't forget to download the signature graphic to share it through the month. If you haven't read the story yet, maybe this excerpt will help change your mind! 
     
    I chose this except because it tells you a lot about the story. Yes, it gives away a bit of the "BIG EVENT" but the true insights you get are into the characters. Sara has a knack for bringing them to life in amazing ways, with so little information shared about the actual characters. Instead, we learn about them as they're facing whatever trials and tribulations stand in their way... even a best friend who is making you her reluctant wingman in a bid to get her laid. 
     


    To read more, click here. 
  18. Cia
    Happy April! This year is moving right along, isn't it? Well let's take a moment to read a story that might seem too good to be true... but yes, it just might make the characters' dreams come true! Part of a series, let's start at the beginning with X-Dream Makeover by Cris Kane! 
     
    X-Dream Makeover
    by Cris Kane
     
    Length: 40,362
    Description: A mysterious shop in San Francisco's Chinatown draws customers who wish to transform their lives.
     
    A Reader Said: If you want to make changes in yourself, Mr. Lee is glad to help. These four stories have Mr. Lee and his unusual shop in common. Each story can stand alone, but I think reading them in order gives the reader a clearer picture of what is happening. These were easy to read and very enjoyable! Yet in spite of being lots of fun to read, the message I got was "be careful what you wish for." ~JeffreyL
     
    Remember to read the story and come back on the last Monday of the month, April 30th, to share your thoughts! 
  19. Cia
    Do you read fanfiction? There are a lot of readers who enjoy it, and a lot of writers who write it, including Myr. It's a small, but growing group on GA. So this month I thought I'd feature a Harry Potter fanfiction featuring Sirius Black and Remus Lupin--Nocturnal Emissions by Julie L Hayes. Did you have a chance to read it? Make sure you share your thoughts below, but first enjoy this  interview with Julie!
     
    Do you eat your fruits and vegetables?
    Definitely! More vegetables than fruits, although I do love avocadoes and coffee (Did you know coffee is a fruit? It is!)
    Have you ever gone out in public, realized your clothing was inside out/backwards, and just didn’t care?
    I have to confess I have, especially if it’s almost the end of the work day. If it’s still early in the day, I’ll fix it, though. But after a few hours, if no one else noticed, I’m not gonna sweat it.
    What’s one thing most people on GA don’t know about you?
    I suspect most people on GA don’t know that I’m back in college, working on my associate’s degree, and will be going for my bachelor’s after that, with a major in history.
    What’s the best part of being an author?
    No question about it, it’s the writing. Telling the story, getting to know your characters, and putting everything down on paper (even if it is digital now lol)
    What’s one location you’d love to go to research for a story?
    So many to choose from! I think that first it would be Tuscany, because I’m dying to go there.
    What drew you to writing fanfiction in general?
    I have to confess my two daughters got me started. I didn’t even know it existed before they introduced it to me. And they were writing it and having such fun, that I decided I wanted to write it too.
    What made you decide to write Harry Potter fanfiction specifically?
    I read the books at the same time my kids kid, and was still very much into that world my daughters introduced me to fanfiction. Al first, I confess that I wasn’t familiar with yaoi or m/m themes, but once I became interested, it became a foregone conclusion that I would write it. Although my first pairing wasn’t what you might think it was. In fact, I wanted to do something different, so I chose Sirius/Severus. But once I started shipping Remus and Sirius, I could never go back.
    What’s your favorite line or scene in the story?
    My favorite scene is when Remus comes to Sirius’ rescue in Chapter Six, his Prince Charming.
     
    Don't forget to share your thoughts below! 
  20. Cia
    Did you catch Monday's blog featuring Libby Drew's murder mystery, Paying the Piper? If you're a fan of her story, don't forget to download the signature graphic to share it through the month! If you haven't read the story yet, maybe this excerpt will help change your mind! 
     
    I chose this excerpt because it's the start of the story. It's very dramatic, for one, shocking and graphic, but you also get a very quick glimpse into the main characters, both their basic personality and a lot of individual information about each of them, but the way they interact as well. All within a few paragraphs! Libby's always excellent at that, and I couldn't pass up highlighting one of her great hooks with this excerpt. ~ Cia
     


    To read more, click here. 
  21. Cia
    This month's great mystery isn't how to find the Leprechaun's gold at the end of the rainbow... but just whodunnit in Libby Drew's murder mystery story, Paying the Piper. Set in small town, USA, this story is really driven by the characters--and with a small town, everyone knows everyone and ALL their business--so the drama is high!
     

     
    Length: 81,568 words
    Description: One small town, two murders, and countless suspects. Irreverent police chief, Quent, and his reluctant side-kick, Cale McCoy, must discover the truth behind the crimes before anyone else loses their life. Circumstances become even more complicated when new kid in town, Drew Marcus, turns out to be the biggest mystery of all.
     
    A Reader said: Excellent read Libby, I too will read more from your obviously talented pen. ~ Stephen ODonohue
     
    If you want to spread the word about Libby Drew'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

    March CSR Feature: Nocturnal Emissions by JulieLHayes

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    Happy March! This month I'm bringing you something a little different. March makes me think of St. Patrick's Day and magic... so I looked for stories that would fit the bill. What better than the magical world of Harry Potter? Plus, I've never featured a fanfic. So why not give JulieLHayes' novella-length story a try? 
     
    Nocturnal Emissions
    by JulieLHayes
     
    Length: 12,449
     
    Description: Sirius Black has a secret that haunts him in the silence of the night - his love for Remus Lupin. It's Christmas hols and the Marauders are together, as usual. But something unexpected occurs, something that threatens to bare Sirius' very soul... what is he to do?
     
    A Reader said: I love this! I enjoy the Mauraders and I love Sirius black. I believe I have read some of your other work else where but I was not sure. Anyways, I really like this story and I can't wait for more. ~ Carrie76
     
    Remember to come back on Monday, March 26th for the Discussion day to share your thoughts on the story and to catch my interview with Julie L. Hayes! 
  23. Cia

    February CSR Discussion: All We Have Now by David AB

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    How's February treated everyone? I know it's the shortest month of the year, but it feels like it can't possibly have already passed this quickly! But, it has, and today is the discussion day for David AB's All We Have Now. Did you get a chance to read or re-read this story posted back in 2015? Make sure you gave the author a few likes, comments, or even share your thoughts and questions below. David's going to pop in as he can today, so let's encourage him to share more stories by sharing how much you enjoyed this month's read! First we have my interview with him, of course! 
     
    Are you a person who makes their bed in the morning, or do you not see much point?  
    Not in the morning, because when I wake up I'm more corpse than man and it usually takes me a few hours before I manage to lure my soul back into my body with an unreasonable amount of caffeine and nicotine. I do make my bed at some point though, but only so I can just collapse onto it and pass out comfortably at night.
       
    If you had 30 minutes of free time, what would you do?
    Maybe lie down on my couch and read the news or google random stuff. (That's just the least inappropriate answer I could think of though, so who knows what I might do, haha.)
       
    What brought you to the GA?
    Serendipity.
       
    Many authors like to write in genres they enjoy reading. Do you have a favorite post-apocalyptic story or book you’d like to recommend?  
    Well, Cormac McCarthy's "The Road" is by far the best post-apocalyptic novel (aside from "All We Have Now" of course, haha) and one of the best books in general I've ever read, but I don't think I would recommend it to anyone, because it's emotionally devastating and I kind of wish I had never read it myself to be honest.
     
    (I know it's a bit tacky to promote my own stuff, but if you've enjoyed reading "All We Have Now", I did write another apocalypse-themed (short) story called "To Last". I can definitely recommend that one, haha.)
       
    If the apocalypse hit and you survived, where would you go to live?
    I love my apartment, so I'd probably stay right where I am. (I would've answered "IN A SPACESHIP!!! O.O" However, I'm assuming there would be no more Google after an apocalypse, so to find a spaceship I'd have to drive around aimlessly and hope that I'd happen to come across a spaceship-parking lot or whatever. That just doesn't sound like a lot of fun to me, especially not if I could be lying on my couch instead, doing who knows what, haha.)
        
    Did the characters or the plot come to you first for All We Have Now?
    This is probably not something I should openly admit as an "aspiring" writer, but I don't really care about plots all that much in general, I'm mainly interested in characters and their interactions and development. To answer the question though, the setting "came to me" first. At the time I loved "The Walking Dead", so I decided that I wanted to basically write a more intimate, gay version of that show. After the setting I "developed" the characters, came up with a whole bunch of "moments"/scenes to get a proper feel for them and finally I used those "moments" to roughly map out the basic plot of the story.
       
    How did you flesh out your world? Did you plot out the events and the settings as an overall “this is the world now” or did you include the post-apocalyptic elements as they came to you while you wrote?
      Before I started writing "All We Have Now" I already knew what I wanted the world and all the different locations to look and "feel" like and how realistic or rather "unrealistic" I wanted the story to be, but I only outlined the plot very roughly and let the characters heavily inform most of my decisions on what should happen between all the abovementioned "moments", so consequently I did keep adding new elements throughout the story. I also kept researching every little detail, which made me change and add a bunch of stuff as well.
     
    One example is the [spoiler-alert] farm-chapter(s) – originally I wanted Cody and Troy to stay in the house, but the problem was that dead bodies had been decomposing in there for quite a while and I had planned for them to do a poop-ton of cleaning and bleaching etc., but when I arrived at that chapter I did a lot of research on crime scene cleaning and things of that nature and I soon had to realize that there was absolutely no way that they could realistically get rid of that corpse-stench, at least not in a day and without proper equipment. So I scrapped that idea and let them find the RV instead, which I had originally decided against, because I thought it would feel too similar to "The Walking Dead". However, in my opinion "Book 2" (which is set almost exclusively in the RV) turned out far better than both "Book 1" and "Book 3", so in hindsight I'm quite happy that corpses reek much worse than I ever could've imagined, haha.
       
    Do you have a favorite scene or moment in All We Have Now you can share with readers?
    I know the whole thing drags on for way too long and probably isn't nearly as funny as I'd like to believe it is, but the chapter in which [spoiler-alert] they get stoned out of their minds was such a blast to write and there's one line in particular that I immediately had to think of: At one point Troy is wondering whether they could make [potato] chips themselves and then he lists all the stuff they have, but he's high, so he lists both "oil" and "canned potatoes" twice without realizing it. (Here's the line: "Hey, wait a minute, we have canned potatoes, oil, spices, oil, a pen, canned potatoes and a camping stove, we could make chips ourselves," he said.) The thing is, when I wrote that line I didn't do that on purpose, I simply listed "canned potatoes" twice by accident, probably because I was tired at the time. When I realized what I had done I laughed so hard, because it was exactly the kind of mistake you'd expect a stoned person to make, so it fit perfectly and became one of my favorite jokes in the whole story, even though it was just a lucky accident.
  24. Cia
    Did you catch Monday's blog where we featured Jack Scribe's story, It Stays in Vegas? You can also download an image there for your signature if you want to share your enjoyment of the story and promote it to fellow readers! If you haven't read it yet, maybe this excerpt will help you decide to put it on your list! And, if you do read and enjoy it, make sure you leave some comments and reviews. The author might be gone, but let's make sure his great stories aren't forgotten! 
     
    Cia says:
    I chose this excerpt because it's the beginning of a very good... relationship. You get to see a lot of Drew's personality, which is important to share of the main character in the first chapter. The hook must come from either the setting, action, or character. I feel like Jack really fleshes out Drew well in this chapter. I also like the way Jack Scribe can set a scene, and the whole hotel and club area come to life in just a few sentences in this excerpt! 
     

    To read more, click here.
     
  25. Cia
    February is short and often gone before we know it. Jack Scribe is an author that many readers from GA will miss as well. But we still have some of his stories to enjoy, including his Las Vegas Trilogy. If you're in the US, you're probably ready for some sunshine and heat, so enjoy this first story in the series, It Stays in Vegas! 
     

     
    Length: 48,027
    Description: NOVEL. Drew is an ambitious, young manager at a Las Vegas casino resort who becomes smitten with an arriving guest. Danger lurks as their friendship grows. Book 1 of the Vegas trilogy.
     
    A Reader said:  I really am enjoying this!!! ~ Gene63
     
    If you want to spread the word about Jack Scribe'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!

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