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Cia

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  2. Cia
    We've already hit one quarter of the year down! How time flies. How about a story about two men who found their time once they found each other? Read this first story posted by a newer site author @Cap recently. Don't forget the interview & Discussion day at the end of the month where you can share additional thoughts you don't add to the comments/reviews! 
    Parker & Brody: An Alliance
    by @Cap
    Length: 61,671
    Description: The exploits of the P&B duo; 1st story. 
    Parker: the ex-officer turned contractor/fixer. 
    Brody: the Tier-1 operator who holds the line.
    Both men built for impact, with zero tolerance for games. Brothers in arms, partners, and solitary souls searching for a forever home. 
    A military alliance of two against a rotten world.
    A reader said: A deep and thought provoking tale of two men living somewhat shallow and unfulfilling lives in the military, men who meet by chance and soon realise they have found what they thought they never would -  being seen by another, becoming important in the life of another, being a safe haven for another and mind-blowing, wholly satisfying, sex.
    A brilliant debut @Cap. ~Summerabbacat
     
    Don't forget to come back to comment on the Discussion day, Monday, April 27th!
  3. Cia
    Did you read this month's featured CSR story, Break the Day, by dragonenthusiast? Share your thoughts on the story below, but first of course, is my interview with this GA author who just passed their first year mark a few months ago! 
    Have you ever gone out in public, realized your shirt is on backwards, and just don’t care?
    That actually happened to me just last week. I was sitting at my PC working and then realized something was scratching me on my collarbone, found the shirt tag, and then shrugged. If I didn’t notice it, I’m sure no one else did either. And if they did, oh well.
    What’s one location you’d love to go to research for a story?
    I’m not really the type to travel, so I never really considered this before, but I think I’d like to go somewhere truly unfamiliar to open my mind more for inspiration when it comes to writing distinct cultures. I struggle with making them distinct. I can’t keep making pseudo slavic nations and calling it a day.
    What’s something personal about you people might be surprised to know?
    I’d say that I’m Czech as a fun fact, but that might not exactly be a surprise, so instead I’ll say that in my day job I work for a graphics studio, mostly making promo material for a local supermarket chain. Sounds thrilling, I know, but I enjoy it.
    What’s your favorite animal, real or fantasy, BESIDES dragons?
    Bunnies! I have one, his name is Buttons, he’s a little menace, I love him so. Keeps trying to eat plastic for reasons that elude me. I call him a bandit because every time he’s near he will try to shake me down for treats.
    Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
    I always struggle with descriptions, and it’s something I try to work on. I can write dialogue all day, but describing places or people never comes entirely naturally. I have to say, I’ve gotten a lot better at it over the years though.
    What’s the best part of being an author?
    Being able to get the stories and characters that keep manifesting in my brain out of it. They won’t leave me alone. My second favorite is sharing the silly nonsense I write (complimentary) with the world.
    All your stories on GA are based in Fantasy. Is that your favorite genre to both write & read?
    At this point in time, definitely. The first series I wrote is more of a sci-fi fantasy, though, and I fully intend to return to sci-fi sometime soon. I just have to slog through some of my unfinished series before I take the plunge into making another one.
    What character trait do you think best describes Fennrin? What about Ainreth?
    In many ways they’re opposites of each other. In that vein I’d describe Fenn as cautious, careful, and guarded, while Ainreth is more willing to take risks, is more open at least on the surface, and doesn’t bother how he feel. But when it comes down to it, I think both of their big character trait is loyalty, and caring for those they love, even if some take a while to figure things out.
    Do you have a favorite line or scene in the story?
    I don’t really have a favorite line, but I think my favorite scene from book 1 has to be the one where Fenn meets Ain’s parents. It’s just very sweet and a little chaotic, and while it was difficult to write given that there’s so many of them, it’s dear to my heart. No matter what happens later on, the way they accept Fenn is just very sweet.
    Can you share anything about your current or upcoming work with GA readers?
    After Raze the Night is posted in its entirety (45 chapter + an epilogue + a bonus chapter), I’ll be posting the third and last book in the Nightstar series, Bring the Dawn. After that, I’m not sure what I’ll post next. Maybe I can share another one of my standalones before going into another series. I have one about an asexual merman librarian that could be perfect for some variety.
  4. Cia
    I'm keeping up with the fantasy theme this month with the Signature feature but again, not going with those rainbows and golden coins! Nope, you get to visit another fantasy genre with Mikiesboy's Anthology entry last year. Did you enjoy this story then? Why not now, if you missed it! 

    Length: 4,402
    Description: Every cedar holds a spirit. Every spirit longs for home. 
    When a young Japanese cedar sapling is transported to a Canadian zoo for a new “Trees of the World” exhibit, no one realizes it carries with it a kodama—an ancient tree spirit torn from its home. As the cedar begins to wither, strange phenomena ripple through the zoo, and a girl named Maureen O’Neil decides to find out why. With her mother's support, Maureen challenges the botanist who brought the tree overseas. A violent storm reveals the truth so, together, child, mother, and scientist undertake a journey to restore nature's balance. 
    A reader said: What a gorgeous, rich, mentally stunning story. Many of us hold trees in high regard and I will never touch another without remembering the last lines of this wonderfully written story. Thank you for this one, tim.  xo ~MichaelS36
     
    If you want to spread the word about Mikiesboy'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 Mark's story, The Yacht Club, from last year's Secret Author contest? There will be another one of those coming up later this year, so I hope you will both enjoy this story (if you missed it) and the upcoming event this summer. Make sure you check out this excerpt and the story if you want to remember that fun or read it now! As always, like, comment, and review! 
    Want to read more? Click here.
  6. Cia
    Well, as we have a bit more time this month, I thought I'd share a longer story. No, not gold coins, rainbows, and lucky charms themed... but we do have fantasy! Take a peek at this story if you haven't already, as well the ongoing sequel! 
    Break the Day
    by @dragonthusiast
     
    Length: 91,498
    Description: Fennrin is a shadowforger, a type of az-ari who have mastery over shadows. But all it's ever brought him is misery. People are afraid of the power that he himself barely understands, seeing his shadows as omens of bad luck and death. 
    Fennrin's life takes a turn when he is approached by Ainreth, a lightweaver and famous general, asking him to come with him to the royal court to be trained.
    Thrust into a world of politics, Fennrin quickly learns how powerful he could become, while starting to fall for Ainreth. However, unwelcome feelings are only the start of his problems as the neighboring, tyrannical monarchy is preparing for war. 
    A reader said: An intriguing start and we have yet to meet our hapless protagonist. This looks to be a good one. ~drpaladin
    Don't forget to come back to comment on the Discussion day, Monday, March 30th!
  7. Cia
    Did you read this month's CSR story? I love a good country story, as I grew up on and around farms, horses, cattle, sheep, and can spot who wears their boots in the saddle versus who wears their boots to be fancy (and yes, we did make fun of those visitors at fair!). I love asking what's something personal about you that people might be surprised to know and getting all sorts of answers to my interview questions to share with GA members about our authors, and getting to read more about a fellow country soul! Read on to find out more about @Griz and his story, Spring and a Ring! Make sure you share your comments below. 🤠
    Chocolate or Vanilla?
    Hmmm.....Chocolate, I think. Vanilla is integral to good chocolate, so really, I get both with each and every bite.
    What’s one location you’d love to go to research for a story?
    Wojtowa, Poland. It's a small village now, but before WWII, was larger and very much like Lewistown, Montana: an agricultural railroad town. The Nazis reduced the town to mostly rubble, but my remaining Polish relatives and many, many others restored it as much as possible. I have this idea for a story about my (young) great-great-great uncle on a boat out of Gdansk, Poland, bound for the States. He and another traveling immigrant meet, a young Dane from Copenhagen, when the boat stops there on the way West. The end might be predictable, but the details will focus on both Denmark's big city and Poland's little village, and the challenges in a new country the two young men are truly not prepared for. I want at least two weeks in Wojtowa to research around 100 years of history and geography.
    What’s something personal about you people might be surprised to know?
    I was born and raised in Lewistown, Fergus County, Montana. I returned here after years away for college and working for a larger international company which focuses on farm commodity shipping and receiving. The folks here have no idea I write gay romance stories (with some nookie included, of course), and the readers of the stories have no idea I'm a real farmer with a real farm and real livestock. No, really.
    What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
    As with many aspects of Life, one thing leads to another, and then returns home. I take my horse out and ride around the property, checking the fences. I get most of my story ideas, including dialogue, on horseback. Generally, a ride results in stuff for a story, and the stories seem to include horses (and nookie). Same happens if I'm cooking; I get an idea while standing at the stove, and write stuff down. Sometimes in the margins of cookbooks.
    If you could give advice to yourself when you first started writing, what would it be?
    Write everything down when ideas come to mind. They might not be used, but it's a good bank of ideas for plot, characters and dialogue. Some of them will never come back to mind, once forgotten.
    How did you come up with the title?
    I was trying to think of a title that conveys personal and professional growth. Spring is the beginning of agricultural growth, and traditionally, a ring is the beginning of personal and interpersonal growth. This is a traditional community, and the seven or nine other gay farm guys we know give each other rings (or if it's necessary to be discreet) or nicer wrist watches, when we want to have physical connection with each other by proxy. Screw the 'patriarchal heteronormative' drivel we hear when we are in bigger cities and folks see our rings; farm boys are not hung up on labels from the very people who insist we should not live by labels. One of these days, I'll work on a story about our own tribe's selective, near-militant hypocrisy. It'll depend on which acre my horse takes me for checking the fences, I guess.
    Do you relate more to one character or the other, Sal or Tim?
    I relate more to Tim, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, behaviorally and physically. I am 6'5", 235 pounds and furry. Due to a badly-timed investment in equipment a few years ago, I wound up in Tim's boots-----in bankruptcy. It took a long time to dig out of the nightmare, and I didn't have my own Sal del Vecchio to save my sorry butt. Sal, though, is a re-named (straight) friend in real life, and in real Walpole, Massachusetts, who said he'd try to find me a rich sugar daddy. That's its own can of worms I'd rather leave unopened, although.....I'd like my own version of Sal. Not that he needs to resemble the character, but just be a good man, smaller than myself, who likes horses, cows and crops, and thinks snow is the very best crop a Montana farmer can grow. (I love cold weather and snow. And the best candy in the world is heated maple syrup with a little cinnamon added, then drizzled in a snowbank, which is Winter thing only.)
    Did something specific inspire you to use the setting for Spring and a Ring?
    Well, yeah, actually; Sal's farm and log house, which in real life is my property and house, and my favorite little town, Winnett, Montana. My property and its precise location is the setting for another agro love story, "Harvard Comes To Montana". Longer than "Spring And A Ring", and not yet complete. My farm has been in our family for five generations, and my veterinarian nephew and his boyfriend will take it into the sixth and beyond. I'm solidly planted here, just like the wheat, oats, rye and Black Angus and Scottish Highlander cattle I grow.
    Do you have a favorite line or scene in the story?
    Those were my nephew's boyfriend's idea, when he read the story as I was working on it. That guy is the funniest, most romantic, knuckle-dragging redneck I've ever met. I told him I want to collaborate on a full story with him sometime. I hope sincerely that will happen.
    Can you share any of your current or future story you’re working on with readers?
    I kinda already did, or a specific story: "Harvard Comes To Montana". High school graduate farm boy, sixth generation on Polish immigrant family farm, meets visiting Harvard professor. Twelve years apart in age. They have a lot to teach each other about challenges, compromises, family, career and (of course) love. Oh-----and food. Seems to be a regular topic in stories I write. Everything 'food' I've written about is stuff I've actually prepared. It's on nifty.org, and once I get the next chapter written, I'll publish the whole thing on GA, too. One of my readers is a professor at Barnard College. I am, he says, his 'personal favorite gay mushy-trashy novel author'. That's an honor, as far as I'm concerned. There's another one-chapter short story on nifty.org: "On Eggs And Kinsey". I want to submit that to GA, as well. Just need to get my lazy butt in gear.
  8. Cia
    This month I thought I'd feature a romantic... or is it? cruise story by @Mark Arbour. This was part of the Secret Author contest in 2024, which I hope readers enjoyed, but if you missed it, check it out now!! 

    Length: 10,473
    Description: Two daddies and two twinks go on a cruise. Devon and his boyfriend Roger plan a cruise to get away and enjoy some time together.  While boarding they meet Keller, who is traveling with his estranged boyfriend Jason.  While on board they discover the true strengths and weaknesses of their relationships. 
    A reader said: Yacht Club is a compelling, well-writtem short story. Perfect for a lazy summer afternoon, you will be drawn into the dual love stories of our 4 main characters, rooting for them as they discover what they mean to each other. 
    A great read. ~ Doha
     
    If you want to spread the word about Mark Arbour'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!
  9. Cia

    February 2026 CSR Feature: Spring and a Ring by Grizz

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    It's February, and thoughts turn to the changing of the seasons, Valentine's Day, love, and romance! So, here we go with a short story featuring love in a little tale that you might have missed! Please give it a read, like, comment, or review and come back for the interview on the Discussion day at the end of the month. 
    Spring and a Ring
    by @Griz
    Length: 8,231
    Description: Two young farmers in rural central Montana meet as Winter turns to Spring, and everything frozen begins to thaw and prepares to bloom.
    A reader said:  A lovely, tranquil low-angst story about two men in Montana combining their lives. Some nice passages about food give a unique spin to the tale. ~andy cannon
    Don't forget to come back to comment on the Discussion day, Monday, February 23rd!
  10. Cia
    Welcome to our first 2026 CSR Discussion day, and our first twofer! I thought, why not give you an extra treat. First, I gave you all a SHORT story because I know you're busy recovering from the holidays, and we all just need a short, sweet treat. Second, you get two interviews for one blog! Learn all about these co-authors and how they both answer the same questions. Hmm, wonder how that turned out? Read on! And don't forget to comment below.
    First up, chris191070: 
    Do you eat your fruits and vegetables?
    Yes, to both. My favorite fruit would have to be bananas or plums. My favourite vegetable is Asparagus
    If you were an animal, what would you be?
    An Eagle, you have the freedom to fly and explore.
    What’s something about you that would surprise people?
    I hate horror films, but I am quite happy to read some horror stories.
    What brought you to GA? 
    I was after a site that provided proper gay fiction. That provided stories that were not just about the sex.
    If you had to pick your favorite book or story you’ve ever read, what is it and why?
    The Harry Potter Series. It conjured up all sorts of things that you wish you could do yourself, especially flying on broomsticks or using a spell to shut people up.
    What’s one location you’d love to go to research for a story?
    Australia
    How did your story collaboration come into being? What is the best part? Hardest challenge?
    We had collaborated before this story and enjoyed working together. The best part is me having weird ideas and Ben transforming them into something readable. I don't think we have hit a hard challenge just yet,  we have always agreed on where we want the story to go.
    Where did the idea for Raven’s Secret Crush come from? 
    My weird imagination, after watching something on television. 
    Do you have a favorite line or scene in the story? 
    A tense silence hung in the air. Deep down, Raven wished his older brother would be more honest with himself and others. He'd idolized him back when they were kids, but had he ever seen the real Altair behind all of the walls he'd built around himself?
    Can you tell readers anything about your current or upcoming work? 
    Me and Ben have just started posting our latest collaboration - The Fantastic Eight and Their February Surprise.
    It brings together some of the characters we have featured in our previous collaborations.
    Now for Bendtedwreath! 
    Do you eat your fruits and vegetables?
    Ben: Yes. My favorite vegetables are squash and pumpkin. My favorite fruits are kiwi and blackberries.
    If you were an animal, what would you be?
    Ben: I’d likely be a red panda, as I’m solitary, shy, and mostly nocturnal. My favorite animal, however, is the sea turtle.
    What’s something about you that would surprise people?
    Ben: Though I’m fairly straight-laced, my friends are not. I am very punctual, but none of my other friends are.
    What brought you to GA?
    Ben: A friend who was my roommate at the time.
    If you had to pick your favorite book or story you’ve ever read, what is it and why?
    Ben: That’s a difficult choice. The Dresden Files perhaps.
    What’s one location you’d love to go to research for a story?
    Ben: I’d have to learn Japanese to then head over to Japan and retrieve more details about Yokai.
    How did your story collab come into being? What is the best part? Hardest challenge?
    Ben: I reached out to Chris for one collaboration, and we had fun with it and continued from there.
    Where did the idea for Raven’s Secret Crush come from?
    Ben: We were given a genre from a prompt event, Romance/Contemporary Romance. Chris then brought up a “jock x nerd” theme with characters that weren’t too stereotypically “jockish” or “nerdish.”Then, we went on from there.
    Do you have a favorite line or scene in the story?
    Ben: Mine is "I've been busting my butt to collect every OneSlice comic book ever released. I've got 110 out of 113. Not that I'm obsessed or anything." because OneSlice is a play on OnePiece, and I’ve a friend that enjoys the series so much that they read the manga before watching the episodes just to note the differences in the colors used.
    Can you tell readers anything about your current or upcoming work?
    Ben: We began posting a collab story that is five chapters long to not only tie all our collab characters together, but to give them an ending of sorts. I’ve also been personally working on a long-chaptered vampire and incubus-themed story which I’ve asked many GA members for help with over the past year and a half that I hope to finish so that I can begin sharing that one, as well.
  11. Cia
    Did you catch Monday's feature of Mann Rambling's story, Ones and Zeros? It was part of an anthology featuring all sorts of disasters, but it certainly wasn't! What did you think of the story? If you didn't read it back in 2013, or I haven't intrigued you with it yet, check out the excerpt below! 
    Want to read more? Click here!
  12. Cia
    This month we are featuring both an older story and an older anthology! @Mann Ramblings posted Ones and Zeros to the 2013 Recipe for Disaster Anthology. Check it out and some of the other stories if you are looking for a great read or some inspiration to write your own anthology submission for this year's later event. 

    Length: 9,015
    Description: In the future, all para-humans are 2nd class citizens under constant control and supervision. Poll's sponsor is a securities specialist, specifically the man responsible for designing all tech the maintains the balance of human superiority. Poll accepts his world, he's well treated, until the disappearance of his twin brother Costa shatters his world view and forces him to decide where he stands.
    A reader said:  What a great story Mann. A personal disaster leading to a worlwide one, I could see everything in my head like a movie. Seeing how this world worked something like this had to happen some day.
    A well written and constructed story which interpreted disaster as it should be, inexorable. Wow. @Aditus
    If you want to spread the word about Mann Ramblings' story, download the graphic below and add it to your signature!

    Make sure you come back on Wednesday to see the excerpt I chose to share!
  13. Cia

    December Signature Excerpt: Elias by Krista

    By Cia,


    Signature Feature
    Did you catch Monday's feature? Have you read Krista's story? Raven1 said it wasn't spooky... but like many of Krista's readers, thinks her writing itself is enthralling. Is it her characters? The way she writes the scenes? What do you think? Read on and decide? (and share your thoughts!!) 
    Want to read more? Click here
  14. Cia
    Well, no great announcements about 2026 from me... Except the start of CSR! I thought I'd do something a little fun, a twofer! That's right, this month's feature was written by 2 GA Authors! That means double the fun on the Discussion day. 
    Raven's Secret Crush
    by @BendtedWreath and @chris191070
     
    Length: 5,301
    Description: Raven Bran always feels stuck behind his brother, in basketball, at school, and even with friends. But when he meets someone who truly understands him, everything starts to look different. Sometimes, the right person is all it takes to finally feel seen.
    A reader said:  Well done indeed, @BendtedWreath and @chris191070. I would like to give this story six stars, but the system will only let me assign five stars. This story is put together well and easily enjoyed. I recommend it. ~ ReaderPaul
    Don't forget to come back to comment on the Discussion day, Monday, January 26th!
  15. Cia

    December CSR Discussion Day: The Darkest Days by Jack Poignet

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    Please forgive my tardiness, I lost track of the days of the week! The bliss of holiday vacation. My darkest days? Next week, when I go back to work with all the kiddos who also wish we were still on vacation!! So what did you think of this month's story feature? Share your thoughts on that and the interview with Jack below! 
    Chocolate or Vanilla? Vanilla. Unless we’re not talking about ice cream here…?
    What’s something personal about you people might be surprised to know? I hold a Master’s degree in Physics, though I’ve drifted far from that field professionally. On a less academic note, I am an enthusiastic Karaoke singer.
    What do you like to do when you’re not writing? I love to travel, write songs, and—far too rarely—contemplate the universe. This year I published an AI-assisted music album, and last year I indulged my physics background by uploading a personal “Theory of Everything” paper online. It keeps the other side of my brain active!
    What’s one location you’d love to go to research for a story? Japan. 
    What brought you to the GA? I discovered GA ages ago as a reader hunting for good shifter stories, and the site is a goldmine for them. When I finally took the plunge into writing, it felt like the natural home for my work. I do write erotica as well, though I usually reserve the explicit stuff for Nifty or my Patreon (Bob and the Biker being the exception).
    You’ve added a variety of stories in different sub-genres to GA. Do you have a favorite one to write? Definitely (Dark) Fantasy.
    What inspired you to write Darkest Days? It was early December here in Munich. A radio segment about the local “Perchtenlauf” (a traditional alpine parade) sparked my interest. That sent me down a Wikipedia rabbit hole regarding the “Wild Hunt,” and I just had to write about it. Fun fact: some of the icy imagery is a nod to Hemingway’s A Day’s Wait. I’m certainly not comparing my prose to his, but the atmosphere of that story has stuck with me for decades.
    Do you have a favorite line or scene in the story? Not a favorite, but there is one line that sticks out: “…you mustn’t leave your washing hanging or the Wild Hunt could get caught up in it.” It’s a specific bit of local folklore here in Bavaria. It’s practically an inside joke that shouldn't be in a serious story, but I couldn't resist including it.
    What other mythic lore have you considered writing into a story in the future? The list is endless. I’ve been brewing an epic with strong religious themes featuring a Biblical figure who is famous in name, but whose actual story is quite obscure. I also dream of writing a Roman history epic with wolf-shifters, though the sheer volume of research required is daunting! Greek gods are also top of the list.
    Can you share something about your current or upcoming work with readers? I’ve resumed Hungry for Gains—it deserves a proper ending. I’m also prepping the second Lightbringer book (Histoire de Noir series) and work on redrafting/editing BigPaws for Amazon publication (likely under a new pen name to keep it separate from my Jack Poignet erotica titles).
    As for something brand new: I’m planning a mash-up of Arthurian legend, The Ring of the Nibelung, and other myths and legends. Think swords, dragons, and lots of action. It is loosely based on an AI narrated (no-one wants to hear a German accent, right?) short story I did for a rather under-utilized YouTube channel I run–or rather don’t really run. I’ve figured I can’t do everything at once. Shocking, right?
  16. Cia

    December Signature Feature: Elias by Krista

    By Cia,


    Signature Feature
    Today's Signature Feature is our last one for the 2025, and it just so happened to line up with Krista! One of GA's longest posting authors, no matter what kind of content you want to read, you'll probably find it in her author listing! I decided to slip back a bit from the happy holidays to a bit of a spook factor. Who doesn't like visiting gravestones in a ghost town during tinsel time???

    Length: 39,193
    Description: What else is there to do when your friends are having premarital sex in your car, then to visit the gravesite of a witch in an abandoned ghost town. What if ghost town wasn't actually a cliché?
    A reader said: Elias is a well written mystery and ghost story. It isn't a sad or scary story, but a very compelling tale that keeps you  engaged.  The characters are lovable and often fun.  The ending will leave you hopeful and wanting to visit again. ~raven1
    If you want to spread the word about Krista'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!
     
  18. Cia
    Did you catch Monday's feature of kbois story, When Opportunity Knocks? As we focus in on the holiday season, family can be what we lookforward to, dread, love and loathe... and sometimes all of the above for a variety of reasons. This story has love, drama, doubt, drama, friendship, and more. Have you read it? 
    Want to read more? Click here
  19. Cia

    C S R Discussion Day: Holiday Short Stories

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    Wow, we've come to the end of the year and the final CSR of 2015. This month I featured 4 holiday short stories of all different types for readers to enjoy. Since we have 4 authors to feature, I did something a little different. Enjoy their take on these questions and their fun little micro flash giving you another taste of their stories. Don't forget to leave your thoughts and reviews!
     
    HOLIDAY SHORT STORIES

    Mann Rambling with Rudolph's Tijuana Christmas
     
    Do you have a favorite holiday tradition or memory?
    Every Christmas Eve after I get off work (I do retail, pity me now...) my partner and I setup a table full of finger foods that require minimal or no cooking such as: shrimp cocktail, flatbread pizza, fruit, crackers and cheese, and anything else we can think of. Then we start a fire in the fireplace and dim the lights while we drink cocktails, eat until we burst, and watch the marathon of A Christmas Story on TNT. 24 hours! Booyah, baby! On Christmas morning we open gifts with mimosas in hand and have a breakfast of fresh fruit and sweet danishes from the deli. That's pretty much all I need.
     
    What’s your favorite holiday story? (folk, fairytale, play, fiction, etc…)
    The movie A Christmas Story came out when I was a kid in 1981(?) and it's always held a special place in my heart. The fact it's a stock broadcast on Christmas (see previous question) only reinforces its dominance for me over all the stop motion Christmas specials I remember as a child. Which I absolutely loved, by the way.
     
    What inspired your story?
    My cousin Ken, who was my age and we grew up together, used to torment the younger kids about how Santa crashed during his test runs and there wouldn't be any gift for Christmas morning. (We were awful as kids. LOL) He was also the first person to make jaded comments about Rudolph's less than ideal growing up conditions. The “Santa, get a f*cking flashlight” line was all his. I give him full credit even if he never gets around to reading it.
     
    Micro-flash update: Can you share where your character(s) are this year for the Christmas season in 100 words or less?
    Santa and Rudolph have made a killing selling a new line of brandy flavored candy canes to the kids on the naughty list after peppermint was banned from the workshop. The profits allowed them to retire during the off-season and leave the continuing production to the elves. Mrs. Claus has taken her new stage act to Vegas, making insane amounts of money in spite of her not needing a job after becoming the majority share holder of Amazon. Let's put that on a snowglobe.
     
    Valkyrie with Penguin's Christmas Gift
     
    Do you have a favorite holiday tradition or memory?
    When I was ten years old, my parents offered me a choice for Christmas. I could start taking riding lessons, or I could get my usual slew of presents. If I chose riding lessons, it meant that I wouldn’t have any presents on Christmas. It was a no-brainer for this horse-crazy young girl…I chose the riding lessons. On Christmas day, I went downstairs fully expecting to not receive any presents, other than my stocking. To my surprise, I had three presents waiting for me! A model horse, a pair of jeans, and a shirt. I was thrilled! I still have that horse, and little did they know that those riding lessons would be the spark for my first career.
     
    What’s your favorite holiday story? (folk, fairytale, play, fiction, etc…)
    This is a tough one. I like a lot of holiday stories. I would say my favorite from when I was a child was Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey. I’m also partial to the Little Drummer Boy.
     
    What inspired your story?
    Penguin’s Christmas Gift was inspired by characters from my story Penguin. I’ve had a lot of requests for more about these characters, so this was my ‘thank-you’ to my readers last year.
     
    Micro-flash update: Can you share where your character(s) are this year for the Christmas season in 100 words or less?
    There’s a follow-up story called A Penguin Prompt that gives another glimpse into these guys. I think that Sean and Daniel are in a good place in their relationship, and may be ready for the next step. They have a nice kitty family now, so maybe it’s time that they expanded their human family…
     

    Carlos Hazday with Muscle Bear Santa
     
    Do you have a favorite holiday tradition or memory?
    Christmas 1966 was the last one my family celebrated while still living in Cuba. It was years later I realized the meaning of what at the time had no significance: my mother is a very strong willed person. Communism had done away with official celebrations, but mom was obstinate. No such thing as Christmas trees around? No problem, let’s whitewash a dead tree limb, making it look like a snow covered tree, and decorate it. No toy store full of things to buy? No problem, send Dad to the docks, to do a little trading with Canadian sailors. Cuban cigars in exchange for some trinkets I can’t even remember. But I do remember getting a pack of minty chewing gum, something I’d never had before. The indomitable human spirit triumphed over ideology.
     
    What’s your favorite holiday story?
    I don’t really have one. Christmas isn’t a big deal for me, commercialism and silly countdowns spoiled it for me a while back.
     
    What inspired your story?
    A fraternity brother sent me a Christmas card a few years ago; the image of it served as inspiration. A muscular, bearded, hairy man; wearing a Santa Hat, red velvet briefs with a black belt, and black leather armbands; standing in front of a fireplace with a beautifully decorated Christmas tree to the side. The setting became Tony & Colt’s living room, and the model became Muscle Bear Santa.
     
    Micro-flash update: Can you share where your character(s) are this year for the Christmas season in 100 words or less?
    “ANTONIO! Get up!”
     
    “Crap! What’s my mother doing at our place so early?” asked Tony, burrowing further under the covers.
     
    “Cooking!” replied Colt, wrapping himself tighter around his boyfriend.
     
    “How’d she get in? I haven’t given her a key.”
     
    “My mom probably let her in. You know they were planning on getting together to cook a couple of things.”
     
    “But at 8:00 a.m.? The meal’s catered anyway.”
     
    “I know. I’m starting to think it wasn’t such a hot idea to invite my family to spend the Holidays with us in New York.”
     
    “Next year we fly to Miami for Christmas.”
     
     
  20. Cia

    Prompt Me!

    By Cia,


    Prompts
    Through the magic that is GA staff who never seem to sleep (we're always watching you, so be afraid, be very afraid!) the Prompts are coming to you slightly late, but not so much. Ever get bogged down on your serial posted story? The novel you're dying to write just not flowing? Take a break and enjoy one of the prompts brought to you by our very own prompt guru, Comicfan!
     
    Prompt 470 - Creative
    Tag - The Pants
    Today is the big day for you. Everything seems to be going well until you dropped your pen, bend over, and your pants split. With your meeting about to start what pants are you now forced to wear?
     
    Prompt 471 - Creative
    Tag -List of Words
    Use the following words in a story - a gift, a sandwich, handcuffs, silk sheets, and a ring.
     
    the feature this week, we're taking a look at Carlos Hazday's response to Prompt #468:
     

    To read more, click here.
  21. Cia

    C S R Feature: Holiday Short Stories

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    The holidays can be hectic, crazy, wonderful times! I figured, why not show that off with a variety of short stories, from 1,852 words to 36,353 words. You may have read them before, or they might be new to you, but this is your chance to get into the spirit of the season through some great stories. Enjoy them now, and be ready for the Discussion day on Monday, December 28th. The authors have all agreed to pop in and respond to your questions and comments.
    Muscle Bear Santa by Carlos Hazday
    Length: 2,513
    Description: Is it really Santa in those red Speedos? A slightly gay, night-before-Christmas story.
    A reader said: You had me grinning from beginning to end! ~ AlbertNothlit
     
    Penguin's Christmas Gift by Valkyrie
    Length: 1,852
    Description: Sean thought that taking a cat sledding was nuts. At the end of the day, he was very glad he did.
    A reader said: Such a sweet little story. ~ Suvitar
     
    Rudolph's Tijuana Christmas by Mann Ramblings
    Length: 5,599
    Description: After being at the center of a scandal that ruins Christmas, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer has to find a new way in life. Will the streets of Las Vegas, a bar in Tijuana and a best selling book find him the happiness he so desperately needs?
    A reader said: OH MY GOD?!?!? What in the hell did I just read? ~ Comicfan
     
     
    Don't forget the Discussion day will take place on December 28th!
  22. Cia
    That's it, we've made it to the end of the road, the last month of 2025, and our final CSR feature of this year! Seeing as it's December, the holidays, and yadda yadda... I couldn't pass up finding a story that was themed, of course. Did you read this small gem last year? If not, don't miss it now! 
    Darkest Days (The Wild Hunt)
    by @Jack Poignet
    Length: 10,399
    Description: It's cold up here in the mountains. Elias mourns his lover, but in these darkest of days between the years, strange things ride on the wind and the old tales come alive.
    A reader said: This captivating story of love and loss weaves a thrilling tale! The author masterfully blends elements of folklore, fantasy, romance, and action. The world-building is rich and immersive, transporting readers to a realm where magic and myth intertwine. The characters (assuming the wild hunt is a character itself) are complex and compelling, Elias' struggles resonate with the reader. I really loved it! ~ rafy
    Don't forget to come back to comment on the Discussion day, Monday December 29th!
  23. Cia

    November CSR Discussion Day: Ash's Marriage Trigger by Thirdly

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    This month I featured a story that I enjoyed reading by Thirdly, and I hope you did too! Odd, as I did not relate to the character (having married at 19) but I could just... get how intensely the characters were feeling at times. I always enjoy that and consider it the mark of a great writer. What did you enjoy about Ash's Marriage Trigger? Make sure you share your thoughts below, after you read this interview Thirdly did for me! 
    Do you eat your fruits and vegetables?
    Mostly vegetables, as I’m at the age where all fruits are now just considered sugar. Learned that if you eat any greens before anything else, it helps buffer sugar spikes. I’ve been doing my best to stick to that.
    If you were an animal, what would you be?
    A hummingbird, flying eternally backwards at 25mph, and never knowing where I’ll end up. 
    What’s something personal about you that people might be surprised to know?
    Soundtracks elevate everything for me: games, shows, anime, and movies. It could be the most basic, plain movie in existence, but if there is good background music or a solid playlist, it's going in my rotation of things to rewatch.
    Examples:
    Predator Badlands: Dek of the Yautja
    The Holiday: Maestro [and literally EVERY project Hans Zimmer touched, because his Chevaliers of Sangreal in the Da Vinci Code, his work on The Gladiator, Inception, the pirate movies, the Dune movies… I could go on forever.)
    Ferngully: Spirit of the Trees
    Deadpool 2: You Can't Stop This Motherf**ker
    Free Guy: Fantasy (Jodie Comer’s cover… and if you don’t know what I’m talking about, you have GOT to watch this movie)
    Bad Company (2002): Main Theme
    The Beverly Hills Cop theme, the Mission Impossible theme, Indiana Jones, Eye of the Tiger…
    The OA theme song, The Mandalorian theme song, the Severance opening, the Game of Thrones main theme…
    Bratz’s Flash N Dash (from the first PS1 game), Super Mario Land 2’s The Star Maze, Megaman 3’s insane intro, Sonic 3’s Ice Cap Zone (actually, there’s always a song in every sonic game that’s catchy AF… and the Sonic Frontiers game has no right to have so many song slappers tossed in there), Ragnarok’s Rag All Night, Chrono Cross’s Time Scar, the entire Xenogears soundtrack…
    For anime BGMs, there’s a song called Frustration from Haikyuu that is gorgeous, Naruto’s ‘Main Theme’ with that one shakuhachi flautist’s soul never fails to impress me (the scatting no one can quite replicate), the entire Tsubasa Chronicle OST and Hikaru no Go OST… I’m not mentioning openings and endings, as there are far too many to list.
    Is there one location you’d love to go to research for a story?
    I suffer from Paradise Lost syndrome, in which my first 7-10 years of life were spent on an island in a shack built without the government’s permission, so they tore it down when we left. I’m talking “slum beach front property” where I used to catch crustaceans with my bare hands and walk for miles just to get to school. That small neighborhood of low-income locals is gone, replaced with tourist condos. That, and the people who once lived there have passed away.
    No amount of money can bring any of that back, so it would be the power of time travel that I’d really need in order to research a story in that location.
    If you could give advice to yourself when you first started writing, what would it be?
    Let’s see…
    1.       Never post anything incomplete. Ever.
    2.       Diverse and LGBTQIA+ friends are worth keeping, often over selfish straight friends (regardless of ‘seniority’ and years of friendship)… and they don’t hesitate to provide mutual help with projects.
    3.       Everyone has a different method of madness, but starting with a bang and escalating is a solid approach, regardless of the method used. Just beware of Deus ex machina and excessive predictability (a little predictability is fine, though, as there are only so many ways some situations can unfold… and I know some authors who can prove even this wrong and can find that 3rd unexpected path).
    What is the easiest part versus the hardest part of writing to a prompt?
    Ideas are an endless farm of fornicating rabbits in my mind. Whenever I read a prompt, it’s like shining a spotlight on a singular rabbit, which focuses my attention. For me, it’s easy to add a cast of bunnies to that prompt idea… what becomes difficult for me is knowing where to stop the story and just how far to condense it. 
    If I’m lucky, the idea is simple and can be conveyed in a single one-shot piece. The minute I start creating charts to keep track of everything, though, that's when I start panicking.
    The most challenging part is wrapping everything up before the deadline.
    Your main character, Ash, feels pressured about relationships & marriage. Do you care to share your relationship status?
    My relationship status doesn’t exist right now. It turns out I was more gay than I thought I was and, unlike Ash, I’m attracted to women. My life is far stranger than the fiction I write.
    How did you come up with the character names in Ash’s Marriage Trigger?
    The name Ash was given to me by the prompt, as it’s what Aditus named the character (likely to more easily explain the prompt).
    I either look at the words floating around me to make some names up, or I research names that seem more fitting for characters. In this case, my nerdiness came out because the name “Ash” brought to mind “Barren” lands. I ended up naming that whole family desert-related names (Siena came from the hue “burnt sienna,” Sage came from the shrub ‘desert sage,’ Sandy from desert sand, Aster from Mojave Aster, which grows in some deserts…and their last name Barren from the phrase ‘barren desert’). The name “Cove” came from reading ‘Discovery Cove’ somewhere around me, likely someone’s pamphlet.
    Ashley, Cove’s daughter… her name was part of the story’s plotline.
    Do you have a favorite line or scene in the story?
    I have three favorite moments/lines, and they are all major spoilers:
    Can you share any of your current or upcoming work (published/unpublished/in planning stages) with readers?
    Published: Persistent Pheromones ( https://gayauthors.org/story/thirdly/persistent-pheromones/ )
    Unpublished: My Younger Self Rect Our Story Endings (MYSROSE, the third and final WRECK world story. I finished Act 1, but still have Acts 2 and 3 to complete). Come Early, Come Often (CECO, which used to be a collaboration with Robin. Robin gave me full rein to finish it as I saw fit, and I’m working that out, as well.)
    Planning: Fowls Committed (my first bird-shifter story, and a collaboration with Luna, which involves an incompetent Viking leader and his quad of soulmates). Loving Sable’s Prime (my first story that features primarily straight couples). Training Toki (based on an old collaboration with Toma, a story featuring winged, gay fairies).
    I actually have over 8 more projects, but I don’t even want to think about them until some of my other tasks are completed: 1.  A prequel spin-off to Crossing the Moon, titled Under the Same Moon. 2. An unnamed story of a shaman’s descendant, his narcoleptic brother, and Morpheus. 3. A feline shifter story featuring a nonbinary main character and a pair of twin mates. 4. Tulips and Roses, a (romantic comedy?) sci-fi regarding an outlaw and an enforcer joining forces to right certain wrongs. 5. Dying in 2005, a story written in honor of a close friend of mine who passed away before her time. 6. EPDA, a story of a pair of young detectives, which is both a crime novel and a romance? 7. Another unnamed story featuring seasonal elves. 8. Yet another unnamed story featuring an interesting take regarding souls and soulmates. 9. Kidnapping a Cuddlefish collab with Robin. 10. Borders and Bribery semi-collab with Robin.
  24. Cia

    November CSR Feature: Ash's Marriage Trigger

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    Oh, November... that month we all love. It feels like it goes on forever, and can we just get to the good holidays??? For those of us in the U.S. it also includes the Thanksgiving and gathering of friends and/or family, and all that fun (or friction). In honor of the onus of family, as well as feature another great event GA hosts, I thought I'd feature a prompt response by one of GA's popular authors! Have you ever tried writing to the featured prompts? It can be fun, as Thirdly shows readers!! 
    Ash's Marriage Trigger
    by @Thirdly
    Length: 28,449
    Description:  PT#84 (posted by aditus)
    In order to avoid the pesky marriage-soon-trigger, Ash doesn’t date, officially. Amid plotting the most outrageous excuses to tell his family, he is greeted with a splash of the past. 
    A Reader said: It began with a tiny prompt and an amazing story rose from the ashes. ~Aditus
     
    Don't forget to come back to comment on the Discussion day, Monday November 24th!
  25. Cia
    Once again, I'm featuring a story that brings up that topic we often think of this time of year, family and love. Why do we love our family? Do the people in our lives truly love us? What might that prompt us to do, or not do, for love, family, friends and more? When Opportunity Knocks has some hard topics, light moments, and a lot of great writing. Please take the time to enjoy it! 

    Length: 96,473
    Description: Jett Anderson and Kyle Benton are starting to build a relationship. Life decides to throw in some speed bumps and hazards to make navigating the road not so easy. 
    Add in some unexpected family dynamics and soon enough things get challenging. 
    Can they work it out?
    A reader said:  Wonderful wrap up to this story.  But you're not done with these characters.  (That's not a question)  I don't want to let go of Kyle and Jett and Kim and Bruce and Rosie and Tater and Bo and Noah and ...
    Great writing, as always.  Whatever your next opus is, I look forward to reading it.  Thank you. ~ Quixo
     
    If you want to spread the word about kbois' 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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