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Cia

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Blog Entries posted by Cia

  1. 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!

  2. 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. 
  3. 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! 
  4. 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! 
  5. 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. 
  6. 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!

  7. 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! 
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
     
  10. 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!

  11. Cia

    February C S R Feature: All We Have Now by DavidAB

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    This month we have a lot of focus on love, love, love! But sometimes that doesn't come in the form you think it does, especially when the world is an entirely different place. This month's feature combines moments both light and dark, so I hope you'll enjoy it and come back on Monday, February 26th to share your thoughts! 
     
    All We Have Now
    by David AB
     
    Length: 42,836
     
    Description: It has almost been a year since the world ended. The majority of the population died, came back as mindless and highly aggressive creatures and killed most of the rest. Cody is one of the last survivors. He is small, sensitive, innocent and about to starve to death. While he is desperately trying to find food, he gets attacked and then saved at the last second by Troy, who is a hardened brute. Cody hates him, but knows he is probably his only chance to survive the winter, so he sticks with him.
     
    A Reader Said: Lol so I didn't realize that was the final chapter. I've been waiting and waiting and just now read that was the end for "Part 1." Great story so far! I hope there is more on the way! ~ semaj565
  12. Cia

    December & January CSR: Holiday Stories!

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    The CSR for the last 2 months were completely different from our usual format. Usually we feature a story, do an interview with the author, etc... but we had a few holiday blogs planned on the Mondays the CSR usually happens so we went with holiday stories--and we have a lot on GA! Did you read one over the last 2 months you loved? A feel-good holiday slice of sweetness? Or a bittersweet moment that resonated with you? Maybe it a new story released by the author this year or perhaps one of the flash fiction stories from the White Elephant Gift Prompt Game?  Or an older story that caught your eye, perhaps from one of the many holiday-themed anthologies? Share your thoughts on a story in the comments below!
     
    Some holiday stories you might have missed:

    The Gift by Sam Wyer
    Lucky Kitty said: Oh my goodness! I lost it when Craagen gently squeezed Tligg's bobble! Glad I wasn't drinking coffee, I'd have a mess to clean up. Thanks for this sneak peek into elven culture.
     
    Santa and His Dirty Little Elf by Dahawk
    Okiegrad said: Loved it!!  Made me smile and laugh and was a great way to start my day!

    An Advent Calendar by Aditus, Cole Matthews, and Valkyrie
    Timothy M said of "Christmas Spirit": Like a (reverse) Hans Christian Andersen tale. The innocent child rips the veil from their eyes and brings understanding.

    Mistletoe and Handgrenades by K.C. 
    Kiltie69 said: 
    I have a term I use when I'm blown away, I've used if only once or twice in GA
    Woof. . Loved it.
     
    So do you have a favorite holiday story on Gay Authors?
     
     
     
  13. Cia

    January Classic Author Excerpt: Jake's Hand by Rec

    By Cia,


    Classic Feature
    Did you catch Monday's blog where we featured Rec's story, Jake's Hand? 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! 
     
    Cia says:
      I picked this excerpt because it resonated with because I work with students. I know how many have to overcome the assumptions made about them, and how hard it can be to try and be a mentor at the same time you're a teacher. Also, this scene mentions a very obvious theme in the story in relation to the discrimination rampant in 1969 facing African American students in poorer areas, but that theme is echoed in far more ways through the story in very real and personal ways for Jake and Robbie.
     

     
    To read more, click here. 
  14. Cia

    January Classic Author Feature: Jake's Hand by Rec

    By Cia,


    Classic Feature
    January is a new year, a fresh start, or maybe just another month in the calendar for you... but it's all about time. Jake's Hand is set in 1969, an era far removed from what you would find in the world today. Choices the characters make... well, you'll have to read the story to find out! 
     

     
    Jake's Hand
    by Rec
     
    Length: 80,964
     
    Description: Two college men who have volunteered to tutor black kids for the 1969 summer in the South grow more and more attracted to one another. But the summer ends before they realize the full extent of their love for one another, and they go separate ways—one to get married and have children, the other to join the military and go to Vietnam.
     
    Some Readers Said: 
    charlieocho said: Ah, what luck to stumble upon this masterpiece! It will be difficult not to devour this story...a deep chord is struck already.
     
    LJH said: You are a brilliant writer. Hooked, hell yes from the first sentence. You build the story and you don't let up and that's a point, raising left index finger and stroking the air. You've given Jake a light, airy, adventurous nature, and Rob Ellis beautifully paints his story. But then again, you are passionate about giving your characters soul, your plot a life, and reinventing style. You have steered clear from the stereotypical gay meets gay scenario and made yours different and consuming, I love the way they meet and then reintroduce themselves. They click.
    You rock
     
    If you want to spread the word about Rec'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

    December Classic Author Feature: Tyler by Vlista

    By Cia,


    Classic Feature
    This month I picked a Classic Author story to feature that might make for some difficult reading, but the hope inside the story is what I like to focus on. As one of the older stories on the site, you might have missed it before, but I hope everyone will enjoy Vlista's teen drama, Tyler! 
     

     
    Length: 86,934
     
    Description: Tyler’s a foster kid, after being abused by his parents and mistreated in foster care he’s angry with the world and all but given up on finding true happiness, until he meets Connor, but is he too angry to let himself be happy?
     
    Some Readers Said: 
     
     
     
     
    If you want to spread the word about Vlista'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!
     

  16. Cia

    December Classic Author Excerpt: Tyler by Vlista

    By Cia,


    Classic Feature
    Did you catch Monday's blog featuring Vlista's teen drama, Tyler? Make sure you check it out and download your copy of the signature graphic at the bottom if you want to share your love for the story. Or, if you haven't read the story before or checked it out yet, enjoy this excerpt below! 
     
    Cia said: 
    Vlista's stories can be quite graphic and dark, but Tyler is more about the life after the worst a teen has faced than the negative experiences that shaped him. I really like the sense of hope in the story as the characters look forward and not back, refusing to let the darkness take away the chance of a happy future. I also really liked the way this one section offers so many glimpses into the major characters in the story.
     
    To read more, check out the rest of the story here.
  17. Cia

    December & January C S R Feature

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    That's right! Your eyes have not deceived you. This month the last Monday is Christmas, and New Year's is a Monday as well. There are other posts we're going to feature those days, so I thought I'd do something a little different these two months for our Can't Stop Reading selection(s). There are so many stories, there's sure to be a favorite for everyone to choose and share with each other! 

    In honor of the holidays, you can use the Advanced Search to find any story with "Christmas" or "Holiday" in the title for your reading enjoyment. Or five. Or five pages... totally up to you! I'd like you to pick 1 (just one) story to write a review of 1-3 sentences. You love it, you want others to read it... now why? On Monday, January 29th, I'll share a blog post with all the great stories our members loved over the holiday season. 
     
    Sounds like fun, right? 
     
    Not sure how Advanced Search works? Follow these 5 super easy steps!
     
    1. Click on the Stories tab
    2. Click on the Advanced Search option in the right sidebar Browse box. 
    3. Type in Christmas or Holiday into the title field
    4. Scroll down and click Search
    5. Enjoy the stories! 
  18. Cia

    November C S R Discussion Day: Street Life by Graeme

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    Did you have a chance to read Graeme's short story, Street Life? This was originally posted as part of the 2008 spring anthology, and it's an emotional journey of surprisingly short length but with great impact. Make sure you share your thoughts below, but of course, first we have my interview with Graeme!
     
    What’s the best part of living in Australia?
    Checks to see if Tourism Australia has sent me a cheque for advertising. Hmm…nothing so far…
    Definitely the people and culture. While Australia is by no means perfect, I’ve generally found people across the country to be friendly and helpful (though there are always exceptions). Culturally, Australians are very diverse and generally tolerant (though, again, there are exceptions). As a result, while there is definitely racism, homophobia and religious intolerance here, I find it to be much less than it could be. As an example, it’s rare for the media to report the sexual orientation of a person, even when that person is a public figure (such as the head of a political party, or the president of a major professional body). In Australia, the sexual orientation of a person isn’t a big deal (unless you’re trying to date them).
    Oh, and would this be a good time to let everyone know that Melbourne has been name as the world’s most livable city by the Economist magazine for the seventh time in a row? Not that I’m boasting....
    You’re very busy. How do you find time to write?
    At times, I struggle. If I’m working from home, I can sometimes squeeze in an hour or two of writing during my working day, but if I’m travelling it can be a chore. I work best first thing in the morning, but if I’m not working from home I lose that time. I generally don’t write at night as I often struggle with motivation at that time of the day.
    Do you plot out a story or write as it comes to you?
    It’s a little of both. For many years now, I won’t start a story unless I know roughly how it’ll end. That gives me a goal to write to, and I then fill in the gap with a number of possible events along the way. Once I have done that, I start writing and often find new things along the way that I didn’t original plan. I like my characters to drive the story, rather than have them being puppets to the plot, so while there is some control over what happens to ensure I get to the ending I’ve planned, I give the characters a lot of leeway. As an example, in Leopard Spots, one of the characters shows up unexpectedly at someone’s house. That had been planned from the beginning, but when I first plotted the story, it was a different person’s house to what appeared in the final story. The character interactions that arose during the writing changed the details of whose house it would be from what was originally planned.
    If you have 30 minutes of free time, what do you like to do?
    Read. Either on my tablet, browsing the Internet, or I’ll pick up one of my print novels and start re-reading a story. It’s always re-reading, though, because if I have a new novel, the reading time is never just 30 minutes….
    Is there a literary character you’ve read (in all fiction) that you really identified with?
    That’s a tough one. I always like to put myself into a story when I’m reading, imagining what it would be like to be part of that universe. Since I like reading science fiction and fantasy, that means I’m often putting myself in the shoes of someone with special abilities, which is always fun. So, I don’t have a specific character I identify with, but I like to associate myself with lots of characters in different worlds.
    What are you currently reading?
    I’m currently re-reading some of L.E.Modesitt Jr’s Recluce series. The exact one I’m reading at the moment is Magi’i of Cyador. I’ve always liked the complex worlds that L.E.Modesitt Jr creates, and how he doesn’t make groups black or white. In the book that started the series, it was easy for the reader to think that those who followed Chaos were always going to be the bad guys, but then he wrote several stories, including the one I’m currently reading, where a Chaos-wielder is the champion of the story.
    You’re not shy about delving into serious topics in your writing, but do you remember what prompted you to write Street Life?
    Absolutely. Most people who have read both Street Life and New Brother will be aware that Street Life is a spin-off of the scene at the end of chapter 8 of New Brother. What’s less well known, though I’ve mentioned it before, is that scene is the very first scene I wrote before I decided to start posting my works online. I wrote that scene to see if I could portray the emotions I wanted. I was sufficiently happy with the result that I wrote New Brother. During the early stages, whenever I got stuck, I would go back to that first scene I wrote and tweak it, until it was time to drop it into the story. That is why it’s one of the strongest scenes in the story; it had a lot of work put into it!
    Since I had put some much effort into that scene, I always wanted to write Craig’s tale as its own story. That task languished for a long time, partly-written but not completed, until the Living in the Shadows anthology came along. That theme fitted the Street Life so well that it motivated me to complete the story and post it online.
    As for the original inspiration, the basic setup was from newspaper reports from that era. That area of St. Kilda was well known at the time for street sex workers, though most were female. However, I read an article in one of Melbourne’s newspapers about some streets where the sex workers were young men. That article also mentioned how the locals gave what support they could to the kids living on the streets and surviving by selling their bodies, and that was how Mrs. K ended up in the story.
    AIDS has changed so much since the years this story is set in. Have you written about someone facing the disease in more modern years in your works?
    Just one other short story: Bad News. I still don’t know for sure but I suspect I wrote that story as a warning to myself about the dangers of straying. As most readers will be aware, I’m a married man who came out to his wife over ten years ago. She stayed with me, and I’ve stayed with her…but I know that I can’t afford to do what the protagonist in Bad News did.
    I have AIDS as a major part of another story which was originally written as a Valentine’s Day story, but that’s more about how love doesn’t care about things like AIDS, rather than someone facing the disease in more recent years.
    Despite the tough scenes readers experience in Street Life, you managed to end the story on a note of hope. How important was it to show that scene rather than just let readers imagine it?
    It was important because the story summary had already been published in New Brother. I had to get from where I started to a place where the events told in New Brother were a logical extension. That, plus the fact that I don’t generally prefer dark endings, meant I couldn’t leave things with Craig in despair. I’m happier if a story ends on an up note, even if life isn’t perfect, and that’s what I did here.
    How about you share something readers might like to know about your current or upcoming work?
    I’m currently working on a fourth novel in the Leopards series that follows on from the end of Leopards Leap. Unfortunately, the work has been going slowly (I’ve been working on it for over a year and haven’t gotten very far) but I’m still hopeful that I’ll be able to finish it. Originally, the story was going to concentrate on the group in Sydney, but I’ve expanded it so the story will encompass both the Sydney and Melbourne groups. I hope I haven’t bitten off too much with what I’m attempting....
     
  19. Cia
    Did you catch Monday's blog featuring Comicfan's story, The Life of Seeon, as this month's Signature Feature? If not, go check it out and then download a copy of the graphic to share in your signature if you want to show your love for his story. If Monday's blog wasn't enough to move this story to the top of your TBR list, maybe today's excerpt will! 
     
    Comicfan said:
    I picked it because it sets up the whole tale. Right from the start you know Seeon is seen as the lesser of the princes. The world he is used to, first two sons are important, then daughters so power can be gain by marriage.  A third boy isn't needed and this excerpt shows that.
     
     
     
    To read more, check out the rest of the story here. 
     
     
  20. Cia
    This month we're changing it up a little and doing a feature for one of our Signature authors--and resident prompt guru--Comicfan. The story he chose to be featured was The Life of Seeon. Make sure you check it out (I bet those reviews will help you decide to read it sooner rather than later!) and then download the signature graphic below if you want to share you love for Comicfan's story. 

     
    Length: 31,995
     
    Description: Seeon Toleran is the fifth child of the ruling royal family. His life was one of study and devotion to his Gods. Then war came and the world Seeon knew ended. There were decisions that were made for him which drastically altered the direction of his life. Suddenly the world of the priesthood is gone as an option in Seeon's life. Instead he is made Ma' Nee. What will this mean to a youth who has known neither love nor choice? Will this end his world or open new vistas? Time will tell.
     
    Some Readers Said:
     
     
     
    If you want to spread the word about Comicfan's story, download the graphic below and add it to your signature!
    Make sure you come back on Wednesday to see the excerpt he chose to share!

     
  21. Cia

    November's C S R Feature: Street Life by Graeme

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    November is here, and this month I wanted to feature something different. There are a lot of stories on the site with themes that involve some heavy subjects that can really make you think, but one of the best of those is an older story that many current readers probably haven't found since it was posted for a 2008 anthology themed "Living in the Shadows".
     
    Street Life
    by Graeme
     
    Length: 16,661
     
    Description: *Reader warning* This story does contain mature themes & references to underage prostitution and suicide. 
     
    A Reader said: That was depressing and uplifting at the same time. I've read New Brother, and I can remember the main charater (whom I despised utterly in spite of your heroic and brilliant effort to make him understandable and redeemable) being told Craig's story. It was one of the better moments in New Brother and I'm glad I finally managed to read Craig's story, even though it made me sad. ~ Timothy M
     
    Please come back for our Discussion Day on Monday, November 27th.
  22. Cia

    October C S R Discussion Day: Mr. Brightside by Mitchelll

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    How fast these months go! Is it nearly Halloween where you live? Are you ready for some tricks or treats? Or maybe you celebrate All Hallow's Eve another way? Or... maybe the whole thing freaks you out, and you'd rather read a story set firmly in the present? Maybe a little second-chance? If so, I hope you enjoyed Mitchelll's Mr. Brightside! Don't forget to share your thoughts in a comment below, but my first we have my interview with him!
     
    What brought you to Gay Authors?
    I liked the interaction between the users with the forums and the commenting on the stories.  I also liked that the stories focused more on storytelling rather than on sex.  I had read stories at Nifty for years, and always found their lack of story description and ability to search for specific stories problematic.  There are definitely gems there, but it can be a slog to find something I really enjoy reading.
     
    If you could give yourself advice when you first started writing, what would it be?
    To just get started.  To just sit down and write.  When I decided to try writing, I spent literally years thinking about writing, creating characters and plotting stories in my head before I finally managed to sit down at a computer and try to put those ideas on paper.
     
    Do you have any writing rituals?
    Not really.  I always write at a certain place, my grandmother’s table in the breakfast room, but other than that it varies.  My favorite time to write is very early in the morning while drinking coffee, but I haven’t been able to turn that into a real habit.
     
    What do you struggle with most when you are writing a story?
    Actually putting it down on the page.  I have entire stories plotted out in my head, huge swathes of dialogue, etc.  And I write a lot while doing other tasks like walking the dog or working, or at least think about my stories, but when it comes time to sit down and actually transfer it from my brain to a page, I find it incredibly difficult.  I think it was Truman Capote who said something like “I like to have written.  I hate writing.”  That pretty much sums up my feelings.
     
    How long did it take you to write Mr. Brightside?
    I’m not actually sure, but I know that it was more than a year.
     
    How did you come up with the title?
    I had started the story, which had already evolved a lot from its beginning.  I was thinking about a title when I happened to see the video for Mr. Brightside again, and I realized that the lyrics about jealousy, the feeling of the video, so much of it reflected my story.  In fact, I pictured Jason as looking very much like Brandon Flowers, and Viktor as looking like Eric Roberts.
     
    What prompted you to set the story in New Orleans?
    As a writing novice, at this point, I’m sticking to the old advice of writing about what you know.  I’ve lived here for almost twenty years, and I love it.  And I have, unfortunately, seen paths like Shane and Corey.  It’s a beautiful, fascinating city with a very, very dark side. 
     
    Did you have to do a lot of research for Mr. Brightside? What’s your preferred method?
    Honestly, no.  There were a few things I looked up online and verified.  Like luxury VIP hospital wings are a very real thing.  And Louisiana involuntary commitment laws, though not quite as easy to get around in real life, are in fact among the most lax in the nation.
     
    Can you sum up the story in one sentence?
    I think for me the main theme would be contained in Jason’s story arc:  When you refuse to be true to yourself and life authentically, it can lead to tragedy, both for yourself and the others around you.
     
    When can readers expect more?
    I am currently working on a follow up to Mr. Brightside, Smile Like You Mean It.  It’s not a direct sequel, and its main focus is on new characters, but Jason and Shane do play a role.
  23. Cia

    Weekly Wrap Up (Oct 10/15 - 10/21)

    By Cia,


    Weekly Wrap Up
    Renee's off enjoying herself at GRL 2017, so you get me today! Good thing it's been a quiet week! If you hold an Author title, take a second to go check out the first round of voting for next year's anthologies. You can find them here. Voting will end in just 3 days on October 25th, so make sure to get your vote in soon! Also, don't forget the Halloween Contest voting has ended, so hopefully you had the chance to vote. Be looking for the contest winners to be announced coming up on Halloween! Now, let's see what happened this week in the various GA blogs.
     
     
     
     
    Contests
    2017 Halloween Short Story Contest - Voting Closed! 2018 Summer Novella Anthology - Due April 15th, 2018  
    Anthology Announcements:
    ***NOTE: All Deadlines are for submission to the Anthology Proof Team***
    2017 Fall Anthology: The Fall Out / Secret Spaces - Due November 15th, 2017 Anthology Theme Selection - Part 1: Voting Open!  
    Premium Updates:
    Angel's Heart by Nephylim *Premium*
     
    Classic Updates:
    Brittle as a Bird by Ronyx
     
    Signature Updates:
    Cozy Contemplations by Headstall
    Denied by Cia
    Poetry by Renee by Renee Stevens
    Rivers of the Dead by Cynus
    So Weeps the Willow by Cole Matthews
    Translation Trashbin by AC Benus; Book 7 of Verse
     
    Promising Updates:
    Cider Press by Parker Owens
    timmy's poetry by Mikiesboy
  24. Cia
    Did you catch Monday's blog about this month's Classic Author feature, Don H's Working It Out? Don't miss out on some of the reviews and download your copy of the signature graphic so you can share your love of the story. If you did read Monday's blog but aren't quite convinced, maybe Myr's reasons for sharing this story and excerpt will sway you into reading it right away! And don't forget to leave a star rating and story review when you're done!!
     
    Myr said: 
    Don Haratty's "Working it Out" has long been a favorite of mine.  It started in 1999 and was going strong when I started Gay Authors, so he was one of the first authors I recruited here.  In reviewing the text for the blurb, I once again got sucked into the story.  I'm not really sure what it is.  The quirky humor? The appeal to a better nature?  The vivid physicality of the writing?  The Faith?
     
    I guess in the end for me it has to be that feeling of striving to be better that the characters exhibit.  There is a religious element in the story too, that should, at least, provoke thought and that is something that appeals to my inner nerd.  It has been my experience in life that everyone needs to embrace a concept that is bigger than oneself.  For many years and in many places, people have embraced religion.  Gays in general seem to have wholesale rejected this aspect, but it may not be necessarily so.  This story does a good job of showing that without being preachy about it. 
     
    This story hooked me right from the get go.  Read a chapter or two and see if it does the same for you.


     
    To read more, check out the rest of the story here:
  25. Cia
    For October, the Classic Author feature is another oldie but goodie, Working it Out by Don H. This story was actually what drew me to the site, and I have to echo a lot of Myr's sentiments on why he chose Don's story to feature! And if those endorsements aren't enough, check out some other reviews left by fans in the feature below. And don't forget to download the smaller graphic for your personal signature if you want to show your love of Don H's work!
     

     
    Length: 120,993
     
    Description: Mike Berman, a swimmer, and Matt Broman, a wrestler, are college roommates. Mike is gay and Matt finds out. They live life and face the ups and downs and above all, they work things out.
     
    Some Readers Said: 
     
     
     
     
    If you want to spread the word about Don's story, download the graphic below and add it to your signature!
    Make sure you come back on Wednesday to see the excerpt Myr chose to share!

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