Cia

Bouncer woke me living up to his name. He pounced on the bed, dislodging the sheet pooled around my back. I grunted and pushed up onto one elbow, shoving him off my side. “Ow, you beast. What’s got you so excited?” His eyes were fixated on the door, and he danced on his legs. The soft mattress sunk under his weight, and I rolled toward him. Bowling into him, we collapsed into a heap. He licked my shoulder and neck, nuzzling his head against my cheek. I stroked his nubbly skin, rubbing along

You are correct though @northie There is no way to separate out when someone you follow posts say a blog, forum post, or club post versus a status update. You either get notified when someone you follow posts anything or if someone posts a comment on content you already replied/commented on. The status update notifications refer to your own content, not others. Sorry, this isn't something we have control over.

Someone who has a story would not have an account that falls into the 0 posts category.

So picking an excerpt for this story was a little hard. There's a lot of interesting information about Buddhism, this spiritual retreat, and the main characters. The story has a bit of romance, some drama (they are teens, after all) and a lot of struggling to the end. Will it be a happy ending? Well, the story is short so I hope you'll give it a chance. To help you decide, I've picked an excerpt that gives you both a taste of the characters and the world they are immersed in for the week. Want more? Click here.

Garjah’s bed was soft as a cloud, an unexpected luxury. I sank into it under his weight as he knelt between my thighs. When he tried to lift off me, I pulled him back down and locked my legs around his hips. “Stay,” I ordered. I rocked up, pressing our flesh together. I was leaking and the clear, sticky fluid smeared between our bellies. Garjah glanced down. His nostrils flared and he rumbled. He wormed one hand between us and joined our lengths, pressed his flexible shaft to mine.

This month I'm sure we're all a little stressed and can use some peace. How about checking out this short Classic Author read? Length: 12,151 Description: Nicky goes to a Zen meditation retreat, searching for enlightenment, but what will he find? A reader said: This was really great! I was so happy to read a story that is so different from the norm! ~ CassieQ If you want to spread the word about Little BuddhaTW'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!

The guy in stripes... 🤣

I always think of fairies when I see diaphanous.

The color of the plants were echoed in the walls, dabbed with bright colors done directly on in murals showing scenes I couldn’t interpret. Bouncer’s nose was twitching, and he chirped, looking up at me. “You want to explore, buddy?” He bounced on his front legs, eager to move after so long being cooped up. Garjah tapped a panel on the wall. “Go ahead. The field is off, so he can get in now.” “Enjoy. Don’t destroy anything,” I warned him. I hoped he’d listen as he bounced off

“Timok wasn’t concerned about the sneeze because he felt it prudent to inoculate Essell while he was in stasis.” Garjah shrugged a shoulder. “He already knew I was safe.” “But this was already after you felt drawn to him?” Mereval asked Garjah. “The inoculations and the sneeze?” He nodded. “I knew there was something out there I had to find. I thought I was just securing the ship and crew. Instead, the second I laid eyes on him I knew I had to take him back to the ship. And that I need

In honor of her recent promotion to GA Signature Author, I am featuring MrsGnomie's first submission to GA posted back in 2018! Can you believe it's been that long? Now, the story is also longer than most of our CSR reads, but I know many get sucked right into her stories and can't put them down which fits right into our Can't Stop Reading-CSR theme! Please enjoy. Still You Want Me by @Mrsgnomie Length: 115,768 Description: Colin begins a new job and befriends Charles, a socialite who represents everything Colin despises. Despite fundamental life differences, they begin to build a deep friendship. Unbeknownst to Colin, Charles is falling in love with him, only to watch Colin fall in love with—and begin to build a life with another man. Colin must reconcile the deeply rooted expectations he’s created for himself against the reality; that desires of the heart never play by the rules. A Reader said: This was my first introduction to @Mrsgnomie's storytelling. It's still my absolute favorite, but every story she publishes since definitely makes it a contest to see if it'll topple this one. These characters and their lack of communication (and stupidity) have you cheering each one on at different times. Definitely worth your time to read! ~mfa607 Don't forget to come back to share your thoughts on Monday, August 30th!

There wasn’t a sound or movement to indicate how upset Garjah was at Lenveval’s statement, but just like he always knew when I needed him, I knew he needed me. Sloval shouted when Bouncer leapt on the table and then off on to our side. We both pressed against Garjah from either side. Bouncer put his head on Garjah’s lap, and I put one hand on his head, then used another to squeeze the rigid muscles holding Garjah’s frozen body in place. Gently, I turned cupped his cheek on the far side. He

I always found it interesting that he was trying to destroy Harry, yet he held a piece of Voldemort's own soul. If he recognized the other horcruxes, don't you think it would make sense he'd recognize that when he saw Harry? That was a huge hole, IMO.

Well, this month was a little different with an anthology of sorts by a single author, giving you the chance to pick and choose among the stories if you weren't up to reading all of them. Make sure you share your thoughts in the comments below, but first, enjoy this interview where Drew spills all (including what story he cameos in... can you guess which one before you read it?) Do you eat your fruits and vegetables? Yes, I try to get my five portions a day. What’s a good meal without vegetables? What’s one location you’d love to go to research for a story? Paris or Berlin, because both are amazing cities with so much in them that inspires my imagination. They are cities that have such varied neighbourhoods. But with all the travel restrictions, I’ll choose the British Library because I can research whatever I want there, and their café is nice. What’s something personal about you people might be surprised to know? I have a model railway. What’s the best part of being an author? I can explore the themes and issues that are important to me, but emotionally nothing compares to when something I write touches/moves a reader What’s the greatest challenge of being an author? Not enough time. I have so many ideas and not enough time to write them. After that is the challenge of promoting my own writing. GA has given me a great platform to find readers but I’ve recently self-published a collection of stories and promoting it, so I can find readers for it, is such hard work. If you could give advice to yourself when you first started writing, what would it be? Recently I have been re-reading stories I wrote back in my twenties. Some are good, some are okay and some are plain awful. I would tell my younger self to write about the things that were happening around me (They were certainly interesting times), the things that were happening to you, rather than my wish fulfilment over what I wanted to happen. I would tell myself to stop over-writing and learn to type. I would also tell myself to have confidence in my writing and to send it out to publishers and magazines (I didn’t start doing that until well into my thirties). And lastly, I’d say to join a writing group because honest feedback can really benefit my writing, and meeting with other writers is so helpful. What’s your favorite story in Stories Written on Lined Paper? Out of the Valley. This story is based (Though very loosely based) on the breakup with my first boyfriend. I took a painful experience and worked through it by writing about it. It was one of the first stories I wrote about being gay. I came back to it twenties years after writing it and did a big rewrite to it, especially changing the ending. But I kept the central character and the structure of it. It showed me that I could understand these situations and people, even back then. Is there a particular character you most identify with, and how so? Davie, the nurse, in The Longest Day Must Have an End (Found in Stories Written on Lined Paper). He is a minor character but he is the first time I put myself fully into a story, he is a cameo appearance by me (Like Alfred Hitchcock did in his films). His job, on that ward, was my first job after qualifying, he has my hairstyle from then, he has my attitude and manner from then, and he is shagging a senior colleague which I did in that job. I don’t make cameos in my writing much, if at all, and this was the first time I did it. I liked making my own experience a minor story line. Over how many years have you written these stories? Have you found your craft has changed in that time? I started writing prose when I was twenty and started writing about being gay when I was twenty-two. I’m fifty-five next week. I have been writing all that time and practice has improved my writing, but also so has reading. Learning from the best authors and learning what not to do from the bad ones. I have also learnt from honest/good feedback. The feedback that has helped me to improve my writing, though I’ve had to learn what is good feedback and what is bad, and should be just ignored. I’ve learnt not to over-write, to keep my style readable, using three words when one could do can easily put off readers. I’ve learnt to use my experience of people and my knowledge in my writing, if I make my writing more real then readers can relate to it, even when writing fantasy. I have also learnt to trust my instincts and knowledge on where a story should go. Can you share something about your current or future work with readers? I am writing a story about a young man just released from prison. The story looks at what led him to prison and what happened to him while he was there. I hope to start posting it, chapter by chapter, soon. Then I really need to finish the other two stories in the series I started with A Walk Along the Promenade. I am looking at self-publishing more. I am working on a collection of stories about people facing life-changing experiences.

“You said they wouldn’t…. That they couldn’t….” Each time I trailed off, unable to finish my sentence. How could he have sat there so calmly and asked if I knew what would happen if they broke our bond? Garjah griped my sides, pulling me into his body. I ducked my head against his chest, pressing my forehead into the hard muscle. He locked one arm around my back and the other he used to stroke my hair. “Breathe,” Garjah rumbled. His muscles were tight, but as I relaxed and started to b

Need an icy shiver across your spine to cool you off? Or just want something a little different? Try this month's Classic Author Feature! Want to read more? Click here

Years ago I did a short story called Orphic Revelations. Never thought to see the word pop up.

I've featured long reads, stories to take you to other times or places.... so how about we do another snippet of a week in the snow in the sunny heat of July in this bite-sized feature "Almost Home" by Shadowgod. Length: 2,782 Description: There was nothing Bryson and James wanted more than to get away from the stress of college, and once Bryson had convinced him, James was sure that this ski trip was the perfect way to do just that. Their week together in the snow would turn out to be something James would never forget, or the test that interrupted it, and the phone call he gets that night when Bryson was almost home. A reader said: A well thought out and written story with a surprise ending. Excellent read. ~ Brayon If you want to spread the word about Shadowgod'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!

All authors start somewhere! I like that you aren't letting yourself get discouraged; you have a great attitude toward your writing. I'd recommend you join the Writer's Circle. There is technical information in there on writing to help with plotting, character crafting, and even a recent topic on sex in stories. And always, read, read, read. The more you read, the more you will get an idea of what good, even great, writing looks like. Check out the Stories sidebar in the Browse box under "Advanced Options" for the Most Read & Most Reviewed stories. Check out Recommended stories. If you read a story you like, check out the comments and reviews to see why other readers liked it or what they had to say about it that you could apply to your own writing skills.

I ate, but my brain was whirring so fast from thought to thought that I was surprised they couldn’t hear it. Or smell the neurons firing. I swear, it was all flowing through my brain so fast that it was a surprise static wasn’t sparking from my fingers every time I touched my metal fork. Swallowing a bite of something I didn’t even taste, I glanced at Garjah yet again. He frowned at me. “What? Are you not hungry?” “They’re staring at me.” The Kardoval were watching us both, though they

I didn’t want to have a moment in front of the Kardoval, but stars… never mind. I wasn’t going to ignore this need to touch Garjah for them or anyone. I slid one hand across his far cheek, turning his head toward me, then pulled him down for a brief kiss. As hard as it was to resist, I didn’t part my lips and drink in his scent to taste him further. This was enough. A flurry of movement and murmurs broke through my distraction. I leaned away from Garjah. He blinked at me several times, and

How is July treating you? Sweltering in a swimsuit or swimming in wool to stay warm depending on your hemisphere? We've passed the midway mark for the year but we're still in the thick of 2021. How about slowing down when you need a break and enjoying something a little different... An anthology of sorts. You can pick any of Drew Payne's "Stories Written on Lined Paper" to read (or all of them on different days) and share your thoughts on the discussion day! Stories Written on Lined Paper by @Drew Payne Length: 61,060 Description: When I first started writing I wrote in long-hand, and wrote my stories on pads of lined white paper. I now mostly write straight onto my computer or laptop, but I still have found memories of filling up those empty white pages with my sprawling handwriting and tales of other people’s lives. So happy reading, I hope. A Reader said: I've enjoyed all of your stories in this collection. Your writing keeps me entertained and thoughtful. I notice that this is number twenty and the last of this series so that means I must have missed one 'cause the last I remember is "Boxing Day." I'll have to catch up by reading "Another One of Those Family Photographs" now but I couldn't get to that before sending you my accolades for a series well written. Thank you! ~ James Baxter Don't forget to come back to share your thoughts on Monday, July 26th!

“Well of course I did. He’s a human.” Mereval narrowed her eyes at Bouncer. “We know all about cerops.” “Really? Including why one would docilely follow a human? And stand in a room with a predator who stunned him once before and has caged him several times without attacking?” The male who was circling them as he spoke paused when he was standing to my right and stared at Bouncer. “Did you do something to him?” he asked. I blinked. “Like what?” “Chemicals? A mechanical control dev

There were other females, but they were not highlighted other than describing that they looked different. FYI, you've honestly only 'met' Garjah, Timok, and Seedrah. I know, bad ME! I'm really bad at adding a lot of secondary characters to my flash fiction pieces. Wednesday tomorrow.

Are you dying in the weather where you are? It's well over 100 here, so I'm hiding indoors. What better way to beat the heat than enjoy my interview with Marty and discuss his story, Misunderstood, featured in this month's CSR? I could use some cold, even if it's just reading about it! Chocolate or Vanilla? I'm going to assume you are referring to ice cream here. So, if that's the only choice I am being given, I would have to choose vanilla (although raspberry would be my first preference). If you were an animal, what would you be? Apart from being a member of the animal species Homo sapiens? That's a difficult one, if only because it's something I've never really thought about before. I have no idea why, but I'm going to choose a unicorn as my answer to this question. What do you like to do when you’re not writing? I'm an avid reader and also really enjoying gardening. I think both of those have helped me keep sane during the past sixteen months or so of extended lockdowns due to Covid-19. I am also a keen amateur photographer, and love hill-walking and mountaineering. Unfortunately, due to travel restrictions, I haven't been able to get out on the hills and mountains much during the pandemic. Another of my favourite things is travel, particularly foreign travel, and that is something I am really looking forward to being able to do again as the restrictions start to ease. What’s the best part of being an author? That moment when characters suddenly take on a life of their own, and the words just seem to flow. Which is your favourite story that you’ve written? If you check my stories on GA you will see that I have very few actual completed stories to choose from. If I were forced to choose a favourite from all of them, I think I would have to choose my flash piece I Could Manage The Days from my story collection entitled: Marty's Shorts and Flashes. Part of the reason for choosing this is the fact that it came to me as a sudden flash of inspiration, and took less than fifteen minutes to actually write. Another thing I like about it is that the fact it is written from the first person singular POV, which leaves many readers wondering just what really happened right at the end. If I am allowed to include my poetry in my list of stories here on GA, my answer to this question would likely have been To All The Boys I've Loved from my poetry collection. This is one I struggled with for quite a while, mainly because the format I was originally trying just didn't seem to be working out. I was writing it for another online site that had a poetry anthology with the theme Lost Love, and I was originally trying to come up with a gay version of And A Bang On The Ear by The Waterboys. After many false starts, and finding myself getting absolutely nowhere apart from having lots of ideas for the various verses, I gave up on the Waterboys, and suddenly the poem seemed to write itself. What appeals to you most about the friends to lovers genre? I wouldn't say that I have any particular attraction to the friends to lovers theme, apart from the fact that it seems to be a common trope in a lot of gay fiction. How did you pick the setting for Misunderstood? The second level school that I taught in, in the North of England back in the 1970s and 80s, had an Outdoor Pursuits Centre in Snowdonia. Hence the location for the story, and partially the time period chosen. However, I also chose that time period to explain at least part of the reason why Simon was having difficulty coming out. Homosexuality had only been decriminalised in England and Wales for five years at that time, the law that decriminalised it still imposed lots of restrictions, and there was still a lot of misunderstanding, misinformation, and homophobia about at the time. The main reason for choosing a snowstorm as part of the setting of the story was simply because I wrote the story whilst confined to the house for seven days back in December 2009, due to an unusual (for where I live in Ireland) heavy fall of snow that had left the country road I lived on at the time completely impassable. Do you identify more with, Simon or Andy? Simon. Which I suppose is the reason that not only was the story written from Simon's POV, but it was written in the first person singular. Is there any theme or plot you’d never write in a story? To be honest, I'm not sure about this. I'll just say: Never say never. What’s your favorite line or scene in the story? It would have to be the conversation between Simon and Andy right at the end of the story as they are driving up to the Centre, where Simon realised that he had completely misunderstood what Andy had said to him the previous evening. Can you share something about your current or upcoming work with readers? As will be evident from the fact that most of my stories on GA are marked as being on Temporary Hold, I am currently finding the writing process difficult. I think the current pandemic probably has a lot to do with this. Just about the only new stuff I have come up with recently has been a poetry series in the haiku format, although purists would perhaps argue that most of them are actually senryu rather than haiku. The pandemic has become a theme in a number of them.