Cia

“Are you always this calm?” Even as I asked the question, I was pushing away from the table to pace the room. As big as it was, I could only manage a few paces in each direction and that wasn’t enough. “Yes.” Garjah set down his knife and watched me. “Staying calm is essential in high stress situations.” I ran a hand through my hair. “Basically your whole job.” He inclined his head. “A lot of the time, yes. My mission is to keep everyone safe, but I feel different toward you.”

All over the classroom... I HATE those things! 🤬

“Did you tell Garjah this?” “Of course.” Timok sat back in the chair beside the bed, for all the universe like he hadn’t just dropped news deep enough to mimic a black hole. It consumed all logic, all thought, and sent my emotions into a tumble. I sat up, swinging my legs over the edge of the bunk. I couldn’t just lay there. Gripping the edge of the bunk’s mattress, I asked, “Does he hate me? It’s not my fault. I didn’t do this on purpose. I didn’t ask for you guys to pick me up. He ch

Hopefully you caught Monday's blog announcing this month's Classic Author feature is Altimexis' story, The Cajun Asian. Okay, so I don't do this often, but this section of the story just SMACKS for the title that grabbed my attention when I was picking a story to feature for Altimexis. Usually I do an excerpt that has a big more of a vague aspect, something to just highlight a character or special scene. ⚠️ Just a warning... there's a bit of a spoiler about the characters if you're looking to read this but haven't yet. ⚠️ Want to read more? Click here (I think you should... just what do YOU think the results of that review will be?!)

Well, the title of this story is quite deceiving... and exactly describes it at the same time. I will say it drew me in and made me want to know more. Was it describing a character? The setting? Something else...? WHAT or WHO is the Cajun Asian? Hopefully this feature will help intrigue you too. Length: 24,414 Description: Seth and Asher are two boys growing up on New York's Lower East Side. Nearly finished with their first year at Stuyvesant, one of New York's elite public specialty high schools, they’ve become inseparable as boyfriends. Asher dreams of opening a restaurant and looks forward to helping his father open a new Cajun place. As the son of a politician, Seth helps to find a prize location for the restaurant nearby that they can afford. When tragedy strikes and faced with the possibility of it closing before it even opens, the young teens take over and manage the restaurant by themselves. A reader said: What a great story! I always enjoy checking in with these young men! They certainly stepped up to the plate, literally! Thank you! ~mfa607 If you want to spread the word about Altimexis'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!

Wow, I got a mention. 😊 I do firmly believe that SOME "rules" should be followed to a T, but that is flexible depending on the story genre, author style, place of publication, and soooo much more. It's hard to know how to make those decisions without knowing the rules first. It helps I teach SPED K-5 reading & writing... you'd be surprised how many of these rules we learned back in elementary school in the US! I can never guess who these are. I love them, though, because it's just like another interview and those are so much fun to read on the blogs!

Yes! My teenage daughter has been doing puzzles and mod podging them together, putting pinholes in Monster energy drink cans with interesting graphics and filling them with battery powered twinkle lights to make lanterns, crocheting, doing this weird online room design challenge website where people vote on themed rooms you go head to head against another designer on... I even bought a 'design your own stickers' book so she could draw all over them and cover her water bottles and mini fridge in custom designs. Decoupage might be the only craft she isn't trying.

“Stars,” I said weakly. This was going to take some getting used to. Clean. Even without water, I’d feel better if I cleaned myself up. I set the bag on the available shelf and dug around for some clothes. Cursing when I realized shirts were out, I grabbed underclothes and pants at least. I wasn’t sure if I was more angry or scared or if I was both in equal measure. But I wanted answers. I marched out of the bathroom. Garjah sat at his table. “What did you do to me?” “I didn’

We have tons of members. The more storage each member has, the more content is added and the more that tends to get left behind. You can remove older attachments through the "My Attachments" area linked in the My Content section in the drop menu under your name in the upper right corner of the website if you need storage. Images that add to your Attachments: If you use the attach files at the bottom of the text editor, that adds to your attachments. In the 'Other Media' drop menu "Insert existing attachment" uses an image you already have in your attachments from using before. The "Insert a Stock Photo" option will add a stock photo that will add to your attachments as well. Images that don't add to your Attachments: To avoid adding to your attachments, or needing to remove images later, you can use the Other Media option of "Insert Image from URL". This lets you add images stored in your GA gallery (which also has a size limit), or another online source like a cloud photo gallery or photo sharing website, without adding to your attachments on GA. Please see this other Help topic for more info.

Something didn’t feel right. My mouth was gummy, and I’d kill for a glass of water. I cracked my eyes open, but they were crusted over and blurry. “Waaa.” Oh stars, it really was dry. “Essell? Can you open your eyes?” “Nuuh.” I shook my head a tiny bit side to side. “Waat.” The word came out in a long exhale. I groaned, “Er.” “Get him a drink.” “Water?” “No, he needs the nutrient fluid.” If I could have wrinkled my nose, I would have. Nutrient fluid? That sounded aw

Welcome to March. Wow, the seasons are changing already. Well, I hope they are. And this story is about changing perceptions... are those you think bad really bad? Hmm Well, let's see. Have you read Yeoldebard's story The Elf's Hunt? Why not give it a shot this month, then come back on the discussion day to share your thoughts! The Elf's Hunt by @Yeoldebard Length: 37,827 Description: Hope is a rogue. But that doesn't mean he's bad. Not that the world cares. All they see is a demon trying to corrupt the world. But behind that is a gentle soul who cares about his family. Elliun doesn't care if a tiefling has a soul. A demon is a demon, as far as he's concerned. But when a palace he has been hired to protect is burglarized, he soon finds that not every demon is a monster. A Reader said: The writing really was good, and the adventures were interesting. I can recommend the story to those that enjoy this genre. Was left wondering if this was either a sequel to a previous story or the start of a series. ~centexhairysub Don't forget to come back to share your thoughts on Monday, March 29th!

When Garjah said he planned to stay with me, I hadn’t realized exactly what that meant. I should have. His quarters were bigger than mine but not that much bigger. There was no extra bunk to unlatch from the wall, and he wasn’t about to roll a bed in from the corridor. No, when Garjah came out of his bathroom facilities in a pair of extremely brief and tight shorts, he helped me in there. They’d changed me while I was out, so I was in a much looser pair of the same shorts and a loose shirt.

February and we go on! This time we're back in space because... well, I can go to space if I want to two months in a row. Hopefully you enjoyed the scifi fest with me! What did you think about Sasha's story? Share your thoughts below after you enjoy this great interview! If you were an animal, what would you be? Is this a trick question? I am a wolf! What’s one location you’d love to go to research for a story? The Arctic circle. I want to see the Great Spirits and sit in the snow. What books have most influenced you as a writer? I mean the obvious answer is ‘everything I have ever read’…. But for sure the entire series of the Anne McCaffrey DragonRiders of Pern series, which was very formative for me, and Terry Pratchett’s Discworld, which remains the pinnacle of comedic satire and no one will ever change me mind on this. Special shoutouts to The Godeaters by Jessie Hajicek and The Man Who Fell In Love With The Moon by Tom Spanbauer. Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing? I loathe writing dialogue and dialogue tags. Working out where to break up speech will always be my most hated thing. Is your writing process a daily word count goal or more of a burst of inspiration writing flurry? Writing every day. For me it’s the only way. We try for 2k a day, minimum 1600. mostly it goes well. What is your favorite story that you’ve written and why? Recently? Latent Heat (another sheith fic) which is set in omegaverse (a free-to-use, communal AU idea where humans have a secondary gender which marks them as either an Alpha, Beta, or Omega. The specifics of what that means varies from writer to writer though) and deals with Keith having his secondary gender change unexpectedly from a Beta to an Omega. This obviously has unforeseen repercussions on his personal life. It’s a favourite partly because of how well it resonated with people, and partly because I loved the dynamic I created between Keith and Shiro for this AU. Though it bears no relation to the canon universe, I think the friendship between them is the most true to the actual IP and I’m very proud of that. Also the sex is hot, and lengthy, and the angst hits really good. Is science fiction harder to write than fantasy/paranormal stories? Yes, if only because I tend to want to make the lore more compact before beginning. Fantasy is easier for me personally, but usually because each time I write I’m setting it in the same world, and therefore none of the lore is new to me. For instance I’ve been writing The Best Circle of Hell series on and off since 2003, so each time I go there I’m just adding to it, not reinventing anything. How did you get inspired to write Warlords? So someone said on twitter that “enemies to lovers wasn’t REAL enemies to lovers unless one of them had tried to kill the other” and there as lot of discourse about how most enemies-to-lovers plot lines were at best rivals-to-lovers or just actually disagreements which meant nothing in the larger story line. And I, being me, took that as a challenge. There’s very little enemies-to-lovers in the sheith fandom, mostly because we all want to see our boys happy and in love and stuff, and I anted something sharp and visceral and who doesn’t love clash of cultures and an arranged marriage between two guys who have literally tried to murder each other ove the past six years? There was a fandom event – the Big Bang in which artists get paired with writers – coming up and it just seemed like the perfect opportunity. You have to wrote 20K or more to be eligible, and it just all flowed out. My artist was great and we spent a lot of time talking about wardrobe and Keith’s lack of decent attire and Shiro’s unseen gay panic because of it. Do you have a favorite line or scene in the story? ALL the fight scenes. But especially the third one where Keith ends up pinning Shiro to the grass and then breaking down when he can’t deal anymore with the fact that he doesn’t want to kill his husband. Can you share anything special about your new or upcoming works with readers? So we have lots of events in the fandom, and the next one is sheithletines. Everyone (artists and writers) puts in a wishlist and a ‘no’ list and mods match people up. Everyone gets something and gives something. It’s great fun. We got our wishlist assignments from the mods recently and mine is exactly my kind of thing. It’s a secret, but since none of you are in the fandom it’s pretty safe to share. I get to write a story with Shiro and Keith in a established relationship, but one of them in a werewolf and hiding it. I’m going to work a bit of praise and petplay kinks in there too and it’s going to be so much fun! (story posts to AO3 in Feb 14th, GA shortly after)

Subplots are vital, imo. No one lives a one-dimensional life. Thanks for another interesting and informative share on writing, Comsie!!

I should be protesting. I’d done almost nothing but argue with Garjah since I’d met him. Even our civil exchanges were usually punctuated with quips and sarcasm. He had dry humor and rarely took offense to my snark. But it was taking everything in me not to look down at my missing hand and lose my shit. Bouncer slunk beside us, his gaze taking in everything and everyone who crossed our path. It wasn’t doing anything to endear him to the crew, but Garjah just snapped at the other

Monday's feature was Lugh's short story that shows just how much our history can define us, as a person, a people... but what happens when that history is denied to us? How would you react? Check out this excerpt if you haven't already read Lugh's story! Want to read more? Click here

Outdated question, no answer needed at this time.

February means love, romance, sex... um, the unintended consequences of that sometimes? Okay, I admit I love stories that include the educational field since I work in it and like to see different authors take on the world I live in. This story, on the surface, seems like a simple day in the life of a couple of HS seniors... Length: 4,348 Description: 2010 Spring Anthology Michael Thomas George, known as Trey by his friends, has to participate in his high school’s annual spring heritage carnival although he is very much against it, or he does not graduate. The morning of April 16th is bright and clear and all the tables are brightly decorated, except one… A Reader said: I like the fact that you launched right into the story without preamble. The portrayal of high school seniors as opionated and aggrieved, righteously indignant young adults was respectful and insightful. Their audacity made me laugh. The acceptance these young people enjoy is heartwarming. If you want to spread the word about Lugh's story, download the graphic below and add it to your signature! Make sure you come back on Wednesday to see the excerpt I chose to share!

“I’m glad humans are predictable,” Timok said. “That’s enough.” Garjah crouched beside Bouncer’s exercise cage in the hold, one set of hands flat on the floor, the other on the door. We were hiding in one of the tubes they’d set up. It was dark, and small, and I could hide from reality. Bouncer lay across my legs. “Can I come in, Essell?” I buried my face against Bouncer’s neck. “I want to stay here.” He was purring against me, nuzzling my cheek. “You can stay there. I just want t

Bouncer was beside me in an instant, his whole body tense. He whined, sniffing the air. Garjah held my wrist with his upper arm and swept me into his lower pair, once again cradling me in his arms against his hard chest. It was hard, but my exosuit protected me. My helmet jarred against his shoulder as he ran, but I couldn’t look away from the writhing shape in my palm. Not even when I twisted my head, frantically smacking my helmet until it released, and vomited to one side. The indom

And in summer a sweltering one. You just can't win!

How about something a little different but very well-received if the read count numbers are anything to go by! This month our CSR read is Sasha Distan's Warlords. It looks like a lot of you might have already read it, but now's your chance for a second glance through so you are ready to come back and share your thoughts on the discussion day! Warlords by @Sasha Distan Length: 30,041 Description: Keith, the Warlord Prince of Marmora, will do anything to save his people from an unwinnable war against the rest of the solar system. Anything, even if it means the end of the only life he’s ever known, moving to a planet where he will be the only member of his species. Even if it means marrying a man sent against him in battle, someone who he has tried to kill. Admiral Shirogane is willing to accept the marriage for the sake of the Coalition and the peace treaty which will bring an end to the bloodshed, but that doesn’t mean it will be easy. Especially not if the Second Prince of the Galra still seems intent on fighting him at every turn. A Reader said: Incredible, a superbly crafted story, wordsmithing at it's best. Fascinating cast of characters and well worth the time to read. This tale deserves a series of sequels! ~drsawzall Don't forget to come back to share your thoughts on the CSR Discussion day, Monday February 22nd.

The heat was stunning in its intensity, and the light reflected off the sand like black glitter. Instead of dull, thick particles, the sand was made of fine grit like tiny pieces of shiny mirrors. I had to trigger the eye protection on my exosuit to help filter the intensity. “You do not have to go out,” Garjah said. “We want to.” I patted Bouncer on his side and walked down the metal ramp that led out of the ship. We’d gone only a few steps when he began trotting ahead. I gasped. Thos

I hope you weren't intimidated by the word series! It's just a little over 10k in length for all the short stories in the series, but boy are they fun to read. What did you think about Myr's scifi psionic storylines? Share your thoughts below! But first, of course, enjoy my interview with him! Are you a person who makes their bed in the morning, or do you not see much point? I make the bed once per week to avoid wear and tear on the sheets. What’s something personal about you people might be surprised to know? I tend to be pretty quiet and laid back most of the time, but when pushed can turn into a raging bull that has been let loose in a china shop. Keeping my center and staying calm has been a lifelong pursuit. What do you like to do when you’re not writing? In those times where I am not working or doing something for the site, I’m most often busy reading. Sometimes it is for pleasure and other times is it is to build or improve my skillset. When completely away from the computer, I also do construction work. I’ve spent a lot of time over the last few years renovating various things. Building a dedicated office space is on the agenda for this spring, so I can once again separate my work from my entertainment. I am also a gamer almost exclusively focused on single-player experiences. I do not have the time to dedicate to being good enough at any multiplayer game. It is not fun to play the role of cannon fodder to a twelve-year-old who can spend their life mastering the game. What’s your favorite room in your house? Do you plot or write there? My favorite room in the house is the family room, which has 3 sides full of windows. I keep my laptop there and work on things, including world-building. It is charming in the spring and fall when the windows can be open, and fresh air flows through. When you get a story idea, do you use any particular method, app, program, etc… to expand it before you begin writing? Since my stories exist in worlds I create, I have to do a fair bit of world-building. This requires me to keep track of a lot of metadata so that I keep the world consistent. I use World Anvil to create and track my World information. I use DungeonFog to make maps. I use Hero Forge to create character portraits (mostly as inspiration). I tend to visualize characters, plots, and scenes in my head as I fall asleep and run different versions until something clicks for me, and then I write that down. What is your favorite story that you’ve written, and why? I don’t have a favorite story per se. This series, and WET, in particular, is probably my favorite. What character trait do you think best describes Bill from All WET? Cheeky. How would you handle having psionic powers? I’d probably jump in a spaceship and fly away from the rest of humanity as fast as the ship could go. What is your favorite line or scene from the All WET series? I think my favorite scene is the opening of A Bad Way to Wake up WET Part 1. In the various writing books, they tell you to start your scene in the middle of the action and I tend to go hyperbolic at times. This part of the story starts off with a bit of a bang and I had fun with it. Can you share future plans for All WET stories with readers? I am currently working on the plot and world building to turn All WET into a full-length novel. It is currently titled “Burn the Sky”. I’m not sure if it will stay that way, but that’s what it is for now. I have no time estimates for when this will be done. I’m horrible at those and life tends to throw surprises.

Did you catch the first Classic Author feature of the year on Monday? This short story is a great tidbit feature to show you the depth of emotion you can find in Gabriel Morgan's work. Enjoy this excerpt if you can't decide if you want to check out the 700ish word short story (seriously, why not?!) Want to read more? Click here