Cia

Ask me to delete it and resubmit it without it being post-dated would be the best bet. A PM is the best way to contact me, as long as I'm not out of town all day like I was today/Saturday.

“I thought you were working.” “You’re going to eat now, yes?” Garjah filled the doorway. “I thought Timok was taking me.” I stepped out of my quarters, and the door swished closed behind me. “He was just here.” “Timok will meet us there. He is getting the food.” Garjah started walking, and before the turn in the corridor I was struggling to keep up and breathe without panting. He slowed. “I apologize.” “Fine.” I waved him off. “Just, slow down please?” “Are you sure? I ca

A little nod to the upcoming holiday

On my agenda to read the other 3 stories tonight now that the first trimester at school is done and report cards are finished, WOOHOO, but thank you to everyone who left a comment or review on my story this week!

Yes, the shadows were truly dark in this story, and they affected the characters to a deep degree--the innocent and soldiers alike. I wanted to offer a shaft of hope with Maris and Callim's love, but I left a lot of their struggles unanswered. I appreciate you always taking the time to leave me great comments, DrP!! Thank you for reading and commenting, Chris! The darkness would rise if left unchecked, but the cost of fighting it can be just as harsh. So many facets of shadows to explore with this anthology. The love was definitely meant to offset the harshness of the rest of the story--after all, without light, there can be no shadow. Unrelenting pain and suffering wouldn't have the same impact without their love to compare it to. Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment, Dr. John! LOL, yes, I don't always call out my inspiration but it's not a theme I usually play around with, so it was different for me to focus on. Soldiers have such a dichotomy; they see such darkness and suffering, but they can also be the cause of pain and death too. Those in command have the hardest job, and they see and feel so much but also must stand alone. Who knows, maybe I will explore Callim and Maris' future more in another story? After all, the familiar situation was left completely unanswered. Thanks for commenting!

His arms flopped off the litter, hands limp and dangling as the two soldiers at the front and back jogged away from the post. Another soldier down, and each and every one tore a hole in my soul. “Put him with the others,” I ordered. I turned away, gaze intent on the monitors. “Cold bastard.” The muttered insult and agreements from the squads at my back burned me up inside. I spun on my heel, planting both feet as I glared at the troops standing in rows waiting for their release. I se

The war with the demons in the Underrealm can exhaust even the strongest soldier. As the war drags on, how can one commander face his duty when each and every battle threatens his heart and soul?

Hook. Line. Sinker. It was an old line I’d picked up from my nurse. She’d had all these old idioms that made very little sense. I’d never lived near a lot of water, so that one had intrigued me the most. She’d told me stories of fish great and small, and giant white whales—creatures that roamed the depths of the oceans and had been hunted by men in boats dug out from trees, their weapons so primitive it seemed amazing they were able to catch anything at all, much less something so large. But

That's right, this month we have a holiday triple feature! These Christmas stories are like sprinkles of joy you can use to brighten your day and hearts. Just the right length for a short read, please enjoy these stories brought to you from 2 of our Signature Authors and 1 of our Classic Authors. The Christmas Cracker by @Mikiesboy Length: 1,528 Description: Hawken picked up the red Christmas Cracker and offered the other end to Lori-Anne. She grasped it. They pulled. It snapped with a satisfying bang. Hawk carefully pulled out the contents. The others had received little gifts ... but his was different. He looked at Harish, who smiled ... A Reader said: This story was a sweet bit of Christmas magic. ~ dughlas Bear in Winter by @comicfan Length: 4,181 Description: William Watthews runs the local recreation center. Most people call him, Will or Bear, but it seems someone has other plans for him. Just what is going on at the rec center and what will it mean to Bear? A Reader said: I have to come back to like this, but I loved the story.. It was absolutely sweet and wonderful and full of heart. ~ Defiance19 A Gay Christmas Carol by @Bill W Length: 9,495 Description: Scrooge becomes a religious zealot named Franklin Phelps. He has some troubling beliefs about gays and on Christmas Eve he first encounters the spirit of his former associate, Patsy Falwell, followed by three ghosts that attempt to help him redefine his position, but will they succeed? A Reader said: lol well i like the « revised » gay xmas carol 😉 ~ Danilo Syrtis Don't forget to come back and share your thoughts on the CSR Discussion day, Monday, December 28th.

Awww, Steve, take some anti-inflammatories. That slow mo fall moment is so scary and you're cussing the whole time in your head--or at least I do! After I shattered my leg I fell a few times due to stuck crutches or my knee buckling over the years since then. Earlier this fall it happened coming down the stairs at work and of course people saw. So embarrassing, but at least I was just 2 steps from the bottom.

I was tempted to irk Garjah by testing the material around Bouncer’s feet. It was molded to his feet like a second skin. I’d seen the same thing holding liquid in the front of the hold, and it was flexible. I had to assume it was to prevent any of the poison they said was in his claws from coming out. Or did he inject it. The curiosity almost made me pick up his front leg and press on the pad, but Garjah’s hovering prevented it. Besides, what if his claws punctured it. I tilted my head… but

Holy cannoli! November is over! The holiday season is upon us, but first we must enjoy and discuss this month's featured story, Amafi Coast by CLJobe. Did you get a chance to read it? Share your thoughts below, or just enjoy my interview with this month's featured author! Are you a person who makes their bed in the morning, or do you not see much point? Since I am in bed, 100 percent of the time, I have a care giver who helps to change my bed. What is something most people don’t know about you? Besides being an old man, I have a degree in Chemical Engineering and I am a Registered Engineer. I owned my own company when I retired which allowed me to travel in Europe What’s one location you’d love to go to research for a story? Ireland, I fell in love with that country and the people I interacted with. What brought you to GA? I had been reading a lot of stories and by chance found GA. Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing? I’ve based my writing on my experiences, traveling and meeting different people. There is a little of myself in all of my writings. Did you need to research any of the legal information about wills or adoption for the story? No, I make assumptions and since my stories are fiction, there is no need tone 100 percent accurate. How did you decide on the setting for Amalfi Coast? I traveled in Italy, being of Italian descendent, I found that area of Italy very enticing. And I did spell it wrong, my readers corrected me. Who is your favorite character in the story? Do you relate more to Thomas or Geno? I think at my age I would relate more to Thomas, although I found Geno a loving young man. What is your favorite scene in Amalfi Coast? Would you like to share some of your current or upcoming work with readers? Yes, I am currently working on a story about a young man with a goal of providing sanctuary for boys and girls. Similar to my current story.

"Why didn't I finish that novel when I..." Yep, wistful!

We saw a few other Four Arms on our way to the hold. Garjah exchanged greetings with them, but none of them spoke to me. They stared at me intently, but I studied them just as closely. They all wore close-fitting suits like Garjah did, and they had boots on. The skin I could see varied in shades of green, and unlike Garjah who wore stripes across his skin, their markings varied. Some had spots, some swirls, a few looked almost geometric. Chevrons, squares, even waves. One smaller being had n

Thank you! I often come up with new worlds I'd love to come back to, but so rarely have the time. It took me a minute to think back, but you're spot on with the reptile. Funnily enough, 2 years later my son got a leopard gecko and my daughter a snake a few months after that. *shivers* I can hold the lizard, but not the snake.

Whatever I wished to know. I could ask him questions for hours. Who cared about food? I wished I had a recording device. Notes. I needed to take notes. How else could I organize my thoughts or remember everything Garjah told me? Garjah settled a plate in front of me. It held fairly standard looking protein cubes and some feathery purple stalks. “What are these?” I asked. “They are safe. Timok had Andulsa program in a human-safe section to the food reproducer. These are your protein cubes

Did you catch the blog feature on Libby Drew's story, The Art of Walking in Snow, on Monday? Go download the banner if you want to share you love for this short story. If you haven't read it yet, well, why not? I'm featuring this excerpt because it reminds me SO much of all the years we took our kids out to cut down our own tree. The cold, the cocoa, the fun of picking just the right one... it's definitely Christmas! But this story goes so much deeper than that, so much more into what the season can truly mean if we open our hearts to those around us. Want to read more? Click here

Okay, I admit it... the holidays finally have me. It's not quite tree time, but we're sooooo close. So why not enjoy a little early holiday heartwarming with Libby Drew's amazing short story, The Art of Walking in Snow? Length: 10,023 Description: Jamie doesn't let people get close, but his new employer refuses to play by those rules. Maybe this is the year Jamie will banish the ghosts of Christmases past. A Reader said: What a wonderful tale as we approach Christmas. There is so much said and unsaid between Jamie and John that weaves this tale into something more than just a story. It's a fable about the forces of nature: the winter snow, Jamie, and John. Bravo, Libby! I'm going to email the link to my friends so they can enjoy and appreciate The Art of Walking in Snow as much as I have. ~Colinian 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!

Medical knowledge and advancements, right? Like how about in the 1950s when they irradiated customer's bodies to size their feet with fluoroscope machines? Perfectly safe x-rays, people! Step right up and put your groin next to the box so your shoes aren't too tight. Yeah... that's gonna be your biggest worry in the future! lol Something that is meant to help a little can hurt a lot. Just saying!

Garjah pressed a spot on the straps and they retracted smoothly. What had he pushed? I didn’t see any button but I could have been free that easy? Not that there was anywhere to go. I didn’t see a way to open the door from the inside either, and the room was small. I sat up immediately and hissed as my feet touched the floor. They were bare and the pulse of an engine vibrating through the metal disturbed me. “Are we still moving?” “Yes, but you are awake now so Timok wants me to take you

Like calls to like? Essell didn't mind the bug but higher lifeforms would bother him. It would be important to find out what they view as a higher lifeform, right? It'll definitely be interesting, that's for sure. Ahhh, you are usually so good at picking up clues. Did you this time? Or are you in left field? Hmmmm Garjah is definitely a fun character to write. Alien characters are my FAV to explore. Thanks for commenting! A crush? Maaaaybe. He definitely feels sumthin.

LOL! No one likes it when people spew droplets about nowadays. Alien vaccines, hmmm.... Would THAT be a safe? They do seem advanced, but 'seem' is an operative word. Ahh, but the biological imperative is still there on a level that still hits us on a chemical level on top of the societal one. The dichotomy comes in when procreation comes in just for reproduction and not for any true desire to care for a child--which we see all too often, unfortunately. I suppose this was a bit of me putting some personal views into a story; my kids are the center of my world. I find it anathema to have children when you're not prepared to dedicate that level of personal devotion to helping them develop into their own beings as adults.

Yes, Bouncer was totally innocent! I do so love my irony! And I just knew the whole probe thing would pop into people's heads, lol. Yeah, it definitely wasn't what he expected. Then again, learning your universe isn't quite as ordered as you expect it to be is a shock many young people go through.

“His mouth was open the whole way here, showing off his flat teeth and that thick, pink tongue of his.” What? No wonder my mouth was so dry! And my tongue wasn’t thick or my teeth flat. Well, the ones in back were, but my teeth were normal. I glared at him, ready to tell him off with a vicious glare and snarl but then the clear cup of fluid waved in front of my face distracted me. My arms were too heavy to lift and hold it. The glare dissolved off my face, and I nearly cried. Water, righ

Well, spooky October is over and now we have November up. Heading into the holiday season, what better time to enjoy stories about compassion, family, and love? So please enjoy this month's selection! Amafi Coast by @CLJobe Length: 12,971 Description: A story of compassion. A Reader said: Awesome chapter, Sad thoughtfull and joyful, and a great end to get another awesome story. Thanks ~ mikedup Enjoy this month's ready, and don't forget to come back to share your thoughts on the Discussion day on Monday, November 30th!