Cia

While Wildone is still off being his wild self... I'm bringing you the blog. I am SO not wild! My day consisted of cleaning, laundry, running errands with my daughter to Daiso for lined sticky notes (my FAV for work) a stop at the local health food store and Kroger (titled Fred Meyers) to top off my grocery shopping. I did find some delectable looking peaches... so make of that what you will! Hopefully you all are making the most of the weekend! What are your wild and crazy plans? Are you polishing up your anthology story if you haven't submitted it yet? 3 Days LEFT!! to submit to the proof team for the 2025 GA ANTHOLOGY before the Deadline: October1st. Myr's Deep Dive this week can keep you on the edge of your seat: Here's Valkyrie's Anthology reminder if you need it! You're invited to get "technical, technical" in this week's prompt blog: Myr brings us new knowledge or a wordy refresh with his words of the day: brontide cacoethes choler dolor ennui frisson nostomania Upcoming Writing Events 2025 Yearly Anthology - Creature Feature - Due Oct 1, 2025 - All the information you need is here. 2025 Prompt Team Event - More information to come! Member Participation Blogs - Great way to promote yourself!! Ask an Author 3.0 If you have a author you want to get some answers from, write a PM to @astone2292 Author Guess Who Get our members to guess who you are and also let everyone know who you are. Also write a PM to @astone2292 Here is the look at the past weeks postings on all our Authors and Poets! 3 Recently Updated 'Signature Author' Stories The Freshmen by Mark Arbour In Process Learned to Lie by Krista In Process Kandanga Falls by Mark Ponyboy Peters In Process 7 Recently Updated 'Classic Author' Stories Carter's Order by Topher Lydon In Process Swing for the Fences by LittleBuddhaTW In Process Capt vs Goofball by Topher Lydon In Process A Summer in Iowa by Altimexis In Process Secrets 3: The Road to the Future by Bill W In Process The Watchers: Paradox Lost by Topher Lydon Complete Ottawa Tales by Topher Lydon Complete 37 Recently Updated 'Author' Stories Confessions of a Gay Supervillain by Jason D. Karl In Process What the Ship Remembers by andy cannon In Process Misaligned by Laura S. Fox In Process LEGALLY BOUND by vanalas In Process In My Mind by ChromedOutCortex In Process Love on Campus by chris191070 Complete Rókus by E K Stokes In Process Traded Goods by Yeoldebard In Process The Librarian and the Assassin, a Sapphic Romance at the End of the World by Adam Andrews Johnson In Process Another Time by Celian In Process Welcome to Redwaters by Hardianarcher In Process Peter's Story by Connectwriter In Process The Storm Wolf: Gathering Clouds by RedMoon In Process The Field of Love by Enoch In Process Essence of Life by W_L In Process Reverent: Six by Tony S. In Process Serenity by Albert1434 In Process A Grave So Haunting by solemnity In Process Family life, but not as we know it by Robert Hugill In Process Jude by E K Stokes In Process How the Coronavirus Jump-Started my Sex Life by KKirk In Process The Truth of Yesterday by Josh Aterovis In Process The Golosina, the Forgotten Land and the Skurkene by J92 Complete Kill the Messenger by mastershakeme In Process Surrounded by the Darkness by Lupus In Process Bell(e)s in the Woods by Celian In Process The World Out There by Drew Payne Temporary Hold Angel Awakened by Painawakened In Process Down In The Holler by CasualWanderer82 In Process Not just another Summer by Robert Hugill In Process A Jewel in the Dirt by Celian In Process The Seducer: A Gone From Daylight Inspired Story by MrM In Process Chess Friends by Thomas Lindblad In Process Northern Lights by Golden Ghost Pen In Process Spring And A Ring by Griz Complete Ark II: Life on Gaea by R. Eric Temporary Hold Beyond the Veil by Laura S. Fox In Process 1 Recently Updated 'Poet' Stories Marvin B Erotic Poetry Collection by Marvin B Temporary Hold Read, Write, and REVIEW!!! (Don't forget to Recommend too!)

Now, I could almost feature this whole story, that's how short it is. But hey, that just means you have no excuse about reading it!! Want to read more? Click here

How about some another feature of an older story by a popular site author for our readers who might have missed it? Rated "G" for a feel-good story by the author himself (and I agree!) you can't miss this story that's just *ahem* a little Bonkers! Length: 1,263 Description: Two fearful boys meet an outstanding dog. Dedicated to all the dogs out there who are sometimes smarter than their boys. A Reader said: This snapshot of life creates a feel-good moment as you see a young boy overcome a great fear. Thanks, James. ~ raven1 If you want to spread the word about James' 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!

In light of the time of year, the start of the school year for so many from preschool to college, and the nearing deadline of the coming anthology, I wanted to feature a past anthology with a school tag. I plugged in those filters (have you tried that system?!) and viola! This month readers get to enjoy Cliff's Pendant, a short story written by Altimexis for the 2021 Fall Anthology themed "An Unconventional Gift". And if, like me, you're going crazy with your IRL schedule, this is a snack-sized submission! If you like it, though, it's part of another series you can submerse yourself in! Just another gift to you. Remember to come back to share your thoughts on the Discussion day! Cliff's Pendant by @Altimexis Length: 7,527 Description: Zach thought he was fooling everyone and was only out to Jake, his kid brother. Then on his 15th birthday, his dad gave him a rainbow pendant inscribed with the Hebrew word ‘Chai’, which means ‘Life’. His dad had had it made to give to his best friend, Cliff, who had AIDS, but never got the chance. Zach promised to wear it with pride, but hid it under his shirt, forgetting he had to undress for gym, a class he shared with Tanner, his secret crush. A Reader said: A brilliant and worth-while read from this year's Anthology. The amount of detail sucked me in and wouldn't let go. Filled with the character's intelligence and awkwardness, this short story put a smile on my face. Very well done! ~astone2292 Come back on the last Monday of the month, September 29th, to check out the Discussion day and share your thoughts!

It depends on how graphic the language gets. If you are using words that describe body parts, acts, how that might feel, etc.... Google will ping those as graphic content. It would then be better to rate the story as Mature, for language only, which you could put in a story note if you're worried about the rating putting people off. Thanks for checking!

What Myr is referring to is that our Stories Archive automatically creates a copyright notice for content posted to the archive. Therefore if you are including images that were AI generated to your story, that could be interpreted as adding those under your copyrighted content. I always recommend that only images authors own (self-created, purchased rights, or creative commons) are added to Stories content, with no AI generated images directly added to your stories archive content (cover art/banners). If you want to use those images you can put them in the gallery and then link to your album. It is a workaround that avoids any legal complications.

For my FINAL 2025 Secret Author Story "Reveal the Truth" reveal ... our Contest Winners!!! The "Reveal the Truth" Reader winner is... @impunity The "Reveal the Truth" Author winner is.... @Thirdly Winners receive a Premium Subscription. I will reach out to you via PM with more details, so be looking for that. Authors, if you haven't noticed, all stories have been revealed and returned to you. Thank you so much to everyone who took the time to write a story, read a story, like, comment, review, participate on a blog, poll, or topic game! As always, this is a fun event that creates a lot of buzz and connection for the passion we all share our community that just shows how great you ALL are!!

The Poll users have spoken!! The readers' favorite stories with the use of the theme "Reveal the Truth" are... 9 Votes Family Secret 8 Votes - Tie!! My Dead Ex is Haunting Me Through Grindr & What It Takes 7 Votes Thetis

That's right, it's time to Reveal the Truth... of the Authors! You've all been waiting for this! I'll put the list here and in the guessing topic as well for comparison. I hope everyone has had fun with this year's Secret Author Story contest, and I appreciate all the patience with my absence and the short delays. I'll be assigning back the stories to the authors this week and doing the Random.org drawings for the participants & authors. Carpe Veritas by kbois What It Takes by CassieQ Busted by Thirdly Exposing My Own Reality by Gunther Allen Thirteen by EK Stokes Unmasked by BentedWreath Fledgling by lawfulnetrualmage A Chorus Director’s Dilemma by Chris191070 The Reunion by Jeff Burton The Case of the Scallopini-ed Mayor by Mikiesboy Four Hours by Cole Matthews Angel Keeps a Secret by Lee Wilson No Doubt About It by Jack Poignet Can I Tell Ya a Secret? by Topher Lydon Family Secret by Valkyrie Thetis by Mark Arbour Green Lightning by Aditus Adrift by northie Well, This Happened by astone2292 The Rainbow’s Unicorn by drsawzall Liminal by Camy My Dead Ex Is Haunting Me Through Grindr by Inkognito Septima’s Potential by Lorenz Qatava For my secret (medical)

Thank you all. I closed the poll.

What so many readers & authors have been waiting for! It's time to guess which story begins to which author! I'll provide 2 randomized lists of the story titles and author names below. You get to match them up! Yes, authors can play along. Yes, they MAY tell the truth about which story they wrote... or they may NOT reveal the secret. Muahahahahaha! Visit the topic to PLAY ALONG! FYI, I won't be responding much today or tomorrow. Why? Want to reveal that secret? It's medical, so if that icks you out, don't open the box!

It was brought to my attention I forgot to feature the poll topic in a blog this week. Oops!! 🤯 Make sure you vote on your top 3 uses of the "Reveal the Truth" theme in the stories you read. I did have to split the titles across 2 questions, and you have to have at least one story picked in each, so if all 3 of your top choices are in 1 question/answer, please place your votes in a comment and I'll add them in at the end!

I had to look at this word because I have expected it to be one of those fancy flavored bubble waffles my daughter loves or something! Lol

Funny how polarizing that one question can be depending on the answer!! I am the opposite because I hate the flavor and smell of coffee. But I'm not a purist either way. I either drink white coffee (can't taste it) from Dutch Bros or hide Javy extract in my homemade hot cocoa mix if I need a caffeine fix. And if we're talking ice cream, when I ate it, I'd add a scoop of peanut butter to my vanilla and pour some orange juice on my chocolate. Maybe I'm mad too (or so I've been told, lol!)

Can you believe all the stories we've had this month, the authors we've had return, and the reading I've asked you to do? C'mon... it's good for you! A favorite series of GA readers more than a decade ago (I sometimes can't believe I've been here that long either) I hope you enjoyed reading Topher's story, Carter's Army. Check out his interview and what he has going on past and present with that and more! Make sure you share your thoughts below once you're done; maybe we can keep encouraging our Classic Authors to keep returning to GA! Chocolate or Vanilla? Neither, I’m a coffee purist. What’s something personal about you people might be surprised to know? Most people are surprised when I tell them I’m a dad. I kinda of adopted a foundling a while ago, and did my best to give him a home and stability. Most people assume being a gay man I wouldn’t be. I kinda like subverting expectations that way… plus half my grey hairs are his fault, and worth every one. What do you like to do when you’re not writing? Reading, I am a voracious reader, I churn through them. I was a teacher, a professor, so reading has been such a vital part of who I am. I got to share that love with my students, and there is nothing more enjoyable than finding a book that you can share. What’s one location you’d love to go to research for a story? I’ve gone to lots of places, and draw on them for stories. I’ve sailed seas, walked deserts, sat in Jungles. I’ve eaten a Big Mac outside Lenin’s tomb, crossed the Great Wall and climbed the peace tower. Been down under and up north, walked in mud huts, and through palaces. All of this travel is research. My favourite place is Hong Kong, never had a chance to write about that yet, but I will. What brought you to GA (originally and/or recently returning)? Myr invited me. He reached out and offered a home, and it has been a home. Recently I got a new pair of glasses, that allowed me to read again after nearly a year of eye surgeries and being unable to… I wanted to read a book on here, One of dkstories’s Do over books. That required logging in, and a converation with Wildone… and myr… and I realized I hadn’t put the last few chapters of a book I’d started on here… it was like Dominos falling. I reread one of my old books, disliked how it had gone, and decided to edit it, and next thing you know… I am writing Breach. What’s the best part of being an author? Knowing that I can hold a book with my name on it’s cover. Something that is truly mine that will be around after I am gone. Legacy. Do you have a favorite line or scene in Carter’s Army? The rink scene, where Andrew teaches Will to skate. I have always felt that scene to be witty, fun, and full of real emotions. There’s a magic on ice, and at least to the half of me that is Canadian, a genuine love for it. What about a favorite story in the overall series & why? Carter’s Shadow, and the West character. A departure from the rest of the series I wanted to write the Anti-stereotyical jock. He was already out to his parents, accepted for it. The trouble he was having wasn’t convincing anyone he was straight, it was convincing them he was gay. I loved the flip of the script. Peter and West’s interactions vibrate with tension that I’ve not had with others… maybe Luke and Scott from Return of the Sun… but no West was a unique soul on page. Hockey… personal sport you enjoy or just something you used for the plot? My first job was as a goal judge at a hockey rink. I sat behind the goal and watched to see if the puck went over the line. I was on track to becoming a hockey referee/official. In small town Canada life revolves around Hockey rinks. You played, you were a parent, or you worked there. I’ve grown around hockey players, dated so many of them. Loved a fair few of them, and been loved in return by them. Can you share something about your current or upcoming work with readers? After Breach, I am going to go one of three ways. 1. go back to my roots and write a simply little love story like Return of the Sun, of like Army. 2. Another thriller…. or 3. Well that’s the trick there, I might, and I am not trying to get readers hopes up, but I might open Book 6 of the Falcon Banner and finally finish it. But I cannot promise it, I am intimidated by the book, the series is so tight, so filled with it’s own lore that I am going to have to go over every book to figure out where to begin. I am suffering a bit from George RR Martin syndrome, stuck on the last book.

Yes. We do have stories with abuse and where bad things happen to characters. If you interpret that this is a positive that would be appalling. This is not a positive. I have added yet another warning to the story page, and the abuse and dark tags since I do not want people who are triggered to read this story. If you are triggered or it bothers you, obviously stop reading it. Please spend your time on GA to read something different. It's okay not to read every story in the event. It's okay not to read every story on GA.

This story is very borderline for GA, but what it brings to the conversation is what happens when teens feel like they hold a secret so overwhelming that when one adult knows and "gets them" that, despite knowing what is right and wrong in their own brain and core, bad things can happen. Normalizing bodies, attraction, all the spectrums of who we are and what we feel... in the right way is so vital to keep our kids protected. In this case, someone has failed Lucas because he's been left to fall prey to Morris who clearly knew to look for a marginalized, questioning youth who didn't have the right person to turn to in a safe way. This is one secret that can do a lot of harm.

Poster found the story

Sorry. I'm still recovering from the flu and up half the night coughing (I sleep upright on the couch). With the 24 stories (I love the participation, but WOW!) I just don't have that much function in me to draw it out as much as I have in the past. This way binge readers can hit them all up and slower readers can use their own pace. We'll still have plenty of time to read, and the poll won't be open/closed in a single day either, promise! I also put up that Discussion topic so readers can choose to talk there about the specific stories, so we can avoid spoilers here for slower readers who choose to savor the submissions!

FYI! I added in the post above, but for those who already read that, I've also added a Discussion topic on the Forums for when the blog isn't live/featured. @Valkyrie @drsawzall @CassieQ @Jack Poignet

I didn't want to put them out in dribs and drabs and then put older stories at a disadvantage when it comes to the poll (people tend to like/vote on what they last read). I'll give everyone this week to read and discuss, then next week (After I feature Topher's CSR!!) I'll post the poll for everyone to vote on their favorite story. This year we'll announce top 3 stories out of all 24 where readers most enjoyed the use of the theme (great idea, thanks @Valkyrie)

Readers!! Are you ready for the tea? Some juicy gossip? A horrific dark drama you cannot look away from? These tales are here just for you! It's the 2025 Secret Author Stories! Yes, they have been revealed... ahem, sort of! Our sneaky Secret Author has taken on posting to give you the thrill of enjoyment without knowing who wrote the story you will be voting for as your favorite! Feel free to speculate who wrote which story, but those participating author names won't be revealed until after the story poll (to be posted in a few days. Now: Discussion topic link can be found here!!) before readers get the challenge to pair up stories and authors in another fun game later! Remember to like, comment, and review! Authors!! If you notice some missing metadata, well... sometimes it might have given info away to readers, the system didn't have an exact match, or the info had to be narrowed down to fit within the system size/limits. BUT, if something (other than story text typos) is flat out wrong, please private message me (Cia) to get it fixed ASAP! You may, or may not, comment on/review your own story to throw off readers (oh, did I say that?) and you will get control back from our sneaky Secret Author later, but don't engage to reply/thank anyone now!! We're still keeping SOME secrets for a bit longer!

It should not have posted. It is not live yet. Please be patient!

Laptops are so much better than in the past. I have a 2nd monitor attached to my sit-to-stand desk, plus a lap table so I can decide where I want to be (sitting on the couch with it just on my lap or sitting/standing with a 2nd screen attached). I also go a step further and got mine with a micro SD port and reformat a larger SD card so it works like the C drive. Not only do I get more storage space, I reset the paths for the automatic downloads/files for my programs & essential documents/photos to that card instead. This way basically all the functions I commonly use for my laptop and essential files can be removed in a second and put in a new device if something happens to this one. Super helpful and reassuring for that info I don't want in cloud storage!

I *might* have a few more coming too!! 😉 Please be patient with methough. I woke up coughing yesterday with my asthma flaring and I have a fever and headache today.