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Cia

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Blog Entries posted by Cia

  1. Cia
    I felt a bit of a kinship with this story, being as I like food challenge shows, and September happens to be my anniversary with August my birthday... and those often get mixed together due to hunting season, lol. Trust me, the story is FAR better as you learn the reason for all the candles! 

    Length: 1,813
    Description: What's better than one reason to celebrate? Two reasons. Victor and Peter will explain in an interview for the cooking blog Stirring the Pot why they decorated their cake with one hundred forty-five candles.
    A Reader Said: This is a nice slice-of-life story told through a podcast format with a lot of good character moments. It's an understated story with main characters, who have been through a lot, but they literally get their cake and eat it  
    (PS: I need to watch a few episodes of The Great British Bake Off now after reading this, thanks @Aditus for reminding me ) ~ W_L
    If you want to spread the word about Aditus'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

    September's CSR Feature: La Tombola by drsawzall

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    Welcome to September! The return to school and another year (work for me, boo!), the changing of the seasons for most of us, and life continues to march on for another month and we're that much closer to the end of another year. Where DOES the time go? Enjoy it here on Earth while it lasts, because it might not be forever, and then where would humans end up? (no more pumpkin spice, that's for sure!) Check out this month's CSR story by @drsawzall to see what he came up with!
    La Tombola
    by drsawzall
    Length: 38,375
    Description: Earth was dying, time had run out. In a fractured world cooperation was non-existent. A dedicated group humanity saw a way out and Operation Plymoth Plantation was born.  
    A reader said: This is a well written, unique take on sci-fi fantasy.  Or it's a character driven mystery.  Or it's an epic romance spanning decades.  It's all of these rolled into a tight, cohesive tale.  Regardless of your favorite genre, you won't be sorry you read this wonderful story. ~CincyKris
    Come back on the last Monday of the month, September 30th to check out the Discussion day and share your thoughts! 
  3. Cia

    Secret Author Story Contest Winners!

    By Cia,


    Anthologies
    Thank you to all the authors who participated in the contest! You make this whole event possible by sharing your stories with the Secret Author (that evil devil themself!) so we can play this fun game each year of guessing who wrote what. Our winners will both get 3 months free Premium membership.
    This year our theme was Secret, and I've kept the winner of the poll a secret until now. However, the favorite story of this event was.... 
    Hide and Seek by @kbois
    And, while it was a truly exhaustive list of those who commented, reviewed, and participated in the topics and polls, Random.org pulled from the HUGE list of names a single winner from our readers, and that winner is....
    @lucretiaseeks
     

  4. Cia

    Secret Author Stories... Revealed!

    By Cia,


    Anthologies
    That's right, at LONG last! I know you've been waiting so long, with bated breath... and yet, you gasp, knowing... you guessed... so WRONG! *cackles maniacally* Authors, you all did great keeping everyone guessing! 🕵🏻‍♂️Thank you so much for playing along with this contest and keeping the fun going for so long. It's been a blast. But yes, the Secret Authors have been unmasked, and now, your hard work must be revealed. Just click below, if you must know. 
    Revealed by randomized story listing (with author name then list number).  
    2, count them, 2 members tied for the most correct answers. The grand total... 5! Congratulations to chris191070 and BentedWreath!
    You have been awarded the coveted badge for connecting the most authors and stories correctly. 

     
    Next week I will reveal my Author & Member winners. I must go through the EXHAUSTIVE topic to see who all has been playing along, commenting, and reviewing to make sure I don't miss a single soul. Authors, your stories will be revealed under your names shortly so you can reply to your readers. Feel free to keep using the Secret Author Contest Talking Topic or here if you want to compare your guesses to the real authors! 
     
     
  5. Cia

    Secret Author Story Contest Quiz Time!

    By Cia,


    Anthologies
    Okay, readers... time to flex those thinking caps. Did you guess the Secret Author was... 😮me? That's right, me, Cia... I've been doing all the posting. That's just a HUGE shocker, huh?! 😋😆 There are far more authors behind the Secret Author, and I have a list of those and the stories for you to guess. I'm going to put that in the Secret Author Contest Talking Topic, just to keep it all in one place. We'll also have a poll next week for you to vote on your favorite story. Keep an eye on the topic & blogs for announcements. 
    Remember, guessing gets you an entry to win our Secret Author Contest AND you can win a custom profile badge! 
     
  6. Cia

    Secret Author Contest Updates...

    By Cia,


    Announcements
    Edit to add: My organizational skills failed and missed there were 2 unpublished stories, not one! But that just means you have one more to go on Wednesday! 
    Hey Secret Author Contest fans! I know you're eager for details, and there have been so many secret stories revealed. Guess what, there's just one more to come tomorrow! First off, let's check again for the stories that have been posted aren't secret. Tomorrow, you will get the last story. Then keep an eye on the Secret Author Story Talking Topic for the poll for your favorite story AND the list of authors and stories for your matching quiz this week! 
    Keep up with the comments & reviews, plus all the fun in the Talking Topic! 
     
  7. Cia
    Well, I know everyone has been enjoying these stories our Secret Author is posting... Way to go on the comments and reviews!! And the Secret Author Contest Talking Topic is going strong too! Are you having fun guessing who wrote what? *cackles* 
    Let's see what has posted so far! 
    As, always, keep chatting on our talking topic too! We still have more stories to come, but after they are all posted I will share a list of all the story titles and the author names for members (authors can play too!) to guess who wrote which story. We will have a badge for whoever gets the most right!! 
     
  8. Cia

    July CSR Feature: Sneakin by penguinsrgay

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    So... clearly I was not good at Sneakin... because last month I failed to get the CSR out on time! Luckily this month penginsrgay answered some questions for me. Did you read this story about someone else not so good at sneaking around? Share your thoughts below!
    Q: Do you eat your fruits and vegetables?
    A: Religiously!
    Q: If you were an animal, what would you be?
    A: Next!
    Q: What’s one location you’d love to go to research for a story?
    A: Probably China. I've met a few gay Chinese men irl. They have a lot to say about different it is to be gay there, for better and worse.
    Q: What’s something personal about you people might be surprised to know?
    A: I am rather physically strong
    Q: What brought you to GA?
    A: I was talking about nifty in a forum and another writer suggested that I post here.
    Q: What is your favorite story you’ve ever written & why?
    A: I love all my stories for different reasons. The one I love most at any given time is the one I'm writing. Sometimes I'm tempted to write a sequel to Sneakin. I have some loose exercises and a half of a chapter I'm not really satisfied with. I'm starting a new career so I have not had much time for writing, at least not in a very serious way, but once things settle down I'm hoping I will get much more prolific here.
    Let's see what readers thought about Sneakin... 
     The flow had captured me and I want to read it start-to-finish in one sitting. Such sophisticated storytelling. Following you @penguinsrgay so I won’t miss anything else you share. ~Dan South
    This was fun. I especially like the protagonist's snarcasm. I'm glad to see the subtle art of mixing snark and sarcasm is still being practiced. ~James Savik
    OMG, too funny...  I distinctly remember being less drama filled at that age.  ~ centexhairysub
     
  9. Cia
    Okay, there's no secret around the deadline! Today's the last day to send me your submission for the Secret Author Story Contest. The theme is "Hidden". For readers, I hope you're ready! Authors, remember, don't share that you're in on the contest quite yet!!

    One story will be posted each day by our "Secret Author" until all of them have been posted. Please like, comment, and review!
    A topic will be started for readers to share their thoughts on who wrote each story. 
    After each story has been posted, the names of all the authors who participated will be revealed, and we'll see who can do the best to pair up author and story titles! 
    We'll have a poll for readers to vote on their favorite story. 
    FINALLY! One reader who comments, reviews, and participates in the contest topic will be randomly selected along with one of the participating authors to win Premium Membership. 
    Now who's ready for some excellent stories?
  10. Cia

    Secret Author Stories Kickoff!!

    By Cia,


    Anthologies
    That's right! Get your spy glasses, red herring hunting, secret revealing blacklights on (okay, maybe not that... who knows what you'll see?!!) 🫢But today is the kickoff for the Secret Author Story Contest Stories. One will be posted per day until they've all been revealed... but the authors are still hidden. Just who wrote these stories?!  
    Read today's kick off story here or find each day's new story featured in the Stories tab. 
     
     
    Discuss your thoughts (after you read, like, comment, and review!) in the contest topic!
     
     
  12. Cia
    Well, it's July... and what's more fitting than a Christmas in July feature? I couldn't think of anything, so that's what you get! This month I'm bringing you a story that's really a series of stories written by Valkyrie (along with Aditus) that you should read now if you're craving a little holiday cheer. 

    Length: 14,024
    Description: Gabe Murray is on a mission to deliver holiday cheer on behalf of a mysterious benefactor.  We'd tell you who it is, but that's confidential.  
    A Reader Said: You get 5 stars and a hug from me! May all your holiday's bring us happy stories and poems to us all the time! It doesn't have to be a holiday though to read your awesome stories! ~ Sherye Story Reader
     
    If you want to spread the word about Valkyrie'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!
  13. Cia

    June Signature Excerpt: Spirit of Fire by Stellar

    By Cia,


    Signature Feature
    Did you catch Monday's feature of Stellar's story, Spirit of Fire? If you love fantasy, Stellar never disappoints with his stories. If you are daunted by the large word count... well that's just more to love! Check out this excerpt below; it's just one example!
    Want to read more? Click here.
  14. Cia

    June Signature Feature: Spirit of Fire by Stellar

    By Cia,


    Signature Feature
    For some June is a month where it heats up, others it's a month of change... so this story is perfect! Then again, those are just a few tidbits on the surface, and if you've ever read a novel by Stellar, you know there's so much more underneath. Why not sink into this LONG story posted a few years ago?

    Length: 196,536
    Description: With a life that is almost painfully normal and unremarkable, 16 year old Torsten has no reason to believe in anything out of the ordinary. Then, a series of cryptic events throws him beyond the boring familiarity that he knows, into the mystery and magic of reality unmasked.
    A Reader Said: I have been eagerly following this story from the start, waiting for a new chapter to be uploaded as soon as I read the one just uploaded.
    The plot, characters, lore and writing are delightfully stellar (pun intended). This story just left me feeling the void left behind, like those you get after reading a fantastic book.
    This is an absolute must read for fans of the fantasy genre. ~Avaloch
     
    If you want to spread the word about Stellar'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

    June CSR Feature: Sneakin by penguinsrgay

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    So... why not throw another curveball at you? Plus I really chuckled at the username. This recently finished short story is by a newer author to GA but comes with a high recommendation in its only review... lets get some extra comments and reviews on the story this month! 
    Sneakin
    by @penguinsrgay
    Length: 14,472
    Description: A delinquent sneaks out of his home to go shoplifting. 
    A Reader said: I opened this and started reading it 40 days ago when it posted. It’s taken me so long to finish it because every time I picked back up I had to start from the beginning again. Not because I’d forgotten the storyline…it’s not forgettable.
     The flow had captured me and I want to read it start-to-finish in one sitting. Such sophisticated storytelling. Following you @penguinsrgay so I won’t miss anything else you share.
    Come back on the last Monday of the month, June 24th to check out the Discussion day and share your thoughts! 
  16. Cia

    May CSR Discussion Day: Deeds of Their Past by mcarss

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    Did you read Deeds of Their Past by @mcarss for our Can't Stop Reading, or CSR, Blog Feature for May? This story has magic, foul deeds, and a few twists and turns to keep readers guessing. What did you think? Share your thoughts in a comment below the author interview! 
    If you were an animal, what would you be?
    Most certainly a bird. I love all birds, but especially hold a deep affection for corvids. More than once, I've considered befriending a murder of crows. The idea of having them follow me around on my morning walks brings a mischievous smile to my face, but I've no doubt the noise would anger my neighbours.
    What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
    Creating music is a lifelong passion (I've released 70+ albums) and recently became my full-time career. Working for oneself without dealing with clients has been remarkably freeing. It's also provided me with ample free time to write stories on a regular basis. Bonus!
    Gaming fills my free time as well. Currently, I'm playing Baldur's Gate 3 (fantasy RPGs are my favourite), Helldivers 2 and Warhammer 40,000: Darktide (shoot the baddies with friends online), and Watch Dogs: Legion (generic Ubisoft fare that some people dislike, but I enjoy its simplicity.)
    What’s one location you’d love to go to research for a story?
    Given my love of the medieval European fantasy trope, I've always wanted to visit Scotland, especially the northern highlands. The rugged beauty of Scotland and the ancient architecture of its castles fascinate me to no end. With so many having been converted to hotels and B&Bs, the idea of sleeping within the walls of a place with such a long and rich history provokes a thrill I struggle to express in words. I know visiting these places would inspire me greatly.
    What brought you to GA?
    Despite being a member since 2011, my account lay dormant until early this year (2024). When I originally discovered GA, I was amazed by the depth and breadth of the stories shared, as well as the active community. I'd tucked the link into my favourites, and then forgot about it entirely. Oops.
    Upon discovering the link again years later, I realized it could be a perfect place to post my novels. Sure, they'd been available on Amazon and all the other platforms, but being an unknown, amateur author meant my stories had fallen into obscurity. In any case, I'd never written a word with the prospect of making money. All I hoped was to find an audience that would enjoy what I'd written.
    The GA community has left me humbled by their enthusiasm for my work. No amount of thanks can express how accepted I feel here, but thank you all the same.
    Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
    Oh boy, where do I start?
    As I mentioned earlier, I'm a musician. For me, it's easier to express emotion and mood with music rather than prose. Countless times, I find myself grasping for the right word or phrase to express what's in my head. I think setting a scene is the most difficult task for me—having descriptions sweep across the page, painting an image in the reader's mind. On a technical level, sentence structure and flow are other aspects that always need attention.
    What is your favorite genre to write?
    In case it wasn't obvious by this point, the fantasy genre is my favourite for reading and writing.
    Do you prefer to avoid tropes in fantasy or lean into one or more to make it easier for readers to sink into the story?
    Tropes exist for a reason. People, myself included, enjoy them. I don't consider myself clever enough to put an original spin on a common theme, so I'll leave that to more creative authors to tackle. I certainly appreciate readers who are tired of hackneyed plot devices, thirsty for something original. In that case, I'm not the author for them.
    How did you come up with the names for the characters and places in Deeds of their Past (imagination, generator website, writing books)?
    Brohm's name was inspired by a piece of art I liked from the mid 00s. The title was: Brom the Butcher (I added the 'h' to Brohm's name) and features a surly bugbear/hobgoblin wielding a giant cleaver. Unfortunately, I can't find the source anywhere, nor do I know the artist's name. It's been over a decade since writing Deeds, so I can't recall everything clearly, but I know I used name generators to help in the creation of other characters.
    Locations were gleaned from lists of old towns and hamlets in Europe.
    Early in the writing process, I needed a map to keep track of Nathan and Brohm's travels. I found some royalty-free map assets and built one in Photoshop. It's viewable on the story's main page.
    Do you have a favorite scene in the story?
    Not a scene per se, but a segment of the story where, for the first time, the two protagonists (Nathan and Brohm) have a moment to breathe. Chapters nine and ten give them time to discover each other, and in turn, the reader learns more about them.
    Can you share a little of your current or upcoming work with readers?
    I'm very close to completing the first draft of The Roaming Sea.
    The story follows a young army medic, Callum, doing his part in a century's long war between humans and pactrids (giant elephantmen.) He finds himself tossed behind enemy lines, captured, and interrogated. His captor, however, tells a very different story as to why they're warring. Callum can't decide if it's the truth, or deceit to turn him against his own kind.
    I hope to have it available by the end of the year, and you can be sure that it'll be available on GA first before I publish it elsewhere.
  18. Cia
    This month I thought I'd feature something light with variety... like my weather today as I set up this blog which has been hail, rain, sun, rain, clouds, sun, rain, sun, sun, sun... seriously?! I hope you will enjoy @Parker Owens options a lot more! 

    Length: 2,774
    Description: A collection of poems for NaPoWriMo 2024.
    A reader said:  You sure know how to paint a picture. ~weinerdog
     
    If you want to spread the word about Parker Owen's submission, 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!
  19. Cia
    That's right, it's finally here! Our fun summer writing event, the Secret Author Short Story Contest! Rules remain very much the same: You cannot reveal your story to any beyond your beta/editing team. Your story must be hidden. And that's our THEME! "Hidden" What is hidden or who, how, when, where... or even why, that's up to you! 

    Deadline to submit stories: July 24, 2024
    Submit to: Cia
    General Rules
    One story per author Don't share your story idea, work in progress, or completed work with anyone but your team Your story must be "new content" to remain anonymous (not set in previous series or world) Allowed story length: 3,000 to 30,000 words Chapters: 1 Story Chapter posted to GA (you can use ** or a double line break to indicate scene and timeline jumps). Send Format: Word or Google Doc (PM Cia if you share via Google Docs, please!) Submission Deadline: July 24, 2024 Metadata needed
    Title: 
    Description:
    Story Note: 
    Chapter Note: 
    Genre(s) (3 Max):
    Audience Rating: 
    Tags (6 Max): 
     
  20. Cia

    May CSR Feature: Deeds of Their Past by mcarss

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    I've been featuring short stories lately, I thought I'd give you all something to sink your teeth into. Read outside in the sunshine or inside away from the torrential rain (if it's anything like it is here in Washington right now!) but come back on Monday, May 27th to share your thoughts! 
    Deeds of Their Past
    by @mcarss
    Length: 66,950
    Description: Nathan—a man who lives life in shadow and solitude—finds himself hunted due to an old assignment. While awaiting his execution, he crosses paths with a towering brute, forming a powerful bond of friendship, loyalty, and love. Alone, they struggle to stay ahead of their fate, but together find the strength to escape the deeds of their past.
    A Reader Said: You will like this story if you stick with it. There are some twists and turns and enough terrible situations that you cannot be certain of the conclusion and who will survive. Magic fouls things up and might contrubute to a solution if things work out. You will enjoy the fighting skills, bravery, ability to spring back, good and bad luck, friendship and evolving  love. Brohm and Nathan find out who they can depend upon. ~akascrubber
  21. Cia

    April CSR Discussion Day: The Big Empty by James Savik

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    Today we're looking at a story that looks upward and outward to all that unknown in space. Did you read James's take on the big black? Share your thoughts below after you enjoy this interview. 
    Who was the real villain, ACME or Wile E. Coyote?
    The Roadrunner. He was a smart ass.
    If you were an animal, what would you be?
    A Tomcat because we like the same things.
    What’s one location you’d love to go to research for a story?
    I’d love to travel in the South Pacific: Australia, the Philippines, etc.
    What's your favorite room in your home? Do you plot or write there?
    My office is where all the magic happens. (Damn catchphrase)
    Do you have a favorite genre to write?
    Sci-fi is fun, but it is hard to write. I grew up watching old Trek and wanted to build some of their gadgets.
    I write gay drama because when and where I grew up, it was fairly dramatic.
    When you write sci-fi, what is your favorite part of dabbling in that genre?
    How do they do that? What’s a reasonable way to do something that seems like magic? There have been countless inventions that started out as sci-fi until some bright lad figured out how to do it. Many of those bright lads started in a garage.
    What inspired The Big Empty?
    Most sci-fi seems to be set on military ships. Good old NCC-1701 was a Constellation class heavy cruiser – heavy metal. What about the merchant sailors? Any space-spanning civilization is going to have them, and they’re going to have adventures, too. The poor crew had the misfortune of running into a cosmic horror, but most of them lived to tell the tale.
    So much of space scifi revolves around the local ‘cantina/bar’. Do you think beer or something more… distilled would be the common drink on stations in space? What would be your drink of choice?
    If aliens got to know us, they would be horrified that we drank alcohol and enjoyed sodium chloride and capsaicin (salt & pepper) in our foods. Given the chemistry, those substances are probably deadly toxins to some species.
    I think they look at us and say, Oh no, no, no! Leave those monkeys alone. They Cray-cray.
    I doubt we’ll be sharing drink recipes, but there’s got to be Scotch.
    Do you have a favorite line or part of The Big Empty?
    No one specific line. The Big Empty’s magic was its ambiance and tone. Interstellar space, with an average density of just a few atoms per cubic meter, really is empty.  Except when it is not, and there are objects that wander for millions of years out there. Humanizing it and putting it in the familiar context of sailors doing their jobs came off better than I thought.
    Can you share something of your current or upcoming work with readers?
    I’ve got a sports story in the oven called 5 Star. A shy, fairly innocent Five Star quarterback prospect from a hick town shows up at a fictitious university in the South people are familiar with only because they see them on TV getting whipped by the football powerhouses.
    From 5 Star:
    After meeting about a thousand people and shaking at least that many hands, Hunter accepted an invitation to visit the KA House. It was a big, rambling, old Southern Mansion with a rolling party with plenty of eye candy.
    The KAs' reputation was summed up by their nickname, the Knights of Alcohol, and there was plenty of booze going around. To Hunter’s surprise, he shook Mr. 5-star freshman QB Aaron Blake’s hand.
    Hunter said, “You threw for four touchdowns against us at Centerville.”
    “Did you play?”
    Hunter said, “I was out for the year by that game. Given how you torched our secondary, it was probably for the best. I think I spent more time recovering from football than actually playing it.”
    Aaron said, “Sometimes it’s like that. It’s good to hear a familiar accent.”
    “I noticed you aren’t drinking,” Hunter probed.
    Aaron nodded. “Neither are you. There’s a time and place for everything. I’d rather people’s first impression of me not be that of a drunken idiot.”
    Hunter grinned, bumped Aaron’s knuckles, and said, “I heard you were smart.”
    Aaron beamed and said, “Thanks.”
    During the party, Aaron and Hunter hung out together several times. To Hunter’s amazement, he left with Mr. 5-Star’s number in his phone.
     
     
  23. Cia
    April, such an innocent month. Not a whole lot going on... so I thought I thought I'd send you curveball. Enjoy this little tidbit and think about what might be coming out of YOUR woodwork.  

    Length: 3,121
    Description: Dave Harrison is late for work, again. Turns out, that's by far the least of his worries.
    A Reader said: If you like creepy mixed with humor, 'Incy Wincy Spider,' is the story for you. Don't be fooled by the title, because this tale is far from the well known nursery rhyme involving water spouts, and rainfall.
     
    If you want to spread the word about northie'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!
  24. Cia

    April CSR Feature: The Big Empty by James Savik

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    I'm featuring one of my favorite genres this month because I'm on spring break right now (woot!) and it's all about indulging myself. Why don't you join me, even if you're not on break? This is a short hour's read, c'mon... live a little, if you dare! 
    The Big Empty
    by @JamesSavik
    Length: 3,251
    Description: Spacers, like sailors before them, pass vast distances to get between stars. Like sailors before them, they have their stories.
    Spacers call it the Big Empty- or interstellar space, that vast emptiness between stars. There is nothing out there for light years in every direction... until you do find something.
    A reader said: Wonderful short story with Lovcraftian overtones [in a good way]. ~Fae Briona
    Don't forget to come back to share your comments on Monday, April 29th. 
  25. Cia

    March CSR Discussion Day: Running Far Afield by Libby Drew

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    This month's CSR author was Libby Drew, an author who has been a Signature Author on GA for a very long time, sharing her work with readers here for our enjoyment. Did you like reading Running Far Afield? Share your thoughts below! But first... the interview!
    Are you a person who makes their bed in the morning, or do you not see much point?
    I make the bed strictly so the dogs won’t get their muddy paws on my clean sheets. If I’m in a hurry, I just throw a blanket over the whole thing and call it good. 
    If you were an animal, what would you be?
    A house cat. I’ve come to believe that all domesticated felines understand some great mysterious truth that we humans aren’t privy to, and I desire this knowledge. 😁
    What's your favorite room in your house? Do you plot or write there?
    My living room. It has a wall of windows and tons of natural light. There’s also a huge squishy couch. I write there often, usually with my three Brittany spaniels in attendance. They’re good listeners. 
    I plot everywhere. At all hours, in all environments. Mostly, by the time I sit down to write a scene (in my living room with my dogs), it’s been entirely fleshed out, down to what the characters are seeing, hearing, smelling, saying, and, especially, feeling. This conceptualization is imperative for me. If I don’t have an emotional grasp of the scene when it comes time to write it, my narrative comes across as flat and ineffectual. 
    What do you like to do when you’re not writing? 
    What do I like to do, or what do I do? I would love to enjoy the new Tana French novel and perfect my peach scone recipe. Usually, though, if I’m not writing for pleasure, I’m at work or writing for work. Because that’s what pays the bills.
    What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What has been the best compliment? 
    An editor whom I greatly respect once told me, after reading my new manuscript, that it felt to her like I’d phoned it in. She wasn’t wrong. I had low enthusiasm for the project and never should have accepted it. I hated myself for letting her down. 
    The best compliment is always, without a doubt, when a reader tells me they continue to think about a story and its characters long after they have finished reading. That’s extremely gratifying.
    How many books/stories have you written? Which is your favorite?
    This question required some research. I have written seventeen novels, nine novellas and twenty-three short stories—give or take. Other works have been lost to time and circumstance. My favorite is always the one I am currently working on. Rather like a new crush.  
    Did the characters (Aaron/Chris) come to you first or the plot of Running Far Afield?
    Chris and Aaron (names changed for privacy purposes) were real boys. They are now grown men. Their story is based on actual events. The home for youth depicted in Running Far Afield exists in my hometown, and I have done work there. I was so impressed by Chris and Aaron’s wherewithal, strength of feelings, and maturity that I wrote their story.  
    You nailed the angst of new beginnings… did you ever move as a teenager?
    No, actually. But I worked with many young people who dealt with that sort of upheaval. 
    Do you have a favorite part or line in the story?
    The part that makes me proudest is at the end when Aaron turns the tables on his father. “Success is all about negotiation” is a sword that cuts both ways. But my favorite part is probably when the boys are discussing the mythology of Danae. 
    Can you share a little of your current or upcoming work with readers?
    I’m working on the anthology story for GA, and I hope to have it ready by the due date.  It’s still in the outlining phase, so nothing to share at this time… but maybe later?
    Thank you, Cia, for the opportunity to share my answers!
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