Cia

This month I wanted to feature something that felt... substantial, and don't ask me why but I always tend to swing back to historical fiction when I'm warm and dealing with the swing of the seasons into summer. Probably because I was always running out of reading material as a kid on summer break and sneaking bodice ripper Harlequins and Louis L'Amour western paperbacks as a kid, lol! Now, I wouldn't put @Headstall's writing in either category, but I always enjoy his depth and dedication to the genre, so if you like western historical fiction at all, you should definitely give this long novel a chance! Length: 109,191 Description: Many men enjoyed the life and freedom of being a cowboy, but it wasn't an easy one in The Old West. The aches were many, but it was the loneliness that could wear a man down. Jubal was one of those who dreamed as he moved and protected cattle, and the day finally came he had enough money to buy his own piece of land. Fate, though, dealt him a terrible hand once again, taking everything from him and leaving him lost and alone. Was Lucas his savior, or just more trouble for a man who'd learned to trust no one? A reader said: Gary's colorful magic is clear to see in this perfect story of terror and happiness. With lots of love and many wonders to be found here in. With delicious description and dialogue which make this a story to fall in love with, I feel sure that if you read this amazing story you will love it too! ~Albert1434 If you want to spread the word about Headstall'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!

Copyright is yours legally even if you post under a pseudonym. I don't change it.

I hope you were able to take the chance to read the 5k short story, The Answer, that Wayne wrote back in 2020. The best part of the CSR (Can't Stop Reading) blog features is that I get to pick newer and older stories on the site to bring to readers who either loved the story the first time and are happy to read it again or newer members who might have missed some of the older works. Things are always changing so fast, just like people, but we love to keep these stories alive! Please make sure to share your thoughts below my interview with Wayne. Do you eat your fruits and vegetables? I do! I try hard to get my allotment of healthy stuff, particularly now that I'm fifty years old. I've found the best way for me is to make a shake first thing in the morning for breakfast. Just get it done. If you were an animal, what would you be? A spoiled house cat. 100%. What’s something personal about you people might be surprised to know? Hmm. Well, I am polyamorus. I have a husband and a boyfriend. The husband also has a boyfriend. It works for us. What brought you to GA? The search for quality storytelling above what Nifty offered. While Nifty is fine for porn, I wanted plot, progression, belivable scenarios, and good characterization. Also, GA became a fertile place for me to share my own work, and that has been such a great thing. If you were writing a book about your life, what would the title be? Running from Paradise. It'd be the story of why I left Kentucky, and how painful that was and continues to be. But some things are best left in the past, and that's Kentucky for me. When you write, is it post as you go passion or finish the story then edit and post? Both. I've done both. I'm currently posting as I write for my Engineer Benson story. My preference is to write a work completely and then post it after polishing thoroughly. With Engineer Benson, the post as I go method adds to the journal format it's in. The Answer includes a poem in your short story. You also have works of varying lengths. Does any style of writing (poetry, short story, novella, novel) call to you the most and why? I particularly enjoy novels. For a long time, The Answer was my only short story until I wrote Why Pride? Novels allow me the space to build characters, to make foreshadowing mean something and have an emotional punch, and to just tell the story I really want to tell. That said, The Answer pushed me. I had to do a lot with the space I'd allotted myself, which forced an efficiency in my writing I didn't know I could manage. As you were writing The Answer, did you feel more of a connection to the characters of Shawn or Ian? Ian. While I understood Shawn and could appreciate him and his ways, I relate more to Ian. I suppose that's a bit odd since I wrote it from Shawn's perspective, but if you'll notice, the poem the story is based on is from Ian's. I love that mirror too. If you were a character in the story, what do you think you’d say or do when Shawn’s struggling? Well, it depends. If I were one of his many discarded conquests, I'd probably feel that he deserved whatever struggles he experienced. But if I were looking through the eyes of Ian? Well … there may be someone here who has yet to read it, so I'll stop here. It’s been a while since you wrote anything for GA, have any new passions taken over? No. It's just the struggle to retain sanity in an uncertain world. When there's little currency left after spending all we've got on making it through the day, it's hard to make time for creativity. I'm slowly getting back to writing, though (Engineer Benson). And I've had two unpublished stories in process for quite some time. I'm not ready to let the world win, and I'll post another story at some point. First, though, I need to finish Engineer Benson. And I will. Thank you for the chance to talk about myself and my story a bit. The Answer was a great writing experience, and I hope new readers find and enjoy it.

Sorry it took me a bit to get to posting this for Wildone this morning, but the Weekly Wrap Up is finally here with the member stories added (my only job, whoops). Enjoy!

Did you catch Monday's feature of Black Swan's by Graeme? If you didn't see that, check it out now. Or just enjoy the excerpt below and then keep reading! Want to read more? Click here

This short story is a short story written long ago by Graeme (almost 20 years!) but it shouldn't be missed. Please take the time to read and review this series of snapshots, as he termed it, that fits right in with the theme I'm using to feature this month's stories! Length: 3,175 Description: Snapshots of lives as a young boy grows up, a young couple age, and an old man goes through his retirement. A reader said: No guarantees in life.😬 ~AlexLittel If you want to spread the word about Graeme'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!

It's sort of... always the same theme. I try to put a little twist of some sort on it that can be used in different ways but it's an expected event involving keeping and revealing secrets, lol. I think the fun part is that some authors use that "expected" to do or write something unexpected to pull the wool over the readers' eyes. Or... did I just reveal your hidden truth? 😶‍🌫️

For 2025, the Secret Author Contest theme is going to be "Reveal the Truth". Now... the only one you can reveal the truth to in real life is your beta/editor, but in the story there should be some link to the theme of revealing the truth in some way. A juicy secret that comes out, a bitter reveal that one doesn't want to believe, best friends that finally end up doing the horizontal tango and the betting pool reveals who won on how long it took them to get there? Authors, you decide how it plays out! Deadline: July 15th, 2025 General Process: Write the story in Word or Docs. EDIT it first! Then send via email to Cia (cia@gayauthors.org) or PM (please PM Cia if you email or share via Docs to make sure she got it). Stories will be posted via our Secret Author account. Games will be played! Guess the Author is always fun. We will also do "Favorite Use of Theme" this year. Do NOT reveal the truth! Stories will be returned to the authors and the winners of the Guess the Author (reader winner) & Favorite Use of Theme (Author winner) game will be revealed. Author Info: Stories must be between 1k - 30k in length. Stories will be posted as 1 chapter but can be separated with double space breaks/timeline jumps. Stories must adhere to all of GA's content & editing guidelines. Stories must have some use, even tangentially, of the theme "Reveal the Truth". Metadata needed Title: Description: Story Note: Chapter Note: Genre(s) (3 Max): Audience Rating: Tags (6 Max):

This month has featured quite a few stories already, with the Comicality Tribute Anthology, and I wanted to feature someone who isn't new to the site but who did write a story that I thought would have fit right into that theme as well. We have so many coming of age stories on GA where authors tackle those life changes that aren't easy regardless of what year or setting they occur in... just like The Answer by Wayne Gray. This slightly older story is a short story gem you should read and come back to comment on on the May Discussion day! I hope you will enjoy it. The Answer by @Wayne Gray Length: 5,848 Description: In his youth, Shawn passes through life as if it's an amusement park ride. Men come and go, all while his slightly judgmental friend, Ian, looks on. This is the story of Shawn dealing with the repercussions of his choices, and then him growing into his own life. A Reader said: Let's just say...it's definitely "Wayne's World"!! Amazing short story that hit all the right spots and showcased his excellent talents...and also the bonus of sharing a beautiful poem!!! Both were brilliantly done, thanks to you both!💯 ~ Onim Come back on the last Monday of the month, May 26th, to check out the Discussion day and share your thoughts!

He was definitely an iconic GA member that many many will forever miss. RIP, Comsie! ❤️

Thanks for commenting!! Lol, of course hurricanes should have read tornadoes. Total brain fart but then maybe my story is set ala a post-apocalyptic weather shift. I didn't set the year or actual Earth. Maybe San Andreas cracked off the whole real West and the Pacific ocean's temps changed and now we have a hurricane alley going east and west.... The best part of fiction is being able to play with reality to make the implausible become plausible.

Isolated “for his own good”, Judah is given no choice but to show up to the witch-be-damned ceremony on his fiftieth rebirthday. It wasn’t like he could run away. He’d daydreamed about showing up with messy punk rock hair in his torn jeans and a Def Leopard T-shirt, but that would probably just result in him being stripped naked. Not a look he wanted to sport for the awakening or what he feared came after. He'd heard them, wondering how they’d benefit from the miracle he was supposed to spread through the families. Would they be gifted his magic, his blood, or something even more sinister? And would Judah survive this supposed honor at all?

Fine, fine call me out in public! Yes, I'm a speed reader (no pharmaceutical assistance needed) and my hubby says that it's disturbing to watch because my eyes flick sideways too fast as I read across the pages. Lol Reading is my #1 relaxation, as it takes me away from everything else and I get to visit other worlds. Probably why I like sci-fi so much!! Thank you to everyone who continues to check out these features and give GA stories that might otherwise be missed a chance! 😍

If you didn't catch Monday's feature, check it out. I'm here to tempt you with a tidbit of the story text, and if you haven't already twigged to the fact that there's more to this story by the 1 in the title... there is! Nothing I like better than knowing I can start a story and keep going if I enjoy it. So what are you waiting for? Want to read more? Click here

Welcome to April's Signature Author Feature! I'm obviously featuring one of our Classic authors this month, and this oldie but goodie, might have escaped you. Dolores posted Space Pioneer 1 way back in 2014, so I wanted to bring it back now for your reading enjoyment. It features two of my favorite themes, Ancient Egypt and space! Length: 50,140 Description: On his trip to Mars, Jeff's shuttle gets dragged through space by an alien spaceship that is performing a space jump. The Daglon captain Lest takes Jeff on board of his ship and Jeff's journey through space begins. The crew chases Ezer Malk, who plans a space-time jump in order to steal Ancient Egypt artifacts from Earth. Lest is an outlaw and Jeff is lost in space. Will the two men get to know each other, will Lest come to terms with his past, and will Jeff find his place in the world? A reader said: I guess I should mention... I really had a great time reading your story. ~ Toast If you want to spread the word about Dolores' 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!

Just a quick note so I can mark this as answered, for anyone else who might also check this topic for Help info. All plagiarism checks are done on stories with the first chapter posted. No chapter = no content to check. Also, title, story, chapter content & author contact info have to match up. I have to be able to contact and have the posting on GA be verified by the author on the original site to ensure it's not plagiarized or have some very specific criteria met. This is all done to protect copyright and can extend the moderation queue approval process and timeline. Reaching out to me in a PM like LostSole did is always okay!

Did you manage to read this month's CSR Feature, In His Image, by ChromedOutCortex? It was very short, under 4k, so you can also go read it now! Be sure to share your thoughts on the story below, after you also check out my interview with this month's featured author! Chocolate or Vanilla? ** Vanilla, then you can pile on whatever you want. 🙂 If you were an animal, what would you be? ** Wild horse - they run free, not worried about what's around the corner, exploring their environment at their own pace. What’s one location you’d love to visit to research for a story? ** Great question; I haven't really thought about this as I'm so content where I am and travelling within the country. I'm close to my ex and our kids, my partner is close by -- it's really an ideal situation to be in. But if I had to go somewhere, I'd love to relocate to Canadas' West Coast. What’s something personal about you people might be surprised to know? ** Dad to two amazing adult kids (F18, M20). Also, I have an embarrassing memory from grade school that still makes me cringe. There was a popular, cute guy in school, and I could recognize him just by his backside. One day, I thought I’d strike up a conversation with him at the water fountain. I blurted out, ‘Save some water for the fish!’ He turned around—and it wasn’t him. I’ve never moved so fast in my life! What brought you to GA? ** I was posting on Reddit, but wanted to share my writing with more people and engage with them more. Reddit is great, so many people -- but like most social media, most are simply scrolling from one post to another. It's difficult to capture their attention. I also want to continually learn from other more established writers/authors and see what others are writing about. Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing? ** Ideas! There are lots around us, but taking one and putting it into words can be a challenge. Sometimes something comes to me in the middle of the night, and I force myself to get-up and write. Other times, I can stare at the screen for hours at one line an I'm a complete blank. The idea is in my head, I've planned it all out like watching a movie, but when I start writing... nothing comes out. What’s the best part of being an author? ** Being able to expose yourself, without exposing yourself. I've always felt that a writer (I find it so hard to call myself an author... am I an author? Imposter syndrome at its worst) writes about things important to them—about challenges they’ve faced and overcome, or maybe not overcome. I like to write about my own experiences, as well as the experiences of those I see around me, to provide an alternative perspective. When I read other stories, some are pure fiction or fantasy, but I often wonder how much of the author is in that story. What message are they trying to convey? What part of their soul did they pour into those words? It’s fascinating to think about, and it’s something I hope readers might ponder when they read my work. Sometimes in stories, you can see the message clearly, but other times you have to read between the lines—it’s complex. I think I like those types of stories best, the ones where you have to really think about the message. They stay with you long after you’ve finished reading, challenging you to reflect and see the world in a new way. What lead you to explore the angle of religious conflict with coming out in In His Image? ** I come from a "mixed religious family". We never really grew up with religion. My mom, sort-of practiced and some things just stuck with me over the years. As I thought more and more about my roots, I read more about others in similar situations, I wanted to explore how religion can shape your identity and your feelings. On one hand, you've been brought up with deep ties to your faith and community, but you're told to behave in a certain way because faith doesn't align with who you are -- but this causes an internal conflict with who you are. What do you do? Do you give up your religion? Do you learn to coexist? It's hard to do both, and it's also hard to do neither. Along with this you're trying to fit into society as a whole. Do you have a favorite scene or line from the story? ** Does God make broken people? Haven’t we been created in His image? Having gone through life doubting who I was (and sometimes, am—causes tremendous mental struggles), I remember hearing this from friends who were more religious than I ever was. While I always knew I was gay, I suppressed those feelings until I couldn’t. It’s a question that still lingers in my mind, a reflection of the internal conflict between faith (even though I was never religious), identity, and self-acceptance. Could you share anything about your current or upcoming work with readers? ** So many ideas! I'm working on a murder mystery, but it's slowly getting out of hand. Dozens of characters, world building, character building, several places within the world, trying to build an intricate web between characters and situations while maintaining some mystery about what it all means. Besides this, I'm trying to focus on shorter stories that are easy to read and perhaps allow the reader to pause and think about what they have and to cherish that. I wouldn't say that I am trying to moralize anything, but often we look past what we have and only realize it later in life.

Monday I featured an ad for Dodger's story, Pardon my Polari. Did you catch it? If that didn't get your interest, maybe this excerpt of the story written for the 2022 Anniversary Anthology will! Want to read more? Click here

Length: 12,647 Description: The story of Anthony Larkin, his struggle against injustice, and the evolution of gay rights in the UK. The characters in this story occasionally converse in Polari—a secret slang adopted by gay men in the UK during the fifties and sixties to evade prosecution. The Polari words are in italics, and translations are provided in the chapter end notes. A Reader said: A very realistic look back at one of the darker parts of UK history. There is humour, there is sadness, but above all there is realism. Well written and told, this should be a compulsory read. ~mancunian If you want to spread the word about Dodger'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!

For this longer month, I've actually chosen a short story for the CSR blog readers. I think sometimes the longer a month is, the more I feel the need to cram into my life, or the more I have going on, and the less I have time to just... be. That time to stop, reflect, and take stock of what is truly important is a huge part of In His Image by ChromedOutCortex. Please check it out and come back to share your thoughts at the end of the month! In His Image @ChromedOutCortex Length: 3,891 Description: In His Image is a short, introspective story about Ronald, a young man in his mid-20s, struggling with his faith, identity, and feelings for a male co-worker, Chris. Raised in a conservative religious family, Ronald faces confusion and shame as he grapples with his desires and beliefs. As his friendship with Chris deepens, he experiences a pivotal moment of emotional and physical intimacy, marking the start of his self-acceptance. The story ends with Ronald’s breakthrough, leaving the outcome open-ended for readers to imagine. A Reader Said: I identified with Ron all the way through the story. As someone you might label as “very religious” I found it true to life and quite beautiful; there was nothing offensive to me at all. Thanks for sharing this poignant journey ~ B Warner Come back on the last Monday of the month, March 31st to check out the Discussion day and share your thoughts!

Well, we are a terrifying bunch, like... never knowing if you're going to bite in and get the nasty orange creamcicle flavor.

We did!! When I was a little kid (think age 3-10 before he remarried) my dad would travel the 1.5 hours up to a truck stop to meet my mom's parents, who were long-haul truck drivers, and we'd always get a meal together at the Denny's they had at the stop. I have fond memories of the dark brown curved mugs with hot cocoa topped high with cold whipped cream and the claw machine in the lobby. That was a weird special circumstance, though. I can't think of a single time as a teen or adult that we were like... "Oh hey, you know what sounds good for dinner? Denny's!" LOL It's always been that we were super *ahem* partied out, and it was 2 AM. Where else do you go??