Cia

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.

It'll be a few days, as I am still getting submissions and the Secret Author needs to get it all posted properly. Remember, authors, please don't reveal that you've written a story or submitted one because those are parts of the secret games that we play for the event. You can't be revealed too soon! I plan to have everything going and the first reader polls starting next week.

Now let's see if more authors decide to send in a Secret Story!!

Still don't have it!!

Sooo close but not quite right! 🥵 But which one???

Nope, Nope, Nope!! Keep guessing!

That's it! Today's the day. Get your Secret Author Short Story in now!! Info on the contest is linked here. Readers, the games of picking who wrote a story, who wrote which story, and picking your favorite story are all coming! The first one, how many stories do you think were submitted, has resulted in a few guesses: 14, 10, ONE MILLION (HA!), 8, more than 7 (SOOO cheating!) Were any guesses right? Feel free to keep guessing! Actual numbers Cheater McCheater guesses will not result in a number reveal!

Nope and nope.

Anyone want to guess how many stories the Secret Author has to post now???