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Cia

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  1. Cia

    Secret Author Story Contest Kick Off!

    By Cia,


    Anthologies
    It's no longer a secret that 11 authors took up the challenge for the Secret Author Story Contest! From today, July 4th through July 14th, a new story will post each day and readers can enjoy these great stories with the theme "secret". Don't forget to like, comment, and review as the stories will revert back to authors once the contest ends. 
    Voting for your favorite story happens on Tuesday, July 18th through Monday, July 24th, so remember, through this whole time...

    Tuesday, July 25th is our big winner reveal! One author will win custom advertising on GA, either for a story of their choice or themselves as an author and one reader who voted will win 3 months free Premium access! Thursday, July 27th, we'll do a blog look back over the whole contest and make sure you get a chance to see what stories were written by what favorite GA author.
    Click on our Secret Author below (image) to visit the story listing or follow the profile to get notifications on all the stories.

  2. Cia

    June CSR Discussion Day: Geeks by CassieQ

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    Delayed a bit, but worth the wait! I laughed out loud a few times, gasped at least once (too many books, no such thing!) and thoroughly enjoyed both CassieQ's story Geeks and her interview answers. Please make sure you leave your comments below for her to share your thoughts too!
    Who was the real villain, ACME or Wile E. Coyote? 
    ACME.  Coyote is just trying to eat.  ACME looks like they supply terrorists.
    If you were an animal, what would you be? 
    Probably a cat.  I excel at lounging around and sleeping all day and have manic bursts of energy around midnight.
    What’s one location you’d love to go to research for a story? 
    France.  I’m learning the language (very slowly) but it just looks amazing and like the perfect setting for a romance.  I also would have loved to be able to visit the Rocky Mountains for research on being trapped in the mountains (news flash:  it sucks), but alas, I had to stick with my Appalachians. 
    If you were writing a book about your life, what would the title be? 
    Too Many Books.  Seriously.  They’re taking over my house.  I need an intervention or something.
    Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing? 
    I’m a pantser and very character focused.  There are parts of my writing where I have to think a lot about plot and plan those things out and I hate every second of it.  Avoiding distractions is a struggle as well.  I try to circumvent some of it by going to the library when I can instead of writing at home. 
    Is your writing process a daily word count goal or more of a burst of inspiration writing flurry? 
    Closer to a flurry.  I write when I want to and while setting a daily habit is a great, having a daily word count goal doesn’t work for me.  It’s too much pressure and I don’t want to sit and grind out words that don’t matter to me just to fill a preconceived quota.  It’s a hobby for me, not a job. 
    You said Geeks was your most popular story, but what has been your favorite to write and why? 
    It’s not my best writing, but I loved writing Reach.  Reach and Not The Sun were some of the first stories where I got to do some world-building and be really creative and I enjoy that.
    Anime is featured in Geeks, so I have to ask, do you like anime and what would you recommend (read, watch, write, etc…)? 
    When I was growing up in the 90s, we had very few options of anime, it was Sailor Moon, DragonBall Z and whatever the Sci-Fi channel was featuring on Saturday Anime.  I don’t care how cringey Sailor Moon was, I will STILL watch it today.  I’ve tried a few current shows, but I’ve not really gotten into anything that has been recommended to me, except for Miyazaki’s works, which are the shit.  If you haven’t seen Princess Mononoke or Spirited Away, please watch them.  You won’t be sorry.
    Can you sum up Geeks in one sentence?  
    Yes.  Anime, Star Wars and lot and lots of sex. 
    What can you share about your current story or an upcoming story with readers? 
    I have a multi-book project currently titled Hazardous that is sitting at a very robust 128,000 words at the moment.  I was hoping to have it wrapped up by 150,000 but that is looking highly unlikely at this point.  I do have hopes that I’ll finish it this year.  It’s currently in the beta reading process, but I have yet to find an editor, in case anyone is interested.  I wanted to go back to my fantasy roots, and this features new worlds, adventures, friendship, fighting and a little bit of sex.  My former beta reader had a thing for catboys, so it has that too.  It’s gonna be wild.    
  3. Cia
    Do you have a good story idea? Are you interested in writing for the Secret Author Story Contest where readers will vote on the Secret Author stories to determine the best of the bunch? 
    STOP! Shhh! Don't tell anyone because it's a secret! 
    The deadline is this Saturday, July 1st!!  Time's running out, but you still have a few more days. If you haven't sent in your story, get it to me (Cia) fast!! Review the contest info here and please, please...

  5. Cia
    June and halfway through the year. I don't know about you, but I truly believe that entire ages have come and gone in 2023 so far. I thought this story, Dawn of Day by Dolores Esteban was intriguing when I read it in the past and so fits how I feel about June so far. What do you think? 

    Length: 40,080
    Description: A gravitational wave sweeps the USS Explorer to the star system 55 Cancri. The crew detects a deserted alien airport on a planet in the habitable zone. The planet, however, is not deserted. A young native and a stranded alien crew spots the arrival of the spaceship from Earth. Unsettling events follow. Will the humans ever return to Earth?
    A Reader said: What happens when an accident send a spaceship with a crew of three earth men on an unplanned trip through time and space? We see how they interact with a more primitive society and a more advanced alien flight crew. Ms. Esteban imagines interesting and some times unexpected interactions between the three groups. I enjoyed reading this story and found it was a thoughtful look at trying to get along. ~ JeffreyL
     
    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!
     
     
  6. Cia

    June CSR Feature: Geeks by CassieQ

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    Light-hearted, love is just the right mix for the Pride month CSR, and I wanted to feature one of our long-term Signature authors on GA too! What better mix of the two than Geeks by CassieQ! 
    Geeks
    by @CassieQ
    Length: 69,166
    Description: A shy Star Wars geek love falls in love with an outgoing anime geek. As friends, family and old flames get in the way, will the two find a way to make it work?
    A Reader Said: Such a cute story, mikeal is beyond adorable and adam is such a stud. 
    A tale about overcoming obstacles while trying to build a lasting relationship with the boy you love. Very heartwarming with lots of smoldering sex scenes 😍🥵 you won't be able to put this one down.  ~ SnowBear
    Don't forget to come back and share your thoughts on Monday, June 26th!
  7. Cia

    May CSR Discussion Day: Dejection and Hope by Demiurge

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    Did you read Demiurge's story, Dejection and Hope that was featured for this month's CSR? What did you think? Or you can share your thoughts on Demiurge's responses to my interview questions as I dared to let us all get to know them!! 🫣
    Well, first (From Demi):

    Chocolate or Vanilla?
    Neither.
    What’s something personal about you people might be surprised to know?
    I’m an emergency dispatcher.
    What something you like to do when you’re not writing?
    I really enjoy hiking. Specifically in state/national parks with my partner.
    What brought you to GA?
    I came to read originally and then liquid courage persuaded me to post my writing.
    Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
    I hate writing dialogue. I get taken out of a story if the characters I’m reading don’t make me feel something or are difficult to relate to. I feel like dialogue can make or break you and so I struggle to make it sound, “real”.
    How many stories have you written? Do you have a favorite?
    A lot. A metric eff ton. My favorite is a current work in progress that hasn’t made it to the site yet, but hopefully will soon!
    What about sharing your favorite scene in Dejection and Hope?
    My favorite scene, without giving too much away, is a wildly domestic moment between my characters that leads to a slightly traumatizing epiphany for Seth.
    Many authors write pieces of themselves or those they know into their characters. Do you connect with Noah or Seth, or with one more than the other?
    There are bits and pieces of me interwoven into both. This was really the first thing I wrote where I found myself in my characters’ reactions and mannerisms. Dejection and Hope lead to I Hate This town where one of my characters has some of the same mental health struggles/thought processes
    This is vitally important: What is the best add-in to ramen, either on or off a budget?
    Why is this the hardest question? Chasu pork…or yuzu….or chili oil.
    Can you share more of your current or upcoming work with readers?
    My current goal is to finish my fantasy trilogy. After that I have characters from, I Hate This Town that are getting a spin off. I normally have a few things working at once and I’d also really want to branch out into the horror theme.
  9. Cia
    May came in like a scorcher here, and I felt like a vampire hiding from the wicked, evil sun (more than usual). In this story, Zombies Like Us, by Dodger one character doesn't even have to try when it comes to creating his costume... and he's got plans for a select few. I liked this short story shared in one of our anthologies back when I first read it, and I hope you'll like it now too! 

    Length: 10,930
    Description: Jody doesn’t need to dress up for Halloween, he’s already a zombie thanks to his ex-boyfriend who has left him for a woman. When he’s invited to the bachelor party though, he turns up prepared and ready to take revenge!
    A Reader Said:  I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It's about love, loss, and pain with a lot of humor mixed in. ~ Lisa
     
    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!
  10. Cia

    May CSR Feature: Dejection and Hope by Demiurge

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    Well May's a nice, loooong month, so you get a nice looong story. Let's see if you can get past the urge to just keep reading. I know I started to check which story I wanted to feature, and once I read chapter one, before I knew it I was on chapter ten... so I knew this was it! 
    Dejection and Hope
    by @Demiurge
    Length: 129,052
    Description: All Seth wanted was ramen. A small, androgynous, blond was not on his shopping list. Nor was an outspoken new friend and therapy. He’d obviously turned down a wrong aisle somewhere.
    Noah has a great best friend, a great job, an okay car, and an awesome apartment. Things are great. Except he’s watching his life from inside the closet. Also, he has…eclectic tastes. Most of which involve lace and silk. He didn’t mean to take “niche” and run with it.
    Will the closet door open? Will everyone accept Noah? Most importantly, will Seth get his ramen?
    A reader said: So worth the read! ~ leeoeder
    Don't forget to come back and share your thoughts on Monday, May 29th!
  11. Cia

    April CSR Discussion Day: A Love to Last by vanalas

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    April showers bring... May showers, at least where I live! How about you? If you've been stuck indoors, maybe you checked out this month's looong featured CSR story, A Love to Last? Or it'll be this week's evening entertainment of choice after this interview with the author, vanalas! (Or maybe you might pick another of vanalas' stories!)
    Q: Are you a person who makes their bed in the morning, or do you not see much point?
    A: It depends with my mood. There are mornings when I wake up and want to be responsible and other morning when a demon of laziness possesses me lol
    Q: If you were an animal, what would you be?
    A: Definitely a cat. I like to be a little mischievous sometimes…. Okay, lots of times.
    Q: Did you like to write in growing up or start as an adult?
    A: I started as an adult. I was 17 when I wrote and published my first story, don’t know if that’s adult.
    Q: What brought you to GA?
    A: One of my fans on the first site I published my stories (Literotica) suggested I also Publish my stories on GA. I checked it out, registered and I’ve been publishing ever since.
    Q: What is your favorite genre to read, and do you like to write it as well?
    A: Hmmmm… quite a number, but I am gonna go with fantasy. And Yes, I love to write it. My fantasy series “Unbroken” has been a major hit.
    Q: What is the first thing you do when you start a new story? After you end a story?
    A: I try to think and find ways of developing it in a way that will get my fans hooked. And after I end it, I always take a deep breath, lie down and think about the journey I have had with the story.
    Q: What inspired the plot for A Love to Last?
    A: A TV series I was watching and I loved the plot. So, I said to myself, let me make something similar but not exact.
    Q: Do you identify or connect the best with any of the main characters: Ben, Jim, Jerome, or David?
    A: Definitely Ben. This is a character I took so much time developing because I wanted people to relate to his emotions and I am glad they did. I did too.
    Q: What is your favorite scene in the story?
    A: I have got a couple of scenes that I can mention. But if I can pick one, it has to be when Ben and David first met, the connection David felt.
    Q: Can you share anything about your current or upcoming work with readers?
    A: I have got an amazing upcoming series at the end of the year. Unfortunately, I cannot give any information. Let me just say, “stay tuned”
  12. Cia

    2023 Poetry Anthology: Week 3 Now Live!

    By Cia,


    Anthologies
    Welcome to week 3 of the 2023 Poetry Anthology, and the release of several great poems or poem collections by some of GA's authors & poets. This year the theme picked is so open, authors really can take readers anywhere on a journey of... 
     Exploration
     
    *Additional poetry chapters posting this week: Backwoods Boy's Autumn Explorations, Headstall's Treasures Found, & Parker Owens/AC Benus' Cadence
    Don't forget to like, comment, and review! 
  13. Cia
    Okay, another long story feature and this one has themes of fantasy which we all know I love! If you haven't given this Signature Author's story, Shadow Honor by @Cynus, a shot, what have you been doing?? Better yet, it's part of a series! Full of political intrigue, magic, demons, and more.... there's a ton in store for intrepid readers!

    Length: 126,057
    Description: In the depths beneath the Everbright City lies a vast complex of caves known as The Shade. The Underking of the Shade, Salidar thulu'Khant, seeks to free the demons imprisoned in the city above and use them to unseat King Neredos, the immortal ruler of humanity. The future of the world rests in the unwilling hands of young thief and Shade native, Styx, who is thrust into the middle of a conflict which has perpetuated for centuries.
    A reader said: Cynus has created an interesting world and populated it with some great characters! Styx, a young theif from the Shade, is caught up in an ongoing battle. There are secrets and powers and magic and double-crosses enough to keep the reader guessing. I really enjoyed reading this. I especially enjoyed the tattoo magic! ~ JeffreyL
    If you want to spread the word about Cynus'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!
  14. Cia
    Did you catch Monday's blog where I featured Cynus's story, Shadow Honor? This is one of my favorite genres, and I have to agree with @JeffreyL because I really like the way that @Cynus used the tattoo magic in the storyline. Have you read this story? Share your thoughts below if you didn't get the chance to share your love on Monday. If not, maybe this except will draw you in enough to make you go read (warning: You're going to want to have NOTHING else to do for a while!) 
    Want to read more? Click here
  15. Cia

    Welcome Valkyrie, GA's Newest Admin!

    By Cia,


    Announcements
    Yes, we've conscripted another one!  In honor of all the hard work Valkyrie has been doing for the Prompt Blog, coordinating the Anthologies, Writing Contests, and in general awesomeness volunteering her time on the site... we've tagged and bagged her officially. Please join us in thanking and congratulating Valkyrie in becoming GA's latest admin! 

    @Valkyrie
    Author * Prompt Promoter * Anthology Organizer
  16. Cia

    2023 Poetry Anthology: Week 2 Now Live!

    By Cia,


    Anthologies
    Welcome to week 2 of the 2023 Poetry Anthology, and the release of several great poems or poem collections by some of GA's authors & poets. This year the theme picked is so open, authors really can take readers anywhere on a journey of... 
     Exploration
     
     
     
     
    Additional poetry chapters posting this week: AC Benus' Second Sight: Remembering Some San Francisco Neighborhoods
    Don't forget to like, comment, and review! 
  17. Cia
    March is already half over, but that just means you need to take a break to read this little gem of Comicality's. It'll get you in the feels. 

    Length: 6,562
    Description: Three years ago, Sawyer and Josh showed up to help build a park playground as a part of a mutual friend's Eagle Boy Scout project... and ended up sharing a moment that they'll remember for the rest of their lives.
    A reader said: Boy o boy...did this bring back memories, the nerves and angst of reaching out to make a 'connection' with another like minded boy!
    This deserves a one-off chapter later, perhaps a retrospective a few years down the road as they live their lives!!
    Well done and thanks!!! ~drsawzall
    If you want to spread the word about Comicality'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!
  18. Cia

    2023 Poetry Anthology: Week 1 Now Live!

    By Cia,


    Anthologies
    Welcome to week 1 of the 2023 Poetry Anthology, and the release of several great poems or poem collections by some of GA's authors & poets. This year the theme picked is so open, authors really can take readers anywhere on a journey of... 
     Exploration
     
    *Additional poetry chapters posting this week:  AC Benus' Miracles & Aditus' Delicious Delights. 
    Don't forget to like, comment, and review! 
  19. Cia

    April CSR Feature: A Love to Last by Vanalas

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    For me, April feels like it stretches on forever. So I picked a slightly longer story, and the title matches that feeling. Enjoy this month's selection and don't forget to come back and share your thoughts on the discussion day! 
    A Love to Last
    @vanalas
    Length: 120,112 
    Description: Ben and Jim are half-brothers and sons of self-made billionaire Jerome Henandez. The Henandez sons are handsome, charming and intelligent, groomed to lead and head the multi-million empire set up by their father. Though half-brothers, their love for each other is manifested in everything they do.
    However, everything changes when David enters the picture. Their lives become intertwined through scandals, rivalry and romance when Jim falls hopelessly in love with the handsome hunk who on the other hand has his eyes on the kindhearted, mysterious and strong-headed Ben. Who will rise and fall in this game of love?
    A reader said: Wow! I am at a loss for words. ~mikeuniqueac
    Don't forget to come back and share your thoughts on Monday, April 24th!
  20. Cia
    Okay, even if you're not a fan of anime or Freaky Friday, or if you're new to Laura S. Fox's writing... I hope you took a chance and read this month's featured selection! It was fun, right? Share your thoughts in the comments below, but first! Of course, she did an interview for me.  
    Chocolate or Vanilla?
    What’s vanilla? Death by chocolate all the way.
    What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
    I read a lot. I read extensively, fiction, non-fiction, literary works, mystery novels, sci-fi, romance, thrillers, you name it. Not even cookbooks are spared. I also like listening to music, another area where my tastes are as much a mess as they come. I listen to classical music when I write, but I also know who BTS is (don’t ask me to name all the boys, though). I like a little out of everything, I think.
    What’s one location you’d love to go to research for a story?
    An old library. I’d like to explore every nook and cranny, to see how it works, how the books are organized, what a regular day in a librarian’s life is like there. And, of course, browse through all those old tomes. The story would be about some secret society, and the main character could be a detective sent to investigate unusual phenomena happening in the library.
    Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
    As everyone, I suppose, I have several strong points and several weaknesses. I found it the most natural to write dialogue, but when it comes to descriptions of people, places, and so on, I find myself lacking the vocabulary necessary for writing them off the top of my head in a way that I’d consider satisfactory. So, that’s where I stop and start doing research.
    If you could give advice to yourself when you first started writing, what would it be?
    Have more confidence in your writing. If you like what you write, the chances are that other people will like to read it, too. There’s no one that unique on the face of the earth not to encounter likeminded people, and that’s a good thing.
    What brought you to GA?
    I was searching for writing platforms where I could publish my M/M fiction, and I believe it was Google who told me about GA. I hope my memory isn’t playing tricks on me. It happened more than five years ago.
    So… anime. Do you read, watch, etc…? And what’s your favorite if so?
    First I watched a few yaoi and BL animes and progressed from there to reading manga, and later manhwa, and manhua – which are basically the Korean and Chinese versions of the same style of comics. It’s hard to tell an absolute favorite after all this time, but I think titles like Ai No Kusabi, Haru Wo Daite Ita, and more recently, 19 Days, Killing Stalking and Painter of the Night, will always remain on top of the list.
    Who is your favorite of the two main leads who essentially Freaky Friday switch in This Strange World Needs a Kicking?
    It all started as Kai’s story, but I must admit that I favor – just a little – Sebastian, because he somehow developed into a more complex character than initially intended. While Kai is just finishing high school and is still like a kid in many ways, his malleability and ability to adapt to what’s happening to him makes things easier for him than for Sebastian. Where Kai doesn’t find it that strange that he’s suddenly the hero of an isekai adventure, Sebastian believes he’s the victim of a curse. However, dealing with the challenges presented by the switcheroo appears not as that much trouble to Kai as it is to Sebastian. He fights the harder fight in some ways, so to speak. So, maybe, just maybe, he’s the favorite child by less than an inch of affection.
    Can you sum up the story in one line?
    It only takes a body swap to find love and the real you on the other side.
    Can you share a little of your current or future story you’re posting on GA with readers?
    I’m currently in the process of publishing Chasing Rusty Parker here, on GA. It is the sequel to my other story published here, Good Guys Don’t Date Bad Boys.
    I think it’s the first time I’m using a character’s full name in the title, and it’s all for a good reason. This story centers more on the main character than my other works, in the sense that besides the usual interactions with the MC’s love interest and his friends, I invite the readers to spend more time in Rusty’s head than I have done previously. That said, I hope that the journey through Rusty’s kinky and clever mind will be worth the time wasted on reading the story.
  21. Cia
    March is a month for magic... of a sort. C'mon, any month where there's a holiday that features gold at the end of a rainbow has to be magic, right?! And this story has magic... of a sort. It certainly made me laugh, and I could use some of that. What about you? It's way longer than normal, but it's a recent-ish finish in the last year and it does tend to suck you right in. I hope you will enjoy Laura's story and come back to share your thoughts at the end of the month! 
    This Strange World Needs a Kicking!
    by @Laura S. Fox
    Length: 182,757
    Description: If only I got transported to another world like in those cool anime series – is what Kai Martin thinks when Milo, his best friend, suddenly confesses and asks him out.

    Next thing he knows, he’s in a huge bed, in what looks like royal chambers, and there’s a handsome naked guy next to him. Who glares at him and asks him something about another round.

    Another round of what?

    And then, a guy in butler's livery walks through the door and looks at him like he just spat in his food.
    A Reader said: I made the mistake of planning to read just the first chapter then go to bed..... I read until my eyes closed some 8 hours later.  I then carried on the next day until the very last word 
    I laughed, I cheered and I absolutely loved this story.
    Thank you so much for transporting me to a magical kingdom and a very happy ending. ~Blue Fan Lady
    Don't forget to come back and share your thoughts on Monday, March 27th!
  23. Cia

    February CSR Discussion Day: Crisscross Moon by Rich Eisbrouch

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    Did you ever think you so strongly did something, you didn't even worry about it? Well, I've been doing the CSR blogs for over 10 years (Yes, I checked, they started in Jan. 2013!) and was sure I'd sent Rich his interview for Crisscross Moon. I did not. Sorry again, Rich!! If he gets his (very late) interview back to me, I'll add it here, but for now I wanted to feature the thoughts of some readers who enjoyed his story so you can also share yours below! Plus a graphic because that's also what I do! 

      
    Ironic character choice in fiction?
    I’m not entirely sure what this question means.  A character I created that turned out to have ironic repercussions in today’s world, or a character another writer did that seemed to predict or parallel the future?  Since I write pretty lightweight stuff and try to stay away from politics, I can’t have much impact on the world, except to try and distract from its frequent complications.
    Do you eat your fruits and vegetables?
    Oh, yeah, partly out of laziness.  I used to eat big salads in the summer, when it was easier to make them than to cook, but when I moved to Los Angeles 30 years ago and realized it was always summer, I pretty well quit cooking at home and ate salads.  And I eat a lot of apples and toss dried cherries and cranberries in my breakfast cereal.
    What’s one location you’d love to go (or have been) to research for a story?
    Since my stories are so people and dialogue centered, the locations become far less important, as long as I don’t get them wrong.  And, actually, the caves in Crisscross Moon are the product of research, remembering my trips to Carlsbad Caverns, and walking and light hiking done in the domesticated, suburban, Los Angeles parks, particularly in the Santa Monica mountains.  So it might be fun to explore the area where Crisscross Moon is set and correct what I got wrong.
    If you were writing a book about your life, what would the title be?
    He Thinks He’s Being Funny.  It will be chiseled on my headstone.
    What brought you to GA?
    I was searching the Internet for a good website to post on and Gay Authors came up.  I posted an early book as an experiment, got the spacing wrong for that and several others I next posted, and I slowly go back and correct that between other projects.  But the site has been a very good fit for me, I have a handful of interested readers who sometimes even stay through my personal projects, and I like what other people are posting.  Still, I’m afraid to read too much fiction because I’m always worried about unintentionally plagiarizing, so I can’t read as much as I’d like.  But someday, when and if I retire from writing.
    What inspired you to do a parallel historical/modern storyline in Crisscross Moon?
    It was actually a response to Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code.  As mentioned, I don’t read a lot of fiction, popular or otherwise, but that one was really popular, and one of my friends had a copy, so I borrowed it from her, read it, and thought, “I can do that.”  I had a different idea in mind at first, using a series of iconic American landmarks, but eventually, that evolved to focusing on the Cliff Dwellers, which I first learned about in high school.  Research showed me how little I knew about the subject, but it also gave me more to work with.  The title, by the way, was lifted... er, inspired... by the Hardy Boys book, The Crisscross Shadow.  See what I mean about plagiarism?  There’s also the structure of Tom Stoppard’s Arcadia, which also has antecedents, so I felt less guilty about borrowing it.
    Is there a favorite line or scene in the story for you as the author?
     In my books?  Nothing in particular.  In all of literature, fictional or otherwise: Way too many.  There are so many really good thinkers and writers.
    After posting, where there any reader reactions or insights that surprised you?
    That they held on.  This book isn’t quite as weird as the Alan Danshroeder series, both in terms of content and form, but there is a lot of back-and-forth that people have to be patient with.  I was surprised they were.  Also, the parallel isn’t exactly right, and I keep meaning to go back and try to fix that.  It should be two guys in the present and two guys in the past.  But I can’t get the details right, so I leave the book alone.
    Can you sum up Crisscross Moon in one sentence for prospective readers?
    Two guys in the present try to unsnarl a mystery in the past—and there are bears.
    Will you share something about what you are currently working on or any future projects?
    593 Riverside Drive.  I’ve been patiently finishing The Waldron Police stories so I could get to this, which is both personal, family inspired, and almost completely fictional.  My sister found the transcripts of our great-aunt’s mid-1920s divorce trial, but when I read them, I realized they made my great-aunt too helpless.  I needed to fix that.  Plus, I needed to narrate the book by my mother, so that meant a bit of juggling in time.  It’s kind of fun, but I’m not sure how much it’s going to get read on this site.  I’m hoping for my usual 100 readers.
     
      
  24. Cia
    Did you catch Monday's feature of Cole Matthew's story So Weep's the Willow? If you've ever indulged... ahem... a little too much, you might identify with the feelings at the start of this excerpt. Now the hows and whys the character makes the choices that go on in the story? Maybe, or maybe not, but that's the beauty of getting to follow along with another's story, right? Enjoy!! 
    Want to read more? Click here
  25. Cia
    I went another route, tugging at the heart strings again with this read. Plus the visual was just too good to pass up! If you're stuck inside due to yucky weather, why not try this super long read of Cole Matthew's! 

    Length: 104,569
    Description: Jake is having a rough time.  His career's at a dead end.  His love life is a disaster.  His mother is a mess.  Finally, he decides to turn things around. 
    This is his story. 
    A reader said: Brilliantly crafted, full of surprises and a satisfying finish. Cole Matthews at his finest. Don't miss this one. ~Mikiesboy
    If you want to spread the word about Cole Matthew'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!
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