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Cia

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  1. Cia

    February CSR Feature: CrissCross Moon by RichEisbrouch

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    I know I often theme stories based on the month, and February is love, love, love, and romance, romance, romance. Sorry, folks, life is just too crazy for me right now. (Don't worry, those who know my hubby from the past--*snorts* that was an adventure of a membership--he's still very much my hubby) But I wanted to go for something a little more... more. Now, there's still romance in the sub-genres, but also adventure, comedy modern, and light mystery! 
    Crisscross Moon
    by @RichEisbrouch
    Length: 43,469
    Description:  A couple of young guys in the present try to figure out a mysterious legend from the past.
    Meanwhile, some years earlier, a young, Native American wife is being admired by a young warrior from another family, temporarily stranded because of an injury.
    And there are bears.
    A reader said: Very intriguing story. Love the way you told the parallel stories and brought them together in the cave at the end. Very nicely done and most entertaining. ~ Jaro_423
     
    Don't forget to come back and share your thoughts on Monday, February 27th!
  2. Cia
    Well, did you find out about the little prince? Just what happened to him? Quite the change in circumstance... but what about fortitude? Share your thoughts in the comments below, but please enjoy this interview (long delayed!) with Georgie first!
     
    Q: Do you eat your fruits and vegetables?
    A: Vegetables regularly, mostly every day. Fruits is not my thing or I don’t take the time for it. So it is a banana so every now and then on an incidental basis.
    Q: Are you a person who makes their bed in the morning, or do you not see much point?
    A: Yes, I do. Being a rather chaotic person, who suffers from creative chaos on a continuing basis during daily life, I bring structure in things and one of these is making my bed. But the same goes for cooking a meal. OK, some days I end up with throwing a pizza in the oven but mostly I make a full meal. And I wash the dishes afterwards, so no stacks of dirty dishes in my kitchen…grin….
    Q: If you were an animal, what would you be?
    A: Most certainly a dog or maybe its wild predecessor, the wolf. But one of these is a certainty.
    Q: What’s something personal about you people might be surprised to know?
    A: That’s a tough question.
    When I answer it in relation to the stories I write I guess the most personal thing is I was a juvenile care kid myself and had my share of severe mental problems, resulting in psychiatric treatment from my 16th to my 26th. But then I was healed and life became bright!
    As a result I mix autobiographic facts from my turbulent past into stories. It doesn’t mean a whole story is autobiographic but there are always little parts or even a single sentence that is autobiographic. With the sole exception of Juvenile Care Lovers which is largely autobiographic.
    Apart from that,…I really wouldn’t know. Maybe that I used to be singer as well, mostly old blues and hard rock. And maybe that I really like to translate old, even medieval Dutch poems in modern English that appear on line on GayAuthors in cooperation with ACBenus in his Mirror of Same Sex Love-Poetry.
    Q: What brought you to GA?
    A: I was looking for a way to expand my number of readers on a quality platform and after a tip from an American colleague-author I just joined. I remember it took me some time to understand your computer system.
    Q: When do you get your best writing inspiration ideas (morning, evening, reading, images, music…)?
    A: Inspiration is a purely intuitive thing with me. Everything can inspire me, something I see, hear, read, smell, touch, no matter at what time of the day… it triggers something or it doesn’t. Thinking it over (or like I usually call it: dreaming it up) and developing it into a story theme is mostly an evening- and nighttime job, mostly when hearing classical music so I can concentrate. It is purely an inexplicable artistic process of free association from the trigger to the story theme. And from the central theme I start researching and writing the actual story.
    Q: What’s one location you’d love to go to research for a story?
    A: I like to go to Nijmegen, a city in the Netherlands. Although I wasn’t born there that is where my roots are emotionally. It’s the city where I discovered my homosexuality and made my first (and partly pretty extreme) experiences. On top of that: it is not a metropole; we don’t have them in the Netherlands. But for Dutch conditions it is a big city with a population of about ¼ of a million and all the associated big city problems. But it is easy for research, because the size makes the scale of problems manageable to research and transparent. Besides, I have my contacts there to find information.
    Q: Was there anything particularly challenging about twisting an old fairytale in The Little Prince That Turned into a Beggar?
    A: This question made me laugh. Your question proves to me the disguise was letter-perfect.
    Your assumption is very nice, but it is just the other way around. I didn’t turn an old fairytale into The Little Prince That Turned into a Beggar. It was just the other way around.
    The challenging and tricky part was to take a real 21st century sad story of a real-existing boy, who struggles with his homosexuality and his being non-binary and who receives no support from his family but is only greeted with rejection and condemnation. Since I promised him to keep him out of the spotlights, I turned the story into an innocent-looking fairytale by mixing in the well-known and well-proven fairytale ingredients, like the cruel king, the good fairy and of course the prince on the white horse. But if you read it again with this knowledge you might discover the true, heart wrenching story underneath it, including the time in prostitution. Because it is everything but an innocent fairytale. On the other hand: most fairytales aren’t very innocent. They are all based on archetypes representing good and bad, often in very extreme and violent forms.
    Q: Is there any particular line or scene you love the best in the story?
    A: That’s another hard question. I can’t really choose.
    There are two scenes in Dance over the Thunderclouds (another fictionalized story of a real life story, by the way) and they are on a kind of shared first position. One of them is the scene with Rebel, the therapy dog, which shows the intimate emotional connection of trust between dog and man (Rebel was modelled after my own Golden Retriever).
    The other is the haunting final scene of building up the harrowing tension of Dominic’s dance, which leads to the climax of his death. To be honest: it took me days and nights to write it but for myself I’m really satisfied with the result. And reader’s comments share this point of view.
    And in The Unwanted I really like the scene is which the grandfather sings a jolk, the traditional Sami chant, and then explains its meaning to the boys.
    Q: Can you share a little of your current or future work with readers?
    A: About current work I prefer not to share too much, since the first 5 chapters of Maddog & The Pope are already up and running. Chapter 6 is in the process of final editing (together with my marvelous editor Luca E), but since everyone takes a break with the holidays, I assume it will be up shortly after New Years Day with the other chapters following after that. Just let the reader read and enjoy the story.
    About future work…I’m working on two stories simultaneously. One is camouflaged as a thriller but it isn’t. It is about the dark side of the gay world, the dark side of the human mind into the extremes, about homeless kids and corruption in the police force, all intertwined by an igniting and blossoming love affair between a middle-aged detective and a young boy.
    The second one is rather fluid at the moment, but it is for the biggest part situated in the circus world. And being a psychological writer you can expect that they as well will be largely based on emotions and thoughts and not on sex on itself.
    But both will take some time to finish so don’t expect them to be on line very soon. Maybe I’ll dream up some short story to fill the gap.
  4. Cia

    January Signature Author Feature: Insomnia by CassieQ

    By Cia,


    Signature Feature
    I might be known for burning the candle at both ends, and I often feel the ill-effects of insomnia, so I loved this take by @CassieQ on the topic several years ago. For some people, insomnia means not getting to sleep, or not staying asleep, but we've all had moments where our minds played tricks on us after a long night, much less day after day of long nights. I hope you will like taking a look back at the creative take on the theme. So... what keeps you up at night?

    Length: 23,332
    Description: Between the dreams, the sleep deprivation, and the hallucinations, teenage loner Casey is left wondering if he really is going crazy.  
    A Reader said: A beautiful story with just the right amount of fantasy. Thank you for sharing! ~ Puppilull
    If you want to spread the word about CassieQ' 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!
  5. Cia

    2022 Reviews Revisited

    By Cia,


    Reviews
    Our Review Team has put together a list of all the Reviews they did in 2022. You can click on any of them to see the actual blog. Maybe there was one that you said you'd read, maybe one piques your interest now, or maybe one looks like it would be a foray into a different genre. No matter what the reason, here is your second chance to see the Review.
    Of course, we wouldn't get these great reviews without GA's Review Team, and they have room for more! Would you like to share your thoughts on a story or two in a featured blog each year?! Please PM @Timothy M. and @Cia to volunteer! 
    Thank You, Review Team!!
    @Aditus
    @chris191070
    @Parker Owens
    @spike382
    @Timothy M.
    2022
    January 24: 2021 Reviews Revisited - Timothy M.
    Reader comment: This is a valuable feature of GA. Cheers to all of the team's hard work!!!
    February 14: Valentine's Day Review (repeat) - Review team
    Reader comment: Some fantastic stories, I look forward to reading them.
    March 14: Spirit Wolves by Kbois - chris191070
    Reader comment: If there’s two things kbois does well, it’s drama and attraction. 
    April 11: Moving On by Rob Colton - Timothy M.
    Reader comment: I love this story, like I love all of Rob Colton's stories.  He's one of the few authors I can read over and over. 
    May 9: Brothers by Yeoldebard - chris191070
    Reader comment: I loved the way Devyn's trouble with understanding human behavior was portrayed.
    June 13: CDMX by Carlos Hazday - chris191070
    Reader comment: Carlos doesn't just describe a scene he makes you feel as though you are there.
    July 11: Damphir by Nephylim - Aditus
    Reader comment: It is a strange story with strange and exotic characters.  The writing is first rate.
    August 8: A New Family Unit by Ajbt2001 - spike382
    Reader comment: It's a great story from Ajbt2001 that is well worth a read.
    September 12: Careme in Brighton by AC Benus - Parker Owens
    Reader comment: A truly amazing story, with some amazing food. I definitely recommend you give this a read.
    October 10: Boundaries: An Old West Tale by Headstall - spike382
    Reader comment: A well written review of a well written story. The setting may be a western but the story is universal. An excellent read.
    November 14: The Purple Door by Valkyrie - Aditus
    Reader comment: Anthology 2022 inspired a lot of great stories.  The Purple Door is one of the best written by an outstanding author.
    December 12: Finding Good Trouble by Ronyx - chris191070
    Reader comment: It is an excellent piece of literature!
  6. Cia
    Did anyone else have plans that didn't quite go, well, as planned over the last month of the year? Well, once again you're not seeing a deja vu, I'm giving you a second chance to read Georgie's short fantasy twist and come back to comment at the end of the month! 
    The little Prince that turned into a Beggar
    by Georgie DHainaut
    Length: 4,664
    Description: An”old”  fairytale, but one with a true and modern background in many a real life
    A reader said: Very nice story. Long enough to allow the main character to come to life and concise enough to be a single session reading. Thanks for sharing…hope my fairy visits me soon. ~ Leo662
    Don't forget to come back and share your thoughts on Monday, January 30th!
  7. Cia

    October CSR Discussion: There Once was Love by Remijay

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    It's a visit from the Ghost of Blogs Past! We had a missed CSR Interview in October, so nope, that's not a typo in the blog title... Today you're getting the CSR Interview for Remijay's story, There Once was Love, featured in October and we're shifting Georgie DHainaut's twisted fairytale feature again to January so you have more time to read that bite-sized story! Feel free to refresh your memory on Remijay's story, or the feature, through the links above, check out the interview below, and share your thoughts in the comments! 
    Have you ever gone out in public, realized your shirt is on backwards, and just don’t care?
    Yes I have. Most of the time, it's a whatever kind of thing.
    What’s one location you’d love to go to research for a story?
    The woods, in a small town.
    What’s something personal about you people might be surprised to know?
    My characters are spontaneous, and wild, carefree individuals.
    What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
    Watch a lot of TV, or work
    Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
    The thinking process. There are so many characters, their challenges, their stories and backgrounds, how they think and react.
    What’s the first thing you do when you start to write a story?
    The most important part is figuring out who is the main character, and how to start their story.
    What do you think makes There Once Was Love stand out compared to other “similar” teen stories?
    The struggle, the emotion put into it. What the main character had to overcome, and deal with. I know that with other stories, revolving around teenagers, it's about the same. Or those characters had their own issues, and problems. Some even worse than my own. I envy some authors on GayAuthors. They write with so much details, and emotion. It's surprising.
    Do you identify with any character in particular in the story when you wrote it?
    Yes, when i write a story or even a chapter. i put myself in the characters shoes. It doesn't matter who the character is. They are all my children in a sense.
    Which part of the There Once Was Love is your favorite?
    It's a split between THE PARTY chapter and PROM NIGHT chapter.
    What would you like to share with readers about your current or upcoming work?
    Yes, I have a few in the works. That are currently being hosted on Gayauthors. I also have one book that I am writing. It isn't posted on any site yet. I kind of want to finish it before it's posted. But the books theme is, werewolves. It might also some magic involved. I hope when I do post it people will like it. And request for a sequel.
  8. Cia

    December Signature Feature: Melvyn Ford by Carlos Hazday

    By Cia,


    Signature Feature
    Nostalgia, family, and the many generations coming together is often a theme around the holidays. I didn't want to feature another holiday story right now, though, since I'm sure readers can find plenty of those to enjoy! I wanted to bring those themes forward that are so common in a new way, so I searched and found this great short story by Carlos Hazday that pays homage to... the family car. 

    Length: 3,249
    Description:  A 1929 Ford Model A Tudor, bought at the start of the Great Depression, is passed from father to son through four generations. Through the decades, Melvyn Ford is a silent witness to joy and sorrow. The car plays a role at family births, weddings, and deaths.
    A reader said: This is an absolutely wonderful story. Seeing something cherished and passed on through the generations of the family will bring a smile to your face. I may be biased towards Carlos' writing, but I highly recommend this story. ~ WolfM
    If you want to spread the word about Carlos Hazday'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!
  9. Cia

    December Signature Excerpt: Melvyn Ford by Carlos Hazday

    By Cia,


    Signature Feature
    Monday I mentioned how much I wanted to feature a story that brought up the family aspect of this time of year. Well you can't read far in this story without hitting on a touching family moment. Read on, I'm sure you'll be following the link to consume the entire story in moments!
    Want to read more? Click here
  10. Cia

    Featured Story: Finding Good Trouble

    By Cia,


    Reviews
    Step back from the candy canes and cherry cordials, the chocolate coins and the Christmas cookies... otherwise the reality in this month's story review  by @chris191070 might just take a bite out of you. The holidays can be a time when people are usually kinder to their fellow man, but what happens when being that good person means more than holding open a door or saying please or thank you? 
    Finding Good Trouble
    by @Ronyx
    Reviewer: chris191070
    Status: Complete
    Word Count: 72,532
    This is a story that isn't an easy read. It challenges many topics that are happening in many countries, but particularly in the USA. It deals with racism and racial injustice.
    We follow Parker, a white boy, as he witnesses a fight at his school, which is just the start of things to come. What happens next is not easy reading as Parker witnesses and films Police brutality, against a black teen, Darius, who has done nothing wrong. This sets off a chain of events that Parker or Darius, could ever foresee happening.
    We discover racial injustice at the highest level. But you need to read this story to understand more.
    As with all @Ronyx stories he writes about hard hitting subjects, but I found this one particularly hard to read in places and was brought to tears in many places.
    Category: Fiction  Genres: General Fiction  Sub-genres: Drama  Tags: young adult, gay, suburban, serious, modern, interracial, politics, high school  Rating: Mature
  11. Cia
    Looking for inspiration for a Halloween costume? How's about you put on some chaps, a button up, a hat and swagger your way down to the watering can for... a good ole fashioned gunslinger western romance novella by Headstall that spike382 gives two spurs up in his review below. Read on to find out more! 
    Boundaries: An Old West Tale
    by Headstall
    Reviewer: spike382
    Status: Complete
    Word Count: 16,640
    One thing that I love about being a longer-term member of this community is seeing certain writers evolve and improve over time. One writer in particular that I’ve followed for a long time is Headstall. His earliest offerings on the site were all good, but as time has passed and he’s written more and more, it amazes me how much he has evolved as a writer in the last seven or eight years. Nowhere is this more apparent than in his latest story on the site, Boundaries: An Old West Tale.  
    In Boundaries, we meet wandering gun fighter, Virgil Pruitt, a lonely man headed for greener pastures. His journey takes him to a troubled Texas town, very close to the Mexican border. It’s been just a few years since the Mexican-American war, and the tensions remain. When he visits the local saloon, Virgil is immediately held with suspicion and prejudice, forcing him to show off those gun fighter skills previously mentioned.  
    Luckily, Virgil’s a little more Shane, and a little less Man with No Name. If you don’t get those references, go watch some classic westerns when you’re done reading this story. Anyway, Virgil soon encounters a local outcast Wyatt Burnham, a young man with his own dark past. The two share an instant connection, and the story takes off from there. As the synopsis says, a lot can happen in one day. 
    This is a short but sweet tale packed full of themes and conflicts facing the characters. It touches on sexual assault, prejudice, tragedy, love, and self-acceptance. It’s all handled masterfully and again it’s amazing how much Headstall can pack into such a short story. This easily could have been spun out into a much longer entry, and yet it has a perfect stopping point. I can’t recommend this story enough, if you haven’t had the privilege yet, go check Boundaries out!
    Category: Anthology 2022 - Anniversary  Genres: Western, General Fiction, Romance, Historical  Sub-genres: Drama, General Romance, Historical Romance, Romantic Western, Western, Western Romance  Tags: adult, gay, north america, serious, abuse  Rating: Mature
  12. Cia
    This is supposed to be a month of magic, and tall tales, and so why not a little story that reminds me of the old stories? Enjoy this short fiction by Georgie DHainaut in between all the holiday hustle and bustle, or just because if none of that is for you! 
    The little Prince that turned into a Beggar
    by Georgie DHainaut
    Length: 4,664
    Description: An”old”  fairytale, but one with a true and modern background in many a real life
    A reader said: Very nice story. Long enough to allow the main character to come to life and concise enough to be a single session reading. Thanks for sharing…hope my fairy visits me soon. ~ Leo662
    Don't forget to come back and share your thoughts on Monday, December 26th!
  13. Cia
    Welcome to our November CSR Discussion day with GA's newest Signature author, Dodger! Did you have chance to congratulate him before? If not, you can do so here, plus share a thought about his featured story, A Soldier's Guide to Single Parenting, or my interview with him! Enjoy!
    What are you wearing (and no fibbing!)?
    No fibbing? Okay. Only sweatpants and a t-shirt, which, like their owner, have seen better days. I just got up, and it's my day off, so I'm probably going to stay like this until it's time to walk the dog.
    Chocolate or Vanilla?
    Chocolate, but it's a close call.
    What's something personal about you people might be surprised to know?
    I'm ambidextrous.
    What brought you to GA?
    Reading stories by Dom Luka and Comicality. I became a member straight away, but it was a couple of years before I started writing and interacting.
    What's one location you'd love to go to research for a story?
    Outer space. Not too far out, though; I think the International Space Station would be a great setting for gay fiction. Imagine an unexpected attraction between a Russian and an American astronaut living in close quarters in an environment where they are constantly watched and monitored from below. Zero gravity sex presents so many opportunities for a writer.
    Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
    Finding the right time. I suppose it's the same for everyone, but my brain shuts down the moment I get tired. I can't come in from work and write, and I can never get up early enough to get much done in the mornings. Unfortunately, work gets in the way, but it pays the bills, so it has to come first. That and commas!
    If you could give advice to yourself when you first started writing, what would it be?
    Be patient, and don't start posting a story until it's completed and the best it can be—writing is difficult enough without limiting your options and putting yourself under unnecessary pressure. Also, pay attention to the basics like grammar and sentence structure, and never rely totally on spell-checking programs.
    A Soldier's Guide to Single Parenting was a departure for you into a non-contemporary story at the time. What drew you to trying historical fiction as part of your setting/theme?
    I've always been interested in recent history, particularly the seventies and eighties. Most people probably wouldn't consider the eighties historic, but our attitudes and lives have changed enormously since then, thanks mainly to technological advances. I love technology, but it's fun writing about a time before cell phones, GPS, and the internet. It creates more opportunities for intrigue and surprise when the characters aren't all interconnected by wi-fi and mobile networks. They have to figure things out for themselves instead of just asking Siri or Googling something.
    Researching can also be enjoyable, but when you're writing about a period many of the readers have lived through, you have to get it right. 
    Reading the story, I could both feel the fear David has and the utter confusion his dad is under trying to hold something together when he has no idea what he is doing. Readers described your writing as gritty and gut-wrenching. How did you craft such emotional scenes?
    Writing from Jeff's point of view wasn't easy. He's a narcissist, a bigot, and a homophobe, and these are usually the traits of my enemies. However, I think it's important to try to understand your adversaries, and writing this story helped me to come to terms with certain but far less dramatic incidents in my own life. Jeff is not a bad person but a product of his time. He believes he's doing the right thing when, as you point out, he has no clue.
    Under a tough exterior is a fragile man who turns to alcohol to cope with memories of the war and the loss of his wife. I felt sorry for him in the end, but he has some redeeming qualities, and Jeff's saving grace is his willingness to listen, ask difficult questions, and draw his own conclusions. Most people find this surprisingly difficult.
    Can you share anything about your current or upcoming work with readers?
    Now that the soap opera style Cockney Canuck is finally coming to an end, I have time to do other things. There are a couple of stories on hold that I want to finish posting, another historical drama set in wartime London, and a very Canadian story about a trucker. That should keep me busy, along with next year’s anthology and maybe even the secret author contest.
  14. Cia
    Ah, November. The longest and shortest month... As far as seasonal changes go, the weather seems to settle in for a hearty change, and you're either stuck in rain, snow, or heat for days on end... yet that can suddenly change. Or maybe that's just my neck of the woods, world, whatever? The holidays are also coming but aren't here yet, but in a second they will be and you won't be prepared! Sometimes I feel like I'm endlessly chasing some goal or dream, wondering if I will ever get there, much like the character in @CarlHoliday story, Dreams Can Come True. Have you read it? Why not give it a try this month if you're in need of a break? 

    Length: 18,007
    Description: An unhappy dragon receives the unlikeliest of gifts and wishes the impossible dream. A powerful sorcerer wants more trouble than he needs, encounters a dragon, finds he’s stronger than he thought, and comes up with a solution to a couple of tricky problems. To complete the mix, we’ll throw in the shortest knight in the kingdom who desires to go on a quest for fame and fortune.
    A reader said:  This was cute and clever and very tongue in cheek! ~ skinnydragon
    If you want to spread the word about CarlHoliday'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
    Monday I featured CarlHoliday's story, and today it is my job to keep you interested with a tasty excerpt. Skinny dragon called Dreams Can Come True "tongue in cheek" which is an apt description for the novella-length tale. There are moments that make you snicker, some that make you aww, and others that may make you... well, read on to find out! 
    Want to read more? Click here
  16. Cia
    November and the months keep rolling by toward the end of 2022 already. Life is what happens when you're not really paying attention, and sometimes things change suddenly and then you have to try and make them work. Well, in this month's feature story we're going back in time and to the summer months to see how this newly single father handles all that life throws at him. I couldn't believe I hadn't already featured this story before, but now you can for this month's CSR. Don't forget to come back and share your thoughts at the end of the month! 
    A Soldier's Guide to Single Parenting
    by @Dodger
    Length: 48,458
    Description: After losing his wife to illness, a decorated war hero is determined to keep his family together, but his parenting skills are tested during the summer break by financial restraints, an increasing reliance on alcohol, and the discovery that his eldest son is gay.
    The story is set somewhere in North America in the not too distant past. Readers are invited to guess the exact year and place and there are subtle clues in each of the ten chapters.
    A reader said: Great story, well written. Emotional, eithical and moral isues raised and dealt with in a story with beautifully crafted characters in an engaging storyline. Highly recommended. ~ Canuk
    Don't forget to come back and share your thoughts on Monday, November 28th!
  18. Cia

    October Signature Feature: Let the Music Play by CJames

    By Cia,


    Signature Feature
    Sometimes it feels like life is just a grind, with no way things will change, much less for the better. This time of year can feel that way, right? Before the holidays really hit it off, when we're all feeling the drag of our routines... just like Brandon before he got an unexpected turn in his journey. I admit, looking for a good visual inspiration sucked me back into this story and I couldn't stop reading until late, or early, depending on how you look at it. CJames never disappoints, so give it a try!

    Length: 291,939
    Description: Brandon's dreams had been crushed far too often for him to ever believe, especially in himself. Follow along as he experiences some massive changes in his life, along with a few bumps in the road, and a few high-pressure situations.
    A reader said: A perfect epilogue for this exciting story. So many wonderful young people and some pretty impressive adults. Your royal cliffhanger title is still intact, BUT in my opinion, Circumnavigation is your crowning achievement thus far. Thanks for the great read and I am glad there is a sequel. ~ stanollie
    If you want to spread the word about CJames'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!
  19. Cia
    A big thank you to @Timothy M. for sharing this great review of one our (plus one of my favorite) GA authors, and sorry to readers for the late post! 
     
    Moving On
    by Rob Colton
    Reviewer: Timothy M.
    Status: Complete
    Word Count: 21,912
    Sometimes it’s great to return to old favorites and read them again. Moving On by Rob Colton falls in this category for me. The story has some signature Rob features, including a ‘bear’ fetish and plenty of steamy sex, but this is not the only reason I like the story.
    Mason, the main character of the story, is a genuinely nice guy. He is a devoted husband and a loyal friend, even when he is annoyed by the antics of his best friends, Damien. But when he’s betrayed by both his partner Dale and his friend, and I bet you can guess how, Mase puts his foot down and leaves. In spite of his unhappiness, he isn’t swayed by entreaties to forgive and forget, and I respect him for that. The ex-friend, the husband and his cronies deserve nothing but contempt.
    However, Alex, one of Dale’s friends, does not condone his behavior, and he seeks out Mason to help and support him. I guess Alex can be described as a ‘gentle giant’, but he’s not afraid to stand up for Mase and tell Dale to go to hell. Soon, it’s pretty clear he would like to court Mason, but it’s not so easy to risk your heart again, when it was recently ripped apart.
    Rob posted Moving On on GA almost ten years ago, and it’s well worth a (re)visit, and a great introduction to a Signature Author, who – in his own words – “loves stories that feature big, burly men who find true love and happy endings.”
    Category: Fiction  Genres: Romance  Sub-genres: General Romance Tags: adult  Rating: Mature
  20. Cia

    2022 Anniversary Wrap Up!

    By Cia,


    Anthologies
    Wowsers, did you see the numbers of stories and comments posted in September? I bet a lot of that had to do with all the great stories posted by our Anniversary anthology authors, and all the amazing readers who took the time to read, react, and comment. So thank you to everyone! If you missed a story, or you just want a single shop stop to find links to every story in the Anthology, this Wrap Up is for you. 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

    to 2022 Anniversary Anthology Team for all their hard work making things happen this year!! 
    Anthology Coordinator
    Valkyrie
    Tech Support
    Myr
    Cia
    Proof Team
    Rec
    Parker Owens
    Cia
    Anthology Banner Creation
    Cia
     
  21. Cia

    2022 Anthology: Anniversary Week 4 *Now Live*

    By Cia,


    Anthologies
    Well, here it is, the last week of GA's Anniversary month and the last of our anthology entries. We've had some amazing entries, but we have more for you to read! Keep up the energy and don't forget to like, comment, and review these stories. We'll feature all the stories next week in one place for readers in case you missed one or you want to save the list to go back to your favorites! Authors, keep your eye on the Anthology Club soon for a chance to share your feedback on this year's anthology, your thoughts for next year's anthology(ies), and start thinking themes!! 😲
    Happy Anniversary Reading! 
     
  22. Cia

    October CSR Feature: There Once Was Love by Remijay

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    Happy October, readers, and another start of the CSR Can't Stop Reading story feature so you can hopefully find another gem you missed or return to a story you enjoyed in the past. Which will Remijay's story There Once Was Love be for you?
    There Once Was Love
    by Remijay
    Length: 62,597
    Description: This story is about a teen that has everything a boy his age wants. Except a few necessary things. Read along as his story unfolds.
    A Reader Said: A very realistic ending that thankfully ended on a happy note. ~NimirRaj
    Don't forget to come back and share your thoughts on Monday, October 31st!
  23. Cia

    September CSR Discussion Day: La Bella Vacanza by James Carnarvon

    By Cia,


    CSR- Can't Stop Reading
    Well, how has your September gone? Do you feel like you need a vacation? I do! If you do too, I hope that you took it and enjoyed a bit of a sidetale with James Carnarvon's La Bella Vacanza! Make sure you share your thoughts in a comment below this interview. 
    Do you eat your fruits and vegetables?
    Yes! I especially like Mediterranean vegetables like aubergines, courgettes and tomatoes… which should surprise exactly no-one…
    What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
    I love listening to music, which also really helped me to find my way into my first Ravello story. I enjoy reading, but I have little time for that when I’m writing. I also like to explore interesting places, much as my fictional characters tend to do.
    What’s something personal about you people might be surprised to know?
    I have an adopted teenage son who has read some of my work.
    What's your favorite room in your home? Do you plot or write there?
    The living room, which is also my writing room. It’s more cluttered than I’d like, but it’s where I work. I do most of my plotting and writing late at night when I’m on my own.
    What brought you to GA?
    I forget exactly! I imagine I was looking for somewhere to publish The Summer of the Firefly, and GA was the site I found. I still think it was the right choice – the community here has been an enormous source of encouragement and support.
    Have you personally been to Ravello or is the setting based on research?
    Ravello is an inspiration – without it there’d be no stories! I’ve been there several times, albeit my writing is also supported by a lot of desk-based research. Over the years I have explored Ravello extensively, although there’s always more to discover in the mountainous hinterland. La Bella Vacanza is based directly on my first visit when I was a teenager – albeit without the exciting poolside encounter, sadly!
    What is your favorite part of Italian living/culture to write about?
    I think the thing that fascinated me about the place, which ultimately led me to write The Summer of the Firefly, was the wonderfully friendly, welcoming and family-centric culture, which conceals a strongly conservative streak that could be problematic for LGBTQ+ people. In a quiet, safe place like Ravello (I can’t speak for the big cities so much), children in particular seemed to live a free, idyllic sort of life that I admired and envied – but I could see potential trouble ahead for the queer ones. The other things I love about the place – the food, the scenery and all the other sights, sounds, smells and colours –  they were just a bonus!
    La Bella Vacanza is a story somewhat set apart from your series. What prompted this plot?
    Having read and absolutely loved Comicality’s hilarious but touching unfinished story Jesse-101, I wanted to have a go at writing something more comedic. The best and freshest way to do this seemed to be by bringing in an outside perspective (Reza) and telling the story in a deliberately lightweight and frothy sort of way (a summer holiday). The decision to set the story back in time and bring Reza into contact with the main characters from The Summer of the Firefly when they were still young had a double rationale: Gianni and Angelo seemed like the natural choice of characters for Reza to meet and banter with, and I also – just possibly – may have longer term plans for Reza as a character that necessitated this temporary time-shift.
    Is there a favorite line or section of this story you love the most?
    Probably any scene where Gianni and Angelo are laughing together (free of angst for once) and teasing Reza about his friendship with Otto. It may be a little overdone and repetitive, but what can I say – unlike my other work, La Bella Vacanza was a speed-writing project!
    Can you share anything about your current or upcoming work with readers?
    My work at GA is on hold for the moment while I have a second go at writing a children’s novel. However, I do have some ideas for a possible follow-up to Lanterns in the Dark. The story would probably be set during the following spring or summer. There’s a lot still to decide – I don’t even know yet who the main point-of-view character will be, whether it will be one of my teenage characters as usual, an adult for a change or maybe a bit of both.
    Stay tuned!
  24. Cia

    2022 Anthology: Anniversary Week 3 *Now Live*

    By Cia,


    Anthologies
    Who's ready for week 3 of the Anniversary Anthology story releases? Last week we celebrated GA's 20th Anniversary, and we're not done yet! We've had 2 weeks of great stories, and we have 2 more to go! It's been awesome to see the participation from our readers and authors, so thank you to everyone! I hope you will all continue to enjoy the stories shared by our great authors on the theme of "Anniversary". 
     
  25. Cia
    Happy September reading! If you aren't already engrossed in a story or series, I have the best recommendation for you. Every so often I love to hit upon my favorite genres, and these stories are right up my alley. Angels, Cupids, and Death. Which are the snarkiest? I'm not gonna tell! You have to read to find out.
    Ooh... someone's in trouble! Who is it? To read more, or catch up on the gist of things click here
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