Cia

Lots of angst in this one, and it's a few years old so forgive the editing.

​This one is me... reaching for the next author to screw up in the moderation queue! Muahahahahahahaha Happy Halloween

The sky shimmered as the veil between the planes was inundated with the magic of All Hallows Eve. My feathers swirled the cloud vapors, gathering droplets before they could fall to swell the waterfall that sent lifegiving magic through the realms. I was going to pass through this time. I’d been forbidden before, but now nothing could stop me. I had transformed into an Earth creature and could blend in. Tonight I was going to have an adventure. Skimming past the clouds, I turned toward the water

This year I wouldn't be denied. It was All Hallows Eve and the magic to transform and pass through the veil between worlds would be mine. No matter how many times my mother warned me, I just had to see the human realm for myself.

Did you find the time to read Dayne Mora's Wolf Like Me? Or re-read it? Because today's the day to share your love! Check out the feature from October 3rd if you need incentive. Otherwise, make sure you don't spoil it for readers who haven't had a chance. If you have something you want to share that might reveal too much, use the spoiler tags. Simply type [spoiler ] and your text then [/spoiler ] without any spaces between the brackets and the words and your text will disappear. Everyone can enjoy the interview I did with Dayne, though! What’s something personal about you people might be surprised to know? That’s a tough question to answer since y’all already know the surprising personal thing (that I write gay romance/erotica). Everything after that is kinda…meh. I do have a weird talent—I can read upside down and backwards. What’s one location you’d love to go to research for a story? Somewhere lush and green, with lots of flowers. But no bees. Those things scare the hell out of me. If you had to only work on one project for the next year... what would it be? I’ve been working on a story about a “Gary Stu” character whose life is turned upside down by a well-meaning god of romance. It’s the first time I’ve planned out a story before writing it, so I’m anxious to see how it goes. Do you write steadily each day or in a flurry of inspiration-filled moments? Totally in a flurry. I sometimes frustrate myself if I schedule my writing. One day, I wake up ready to go, the next day, I can’t get into it until I sit down to dinner. Right now, the computer is getting in my way, and I’ve been getting more done with a pen and paper (which is not my norm at all). You said your characters inspired Wolf Like Me (formerly Efrain and Cory) and forced you to write. Did you use any visual inspiration for the characters, or did you see them vividly in your head? I saw them in my head. The first glimpses were rather fuzzy, becoming clearer as their narrative evolved. By that point, I’d become possessed and felt compelled to exorcise the scenes playing in my mind. Explain your title. You went from the character names to a title that might indicate a paranormal theme. When did you get the inspiration to change it and why did you pick that? The title comes from “Wolf Like Me”, a TV on the Radio song about giving into one’s animalistic sexual urges, which fits Efrain quite well. I’d always been dissatisfied with “Efrain and Cory”, and had been tossing around title ideas for a while. About the time that I decided to split the story up into a series and was working on a title for the second book, I decided to rename the first book and use the original title for the series (which eventually got changed to EPIC). The next book titles will refer to Indie and Preston. Bad jokes… a habit of yours or just your characters in this story? Both. I also give people weird nicknames in real life, too. I even warn my students about it when I introduce myself. If you had to pick celebrities that could play your characters, who would you pick? Why? Efrain – William Levy has the face and body, but also looks like the kind of guy who’d take a bite out of you. However, if this were to be narrated or animated, I’d want Freddie Prince, Jr. (who has voiced some of my favorite male characters). Cory – I try not to, but Channing Tatum always comes to mind with Cory. The looks are there, but Tatum seems like an approachable and likeable person. Plus, he has the moves (Magic Mike, anyone?). Chris Evans also works, especially with his comedic ability. Preston – Jason Carrion (better known as April Carrion) is as pretty out of drag as he is in it, and has that right amount of sass and sweetness. Indie – I’m still out on Indie. The closest I can get is Leo Moricchioli, a Norwegian musician who makes metal covers of non-metal songs. The guy is amazingly talented, and a total goofball. He’s almost like an older bizzaro world Norwegian breeder version of Indie. If you could say one thing to readers about Wolf Like Me, what would it be? My favorite scene would have to be Efrain and Cory’s first hookup—the scene that started it all. I was only writing it down to get it out of my head, but was so hot I couldn’t stop. Funnily enough, it even got my husband (who is hella straight) hot and bothered. (Yeah, the hubs read the first four chapters.) Book 2 of your series, E.P.I.C., that started with Wolf Like Me has a story in progress at 20k+ so far. Do you foresee this book hitting the 100k+ count that the first story did? Possibly. There are a lot of things in the works for the titular characters—more antics, more sex, more BAM! GAY DRAMA!—that I might end up hitting that mark even in a third or fourth book.

Thank you, Mickmouse. Unfortunately, I'm a migraine sufferer. I'm the opposite. I usually can't stand the feeling of too much on me because my skin is hyper sensitive too.

You went from Book 1 to Book 3, though. Did you skip Book 2 (Two of a Kind) or just read it so fast you didn't review?

Thank you for reading and reviewing, Robin!!!! (hug)

LOL!!! Yay?

A kid of the 80s and 90s in a town of 600 people... no way did I come out as bi. A few years ago, I was sitting in the Café in my hometown when this kid came in totally decked out in rainbows--apparently he was publicly 'bisexual'. It was one of those 'big things' where everyone knows and whispers about it, but he wasn't hounded out of town. Acceptance? Grudging, at most, but apparently he was pretty sassy and gave as good as he got. I still felt bad for him. Being the town curiosity isn't an easy way to grow up either. I'm waiting for the day when people can just let everyone be themselves and not care. In Small Town, America, that's probably still a ways out (especially down south) but it's a goal. What I think we need to remember, though, that it isn't just these kids' generation making the changes in our world today. Who is teaching this generation to be tolerant and accepting? That's right, ours!

Well remember the mate bond is more than just physical. There are nuances that haven't really been fully explored, and toss in this experiment happening... so many questions. It will come out, never fear!

LOL. I've confused you, I can tell! Don't worry, all will be revealed at one point. Now when that might be....

I really like them together, too! Thanks for reviewing, Robin.

I know, right?! Those were the questions I hoped readers would take away from the chapter. I couldn't be so cruel as to not make sure everyone knew she was still alive though! I figured if I left that as a cliffhanger, I'd be crucified by the raging mob of readers who don't want to wait another week.

I swear, my crystal ball didn't tell me so! Yes, you would be out of the moderation queue. If you would prefer, I can send your account into the queue automatically until you're sure you have the posting system down. My PM box is always open if members have questions, and I definitely recommend all authors new to the system first read the posting and content guidelines that outline a lot of the information above, and more, and then have the Help topic: "I've purchased author/editor status and completed all my edits, how do I submit a story?" actually open in a 2nd tab when submitting. It actually explains each field, and what should/shouldn't go there (like how a series would never have a book 0) in sequential order from top to bottom of the submission page.

“He’s really dead?” Kraig sat stiffly against the headboard. He had a death grip on the blanket over his lap. My phone pinged and a picture popped up on the screen. “Yes,” I was able to say with certainty. Henry’s eyes were open, and he’d died with a snarl on his face. Someone had made him very angry. The doctor was a human who knew about our kind. Henry had been working with him. Now he’d been on the run from his streak in the presence of two humans, and he was dead. Someone was cleaning up

I'm going to re-feature another free day too! We don't want people to miss it, and it was my screw up.

LOL! You have good taste I have all the Clan of the Cave Bear books (another one I picked up the first book as a kid and still have today. Front cover is torn up because my daughter tried to eat it when she was one, but meh, kept it anyway) too. I enjoy Auel's work immensely, but they're also classic examples of too much setting exposition. I could do without the pages upon pages of descriptions of the landscape. I like Feehan, but I won't touch Cassandra Clare's work in book or movie form. When she was a fanfiction author, before her published days, she was proven to have used entire sections of text from different books--without attribution--which smacks of plagiarism. That sort of behavior is what often gives non-fanfiction fans a bad impression of the whole process.

What a great topic! Of course, narrowing it down to 6 is next to freaking impossible, lol, but I'll give it a go. 1) Outlander. Hugely popular now, but I first read this book at age 11 when I bought a cheap copy for $1 (still have it) at a library while visiting my mom for the first time. We didn't have libraries where I lived the rest of the year, so I was in heaven not only being able to borrow untold numbers of books (usually 10 at a wack) but also buy them! Clearly there was no censorship back then on what I read, so I've been a fan for more than 20 years and read it so many times I can nearly quote it at will. I still love reading it, so much so I also have it on eBook! 2) Dune. My best friend's brother left this book at school one Friday in Grade 7, so I swiped it just to be mean, but then I couldn't avoid cracking it open because it was a book, and I'll try anything at least once. This book really sent me into a sci-fi kick, and it's length alone would put it in my list. So intricate with world building, so many layers of storyline, this is a must read for sci-fi fans. 3) Morgan's Run. This is a book, not nearly as popular as The Thorn Birds, written by Colleen McCullough. Still, it's amazing, and so interesting because there's not a lot of fiction available/popular in the US about the initial settlement of Australia by English convicts. The characters really make this story, from the good, to the bad, and definitely to the ugly. It doesn't skimp on the harsh reality, but there's a beauty to the journey the main character lives that makes this a re-read for me. 4) Twilight. It's fluff. Complete and total fluff. The books in the series are total foreplay up until Book 4, but still. Love it or hate it, there's a beauty in such a mindless read. 5) Obsidian Butterfly (Anita Blake Series). This is my favorite of the series. Divorced from the local plotline (and the oversexed books of later in the series) I was fascinated by the historical culture that appears in this novel. To me it's the most complex and fascinating book out of the series. 6) The Mists of Avalon. Who doesn't Arthurian legends? Especially when the focus isn't on Arthur or Merlin, but on the women of the story. I especially loved the portrayal of Morgaine (Morgan le Fay) who is often a one-dimensional villainess in other storylines. It doesn't hurt that Julianna Margulies' portrayal of te role in the movie was great, too, reinforcing my love of the book. As you can tell from my list, I'm not into high-minded or philosophical reading. Most of the time it's all about entertainment when I settle down to read. That runs the gamut from historical to sci-fi for me, though heavy toward the speculative genres. After all, once you get shelter and a steady source of water and food (relatively easy on a tropical island, per Survivor, LOL) it's all about making it through day after day of same ole, same ole. I grew up in a small town with access to only a few books, so I learned to pick ones I'd like to read more than once too. The books I'd take on a desert island would have to stand up to the read and reread factor, and each one of these books definitely has that honor in my personal library.

Oh, good! I'm glad I did away with that doubt on Park. It was only logical to suspect him, after everything else that happened with Henry. Thanks for all your reviews, Lux! Sorry I didn't reply quickly.

Yet another twist! Thank you for reviewing, Gary, too! Hidden loyalty, betrayal, experimentation... what is behind it all? That's definitely the question.

That's a big question. The doctor was a human, so some know, but it's a very carefully held secret. But clearly something very BIG is happening, and Deke is facing huge obstacles finding out what that is. Henry's death is definitely one of those.

Something definitely happened. Of course, I can't spoil next week's update, so that will remain a secret for now. Thank you for all the reviews, and sorry it's taken me so long to answer them.