Renee Stevens

Hope everyone has had a great week so far. It's time for this weeks writing prompts. If you're stuck, or you're considering writing for the first time, these might be perfect for you. Don't forget that stories under 1,000 words must be posted as part of a collection. Prompt 648 Tag – The Dragon You walk into the Dragon’s lair, swearing you are well prepared for anything. However, now that you are actually face to face, this isn’t what you had imagined. What is the dragon like? Prompt 649 – Creative Tag – The Eavesdropper You have overheard something you shouldn’t have. Now, knowing this secret and keeping it means you could be complicit in a crime. What do you do? Did you write a prompt response last week? Don't forget to share it below.

Unfortunately, doing a contest really isn't feasible. There are over 100 stories (I quit counting after I reached 100), just in the earlier anthologies, that do not have descriptions. The majority of these are by authors that are no longer active on site.

Hi All! Recently, site staff has been reviewing stories on GA, and we’ve come across a few things that we need your help to fix! Missing/Incomplete Story Descriptions: A good example of missing/incomplete story descriptions can be found in many of the earlier anthologies. Many of these stories simply have a description of “2006 Summer Anthology”. Incomplete descriptions do nothing to engage readers or entice them to read your story. When updating the story description, keep in mind: "I'm trying to get people to read this. How can I make this interesting enough for someone to want to read it?" (while being truthful and no spoilers, of course). Missing Tags: Tags are a great way to help readers find your stories. For example, if you are writing a paranormal vampire story, using these tags will allow anyone interested in that genre to simply click a tag and bring up all stories of that type. If your story is not tagged as such, no matter how good the story, a reader interested in the content you provide may miss out on reading it. Series Information: We’ve found some stories that are a part of a collection, but the series information is missing. We’ve also found instances where the series field is used incorrectly. When you post the first story in your series, you don’t use the series feature. When you post the second story in your series, you add in the series field the name of the series and what book in that series it is. Then you go back to the first story and add in the information, labeling it as book one of the series. Please do not use the series field until you have posted the second story in the series as the series field is meant to tell readers that there are more stories in that series that are ready to be read. Unpublished Stories: We’ve found a lot of stories that are unpublished for one reason or another. However, as staff, we don’t know the reason. It could be perhaps that the author no longer wishes the story to be available online, but since staff has to delete the story, they simply unpublish it and leave it. If you have unpublished stories, then please contact staff to let us know if you’d like the story deleted from the system or if you plan to republish it. How can you help? If you are an author, we ask you to revisit your stories and if any of the above applies to you, please update your stories. If the story in question is an Anthology, contact Renee Stevens. I can temporarily remove the story from the anthology to allow you to fix it, and then move it back. If you are a reader, and you come across a story with any of the above, please PM a moderator or an admin. You can find a list of all mods and Admins here. You can also provide suggestions, which will be extremely helpful if the author is no longer on GA. Thank you for your help!

Well, it's the start of a new week, and for today's schedule, we're bringing you Puppilull's review of Shifter by skinnydragon. Featured story days are a great way to highlight one of the many stories that can be found in GA Stories. With so many stories, it's easy for a single story to get lost in the shuffle. If you're reading a story that you would like to do a blog review and bring attention to, PM me (Renee). Now, onto the review. Hopefully you enjoy Puppilull's review enough to go check out Shifter for yourself! Shifter skinnydragon Reviewer: Puppilull Status: Complete Word Count: 2,034 It’s strange how a story of a mere 2,000 words can take you on such a journey. In this case, it's a journey into the twisted mind of the main character. When writing this review, I read my comments to the story from my first reading. Hypnotic and intense were words I used to describe it and I still think they sum up Shifter rather well. Throughout the story, the reader is left in the dark about a lot of details surrounding the main character. Who is he? With only a vague outline, there’s yet enough of a backstory to give you a definite sense of him as a person. It’s written as a frenzied, sketchy account of events, based of a collection of grim memories. What particularly impressed me was the way the story is written or rather constructed. In the most fascinating way, skinnydragon uses repetition of words and phrases to emphasize the theme of the story in an almost hypnotic manner. Each and every word needs to be read slowly and deliberately, so don’t read this while rushed. Take your time to savor the excellence of the crafting of sentences. This short story had a deep impact on me. Both because of the story itself and because of the brilliant way it is written. It could all too easily have been simply an exercise in technique, but instead it leaves the reader feeling disturbed and upset at having entered someone’s mind. And not just anyone’s mind - a twisted mind that gives Brett Easton Ellis a run for his money. So when you read it, be prepared to carry it with you for a long time. I don’t think I’ll ever forget it. It’s just that good. Category: Fiction Genres: Drama Tags: young adult, violent, dark Rating: Mature

Thanks @CassieQ! I've added you!

I hope everyone has had a great week. It's been a very busy week here on Gay Authors, so it's time to take a look back. Unsure if you missed any of this weeks blogs? Or did you miss any of the updates from our site's promoted authors? Now's your chance to find out!!! Contests 2018 Summer Novella Anthology: Summer - Due April 15th, 2018 Anthologies 2018 Spring Anthology: Now or Never - Due May 15th 2018 Spring Anthology: Encounters - Due May 15th 2018 Fall Anthology: Fight Back - Due Nov 15th 2018 Fall Anthology: Good Intentions - Due Nov 15th Blog Opportunities Story Critique: Open to all GA authors. Sign up here. Ask An Author: Send your questions for your favorite authors to @Carlos Hazday (no questions = no Ask An Author) 3 Story Promo: Open to all GA Authors. PM Renee Stevens to participate. Author Interview: Open to all GA Authors. PM Renee Stevens to participate. Favorite Self-Written Story: Open to all GA authors. PM Renee Stevens to participate Story Recommendations: Open to all GA authors & readers. PM Renee Stevens to participate. Classic Updates: The List by Dabeagle You Promised Me a Tomorrow by Ronyx Signature Updates: A Love Story by CarlHoliday; Book 2 of Warnton Stories A Man in a Room, and other poems by AC Benus; Book 6 of Verse Black Widow by Mark Arbour; Book 16 of Chronicles Of An Academic Predator (CAP) Denied by Cia Mojo by AC Benus Shadow Honor by Cynus So Weeps the Willow by Cole Matthews Spirit of Fire by Stellar Promising Updates: Georgetown: Over The Rainbow by Carlos Hazday; Book 8 of CJ Here Kitty, Kitty by Caz Pedroso Musings of a Messed Up Mind by Mikiesboy ***Check out this GA Classic*** My Only Escape Comicality Every day after school, young Zack runs home after his last class, hoping to avoid his abusive father's rage and avoid anymore physical and emotional bruises at home. It isn't until he meets a beautiful stranger at school that he begins to wonder whether or not he's worth anything at all. Can he live in one world and fantasize about the other? Or will he have to choose?

I hope everyone is having a great week! It's time for this weeks prompts, supplied by our prompt guru, Comicfan. Just a reminder, and for those who haven't worked with the prompts before: prompt responses under 1,000 words must be posted as part of a collection. Prompt 646 – Creative Tag -The Rocket Ship You were the last person placed into the ship. You haven’t fully realized what is happening when the ship begins to take off. Why are you on the ship and where are you going? Prompt 647 – Creative Tag – First Line I’ll see him in hell before that happens! Did you write a prompt response last week? Don't forget to share it below.

Thanks for including me in this month's Ask An Author!!!! It was a great question and I hope that those who have not yet read Puppy Love enjoy it!

First off, let me just say that I'm sorry for the lateness of the Weekly Wrap Up. And secondly, a quick reminder to go get your code from the newsletter and enter to win a copy of Barbed Wire Cowboy. Instructions can be found in the newsletter. The drawing will be closed to new entries after February 9th and the winners will be announced in the February 11th newsletter. Also, please consider helping me with new blog content by participating in one of the various blog opportunities. The list can be found in the Wednesday blog for this week or there's a list in the Weekly Wrap Up (the blog entry contains more information about each of these opportunities). Contests 2018 Summer Novella Anthology: Summer - Due April 15th, 2018 Anthologies 2018 Spring Anthology: Now or Never - Due May 15th 2018 Spring Anthology: Encounters - Due May 15th 2018 Fall Anthology: Fight Back - Due Nov 15th 2018 Fall Anthology: Good Intentions - Due Nov 15th Blog Opportunities Story Critique: Open to all GA authors. Sign up here. Ask An Author: Send your questions for your favorite authors to @Carlos Hazday (no questions = no Ask An Author) 3 Story Promo: Open to all GA Authors. PM Renee Stevens to participate. Author Interview: Open to all GA Authors. PM Renee Stevens to participate. Favorite Self-Written Story: Open to all GA authors. PM Renee Stevens to participate Story Recommendations: Open to all GA authors & readers. PM Renee Stevens to participate. Premium Updates: Harbinger by Cia *Premium* Classic Updates: The List by Dabeagle You Promised Me a Tomorrow by Ronyx Signature Updates: A Love Story by CarlHoliday; Book 2 of Warnton Stories April Musings by Valkyrie Black Widow by Mark Arbour; Book 16 of Chronicles Of An Academic Predator (CAP) Cozy Contemplations by Headstall Denied by Cia Dinner is Prompt-ly at Eight by Cole Matthews Insomnia by CassieQ Mojo by AC Benus Photos Lately by Comicality Promptings from Valhalla by Valkyrie Shadow Honor by Cynus The Secret Life Of Billy Chase 9 by Comicality; Book 9 of The Secret Life Of Billy Chase Translation Trashbin by AC Benus; Book 7 of Verse Promising Updates: Disasters, Delights and Other Detours by Parker Owens Georgetown: Over The Rainbow by Carlos Hazday; Book 8 of CJ Only Prompts by Mikiesboy timmy's poetry by Mikiesboy ***Check out this GA Classic*** Desert Dropping DomLuka Rory's mom just died and soon after the funeral his life is turned upside down when he finds out that his mom has contacted the father that he never knew. Now, he's forced to live in the desert with a family he doesn't know, a father he doesn't want to know, and to top it all off, Rory's gay and no longer has anyone to confide in. Friends will be made and the meaning of family will be found as Rory discovers that everything isn't so bad in the desert.

Hope everyone has had a great week so far. It's time for this weeks writing prompts. If you're stuck, or you're considering writing for the first time, these might be perfect for you. Don't forget that stories under 1,000 words must be posted as part of a collection. Prompt 644 – Creative Tag – First Line “I never would have expected that from you!” Prompt 645 – Creative Tag – List of Words Use the following words in a story – a corgi, a manuscript, a phone message, broken glasses, and a bill. Did you write a prompt response last week? Don't forget to share it below.

@Parker Owens Awesome! Thanks for signing up!!! Carlos will be doing his Improve & Encourage critique on Sam Wyer, which means that you'll do the Improve & Encourage critique on Carlos. If anyone else signs up, they'll do their critique on one of your stories, if no one else signs up, then I'll be assigned to do your critique. I've updated the list The bolded names are those who signed up. The non-bolded names are the author doing the critique.

So, normally today would be an Improve & Encourage feature, and while I do have one, I am extremely low on blog content, so that feature will continue next month so that I can get the word out about the various blog opportunities available to authors. I need at least one more "Favorite Self-Written Story" and then I'll have one of those features ready as well. I am also adding a story recommendation opportunity so that readers can send me their favorite stories without having to write a full review. Simply PM me and make sure to put the feature you are sending in the subject box. I hope to hear from all of you soon! Story Recommendation Open to both authors and readers. Simply pick a story you'd like to recommend and send me a link to the story and a single paragraph (preferably without spoilers) to say why you'd like to recommend that story to readers. I will do 3 - 5 recommendations for each feature, so lets get those recommendations coming in! Improve & Encourage *NEW* The idea is for an author to read a story by a fellow author and provide detailed feedback, both positive and negative (constructive criticism). This is also a great way to find new authors that you haven't read before. The way it would work, is you would read a story/poem (of your choice) by the author who's post is above yours in the thread. Then you would write out a critique following a set of guidelines and send it to me via PM or email (renee@gayauthors.org). You can find the guidelines and other information, as well as sign up to participate, in the thread. (If you signed up and haven't yet sent in your I & E critique, please do so soon!) New Author Advice Do you remember when you first started posting your writing? Is there something that you wish you had known prior to first hitting that submit button? Now's your chance to share your knowledge with other authors just starting out! Simply PM your advice to Renee Stevens. Writing Tips Have something you would like to share with other authors and readers about your writing process? This could be a number of things, including stuff like: building characters, grammar and editing tips, getting started, plotting, handling criticism, etc. Really anything that you can think of that has to do with the process of writing. 3 Story Promo If you'd like to have your GA stories featured in the blog, send me the links to the stories, the description, and the following information. What gave you the idea for this story? What was your favorite thing about writing this story? Please tell us something about this story that is not already in the description. Favorite Self Written Story I'd like to know your favorite story that you've written and posted on GA. All I need is a link to the story and a single paragraph as to why that is your favorite. I will do 3 - 5 authors for each feature. Author Interview If you'd like to be interviewed for the blog, then please fill out the attached list of interview questions and PM it to me (Renee Stevens). You can also attach a short author bio if you'd like. Author Interviews will be posted in the order they are received. GA Author Interview.docx

Hiya all! Hope you all have had a great week! Before we get into this week's wrap up, I wanted to take a quick second to point you in the direction of a giveaway that we are doing on GA. We'll be providing a code in the next couple of newsletters that will let you enter to win 1 of 3 copies of Barbed Wire Cowboy. For more information, check out the thread in the announcement forum! Now, lets get to our weekly wrap up! Contests 2018 Summer Novella Anthology: Summer - Due April 15th, 2018 Anthologies 2018 Spring Anthology: Now or Never - Due May 15th 2018 Spring Anthology: Encounters - Due May 15th 2018 Fall Anthology: Fight Back - Due Nov 15th 2018 Fall Anthology: Good Intentions - Due Nov 15th Blog Opportunities Story Critique: Open to all GA authors. Sign up here. Ask An Author: Send your questions for your favorite authors to @Carlos Hazday (no questions = no Ask An Author) 3 Story Promo: Open to all GA Authors. PM Renee Stevens to participate. Author Interview: Open to all GA Authors. PM Renee Stevens to participate. Favorite Self-Written Story: Open to all GA authors. PM Renee Stevens to participate Classic Updates: The List by Dabeagle You Promised Me a Tomorrow by Ronyx Signature Updates: A Love Story by CarlHoliday; Book 2 of Warnton Stories Black Widow by Mark Arbour; Book 16 of Chronicles Of An Academic Predator (CAP) Denied by Cia Mojo by AC Benus Shadow Honor by Cynus Promising Updates: Disasters, Delights and Other Detours by Parker Owens Here Kitty, Kitty by Caz Pedroso timmy's poetry by Mikiesboy ***Check out this GA Classic*** Shane Vlista Shane is a lonely, extremely poor 15 year old. He is abused by his family, and picked on at school. Follow him on his journey from the depths of despair to finding a loving home and boyfriend

Glad everyone enjoyed the new prompts! And thank you @northie for posting the prompts in the forum!

I hope everyone is having a great week! It's time for this weeks prompts, supplied by our prompt guru, Comicfan. Just a reminder, and for those who haven't worked with the prompts before: prompt responses under 1,000 words must be posted as part of a collection. Prompt 642 – Creative Tag - The storm On the way home from work you hear on the radio that a storm is building in intensity and due to hit your area in a few hours. You pick up a few things, especially some food for your pet, and head home. Within moments of entering your home the storm knocks out the power. What happens? Prompt 643 – Creative Tag – The dancer You walk into a room to find a figure dancing alone. Who are they and why are they dancing? Did you write a prompt response last week? Don't forget to share it below.

Oh, you wouldn't have to skim through it @Kitt. Just do a find/replace for "that" and replace it with a space. Then scroll and see if there are any words left.

Monday, Monday, Monday. What could we possibly have for you on a Monday? Oh yeah! We have a new featured story for you. This week, courtesy of Lisa, we are taking a look at Confide/ant by Sasha Distan. Remember, if you're reading a story (or have read one) that you'd like to see featured in the blog, simply write a review and send it to me! Confide/ant Sasha Distan Reviewer: Lisa Status: Complete Word Count: 47,554 Sasha’s third most recent story centers around Marty, a sexy high school rock star (Hrishi’s words, not mine) and Hrishi, a short, geeky high school nerd computer freak (Marty’s words, not mine). Can these polar opposites find a common ground? Besides all the hot sex they’re engaged in. Oh no, not sex, “sexy stuff” is how Marty justifies it. Marty and Hrishi have this chemistry that jumps off the page. Even when they’re fighting and exchanging words (which is extremely often!), their chemistry is palpable. There is conflict, of course. It wouldn’t be a great story without conflict. Hrishi never hides who he is. Marty, on the other hand, spends his whole life hiding who he is. Hrishi refuses to be anyone’s dirty little secret, and he lets Marty know that in no uncertain terms. He is adamant they will never move forward physically, until Marty proves to him he’s not afraid to call out people who make homophobic slurs. Marty has a hard time doing this because he doesn’t want people to even think he’s anything but straight, and defending Hrishi against disparaging words might make others question him. Naturally, it’s Marty’s best friend and band mate, Leon, who makes the most homophobic comments. Can Mr. Rock Star defend Hrishi in front of others? Can he ever come out to his friends ─ to his family? Can the rock star and the computer nerd find happiness? Will they ever stop arguing? Inquiring minds want to know! And you will too if you read the story. Confide/ant is one of the most enjoyable stories I’ve read. I loved it so much I never wanted it to end. In fact, I purposely waited seven months to read the last few chapters just to prolong the ending. This is a story I could read over and over ─ not because of the scorching hot sex, but because of the amazing chemistry Marty and Hrishi have together. If this were a published book, I’d be the first in line to buy it. Thank you, Sasha, for another awesome story! Category: Fiction Genres: Romance Tags: young adult, adult, gay, fighting, parents, interracial Rating: Mature

Hard to believe that another week is already over! I hope everyone has had a great week and a great weekend so far. Let's take a look at what happened in the blogs for this week. Contests 2018 Summer Novella Anthology: Summer - Due April 15th, 2018 Anthologies 2018 Spring Anthology: Now or Never - Due May 15th 2018 Spring Anthology: Encounters - Due May 15th 2018 Fall Anthology: Fight Back - Due Nov 15th 2018 Fall Anthology: Good Intentions - Due Nov 15th Blog Opportunities Story Critique: Open to all GA authors. Sign up here. Ask An Author: Send your questions for your favorite authors to @Carlos Hazday (no questions = no Ask An Author) 3 Story Promo: Open to all GA Authors. PM Renee Stevens to participate. Author Interview: Open to all GA Authors. PM Renee Stevens to participate. Favorite Self-Written Story: Open to all GA authors. PM Renee Stevens to participate Premium Updates: Strawberry Chapstick by Comicality *Premium* Classic Updates: The List by Dabeagle Signature Updates: A Love Story by CarlHoliday; Book 2 of Warnton Stories Black Widow by Mark Arbour; Book 16 of Chronicles Of An Academic Predator (CAP) Cozy Contemplations by Headstall Denied by Cia Mojo by AC Benus Northern Exposure by Mark Arbour; Book 8 of Bridgemont On The Outside by Comicality Shelter by Comicality; Book 1 of Shelter Promising Updates: Here Kitty, Kitty by Caz Pedroso Only Prompts by Mikiesboy The Poetry of D/s by Mikiesboy ***Check out this GA Classic*** Buy Me A Drink A Friendly Face Aaron doesn't get involved in drama. Instead he prefers to sit back night after night in the local club and watch OTHER guys become ensnared by life, and the A-gay's, little games. All that unexpectedly changes one night with four simple words, "Buy me a drink?" Now all Aaron can do is hang on and see where this ride takes him.

I get all my prompts from Comicfan and while we have done photo prompts in the past, we have discontinued using photos in prompts because if for any reason, the photo gets removed from the site, or say I need to clear some attachments, then the photo is no longer available. Edit to Add: Members are allowed to post prompts in the prompt forum, they just need to be titled differently since all of the site prompts are in order. For example, say I wanted to post a prompt separate from the site prompts, it would be titled: Renee's Prompts #1, Renee's Prompts #2, etc...

Hope everyone has had a great week so far. It's time for this weeks writing prompts. If you're stuck, or you're considering writing for the first time, these might be perfect for you. Don't forget that stories under 1,000 words must be posted as part of a collection. Prompt 640 – Creative Tag – Alien Driving home you manage to get past dozens of cars that are pulled over or stopped to watch some sort of accident. You get home and just strip off, climbing into a hot shower and trying to let the day go. When you finally finish, you pull on some clothes and go to make dinner. As you enter your kitchen you hear a crash in your backyard. Rushing outside into the darkening evening you see a figure spread out on the ground. When you finally are close enough you find a figure sprawled out on the floor. The deep green blood and light silver skin make it clear that the figure is an alien. What do you do? Prompt 641 – First Line Tag – First Line “Do you honestly expect him to call you?” Did you write a prompt response last week? Don't forget to share it below.

I'm typically asleep when blog posts go live and feature them when I wake up, if nobody has beat me to it.

We hope everyone had a great weekend! Today is a "review" day and to help you start your week off, the review team has put together a special review featuring some stories by our Classic Authors. If you haven't read these, hopefully these reviews will make you want to add them to your reading list. A huge thank you goes out to the review team for helping keep the blog supplied with reviews. Sandy Altimexis Reviewer: Lisa Status: Complete Word Count: 11,123 Sandy’s so cute he steals every scene he’s in, which is great because he’s in all of them! Sandy is the narrator of this humorous, emotional, and heartwarming story. Sandy happens to be a golden retriever. Which is why, of course, I chose to read the story in the first place! Because who can resist reading a story from a dog’s POV? The story begins when Sandy is just a wee puppy and is given to a five-year-old boy named Timmy. Sandy and Timmy become inseparable. The story doesn’t get going until Sandy’s eight and Timmy’s thirteen. I’m not going to give away any spoilers, so I won’t tell you what happens at that point. I will tell you, however, what I loved about the story. I constantly found myself laughing at how Sandy describes things that we humans do, such as: 'Timmy got out of bed, leavin’ the covers all rumpled the way I like ’em, an’ he walked into his bathroom, lifted the seat on the big water bowl an’ let loose a steady stream. What a shame it was to waste a perfectly good bowl of water like that!’ And now I know why dogs love to drink the toilet water! Another endearing quality Sandy has is the way he leaves off all the ‘g’s and shortens the words ‘them’, ‘and’, along with many other words. I think it’s comical the way his ‘voice’ is written. Sandy, a Dog’s Tale is also a story about growing up and realizing you might not be right all of the time. It’s about coming to terms with the fact your life might not be all warm and cozy in that little box you squeezed you and your family in. And I’m talking about the adults in the story, not the kids! Put it on your “To Read List” if you need to, but definitely, check it out when you have time. It’s a really good story. Plus, how can you resist that cute dog on the front page?? Don’t you want to read all about him and his family? Category: Fiction Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance Tags: teen, gay, under 18, north america, animals, parents Rating: Mature Desert Dropping DomLuka Reviewer: Spikey582 Status: Complete Word Count: 368,980 This is a story that I happened across just searching through completed stories on the site not long after I joined in 2015. Little did I know at the time, this is probably one of the better-known stories among those in the ‘classic’ category, and with good reason, as this is still my favorite among the exemplary writing of DomLuka. Sixteen-year-old Rory’s life gets turned upside down when he loses his mother to cancer. This might sound obvious, as a loss like that is bound to change anyone’s life. But for Rory, things change in ways he never expected. His mother’s dying wish is that, after she’s gone, Rory should go live with his father. A father he never met, and never knew anything about while his mother was still alive. Rory, without much say of his own, is whisked away from the only family he’s ever known --- his grandmother --- and shipped off to Arizona to start a new life among complete strangers. I can’t possibly give a full and fair synopsis of this amazing story in such a short review. That little summary of the inciting incident doesn’t even scratch the surface of what this story is about. It’s one part coming-of-age tale, one part coming-out story, one part family drama, and one part romance. There’s probably some other genres that cross over into this story as well. Suffice it to say, this story is packed full of something for everyone. Seriously, there’s a reason people still talk about this story a decade after it first posted. If you haven’t read anything by DomLuka, Desert Droppings is a great introduction to an awesome author. Category: Fiction Genres: Drama, Romance Tags: teen, anal, oral Rating: Mature Mistletoe and Handgrenades K.C. Reviewer: Litlover Status: Complete Word Count: 5,835 I’ve always been a fan of K.C.’s work and this story is no exception. It’s not a long tale, but --- pardon the pun --- it packs a wallop in only a few thousand words. This story is about AJ, a man who has just had his world blown apart by someone he thought loved him. As he picks his way through the pieces of his heart he receives more bad news that has him packing up and leaving his previous life behind. In his journey to rebuild, not only his life, but a home he’d once loved, he runs into someone from his past who brings with him fond memories of first loves and summertime kisses. I think my only issue with this story was the length; it was only one chapter. There was so much more I would have liked to know. I would recommend you read Mistletoe and Handgrenades yourself to find out what happens to AJ, although I warn you, by the end, you’ll want more. Category: Fiction Genres: Drama, Romance Tags: mature adult, gay, friendship, holiday Rating: Everyone The Summer of Aaron Luc Reviewer: Timothy M. Status: Complete Word Count: 21,854 Let me introduce you to one of the most poignant and beautiful stories which I read shortly after I joined GA. It never fails to squeeze my heart and bring tears to my eyes as I hold my breath and hope for love to conquer fear and the dreaded age gap. At the beginning of the story, Justin is contemplating jumping off a cliff, literally, but then he encounters Aaron who distracts him from the woes of having been dumped by his partner after fourteen years of catering to his wishes. The mutual attraction between the high school teacher and the eighteen-year-old is fairly obvious, but Justin knows all the reasons why he shouldn’t give in to temptation. He may be vulnerable, but he’s also sensible and honorable, two traits, which together with his kindness, make me admire him as he struggles with loneliness. The pace of the story is slow but every word pulls you deeper. Justin may find it easy to resist the offer of physical intimacy, but as the summer progresses so does their mutual closeness of mind and heart. Justin ends up at the mental cliff of whether to leap into the love and relationship offered by Aaron, for the summer or forever. Of all the stories by this Classic GA author, this is my absolute favorite, and I heartily recommend it. Category: Fiction Genres: Romance Tags: young adult Rating: Mature

We hope everyone has had a wonderful start of the new year. As always, it's been a busy week in the various news blogs, so let's take a look at what you might have missed! Contests 2018 Summer Novella Anthology: Summer - Due April 15th, 2018 Anthologies 2018 Spring Anthology: Now or Never - Due May 15th 2018 Spring Anthology: Encounters - Due May 15th 2018 Fall Anthology: Fight Back - Due Nov 15th 2018 Fall Anthology: Good Intentions - Due Nov 15th Blog Opportunities Story Critique: Open to all GA authors. Sign up here. Ask An Author: Send your questions for your favorite authors to @Carlos Hazday (no questions = no Ask An Author) 3 Story Promo: Open to all GA Authors. PM Renee Stevens to participate. Author Interview: Open to all GA Authors. PM Renee Stevens to participate. Favorite Self-Written Story: Open to all GA authors. PM Renee Stevens to participate Premium Updates: Strawberry Chapstick by Comicality *Premium* Classic Updates: A Bridge to Yesterday by Ronyx The List by Dabeagle Signature Updates: Black Widow by Mark Arbour; Book 16 of Chronicles Of An Academic Predator (CAP) Denied by Cia Mojo by AC Benus Northern Exposure by Mark Arbour; Book 8 of Bridgemont Promptings from Valhalla by Valkyrie Spirit of Fire by Stellar Promising Updates: Disasters, Delights and Other Detours by Parker Owens Here Kitty, Kitty by Caz Pedroso timmy's poetry by Mikiesboy

I hope everyone is having a great week! It's time for this weeks prompts, supplied by our prompt guru, Comicfan. Just a reminder, and for those who haven't worked with the prompts before: prompt responses under 1,000 words must be posted as part of a collection. Prompt 638 – Creative Tag – The Holiday Party You’ve been invited to your sister’s holiday party. When you arrive your brother-in-law apologizes, but before you can ask your sister rushes you into the kitchen to help her. Once the guests arrive it becomes apparent that she is attempting to set you up. Is this good or bad? Prompt 639 – Word List Tag – Word List Use the following words in a story – a gift, a winter coat, a nurse, a novel, and a glass of champagne. Did you write a prompt response last week? Don't forget to share it below.

Thank you, Sly!!!