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Renee Stevens

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  1. Renee Stevens

    Featured Story: Meta

    By Renee Stevens,


    Featured Stories
    Being the start of a new week, Monday's are also a good time to take a look at some of the different stories that can be found on Gay Authors. With so many great works, it can be easy to overlook one and Monday's provide an opportunity for us to help make one of them stand out and maybe catch your interest. Today, we're bringing you a review by Timothy M. of JohnAR's story "Meta." Enjoy!



    Meta


    by




    JohnAR


    Author


     
    Reviewer: Timothy M
    Status: Complete
    Word Count: 101,276
     
    Sometimes a writer defines a new genre, and everyone else has to take their creation into account. Anyone writing about robots must decide whether to comply with Asimov’s rules, writers of fantasy or magic will be measured with Tolkien, Rowling and a few others, and anyone doing gay (wolf) shifter stories cannot ignore Rob Colton. The visions and the worlds these signature writers manufacture are so compelling they set a standard for the particular genre.
     
    Thus, if you’re writing gay shifters, particularly wolves, you can either run with the type casting Rob Colton sets up, of the dominant Alpha male finding his mate (whether human or wolf), who is often smaller, weaker and definitely a complete bottom. Or you can decide to break away from the mold and do something different. Both choices can be found at GA, and this review is about the most epic norm-breaking story I’ve come across so far.
     
    JohnAR’s Meta series actually spans several genres and is probably even more in opposition to Twilight than Timber Pack. Though I guess JAR does stay within some traditions. We get vampires as arch-enemies of werewolves, all living in secret amongst clueless humans. There are the usual pack dynamics of Alpha, Beta, Enforcers and so on, plus also a clever college nerd with an unhappy family background.
     
    However, one reason Meta fascinates me is JAR’s unconventional ways of solving various problems I’ve always had with ‘traditional’ werewolf/vampire stories. First of all, the fact normal dominant Alpha behavior is sort of obsolete in the modern world and can bring trouble on your pack. JAR’s answer to this Gordian knot is brilliant and obvious – after you’re told. For once it’s brain over brawn.
     
    Secondly, JAR’s wolves are much more like real wolves than humans. Genetically based instincts and smells affect them profoundly and even rule them, and if you judge their behavior by human standards you’ll get it wrong. In a real wolf pack only the alpha female has cubs (by the alpha male of course), and JAR’s werewolves have their own traditional version of a breeding based hierarchy. Since this cannot hold for gay wolves, something else has to be devised. JAR’s solution for the Inner Circle of his Meta pack will probably be considered perverted by most of his readers. The biologically imperative loyalty demand is certainly weird and hard to accept – for a human.
     
    Thirdly, there is no biting and turning, and that goes for vampires too. JAR’s vampires arise and behave in ways which are more believable and scary than most stories. But interestingly some of them can actually breed with normal humans. As can JAR’s wolves – or at least they seem to attract plenty of sexual interest from human females as well as wolf bitches. At times to an uncomfortable degree for gay wolves.
     
    Apart from the supernatural stuff the most fascinating feature of Meta is the main character, Colt. He is the nerdy genius with issues and he also has somewhat kinky sexual interests - almost obsessions. Be prepared to feel annoyed and shocked, but at least he judges himself as relentlessly as he does his surroundings, be it fellow students, teachers, or relatives. Some of the most delightful moments in the first book are Colt sparring with his business class lecturer. I’m quite intelligent myself, but Colt is in a league of his own, and I’m in awe of him – and by extension his ‘creator’.
     
    In case I haven’t scared you off yet, let me conclude with a few warnings. Only the first two books of the Meta series are complete, and the third began posting in January 2015, but I know several more are being written. In addition, he recently began teasing us with his Meta Prompt series. JAR loves cliff hangers, obscure hints, confusing and provoking his readers, making fun of gay stereotypes and romances (especially those favored by women), and – as mentioned – being contrary to shifter story norms. He and Colt are into non-conventional but possessive relationships, hot sex with more than a hint of D/s, and hunky but non-hairy guys with lots of muscles. Preferably Marines.
     
    I dare you to try out Meta, and I know JAR would welcome you ranting at his stories in reviews or the story forum. But please be aware this is not a challenge to be taken by soft-hearted, vanilla-loving believers in soul-mates and hetero-normative relations. So don’t blame me if you come away shaken and disturbed.
     
    Story Forum (beware spoilers) http://www.gayauthors.org/forums/topic/39601-meta-wolf-meta-origins/


    Category: Fiction Genres: Mystery, Romance Tags: Young Adult, Vampire, Were-creatures, Menage, Fetish Rating: Mature


  2. Renee Stevens
    Who's ready for another Grammar Rodeo? Today's Grammar Rodeo is sorta a Part 2 of last weeks. A big thanks to Cia for providing these for the blog. They are a great learning tool and include some great tips and tricks to help authors remember what is best to use. Hopefully you'll find Grammar Rodeo #6 as informative as I did!
     


    Grammar Rodeo #6


     

    Plural Nouns
     
    Last time we talked about plural verbs… now let’s talk about plural nouns. Remember how there are ‘regular’ forms and ‘irregular’ forms? Well, in nouns there are a LOT of both that dictate how you make a noun become plural.
     
    Regular forms:
    Adding s: This is the most common form of making a noun plural. Now let’s look at the other ways!
    Example: Play becomes plays, book becomes books, poem becomes poems.
    Adding es: You use es in words that end with ch, sh, x, or s.
    Example: Ax becomes axes, church becomes churches, pass becomes passes
    Adding ies: You use ies when a word ends in a consonant and y.
    Example: Butterfly becomes butterflies, aviary becomes aviaries. (notice play is just s, since it ends with vowel and y, not a consonant)
     
    Irregular Forms:
    Nouns ending in o: Add es (Avocado becomes avocadoes)
    Nouns containing oo: Double oo becomes double ee (eg: Foot becomes feet)
    Nouns ending in f: Change f to v and and es (eg: Scarf becomes scarves)
    Nouns ending in fe: Change fe to v and add es (eg: Knife becomes knives)
    Nouns ending in us: Change us to i (eg: Octopus becomes octopi)
     
    Now, many of these have exceptions. Plus you have nouns that stay the same like moose or mouse which becomes mice in a completely random change. As always, when in doubt… check the dictionary!
     
    That vs. Which
    Both that and which connect clauses in sentences. The difference is actually pretty easy to figure out. That connects clauses that are dependent on each other, where both parts of the sentence are needed to make sense. Which connects independent clauses, or those that are not essential to the sentence meaning.
     
    Examples:
    That: I’m allergic to the trees in the yard that bloom every spring.
    Which: The trees in the yard, which bloom every spring, make me sneeze.
     
    Exceptions! What grammar rule exists without these, right? As I mentioned in Grammar Rodeo #5, when you refer to people you use who instead of that. Of course, the exception to this is when you refer to a group—even if it’s a group of people.
     
    Example:
    The Secret Service team that flooded the building scared me.
  3. Renee Stevens
    For a while in the blog, we used to do "Blast from the Past" posts. All of these posts came from the old newsletter. I was struggling to figure out what to post for today, when I thought, why not check out the earlier posts of the revived blog. In looking back, I found the perfect post, and it happens to be the first "Writing Tip" that was posted when Lugh started the blog back up. I hope you find it informative.
     

    If you want to check out the past comments on the original post, you can go check out the old blog post.
  4. Renee Stevens

    Ask An Author #32

    By Renee Stevens,


    Author Interviews
    I've heard countless times how much everyone loves the Ask An Author feature and want to give a big Thank You to Dark for taking the time to contact all the authors and compile these wonderful Wednesday pieces. Don't forget, if you have a question you'd like to "Ask an Author" all you need to do is send Dark a PM!! Hope you enjoy!!!
     


    Ask an Author #32


     

    Welcome back to another quirky question and answer session with your favorite authors!
     
    In AtA #31, we had questions for authors Andrew Todd, Headstall, and Sasha Distan.
     
    In AtA #32, we hear from authors aditus, Cia, and wolfwriter.
     
    For their protection, the members who asked these questions shall remain nameless (unless they choose to reveal themselves). Please note that all author replies are copied as is, spelling errors and grammar eccentricities original to the individual.
     
    First up is Promising Author Aditus, whom we last saw in AtA #25. Once a scientist, Aditus continues to let his curiosity guide him and many of his interests pop up in his stories. Speaking of which, Aditus is one of the regular prompt-writers; and congrats on making it to 3000 rep! Recently, he’s been attempting National Poetry Writing Month, where authors are challenged to write a poem a day for an entire month. His current story is The Lonely Heart Club, a romance based on two things, the Friday prompts and Billy Joel’s “The Piano Man.” Love the song like I do? Then see what the plot bunnies are chewing on.
     
    To Aditus: What inspired the creation of Jonah from Red Running Shoes. Did the dove as a symbol play a role in his development?
    Jonah was inspired by a real person. Someone you’d think has it all: He’s good looking, has a well-paid and interesting job, and a lot of nice friends. His issues, however, are what make him story-worthy.
     

    One reader very keenly concluded that Jonah has a typical INFP personality. For those who aren’t familiar with this, here are some facts: true idealist, always looking for the hint of good in even the worst of people, often a writer or poet. Add to this some quirks and baggage from the past that leads to a great fear of being betrayed, and you have an interesting character to write about. Those who read my stories know that my focus is usually on the characters of my stories, on their feelings, their reasoning, their reactions to obstacles life throws at them. You can see why I couldn’t resist Jonah.  

    I like names and their meaning and read a lot about this topic. When Jonah’s character was shaping up, his name was suddenly there. I looked it up and found it strangely fitting. Doves stand for love, sacrifice, peace, and hope. I just had to use it. So, I guess the answer is no. The character was mostly finished before I named him, it’s nevertheless a very suitable symbol for Jonah’s personality.  
    We venture now to redhead, sci-fi-loving Cia. We haven’t seen her in this blog in awhile, but the majority of us here on GA know her quite well as one of the behind-the-scenes workers. As if being a mom and admin aren’t enough, she’s also got a new puppy! And check out her blog Cia's Stories for more info on her published works. Crazily, Cia had a run-in with plagarization, with someone trying to rip off one of her stories. Grrr. Sadly, it’s not the first time something like that’s happened, but thanks to our wonderful readers (both on GA and elsewhere), fixes are much quicker than they used to be. On a happier note, congrats to Cia for making it 18 years with the same person. Happy Anniversary, and here’s to many more!
     
    To Cia: I love some of your short stories. Have you thought of serializing them? Where do you draw your inspiration from?
     

    That depends on which short stories you're talking about! Honestly, most of my non-contemporary stories are whole new worlds I could explore. Coupled in Synchronicity is going to be a novel. Married to the Enemy began as a 2k short and went to 12k. The Breach is a nice contemporary start, but it doesn't scream out to me, "Write More!". I do have a few flash fiction pieces I want to expand, but most of my Dribbles are just as is. I guess I'm just not motivated to write enough each day, but if I was (or my kids weren't so darn needy, they expect dinner EVERY night, can you believe it?!) then yeah, I'd love to serialize more of my shorts.Inspiration... well that's a tricky thing. Sometimes I don't feel it at all, and writing is a slog each week to get through because I just know it'll get easier if I keep trying. Sometimes my plot ideas are inspired the prompts I receive each week from the Wednesday Briefers, my off-site flash fiction group. I've been inspired for basic concepts in a story by a magazine article on passionettes (Changing Focus), a scientific research topic (gamma radiation from a supernova in Cataclysmic Evolution), a philosophical debate (Jung's theory of synchronicity in Coupled in Synchronicity)... and once even from my cat curled up on my shoulder and letting me rub my cheek against his soft, fluffy fur.  
    Author wolfwriter is our third and final author today. From Dallas, Texas, Wolfie loves stories with werewolves and other were-animals. She’s been with us since 2012 and published her first story with us in 2013. Her latest project is Love Bite, a story about a were-bear and a vampire and the sequel to “A Trip to Love.” Just this summer, Wolfie got “Uncommon Valor” published through Amazon. The cover to that, and others of her stories, are in her gallery. See what else she’s been up to on her website through weebly.
     
    To wolfwriter: Your works range from The Marine to Lonesome Theta: what got you to try your hand at 'were-stories'? The mind-link is a nice touch--what inspired you to add that aspect to the tales?
     

    I actually started my writing with were-stories. I read Timber Pack by Rob Colton and was hooked on them. One day I had an idea to try my hand at writing my own and came up with Your Alpha, My Mate. I wanted my characters to be able to communicate with the ability to have a conversation without anyone being able to overhear it when the need came. As for my non-were stories I was challenged by my beta of Your Alpha to try to write something more contemporary and I came up with A Chance At Love. While I love those stories I also love my were-stories.  
    That’s it for now! For more info on these authors, go check out their stories, post in their forums, and/or catch them in chat!
     
    See you next time, with an extra-special edition of Ask an Author!
     
    Want to ask your favorite author a question? Simply PM me (Dark).
     

    Until next time!
    Dark
  5. Renee Stevens

    Weekly Wrap Up!

    By Renee Stevens,


    Weekly Wrap Up
    Hope everyone has had a wonderful weekend. Just a reminder that tomorrow is the CSR Discussion day of The Rainy Day by Graeme. Now, with that reminder, let's see what happened in the GA News Blog this last week.
     
    For our featured story, Timothy M provided us with a review of Prophylaxis.
     
    Wednesday, Cia took over the blog to discuss something that had once again struck the site: Plagiarism. Cia gives some great tips on how to search for your story to make sure it's not posted anywhere that you didn't authorize. All authors should definitely check this post out.
     
    Friday, Comicfan brought new prompts to the blog. Want to see what prompt responses were written? Comicfan provided snippets from all of them.
     
    Last, but not least, we had a Saturday post this week in which Cia announced A Grim Fairytale by K.C. as the October Signature Background.
     
    Anthology Announcements:
     
    ***NOTE: All Deadlines are for submission to the Anthology Proof Team**
    2015 Winter Anthology: Blackout - Due December 3rd

    By our Promoted Authors:
     
    The Degan Paradox by Rob Colton; Book 3 of Galactic Conspiracies *Premium*
     
    Toy Soldiers by Dabeagle
     
    Gay Metal by carringtonrj
     
    Innocence & Carnality by Mann Ramblings
     
    Destiny - a novel by AC Benus
     
    Sword of Kings: Tempered by Fate by Bill W Book 3 of Sword of Kings
     
    Avery & Matt shorts by craftingmom
     
    A prompt a week by comicfan
     
    Lie of the Serpent by craftingmom
     
    Reece's Choiceby Renee Stevens
     
    Twenty-Two Early Poems by AC Benus; Book 3 of Verse
     
    Cosmic Inception by Cia
     
    Lost & Found by aditus
     
    Don't forget.... Read, Write, and REVIEW!!!
  6. Renee Stevens
    I hope everyone is having a great week so far! As you can see, Cia has provided us with another Grammar Rodeo. Ever been confused by Present Tense Verbs vs. Past Tense Verbs? Cia gives us a guideline to help out with those pesky issues. In addition to Tense Verbs, Cia also helps out a bit with That vs. Who.
     
    Past Tense Verbs
    While there are a variety of tenses to write in, I think the most common method is to use past tense. So today we’re going to talk about past tense verbs. For the most part, verbs are pretty easy to write in past tense. The majority of them are regular verbs and simply require you add a d or ed to the word, and voila! Pick becomes picked and finish becomes finished.
     
    But what about those irregular verbs? You know, the ones that have to screw with the system?
     
    Drive becomes drove. Eat becomes ate.
    Have becomes had. Break becomes broke.
     
    Unfortunately, there’s no way I can share to guarantee you know which words are regular or irregular and how to tell the difference beyond just knowing them. The dictionary is definitely your friend. But… what about when the rules are bent or broken? C’mon, well know the English language is rife with “exceptions” and tenses are no different. Usually these exist due to dialect, or in other words, common usage in a region.
     
    Drug vs. Dragged
    While many of you might drug is correct, if you follow the rules, dragged is the past tense word for ‘drag’ and drug only refers to pharmaceuticals. However, in the southern region of the United States, drug is commonly used.
     
    **Another little tidbit. When a verb has the emphasis on the ending syllable, you add repeat the consonant letter, as in dragged adding ged to drag.**
     
    Snuck vs. Sneaked
    Once again, the traditional ed form to make sneak past tense by using sneaked is correct. However, through common dialect usage in widespread regions, snuck has now become an accepted alternative.
     
    Dove vs. Dived
    This time again, both are not considered correct, but dived is the grammatically preferred past term use for dive. Outside the US, some even consider the use of dove to be incorrect, though popular usage in many areas does allow for it.
     
    So what do you think about the use of verbs common in local dialect versus the grammatically correct version? Is there a common use of a verb, regular or irregular, that you’re not sure is correct?
     
    That vs. Who
    Earlier we visited who vs. whom. Today I want to share a quick reminder about a grammar issue I see pretty often: that vs. who in a sentence. And I do have a quick way to help you remember! The use of that or who in a sentence depends on the subject. If you’re writing a person, it’s insulting to use that because they’re a person—not a thing.
     
    So remember, if you’re writing about a thing, use that. If you’re writing about a person, use who, or whom, as grammatically correct!
  7. Renee Stevens

    Weekly Wrap Up!

    By Renee Stevens,


    Weekly Wrap Up
    We're going to get right up into the wrap up this week, and guess what, we're even going to go backwards! Have you been looking for something new to read? Something short maybe? With the release of the 2015 Fall Anthology, you have 16 brand new stories to check out. If you check Thursday's blog entry, you'll find links to all of them. Don't forget to leave the authors a review to let them know how much you appreciate their work.
     
    Have you thought about doing a story review for the blog? Maybe you just don't know how to go about it? Or maybe you even wonder if it is open for everyone. Any member of the site can write a blog review, and if you're looking for guidelines, make sure you check out Wednesday's post!
     
    The Rainy Day by Graeme was announced on Monday as this month's CSR choice. At 7,598 words, it should be a quick read and hopefully the Discussion on September 28th will have lots of participants.
     
    Anthology Announcements:
     
    ***NOTE: All Deadlines are for submission to the Anthology Proof Team**
    2015 Winter Anthology: Blackout - Due December 3rd

    In Premium
     
    The Degan Paradox by Rob Colton; Book 3 of Galactic Conspiracies
     
    By our Classic Authors:
     
    Toy Soldiers by Dabeagle
     

    In Dog We Trust by Dabeagle
     

    By our Signature Authors:
     
    Impossible Situation by Bill W *2015 Fall Anthology*
     
    Hidden Agenda by Bill W *2015 Fall Anthology*
     
    Backroom Deals by Bill W *2015 Fall Anthology*
     
    You Never Can Say Goodbye by Bill W *2015 Fall Anthology*
     
    Angel or Human? by comicfan *2015 Fall Anthology*
     
    Tail to Tell by comicfan *2015 Fall Anthology*
     
    Glimpses in Time by Bill W *2015 Fall Anthology*
     
    Out of Focus by Bill W *2015 Fall Anthology*
     
    Ember Days by Dolores Esteban *2015 Fall Anthology*
     
    My Only Escape by Comicality
     
    Global Explorer II by David McLeod
     
    Innocence & Carnality by Mann Ramblings
     
    Fortitude by Cia
     
    Sword of Kings: Tempered by Fate by Bill W; Book 3 of Sword of Kings
     
    GA Writing Prompts by Dolores Esteban
     
    Force of Nature by Krista
     
    Reece's Choice by Renee Stevens
     
    Cosmic Inception by Cia
     
    Black Widow by Mark Arbour; Book 16 of Chronicles Of An Academic Predator (CAP)
     
    By our Promising Authors:
     
    Lie of the Serpent by craftingmom
     
    Exhaling the Past by craftingmom *2015 Fall Anthology*
     
    Walking the Line by Valkyrie *2015 Fall Anthology*
     
    The Welcome Home by Valkyrie *2015 Fall Anthology*
     
    9:05 PM by aditus *2015 Fall Anthology*
     
    Morton's Fork by Cole Matthews *2015 Fall Anthology*
     
    It's Only Natural by AC Benus *2015 Fall Anthology*
     
    Destiny - a novel by AC Benus
     
    Presence by carringtonrj
     
    Don't forget.... Read, Write, and REVIEW!!!
  8. Renee Stevens
    I know a lot of people have been looking forward to the release of the Fall Anthology. Luckily, the wait is over! Sixteen stories have now been released for your enjoyment. I hope you find something you enjoy and don't forget to leave the author's a review to let them know what you think of their work! Thank you to all the Authors and their teams, the Anthology Proof Team for giving the stories a final polish, AJ for his Tech help, and Mann Ramblings for the Anthology banner!
     




     



    9:05 PM
    aditus

     
    Julian watched the high rises on the other side of the street. A few bright rectangles here and there showed some people still at work.
     
    Or they'd forgotten to turn off the lights.
     
    It was Friday night. Everyone should be at home with family or at some bar with friends or at an expensive Italian restaurant celebrating their one-year anniversary…
     
    No, no, not going there. Lights…right. The cleaning crew going through the offices? No. Julian’s analytical mind discarded the idea immediately. Then the whole floor would be lit.
     


    Angel or Human?


    comicfan


     
    The alarm breaks the silence of the room, although I am already awake. I reach out and turn it off. All it really means is I have to get up and go to work, nothing I really enjoy, but it is a necessary evil like most things in my life. It is hard to pretend and go through life acting like everyone else, when your own life is totally screwed up. However, that is the normal state of being for someone like me. My parents long ago blurred the line between good and evil, normal and superior, angelic and humanity. After all, I am the proof those two didn’t follow the rules. When an angel and a mortal have a child, their child is called a Nephilim. See, there is good and bad to being a Nephilim. The good being, we can detect lies and have a burning desire to help those in need; the bad, we are always being looked for by the Fallen to switch sides and help drag humanity down. Like all who live, we are neither black nor white, but all of us are really just shades of gray.
     


    Backroom Deals


    Bill W


     

    As soon as the Supreme Court announced its decision that the right to marry was protected under the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution, social conservative heads began to explode. Not literally of course, but they couldn't believe they had lost this battle and hadn't gotten their way, so now all people had the right to marry whomever they chose. How were they going to live with this decision and were they now going to be forced to accept gays totally?
     
    The day after this historic decision, social conservative think tanks began to ponder this very issue. Was the war concerning this topic now over and they had to abide by this decision, or did they still have other options to pursue? I'm not saying this was what transpired at each of those meetings, but I believe it gives a fair account and representation of what might have taken place at the various discussions.
     


    Ember Days


    Dolores Esteban


     
    “This old mansion looks like a palace in a fantasy movie,” Sally said to her husband as they ascended the stairs to the wide entrance of the hotel.
     
    “Uh,” Sally cried out when she stumbled.
     
    Her husband, Tom, jumped forward to stop her from falling down the stairs. Sally took a deep breath and smoothed down her jacket.
     
    “A broken step,” Tom said, pointing at the step, then took another bite of the turkey sandwich that he had bought in a diner on their way to the hotel.
     


    Exhaling the Past


    craftingmom


     
    Fuck. The damn kid was there again. It figured.
     
    I sighed as I dropped my head back against the headrest, wondering again just what the hell I was thinking. It had been several days since he'd been brought in. And, while I'd made my decision then, there was the hope that maybe the kid had gotten scared and gone home.
     
    No such luck. Or maybe it was actually really lucky, depending on how you looked at it. My captain was going to have my head for what I was going to do though. But hell, the kid just looked so much like...
     


    Glimpses in Time


    Bill W


     
    "Jason, what's wrong? You got some lovely gifts for your birthday, but you don't look happy," his mother observed, while looking down at the frown on her son's face.
     
    "I didn't want this stupid truck, that dumb fishin' game or any of that other stuff," he snapped back, not at all happy. "I said I wanted a Barbie and a Disney Princess Songs Palace."
     
    "I know, but Daddy thought you'd like these too," she offered with as much sympathy as she could muster. "Your sister will let you play with her Barbie, so you don't need more."
     


    Hidden Agenda


    Bill W


     
    "Let's face it, the educational system and unions are the two biggest factors affecting our bottom line," Jim bemoaned as he sat down with a bunch of similar minded individuals for dinner.
     
    "I can see why you listed the unions, because whenever a large number of individuals join together they gain greater influence and power, so they become more difficult to deal with. The thing is, I'm confused about why you added education too," George stated and his puzzled expression emphasized the point. "Don't we need a fairly intelligent workforce in order to keep our businesses functioning smoothly?"
     


    Impossible Situation


    Bill W


     
    I had a problem and didn't know what to do about it. To be more accurate, most of my family had the same problem, but no matter what we did in an attempt to resolve the issue, nothing worked. To put it simply, each of my siblings and I were dealing with the same conundrum, and it was how to escape our father's obsessive and domineering nature.
     
    You see, my father was a super control freak who wanted to manipulate his family like a bunch of marionettes. At home this meant my mother, my other siblings and myself, because none of us dared to do anything without his knowledge or approval. He had each of us under his thumb so tightly that it was difficult for any of us to even breathe without his permission. The only time we were out from under his authoritarian grip was when we were at school, but the principal and teachers knew what he expected and acted in proxy for him. If we were to vary even slightly from his prescribed course of behavior, one of them would immediately report our transgressions to him, and we'd be severely punished.
     


    It's Only Natural


    AC Benus


     
    The ring was still too small. However, that fact could hardly come as a surprise to him after all these years of wearing it. The daydreaming man squinted at his manual task, and suddenly saw all too clearly this kind of thing had been happening to him his whole life. He had the perfect metaphor within his grasp as he stood at the kitchen counter.
     
    Every morning since he started to drink this kind of coffee, his cup would be a little too full and he'd have to pour some off. Somehow experience never rose to the level of being able to alter expectations, so he eventually gave up estimating the perfect amount of water to heat for the freeze-dried crystals of his instant caffeine. He told himself he was content to pour the excess of his mistake down the drain.
     


    Morton's Fork


    Cole Matthews


     
    “I’m dating the quarterback of the football team,” the teen said, smirking at Ben. “His name is Dez, and he’s such a stud.”
     
    The paralegal smiled back and nodded. “That’s terrific, Clay. When did that start?”
     
    “A few weeks ago. He finally asked me to the fall homecoming dance,” Clay said, clasping his hands in front of him excitedly. “We’ve been flirting and stuff and it happened. He’s the man of my dreams.”
     
    “That’s awesome,” Ben said. “I hope he’s good for you.” He looked around his boyfriend’s living room nervously. He was supposed to stay with Rush for the weekend. It had shocked him when Clay Taukkala, the kid from Boy River, answered the man’s door. “When did Rush say he’d be back?”
     


    Out of Focus


    Bill W


     
    Every morning I'm confused when I look into the mirror
    Because the face staring back isn't what I expect to see
    No! I can't be that person, it just doesn't seem possible
    He looks more like my grandfather, but that's not how I feel


    Tail to Tell


    comicfan


     
    Marcus had gotten up while it was still dark, grabbed his surfboard and wet suit, and then headed out to his car to head to the beach. He hoped to get his wave of the day shortly after sunrise.
     
    “Good morning, Long Island. This is Danny K, bringing you the news this morning. First on the list is a violent storm that’s due in shortly after day break today. High winds and violent thunderstorms are expected. All beaches are due to be closed down as riptides and strong currents are expected. A fire in—”
     
    Marcus turned off the radio and hurried down the highway to the beach. He knew if he got there before the dawn, chances were damn good that he could get a few rides in before the patrols caught him and forced him off the beach.
     


    The Welcome Home


    Valkyrie


     
    “It’s time for me to go. Kevin told me so.” The old man’s voice was low, and his breathing labored.
     
    “Don’t say that, Great-Grandpa. Stay… I don’t want you to go.” The boy’s face twisted with the effort of holding back his tears.
     
    “Ninety-three years is enough, buddy. It’s time to go be with Grampy. He needs me.”
     
    The boy hugged his great-grandfather tightly, sobbing into his chest. “But I love you, and I’ll miss you. We need you, too.”
     


    Walking the Line


    Valkyrie


     
    “I’ll see your fifty and raise you a hundred.” I slid the money to the center of the table and sat back in my chair. I had a great poker face, and did my best to maintain it. I knew Josie well enough to know she was bluffing. I intended to call that bluff, no matter how much it cost me.
     
    The other four players folded in rapid succession, leaving only my best friend and me left in the round. She narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing my face for any ‘tells’. I raised an eyebrow. “Well? In or out?”
     
    “In. You’re bluffing.” She added another hundred to the pile of money in the center of the table. “Ok, show ‘em, big shot.”
     
    I grinned as I spread my cards out face up. “Full house. Read ‘em and weep.” I reached for the money, sure of my victory.
     


    What's Real To Me


    thecalimack


     
    We sat down on a bench in the park, enjoying the cool breeze as the sun set. The leaves were dancing all around us as they swayed and glided to the ground. The entire place was painted with the leaves—hues of crimson, orange, and gold making a vivid display on the trees and the earth. I appreciated his company. He was always there for me, since I was a little kid until even now as I just celebrated my twentieth birthday.
     
    His brown hair, usually let down to just graze the nape of his neck, was tied up into a short ponytail he seldom wore. His deep brown eyes gazed over the path as passersby came and went. He hadn't aged a day since I last saw him; his frame was still as firm and solid as when we first met. Even in twenty years, the only difference I really noticed was a beard. He watched the small families playing at the playground with unbridled laughter and mirth. He smiled to himself. I remembered how he'd tag along with me as I explored the forests by our old home, always keeping watch on me when I was still a child. I remember how he would hold my hand as we made our way back to the house even in the dead of night.
     


    You Never Can Say Goodbye
    Bill W

     
    I had just returned home after graduating from college and was planning on taking a short break so I could have some fun before I started looking for a job. I felt I had earned the right to relax and enjoy life for a while since I'd just spent four years studying and meeting all of the course requirements to earn my bachelor's degree.
     
    When I first got home, most of my old friends from high school were there too. They were either home for the summer before returning to college or just taking a few weeks off before starting a job. Seeing there were so many people around that I knew and was friendly with, the first part of the summer was a blast. It was a series of cookouts, parties, clubbing and even a few road trips as we headed to the beach, amusement parks and other places where those our age tended to hang out. As the summer progressed, however, all of the good times began to wind down. Slowly, those beginning their careers left the area, and then those returning to college took off to go back to their campuses. It didn't take long after they left before I became hopelessly bored.
     

    2015 Fall Anthology Support Team


     

    Proof Team



    Cia



    Rec



    Andy78



    Valkyrie


     

    Anthology Banner Creation



    Mann Ramblings


     

    Tech Support



    A.J.


  9. Renee Stevens
    Hope everyone has had a great week so far and is looking forward to the weekend. What better way to start it off than with brand new prompts! If you've been feeling stuck, or maybe just want to do something a little different, maybe one of these prompts will jumpstart a new idea. A couple of things to remember: Prompt responses under 1,000 words must be posted as part of a collection.
     
    Prompt 444 – Creative
    Tag – First Line
    “Would you, please, go to sleep?”
     
    Prompt 445 – Creative
    Tag – Coffee
    The world has lost one of its favorite drinks. Coffee has become a thing of the past. The last beans have been used and it no longer exists anywhere in the world. What are people doing without their coffee?
     
    Today we're featuring Puppilull's response to prompt #442. Enjoy!
     

    Continue Reading>>
  10. Renee Stevens

    Ask An Author #31

    By Renee Stevens,


    Author Interviews
    Wow, it's hard to believe it's already September. This year has gone by so quickly. Don't forget, tomorrow is the last day to get your anthology entries in. We already have a lot of great entries, but there's always room for more! Now, onto regular business. As most members probably know, the first Wednesday of the month is set aside for our Ask An Author feature, provided to us by Dark. For those who don't know what the Ask An Author feature is: If you've always wanted to ask your favorite author, or any author, a question, send it to Dark. Dark will ask the question for you and compile it into one of the Ask An Authors. Don't worry, Dark keeps the identities of the askers anonymous! Let's see what we have this week!
     

    Ask an Author #31


     
    Welcome back to another quirky question and answer session with your favorite authors!
     
    In AtA #30, we had questions for authors AC Benus, ricky, and wanda walker.
     
    In AtA #31, we hear from authors Andrew Todd, Headstall, and Sasha Distan.
    For their protection, the members who asked these questions shall remain nameless (unless they choose to reveal themselves). Please note that all author replies are copied as is, spelling errors and grammar eccentricities original to the individual.
     
    Today’s first author was last featured way back in AtA #2 with one of the most followed stories on GA at the time, Riding Lessons. Last year, the book became available on Amazon as a paperback with a slightly different name. The cover is hot, and it’s rated 4.8 out of 5 stars, so not just GA loves this story! Though we haven’t heard much from Andrew lately, there’s 10 other stories in his portfolio, complete and in progress. Todd often writes about young men facing life’s challenges. One of my favorites is Empath's Kiss, but it’s not for the faint of heart, dealing as it does with some tough material and ending on something of a cliffhanger.
     
    To Andrew Todd: Regarding your story "The Chosen," do you plan on horses having anything to do with getting your West Coasters to meet your New Hampshire guys? and if so, how?

    One of the things I love about posting my writing in forums such as this is the feedback I get from readers and seeing how they think the story is going to unfold. I've received a lot of e-mails speculating on this very thing, I think that some of it might be 'wishful thinking' that more of the 'Riding Lessons' characters will find there way into 'The Chosen'. The short answer to the question is 'no'. I've known since almost the beginning of the story how the boys will end up together, if I was writing a more 'conventional' story then having them cross paths at a show or something like that would be a good way to have them meet, but as this story has more of a 'supernatural' bent, they will be coming together in a different way. As it's still in my head (I've been taking a break for the last few months), it might change in it's specifics, but one thing for my readers to chew on...I've never said that some of them might not have already met...  
    Now meet author Headstall in his blog debut. Hailing from Ontario, Canada, he’s been with GA only a year and a half but has already racked up 6200+ likes, many from his current story Cards on the Table. In case you didn’t know, a “headstall” is an item similar to a bridle. Now, most people know that a “bridle” is the thing that goes over a horse’s head, holds the bit in the horse’s mouth, and connects to reins. It’s not really that simple, of course, and the choice of “headstall” as a user name is an interesting one. Catch up with our “poster child for success” Headstall in his forums if you want to know more!
     
    To Headstall: Your writing has turned out to be awesome. Was it difficult to take that first step and post?

    Thanks for the compliment. It was an extremely hard decision to make. I wrote the first chapter in around five or six, maybe seven hours, and figured I would just put it aside. It played on my mind however, because of how the words just poured out. I didn't even know the process of posting and I am not a computer person. I knew that if I didn't try to post it right away... then I never would. That scared me almost as much as posting it. My biggest concern was whether or not I could follow through on such a commitment if I did post. The bottom line is I threw caution to the wind. I have always been creative, and ever since I was a very young boy, words were my friend and my solace through some very tough times. As difficult as it was to make the decision and as scary as it was to follow through, I have absolutely no regrets. I have a new outlet for my creativity, and tremendous support and encouragement from the GA community. The reception has been way more than I could have ever hoped for. Thanks for asking... Cheers..  
    And our third author today is an author we’ve seen before, Sasha Distan. A member since March 2013, Sasha became one of our promising authors only a few months later, and small wonder. 2014 was an amazing year for Sasha, with a short story published through House of Erotica and a very special wedding. 2015 continues to reveal Sasha as one of our more regular writers, consistently turning out chapter after chapter, and story after story. You can catch up with this British teacher in the forums, where he frequently updates his readers on his writing schedule, and if you need more than the zillions of stories here on GA, you can find his published works on Zulu. Are those goldfish still alive, Sasha?
     
    To Sasha Distan: You always talk about how crowded your head is, how do you decide which characters/stories get to go first?

    The ones who shout the loudest.  

    My skull is indeed a very busy place, a bit like my classroom. and a bit like my classroom, it's the noisy boys who get my attention first, regardless of whether that attention is good or bad. When I was writing Redemption's A Bitch and A Wolf And His Man simultaneously, I switched between the two every few chapters. Kieran would be shouting the loudest, so I would write him some story to keep him happy until Oli's bark became too strong to ignore. Then I would write for him and Boris until you could hear nothing but the sound of motorbikes - and then back I'd go.  

    The problem with this system is, without careful maintenance like a classroom full of students, is that someone gets lost forever. It happens: an idea springs up and pokes me. He's small, hopeful, eager to please, but not strong enough to shout down whoever I am currently working with (at the moment, Hel, Ishca and Aki are taking up a vast majority of my time), and if there is too much still to do on the other story, then he slips away like he wasn't even there. I can't tell you if the stories that don't get written are good or bad, happy or sad, amazing or dull - because I never see them again.
    I like to think that the ideas that don't make it go and find another writer to make puppy eyes at. Let me know if see them.  
    That’s it for now! For more info on these authors, go check out their stories, post in their forums, and/or catch them in chat!
     
    See you next time, with authors Aditus, Cia, and Wolfwriter.
     
    Want to ask your favorite author a question? Simply PM me (Dark).
     

    Until next time!



    Dark


  11. Renee Stevens

    Weekly Wrap Up!

    By Renee Stevens,


    Weekly Wrap Up
    I hope everyone has had a great weekend! Don't forget that the deadline to submit your anthology entries to the Anthology Proof Team is just a few days away. All entries need to be to the proof team no later than September 3rd to give the team time to proof your story and get it back to you. Also, don't forget that tomorrow (August 31st) is the CSR Discussion Day for Becoming Real by AC Benus. AC will be live on the blog from 7-9 PM eastern. Now, let's take a look at what happened this past week.
     
    If you're looking for a new story to read, check out Monday's review. Atruefan has shared his thoughts regarding Future Imperfect by Bill W. If you've never read anything by Bill, at just over 3,500 words, Future Imperfect would be a great one to get you started!
     
    For the Wednesday blog, we took a look at Premium Stories. If you'd like to help support the site and keep it going, a Premium membership may be the way to go. Not only do you help the site, but you get access to some great stories, including Rob Colton's newest story in the Galactic Conspiracies series, The Degan Paradox.
     
    Friday brought a couple of new prompts meant to inspire you. Instead of only sharing one of the prompt responses, we shared the first few lines from all prompt responses posted since last Friday. Hopefully you found something you enjoyed!
     
    But wait, the week wasn't over yet! Cia took over the blog on Saturday to bring us the Signature Background for September. This coming month, we're featuring Noah's New Plan by Rob Colton. If you haven't already done so, make sure to download the background!
     
    Anthology Announcements:
     
    ***NOTE: All Deadlines are for submission to the Anthology Proof Team**
    2016 Theme Voting: Voting ends September 2nd 2015 Fall Anthology: Blurred Edges - Due September 3rd 2015 Winter Anthology: Blackout - Due December 3rd

    In Premium
     
    The Degan Paradox by Rob Colton; Book 3 of Galactic Conspiracies
     
    By our Classic Authors:
     
    Boy, Bus & Key by Dabeagle
     
    By our Signature Authors:
     
    Space Pioneer 3 - The Yanara Archives by Dolores Esteban
     
    Leopard Spots by Graeme; Book 2 of The Lilydale Leopards
     
    Black Widow by Mark Arbour; Book 16 of Chronicles Of An Academic Predator (CAP)
     
    Sword of Kings: Tested by Adversity by Bill W
     
    Global Explorer II by David McLeod
     
    Innocence & Carnality by Mann Ramblings
     
    Fortitude by Cia
     
    Reece's Choice by Renee Stevens
     
    Cosmic Inception by Cia
     
    By our Promising Authors:
     
    Poems for Ross by AC Benus
     
    Destiny - a novel by AC Benus
     
    Presence by carringtonrj
     
    Lie of the Serpent by craftingmom
     
    2015 Prompt Responses by Valkyrie
     
    Queer Shakespeare by carringtonrj
     
    Don't forget.... Read, Write, and REVIEW!!!
  12. Renee Stevens
    Hope everyone has had a great week so far and is looking forward to the weekend. What better way to start it off than with brand new prompts! If you've been feeling stuck, or maybe just want to do something a little different, maybe one of these prompts will jumpstart a new idea. A couple of things to remember: Prompt responses under 1,000 words must be posted as part of a collection. Do to the high number of collections containing only a few "chapters" we have set a limit of five collections per author, any more than this requires prior Admin approval.
     
    Prompt 442 – Creative
    Tag – List of Words
    Use the following in a story – a candle, a table, a cat, a Duchess, and a diamond necklace.
     
    Prompt 443 – Creative
    Tag – The Book
    You won a book online. When you finally get it the book surprises the hell out of you. What is the book about?
     
    We had A LOT of people take on prompts over the last week. There were even visits to older prompts, so I decided to do a massive feature this week. Enjoy these first two lines of each prompt posted since last week's Prompt Me! (In the case of first line prompts, there will be 3 lines)
     
    Puppilull Prompt 438:
     


    The warm water cascaded over my head and down my back. A feeling of relief was spreading through me. Read More>>  

    JohnAR Prompt 441:
     


    ‘Really? If you believe that, you have lost your mind!’ Emma’s cheerful eyes had seemed to say when she left. How could Seb think he could beat a nerd at chess? Read More>>  

    Valkyrie Prompt 441:
     


    “Really? If you believe that, you have lost your mind!”
    “I know what I saw!”
    “Tim is not an alien.” Read More>>  

    Puppilull Poetry Prompt 5:
     


    My eyes blinded from the light
    To just feel, suspending sight Read More>>  

    Puppilull Poetry Prompt 4:
     


    Bacon fried to careful crisp
    Eggs, then cheese that’s grated Read More>>  

    Headstall Poetry Prompt 4:
     


    I know you can't behave
    It isn't in your genes Read More>>  

    J.HunterDunn Poetry Prompt 1:
     


    Are tears part of life ?
    Unshedded ones, held inside. Read More>>  

    Timothy M. Prompt 299:
     


    “I’m going to give him a piece of my mind! And if that doesn’t work, he can have my fist, again.”
    All of us stared at Rob, trying to work out whether he was joking or not. Read More>>
  13. Renee Stevens
    Well, we're at the start of another week and this week we are going to look at a story written by Bill W called "Future Imperfect". If you like what Atruefan has to say in the review, why not go check out the story and leave the author a review! Also, if you've read a story you've enjoyed lately, and would like to see it featured in the GA News Blog, simply shoot me a PM and send me a review. I'm always looking for reviews.
     



    Future Imperfect


    by




    Bill W


    Signature Author


     
     
     
    Reviewer: Atruefan
    Status: Complete
    Word Count: 3,538
     

    I may be fairly new to GA, but I've been reading stories like those on this site for nearly three decades. In that time there have been only a handful of stories that have stuck with me.
     
    One such story is one from back in 2012. This story stuck in my mind not due to its sweetness. Nor due to its romantic content. This story was truly frightening.
     
    Not frightening due to its 'horror' content, but from its realism and potential to become real life. The name of the story is 'Future Imperfect' by BillW.
     
    The story opens with a newscast proclaiming that a definite genetic connection to sexual orientation had been identified. This was initially hoped to finally end the debate over whether a person made a choice as to their orientation.
     
    The story goes on to outline various ways that groups could use this information to forward their own agendas. Churches instituted testing first to find out if any of their clergy possessed traits which were against their dogma. Subsequently, to weed out undesirables from their congregations.
     
    Next, there were attempts to have educators tested in order to "protect kids". Other groups then required testing of their membership,basically instituting a 'Witch Hunt' type mentality.
     
    Some others offered any who could afford testing to test unborn children for this predisposition, allowing them to choose whether or not to terminate the pregnancy.
     
    Finally, a whistle-blower came forward revealing that there were secret laboratories attempting to produce toxins or retro viruses to eliminate those genes which caused these unwanted orientations in an effort to eliminate the possibility of these 'abnormal' children from being conceived in future generations.
     
    The truly scary part of this story is, even though it's far fetched, each and every scenario in the story is plausible.
     
    Our society has grown and evolved somewhat from the time this story was written, but there are still those who would push for many of the things outlined in the story. It was a great read for a one chapter short, one that can open your eyes and make you think. I highly recommend it.
     


    Category: 2012-2 Choices Genres: Sci-Fi Tags: Medical, Future, Dark Rating: Mature


  14. Renee Stevens

    Weekly Wrap Up!

    By Renee Stevens,


    Weekly Wrap Up
    I hope everyone had a great weekend. As we get ready to start a new week, it's time to take a look back at what happened this past week in the GA News Blog. There was a lot of great things going on, and if you haven't already checked out the past week's post, now is the chance for you to get a glimpse and maybe go read up on the posts you missed.
     
    We started out the week with a review of JohnAR's story MetaOrigins. If you haven't already checked out Puppilull's review, then what are you waiting for? You might just add the story to your reading list.
     
    Tuesday brought an anthology announcement that the voting for the 2016 Anthology Themes is now open. You have until September 2nd to get your votes in. After that, I'll be announcing the four themes for next year and also have a special announcement for next year. (Oh c'mon, I gotta build up the anticipation somehow!)
     
    Wednesday we took a look back at a previous writing tip that was supplied to us by Libby Drew. Have you ever wondered whether conflict is necessary in your story? Well, Libby answers your question!
     
    Once again, we finished out the week with some new prompts. Hopefully they'll spark some ideas and we'll see some new prompt responses before next week. This week we featured a response by Aditus.
     
    Anthology Announcements:
     
    ***NOTE: All Deadlines are for submission to the Anthology Proof Team**
    2016 Theme Voting: Voting ends September 2nd 2015 Fall Anthology: Blurred Edges - Due September 3rd 2015 Winter Anthology: Blackout - Due December 3rd

    In Premium
     
    The Degan Paradox by Rob Colton; Book 3 of Galactic Conspiracies * NEW *
     
    By our Classic Authors:
     
    Mansfield by Dabeagle
     
    By our Signature Authors:
     
    Leopard Spots by Graeme; Book 2 of The Lilydale Leopards
     
    "Waiting Outside The Lines" by Comicality
     
    Space Pioneer 3 - The Yanara Archives by Dolores Esteban
     
    A prompt a week by comicfan
     
    The Secret Life Of Billy Chase 9 by Comicality; Book 9 of The Secret Life Of Billy Chase
     
    Global Explorer II by David McLeod
     
    Sword of Kings: Tested by Adversity by Bill W
     
    Innocence & Carnality by Mann Ramblings
     
    Fortitude by Cia
     
    Veil of Shadow by Stellar; Book 2 of unnamed
     
    Black Widow by Mark Arbour; Book 16 of Chronicles Of An Academic Predator (CAP)
     
    HMS Valiant by Mark Arbour; Book 7 of Bridgemont
     
    Reece's Choice by Renee Stevens
     
    Hercules III by CarlHoliday
     
    Cosmic Inception by Cia
     

    By our Promising Authors:
     
    A Fool's Thoughts by aditus
     
    Presence by carringtonrj
     
    Lie of the Serpent by craftingmom
     
    Destiny - a novel by AC Benus
     
    Queer Shakespeare by carringtonrj
     
    2015 Prompt Responses by Valkyrie
     
    Aditus' prompts and circumstances by aditus
     
    The Lonely Heart Club – a prompt story by aditus
     

    Don't forget.... Read, Write, and REVIEW!!!
  15. Renee Stevens
    Happy Prompt Day!!! Otherwise known as Friday. I hope everyone has had a great week and are getting geared up for the weekend. Have you ever tackled one of the prompts provided by Comicfan? If not, what better time is there than now? Each week, Comicfan provides two brand new prompts to help get the ideas flowing. Don't forget to share your prompt responses in the forum and if you're posting in GA Stories, remember that all stories under 1,000 words must be posted as part of a collection. Now, let's see what Comicfan has for us this week.
     
    Prompt 440 – Challenge
    Tag – Travel
    There are many genres of books and stories. The challenge is to write a Travel story. You tell a story about traveling, the places you see, the things you experience, and the things you shouldn’t miss.
     
    Prompt 441 – Creative
    Tag – First Line
    “Really? If you believe that, you have lost your mind!”
     
    We had a lot of takers last week, especially on the vampire prompt. Enjoy Aditus' response to Prompt #438:
     

    Read and review the rest!
  16. Renee Stevens
    Sometimes it's hard to find new content to share in the GA News Blog. Lately, I've been looking back at some of the stuff that has been shared since the Blog started up again and I realized something. We have new authors joining all the time and not everyone wants to search through the News Blog and read the tips that have been shared. With that thought in mind, I decided to look at some of the past tips and bring them back to the forefront. The first one I'm once again featuring is from Libby Drew and is all about the conflict in stories. It was first featured in the blog back in July 2013. I hope you enjoy this little blast from the past.
     


    Conflict Is Key


     

    Creating powerful conflict and weaving it tightly throughout the story is a difficult skill to master. It can take years of practice. But the reward is worth the learning curve, especially if the result is cathartic to the reader.
     
    Conflict is what makes us interested in outcome. A story with a weak conflict that leaves the characters exactly as they were at the start won’t be satisfying; your story won’t make a lasting impression. I’m betting that’s a no-brainer for most people reading this. Unfortunately, knowing isn’t the same as doing, so here are a few generalities to keep in mind while crafting your plot.
     
    Your main character, your hero, should face three different types of conflict.
     
    • Internal
    • Relational (with other characters)
    • External (against environment or circumstances).
     
    Use all three. It’s not as difficult as it might seem at first glance, and your story will have more depth.
     
    Keep the tension rising. Always. All the time. The pacing of conflict in your story should look like this:
    Conflict Simmers --> Conflict Boils --> Conflict Explodes --> Temporary Safety --> Repeat.
     
    Envision your story with peaks and valleys. Your peaks should get progressively higher as the climax nears. At every turn, ask yourself “How can I make this situation worse?”
     
    Conflict is the nervous system of your story. It sets characters in motion, forcing them to do things they would never have imagined doing. They may lash out or jump onto paths they never expected to travel. In reality, most people try to get along with others, to bring peace to potentially explosive situations. Your characters should go out of their way to make those situations worse. This will highlight their imperfections. Make them more richly rounded.
     
    Your characters can’t all love each other. They can’t always agree. If they do, your readers will be asleep by chapter two. Or looking for something else to read. So don’t hold back. Let characters say things they’ll regret. Make then lose their tempers, their possessions, and their hearts. Push them beyond their limits and then show the reader how much that hurts them.
     
    Consider these suggestions:
     
    • Give your characters opposing goals.
    • Make them face their fears and rely on their weaknesses instead of their strengths.
    • Deny them what they want most of all. Then deny them again.
    • Introduce uncertainty at every opportunity—is a friend truly a friend?
    • Make them care, then threaten what they care about.
    • Leave them isolated and under attack from both friends and enemies. Maybe even from themselves.
     
    It may sound complicated, but chances are you already have a solid grasp of what’s needed. Execution may not be so simple, so stay vigilant. Test yourself by “graphing” your story. Is the tension escalating as it should?
     
    Pushing your characters into conflict will drive your story tension higher, forcibly evict blandness and banality, and leave behind something far more fulfilling for the reader. Conflict is a requirement of satisfying fiction, so make it a strong component of your stories.
     
    ~Libby
  17. Renee Stevens

    Featured Story: Metaorigins

    By Renee Stevens,


    Featured Stories
    Hope everyone had a great weekend and a big thank you to both Cia and Wildone for taking on the blog while I dealt with some health issues. Now it's a new week and it's time to take a look at one of the many stories that are posted for your enjoyment on Gay Authors. Today, Puppilull has provided us with a review of MetaOrigins. Enjoy.
     

    MetaOrigins


    by



    JohnAR


    Author


     

    Reviewer: Puppilull



    Status: Complete



    Word Count: 103,236


     
    MetaOrigins is the second book in the MetaWolf series which revolves around Colt Parker and the wolves in his pack. Book 1, Meta, set the scene for the series explaining how Colt, the lonely nerd with an attitude, met the first three wolves in the pack and also started to realize that his life had changed forever. His dreams of having hunky men in his life was suddenly fulfilled, as he becomes the Meta of the pack, meaning he is the brains at the top of the pack overruling even the sometimes "act first -think later" Alpha. It also became more and more apparent that he himself was important. For what and to whom was and is still unclear. There is a price on his head and many (vampires, wolves and humans in different constellations) conspire together or separately to bring him down and collect the reward.
     
    This second book leads us on quite a journey. Not only to further discover what Fate has in store for our pack and their Meta, but also for Colt and the wolves themselves. As indicated in the title, they all have to learn about their past in order to understand how this has shaped and prepared them for the present and the future. This journey of self-discovery is sometimes difficult and painful to read. They are all outcasts and unwanted, which is a terrible fate for a human but almost unbearable for a wolf. They may have been thrown together by unknown forces and are led by instincts and scent, but as I see it they also come together due to their past experiences. Now they find they have a place where they belong.
     
    During book 2 the pack adds another wolf, Isaac. Him meeting the pack gives us readers an opportunity to see just how far Colt has come and how he’s grown into his role as Meta. He now feels much more comfortable and secure in dealing with wolves as wolves and not humans. The pack finding their roles means they can all focus on their respective tasks within the pack, creating a well-functioning, if small, pack. This focus is much needed for them to be able to face their enemies.
     
    Having settled somewhat from their drifting existence in book 1, Colt and the wolves in this book go from being guarded and very driven by instinct to actually getting to know each other. They start to reveal who they really are, as the trust builds between them. The nature of the wolves’ interaction with Colt is often very sexual, but underlining this strong attraction is a deeper sense of belonging together. Colt, being used to ensconce himself behind a shield of arrogance and aloofness, is step by step coaxed from his self-imposed isolation by the affection the wolves show him. He slowly starts to believe that maybe he doesn’t have to be alone to protect himself from hurt. Maybe he too is worthy of love. This deep need for being accepted, being loved is to me one of the main themes of MetaOrigins. A place in a pack (be it wolf or human) is something we all want and need.
     
    The need they have for each other is written in a way that makes it almost tangible and in spite of them facing a lot of danger, they find time to express their deep connection in different, often naughty ways. The tactile need in the wolves is captured beautifully in the story without being expressed overtly. It’s just there, woven into the interactions of the characters. In addition to touch, scent also plays an integral part of their relationship, which is not so surprising since the story is about wolves, who naturally have very sensitive noses. The descriptions of the scents in the book and how they affect the pack also enhances the feeling of the wolves truly being wolves.
     
    So these acquaintances… Are they nice? Well, no. Not all the time. Just like people in general, Colt and his wolves are shaped by their previous experiences, meaning they make the wrong choices at times (thus infuriating the reader). They are also flawed like the rest of us, having ideas and convictions that aren’t to everyone’s liking. There are… let’s say interesting views on women, gay men, weaker men, the concept of normal… As much as I wanted to be there in the story with them to argue their points, I also felt this added to the story and made the characters more believable. These protagonists are imperfect like the rest of us, something that makes them human (or wolf shifter, as the case may be).
     
    Sometimes, the book and the series feel like one giant puzzle or mystery to be solved. At times it’s almost as if you are participating in a slightly twisted treasure hunt when you read it. Throughout the books, the author leaves us readers hints and clues. For anyone wanting to keep track of all these little clues, I would highly suggest an excel sheet or an enormous white board. The satisfaction when you figure something out is almost ecstatic. Of course, usually you are misled by the somewhat devious author, who has a knack for misdirection and disinformation. But that’s OK, because what fun would it be if you could figure out where we will end up already from the start?
     
    Now you’ve read book 1 and 2 and you’re maybe feeling a bit lost, suffering from withdrawal. Don’t despair! When you reach the end of book 2, you can easily satisfy your need for intrigue and love by continuing on the next book. Book 3, MetaShadowLands is already published and complete and book 4, MetaBattles, is more than halfway published. After that four more books will follow…
     

    Category: Fiction Genres: Mystery Tags: Young Adult, Vampire, Were-creatures, Gay, Menage, Fetish Rating: Mature


  18. Renee Stevens

    Interview: Dolores Esteban

    By Renee Stevens,


    Author Interviews
    Have you downloaded your copy of this month's signature background? If not, before you do so, check out this week's interview that Cia did with Dolores Esteban on her story Cold Case.
     

    Interview with Dolores Esteban


     
    Single people often have more time to write. Are you single?

    Yes, I’m single, but I don’t feel I have more time. No long evenings and lonely weekends  

    Are you a person who makes their bed in the morning, or do you not see much point?

    I make my bed in the morning. I like it all tidy. It saves time and nerves.  

    Did you like to write as a kid in school?

    No, I actually hated it. I loved reading, though. I practically spent all my free time reading books on a wide variety of subjects.  

    What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

    Reading books on a wide variety of subjects, researching weird stuff on the internet and discussing it with friends. I’m intensively following an aviation forum on the internet. Don’t ask me why. I was interested in a specific topic and now I can’t stop reading the stuff. Oh, and I have a full time job.  

    What’s the best part of being an author?

    I can make up a whole new world. I can do whatever I like and go wherever I want to.  

    Did something specific inspire you to write in a crime/cop based-theme for Cold Case?

    The first chapter was actually a reply to Comicfan’s prompt # 122. I rewrote and continued the story later.  

    Did the characters or the plot for Cold Case come to you first?

    The prompt inspired me. Use the following words in story: Red hand print, shattered vase, new car, fifteen year old boy, and a spider.  

    Just how real is the Antique Mafia?

    It’s real. I read about it in a magazine and thought it fitted my story.  

    Did you always plan to have a strong paranormal theme to the story, even though it’s primarily a contemporary setting?

    Paranormal and mysterious themes fascinate me. I’m a big fan of unsolved mysteries and the unknown. I like to research on it, read about it, write about it, make up a mystery or twist the mundane.  

    What are your future projects?

    I like the poetry prompts. The last one particularly intrigued me. I want to write more poems and experiment with the forms. Another major project is my Space Pioneer series. I have finally finished editing Space Pioneer III and IV, 20.000 words together, and plan to start posting soon. I have some ideas for another story.
  19. Renee Stevens

    Featured Story: Cold Case

    By Renee Stevens,


    Featured Stories
    For those that missed this month's signature background announcement, this month's Signature Background is "Cold Case" by Dolores Esteban. If you haven't already downloaded the background, there's still time! As our featured Monday post, we're sharing a review that Cia provided us. Cia obviously enjoyed the story and hopefully, after reading today's review, you'll decide you want to take a look for yourself. Enjoy!
     



    Cold Case

     

    by


     


    Dolores Esteban


    Signature Author​


     
    Reviewer: Cia
    Status: Complete
    Length: 17, 484
     

    My first thought, when reading Dolores’ story, Cold Case, was that there was no way she packed that much information into a tale under 20,000 words! There is a rich tapestry of information that we learn about the characters and the mystery that unfolds, and it felt like a much longer tale when I read it. I’m a bit of a sucker for anything with a paranormal theme, and something that might freak me out in real life or in a movie—ritual murder, scary stuff—just fascinated me as I read Cold Case.
     
    The main character, Adam Johnson, is a police officer who just transferred into the Cold Case Unit. Hence the story name, lol. However, his first case isn’t so cold! Another detective, Steve Mills, picks him to partner on a case that’s been on the docket for 2 years but couldn’t be cracked. This is when we’re introduced to the paranormal angle—a psychic vision witness—and the secrets within secrets of the antiques that were stolen that included a hidden knife of Aztec Origin.
     
    Of course, Adam’s father is an expert archaeologist in Aztec and Toltec culture… and the new developments in the case cause Adam a lot of distress he has to hide from his new partner. A trip to Spain, an Antique Mafia—and OMG, did that make me laugh but apparently it’s a real thing!—a cover up, and the revelation that this whole thing is intrinsically linked with Adam’s past pulled me right in and I couldn’t stop reading until I reached the end.
     
    Coincide? Fate? An orchestrated drama by some shadowy characters? What comes next? There’s a rather freaky twist that comes about in the story and I really didn’t expect, even though Dolores did preclude some little tidbits here and there. What that twist is, you’ll have to read the story yourself to find out, of course. All in all, a great little mystery jam packed full of investigative action and paranormal ambiance so fans of both genres could really enjoy this story!
     


    Category: Fiction Genres: Thriller/Suspense Tags: Crime, Europe, Workplace, No Sex, Modern Rating: Everyone


  20. Renee Stevens
    Who's ready for a new set of prompts to get the wheels turning? Sometimes an author hits a road block that they just can't seem to make their way through. The weekly prompts are a great starting point to jump start some new ideas. Whether you're looking to just do a quick flash piece or maybe you want to do a bit longer story, why not give them a try! A couple of things to remember: Prompt responses under 1,000 words must be posted as part of a collection. Do to the high number of collections containing only a few "chapters" we have set a limit of five collections per author, any more than this requires prior Admin approval.
     
    Prompt 436 – Creative
    Tag – The Snake
    You were doing some yard work. It wasn’t exactly how you planned to spend your day, but it needed to be done. As you reached in to pull some weeds a large snake with bright blue eyes slithers into view and lifts itself to watch you. What does the strange snake do? How do you react?
     
    Prompt 437 – Creative
    Tag – First Line
    “Where did they want to meet us, again?
     
    And it's time for the next poetry prompt!
     
    Poetry Prompt #12: Rondo
    Write one Rondò based on a well-known movie scene. Channel the pathos you personally know and love from a favorite movie moment, like Scarlett O'Hara grubbing turnips and saying "As God is my witness…" or, the adrenalin injection scene from Pulp Fiction – you choose. Work those emotions into three quatrains, with the pivot point coming on the 3rd one. You decide how or if you wish to rhyme it, and how many syllables each line contains. You can read more, here.
     
    For the Poetry Prompt Response, I decided to feature Headstall's response to Poetry Prompt #11:
     

    And for the featured prompt response from last week, here's JohnAR's response to prompt #435
     

    Read the rest, here.
  21. Renee Stevens

    Weekly Wrap Up!

    By Renee Stevens,


    Weekly Wrap Up
    I hope everyone has had a great week so far. Before we get to this week's wrap up, I'd like to remind everyone that the first round of voting for the 2016 Anthology Themes is currently going on. Voting is open until August 15th at 11:59 pm MST. There hasn't been too many votes as of yet, so if you haven't voted, go to the Anthology Forum and vote! Whether you're a reader or author, we'd love to have you vote. If you're a reader, vote for the themes you'd like to read about or the ones that might inspire you to try your hand at writing. If you're an author, vote for the themes you'd like to write about! Now, lets see what happened this week in the blog!
     
    We started our week off with the announcement that AC Benus' story Becoming Real is this month's CSR choice. If you haven't already done so, you have until the 31st to read it so that you can participate in the CSR Discussion. In other news, on Thursday, AC Benus was announced as our newest Promising Author!
     
    Dark's feature, Ask An Author, returned on Wednesday with some great questions for AC Benus (who was very popular this week in the blog), Ricky, and Wanda Walker. Check out their questions and answers!
     
    Friday gave us brand new prompts. This week we had the newest poetry prompt on top of the regular two new prompts. Check them out and see if any spark an idea. For our features, we had a prompt response by JohnAR and a poetry prompt response by Headstall.
     
    Anthology Announcements:
     
    ***NOTE: All Deadlines are for submission to the Anthology Proof Team***
    2016 Anthology Theme Voting: Round 1 *August 1st - August 15th* 2015 Fall Anthology: Blurred Edges - Due September 3rd 2015 Winter Anthology: Blackout - Due December 3rd

    In Premium
     
    Pretty Little Thing by Nephylim
     
    By our Signature Authors:
     
    Leopard Spots by Graeme; Book 2 of The Lilydale Leopards
     
    Black Widow by Mark Arbour; Book 16 of Chronicles Of An Academic Predator (CAP)
     
    The Secret Life Of Billy Chase 8 by Comicality; Book 8 of Billy Chase Chronicles
     
    Sword of Kings: Tested by Adversity by Bill W
     
    Force of Nature by Krista
     

    Innocence & Carnality by Mann Ramblings
     
    Global Explorer II by David McLeod
     
    GA Writing Prompts by Dolores Esteban
     

    Fortitude by Cia
     
    By our Promising Authors:
     
    Destiny - a novel by AC Benus
     
    Lie of the Serpent by craftingmom
     
    Presence by Carringtonrj
     
    Aditus' prompts and circumstances by aditus
     
    Don't forget.... Read, Write, and REVIEW!!!
  22. Renee Stevens

    Writing Tip: Grammar Rodeo #1

    By Renee Stevens,


    Writing Tips
    Today's blog is courtesy of Cia! Ever wondered which is the correct word to use when faced with lay/lie? You're not alone and Cia has put together a very informative blog entry to help, it even includes tips and tricks for when you're really not sure. Thanks Cia for taking the time to give us Grammar Rodeo #1!


    Grammar Rodeo #1



    Tips and Tricks for wrangling those Pesky Word Choices!


     

    Who and Whom
    Okay, I hate this one, even though it’s relatively simple! Let’s make it easy: Who is used as a subject of the verb. It describes the person doing whatever the action word says is happening. Whom is the object of the verb. That means whatever the action is, it is happening to that person.
     
    Examples:
    Rick just knew who spilled the beans. (Who spilled the beans—so they did the action spilled the beans)
    Rick has a crush on whom? (The subject he ‘has’ a crush is on the whom in this sentence)
     
    Easy Tip: Substitute he and him. If he sounds better, you usually use the word who. If him sounds better, you usually use the word whom.
     
    Examples:
    Rick just knew he spilled the beans. or Rick just knew him spilled the beans.
    Rick has a crush on he? or Rick has a crush on him?
     
    Lay vs. Lie
    This is another one I constantly flub, much to my dismay. Both are very similar, but, when used correctly, lay and lie indicate very different things.
     
    Lay means to put an object down. That means the subject is putting the object—book, pillow, plate—down on something.
     
    Lie means to be, rest, assume a horizontal position. So that means the subject’s bod is actually in that position, and not moving an object.
     
    The water gets a LOT murkier when you start hitting past tense because lay becomes laid and lie becomes lay. Yep, gotta love the English language. And there’s more below, after the present and past examples, so keep reading!
     
    Tip: What the subject (character) is doing is key in knowing which to use, no matter what tense you’re writing in. If the subject is moving themselves, you use lie (present) or lay (past). If the subject (character) is moving an object you use lay (present) or laid (past).
     
    Examples:
     
    Present tense:
    I lay down the pencil beside my completed paper. (the pencil is being lay down by I)
    I lie down after an exhausting homework session. (the person “I” is moving to lie down)
     
    Past tense:
    I laid down the pencil beside my completed paper. (The person, I, put the pencil down)
    I lay down after an exhausting homework session. (The person, I, hit the sheets after the homework session)
     
    There are present and past participles too, depending on ‘helping’ verbs, just to make it even more fun, but the rule still stands on what is moving into that horizontal position.
     
    Examples:
     
    Present Participle:
    I am laying the pencil down beside my completed paper. (helping verb: am)
    I was lying down after an exhausting homework session. (helping verb: was)
     
    Past Participle:
    I had laid down the pencil beside my completed paper. (helping verb: had)
    I had lain down after an exhausting homework session. (helping verb: had)
     
    Tip Chart:
    Lay (moving an object) Present: Lay Past: laid Present Participle: laying Past Participle: laid
    Lie (subject actually moving) Present: lie Past: lay Present Participle: lying Past Participle: lain
  23. Renee Stevens

    Weekly Wrap Up!

    By Renee Stevens,


    Weekly Wrap Up
    I'm going to get right into the wrap up, but this week we're going backwards and starting with Saturday. If you haven't already done so, make sure to go and vote in Round 1 of the 2016 Anthology Theme Voting. This first round of voting will go from now until August 15th.
     
    We had two Saturday posts this week, the second one was the August Signature Background announcement. This month we're looking at Cold Case by Dolores Esteban.
     
    Friday brought two brand new prompts and a prompt feature of Cazpedroso.
     
    This past Wednesday we had a Grammar Rodeo from Cia which was sort of a part 2 from last weeks Grammar Rodeo. These are very informative and hopefully everyone checks them out.
     
    We started the week out Monday with the CSR Discussion of Frozen Heart by Dianjin. It's not too late to go and share your thoughts on the story!
     
    Anthology Announcements:
     
    ***NOTE: All Deadlines are for submission to the Anthology Proof Team***
    2016 Anthology Theme Voting: Round 1 *August 1st - August 15th* 2015 Fall Anthology: Blurred Edges - Due September 3rd 2015 Winter Anthology: Blackout - Due December 3rd

    In Premium
     
    Pretty Little Thing by Nephylim
     
    By our Signature Authors:
     
    Leopard Spots by Graeme; Book 2 of The Lilydale Leopards
     
    Black Widow by Mark Arbour; Book 16 of Chronicles Of An Academic Predator (CAP)
     
    HMS Valiant by Mark Arbour; Book 7 of Bridgemont
     
    The Secret Life Of Billy Chase 8 by Comicality; Book 8 of Billy Chase Chronicles
     
    Sword of Kings: Tested by Adversity by Bill W
     
    Innocence & Carnality by Mann Ramblings
     
    Global Explorer II by David McLeod
     
    Fortitude by Cia
     
    Cosmic Inception by Cia
     
    The Strange Life of Jonas Marks by comicfan
     
    By our Promising Authors:
     
    Lie of the Serpent by craftingmom
     
    Presence by Carringtonrj
     
    Don't forget.... Read, Write, and REVIEW!!!
    ​
  24. Renee Stevens
    Who's ready for a new set of prompts to get the wheels turning? Sometimes an author hits a road block that they just can't seem to make their way through. The weekly prompts are a great starting point to jump start some new ideas. Whether you're looking to just do a quick flash piece or maybe you want to do a bit longer story, why not give them a try! A couple of things to remember: Prompt responses under 1,000 words must be posted as part of a collection. Do to the high number of collections containing only a few "chapters" we have set a limit of five collections per author, any more than this requires prior Admin approval.
     
    Prompt 434 – Creative
    Tag – The Cat
    You seem to be finding this same cat everywhere you go. At first you thought it was just your imagination, but then you see the cat in pictures your friends take and post of you on Facebook and other media. What happens when you finally realize the cat is following you?
     
    Prompt 435 – Creative
    Tag – List of Words
    Use the following words in a story – the zoo, a spider, a policewoman, an ice cream cone, and a mime.
     
    This week I decided to feature Cazpedroso's response to Prompt #433, enjoy!
     

    Read the rest, here.
  25. Renee Stevens
    Hope everyone has had a great week so far and is looking forward to the weekend. What better way to start it off than with brand new prompts! If you've been feeling stuck, or maybe just want to do something a little different, maybe one of these prompts will jumpstart a new idea. A couple of things to remember: Prompt responses under 1,000 words must be posted as part of a collection.
     
    Prompt 432 – Creative
    Tag – Change of Time
    You went to sleep feeling that things would be so much easier if you were born in a different time. When you wake up early the next morning, the first thing you notice is you aren’t wearing the same things you went to bed in. As you look around you discover that everything is different and the styles are old fashioned. When you turn on your television, which is a huge tube television, you discover even the news is a number of decades out of date. What time are you now living in?
     
    Prompt 433 – Creative
    Tag – First Line
    “Where did all of that come from?”
     
    This week, I decided to feature Greg_A's response to the second chance Prompt #421. Enjoy:
     

    Read the rest, here.
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