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Renee Stevens

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  1. Renee Stevens

    Weekly Wrap Up!

    By Renee Stevens,


    Weekly Wrap Up
    Hope everyone is having a great summer so far! Before I get into the Weekly Wrap Up, I'd like to announce that I have opened up Theme Suggestions for the 2015 Anthologies. Members will be able to make their suggestions in the thread through July 20th, so get your thinking caps on and share your lists! Now, lets see what happened this past week in the news blog.
     
    On Monday, Percy supplied us with a review of "Memoirs of a Child of the Past Century" by Old Bob. He did a little bit different of a review, choosing some snippets from without this autobiographical story.
     
    Tuesday we took a look at another premium story. "Save Tonight" by CassieQ was one of the 2014 Summer Premium Anthology stories. There were a lot of comments regarding the story, if you've read it, feel free to drop in and share your comments as well. If you haven't read it and have considered purchasing Premium, there's some information there that will help you.
     
    Cia joined us on Wednesday to share some editing tips that she uses while crafting a story. Not only did she share her thoughts, but she asked members to share what they do. Many people took up the challenge and there was a lot of great information given to help both new and seasoned authors.
     
    Trebs visited the blog on Thursday to announce GA's newest Signature Author, Andy78. If you haven't already done so, visit the blog entry and leave him a message!
     
    The prompts returneds on Friday. Comicfan provided us with a photo prompt as well as a first line prompt. It's always hard to choose who to feature, but this way I chose to feature a rather imaginative prompt response that DynoReads crafted in response to Prompt #330.
     
    Anthology Announcements:
    2015 Theme Suggestions *NOW OPEN* - Visit the thread to offer your suggestions for the 2015 Anthology Themes! Thread will close at 11:59 PM (US Mountain Time) on July 20th) 2014 Fall Anthology: Scars - Due Sept 3rd *Note: Deadline is for submission to the Anthology Proof Team*

    2014 Winter Anthology: Chain Reaction - Due December 3rd *Note: Deadline is for submission to the Anthology Proof Team*

    NEW READING
     
    In Premium this week:
     
    No More Hiding by Renee Stevens
     
    By our Signature Authors this week:
     
    Flux by Mark Arbour; Book 14 of Chronicles Of An Academic Predator (CAP)
     
    Standing In Shadows by Krista
     
    "Waiting Outside The Lines" by Comicality
     
    The Secret Life Of Billy Chase 8 by Comicality; Book 8 of Billy Chase Chronicles
     
    The Crown Affair by Andy78
     
    Pilots II by David McLeod
     
    HMS Valiant by Mark Arbour; Book 7 of Bridgemont
     
    Pour Me Another by K.C.
     
    Lost Inside by Cia; Book 2 of Carthera Tales
     
    Finding Alex by Nephylim
     
    Dream Lover - Extended by Comicality
     
    Space Pioneer by Dolores Esteban
     
    By our Promising Authors this week:
     
    1550 Loring Lane by Cole Matthews
     
    Direct Confusion by Sasha Distan
     
    Sole Scion by JMH, Book 2 of The Sole Scion Cycle: Second Cycle of the Centurion Chronicals
     
    Button by Cole Matthews
     
    Don't forget.... Read, Write, and REVIEW!!!!
  2. Renee Stevens
    Last week for the Premium Tuesday post we took a look at one of the stories in the 2013 Summer Premium Anthology. There were three stories in total and this week we're taking a look at one of the other stories in that anthology, "Save Tonight" by CassieQ. After checking out "Save Tonight" you can find out more about how to purchase a premium subscription!


    Save Tonight


    by



    CassieQ

     

    What do you want?' A wish reluctantly made, urged on by his little girl, brings Gavin something unexpected.


     

    Series:
    Summer Premium Anthology


    Words: 5,910



    Chapters: 1


     

    Category



    Fiction


     

    Genres

    Drama, Romance

     

    Tags

    Fighting, Adult, North America, Depression, Love, Modern

     

    Rating



    Everyone


     

    Want to read "Save Tonight"? Or maybe you want to check out more of what's in the Premium Section? It's easy, just purchase a
    Premium Subscription!

     



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    $93.00 Annually

  3. Renee Stevens
    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 Percy of Old Bob's story "Memoirs of a Child of the Past Century." Enjoy!


    Memoirs of a Child of the Past Century


    by



    Old Bob

     
    Reviewer: Percy
    Status: In Process
     
    Old Bob’s memoir, Memoirs of a Child of the Past Century, is one of the many treasures to be found on GA. Written with humor and grace, the memoir reveals the intersection of one man’s life with the changing political, economic and social landscape of the 20th century. In lieu of a review, I’ve chosen an excerpt from each decade in order to let Old Bob tell his story in his own words. I made selections I thought the audience here would find interesting and which are reflective of a major event or thought movement of that decade. By way of introducing Old Bob, let’s begin with some remarks from the author himself.
     


    “Concluding these reflections, when I said earlier that I accept myself as I am, I count also among it my sexual orientation. Having lived almost 60 years with a woman I still love and having been the father of four children is a fact. Having had alongside many homosexual experiences, both in ongoing relationships and in casual encounters with no future, is another fact.”  
    Old Bob was born in Geneva in 1929. Switzerland becomes an island in the middle of a world war as Old Bob enters his teens. Though still a child, he has an active role aiding refugees from the war.


    “The trick was to make them to take the train with one or more children from Geneva, who could pass for their children and who were their insurance in case of police control. I was one of those children and I am very proud of it.”  
    On living in a commune in the 1950s and on marriage between those of different religions:


    “It was the start time of the hippies (they were called then ‘existentialists’), and such communities were beginning to be fashionable. On our return from Paris in late 1951, we decided Yvette and me to join that community, but each with its own bedroom, at least to save appearances vis-à-vis our families. Marry someone of another religion than his family’s was a taboo at the time for both strict Catholics and for Jews after the Holocaust. In addition, Yvette’s great-uncle was Bishop, so we couldn’t imagine the approval of her family for such a marriage.”  
    On childrearing in the 1960s:


    “Yvette and I were brought up strictly and we therefore resented the discipline of our parents. In response, we wanted to give our children the freedom that we missed. We have given guidelines and goals but we were very "broad" if they were not followed or met.”  
    For the decade of the 1970s, he intersperses the descriptions of professional life (fascinating and too involved to include here) with references to his personal life. In talking about the traveling he did with his film distribution company in the ‘70s, he shares:


    “During the day my wife went to see movies in numerous cinemas reserved for professionals. For myself, I found two places where many gay men (as well as straights) could swim naked and enjoy good times with some new friends.”  
    And in the next paragraph…


    “I later learned that my youngest son, who sometimes accompanied us for his vacation, had his first gay experiences in Locarno (he was 16), I don’t know with whom and where. I still wonder today what we would have said and done if we had been at the same place in the same outfit!”  
    On the advent of office computers in the ‘80s:


    “I found in one of the offices a 5150 IBM PC, which nobody knew how to use and that George had just bought to show his clients that he was following the 'office fashion'. In fact, the offices were still working as in 1970, with ‘antediluvian’ typewriters and calculators.  

    So I proposed to fully computerize its business. Very quickly, I set up an internal network with a PC at each workstation Secretaries abandoned their typewriter and worked directly on Word and Excel. Today, it seems obvious, but in 1985, it was a real innovation.”  
    In 1990, his business operations took him to the USSR at what was the very beginning of perestroika, the opening of increased foreign commerce between the Soviet Union and other nations. He shares a highlight of the business trip.


    “About vodka, I have a special memory of the Russian breakfast . Start the day with a large glass of vodka and a plate of charcuterie with a mass of pickled cucumbers is an interesting experience!”  
    It’s not just life that brushed the major events of the 20th century. Death touched him in the same way. Bob is the father of four children, two of whom are still living. He lost one son to a heart attack, partially attributed to the man having been a two-pack-a-day smoker. He lost his daughter to AIDS which she contracted during a blood transfusion in the early 1980s. The 1980s and 1990s are two decades well within my own memory and both were marked by public campaigns to raise awareness around AIDS, HIV and the effects of smoking.
     
    The memoir is not complete. The last installment ends in 1993. However, in an intervening chapter, Old Bob shares details of his current life. He remains married and devoted to Yvette. There are many grandchildren and great grandchildren. Of his two living children, one is gay and one is straight, and both have established lives with long term partners. Again, to quote Old Bob:


    “The last time we were seventeen at dinner. It was necessary to add two extensions to the table, gather all the chairs in the apartment and take three additional chairs from the terrace!”  
    I encourage you to delve into the Memoirs of a Child of the Past Century. The chapters are supported by photos (check out the sweet ride he had in the 1970s!) This is one of the best reads on GA. And Old Bob, I encourage you to keep writing!


    Category: Fiction Genres: Creative Non-Fic Tags: Light-hearted, 20th Century, Autobiography Rating: Everyone


  4. Renee Stevens
    I hope that everyone has had a great week so far! There won't be any prompts this week as the 2014 Summer Anthology: The Backup Plan is now live! If you've been looking for some new stories to read, we have some great new reads for you to take a look at! Don't forget to leave the authors a review to let them know what you think of their hard work. Enjoy!!!



    Banner created by AJ!! Thank you AJ!!

     
     
     

    Anything For My Brother
    Comicfan

     

    Paul lay across the left side of the bed, his arms wrapped around his lover. He smiled as he looked out the window at the falling snow, the cat sitting near it, tapping as the large flakes fell just outside the double pane. Finally, life was going his way. He had a new job, his lover, and all was right with the world. He leaned over to nuzzle closer and … brrrrringg … brrrrringgg … brrrrringg!
     
    He opened one eye and stared at the bright red light of his alarm clock showing it was barely five minutes after midnight. He hated that he was dragged out of the best dream he had experienced in months. Brrrringg! He stretched and snagged his cell phone off the nightstand as he forced himself to sit up in bed.
     
    “What?” he snarled into the phone.
     



    Consolation Parents
    Bill W

     

    I was sound asleep when my cell phone began to ring. I always leave it on the nightstand where it will be easy to reach and the ringtone indicated the call was coming from my sister's house. Although I didn't have any idea what she might want, I figured it must be important for her to be calling at this hour. Fortunately, it hadn't awakened my boyfriend, Jeremy, but then again he can sleep through just about anything. I glanced over at his mop of dirty blond hair extending above the sheet, as I groggily reached over and answered the phone.
     
    "Hey, sis. What's up?" I offered in greeting, slightly perkier than I though I was capable of at that hour of the morning.
     
    "This is Officer Light from the Jefferson Police Department," the voice responded. "Are you Scott Fisher, the brother of Kelly Coleman?"



    I Wish I Could Back Up
    DynoReads

     

    Jean Claude "Savage" Saville sang along with Alan Jackson as the song played on the garbage truck radio. Halfway down the east side of Burled Oak Drive, a sudden movement out of the corner of his eye caught Savage's attention, and his foot slammed down on the brake pedal. Savage's fingers clenched the steering wheel as if he could stop the truck by sheer strength alone. A silent prayer on his lips, Savage helplessly watched a toddler, wearing only a diaper, running down the driveway in front of him. The garbage truck's brakes squealed as it finally stopped just short of the driveway. A pair of kangaroos fell from their perch on the dashboard, landing on the floor. The sound of the horn was like a siren in Savage's ears and his body shook at the sudden sound. It was only afterward that he realized it had been his horn.
     
    The toddler had also stopped running, startled by the loud horn. He stood safely in the driveway, a few feet back from the road. Savage, with his heart pounding and chest heaving from fright, watched the toddler's wide eyes fill with tears.



    Last Call
    K.C.

     

    Rachel woke with a jolt. It took a moment for her foggy mind to recognize the annoying buzzing sound. The screen of her cell phone lit up her tiny bedroom when it rang again on her nightstand. Fumbling with the phone, she blinked, trying to focus her sleepy eyes, but it was helpless. She was blind without her glasses. Clumsily grabbing her phone, she answered with an automatic swipe of her thumb.
     
    “Hello?” Rachel answered, still in a haze.
     
    “Rachel?” the caller asked, as the screen of her cell phone went black, plunging the room back into darkness.



    Magic in the Air
    Andy78

     

    I’d asked Jason McCaig to the school formal about eight weeks ago and he turned me down. He turned me down so quickly that my head was still spinning. It seemed as though he was not quite yet ready to be out to the world.
     
    We’d been ‘together’ for nearly two years, since we turned fourteen. He had no problem with me sucking him off or bending me over and giving me a good seeing to, but God forbid just the thought of us slow dancing with each other in front of our friends really freaked him out.
     
    Since I couldn’t go with the person who was allegedly my boyfriend, I decided I’d have to find another boy to go with. Jason was the only gay kid I knew in my school, I had absolutely no intention of asking a girl, and since it was obvious that I couldn’t ask any of the other boys in my year, I decided to fall back on an old family trait: magic. My family had always been magical; it was just that we hadn’t used it in over a century.



    Max's Garage
    Valkyrie71

     

    “I’m very disappointed in you, Conners.”
     
    Here we go again, thought Elliot. He put on his best poker face and braced himself for the upcoming verbal onslaught. His boss stopped pacing around the room and put both his hands on his desk, leaning toward Elliot.
     
    “You settled for half of what we could have been awarded in the Szmansky case. I demand an explanation.” He settled into his chair and steepled his fingers, looking at Elliot expectantly.
     
    Elliot took a deep breath. “Szmansky Brothers Hardware is a mom and pop operation. If they hadn’t settled they would have lost their business. They still might.”



    The Bachelor Farmer
    Cole Matthews

     

    Sven Tollefson stood by the rail fence looking at his dying corn. He wiped the sweat from his brow with a blue handkerchief and felt despair well up in him. All over Cottonwood County, thousands of farmers were seeing the same thing. Crops dying from a heat wave coupled with a severe drought. The corn leaves were still green but hanging wilted from stems that were almost gray. It wouldn’t take much longer before most of the field was dead.
     
    “Damn!” he exclaimed to no one since no one else was around.
     
    Sven took a hike over through his little grove of trees and looked at his clover field. There would be no second crop this year. The clover was yellow and stunted. In some patches, where the soil was quite sandy, the clover wasn’t even yellow. It was brown, dormant from the lack of moisture. He walked through the field and wondered, ‘What am I going to do?’


    Weaving Their Way
    Cia

     

    “So where is home? And if you say that damn dome, I’m going to call Dr. Connor back,” I said. The shifters wanted to take care of me until I could take care of myself, however long that took. Until then, my plans to get out to my stake and start working on my future were on hold.
     
    “Oh, no. We have a nice apartment on the south edge of the city.” Moshe grinned. “Big enough for me, even.”
     
    I raised one eyebrow. “There are no nice apartments on the edge of the city. Now, apartments on the north side, by the coast… those are nice.” Trees and hills weren’t exactly considered prime view material, and it took hours to trek to the beach through the city, even using the transfer system. I’d gone to the south side, once, with my college roommate, Keon.
    I’d never gone back.



    Zugzwang
    aditus

     

    Paul sat in the back of the little café staring at a tiny crack in his coffee mug. A week ago, he'd had to watch Sam kissing Mark, and his plan to tell Sam what he felt for him had been overtaken by reality – a reality in which Sam still loved Mark, or so it had seemed at the time. Like the idiot he was, he'd run when he should have stayed, leaving behind a perfectly cooked three-course dinner for two. With candles. And wine.
     
    He had smashed his phone, ranted to his sister, cried in her arms and then had worked day and night because Maya had accepted so many orders. Orders for weddings, for office parties, dinner parties. He had no brain capacity left other than thinking supply orders, recipes, time schedules.
     
    But he wasn't ready to accept that Sam was lost to him. After all, he'd had a backup plan.


    2014 Summer Anthology Proof Readers


     
     
     

    LJH



    joann414



    rec



    Kitt



    Thorn Wilde



    CassieQ


  5. Renee Stevens

    Author Interview: Graeme

    By Renee Stevens,


    Author Interviews
    Time to continue our Signature Week with an interview with Graeme about his story "Leopard Skin Cover." If you haven't already done so, you still have plenty of time to download your backgrounds, there's one both with and without a calendar, depending on what you're wanting! Now, enjoy the interview and maybe you'll find out something you didn't already know!


    Interview: Graeme on "
    Leopard Skin Cover"

     
    Interviewer: Cia
     
    Single people work more. Are you single?
     

    No. I’ve been married for just over twenty-one years and I’ve been out to my wife for ten.  
    Who do you like best, Jerry or Tom?
     

    Tough one. I’d say Tom, but that’s certainly not been the case consistently.  
    Do you eat your fruits and vegetables?
     

    Er...have you been talking to my wife? I need to eat more, but yes, I do.  
    What are you wearing (and no fibbing!)?
     

    Jeans, T-shirt, Jacket. It’s 6:30am, and I’m working in my home office. The heating hasn’t kicked in yet, but hopefully soon I’ll be able to take off the jacket.  
    Are you a person who makes their bed in the morning, or do you not see much point?
     

    ‛Make’ is a relative term. I draw the doona cover back over my side of the bed after I get up in the morning, but that’s the extent of making it.  
    Chocolate or Vanilla?
     

    Vanilla  
    What brought you to the site?
     

    I originally learnt about GA when someone directed me to a discussion thread on one of my first short stories, Dear God. It was a couple more years before I joined, though I honestly can’t remember why. I think I was at a stage of my life when I was more actively involved in various gay story communities on the Internet, and GA was one of those that I joined at the time. It’s also one of the few where I stayed.  
    Do your characters try to make like bunnies and create ever more convoluted plots for you? Or do you have to coax them out of your characters?
     

    About halfway in between. My characters certainly introduce plot elements for me from time to time, but they don’t overdo it. I’ll admit that there are times when I go back later and are amazed to find out they managed to get everything to fit together into a cohesive whole, but they don’t make life too difficult for me....most of the time.  
    If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
     

    Tough decision. I’m not sure I could choose one. I’ve been influenced by a lot of people over the years, and trying to pick one wouldn’t really be fair. My first author friend was Dewey from Deweywriter.com, but we didn’t talk a lot about writing itself so I won’t say he was a mentor.  
    Name one entity that you feel supported you in your writing endeavors outside of family members.
     

    When I started writing, it was at Deweywriter. I’ll admit that I was nervous when I started posting my first story, given that the story was written from the point of view of a straight, homophobic teenager. However, the support I got from that community (sadly it no longer exists), and later the communities at AwesomeDude and here are Gay Authors, was so strong that I kept writing. I’ve had a hiatus recently that lasted three years, but I’ve never lost the support of the online communities and that’s allowed me to start writing again.  
    Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
     

    My biggest challenge is getting the time, motivation and inspiration needed to occur at the same time. Too often I have the motivation, but not the inspiration, or the inspiration but no time. The other challenge is that I don’t want to write stories that I’ve seen a million times. I want each story to have something unique about it – a unique point of view, a unique style – something that hopefully makes it stand out. I don’t always succeed, but I find I won’t have motivation to write unless I have an idea of something unusual to include.  
    What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What has been the best compliment?
     

    The biggest compliment I’ve ever received was an email from a teacher in the USA, asking permission to use one of my short stories as a teaching tool in their class on sociology. I was so flattered I immediately said yes. The toughest criticism I’ve been given was by a beta-reader of one of my novels who, politely, told me the ending of the story was rubbish and I needed to go back and do it again. I had to do a complete re-write to address their very valid concerns.  
    Are there any new authors who have grasped your interest?
     

    Recently, Sammy Blue’s Gemini has grabbed my attention. I like stories where not everyone is gay, and his story of identical twins, one gay, one straight, has been fascinating. Kevinchn’s 32 Faces is another extremely interesting story, especially in the way he uses an autistic narrator.  
    When did you first consider yourself a writer?
     

    After I started posting my first novel, New Brother, and I received positive feedback. When I decided I’d like to try writing (I was forty at the time), I had the story idea, and one scene in particular in mind. What I did was to write that one scene and see if I was capable of putting the emotions I felt in my mind into the words on paper. I was happy enough with the result that I started the novel and I didn’t look back from there. In case you’re interested, that scene (though it’s been reworked a lot from the first draft) was the last scene in chapter 8 of New Brother.  
    Do you have any writing rituals?
     

    No. Sorry, I’m a boring writer....  
    Have you written a book you love that you have not been able to get published?
     

    I’ve never tried to get a book published. I’ve thought about it a few times, but I’ve never done anything about it.  
    How many books/stories have you written? Which is your favorite?
     

    I’ve got five completed novels, and I’m working on a sixth. I’ve got two novels that I’ve started by not finished. I may get back to them one day, but I decided a couple of stories ago that I won’t start posting a novel unless I’m confident I’ll complete it. I’m not even going to try to count my short stories....  
    How did you come up with the title for Leopard Skin Cover?
     

    It took me a little while, but I was looking for a title that would portray a character hiding in the closet, without being heavy handed. When I had the idea of using the football teams nickname as part of the title, it was then a case of putting it all together. That’s when I settled on the Leopards for the name of the team. At one point it was going to be Leopard Skin Coat, as coats are associated with closets, but I didn’t feel that that gave a strong enough feeling of hiding. Hence my eventual decision to go with Leopard Skin Cover – someone using the football team as a cover for being gay.  
    Did the characters or the plot come to you first?
     

    The plot came first, but the plot needed certain types of characters. The characters evolved during the writing; some of them trying to push themselves forward as being the stars of the story. But then I think a lot of people who are the elite of their field of endeavour have a tendency to push themselves forward.  
    If your story were made into a movie, who do you picture playing each characters part?
     

    Please, don’t ask me! I don’t know modern actors that well. All I’d say is that given it’s a story about elite sportsmen, they’ll all be buffed....  
    What sort of coffee would your characters order? Simple coffee, complicated soy-non-fat-extra-espresso-half-caff-nightmare?
     

    Most would order something simple, but there are enough characters in the story that I’m sure some of them would be fussy prima-donnas. Melbourne has a strong coffee culture, with a large number of small coffee shops scattered around the city. The large chains don’t do that well here – too much competition from the little guys.  
    What was your favorite part of Leopard Skin Cover?
     

    The various romances. The hidden one and the public ones. I’ll admit that I’m a romantic at heart, though I try for a degree of realism whenever possible.  
    Can you share a little of your current work with us?
     

    My current story is the sequel to Leopard Skin Cover. It’ll start posting in July (hopefully). Because it’s a sequel, it contains spoilers for the original story – in particular, which player is gay – so I’m going to have to decline about sharing anything at this point in time. As one of my good friends, C James, will attest, I hate spoilers – giving them and receiving them – and I don’t want to give a spoiler to Leopard Skin Cover by saying too much about the sequel.  
    What are your future projects?
     

    I’ve got two novels that I started but haven’t completed. I’d like to get back to those at some stage. I’d also like to try to do a sequel to The Price of Friendship because I’m very much aware that there are way too many loose ends in that story. I’ve also had several requests from readers to expand some of my short stories into novels which I’m considering. The main problem is that I don’t like starting a novel unless I’ve got a good idea of how it’ll end. That gives me a target to write to and I’ve found that to be extremely useful. I don’t want to write a sequel or expand a short story just for the sake of continuing – the writing has to go somewhere interesting for the reader. That’s always been my biggest challenge.
  6. Renee Stevens

    Weekly Wrap Up!

    By Renee Stevens,


    Weekly Wrap Up
    Hope everyone had a great weekend!!! I want to start the Weekly Wrap Up out by announcing that Wildone (a.k.a. Steve) has been promoted to Site Admin. Welcome Aboard Steve, good to have you! For those who haven't already noticed it, JSmith has posted a blog that he will be resigning from all areas of the site. He has been a major part of the site for many years and it is certainly a sad day. We certainly wish him the best and he will be missed. I'm sure I speak for many when I say, Thank you Joe for everything you've done over the years to help make the site what it is. On another note, if you haven't already done so, don't forget to download your June Signature Author Background!
     
    On Monday Cia took over the blog to announce this month's CSR Book Club selection. Have you read any of CJames' Anthologies? If so, then you're already ready to participate in the discussion which will take place on June 30th. Don't let that stop you from checking out the rest of CJames' Anthologies! A full list can be found on Monday's blog entry.
     
    Tuesday we took a look at another premium story. This week it was Project X by Nephylim. Curious to find out more? You can read the description in the blog post as well as find out more about how to purchase a premium subscription so that you can access all of GA's Premium Content.
     
    Wednesday was our once a month feature "Ask An Author" provided by Dark. This month featured questions to AnytaSunday, Billy Martin, and Kyle Aarons. There were some great questions asked and this is always a great feature to check out.
     
    Friday gave us two new prompts by Comicfan. This week we had a list of words and one with the tag of "technology". For the featured prompt response, I featured Cole Matthews response to Prompt #328.
     
    Anthology Announcements:
    2014 Summer Anthology: The Backup Plan - Due TODAY

    2014 Fall Anthology: Scars - Due Sept 3rd *Note: Deadline is for submission to the Anthology Proof Team*

    NEW READING
     
    In Premium this week:
     
    No More Hiding by Renee Stevens
     
    By our Signature Authors this week:
     
    The Secret Life Of Billy Chase 8 by Comicality; Book 8 of Billy Chase Chronicles
     
    HMS Valiant by Mark Arbour; Book 7 of Bridgemont
     
    Translator III: Dragon Warrior by David McLeod
     
    Standing In Shadows by Krista
     
    Flux by Mark Arbour; Book 14 of Chronicles Of An Academic Predator (CAP)
     
    Space Pioneer by Dolores Esteban
     
    Pour Me Another by K.C.
     
    Lost Inside by Cia; Book 2 of Carthera Tales
     
    Finding Alex by Nephylim
     
    By our Promising Authors this week:
     
    Dinner is Prompt-ly at Eight by Cole Matthews
     
    Direct Confusion by Sasha Distan
     
    The Gay Man of Her Dreams by carringtonrj
     
    Not My Brother by Sasha Distan
     
    The English Year by Jwolf
     
    Button by Cole Matthews
     
    Don't forget.... Read, Write, and REVIEW!!!!
  7. Renee Stevens
    It's Friday again!!! I hope that everyone has had a great week so far. It's that time again for two new prompts, supplied as always by our prompt guru, Comicfan! *Reminder: Authors are more than welcome to post their Prompt Responses in GA Stories, but please remember that flash pieces under 1k must be posted in collections, not as individual stories.*
     
    Prompt 330 – Creative
    Tag – List of Words
    Use the following words in a story – puppy, circus, clown, underwear, and toilet paper.
     
    Prompt 331 – Creative
    Tag – Technology
    You have just discovered the horrifying secret. The technology you have been working on to make life simpler for mankind is actually going to be used to enslave them. Your managers aren’t human and you have been used as a pawn. What is going to happen and can you prevent it?
     
    It's always hard to choose what response to feature, but this week I chose Cole Matthews response to Prompt #328:
     

    Want to find out what happens? Read the rest here!
     
    As always... Read, Write, and REVIEW!!!
  8. Renee Stevens

    Ask An Author #17

    By Renee Stevens,


    Author Interviews
    The first Wednesday of the month, for anyone that follows the GA News Blog, you know what that means! It's time for another edition of "Ask An Author". For those new to the site (or to reading the blog), Ask An Author is our month feature provided by Dark. GA Members are able to send questions they'd like to ask their favorite author and Dark tries to get the answer and compile them in the monthly Ask An Author! Now, let's see what Dark has for us this month!


    Ask an Author #17


     
    Welcome back to another quirky question and answer session with your favorite authors!
     
    In AtA #16, we had questions for authors Menzoberranzen, Mark Arbour, and C James.
     
    In AtA #17, we hear from authors AnytaSunday, Billy Martin, and Kyle Aarons.
     
    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.
     
    Our first author today is Author AnytaSunday. Since beginning her foray into the publishing world with Andrew Q. Gordon in (Un)Masked, Anyta has published over a dozen novels, many of which began as free reads right here on GA. She’s come a long way from New Zealand, hasn’t she? It’s amazing the kind of courage you find with the right friends. Go to her website (www.anytasunday.com) for more details about her books and life in Berlin, Germany. One of her favorite quotes comes from St-St-Stuffed, the second book in her series Enemies to Lovers: “Pop said life was like learning to drive. You were bound to fuck up, make mistakes, maybe even cause an accident, but if you practice and follow the rules, people didn’t have to get hurt—and one day you’d just get better at it. Just don’t . . . give it up, he said.”
     
    To AnytaSunday: Consider your past goals. Are you where you thought you'd be? Where do you imagine you'll be in five more years?


    They say it takes ten years or one million bad words before you start to get good at writing. Well, in the last four years, I most definitely have written my share of bad words. But there have also been some good ones in there too. Each novel has taught me something that makes my writing better--and I hope, over the next five years, there will be more and more better words. One day it would be nice to answer the question 'what do you do as a living?' with confidence and a smile as I say: "I'm an author."  
    Today’s next author is Author Billy Martin, who many of you may remember as Billy Brat. He’s come a long way since first appearing on GA. As 2014 begins, Billy’s getting ready to end his first multi-chapter story, Trials and Tribulations. With over 30,000 views and 220 reviews, it’ll be a sad day for many readers, and yet a treasured accomplishment for any author. Just like Billy, the main character in his story also resides in the Appalachian Mountains on the East Coast of the U.S. The story follows the evolution of several teens as they learn and begin to accept themselves for who they are. We’re so glad to see Billy back and hope to see the conclusions long-awaited for Gary and all his friends.
     
    To Billy Martin: What are your initial thought processes when you are first captivated by an idea? (i.e. What steps do you take so that the idea can be developed)?


    I chew on the idea for a few hours, maybe even a day or so, thinking my way through it. I look at how it will affect the ruff ending I already have in mind and decide if it will add to the story or take off on a tangent that would hurt the story (lose focus). I'm pretty much a free thinker or writer in that once I have an idea developed to where I know the direction the story should go next, and when the feeling to write hits me, I sit down and allow the story to flow from my mind to the keyboard. I know this isn't how the great ones do it, but it's what works for me. I tried writing an outline, but when I did, I felt like I was wasting time that I could have been writing. Writing doesn't come easy for me as it does for some, so when the feeling hits, I have to let it out then and there or I'll lose it. I hope this answers your question.  
    Our last author today is another mountain boy, Classic Author Kyle Aarons, the mind behind the GA classics The Kandric Saga and Re-Emergence. With more than half a million words, The Kandric Saga is one of the most ambitious undertakings I’ve ever been ever witness to. Though he doesn’t actively write for GA any longer, Kyle’s one of the founding members of our site and has been an active contributor since 2003. That’s ten years, for the math-impaired folks among us. 200 hundred followers of his stories means he must have done something right!
     
    To Kyle Aarons: Your stories are so realistic that you truly think that you are in the story. How do you write such amazing backgrounds?


    The biggest thing about Kandric, or any of my many other stories is the background work. I do extensive "world building" before I start. I work out a history, what things are the way they are, and how this shapes my characters. I then do histories on the characters. I know where they were born, what their lives were like before the story starts, and what is their basic education and motivation. I need to know how they talk compared with those around them and what their moral values are. I can't even start writing a story until I have those things worked out and for 3 to 4 characters I even develop a list of Quirks so I can so them being odd or different which I feel adds to them being "real". I can identify with that if she;s misunderstood... because I'm certainly misunderstood myself. For example, though I'm perhaps best known for my utter and total avoidance of cliffhangers, some people, shockingly, accuse me of 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!
     
    Coming next time: AQG, Ashi, and Sasha Distan.
     
    Want to ask your favorite author a question? Simply PM me (Dark).
    Until next time!
    Dark
  9. Renee Stevens
    Gay Authors has always managed to remain free to it's members, one of the ways that it has managed to do so is through it's Premium Subscribers. Members choose to help support the site and keep it going by purchasing Premium Content which consists of a number of stories that are only available on the site by purchasing Premium Content. There are many great stories to be found in the Premium section, one of which is "Project X" by Nephylim.



    Project X


    by




    Nephylim

     

    Morgan Bentley is a bastard. Matthew hates him. Cory is Matthew's best friend but too close to see.



    When Cory gets an internship at Morgan's father's company things begin to get complicated and then they get dangerous.


     

    Words: 96,082



    Chapters: 21


     

    Category



    Fiction


     

    Genres



    Drama


     

    Tags



    First Time, University, College, Adult, Medical, Young Adult


     

    Rating



    Everyone


     

    Want to read "Project X"? Or maybe you want to check out more of what's in the Premium Section? It's easy, just purchase a
    Premium Subscription!

     



    Premium Content
    $8.10
    $8.10 Monthly




    Premium Content - 3 Months
    $24.00
    $24.00 Every 3 months




    Premium Content - 6 Months
    $47.00
    $47.00 Every 6 months




    Premium Content - 1 Year
    $93.00
    $93.00 Annually

  10. Renee Stevens

    Weekly Wrap Up!

    By Renee Stevens,


    Weekly Wrap Up
    As we end yet another week, we start another month. I can't believe how quickly this year has gone by! For those who haven't noticed, we added another new moderator to the Forum Moderation Team! I'd like to take this opportunity to welcome DynoReads to the FMT, we're happy to have you on board! Now, who's ready to see what happened this week in the GA News blog?
     
    As the last Monday of the month, this week included the CSR Discussion Day. Not only were readers able to discuss this month's selection of "The Jacob and Marcus Tales" by Thorn Wilde, but Thorn participated in a live blog chat to personally answer questions that readers might have.
     
    We continued our Premium Tuesday highlight with a look at Purpose by Andrew Q Gordon. It got a lot of comments from people who have read it or who want to read it. If you haven't already, check it out and maybe share your thoughts as well!
     
    Myr was back on Wednesday with another Tech post. This month he focused on a couple of the upgrades that will be happening with GA Stories. There will be some changes both with publishing and unpublishing stories. Curious? Check it out!
     
    Friday we gave a couple of new prompts. This week included a "first line" prompt as well as a prompt with the tag "Zombies". We also featured a prompt that Valkyrie71 did in response to Prompt 325.
     
    Anthology Announcements:
    2014 Summer Anthology: The Backup Plan - Due June 8th *Note: Deadline is for submission into GA Stories. Deadline for Submission to the Anthology Proof Team is June 5th*

    2014 Fall Anthology: Scars - Due Sept 3rd *Note: Deadline is for submission to the Anthology Proof Team*

    NEW READING
     
    In Premium this week:
     
    No More Hiding by Renee Stevens
     
    Do Over by dkstories *Reposting*
     
    By our Signature Authors this week:
     
    Kiss Of An Angel by Comicality
     
    Enforcer by Rob Colton; Book 2 of Timber Pack Chronicles
     
    Picture Me And You by Comicality
     
    Thwarted by Renee Stevens
     
    Flux by Mark Arbour; Book 14 of Chronicles Of An Academic Predator (CAP)
     
    Translator III: Dragon Warrior by David McLeod
     
    Space Pioneer by Dolores Esteban
     
    The Secret Life Of Billy Chase 8 by Comicality; Book 8 of Billy Chase Chronicles
     
    Pour Me Another by K.C.
     
    Lost Inside by Cia; Book 2 of Carthera Tales
     
    The Strange Life of Jonas Marks by comicfan
     
    Geeks by CassieQ
     
    By our Promising Authors this week:
     
    Not My Brother by Sasha Distan
     
    1550 Loring Lane by Cole Matthews
     
    Direct Confusion by Sasha Distan
     
    The Gay Man of Her Dreams by carringtonrj
     
    The English Year by Jwolf
     
    Button by Cole Matthews
     
    Don't forget.... Read, Write, and REVIEW!!!!
  11. Renee Stevens
    It's hard to believe that May is already over! Just as a reminder, you've only got a few more days to get your Anthology entries into the Anthology Proof Team. I hope to see lots of last minute entries! Now that it's Friday again, it's time for our dose of weekly prompts, provided by none other than Comicfan. I hope one of them helps to spark an idea!
     
    *Reminder: We welcome you posting your Prompt Responses in GA Stories. However, please remember to post your flash pieces under 1k in a collection, per the site posting rules.*
     
    Prompt 328 – Creative
    Tag – First Line
    “You expect me to believe that?”
     
    Prompt 329 – Creative
    Tag – Zombies
    Having watched movies and television shows based on zombies you figured you would be prepared if they ever dared to shamble in your direction. The problem is no one was ready for the meteorites that slammed into the earth this year. For hundreds of miles surrounding the crash sites a brand new type of zombie was created, from the new born baby to the oldest citizen, all were converted and now they are after all the rest of the world. What are these new zombies like and what do they want?
     
    Unless I missed it, I only seen on taker for last week's prompts. Here's Valkyrie71's response to Prompt #327:
     

    To read the rest, click here.
     
    Don't forget... Read, Write, and REVIEW!!!
  12. Renee Stevens

    Premium Tuesday: Purpose

    By Renee Stevens,


    Featured Stories
    Gay Authors has always managed to remain free to it's members, one of the ways that it has managed to do so is through it's Premium Subscribers. Members choose to help support the site and keep it going by purchasing Premium Content which consists of a number of stories that are only available on the site by purchasing Premium Content. There are many great stories to be found in the Premium section, one of which is "Purpose" by Andrew Q Gordon.


    Purpose


    by



    Andrew_Q_Gordon

     

    A timeless spirit moves from host to host demanding vengeance for the innocent who are killed.



    The only problem is that wasn't it's true purpose.


     

    Words: 85,664



    Chapters: 33


     

    Category



    Fiction


     

    Genres

    Thriller/Suspense, Sci-Fi

     

    Tags

    Psionics, Mind Control, Demons, Police, Crime, Mature Adult

     

    Rating



    Mature


     

    Want to read "Purpose"? Or maybe you want to check out more of what's in the Premium Section? It's easy, just purchase a
    Premium Subscription!

     



    Premium Content
    $8.10
    $8.10 Monthly




    Premium Content - 3 Months
    $24.00
    $24.00 Every 3 months




    Premium Content - 6 Months
    $47.00
    $47.00 Every 6 months




    Premium Content - 1 Year
    $93.00
    $93.00 Annually

  13. Renee Stevens

    Weekly Wrap Up!

    By Renee Stevens,


    Weekly Wrap Up
    It's been a rather busy week at Gay Authors. Before we get to looking over the past week in the Gay Authors News Blog, I'd like to do something a little bit different. I'd like to take this opportunity to welcome Slytherin back to the Forum Moderation Team, we are glad to have you back. We also added another new Moderator and I'd like to welcome MJ85 to the Forum Moderation Team, we are happy to have you join us! Thank you to all the staff who helps to keep Gay Authors running smoothly!
     
    Now, onto a look back at what happened in the blog this week.
     
    On Monday we took a look at CassieQ's story "Geeks". We had a wonderful review provided to us by Cole Matthews, and based upon the comments, he isn't the only one that is enjoying this "In Process" story. Check out the review and see if maybe this is a story you might like as well!
     
    Tuesday we continued looking at our Premium Content with a look at "One Night" by Cia. Premium Content is one of the ways in which GA is funded and stories such as "One Night" are the site's way of saying "Thank You" for the support.
     
    On Wednesday we had us a bit of a grammar lesson provided by Cia. She gave us a look at Adverbs at Adjectives and the way that they can help or hurt our writing. Many members commented and shared further examples. It was a rather informative day and I'd encourage everyone to check it out.
     
    We had a Thursday post this week in which we announced the promotion of Cole Matthews to Promising Author. If you haven't already done so, stop by the post and leave Cole a comment!
     
    We ended the week with two new prompts from the prompt guru Comicfan. One of the prompts carried the tag "Family Announcement" and the other carried the tag of "Bloodsuckers". I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with for them. This week I chose Valkyrie71's response to Prompt #325 to feature.
     
    Anthology Announcements:
    2014 Summer Anthology: The Backup Plan - Due June 8th *Note: Deadline is for submission into GA Stories. Deadline for Submission to the Anthology Proof Team is June 5th*

    2014 Fall Anthology: Scars - Due Sept 3rd *Note: Deadline is for submission to the Anthology Proof Team*

    NEW READING
     
    In Premium this week:
     
    No More Hiding by Renee Stevens
     
    By our Signature Authors this week:
     
    Enforcer by Rob Colton; Book 2 of Timber Pack Chronicles
     
    Translator III: Dragon Warrior by David McLeod
     
    Flux by Mark Arbour; Book 14 of Chronicles Of An Academic Predator (CAP)
     
    Space Pioneer by Dolores Esteban
     
    Pour Me Another by K.C.
     
    Lost Inside by Cia; Book 2 of Carthera Tales
     
    Noah's New Plan by Rob Colton
     
    By our Promising Authors this week:
     
    1550 Loring Lane by Cole Matthews
     
    Direct Confusion by Sasha Distan
     
    The English Year by Jwolf
     
    Curse of the Fallen by JMH; Book 2 of Fallen
     
    Button by Cole Matthews
    Don't forget.... Read, Write, and REVIEW!!!!
  14. Renee Stevens
    Happy Wednesday everyone! I hope everyone is having a great week so far. I was looking through the possible posts that I had for today and I decided that it's been a while since we had a grammar lesson. Wouldn't you know it, I actually had one sitting around, just waiting for an opportunity to be showcased in the blog! So, without further ado, here's today's writing tip, courtesy of Cia. Enjoy!


    Adverbs and Adjectives ~ Helping or Hurting



    by



    Cia


     

    Today I want to focus on ways adverbs and adjectives hurt writing instead of helping. How do we structure sentences to avoid unnecessary phrasing and descriptions, but still keep a story strong visually to the reader? One of the first things that came to mind when I considered this subject was the use of adverbs and adjectives. My personal view on writing is to keep my words from interfering with the story, and that usually requires keeping things as simple as possible.
     
    First, for those who haven't had a grammar class in a while, I'll define them. Adverbs and Adjectives are words that describe or modify a noun, verb, adjective, or adverb. They're describing words.
     
    But do we need them? Of course we do, to some extent. Describing words do have their place, like when you want to use an adjective to describe a noun. Will a reader 'see' a character better if I say they are wearing dirty jeans and a ripped hoodie than if I said they are wearing jeans and a hoodie? Yes. Dirty and ripped in the sentence describe the clothing and give the character a very different appearance than the reader might otherwise picture. If I need to show that my character is homeless, those two words go a long way in presenting my character.
     
    When writing fiction, we try to create a picture for the readers. For that we need adverbs and adjectives. It is hard to write anything without them. Adding useless describing words is easy to do without realizing it, though. Take a look at my first paragraph. 'Unnecessary' 'first' 'personal' 'usually' are all describing words. The trick comes from deciding what type are useful and which ones are not. Are the adverbs and adjectives I used words necessary? Some are, but one I just pointed out is not. Can you find it?
     
    Do I need unnecessary to describe phrasing and descriptions? Well, since I want to point out that they don't need to be used, sure. However, did I need 'personal' in front of view? If I take it out, you still see that it is 'my view', so you have to know that its personal, right? In that sentence personal is an adjective I could remove.
     
    Those are subtle uses of describing words writers need to consider removing, especially when writing stories with word limits. Some are easy to spot, like icy cold, steaming hot, or running swiftly, transportation vehicle, alternative choices, etc... Others like my personal view, are not quite as easy to pick out but just as redundant. These should be eliminated as often as possible.
     
    Another type of adverb to avoid are those that tend to spring up around verbs. Often, they are words like very, typically, carefully, always, just, often, etc... Most of the time, they're not necessary. Other times, they make a phrase clunky or wordy, when changing the verb would work.
     
    Examples:
     
    Redundant adverb:
    She always gets a coffee at 3 PM every day or She gets a coffee at 3 PM every day.
    If she gets the coffee every day at 3 pm, do we really need always there?
    Redundant adjective:
    The fundraiser was a complete and total failure or The fundraiser was a total failure.
    We don't need both complete and total, as they mean the same thing.
     
    Redundant adjective:
    The noisy fan's constant squeaking drove her nuts or The fan's constant squeaking drove her nuts.
    Do we need noisy to describe the fan when we then describe the noise it is making?
     
    Verb changing adverb:
    He reaches quickly for the falling stack of books or He lunges for the falling stack of books.
    Here, a more descriptive verb for the movement eliminates the need to use the adverb.
     
    Amused by her comment, he just gives her a smile or Amused by her comment, he smiles.
    Using just gives really isn't necessary when you could change the action to smiles.
     
    Both Adverbs and Adjectives:
    He softly walks into the room, trying not to wake his sleeping wife or He tiptoes into the room, trying not to wake his wife.
    Here, tiptoeing describes the walking and if he doesn't want to wake her she is obviously sleeping so that word can be removed.
  15. Renee Stevens
    I hope that everyone had a great start to the week! It's time to take a look at yet another of the offerings to GA's Premium Subscribers! While the majority of content on Gay Authors is free and will remain so, Premium Subscriptions are available as a way for members to help support the site and keep it open. To say "Thank You" for the support, GA offers stories that are only available to Premium Subscribers. One such story is "One Night" by Cia.
     




    One Night


    by




    Cia

     

    Bear's sick of picking the wrong man. He works in a friend's bar, though, so the offers to hop into bed, or the nearest surface, come nightly.



    Kameron doesn't ask him to go to bed though.


     

    Words: 26,684



    Chapters: 13


     

    Category



    Fiction


     

    Genres

    Romance, Drama

     

    Tags

    Modern, Adult, Crime

     

    Rating



    Mature


     

    Want to read "One Night"? Or maybe you want to check out more of what's in the Premium Section? It's easy, just purchase a
    Premium Subscription!

     



    Premium Content
    $8.10
    $8.10 Monthly




    Premium Content - 3 Months
    $24.00
    $24.00 Every 3 months




    Premium Content - 6 Months
    $47.00
    $47.00 Every 6 months




    Premium Content - 1 Year
    $93.00
    $93.00 Annually

  16. Renee Stevens

    Featured Story: Geeks

    By Renee Stevens,


    Featured Stories
    I know it's Monday, and time to feature a new story, but before I do that, there's something else I'd like to do. Without a certain person, none of us would have such a great site to visit, read stories, and interact with so many great people. I doubt when Myr first came up with the idea for Gay Authors that he expected it would become what it is today, so with that in mind I would like to simply say, Thank You and....

     



     
    Now, let's see the wonderful review of Geeks by CassieQ, supplied to us by Cole Matthews.


    Geeks


    by



    CassieQ
    Signature Author

     
    Reviewer: Cole Matthews
    Status: In Process
     
    “There was something there, something that was fragile as glass but strong as concrete and maybe it was love and maybe it wasn't. But whatever it was, it scared the hell out of him.”
     
    CassieQ is writing a beautiful love story about a couple geeks, who are quite different. Mikeal has never really dated and he meets a man at Dragon Con who he first thinks is quite the obnoxious jerk. The “green haired boy” is a young man named Adam who is into costume play, or cosplay as it is affectionately known. One thing leads to another and they find a mutual attraction they want to explore.
     
    Throughout the story, Adam shares his love for anime and Mikeal does the same with Star Wars. This reveals something distinctly personal in the process. The relationship deepens with their growing understanding of each other’s passions.
     
    CassieQ fills the story with the men dressing up for events, each time giving the reader another aspect to the characters. While this is happening, Mikeal discovers he has fallen in love with Adam and says so openly. Adam has a more jaded past and he tries deny what he feels for the other man.
     
    Adam is falling hard and though he has trouble expressing it, CassieQ portrays his dilemma so vividly with these few words. “While he was gone, Adam turned over onto his stomach and whispered into the pillow because he wasn't ready to say it to Mikeal. ‘I love you. I love you. I love you."
     
    This love story offers so much to the reader. From the teasing hilarity of “Because fangirls are perverts, that's why” to the prosaic, “Questions and doubts still circled his mind, anxious dogs that refused to stop chasing their own tails…” CassieQ spins words into images that evoke vitality and emotion.
     
    We don’t know if Adam and Mikeal will live happily ever after. We can’t know if their love is as strong as cement or as fragile as glass, or perhaps both. But one thing is certain. You will love watching these two men discover the answers.


    Category: Fiction Genres: Romance Tags: Light-Hearted, Modern, Love, College, Young Adult Rating: Mature


  17. Renee Stevens

    Weekly Wrap Up!

    By Renee Stevens,


    Weekly Wrap Up
    Hope everyone had a great weekend! It's almost time to start another week, but before we do, we like to take a look back at what happened, just in case you missed anything. Lots of great things happen each week in the Gay Authors News Blog and we'd hate for anyone to miss anything.
     
    Monday started out Signature Week with Comicfan's review of Second Shot by Andrew Q Gordon. For those who haven't already read the story, you can take a quick look at Comicfan's review to see if it's something you might be interested in. For those of you who have already read it, you can see if there's anything you'd like to add to encourage other members to read it!
     
    Once again we highlighted another of Premium Stories on Tuesday. This week Premium Tuesday post featured "The Degan Incident" by Signature Author, Rob Colton. "The Degan Incident" is just one of many stories that Gay Authors offers it's Premium Subscribers, to learn more, make sure to check out the Premium Tuesday post!
     
    On Wednesday, we went back to learning more about this month's Signature Author Background, Second Shot. Cia interviewed Andrew Q Gordon regarding the story and some of the answers were rather interesting. Want to know the inspiration behind Second Shot? The answer might surprise you, but to find it out, you'll need to visit the Wednesday blog!
     
    Last, but certainly not least, Friday brought us two more great prompts from the prompt guru, Comicfan. This week featured a photo prompt and a list of words. Maybe one of the two choices will spark a story idea, but you won't know until you take a glance. We also featured one of Jo Ann's responses from a past prompt.
     
    Anthology Announcements:
    2014 Summer Anthology: The Backup Plan - Due June 8th *Note: Deadline is for submission into GA Stories. Deadline for Submission to the Anthology Proof Team is June 5th*

    2014 Fall Anthology: Scars - Due Sept 3rd *Note: Deadline is for submission to the Anthology Proof Team*

    NEW READING
     
    In Premium this week:
     
    No More Hiding by Renee Stevens
     
    By our Signature Authors this week:
     
    A prompt a week by comicfan
     
    Space Pioneer by Dolores Esteban
     
    Enforcer by Rob Colton; Book 2 of Timber Pack Chronicles
     
    New Kid In School by Comicality
     
    Translator III: Dragon Warrior by David McLeod
     
    Flux by Mark Arbour; Book 14 of Chronicles Of An Academic Predator (CAP)
     
    Pilots II by David McLeod
     
    Pour Me Another by K.C.
     
    Lost Inside by Cia; Book 2 of Carthera Tales
     
    Finding Alex by Nephylim
     
    By our Promising Authors this week:
     
    Runner-Up by FrenchCanadian
     
    Direct Confusion by Sasha Distan
     
    Queer Shakespeare by carringtonrj
     
    The Crown Affair by Andy78
     
    Curse of the Fallen by JMH; Book 2 of Fallen
     

    Don't forget.... Read, Write, and REVIEW!!!!
  18. Renee Stevens
    I hope everyone has had a great week up until this point and that everyone has a wonderful weekend as well. Friday has once again graced us with it's presence and with it we have two more prompts from the prompt guru, Comicfan. As always, we're also sharing a previous prompt response. Don't forget, if either of these prompts trigger a response from you, share it in the prompt forum and maybe you'll see yours featured next week!
     
    Prompt 324 – Creative
    Tag – Photo
    Use the following photo to write a story.

     
    Prompt 325 – Creative
    Tag – List of Words
    Use the following words in a story – tulips, muddy foot prints, glass of wine, blanket, and a squirrel.
     
    This week I decided to feature Jo Ann's prompt response to Prompt #323, enjoy!
     

    Want to read the rest? Of course you do! Click here!
     
    As always... Read, Write, and REVIEW!!!
  19. Renee Stevens
    Have you downloaded your Signature Author Background yet? It's there, just waiting for you! Today we're continuing with Signature Week with an interview with Andrew_Q_Gordon on this month's story "Second Shot". Cia presented Andy with a list of questions which he was kind enough to answer and send back for us to share with you. Who knows, maybe one of these questions is one that you had!


    Interview: Andrew_Q_Gordon on
    Second Shot

     
    Interviewer: Cia
    What brought you to GA?
     


    My writing instructor said I needed to join something where I could get feed back on my writing. Her suggestions were all straight boards, so I decided to look for some place that would be predominately gay fiction.  
    What inspired you to write Second Shot?
     


    A bet. Until I wrote this, most of my writing was fantasy. Someone suggested I try something contemporary. That led me to finding a story. I'm not sure what prompted it, but the first scene I wrote for this was what became chapter 25. Then I filled in before and after.  
    This was your first story posted on GA, but was it the first story you ever wrote?
     


    The first story would have been a book that is still on yellow legal pages. I wrote it in college for a creative writing class. It's still there, but it needs so much work I almost don't want to think about it.  
    You had a ton of feedback while writing your story, did you change anything you had planned for the story based on the feedback you received?
     


    Not really, but sorta yes. Now to explain that. Some of the early reviews were grammatical. Some were stylistic. But the story was mostly written when I started to post it, so suggestion really didn't make it into the story. Sure there were a few tweaks here and there, but nothing substantive.  
    Do you have a favorite review you received on the story?
     


    The real answer is no. Almost all of them were very positive. I made some good friends from the reviews and to single out any one would be impossible. What I can say is that I do miss the back and forth with readers. GA is SO different from almost any other site I've come across. On Amazon or Goodreads if an author responds to a reader - even in a positive way, they run the risk of being attacked. (It's true,). In addition, there while there are a lot of positive reviews, some people go just to be nasty.  

    On GA you get the ability to have a real dialogue with readers. They ask, you answer, other read and chime in. I don't find that else where, and I miss it.  

    So my favorite reviews were the one that made me think, pushed me to respond, and that showed the reader understood what I was trying to do. Those uniformly made my day.  
    What was the easiest part of writing your story? The hardest part?
     


    The easiest parts were the soccer scenes and the antique cars. I find that when I really "see" a scene in my head, the words come out easier.  

    The Hardest ones were when I was going for a certain emotional feel. Trying to tweak the words and action just so make it hard to say – okay, there, it's done. I was always going back and changing this sentence or that.  
    Is there anything else you’d like to share with your readers about your experience while writing Second Shot?
     


    I learned a tremendous amount about writing and readers. Some times it's better to do less and other times more. What I mean is that not every story needs to have every trope you can thing of. I think I feel into that trap a bit here. People like to see their characters in real life situations, but they also want to 'believe' what they're reading. If you write about a character who lurches from one traumatic event to the next and seems to escape unscathed every time, you end up having to suspend your disbelief at some point. Going forward, I've tried to keep my stories more character driven than events. Time will tell if I succeed.  

    How did you feel when you finally finished writing Second Shot?
     


    Glad and sad. (I sound like a Dr. Seuss book.) Finally writing "the End" was great. I was ready to start other things, and I needed to get this story out of my head first. But spending time with the characters makes it hard to just walk away. It's why people do sequels and companion stories. I don't want to sound like a nut and suggest they are real inside my head, but well formed characters are up there somewhere because you have to approach each scene with the question, what would {insert character here} do? That really forms an attachment with them.  
    Did you enjoy returning to the world of Second Shot with your follow up story, The Senior Year? Can you give us an idea when you might come back to it?
     


    Very much so. The idea with Senior year is that it is not so much a story as it is a compilation of events that uses these characters. I once asked readers if they had any interest in reading about the every day lives of their favorite characters. I asked because while I do have sequel in my head for Second Shot, it's no where close to being ready to write. But the characters still have life left in them. So would they be interested in short peeks into their lives. The overwhelming answer was a conditional maybe. There needs to be a plot of some kind, tension, conflict and resolution.  

    So when I returned to Second for the Senior year, that was the theme, it would follow these characters around for Jason and Peter's senior year. But the harder part was finding tension to create along the way, and then have conflict and resolution. My hope is that I'll walk the fine line between too many events, which makes it unbelievable and not enough which makes it boring.  
    If you don’t have any plans to return to The Senior Year soon, can you tell us what you do have lined up?
     


    Yes, I have plans to return to the Senior year soon. I'm actually writing more chapters. As for what else – I've got so many different projects in the works, that I can't even begin to name them all. Next up for GA once Purpose is over will be something new. That should be staring in a couple weeks. Then Senior will return.  

    Beyond that I have some anthology stories being published and a free fantasy novella that will be published by the Goodreads MM Romance group.  

    The sequel to the Last Grand Master will be out soon and I've got two other contemporary stories I want to publish one day. I also plan to get back to the sequel to Second Shot. I have the plot roughed out in my head, but just not ready to put it down.
  20. Renee Stevens
    Want to help support Gay Authors? One way to do that is to purchase a Premium Subscription. As a Thank You, there are a fair number of stories available for Premium Subscribers to read. Each week, I'm featuring one of the Premium stories in the GA News blog. This week, I'm featuring the story "The Degan Incident" by Rob Colton.


    The Degan Incident


    by



    Rob Colton

     

    Lonely spaceport worker Devin McSmith meets Bastian Drago, an exotic and beastly alien



    from the planet Dega, and begins an adventure that takes him to the stars and beyond.


     

    Series:
    Galactic Conspiracies


    Words: 58,679



    Chapters: 12


     

    Category



    Fiction


     

    Genres

    Sci-Fi, Romance

     

    Tags



    Future, Off-Planet, Alternate Earth, Gay, Aliens


     

    Rating



    Mature


     

    Want to read "The Degan Incident"? Or maybe you want to check out more of what's in the Premium Section? It's easy, just purchase a
    Premium Subscription!

     



    Premium Content
    $8.10
    $8.10 Monthly




    Premium Content - 3 Months
    $24.00
    $24.00 Every 3 months




    Premium Content - 6 Months
    $47.00
    $47.00 Every 6 months




    Premium Content - 1 Year
    $93.00
    $93.00 Annually

  21. Renee Stevens

    Featured Story: Second Shot

    By Renee Stevens,


    Featured Stories
    This month's Signature Author Background and the feature for this week's Signature Week is "Second Shot" by Andrew_Q_Gordon. I always start out Signature Week with a review of the story being featured and this week is no different. Comicfan was kind enough to offer to do the review on "Second Shot". If you haven't already done so, don't forget to go and download your Signature Author Background.



    Second Shot


    By



    Andrew Q. Gordon


     
    Reviewer: Comicfan
    Status: Complete
    Word Count: 79,380
     
    When I first joined GA Second Shot was still being written. If you hadn’t heard about it a trip into the chat room would have had you meeting TrevorTime who would tell you to do one thing – Go read Second Shot. So that just leaves you wondering one thing what the heck is Second Shot.
     
    Welcome to the world of Second Shot. Here we find two college students starting out in life and trying to figure out what they want. For Peter the world is work, school, and martial arts. He is out and not about to go back into the closet. He is sort of self reliant and trying hard to just survive. For Jason it is a world of soccer and trying to hide who is from himself and the world. However when these two meet for the first time fate takes over.
     
    Peter has to deal with Jason who just can’t deny the attraction between them. Besides the coming out issue, you have a strict college coach trying to keep all his people in line, and the world itself showing the couple the good and bad. College classes and friends add a rich background as well as keeping both men grounded. Add in mothers, sisters, and other problems that both Peter and Jason need to deal with as they navigate their way through life. Just as it seems these two might make a go of it there is a vicious attack on Peter that leaves the whole relationship up in the air. Will these two get a second chance at a life together? Can a tender love grow or will family and hatred tear them apart?
     
    Andy or Q as he is known to so many of us delivers a story that far outstrips the basic college love story. This story alone shows the talent that he uses so well in his stories and catapulted him from writer to Promising to Hosted. If you haven’t read this incredible story I’d suggest you take a little time, curl up, and read it. When you do, don’t forget to comment.
  22. Renee Stevens

    Weekly Wrap Up!

    By Renee Stevens,


    Weekly Wrap Up
    Happy Mother's Day to all the Mom's out there, I hope you have a wonderful day! It's hard to believe that it's already May and that many places are starting to see the benefits of Spring. It was yet another busy week in the Gay Authors News Blog, so in case you missed something, let's take a look back.
     
    The first Monday of every month is slated to announce the new story selection for the CSR Book Club. This last Monday was no different. Have you read the series "That Jacob & Marcus Tales" by Thorn Wilde? If so, you're already ahead of the game and ready for the discussion that will take place on May 26th!
     
    This last Tuesday we continued with our newest blog feature, Premium Tuesday. CJames has many followers here at Gay Authors, but did you know that he has a story in Premium called "Jake"? To find out how you can read it, take a look at Tuesday's blog!
     
    Wednesday was our monthly feature by Dark, Ask An Author! As always, Dark asks a few authors some questions and then compiles their answers to bring you this monthly blog entry. This month featured answers from Menzoberranzen, Mark Arbour, and C James.
     
    We took a break on Thursday but came back on Friday with the weekly Prompts! Comicfan supplied two new prompts to help get the wheels turning and we also featured a poem that Layla wrote in response to Prompt #321.
     
    Anthology Announcements:
    2014 Summer Anthology: The Backup Plan - Due June 8th *Note: Deadline is for submission into GA Stories. Deadline for Submission to the Anthology Proof Team is June 5th*

    2014 Fall Anthology: Scars - Due Sept 3rd *Note: Deadline is for submission to the Anthology Proof Team*

    NEW READING
     
    In Premium this week:
     
    No More Hiding by Renee Stevens
     
    By our Signature Authors this week:
     
    Translator III: Dragon Warrior by David McLeod
     
    Leopard Skin Cover by Graeme
     
    Flux by Mark Arbour; Book 14 of Chronicles Of An Academic Predator (CAP)
     
    Pilots II by David McLeod
     
    The Secret Life Of Billy Chase 8 by Comicality, Book 8 of Billy Chase Chronicles
     
    Pour Me Another by K.C.
     
    Lost Inside by Cia; Book 2 of Carthera Tales
     
    Thwarted by Renee Stevens
     
    Noah's New Plan by Rob Colton
     
    Purpose - A New Beginning by Andrew_Q_Gordon
     
    Finding Alex by Nephylim
     
    Scars - The things we bare by comicfan
     
    By our Promising Authors this week:
     
    Direct Confusion by Sasha Distan
     
    The Gay Man of Her Dreams by carringtonrj
     
    Teddy by Thorn Wilde
     
    Chasing Dreams Out West by Sasha Distan
     

    Don't forget.... Read, Write, and REVIEW!!!!
  23. Renee Stevens
    Hope everyone has had a wonderful week so far, but now it's almost over and that means that it's once more time to bring you a couple of new prompts courtesy of the prompt guru, Comicfan. Hopefully one of these two prompts spark something for you, if it does, make sure to share it in the Writing Prompts Forum and maybe we'll feature it next week in the Friday Prompt Me!
     
    Prompt 322 – Creative
    Tag – Date Night
    Things haven’t been going well in your relationship. The spice has gone out of it, but you are still in love with your mate. In order to get the fires going you plan a special date night. What is it?
     
    Prompt 323 – Creative
    Tag – First Line
    “Can I talk to you?”
     
    We don't typically get poems as responses to the prompts, but last time we did. Since it's kind of unusual, I decided to feature Layla's poetry response to Prompt #321:
     

    Hope you enjoyed Layla's prompt response!
     
    As always.... Read, Write, and REVIEW!
  24. Renee Stevens

    Ask An Author #16

    By Renee Stevens,


    Author Interviews
    It's the first Wednesday of the month, and that is always a special treat in the Gay Author's News Blog. As most people know, the first Wednesday of every month has been slated for a feature by Dark called Ask An Author in which different authors are asked a question from the members at Gay Authors. It's a great feature, and a big Thank You to Dark for keeping it going. So, let's see what Dark has in store for us this month!


    Ask an Author #16


     
    Welcome back to another quirky question and answer session with your favorite authors!
     
    In AtA #15, we had questions for authors CassieQ, James Savik, and Libby Drew.
     
    In AtA #16, we hear from authors Menzoberranzen, Mark Arbour, and C James.
     
    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.
     
    Our first author today is Promising Author Menzoberranzen. Don’t ask me how to pronounce that. Having been with us since 2007, I’m sure he’s had weirder questions from his fans. A Canadian!, Menzo is a self-proclaimed wanderer who has penned some poetry to accompany his stories. He also often participates in the quarterly anthologies and I am not the only one who enjoyed his entry to 2012’s It Wasn’t me, Conversations with Strangers. If you liked it, too, send Menzo a note in his forum. He likes that!


    To Menzoberranzen: What genre(s) do you tend to write in? What kind of genres would you like to explore in the future?  

    1) I don't ever think about genre, but I suppose you'd call them dramas, though that's awfully vague. My stories are about the characters - or as much of them as I choose to reveal. Not much actually happens in my stories; I'm interested in how the character's perceive the 'action,' and how they perceive each other. I don't always try to write real people, or 'real' dialogue....it's all constructed with a thought to the overall emotional reaction I want to elicit in the reader.  

    2) I would like to write an epistolary story. The genre gives the author a lot of freedom to manipulate what information the reader receives, and it presents the possibility for multiple possible interpretations of the story.  
    Today’s next author is legendary Hosted Author Mark Arbour, who continues to spew stories left and right. There’s the family dynasty CAP series, the historical naval orgy of the Bridgemont series, and a handful of others. Why is he a legend, you might ask? Well, just “watch” him for a time. You’ll see. If that doesn’t convince you, then read!


    To Mark Arbour: Where do you find the time to write two storylines simultaneously and still work fulltime and have a family life as well?  

    It's called "free time". Writing for me is a release and a hobby. Some people watch television (I rarely do), some people play video games (I rarely do), so when I have downtime, I write. I find that it's therapeutic for me, and it also gives me an incredible amount of satisfaction to craft these characters and make them as life-like as I can.  
    Our last author today is “The Goat,” our dear, beloved C James, who started hinting earlier this year that his neverending story, Circumnavigation, is actually coming to a close. Say it with me: Nooooo! And then go read it again. We’ll see how long it takes you this time ‘round.


    To C James: Tell us about your character Bridget? (ie was there a particular inspiration?) Did you know from the start that she was going to be so evil? Or did she just become more dastardly and devious as the story developed?  

    I knew the basic plot and ending for Circumnavigation before I started posting it, but Bridget... she's proven to be a bit more capable and avaricious than I thought. She's always been a brilliant tactician though, and an able manipulator.  

    One thing that did surprise me about her; the way that she, such as when she was wounded during her escape from Florida by boat, or when she's violently angry, drops the veneer of formality and dignity, becoming again the hardscrabble Georgia farmgirl she was as a youth.  

    Bridget isn't based on any one person. Her veneer of formality is based on several people I've known. I figured being a high-society type would be a good cover for a drug runner and money launderer, so it fit. As for her personality... she's, well, let me back up a bit. I never set out to design a character's personality for a simple reason: I suck at it. So, though I do lay out a few aspects, such as skills and abilities, I just write them as I see them. So, sometimes they surprise me. (and in Bridget's case, she's sure not somebody I'd want to argue with!)  

    But is she evil? Perhaps she's just a little.... misunderstood.  

    I can identify with that if she;s misunderstood... because I'm certainly misunderstood myself. For example, though I'm perhaps best known for my utter and total avoidance of cliffhangers, some people, shockingly, accuse me of 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!
     
    Coming next time: AnytaSunday, Billy Brat, and Kyle Aarons.
     
    Want to ask your favorite author a question? Simply PM me (Dark).
    Until next time!
    Dark
  25. Renee Stevens

    Premium Tuesday - Jake

    By Renee Stevens,


    Featured Stories
    It's time for another look into the Premium Section of Gay Authors. As most people know, the Premium Section is our way of saying Thank You to those who help support Gay Authors by purchasing a Premium Subscription. There are quite a few stories that have either only posted in Premium or have been moved to Premium for one reason or another. This week, we are showcasing a story by C James, also known to many by his pseudonym, The Goat.
     



    Jake


    by



    CJames

     

    Jake the typical bad boy in many ways; into a lot of stuff he shouldn't be, and raising hell when he can.



    The only problem is, Jake is burdened with a conscience. Jump in, it's going to be one hell of a ride, if Jake has anything to say about it.


     

    Words: 113,662



    Chapters: 24


     

    Category



    Fiction


     

    Genres

    Thriller/Suspense, Drama

     

    Tags

    Modern, Coming of Age, Suburban, Teen

     

    Rating



    Teen


     

    Want to read "Jake"? Or maybe you want to check out more of what's in the Premium Section? It's easy, just purchase a
    Premium Subscription!

     



    Premium Content
    $8.10
    $8.10 Monthly




    Premium Content - 3 Months
    $24.00
    $24.00 Every 3 months




    Premium Content - 6 Months
    $47.00
    $47.00 Every 6 months




    Premium Content - 1 Year
    $93.00
    $93.00 Annually

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