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Renee Stevens

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  1. Renee Stevens
    Upcoming Anthology
    Due: April 1, 2021
    Top Themes
    On the Road
    Forbidden
    Pot Luck Themes
    But Wait; There’s More     -     Through a Glass Darkly     -     Of Gods and Monsters     -     It Takes All Kinds     -     Darkness Falls
    Boys of the Hills     -     You Wouldn’t Understand     -     On the Beach     -     Great Balls of Fire     -     Laughter, the Best Medicine
    Ozark Rumors     -     The Tracks     -     National Park     -     The Warmest Color     -     A Visitation     -     New Moon
    Turn Back Time     -     Chiaroscuro     -     Jump Ship     -     King of Eighteen     -     Up!
    There's your list of themes!  You can check out the full list of rules and guidelines in the anthology forum, but take a look at this entry from last year!
    As Betwixt the Devil and the Deep Sea
    Author: @Thorn Wilde
    Theme: The Storm
    After a few days’ stay on a remote and bleak island in the sea, a writer finds that the boat he arrived in has been torn from its
    mooring by a storm. None of the locals will take him to the mainland, afraid to brave the waters after the storm, and
    as he struggles to make his way home, it seems more and more as if something doesn’t want him to leave.
     
    Reader Comments:
    MichaelS36: Wow. What a well written and creepy tale. I couldn't help but read it. It was that good. 
    Mikiesboy: If you like a little horror ... not too scary or graphic at all. Just spine tingly and a little creepy, you cannot go wrong with this gem.
    Wayne Gray: If you like horror then don't skip this one. It sent a chill down my spine, and the imagery was just right.
  2. Renee Stevens

    Featured Story: The Transporters

    By Renee Stevens,


    Featured Stories
    Well. It's time for another story review, this tile from our newest review team member, @Talo Segura. Enjoy!
    The Transporters
    by Israfil
    Reviewer: Talo Segura
    Status: Complete
    Word Count: 16,570
    I might have said that you ought to know the forgotten realms of Dungeons and Dragons, but you don't. It was the gnolls who made me go and look it up. As might be appropriate to this genre of story, a portal opened into a fantastic world. I should point out this story does not have a gay tag and is a tale of fantasy and magic, there is no gay theme, but don't let that make you sidestep a good read.
    This author has a sense of humour that adds a smile and enhances his writing skills. "...he had two options: stand his ground and face his death or make a futile dash and die running. There was no choice here - he always knew which one he would choose. He spun around and sprinted down the road." It's obvious from the start these guys are anything but seasoned wizards, I mean, he left his rune stick behind!
    Being, as far as I know, a first story, there is always room to be better, and this author has all the potential to do so. Some rather nice descriptions pepper the narrative, "Streaks of green scales extended from beneath her eyes, traveling down her cheeks like emerald tears." Mastershakeme commented, "I liked the description and the setting a lot! I kinda imagined being in my rundown apartment and then Holy shit! The alarms are triggered! The apartment's about to become a war zone and the little doggy prisoner, who said they'd be sorry, finally has his day." There is no holding back from the action and whilst the picture of what's happening is revealed slowly, in little snippets, which might be confusing, personally, I liked it that way. You have to work at it a little, which draws you in, at least it did for me.
    A reader commented, "The three wizards are proving more interesting than I thought they would be..." which was also true for me. With everything building up, attack upon attack, threats and subtle vying for advantage, the young wizards grow on you, as hopefully their magic abilities will grow, and improve. I'm tempted to say it's a life and death struggle, at the very least that element keeps you turning the pages, as well as rooting for these odd room mates! I love the way the tension is built, how the author drops little hints into the narrative, "...for a moment as a shadow passed in front of the streetlight outside." You might almost miss the significance, it is subtle crafting of the story plot.
    If I have any criticisms they are very small, the point made by a reader that there are a lot of characters which might get a bit muddled. However, this is the first story of The Deadwood Chronicles, and as such it has a role in setting the scene and introducing the action and the characters. My only real criticism is there is no second story to continue the tale. So whilst this story is complete, it is the first battle in the war, and for the moment we have no more. Perhaps, we might encourage the author to continue?
    I cannot sum things up better than another reader who wrote: "the action was fast-paced and full of adrenaline. This was a quick read and a fun one too."
    Category: Fiction  Genres: Adventure, Fantasy  Tags: young adult, magic, wizards, roommates, urban, modern  Rating: Everyone
  3. Renee Stevens

    Author Guess Who #13

    By Renee Stevens,


    Author Guess Who
    Woohoo!!!! Two months in a row that I've actually managed to do the Author Guess Who blog!  Who's ready for another round of guessing. I am super curious as to whether or now y'all will guess this one!!!  So, let's get right to it!
     
    What is one thing that most GA members might not know about you?
    I'm German
    What prompted you to write your first story?
    A lot of Hosted (yes, I'm dating myself) encouraged me to give it a try.
    What genre of books do you enjoy reading and have you written for that genre?
    Sci Fi and no. I think to write Sci Fi you need to have a working knowledge of a lot of science. I think I like reading scifi to get that science understanding.
    Is there a genre that you haven’t written for that you would consider trying later on?
    Porn 
    What do like most about publishing on GA?
    The support that everyone shares with one another. It encourages yourself to support others too.
    Do you have any unique writing habits or rituals to help you get into a writing mood?
    I have to talk myself into it and then I don't do too much other than work and sleep. I don't leave the computer until I'm more or less done.
    How has your writing style evolved over time?
    I've asked questions of some great authors and embraced some great authors to edit and beta for me and tried to employ what they have taught me to make each attempt a slight bit better.
    Do you have a significant other?
    No
    Do you have any pets?
    No
    Do you post multi-chapter stories as you write? Do you wait until you’ve finished writing the entire story? Or is it something in between?
    I usually like to finish something completely before publishing it.
    What is your favorite television show?
    NCIS
    What is your favorite movie?
    Ferris Bueller's Day Off
    Do you write poetry? Prose? Or both?
    Both, I think 
    If you could meet one person, living or dead, who would it be?
    Attila the Hun
    What would you say is your greatest accomplishment?
    Being here today!
     
    So, what do you think? Think you know who it is? Post your guess in the comments!!!
  4. Renee Stevens
    Upcoming Anthology
    Due: April 1, 2021
    Top Themes
    On the Road
    Forbidden
    Pot Luck Themes
    But Wait; There’s More     -     Through a Glass Darkly     -     Of Gods and Monsters     -     It Takes All Kinds     -     Darkness Falls
    Boys of the Hills     -     You Wouldn’t Understand     -     On the Beach     -     Great Balls of Fire     -     Laughter, the Best Medicine
    Ozark Rumors     -     The Tracks     -     National Park     -     The Warmest Color     -     A Visitation     -     New Moon
    Turn Back Time     -     Chiaroscuro     -     Jump Ship     -     King of Eighteen     -     Up!
    There's your list of themes!  You can check out the full list of rules and guidelines in the anthology forum, but take a look at this entry from last year!
    Mates Come First
    Author: @Caz Pedroso
    Theme: The Storm
    Eighteen year old Owen has escaped the bullies from his home coven and started a new life in Teonards. He never want to have anything to do with his old coven ever again.
    The coven have been looking for Owen since he was discovered missing. Mica is in Teonards on a supply run and decides to ask around while he's there.
    When the two meet fireworks and revelations are abound. 
    Can minds be changed?
     
    Reader Comments:
    aditus: I enjoyed the story very much. It was very entertaining, I couldn't stop until I finished the last chapter.
    Headstall: Very enjoyable story, Caz. Well done! Cheers.
    Smoothy: O Caz, I soooo love your stories!! 💕💕. One can always relate to something in the content. Thank you 🤗🤗🤗
  5. Renee Stevens

    Reviewers Needed - Short & Long term

    By Renee Stevens,


    News Archive
    As many of you know, we have an absolutely wonderful team of reviewers here at Gay Authors. The are the ones responsible for all the wonderful reviews you see at least once a month, sometimes twice!
    Sometimes real life gets in the way and our reviewers struggle to provide more than a couple of reviews a year. We're looking for some more reviewers to help us out! This is open to all GA members. 
    Can't commit to reviews on a regular basis? That's perfectly okay!  Maybe you've read an awesome story recently that you'd like to direct more readers to. This is your chance, as you can provide a single review for the blog.  
    Think you want to provide a couple reviews a year, that's great too!  You can join the review team on a long term basis!
    We currently have all of the 2021 dates available for reviews.  
    Feb 8
    Mar 8
    Mar 22
    April 12
    May 10
    May 24
    June 14
    July 12
    Aug 9
    Aug 23
    Sept 13
    Oct 11
    Nov 8
    Nov 22
    Dec 13
    If you're interested in helping us out, just send a message to @Renee Stevens or @Timothy M.. If you just want to provide a single review,  just let us know that, but please pick a couple of dates in case one of them has already been filled. 
    We try and not focus too much on a single author or do repeats of the same story, though it does occasionally happen. If you let us know what story you're interested in reviewing, we can let you know if that story has been done or if that author had been featured recently.
    Thank you everyone!
  6. Renee Stevens

    Anthology Changes.... Again

    By Renee Stevens,


    Anthologies
    First off, let me start by saying that the Anthology deadline of April 1st has been extended to May 31st!!!!  Hopefully that will give everyone time to write something for the anthology.
    So, what does that mean for the mid-year anthology?  Well, that deadline has now been extended to October 31st.
    Which leaves us with the Pre-2021 themes anthology. Sometimes we have to make some tough decisions, and it's become clear that the anthology participation has been declining for the past few years. We've tried a few things to try and gain people's interest in them, but none of them have really worked in the long term. I've only seen a few entries come in for this upcoming anthology, which made me take a look at what we've tried and what else we can try. Maybe there are quite a few people finishing up their anthologies, I hope so, but I still needed to look to the future.
    After the Anthology that is due October 31st, we will be changing again. If you were looking forward to writing an anthology using a past anthology theme, you'll still get the chance to do so.
    The Pre-2021 Theme anthology, will become the Pre-2022 Theme Anthology. Instead of being one of 2 separate anthologies, the Pre-2022 Theme Anthology will be the ONLY anthology for 2022. Yep, that's right, we will be moving to a single, annual anthology starting 2022. Our hope is that with a full year to write, we'll see the participation numbers grow.
    If you have any questions, please feel free to PM me.
  7. Renee Stevens
    Upcoming Anthology
    Due: April 1, 2021 (1 week remaining)
    Top Themes
    On the Road
    Forbidden
    Pot Luck Themes
    But Wait; There’s More     -     Through a Glass Darkly     -     Of Gods and Monsters     -     It Takes All Kinds     -     Darkness Falls
    Boys of the Hills     -     You Wouldn’t Understand     -     On the Beach     -     Great Balls of Fire     -     Laughter, the Best Medicine
    Ozark Rumors     -     The Tracks     -     National Park     -     The Warmest Color     -     A Visitation     -     New Moon
    Turn Back Time     -     Chiaroscuro     -     Jump Ship     -     King of Eighteen     -     Up!
    There's your list of themes!  You can check out the full list of rules and guidelines in the anthology forum, but take a look at this entry from last year!
    The Truth is Out There
    Author: @Myr
    Theme: Full Moon
    Zebron Wilson breaks the rules of Psionic Corp due to his insatiable curiosity and gets sent away to prevent retaliation.
    Reader Comments:
    lomax61: So much to love here, packed full of ideas in such a short story. And a different interpretation of the anthology title.
    Carlos Hazday: As usual, a story from you leaves me wanting more.
    Wolflady: I am so glad to see this addition to the Psionic world.  love the fact that you brought back a couple of the earlier characters.  I am definitely looking forward to more of the story.
  8. Renee Stevens

    Featured Story: Broken

    By Renee Stevens,


    Featured Stories
    As always, a huge thank you goes out to our review team.  Without them, I don't know what you'd review on these featured story days!
    Broken - A Camp Refuge Story
    by Wayne Gray
    Reviewer: Parker Owens
    Status: Complete
    Word Count: 38,510
    Broken is the fourth story in Wayne Gray’s Camp Refuge series. The story revolves around Lee, a young man with a horrific past and who has drawn the interest of the police. Camp Refuge is the last stop, the last chance, before getting swallowed up by the legal system.
    There are many stories about men like Lee, stories which tell of those ill-used by circumstance and fortune who are given last chances. Few such tales engage and hold the reader as well as this one.
    What makes this story so engaging is the way in which the many vivid and well-drawn characters have their own narratives and subplots intertwined. Even as Lee’s tale unfolds, we watch others simultaneously branch and blossom. In each chapter, the reader cannot help celebrating the joys each character experiences and worrying over their troubles and setbacks. Each part supports and adorns the main story, until they are all brought together in a most satisfying resolution.
    Broken also tackles difficult questions: how many chances should a person get? How do we know when to trust and take a chance on someone? The author does not give us an easy answer – such choices in life can be messy and fraught. But in the end, we are shown how it might work out. Broken is not merely a story which restores one’s view of the world. Wayne Gray makes the reader want to go out and change the world for the better.
    This is a story by a gifted writer.  Pull up a folding chair and spend some time at Camp Refuge. Get to know Lee and all the characters who live there. You’ll be very glad you did.  
    Category: Fiction  Genres: Drama, Romance  Tags: young adult, gay, rural, anal, serious, fostering, modern, friendship  Rating: Mature
  9. Renee Stevens
    Upcoming Anthology
    Due: April 1, 2021 (2 weeks remaining)
    Top Themes
    On the Road
    Forbidden
    Pot Luck Themes
    But Wait; There’s More     -     Through a Glass Darkly     -     Of Gods and Monsters     -     It Takes All Kinds     -     Darkness Falls
    Boys of the Hills     -     You Wouldn’t Understand     -     On the Beach     -     Great Balls of Fire     -     Laughter, the Best Medicine
    Ozark Rumors     -     The Tracks     -     National Park     -     The Warmest Color     -     A Visitation     -     New Moon
    Turn Back Time     -     Chiaroscuro     -     Jump Ship     -     King of Eighteen     -     Up!
    There's your list of themes!  You can check out the full list of rules and guidelines in the anthology forum, but take a look at this entry from last year!
    The Challenge
    Author: @Headstall
    Theme: Full Moon
    Out of necessity, Armie accepts what his life has become, but when a handsome stranger issues an unexpected challenge, the walls he's so carefully constructed begin to weaken. Once the dust settles, will they crumble altogether?
    Reader Comments:
    84Mags: A story likes this walks a very fine line between creepy, needy, stalker and genuine, budding attraction.   You did a perfect job of coloring within the lines! 
    Dughlas: A fairy tale, sort of, if a little creepy but then fairy tales often are ...
    LD Stratton: OK, you are at it again my man, writing a plausible reality with characters that feel real in their emotions.
  10. Renee Stevens

    Ask An Author 3.0 #1

    By Renee Stevens,


    Author Interviews
    Well, we didn't have any takers to take up Ask An Author, so with the start of the new year, I wanted to come up with a way to keep the Ask An Author feature alive. Since I'm the one who will be doing it, it needed to be something not too time consuming. Hopefully what I've come up with will work out well.  Instead of readers asking a single question and directing it to the author, I thought maybe we'd focus more on the story instead of the author. The way this will work is, the reader picks a story of their choice, they can then ask the author three questions about that story.  Since there's will only be twelve Ask An Author features per year, I'm going to set it at no author can appear more than once a year. That doesn't mean you can't ask your questions, but if you pick a story by an author who has already appeared for that year, your Ask An Author will simple be delayed.  So, pick your story and your questions, and send me a message!  I'll try and get those questions answered for you!
    To start us off, I asked @Mann Ramblings a few questions about his story So Little Magic Left.
    So Little Magic Left
    Mann Ramblings
    What do you do when you simply don't fit into your world? Shawn Martoni never did. A past of turmoil and misfortune kept a solid foothold from ever forming.

    But what if there was another world under our own? Someplace where all that's left of the creatures long since forgotten might live. Would Shawn find his place there or simply find another form of the underworld?
    Where did the idea for So Little Magic Left come from?
    The initial inspiration came from a GA writing prompt actually. Specifically, from one of Comicfan’s prompts titled “The Beast” from several years ago. (2012-2013) The original 1k scene is still sitting in my collection of prompt responses “Prompt Ramblings” https://gayauthors.org/story/mann-ramblings/promptramblings/5
    Some elements may have been altered from the final story, but writing it set off a huge brainstorming session and I sort of took off from there. I loved the opportunity to create a modern fantasy story.
    How do you pronounce the Queen’s name and where did it come from?
    I used an elvish word translator I found online to create her name. (Yes you can find just about anything on the internet if you look hard enough.) Dahmsaedroma is a loose translation/compilation of the words I found to mean “light-dancing” or “dancing-light” to describe her grace and magical aura.
    Her name is pronounced: Dahm – Suh – Dro – Mah
    Would you ever consider publishing So Little Magic Left?
    I’ve considered it. SLML is a novel I’m particularly proud of. It started my current tendency to write longer book length stories with more complex plots. These days if I write a story under 100k, it feels undone. I’m not sure if I’m ready to take on the task of revising the technical issues the story has as one of my earlier works, but I’m not saying it would never happen. It might be worth it. However, I have other projects that need to be completed before I can consider stepping back and reworking an older piece.
     
  11. Renee Stevens

    Author Guess Who #14 - The Reveal

    By Renee Stevens,


    Author Guess Who
    Well, it's time to see who our mystery author was for this month. Do you think you got it right? Well, let's take a look shall we? This month's mystery author was.....
    Carlos Hazday
    Did you get it right? Check out these stories from Carlos!
     
  12. Renee Stevens

    Featured Story: Sentinels

    By Renee Stevens,


    Featured Stories
    Happy Monday!  Hope everyone had a great weekend. To help you start your week off right, check out this review from Aditus!
    Sentinels
    C.T. Piatt
    Reviewer: Aditus
    Status: Complete
    Word Count: 8,475
    I was immediately intrigued when I read: 
    Father Allen is one of few priests whose duty it is to visit Heaven and hear the confessions of fallen angels.
    He gives absolution if he feels their regret is sincere. Without his absolution, the Fallen cannot go before God to ask for forgiveness. Without forgiveness, however, their souls are forever lost.
    A human priest is needed to save a fallen angel’s soul. Why? Because we know all about sin?
    Father Allen is once again called to Heaven, where he meets an angel unlike any he’s met before, as he refuses absolution. However, the archangels Gabriel and Michael insist he give absolution anyway. The priest refuses, even though he has to defy an archangel. “Not until he confesses and pleads."
    Dutiful, Father Allen tries to bring the Fallen to confess and regret his sin. When the angel still refuses to confess and plead, the priest asks Raphael for his sin. After the archangel reveals it to him, the priest becomes furious; he even goes so far as to spit at the Fallen. He is absolutely sure there is no point in waiting for a confession and offering absolution. Because of the gravity of the sin, the angel would never be received again into Heaven. It’s written in the Scriptures.
    Over time, their conversation becomes more and more personal. Once, the Fallen asks him, "Have you loved, Priest?" When the priest gives only a generic answer, he sends him away with, “Come back when you have loved.”
    The author works a lot with colors: white, black, grey, brown, blue, red. Fallen angels normally have black eyes, but this particular angel’s eyes are blue. Why? I had some guesses, but answer them for yourself.
    The condition of the Fallen and his cell changes throughout the story. Again, why? Does it represent his feelings? His mood? Another reason?
    At the end, I asked myself, who was the confessor? Who’s the sinner?
    As you can see, I had many questions and not all of them are answered. It made me think about the story again and again. For me, that signifies a good story. See for yourself, and tell me or, even better, the author if you agree.
    Category: Fiction  Genres: Paranormal  Tags: young adult, mature adult, angels, gay, no sex, serious, 20th century  Rating: Everyone
  13. Renee Stevens
    If you have any questions, send me a message or you can always comment on the blog or in the forum thread!
    Roll Call: if you have an anthology entry, comment below!  If you want, you can even share your story name and description to make your readers drool in anticipation! 
     
    ~2021 Spring/Summer Anthology~
    Now, let's take a look at the themes and guidelines for the first anthology of 2021!
    The themes of the 2021 Anthology #1 are:
    Top Theme #1: On the Road
    Top Theme #2: Forbidden
    Potluck Themes:
    But Wait; There’s More Through a Glass Darkly Of Gods and Monsters It Takes All Kinds Darkness Falls Boys of the Hills You Wouldn’t Understand On the Beach Great Balls of Fire Laughter, the Best Medicine Ozark Rumors The Tracks National Park The Warmest Color A Visitation New Moon Turn Back Time Chiaroscuro Jump Ship King of Eighteen Up! Note: If you use a potluck theme, when posting to GA Stories, please include in the description: "Pot Luck Theme: [Insert Theme Here]" so that we can see what themes were used!  Thank you!
    Feel free to interpret these themes in any way you want. The anthologies are not exclusive, but inclusive, so don't worry if you think your entry has only a tangential link to the theme. If you are inspired, then write a short story, poem or play, and submit it.
    Please read these submission guidelines carefully.
    You may address these themes in any style or genre you choose. Be as creative as you want to be with the themes. However, please note that this anthology is an anthology of short stories. By definition, a short story must stand alone and not require reading a prior story. It therefore cannot be a chapter in a serial.
    Who may participate
    Everyone is welcome and encouraged to participate. However, submission to GA Stories requires that you be a member here at GA so you can be assigned as the author. If you have author status (which is free and you can get after five posts in the GA forums), you can submit stories.
    Submission Guidelines
    Submission Date: May 31, 2021
    Please Note: Submission date is for submission to the Anthology Proof Team. Proofreads should take no more than 72 hours once you have been paired with a proofreader, if you have not received your story back within 72 hours, please contact Renee Stevens via PM. If you send your stories in within the last 48 hours of the deadline, you have 48 hours after receiving it back to upload it in order for it to be included in the Anthology. Non-Poetry
    No Story Limit: Each story submitted must meet quality and editing guidelines and only one story can be under 1,000 words. Each story posted as its own submission Minimum Word Count Per Story: 1,000 Maximum Word Count Per Story: 25,000 Poetry
    Up to five poems Posted as a single submission (a collection) Each poem posted as its own chapter Submission Procedure *Please read carefully*
    Once your story is complete and has gone through your beta and editing team, please complete the following steps:
    Contact @Valkyrie via PM. Include in the PM the following information: Title, original editor, genre, synopsis, word count, and excerpt in the body of the PM. Attach your story file. You will be paired with an editor from the Anthology Proof Team who will perform a final proof for the anthology and return the file to you. *Please Note: The Anthology Proof Team is not meant to take the place of an author’s normal editing team so all entries MUST be edited prior to contacting  Valkyrie* Once you receive your proofed file, complete your edits and submit your story into GA Stories, for help, please read How do I upload my anthology entry into GA Stories? Make sure the story is unpublished by clicking BOTH the publish sliders, one for the chapter and one for the story itself Select “Fiction” as the category. It will be moved to the correct category by the anthology team. Mark your story as COMPLETE. Only completed stories are allowed in the anthologies Description for Pot Luck stories - Please include "Pot Luck Theme: [Insert Theme Here]" in your description Please note that once you submit a story it will NOT show up in your list of stories until the anthology has gone live. Copy the URL for your story and provide Renee Stevens with the URL via the announcement thread so that your submission may be checked to ensure it has been submitted correctly and meets submission guidelines. This also ensures that it will get moved to the anthology category. Please give the URL to the STORY page, not the chapter page. *NEW* Each theme will have it's own category and forum thread. When providing the URL for your story please choose the link thread for the correct theme. Renee will not be responsible for posting it in the wrong category if it was not posted in the correct thread. [*]Please do a visual check of your story once it has been uploaded to ensure that it uploaded correctly. If it did not, contact Renee Stevens. 
    IMPORTANT: Please DO NOT do ANYTHING with your story once it has been submitted to the anthology. We lock edits to anthologies, but we can only lock so much and trying to make ANY changes can cause issues with the system. If there is something with your story that absolutely needs fixed, added, etc, PLEASE contact Renee Stevens or another Admin prior to attempting anything. Thank you!
    Extensions
    Occasionally things happen that prevent an author from meeting the deadline. If you should find yourself in such a predicament, PM Renee Stevens, before the deadline (not the day of or after), and something may be able to be worked out. Please contact Renee only if you need an extension; requests will only be considered when requested by the author personally. However, if the same author is consistently asking for extra time, extensions may no longer be granted for that particular author. Deadlines exist for a reason. The Anthology Team needs time to prep the anthology to go live and extensions, while occasionally warranted due to unforeseeable circumstances, add to the already hectic workload. If you have NOT made arrangements with Renee prior to the deadline, your Anthology will not be included. Please do not send a message the day an anthology is due requesting an extension, these will not be granted. You are welcome to post your story on your own and include a story note stating that it was originally meant to be part of the anthology.
    Story Titles
    Please do not use the anthology themes or your GA Username as a title. Be as original as you can. In case of duplicate titles within the anthology, we will request that titles be changed.
    Unacceptable entries & Content Warnings
    Entries that are obviously unedited (containing many errors), are overly graphic, or which are deemed to have unacceptable content will be either declined outright, or changes may be requested as a condition of entry. For information on what is considered to be unacceptable, please see the Story Content Rules FAQ. If you still have questions, ask.
    Please include a Content Warning in the story notes if your story contains sensitive content. Examples of sensitive content: abuse, especially graphic/extreme abuse or child abuse, in-scene graphic violence, suicide attempts/themes, allowable incest, etc... if you're unsure that your story falls within this type of content please alert Valkyrie when you send the PM requesting the final proof.
    Previously posted stories (whether at GA or elsewhere) are not eligible for inclusion into the GA anthologies.
    Editing
    All entries MUST be edited prior to being sent to the Anthology Proof Team. If you need an editor, please visit the Writing Support Requests forum to request one. There are editors who prefer to edit only one shots, such as anthologies. Please make sure to state that your story is for the upcoming anthology. Also, please make sure to follow the guidelines when requesting an editor. If your story is clearly NOT edited, your story will be returned and the proof team is under no obligation to provide a proof read until it has been edited.
    Copyright
    As with all content in GA Stories, the rights remain with the individual authors. Your story will post with a simple 2021 copyright notice, using your GA user display name. If you have another preference (for example, a different name, or a Creative Commons license, or specific copyright wording you'd like to use), please include that with your submission.
    However, with this anthology, by submitting your story, you are giving GayAuthors.org first worldwide rights with 14 days exclusivity. What that means is you are giving GayAuthors.org permission to archive your story on its website, distribute it via RSS, kindle, iphone, ipad, eyeball…. And you agree not to publish it anywhere else for 2 weeks.
    If you later decide to post your story at another site, please mention at the beginning or end of the story that it was first published as part of the 2021 Gay Authors Anthology #1: [Insert Theme Here], and include a link back to GA if possible.
    If you have any questions, please contact Renee Stevens via PM or via the Anthology Blog or Forum.
  15. Renee Stevens
    Upcoming Anthology
    Due: October 31, 2021
    Top Themes
    A Winding Path
    An Unconventional Gift
    Pot Luck Themes
    Pick Your Poison     -     Lockdown     -     Left Behind     -     Dire Monotony     -     Mutation is Progress     -     Blood Moon
    Birthday Presents     -     Falling for Fall     -     Elves or Elvis?     -     Life’s Past     -     The Woods
    Rings of Fire     -     Plateau Wolves     -     Rock     -     Men and Women     -     A Legend Retold
    Echoes     -     The Last Sentinel     -     Tomorrow     -     A Label     -     Surpassing     -     Twilight Falling
    There's your list of themes!  You can check out the full list of rules and guidelines in the anthology forum, but take a look at this entry from last year!
    The Seven7h Magpie
    Author: @lomax61
    Theme: Shadows
    One for sorrow, two for joy, three for a girl and four for a boy.
    Five for silver, six for gold, seven for a secret never to be told.
    I am sure many of you, like me, learned this children's nursery rhyme about magpies. According to an old superstition, the number of magpies seen predicts whether you will have good or bad luck. Something I came across subsequently, was the existence of many variations on this rhyme, some more sinister than the children’s version.
    One of those is incorporated into this short story about boyhood abuse.
    Reader Comments:
    chris191070: Well certainly not your normal fair. A great story using the nursery ryme that's make the sad story, mind blowing. 
    84Mags:  It’s hauntingly wonderful.  Imaginative, creative, and heart wrenching.
    Valkyrie: This story was captivating, chilling, creepy, and oh so good!
  16. Renee Stevens
    Upcoming Anthology
    Due: October 31, 2021
    Top Themes
    A Winding Path
    An Unconventional Gift
    Pot Luck Themes
    Pick Your Poison     -     Lockdown     -     Left Behind     -     Dire Monotony     -     Mutation is Progress     -     Blood Moon
    Birthday Presents     -     Falling for Fall     -     Elves or Elvis?     -     Life’s Past     -     The Woods
    Rings of Fire     -     Plateau Wolves     -     Rock     -     Men and Women     -     A Legend Retold
    Echoes     -     The Last Sentinel     -     Tomorrow     -     A Label     -     Surpassing     -     Twilight Falling
    There's your list of themes!  You can check out the full list of rules and guidelines in the anthology forum, but take a look at this entry from last year!
    Born Again
    Author: @Valkyrie
    Theme: Shadows
    Jeremiah is picked up by the police after being caught digging up a body in a cornfield in the middle of the night.  His explanation leaves investigators with more questions than answers.  
    Reader Comments:
    lomax61: Whether a person believes in the concept of reincarnation or not, this is nevertheless a beautiful tale filled with love and karma and closure.
    nix: It was creepy, it was scary, it was bittersweet. I love it so much!
    Ivor Slipper: That was indeed a thought provoking story. Anything is possible I guess.
  17. Renee Stevens
    Upcoming Anthologies
     
    Spring/Summer
    Due: May 31st, 2021
    Top Themes
    On the Road
    Forbidden
    Pot Luck Themes
    But Wait; There’s More     -     Through a Glass Darkly     -     Of Gods and Monsters     -     It Takes All Kinds     -     Darkness Falls
    Boys of the Hills     -     You Wouldn’t Understand     -     On the Beach     -     Great Balls of Fire     -     Laughter, the Best Medicine
    Ozark Rumors     -     The Tracks     -     National Park     -     The Warmest Color     -     A Visitation     -     New Moon
    Turn Back Time     -     Chiaroscuro     -     Jump Ship     -     King of Eighteen     -     Up!
     
    Fall/Winter
    Due: October 31st, 2021
    Top Themes
    A Winding Path
    An Unconventional Gift
    Pot Luck Themes
    Pick Your Poison     -     Lockdown     -     Left Behind     -     Dire Monotony     -     Mutation is Progress     -     Blood Moon
    Birthday Presents     -     Falling for Fall     -     Elves or Elvis?     -     Life’s Past     -     The Woods
    Rings of Fire     -     Plateau Wolves     -     Rock     -     Men and Women     -     A Legend Retold
    Echoes     -     The Last Sentinel     -     Tomorrow     -     A Label     -     Surpassing     -     Twilight Falling
    There's your list of themes!  You can check out the full list of rules and guidelines in the anthology forum, but take a look at this entry from last year!
    Explosions
    Author: @Carlos Hazday
    Theme: Full Moon
    Countless stories have been told about the sinking of Atlantis. The island paradise first mentioned by Plato, has become a popular location in fiction and engendered countless expeditions to locate its remains. However, little has been written about the band of wolf lycan who lived there or what happened to them after the cataclysm. This is their tale.
    Reader Comments:
    Terry P: A very interesting telling of the Lost Atlantis Story.  As usual your excellent story telling made this all the more enjoyable.
    Headstall: Interesting take on the Atlantis mystery/fable/legend, Carlos, and a good explanation for how your dolphin shifters came to be.
    JeffreyL: As a fan of mythology this story really appealed to me! It is a bit of a departure for you, but your ability to tell a tale shone through.
  19. Renee Stevens
    Want to write something short and sweet?  Want the chance to win a 3 month subscription to Premium content? We're hosting a Pride month flash fiction contest!
    Flash Length: 100 to 1000 words
    Poetry: Up to 3 poems
    Deadline: June 19th
    Subject: 

    Now all we need is the submission and voting details, which will be posted soon. Until then, get writing! You have until the 19th to write between 100 and 1000 words!
  20. Renee Stevens
    Okay, so here's more details for the flash fiction contest!
    Want the chance to win a 3 month subscription to Premium content? We're hosting a Pride month flash fiction contest! Just a reminder: All entries must abide by GA's content guidelines, which can be found here:
    Flash Length: 100 to 1000 words
    Poetry: Up to 3 poems
    Deadline: June 19th
    Subject: 

    Stories must be new, never before posted, flash stories.
    After you write your story:
    Posting: Post your flash fiction in GA Stories, and post date it for June 21, 2021, 12:00 PM. I know this means that stories won't post all at the same time due to different time zones, but thats OK. I will do a blog post for the 22nd of June listing all of the entries. 
    Next: Post the link to your flash fiction in the thread in Writer's Circle.
    Your story link MUST be posted in the thread prior to June 19th, 2021, 11:59 MST as the thread will automatically lock. If your story is not posted by that time it will not be included in the voting. Please DO NOT message me the link.
    Voting will be done via a poll, most likely in the blog post containing all the story links that will post on June 22nd. Voting will end on June 30th and the winner of the 3 month Premium will be announced in the wrap up on July 4, 2021.
    Happy Writing!
  21. Renee Stevens

    Anthology Entry Revisited: Moon Dogs

    By Renee Stevens,


    Anthologies
    Upcoming Anthology
    Due: October 31, 2021
    Top Themes
    A Winding Path
    An Unconventional Gift
    Pot Luck Themes
    Pick Your Poison     -     Lockdown     -     Left Behind     -     Dire Monotony     -     Mutation is Progress     -     Blood Moon
    Birthday Presents     -     Falling for Fall     -     Elves or Elvis?     -     Life’s Past     -     The Woods
    Rings of Fire     -     Plateau Wolves     -     Rock     -     Men and Women     -     A Legend Retold
    Echoes     -     The Last Sentinel     -     Tomorrow     -     A Label     -     Surpassing     -     Twilight Falling
    There's your list of themes!  You can check out the full list of rules and guidelines in the anthology forum, but take a look at this entry from last year!
    Moon Dogs
    Author: @CarlHoliday
    Theme: Full Moon
    Bob has a fear of mean dogs from his childhood when he was attacked by a male Dobermann. Tonight he dreads having to walk home under a bright full moon down streets that have unrestrained pit bulls and other such dogs that have tried to attack him before. He has pepper spray and a book bag for defense, but sometimes he’s come close to being bit, again.
    Reader Comments:
    Headstall: Nice slice of life of a man and his family. There was a sweetness to it. Thanks, Carl. 
    Carlos Hazday: That ending was worthy of Norman Rockwell and the amount of detail add to the impression of one of his illustrations. I enjoyed it.
    Defiance19: An engaging and pleasant read. I enjoyed it. Thank you. 
  22. Renee Stevens
    Upcoming Anthology
    Due: October 31, 2021
    Top Themes
    A Winding Path
    An Unconventional Gift
    Pot Luck Themes
    Pick Your Poison     -     Lockdown     -     Left Behind     -     Dire Monotony     -     Mutation is Progress     -     Blood Moon
    Birthday Presents     -     Falling for Fall     -     Elves or Elvis?     -     Life’s Past     -     The Woods
    Rings of Fire     -     Plateau Wolves     -     Rock     -     Men and Women     -     A Legend Retold
    Echoes     -     The Last Sentinel     -     Tomorrow     -     A Label     -     Surpassing     -     Twilight Falling
    There's your list of themes!  You can check out the full list of rules and guidelines in the anthology forum, but take a look at this entry from last year!
    The Keys to the Far Castle
    Author: @CarlHoliday
    Theme: Bridges
    The Moresby Collective Association controls life for Terrans living on Moresby’s Planet in the Andromeda galaxy. Twenty-one teens are running away from Village 31K2.6 because of unspoken horrors afflicting young people. There goal is the land on the other side of the Great Western Sea where legend says they will live free for the rest of their lives. Chasing them are thirty-one adults who will kill every teen, except for their leader Edgar Christiansson. He will be returned to the village to be executed in a way only humans can imagine.
    Reader Comments:
    Valkyrie: An interesting tale of a harsh world and the people who want to escape it.  The danger is quite real and I found the ending unexpected.
  23. Renee Stevens
    Upcoming Anthology
    Due: October 31, 2021
    Top Themes
    A Winding Path
    An Unconventional Gift
    Pot Luck Themes
    Pick Your Poison     -     Lockdown     -     Left Behind     -     Dire Monotony     -     Mutation is Progress     -     Blood Moon
    Birthday Presents     -     Falling for Fall     -     Elves or Elvis?     -     Life’s Past     -     The Woods
    Rings of Fire     -     Plateau Wolves     -     Rock     -     Men and Women     -     A Legend Retold
    Echoes     -     The Last Sentinel     -     Tomorrow     -     A Label     -     Surpassing     -     Twilight Falling
    There's your list of themes!  You can check out the full list of rules and guidelines in the anthology forum, but take a look at this entry from last year!
    Mother Moon's Message in Troubled Times
    Author: @Headstall
    Theme: Full Moon
    Two poems about one of life's constants. The first one was written on Mother's Day Eve. 
    Reader Comments:
    Parker Owens: I love these. The first is wonderful, elegaic, and brings images of brightness and laughter to me. The second surrounds me in silver light, in quiet and reflection.
    Defiance19: These are beautiful, Gary. It’s nice to have poetry in the anthology, and as always your words convey such wonderful imagery.
  24. Renee Stevens

    Prompts 870 and 871

    By Renee Stevens,


    Prompts
    Hi y'all!  Not who you were expecting this week, right?  Unfortunately, @comicfan is having some issues getting the site to load, so he asked me to share this week's prompts with you!
    Happy Writing!
    Prompt 870- Creative
    Tag - Blessing
    The last year was not good to you. However, when you went to sleep last night and dreamed everything would slowly improve. As your dream was ending a little child walked up and handed you a lily and said you would be blessed. You wake up, turn on the news and find the whole world had the same dream. The only thing is you find the lily in your bed when you go to get dressed. There is a knock on your front door. What is the blessing?
    Prompt 871 - Creative
    Tag - First Line
    "Why do I feel like I went over the rainbow?"
  25. Renee Stevens
    Upcoming Anthology
    Due: April 1, 2021
    Top Themes
    On the Road
    Forbidden
    Pot Luck Themes
    But Wait; There’s More     -     Through a Glass Darkly     -     Of Gods and Monsters     -     It Takes All Kinds     -     Darkness Falls
    Boys of the Hills     -     You Wouldn’t Understand     -     On the Beach     -     Great Balls of Fire     -     Laughter, the Best Medicine
    Ozark Rumors     -     The Tracks     -     National Park     -     The Warmest Color     -     A Visitation     -     New Moon
    Turn Back Time     -     Chiaroscuro     -     Jump Ship     -     King of Eighteen     -     Up!
    There's your list of themes!  You can check out the full list of rules and guidelines in the anthology forum, but take a look at this entry from last year!
    Keraunophobia
    Author: @CassieQ
    Theme: The Storm
    For as long as he could remember, Austin was always terrified of storms.  
    After the death of his mother, the dominoes start falling and the reasons behind his fear start to come to light in a way he never expected. 
     
    Reader Comments:
    Carlos Hazday: Loved the way you allowed the suspense to build up and unraveled the mistery just as slowly. 
    Parker Owens: Not a neat and tidy story, but one as ragged as a nasty storm. Well done!
    Nana Atuwa: Cool story a lot of confusion and a lot of questions but it was really good thank you 
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