Renee Stevens

Ummmm... nope. No idea. @Myr, an anthol banner seems to be missing.

It's been done

Who's ready for the next set of stories? You'll recognize some of them from last week, but I've added one story from each category. Happy reading and don't forget to comment and let the authors know what you thought of their stories! Judgement Day Headstall Shaken Northie *Part 2 of 2* Semi Charmed Life CassieQ *Part 2 of 4* Before the Fall Thorn Wilde *Part 2 of 3* Beyond the Binary Valkyrie

Congratulations, Carlos!!! Well deserved 🥳

It's been snowing/blizzarding off and on here since Thursday morning, which means the roads have been closed off and on (more on than off) since Thanksgiving. Of course, the two times I decided to go to the next town over, the roads were good when I left, and it was a blizzard coming home. It was ugly and I don't think I went more than 35mph either time coming home (the regular speed limit is 75)

LOL. We'll see how it goes. Let's get through the posting of this one first and then we'll go from there

Sorry about that. That's what I get for trying to do this at almost midnight. It's fixed. This was a bit of a test run. There were a few glitches and some challenges, so not sure if we'll continue with it next year or not.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING for those celebrating today. Anybody ready for some new stories? We have some great offerings for you as part of the 2019 Fall Anthology. Wondering when the anthologies would start to go live? Well, wait no more! Today we have 4 stories for you to enjoy, and each week I will make another set live. I tried something a little different this time, for those who tend to write longer anthologies. I don't know if it will become a thing, but it never hurts to try something new. Stories over 10,000 words were given the opportunity to post their story in chapters, with a new chapter appearing each week over the course of the anthology. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the great stories that our authors had to offer!!! And don't forget to leave the authors feedback in the form of comments and reviews! Shaken Northie *Part 1 of 2* Semi Charmed Life CassieQ *Part 1 of 4* Before the Fall Thorn Wilde *Part 1 of 3* Maybe Later Comicfan

Eek! Sorry all, this was supposed to go up yesterday, but things were crazy. The author in Guess Who #5 was..... Timothy M. Did you get it right? Check out these stories by Timothy M!

Wow, it's been quite a while since I've done one of these, but @wildone asked if I could fill in this week, and I told him I'd give it my best. Between life with a little one, and many other things going on, I just want to give a huge Thank You to Steve for continuing to do the Weekly Wrap Up's for me!!! Currently, it's getting our Christmas light show set up and ready to go by December 1st (have you ever tried to make 7 pvc stars and wrap them in lights?), among chasing a 16 month old Baby J around (along with his puppy). It's just a bit exhausting, lol! So, let's take a look at what happened in the various GA blogs this week! And while the deadline for the fall anthology has passed, it's never too early to get started on the anthologies for next year!!! Monday and Wednesday, Cia gave us this month's Classic Author feature and excerpt! Thursday, Myr gave us past anthology stories! And then we started the weekend off with some prompts from comicfan! Anthologies Anthology 101 - New in the Anthology Forum. Everything you need to know about GA Anthologies 2020 Spring Anthology: The Storm - Due May 15th 2020 Spring Anthology: Full Moon - Due May 15th 2020 Fall Anthology: Shadows - Due November 15th 2020 Fall Anthology: Bridges - Due November 15th Blog Opportunities Ask An Author: Send your questions for your favorite authors to @Carlos Hazday (no questions = no Ask An Author) Guess the Author: Open to all GA authors. PM @Renee Stevens to participate. Premium Updates: Geist by CassieQ *Premium* Classic Updates: Funny, You Don't Look Jewish by Altimexis Signature Updates: Adrift by Mann Ramblings Cynical Faith by Cynus Give It To Me Straight by Comicality Headstall's Reflections by Headstall Jessie-101: Online Celebrity by Comicality Little Things by Mikiesboy Musings of a Mongoose by Cynus My One True Weakness by Comicality Shelter by Comicality; Book 1 of Shelter Unicorn Quests by Cia Promising Updates: Here Kitty, Kitty by Caz Pedroso Shrunk to Fit by northie Singer by Carlos Hazday Thorny Poetry by Thorn Wilde Torturous Love : Version 3 by Sasha Distan

Once again, doing this from my phone, so please forgive the lack of extra formatting. You'll have a couple of weeks to guess who this author is, and then I'll do the reveal. Happy Guessing! What is one thing that most GA members might not know about you? I enjoy singing and acting in amateur performances, though I’m not very good at it. What prompted you to write your first story? Reading an article in the paper about online story writing. What genre of books do you enjoy reading and have you written for that genre? Sci-fi, fantasy, and crime genres and I’ve tried one of them. Is there a genre that you haven’t written for that you would consider trying later on? To be honest, I probably don't have the knowledge, experience or imagination to try most of the genres. What do you like most about publishing on GA? Getting feedback and friends Do you have any unique writing habits or rituals to help you get into a writing mood? No, but I do eat a lot of chocolate. How has your writing style evolved over time? From tell to show with more dialogue. Do you have a significant other? No comment. Do you have any pets? Not at the moment 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? As I write them, because I like to use input from readers. What is your favorite television show? I don’t watch television shows. What is your favorite movie? Willow Do you write poetry? Prose? Or both? Definitely no poetry. If you could meet one person, living or dead, who would it be? My grandfather who died when I was a teen. What would you say is your greatest accomplishment? Being optimistic and content with my life

And how many times has Renee screwed up in the blog? I can't remember how many times I've fired myself!!! It happens.

Two weeks ago, I was able to start the Author Guess Who back up.... Many may still be asking, Who was it???? Well.... Thorn Wilde If you've never read anything by Thorn before, maybe you should check out one of these two stories!

Morning all. Sorry, I'm a bit behind so let's get right to this great review of @Cole Matthews story, Shade! Shade Cole Matthews Reviewer: spikey582 Status: Complete Word Count: 7,113 With it being October, I definitely felt like getting into the Halloween spirit by reviewing a ghostly horror story, and Cole Matthews' submission from the seasonal short story contest fits the bill perfectly. This was actually a great treat for me, to go back through the site specifically seeking out stories firmly in the Horror genre, those being the sort of stories I tend to read less frequently. So, finding this gem was a real lesson in branching out and trying new things. In Shade, we meet Dalton, still reeling from the tragic loss of his beloved partner Bauer. Dalton’s recent decision to move into the fixer-upper bed & breakfast is proving to be a mistake as ghosts from his past as well as strange noises within the house itself keep him up at all hours of the night. With sleep being an impossible dream, Dalton decides to take a late-night drive and discovers a strange library with very unusual operating hours. And here is where the classic Cole Matthews brand of mystery and intrigue really takes off. What’s great about any story of this sort that you read by Cole Matthews is that nothing is really ever as it seems, and often as you explore further into the story, you can frequently discover more questions, even as you get answers. In keeping with the theme, this isn’t just a haunted house story, but really a story of more than one person haunted by their pasts, and sometimes haunted by ghosts quite literally. What’s even more amazing is that Cole does all this with such a short word count. I can’t endorse this story enough. If you like ghosts, if you like mysteries, if you like anything else Cole Matthews has written, you’ll enjoy this. Category: Prompt 2017 Genres: Horror Tags: Halloween Rating: Mature

Rofl! And you are such a cat person!

I guess..... @Mann Ramblings Hehehe Not really, but have to keep things interesting!

*raises hand* I know who it is!!!!!! Its......

I know it's been a while, but it's time for another Author Guess WHO! You'll have a couple of weeks to guess the author. Good luck! Sorry about the lack of extra formatting. Posting using my phone again. What is one thing that most GA members might not know about you? I used to listen almost exclusively to heavy metal, before I realised that the world wasn't divided into heavy metal and bubblegum pop. What prompted you to write your first story? I wrote my first story when I was four, and it was about a baby seal that lost its mother and was raised by humans. I had a stuffed seal toy, which was what inspired it, probably. I've been writing ever since, couldn't stop. What genre of books do you enjoy reading and have you written for that genre? I love science fiction and fantasy. I rarely read books outside of SFF, except when I'm on here and I get lost in romance novels. The exception is when I find classics that I feel I really need to read. The last time that happened, it was Anne Brontë. I've tried writing both science fiction and fantasy, but it never really amounts to much. I have like ten science fiction novels I've started and never gotten anywhere with. Is there a genre that you haven’t written for that you would consider trying later on? I really want to write and finish a science fiction story one day. I also really want to write a crime novel. I love mysteries on TV. What do like most about publishing on GA? I like the interactions with my readers and the community in general. When I get comments and reviews, it makes me immeasurably happy, and I try to reply to each and every one of them, even if it's just to say thanks. Do you have any unique writing habits or rituals to help you get into a writing mood? Not really. It's more like I get in a writing mood and I can't not write. Of course, this means that I'm prone to writer's block, cause I can never force myself to write; it just happens. How has your writing style evolved over time? I don't know, I guess it's just generally improved. My prose is more varied now than it used to be, but I think the bare bones of my style is pretty much the same, like I found a style and mostly stuck with it. I think this question is easier for a reader to answer than for me, though. Do you have a significant other? I do. Do you have any pets? I have one cat. 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? It depends. I try to have at least a first draft finished before I start posting, and I've become more strict with myself about that after leaving people hanging quite a few times in the past when I didn't. I may start posting an unfinished story if I have a very clear idea of where I'm going and I'm confident that I'll be able to finish. I never start posting a story until I have at least a few chapters ready to go. What is your favorite television show? Oh, there are so many I love! But in the end, I'm a science fiction buff at heart, and I always return to Firefly. What is your favorite movie? Again, there are so many, but probably Velvet Goldmine. Because glam rock. And gayness. Do you write poetry? Prose? Or both? Mostly prose. I occasionally try my hand at poetry, but usually if I try it ends up as song lyrics instead. Been writing more poetry lately than I used to. If you could meet one person, living or dead, who would it be? Probably Ursula K. Le Guin. I'd love to pick her brain. Maybe she could teach me to write science fiction. Her, or David Bowie. It's a close call. What would you say is your greatest accomplishment? Actually finishing a novel. Happy Guessing!

Robert was truly one of a kind and the best friend a person could ask for. It may have been five years, but it still doesn't seem real that he's gone. He is greatly missed.

Sorry Puppi!!!! It's fixed.

Thank you to everyone who voted for the 2020 Anthology themes! We had a lot of great themes to choose from this year, and after the first round of voting, we narrowed it down to 15 themes for the final vote. Of those 15, only 4 could be our themes for next years anthologies. This year, I didn't even need a tie breaker vote as the top four were very clear! Before we get to those themes, let's have a quick reminder of the upcoming anthology! Now, let's see what the authors decided for the 2020 Anthology themes! 2020 Spring Anthology Due: May 15, 2020 The Storm Full Moon 2020 Fall Anthology Due: November 15, 2020 Shadows Bridges

We have another review for you today! A huge thanks to the review team for making these reviews happen. Today's review is one of our Premium stories by Mann Ramblings. Puppilull seemed to like the story, so hopefully her review will make you want to check it out yourself! If you don't already have Premium, and you want to become a Premium subscriber, you can purchase it here. Innocence and Carnality Mann Ramblings Reviewer: Puppilull Status: Complete Word Count: 119,440 Steam punk extravaganza with attention to detail like you wouldn’t believe. Or well, if you’ve read any of Mann Rambling’s stories before, you know they are beautifully crafted. This one is no exception. It is one of my absolute favorite stories here. I feel almost foolish trying to review a story like this, with its well thought out plot, incredibly vivid setting and characters that you both love and hate. Sometimes it’s difficult to figure out just how you are feeling about the people inhabiting the story, since they are complex and challenge your views on good and bad. No cookie cutter personas here! I&C (as it was lovingly dubbed in the forum) started out as a weekly prompt story, giving the initial readers a meager diet of a mere 1000 words a week for a long time. New readers can consider themselves lucky to have unhindered binge opportunity. And trust me, you will binge. The story turned into a two-book series and it’s a page turner. Or in this case page scroller… It’s an undoubtedly sexy tale, but also for me quite emotional. Maybe it’s my soft mother’s heart or perhaps my mama bear awakened by the plight of our main character. The poor little rich boy who is an outcast from his family, brought up for a specific reason ever since his fundamental flaw was exposed. A disappointment to his family and therefore treated accordingly. It broke my heart so many times to see him mistreated and I raged repeatedly in the forum discussing the story. Of course, our hero is stronger than he appears, and he manages to use his brains to get him where he wants to be. The road there is however far from straight and danger lurks behind each corner. I should warn you: If you are a sensitive reader this story is perhaps not for you. There are definite elements of bdsm which in a moderately disturbing (but so well written) way segues into abuse. It’s nothing too graphic but can cause unexpected whirls of emotion. Even an enjoyer of the rougher side of things like me found the story line triggered deeply rooted feelings of outrage over injustice and the unfairness of life. It sparked a definite need for revenge. To stir such emotion is of course testament of a truly great writer. Mann Ramblings does not disappoint but provides in abundance. So give yourself a treat and enjoy some high quality reading! Just don’t say I didn’t warn you when you feel like punching some of the characters in the face…  Category: Fiction Genres: Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi Tags: mature adult, alternate earth, bdsm, fetish, oral, anal, abuse Rating: Mature

Sorry, a bit late, but Happy Belated Birthday, DaddyDave!

Yep, you read the title right! Today, we're going to take a look at some of the stories by our Signature Authors and what the review team thinks of them. We're doing something a little bit different this go around though, because the review team didn't just each pick one author to review, they picked all the authors. Below, you will find a one line review for a story from each of our Signature authors! A huge thanks go out to our review team for taking the time to put this together for our enjoyment. Hopefully you'll find a story that maybe you haven't read yet and the review will have you adding it to your "to read" list. Enjoy! Signature Author Review The Judas Tree Novellas by AC Benus Tags: coming of age, philosophy, religion, no sex, psychology, friendship These novellas are wonderfully written, and through AC's masterful words, we are Simon; we feel what Simon feels, we hear what he hears, and sees what he sees. I recommend everyone read these stories; you won't regret it. - Lisa 08:15 AM Redux (Clockwise series) by Aditus Tags: gay As we follow Romeo and Julian during some intense moments in time, there will be laughter, tears but foremost a sense of recognition. Going through those first, nervous steps of meeting someone and then having to decide whether or not to trust them with your most precious gift, your heart... - Puppilull No Shirt? No Problem! by C James Tags: young adult, road trip, sports C James is best known for his epic novel Circumnavigation, but he's also written several short stories. This was the first one he posted on GA and it's perfect for August with sun and a hot surfer dude. - Timothy M. A Boy’s First Kiss by Carl Holiday Tags: teen, gay, college, no sex, coming of age, friendship Imagine a new boy at college in 1971, half a world away from home, completely unsure of himself, and. falling under the sway of another, older student. Carl Holiday deftly and sweetly paints this portrait of a time when college was very different, and yet still familiar. - Parker Owens Geeks by CassieQ Tags: young adult, college, light-hearted, modern, love Cassie! You did it again! My computer almost imploded from all the heat! Mikeal is so cute. He's so unsure of himself and so worried about everything. - Lisa Cosmic Inception by Cia Tags: aliens, space, future, fighting, abuse The first chapter convinced me to buy the Premium package just so I could read the first two books! Wow there are some great twists happening in this story. So many more questions to answer, Cia! - LitLover The Bachelor Farmer by Cole Matthews Tags: mature adult, rural, north america, philosophy, religion, industrial age I had the honor to read this story early and you already know how much I loved it. The characters are well developed, everything felt real and authentic. I don't know much about American history, farms and communities back then (and now), but I loved to read and learn about it. Well done Cole! - Aditus Between The Lines by Comicality Tags: young adult, adult, gay, roommates, college, north america A classic romance story by Comicality, it explores the choice of staying with someone outwardly perfect, or exploring something new with someone who shares the same interests and passions. - spikey582 Accidents Happen by Comicfan Tags: young adult. mature adult, adult, gay, modern, love We follow Charlie at a perfect pace- suffer, laugh, cry, curse, get to know the whole family and friends on the way and want even more after the last chapter. Serious binge-reading danger - Aditus From the Cup of the Worthless by Cynus Tags: crime, fighting, parents, future, brothers, friendship Navigating the usual teenage struggle for freedom while also handling a budding attraction for a boy at school who happens to be part of organized crime is not easy, especially when you are the police chief’s son… - Puppilull The George Mackenzie Poltergeist by Dolores Esteban No Tags: Prompt story Angry neighbors can be a true danger and people can be scarier than any ghost, so this Halloween short will make the hairs on your back stand up. - Puppilull Working It Out by Don H Tags: bisexual, college, anal, parents, religion, money This was one of my favorite stories when I first started Gay Authors. It is filled with all sorts of things and while it certainly zips along at a breakneck pace, it still packs in a lot of emotion. - Myr Falls Creek Lessons by Graeme Tags: young adult, gay, australia, no sex, coming out, sports Considering how worried the main character is about coming out, he's certainly having fun doing it. All the antics made me and in turn. - Timothy M. Song and Dance by Headstall Tags: mature, adult, adult, gay, anal, oral This is a story about two men learning to trust hearts that have gotten them hurt in the past, and taking a leap of faith. As the title says, life is a song and dance… it’s a matter of finding the right partner. - LitLover Standing in Shadows by Krista Tags: teen, gay, anal, masturbate, oral, coming of age How to reconcile the expectations of parents, the assumptions of friends, the pressure of small town minds, and the wishes and desires which have hardly been acknowledged yet. Krista gives us one possible answer. - Timothy M. Rudolph's Tijuana X-mas by Mann Ramblings Tags: mature adult, celebrity, 20th century, holiday My comment pretty much says it all: What in the world were you smoking when you wrote that? It must be highly illegal, because that story was bizarre and very, very funny! - Puppilull 2nd Chance by Mark Arbour Tags: none This is a rare short story from an author who excels in long series based on research and historical facts. But the main characters are also unusual and so is their solution to old age and ill-health. - Timothy M. Called to the Gates by mikiesboy Tags: no sex, light-hearted, serious, music, 20th century Any musician will appreciate this fantastic and inspiring short story, reminding anyone – singer, poet, or painter – that the work of creating beauty doesn't spring from applause but rises from the deepest wells of the heart. - Parker Owens My Brother Daniel by Nephylim Tags: young adult, adult, no sex, light-hearted, serious, disability This story features two men, Rayn and Daniel, learning to overcome disability and traumatic history as they try to come together and build their own future together. - spikey582 Fool Me Once by Parker Owens Tags: mature adult, gay, light-hearted, love This is one of my favorite shorts by Parker Owens. It follows one Oliver Treadwell, math teacher, on his way to speak at a private schools’ convention. Hijinks and a little romance ensure. Seriously, read this, it’s both funny and fun. - spikey582 Studly Ranch Hands by Renee Stevens Tags: mature adult, gay, rural, north america, anal, animals Sometimes the road through life and love is a bumpy one. This is certainly true for Marc and Casey. These cowboys will have to find a way to communicate. Not an easy task with secrets and misunderstandings. - anon Mac The Mechanic by Rob Colton Tags: gay, coming out A prime example of the hunky bear / shy nerd combination, which is classic Rob Colton, but also a heartwarming love story I return to again and again. - Timothy M. What The Master Said by Stellar Tags: mature adults, asia, no sex, medieval, friendship I spent most of the story gripped by fear of the worst, anger at the villain, and holding on to a slim hope of deliverance. The two flashbacks brilliantly set the scene for the confrontation. - Timothy M. Maelstrom by Valkyrie Tags: abuse A thought provoking short story asking the question if an abuser can change their ways or are they doomed to teeter on the edge of the maelstrom forever? - Puppilull

All authors! I need your help! If you haven't already done so, please go and answer the poll question in the anthology forum and encourage all your fellow authors to as well. Thank you!