Renee Stevens

Thanks for the review Daddydave! Congrats and Happy 43rd in January (as I'm horrible at remembering things and will likely forget)!!!! And you know me, when don't I give love a chance in my stories?

Thanks for the review Daithi! Yes, a year is a long time and as you said, they're not teenagers. I also agree that Jackie is overstepping a bit, hence Mark having his little blow up. I was curious as to how my readers were seeing Jackie and if they felt that Mark went a bit to far in telling her to back off, hence my question at the end of the chapter. Glad that you are still enjoying the story and look forward to reading your thoughts on future chapters!!!

Thanks for the review Terry! I think they can too, but only time will tell. They definitely will have to make the most of their time together. As far as the blow up between Jackie and Mark, I agree but I love to see what my readers think! And yeah, I agree that the year apart won't be easy, but then nothing worth having ever is! Thank you again and I hope you continue to enjoy the story!!!

Awww, you chose mine, I feel so loved

Making the most of any situation I think is all that someone can do, especially when it's not a situation they can change. As far as your comfort food, yummy! Now I want some!!! Thank you Daddydave! Hope you enjoy the upcoming chapters!

While I've never been deployed to a war zone, I know people who have. My best friend was as well as some other friends of mine. Different people had different stories. I was just glad they all made it home safely when I know so many didn't. Thank you for all your thoughts on this story Daddydave!!

Sometimes I wish I could give spoilers, but that would ruin it! See, sometimes it's a good thing when you start a story after a few chapters have been posted, lol. Thank you Daddydave!! Hope you continue to enjoy!!!

Me? A tease? Would I do that to my readers? Well, as you said, at least the next chapter was already waiting for you, lol!

LOL... Yes she is, and I have to admit that Jackie is loosely based on a cousin of mine. They share a lot of the same personality traits.

Thank you Daddydave!

*Nods* I agree! Between friends and family who have been in the military, as well as personal experience, I know what it's like to have to relocate due to military orders. It sucks and can be so hard on the family. I second your thank you to all our veterans and their families! Thank you Daddydave!

Yes she does raise some very valid points and concerns and they are definitely things that Mark will have to think about. As far as the talking about re-enlisting. Trey's enlistment is due to end towards the end of his tour of duty and he's trying to make the decision as to when he will re-enlist after his tour. So yes, he's enlisted now, but after his tour of duty, he could very well get out of the military, or re-up for another four years... He just had to decide what he's going to do. Thank you Lisa!

I think a lot of it is that she's really faced with the fact that its a possibility for the first time since he's been with Trey. Sure, she saw Trey at the apartment and she's known that they've been together, but Mark is bringing Trey to dinner. That's bound to bring the feelings out. Thanks Daithi!

Yeah, I know it happened a little fast... Okay, really really fast, but hey sometimes you just know. And yes, they are both fairly young and there is always the possibility it wouldn't turn into something more, but there is also the possibility that it will! Keep reading and thank you for your comments!!!

I did debate on combining chapters for posting on GA, but decided against it. I know it keeps the chapters short, but I'm just glad I've been able to keep posting the story regularly! Glad you are still enjoying it! Thank you!

Well, I will agree that he didn't go on the blind date with his heart wide open to the possibilities, but based on what a jerk the other guy was, I can't say I can blame him for it not working out. As far as Trey, lets just say I do like him! Thanks for the review!!!!

LOL DDK!!! Glad that you are enjoying the story! I don't know why that is, but I know I've met a couple of them myself. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, they weren't quite the matchmaker they thought they were. I actually really like Mark's family, especially Jackie! Thanks again!!

Thanks Daithi! I agree that both guys will need their families to help them through the year. Regardless of how long they will have been together, a years separation can be hard on anyone and having a good support structure is important. Thanks again!

Thanks for the review Daithi! I definitely agree that it's different hearing the words. I hated to end the chapter on that sour note, but it needed to be done. It should be an interesting few weeks ahead and I hope you enjoy the upcoming chapters!

“This sucks.” Mark flopped back onto his bed clad only in his jeans, his gaze raking over Trey’s bare chest. “I know, but it is what it is.” Trey pulled his t-shirt on before sitting on the bed and pulling on his socks. “You know I’d stay if I could.” “Yeah, I know.” Mark did know. Trey occasionally stayed the night during the week, but for the most part, their sleepovers were confined to the weekends, when Trey didn’t typically need to be on base in the mornings. “We still on for dinner t

Hope everyone had a great week!!! Before we start with the weekly wrap up, I have a request. I'm planning a special Christmas review for the Monday before Christmas. I already have a few reviewers, but I still need four more. If you're interested in helping then please PM me for more details! Also, keep in mind that there's only a month to go before the deadline for the Winter Anthology. I look forward to reading all the stories! Thank you!!! Now, lets get to the Weekly Wrap Up! Cia started us off this week by announcing "The House Always Wins" by Andr0gene as the selection for the CSR Book Club! Lots of members have already weighed in on this story and how they can't wait for the discussion day! Many couldn't wait to start reading it and some even read "The House Always Wins" for a second time. We kept up the pace on Wednesday with our monthly edition of "Ask An Author" by Dark! This month was the 10th edition, and included questions for authors: Mark92, James Savik, and Iarwain. Also included in the Wednesday post was a plea for help. In order to keep the "Ask An Author" feature going, Dark needs your help! Check out the post for more information! Friday, as always, we finished out the week with our resident prompt guru, Comicfan! He brought us two new prompts, one of which was a "list of words" and the other was a "creative" prompt. If you're looking to do some writing and not sure what to write, check out the prompts, maybe one of them will spark an idea that could even be featured in next weeks Prompt Me! Anthology Announcements: Winter Anthology: Recipe for Disaster - Due Dec 8th 2014 Spring Anthology: Nature's Wrath - Due Mar 8th NEW READING In Premium this week: The Cassini Mission by Rob Colton, Book 2 of Galactic Conspiracies By our Hosted Authors this week: Arthur in Eblis by David McLeod Durch Ferne Welten und Zeiten by David McLeod Take Flight by Cia Prompt me not, for these are my prompts by comicfan 9.11 by Mark Arbour Book 13 of Chronicles Of An Academic Predator (CAP) Thwarted by Renee Stevens By our Promising Authors this week: The Shunning by JMH So Little Magic Left by Mann Ramblings Have a great week everyone! Read, Write, REVIEW!!!

Not only is it November and National Novel Writing Month, but it's also the first Wednesday of the month, which means it's time for our monthly edition of Ask An Author, provided to us by Dark! While we do still have a few more editions waiting in the wings for the upcoming months, I have learned that Dark is running low on content and needs YOUR help! Both Dark and the blog staff want to keep the "Ask An Author" feature going, but to do that, we need you to send Dark your questions for your favorite authors! Now, without further ado, lets get to this months "Ask An Author" feature! Ask An Author Welcome back to another quirky question and answer session with your favorite authors! In AtA #9, we had questions for authors DKstories (dkstories), FleetingRainbows, and Layla. In AtA #10, we hear from authors Mark92, James Savik, and Iarwain. For their protection, the members who asked these questions shall remain nameless (unless they choose to reveal themselves). Please note that all author replies are copied as is, spelling errors and grammar eccentricities original to the individual. Today’s first author is Mark92, aka “Marky.” He’s been on GA since he was 18 and has been cultivating a loving relationship with another GA member for almost that same period of time. He got snapped up quick, boys! Marky’s been self-sufficient for several years on a farm he owns and runs single-handedly in the north of England. Still he finds time to write (and skype his boyfriend). Lately, Mark’s been posting a blog, but you may also want to check out Mark's Poem Archive. This is a wonderful collection of 14 different poems, everything from sweet nothings to the Stuby to prompts to words and images that wouldn’t let go until they were written. To Mark92: In the m/m romance genre, there are a lot of stories where one of the characters ends up either falling in love, or having sex with more than one person. Do you think that it is possible to love (and I mean genuinely love) more than one person at a time, or is it merely fiction? There are a mutitude of ways to 'love'. But, genuinly, romantically? For me, there can only be one. I fancy, desire, and fantasise over different people and personalities all the time. Stuby knows about these and I am sure he has his own. It doesn't mean I feel less for him or vice versa. That's lust not love. I think true, lasting, romantic love is totally different. My 'heart' as it were does not have the capability to share that sort of love with another. Today’s next author is James Savik. He’s a long-time member (been around since 2005!) and is frequently seen about the forums. He’s a bit of a science geek and, being from Mississippi, laughs at all the rest of us when we complain about the weather. Although a professed cynic, James often finds time to greet and encourage new GA members. His latest writing project is Operation Hammerhead, a rich sci-fi tale about protecting civilization from an invader. To James Savik: How have your life experiences affected your writing? Which one of your stories do you feel most strongly reflect yourself? We are all a product of our times and culture. It's just an inescapable truth. Growing up gay, and OUT, in the heart of the bible belt during the seventies was bound to leave a few marks. In some of my writings there's violence and drugs. Not that I was trying to glorify it. There was violence and drugs before I ever showed up. The story Broken hosted at Awesomedude.com is a fictionalized autobiography of my teens. The names were changed to protect the guilty and I haven't finished it. In fact, I kinda hate the story. It reminds me a lot of me being a dumb, immature punk and a lot of people that I loved that no longer with us. I may or may NOT finish it. I'm no longer writing to make a damned statement. I'm just writing to have fun and that story isn't fun anymore. Today’s final author is Aussie Iarwain, who joined GA in 2009. You should ask him to tell you of the spiders inhabiting his little piece of the countryside. Or the bees. Or the other 50,000 creatures that could kill you. Or, you could read about the slightly less dangerous country through his stories, like Take the Track, the first story he posted to GA. In this story, two young men go camping and discover they share a few more things than first thought. Beyond the characters, Iarwain describes a wild, lonely country that is nevertheless breathtakingly beautiful. To Iarwain: Regarding your story "Attunga," what inspired the idea of AI's working so closely with humans and dolphins? The ideas of Ron Kurzweil's Singularity, and the inevitable development of Artificial Intelligence, greatly intrigue me and as an intellectual exercise I constructed my own version of a scenario for human existence over the next two to three hundred years which might reasonably follow from those ideas. As I worked on it the scenario took on so much life that I felt compelled to express it in story form and the characters were born. The AIs had to be in the story as they are a fundamental part of the Singularity idea but there was no conscious decision making about whether they would be friendly or inimical. It's almost an article of faith with me that since AIs will be both logical and intelligent they will prefer co-operation over conflict, and that's the way they came out. I had an encounter with a dolphin named Puck at Monkey Mia in Western Australia and these amazing creatures with their links, true or not, to alternative intelligence were a very fitting addition to the Singularity idea of enhancement - and how could dolphins be anything other than good guys? 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: Adam Thomas, Ieshwar, Krista, and forum fiend MethodWriter. Want to ask your favorite author a question? Simply PM me (Dark). Until next time! Dark

“Christ, what a night.” Mark motioned for Trey to take a seat on the couch and walked over to grab a couple of beers out of the fridge. He twisted off the caps and tossed them in the garbage before walking back over and handing one to Trey. “Sorry, I honestly thought that would go better.” “It wasn’t that bad.” Mark watched as Trey lifted the bottle to his lips, his adams apple bobbing as he took a hefty swallow. “Maybe at first,” he’d give Trey that much, “but as soon as she found out you

If you're someplace that practices Daylights Savings, I hope you remembered to turn your clocks back! It was a busy week here at GA and I hope everyone had a wonderful week and a fun Halloween! Did you see lots of Ghosts, Goblins, and Witches? I heard through the grapevine that one GA member even dressed up as a character from a story here at GA. Curious as to who and what character? Check out the gallery! What better way to start out the week than by having the discussion day for the CSR Book Club's monthly pick "Wrangler Butts" by Reddirtwriter! Not only did you, the readers, get to share your thoughts on the story, but Cia brought us an interview with the author. We learned some about the story itself, some about Reddirtwriter, and even got to hear about what's in the works for this talented author. What more could you ask for to start the week? If you haven't already weighed in with your thoughts on "Wrangler Butts", there's still time! There's a lot of great quotes out there dealing with writing, editing, and publishing. Cia was kind enough to compile some of them so that we could bring them to you for the Wednesday edition of the blog. There were even some additional quotes added in the comments! Once again, Comicfan welcomed the end of the week and rang in the weekend with his weekly dose of prompts! This week brought a first line prompt as well as a creative prompt, with a twist. Hopefully one of these two prompts inspired you to write something, especially as it was the first of November, which means, National Novel Writing Month! Who knows, maybe one of the prompts will inspire a NaNo story! Anthology Announcements: Winter Anthology: Recipe for Disaster - Due Dec 8th 2014 Spring Anthology: Nature's Wrath - Due Mar 8th NEW READING In Premium this week: The Cassini Mission by Rob Colton, Book 2 of Galactic Conspiracies Do Over by dkstories, Book 1 of Do Over Series (reposting) By our Hosted Authors this week: Recovery by Nephylim Geeks by CassieQ Arthur in Eblis by David McLeod Flash Fiction - Second Shot - The Senior Year by Andrew_Q_Gordon Take Flight by Cia Durch Ferne Welten und Zeiten by David McLeod Thwarted by Renee Stevens By our Sponsored Authors this week: Noah's New Plan by Rob Colton By our Promising Authors this week: So Little Magic Left by Mann Ramblings Wedding Ring by JMH Have a great week everyone! Read, Write, REVIEW!!!

Hope everyone is having a fantastic week so far! If you haven't already done so, don't forget to chime in on the CSR Discussion on "Wrangler Butts" by Reddirtwriter! For today's installment of the blog, I have a list of some great quotes compiled by Cia. I hope you all enjoy them as much as I did! Quotes from the Greats Compiled By Cia Writing Quotes There is probably no hell for authors in the next world -- they suffer so much from critics and publishers in this. - C. N. Bovee If you write one story, it may be bad; if you write a hundred, you have the odds in your favor. - Edgar Rice Burroughs If you have other things in your life -- family, friends, good productive day work -- these can interact with your writing and the sum will be all the richer. - David Brin I have been successful probably because I have always realized that I knew nothing about writing and have merely tried to tell an interesting story entertainingly. - Edgar Rice Burroughs Thank your readers and the critics who praise you, and then ignore them. Write for the most intelligent, wittiest, wisest audience in the universe: Write to please yourself. - Harlan Ellison Editing Quotes I believe more in the scissors than I do in the pencil. - Truman Capote It is perfectly okay to write garbage--as long as you edit brilliantly. - C. J. Cherryh Never throw up on an editor. - Ellen Datlow Half my life is an act of revision. - John Irving [Editors] drive us nuts. We go from near-worshipful groveling when we submit to bitter cursing when they reject us. - Ken Rand Publishing Quotes When a man publishes a book, there are so many stupid things said that he declares he'll never do it again. The praise is almost always worse than the criticism. - Sherwood Anderson Rejection slips, or form letters, however tactfully phrased, are lacerations of the soul, if not quite inventions of the devil - but there is no way around them. - Isaac Asimov The reason 99% of all stories written are not bought by editors is very simple. Editors never buy manuscripts that are left on the closet shelf at home. - John Campbell There are three difficulties in authorship: to write anything worth publishing -- to find honest men to publish it -- and to get sensible men to read it. - Charles Caleb Cotton Engrave this in your brain: EVERY WRITER GETS REJECTED. You will be no different. - John Scalzi