Renee Stevens

Thanks for the review Wayne! He really was in a no win situation though of course, some of the choices were much better than the others. This character has been playing in my head for a while now and while originally I planned to do a much longer story for him, I just don't know when I'd have the time, lol. Glad that you enjoyed it!

Bravo Lugh. You really made me feel for the character and just want to help him free himself from what has happened to him. This story was absolutely heartbreaking as you can so clearly feel what the character is feeling. It's really a story that pulls the reader in and makes them WANT to know about the character and be there for him. Wonderful job!

There is so much uncertainty in this story. Does he or doesn't he. I'm glad that you had him face his fear of being rejected and it seems like taking a chance worked out for him in the end. I do agree with Comic on the element of pain, but this story is just so moving. Great job Sam!

What a wonderful story. I really enjoyed the scene at the diner and was glad that Tom chose such an unselfish thing to change. It’s amazing how much things could change for a person if they had made a different choice at one point or another in their lives. I think you captured this perfectly. Great job KC!

Okay, all I can say right now is you are just plain evil! I can’t believe you left it at that point, leaving us wondering whether he lives or dies, it really could go either way, that’s just cruel. I hope you think about doing a sequel to this story as it was amazing, but I still want to know what happens next!!!!

Amazing story Bill. I think you were really able to show that just because something is deemed as a good thing, it can be horrible if it’s in the wrong hands.

Woohoo! I get to be your first review! As you already know from my beta read, I absolutely loved this story! I especially liked the way you did the bonding scene, where I didn't find out until later exactly how that had happened. It was definitely a different way to bond, but it was believable. Thanks for the hard work you put into this!!!

I'll ALWAYS remember this group as the "Crazy Sexy Cool" album came out in 1995, right before my brother died. His favorite song quickly became "Waterfalls" and we ended up playing that at his funeral. Had never heard that song before that day, but since then, the words are engraved into my mind.

Tyrel paced the confines of his cage; fifteen paces from one steel barred wall to the other. He was pretty sure today was his fourth day trapped and from what he had overheard the day before, it might very well be his last. If only they knew that he understood every word that they had spoken since he’d first woken up. He couldn’t believe he had been so stupid; he knew better than to let his inner animal free in the middle of the summer. There were too many people that spent their summer mont

Tyrel never realized the repercussions that could happen from ignoring his common sense. Now he's faced with a choice that will forever alter his life.

So, a couple of weeks ago we talked about what an author should look for in a Beta Reader. I thought that today we could maybe talk about how to FIND a Beta Reader. There are many ways to go about it, but here are just a few! You could always post in your Chapter Note or Chapter End notes that you are currently looking for a beta reader! I wouldn’t personally put everything I want from a Beta Reader in there, but you could always tell your readers that if they are interested in beta reading for you, to PM you. Then you can tell them what you expect and see if they are still interested! Look at who is always reviewing your stories! Perhaps you’ve noticed one or two of those people listed as a Beta Reader on stories that you read! If you do, then you can always look at stories they are listed on and see if you think they will fit your style. If not, no harm no foul! If you go this route though, just make sure you remember that some people who beta are not looking for other authors. Post an ad in the Writing Support Request forum! It’s a great place to share a snipped of your work and let possible beta’s know what exactly you are looking for! Lugh wrote up some great instructions on how to post an ad and what information your add needs! Make sure you read it before you post!! You can find it here!!! One other way to find a beta reader is to contact TalonRider! Once he knows what you are looking for he’ll do his best to find you a beta reader that fits with your style and needs! As with using the Writing Support Request forum, keep in mind that it might take a bit to find a beta reader that fits your needs. So, now that you know the different ways to find a beta reader, why not go and find yours? And for all those of you that already have a beta reader, how did you get paired up? We’d love to hear your thoughts on finding a beta reader to fit your needs.

It's Wednesday! You know what that means, two more Author reviews. First off, we are bringing you a story from our Promising Author: JWolf called "The Funny Thing Is" reviewed by Percy. Based on the wonderful review given by Percy, I will be checking this story out in the very near future. Our second review is an in progress story by Author: Naptowngirl called "Hello, My Name Is..." reviewed by K.C.. When KC sent me his review, I read through it and what he wrote sounded like something that I would normally read. I immediately went and checked out the story and my only gripe is that I want the next chapter!!! If you like what you read here, then why not go check out the stories and let the authors know what you think! The Funny Thing Is by JWolf Reviewer: Percy Status: Complete Word Count: 173,709 I went searching through the story tags looking for a good read with characters dealing with the complexities life brings once the college years have passed. JWolf’s “The Funny Thing Is” looked like a good fit. I was hooked after the prologue. By the end of chapter two, I knew I was in for a rollicking ride that wouldn’t disappoint. Cooper Carpenter should be enjoying all the rewards of mid-life in the suburbs of Dallas, Texas. He’s married with two bright, well-adjusted kids. He’s an acknowledged success as both an author and tenured professor. He’s discreetly bisexual and lucky enough to have a wife who understands his occasional truancy from the traditional “forsaking all others” wedding vow. Despite it all, Cooper is simply going through the motions of living. He has barely had time to acknowledge the cracked foundation of his current existence when Chase Pallendrino shows up in Dallas. Chase was the proverbial "one who got away", and the rekindling of their college romance upends Cooper’s life in both expected and unexpected ways. Relationships with those to whom he's closest start changing with machine gun rapidity. Cooper finds himself facing a host of questions about the direction he wants his life to take going forward. Fortunately, Cooper’s friends are around to offer support, whether that be a couch to crash on, a boozy weekend brunch, or delivering the harsh news that he’s behaved like a total jackass. Readers are drawn in to the inner circle of friends, cheering Cooper's victories and wincing at his mistakes. JWolf’s writing is clever, crisp and often very funny. Each chapter is a well-balanced meal of character development and plot advancement, and the reader is treated to some wickedly satisfying sex for dessert. You don’t have to be married or middle-aged to enjoy this book. I would also note that while this was written as a sequel to “The List”, I read it without reading the first story. It works perfectly well as a stand-alone novel. My only warning is to block off a few hours of time; once you start reading, you definitely won’t want to stop until you’ve reached the end. “Hello, my name is…” by Naptowngirl Reviewer: K.C. Status: In Progress Right now we are 10 chapters into this story and I hope there is still a lot more to come. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I have to be really intrigued to get wrapped up in an “In Progress” story, but this one caught my attention after the first few lines. Worries about will this author finish the story or stop posting halfway through, always linger, yet the pull of this story won over my fears. Christian Beck has everything. A wonderful husband that loves him, two great kids, and a fabulous home and job, what more could a guy want? How about remembering any of it? After a near death accident, Christian wakes up from a coma in the hospital unable to remember anything about his life from the last few years. Worst yet, he doesn’t remember being gay! Homosexuality is a sin. His devoutly religious father has preached that sermon to him for as long as he can remember, so there is no way that he can be gay, right? Scared and confused, Christian agrees to go home with his husband, David. The doctors at the hospital believe that returning to familiar surroundings will help Christian regain him memory, but he’s starting to believe that maybe his mind is blocking out his memory for a reason. Like the rest of the reader’s, I can’t wait to find out what is locked inside Christian’s head. Will he remember the love of his life? Can he recall the joy of the lost time with his children? I hope we find out right along with Christian. This story is the right mix of funny and fear, hope and sorrow. It’s exciting enough to sit patiently and wait for the next installment.

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. Even though the weekend is over, there's something good about the new week starting. It's Monday, which means, that we are bringing you a new featured story!!! Thank you to Mark92 for writing this review for us on Hosted Author: LittleBuddaTW's story "Seeking Nirvana." Hopefully this review will pique your interest and convince you to go check out the story and if you enjoy it, you might even leave a review!! Seeking Nirvana by LittleBuddhaTW. Reviewer: Mark92 Status: Complete Word Count: 12,713 I began reading this story with a sense of “let’s get this over with”. All my life I have hated religion, my mother had, let’s say a weird sense of god. To learn that Buddhism isn’t a religion, totally floored me. Then, I couldn’t stop reading. The descriptions of the monastery were so vivid, the scenery surrounding it captivating. A teenager’s angst, sits soundly and squarely with meditation, calm, and serenity. Then we meet Nicky, A young gay boy totally at ease with his sexuality, without the need to broadcast it. With a sense of wanting to be away from the rat race with such urgency, it became anger. The first time in the shower with Calvin, Nicky’s anticipation, was tangible. And then the first night is so descriptive. You have a sense of being there, sharing the feelings, and sharing the night with them. This story is an awe inspiring lesson in Buddhism. Descriptive isn’t a good enough word for the lessons I learned from it. There is a riddle, near the beginning that runs through the entire story, and further riddles frustrate to the point of insanity. Do you find the answer to the riddle? I am not telling. You really need to read this most excellent story. The antagonist in this story is Vic, excellently portrayed from the beginning, but not having a part until the middle. Going into this with any detail will merely give too much information, instead of recommending a damn good read. It is thought provoking, calming in a sense. Anticipation is felt one second, and sighing serenely the next. Questions asked at the beginning of the story by the reader, are answered at the end, but only after participating in the Buddhist lifestyle so expertly written. Thrills and spills of a gay relationship build up through this tale, a sense of excitement ever present. The one shocking thing about this story is: I am the only one to have reviewed it. This wonderful piece of literature just needs to be read. It is a most excellent read for every type of reader. There are no limits or restrictions on any reader, lifestyle, orientation, age, even religious belief. It is a story anyone can read, and should. I have to say this is one of the best things I’ve read here so far at GA. LittleBuddhaTW is an exceptional author, and should have much more of a following, just from this piece. I highly recommend this read to all at GA. What are you waiting for?? Go read!!!

Jordan scrubbed shampoo into his hair as he thought about the night ahead of him. It had been nearly two weeks since he’d met Shawn, but they were just now going on their first actual date. They’d planned to get together sooner, but it seemed like every time they set a date, something conspired to make it impossible. The first night they’d planned, he’d gotten stuck working on a case that had suddenly hit a snag, leaving him no choice but to reschedule. Less than three hours before their nex

Thank you Cassie! I have to give a lot of credit to my team, they have really helped me polish this story so that it was ready to post. They've helped me get the emotions to come out right until we all agreed that the story would hopefully reach out to those reading it. Thank you so much!!!

Thanks for the review!!! Glad that you found this story and that you're enjoying it. There's still a lot to learn about Shawn and I can say that he has a few surprises in store for the readers as well.

Yeah, Mitch is a complete and total toad! As well as complete idiot! I never said I wanted him to be smart about it. Glad that you enjoyed this story Lisa and hope to hear from you on the upcoming chapters!!!! Thanks for reading!

Thanks intune!!! Glad that you are enjoying this story so far and that you're liking Shawn!!! At least he's not Mitch, right? lol. Jordan definitely has a lot to think of over the next little while. It will be interesting to see how he handles it! Enjoy the upcoming chapters!

Thank you Cassie! I'm excited to get to know more about Shawn too!!!!

Thanks for the review! I agree with you about it being time for Jordan to move on. At least start living again, whatever that means for him. I hope you enjoy the chapters coming up in the near future! Thanks again!

Thanks for the great review intune! I can definitely say, without spoiling anything, that you will learn more about Shawn soon! As far as the chemistry and the rest, that you will just have to wait and read!!!! Thanks again!!!

Jordan flipped through the channels before finally just shutting the television off and staring at the black screen. He’d only been home about fifteen minutes and TV was the last thing on his mind. He replayed the scene at the bar and wanted to kick his own ass for the way he had acted. Shawn hadn’t deserved it. Jordan tilted his head back against the couch and stared at the ceiling while stroking Merle’s soft fur where he sat next to him. There was no way Shawn could have known about the s

So, it's Saturday once again and that means it's time to look at something from the earlier years of GA!!!! Today we are bringing you a review written by MJ85 on one of the anthology works from 2007!!! Broad Ripple Blues was written by Altimexis for the 2007 Anthology: The Rainy Day. Enjoy this look into the past! Broad Ripple Blues by Altimexis Reviewer: MJ85 Status: 2007 Anthology Word Count: 7,874 This is one of the many stories I checked out in my first few months on this site. One of the things I tend to do when reading a story is, I'll create a picture in my mind of what I think the setting, characters, and whatever else, might look like - almost like a, "this is what this story might look like if I was watching it as a movie" kind of deal. Altimexis isn't overly meticulous with the details here, and yet they flow so richly that "the picture" forms itself so easily, and so vividly - sort of like the way it would if he had been overly meticulous with details. Additionally, this story is also the foundation for Altimexis’s “Naptown Tales”, originating in Indiana. Fourteen-year-old David seeks relief from a blistering hot July day, by going out for ice cream. In the process, young David takes a major chance by going to a farther away ice cream shop. Taking chances, of course, leads to chance encounters, like the one David will have as he tries to simply walk away with his ice cream. David’s journey of self-discovery will see quite a few pages written on this particular day. The only thing I was a little unsure about with this story is, there seems to be an extra sense of maturity in this story, unusual for one with characters who are barely into their teens. I don’t necessarily think that detracts from this story a great deal, however. In addition to being the first of the “Naptown Tales”, I noticed that this story is also a part of the 2007 “The Rainy Day” anthology, and indeed, this story is sound enough to be able to stand completely on its own. I strongly recommend this one for its hope and for its wishful optimism. So, did you like this review? If so, why not check out the story yourself and leave a review for the author!!! As always, let Trebs or Renee know if you are interested in doing a review! We need all kinds!

Thank you for the review Lisa! Well, I had to end the chapter somewhere! Figured I may as well keep you wanting to read more as that's what will bring you back . As far as Trent goes. I wanted to give Jordan some kind of hope and just knowing that Trent has gone through it and yet was able to find Carl should show him that he will get through it and there is light at the end of the tunnel! Thank you so much for reading and reviewing!!!

Thanks Frosty! I'm glad that you are enjoying it! I'm writing as fast as I can, lol. Enjoy!!!