Carlos Hazday

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.

“How do we know you’re telling the truth?” Tejan stood on the outside edge of the crowd. “And how do we know we can trust this goddess of yours, if you are? If she exists, she’s been negligent carrying out her promise of protection.” Several gasps emanated from the assembled wolf people. They had gathered in darkness, their superior night vision allowing them to find their way. The secluded location, a rock-strewn field on the northernmost part of the island, protected them from prying hum

The unseasonal weather began a few days before Alketa and his people were due at Temple Island. Northern winds whipped the waters surrounding Atlantis, making them seem to boil, and waves crashed against rocky sections of the island in a spectacular display of Mother Nature’s fury. When the rains came, the downpour resembled the waterfall cascading from the central mountain. Visibility was so poor it was difficult to see more than a few feet from where one stood. The deluge was replaced by

Resembling children with a new plaything, the Atlanteans delighted in their new abilities. The young were the initial leapers, but soon the air filled with clicks and water splashing when the sleek forms crashed back into the water. The return trip to the main island took significantly less time; most of those able to take on their new animal form swam. At Anul’s request, Alketa remained behind with Basilios and Tejan. “My children, Onaeco’s assistance does not come without a price. Alketa,

I'd like to praise the author a bit. Wolf roped me into editing for him even though I don't feel I'm qualified, and I'm glad he did. Few have any idea how hard it is to write a good story, but I'm the only one (ok, maybe a Jarhead knows too) how hard Wolf works on improving. I've tried not to make him sound like me, but I've not taken it easy on him. He's verbose at times and SIMPLIFY became a frequent comment I'm certain drove him crazy. Wolf pays attention and learns. I'm proud of the growth I've seen in him and I do look forward to working with him again sometime soon. If he doesn't get his butt in gear with a new story, I may have to send Ethan over to provide a little incentive. Or maybe I should send Ethan and Aidan together. Naked.

My attitude towards certain stories has changed not so much due to me editing the work of others, but because of what my editors have corrected in my work. I do pay attention and try not to repeat the same mistakes. Commas are still a pain. One thing that will make me not read a story is errors in the description. Typos, a run on sentence that could be broken into three, or anything of the sort means the author didn't care enough to pay attention so I won't pay attention to the story. One such event led me to send the author a PM suggesting he fix the description. Long story short, I ended up becoming their editor even though I don't think I'm qualified. My writing has hopefully improved but my tolerance for bad writing has diminished. There are some stories I read years ago and on a re-read I wondered how I could have liked it to begin with. So I'm with you, @Valkyrie, the passage of time has reduced the joy somewhat.

Hi, Theo. Thanks for the praise. I tried to provide a recap of what Nalbo had done for the benefit of anyone whod had not read Singer. Sometimes, sleazebags get away with things, but I wanted him to suffer a bit more. Let's see if Brett and Cesar cause him some pain.

What if @Myr bought a souped-up Camaro and took his camarilla for a ride? Would that include all GA moderators?

Thanks, Tor. Next chapter we move the action to California, hope you enjoy what's coming.

If I compiled all the comments @Mann Ramblings has left me over the past five years, I could publish a VERY long essay. But some readers might blush at some of his 'suggested' improvements to my stories.

Last month’s installment of “Ask An Author” was one of the most popular ever based on the number of comments from readers. Not sure we can match the response, but this month’s question is just as fascinating. Let’s see what some of the Author/editors on Gay Authors have to say. Participants were selected by the member asking the question, and they're featured in alphabetical order. ҉҉҉҉҉ Amateur writing can have some differences, and no one is perfect. As many of us on GA are, I am an author as well as an editor of others' work. I'm wondering if editing has affected how you enjoy reading in general? Do you lose the flow of a story because your 'editor eye' keys in on your perceived rules of writing? Are you quicker to dismiss a work because of mistakes than you used to be? What about published mainstream works... are you pickier? Does it make reading frustrating at times, especially when the story itself is good? If so, have you been able to overcome it over time? ҉҉҉҉҉ @ColumbusGuy Happy to answer any questions sent in by fellow GAers. Since my vision problems and eye surgeries at the start of 2016, I haven't done as much editing as before; I now use narration software for my computer work, and my visual acuity isn't sufficient to notice the symbols most programs use. I limit myself to spelling and the flow, and suggesting a few word changes to make things smoother without changing the author's intent. I always put the story first when reading, both in print and digital formats, so I can let a lot go by unless it truly mangles the sense and quality of a story. Learning German in college taught me that writing is more than the words themselves--you may have the right words, but making it sound good is almost an art. Modern programs can correct most spelling and word choice errors, but nothing can put in creativity and emotional punch if it's lacking. My reading used to range from history and archaeology to poetry and fiction of many genres before 2016, and I'd read nearly all of my 6,000 books by then. Science-fiction and fantasy have always been major genres for me, but Literature became my major by default. What teen read Chaucer in Middle English in 10th grade, or the entire sixteen volumes of the Arabian Nights by Richard Burton by age 22? I've been writing my own stuff since 5th grade, and some of it was truly awful. Back in 1969 when I began, there were no computers available to kids, and we learned reading from the 'Dick and Jane' readers in our first years; I moved on fast to real books above my grade level, and that joy remains even now though it's limited to online sources now. I got my first computer in 1990 from one of my first roommates after moving to Columbus, and found a few sites to read at, and a few to write interactively with others with an interest in ancient history--my Pompeii story is what I could salvage from that site before it went under about five years ago. About that time, I began reading here, and tried writing a few months later. My vision has slowed me down, but I'm not out yet. One final thing to add: I learned my rules of writing and grammar before computers, so I don't adhere to any of the purported online 'experts' who claim dominance these days. Many of these guides are fine for writing articles or reports, but fiction derives far more of its impact from style rather than technical correctness that many consider of primary importance in digital media. Uniformity is an asset in the online community for global understanding, but it is a severe limitation to creativity as was once seen in regional language variants and fiction. How would Charles Dickens or James Whitcomb Riley fare in today's online world? Editing was always tricky for me in that I wanted to preserve the author's meaning with as little alteration as possible, making the story the goal rather than technical perfection. One of the best books I read before my surgeries was a great example of this: it is a British science-fiction tale set in a post Atomic future as told by a young teen in his own then-current English of about 2600AD. The spelling defies all modern rules, as does the grammar, but the story itself is riveting and I highly recommend it--Riddley Walker by Russell Hoban. ҉҉҉҉҉ @Mann Ramblings It can be difficult. When I read, I find myself re-writing lines in my head of authors I really like. Some more than others. It makes me sensitive to grammatical errors and I try to ignore it, but if a story is too messy, it can pull me right out of headspace and make me stop reading. I haven't learned to ignore it yet, partially because my sadistic side likes to use the red pen. (for constructive purposes... honest.) However, if the story is good enough, I can be more forgiving than I can if the story is just "all right." Turning off the correction vibe is real work some days. ҉҉҉҉҉ @Timothy M. Spotting mistakes in spelling and grammar is something I did long before I became an author. It’s always annoyed me. When I began writing stories for GA and had editors and readers point out my own blunders, I actually became more tolerant of the occasional typo. Because no matter how many times I (or my editors) go over my own stories, something always slips through. But I still notice mistakes whatever I read (online or printed), and I don’t think this will ever change. Luckily, I’m usually able to enjoy the story, while rolling my eyes at the occasional blunder, unless the mistake makes something difficult to understand. However, really sloppy writing will destroy my pleasure in reading. If the story content is great, I try to grit my teeth and shoulder through, but fortunately, such cases are rare. It’s possible to be an average author with good technical writing skills (like me), but it’s unusual to find a great author with really bad grammar and spelling. One of the great advantages about reading on GA is that I can send a message to authors to point out any mistakes I notice. Somehow, this possibility makes it much less frustrating to spot mistakes. Most authors (including me) appreciate such hints as helpful. In fact, I’ve gotten several editor jobs that way, which is a fair payment for being a busybody. On the other hand, if I edit for someone, I certainly expect any mistakes to be corrected (if I pointed them out and the author agreed). If they’re not fixed in the published version, that’s when I get annoyed and may send the poor author a grumbly message. ҉҉҉҉҉ @Thorn Wilde That's an excellent question! Yes, I think editing has changed the way I read. I do tend to notice people's mistakes a lot more. Though I've always been like that when it comes to online fiction, it's probably gotten worse. I do also notice stuff in published books. That might actually be one of the reasons why I prefer audiobooks nowadays, come to think of it; can't see the mistakes if I'm not reading them. It can break the flow and the immersion, but if the story's good, I can ignore a lot of mistakes and still enjoy it. Really good storytelling pulls me into the action and I'm less likely to notice the mechanical issues. If it's really obvious that English isn't the author's first language, I tend to make more allowances too, again provided it's a good enough story. I do try to give a story a chance and not dismiss it out of hand just because there are mistakes, but that only works up to a point; I'm probably a little quicker to give up on a poorly written story than I used to be. I often wish I had an off switch, so I could prevent myself from noticing mistakes, but I've never let my overly discerning eye prevent me from enjoying a really good story. At least I don't think I have, as good storytelling is to a point dependent on a decent handle on the craft of writing. Though I have had a tendency to contact authors whose stories I love and let them know they need an editor. Sometimes, I have offered to be that editor. ҉҉҉҉҉ @Valkyrie This is a fantastic question, and the answer to if editing has affected how I enjoy reading in general is an unequivocal ‘yes’. I discovered online fiction about twenty years ago and joined another site in 2003 (well before I’d ever heard of GA). I discovered a story on that site that quickly became my favorite. I even re-read it multiple times, and I rarely re-read online stories. The story had its share of detractors, and I thought they were nuts. I loved the story and thought it was well-written, so screw them! Several years ago, after I had started writing and editing, I decided to re-read that favored story. To say my eyes were opened is an understatement. While technically edited well, the story contains just about every gay fiction trope out there and is not what I consider good writing anymore. It felt like losing a good friend. I still enjoy the memory of it, but reading it is most definitely not the same. The answer to the next couple of questions is also ‘yes’. Because the majority of reading I do now is with a critical eye, it can cause me to lose the flow of a story when I find errors. I am able to ignore the editor voice and continue reading, but it can be difficult at times to get back into the story. Because of this, I do tend to dismiss works that are riddled with mistakes. I consider writing a craft, and as authors, we should be looking to better our craft. If a story contains multiple errors within the first paragraph, or even the story description itself, I’ll generally give it a pass. If the story title has an error, then I’m pretty much guaranteed to move on to something else. That being said, when reading amateur online fiction, I try to overlook errors and concentrate on the story itself. If the author is a good storyteller, I’ll continue reading, especially if it’s a newer author. We all started somewhere, and I cringe at some of my early writing. I hold published mainstream works to a higher standard, since those would have gone through professional editing and review. Finding errors in those is disappointing and disheartening, as it’s something I’ve paid for vs. free online fiction. I won’t get started on errors in professional writing, like news stories or articles. And sometimes Facebook makes me weep for the English language, but that’s a whole ‘nother topic. ҉҉҉҉҉ Y’all stay safe out there, and we’ll be back in July.

Let's hope you don't get tired of them. They do appear in every chapter. LOL

Chipper did say he would be returning to California to work on his first album so maybe Brett and Cesar will run into him during their trip. Oh, and it won't be for a while, but I have a pretty good outline of a concert I'm thinking of turning into a whole chapter.

I'm not sure when Pam will show up again, but I hope she's in better shape by then. Otherwise I pity her. CJ and Owen won't put up with her crap.

Oh, thank goodness. I've been worried about that timing thing. Hail to the Chief is the end of the story chronologically. I have 20 years of events to write about, though. To one degree or another, Hail gave us a glimpse at where the Squad ended up, so all these spinoffs are designed to give us an idea of how we get there. Individual stories allow me to delve a little deeper into each of the guys. But I'll interweave updates for most of them in related stories. I also plan on featuring the same event seen from different points of view. In Ranger, we saw the Oscars through Brad's eyes, but I plan on revisiting the event from CJ and Owen's side in the future.

My first niece will graduate from law school next year. I remember holding her like an hour or two after she was born. I can relate.

I perused a few chapters of Summer and Autumn recently when I received notifications showing a couple of people binge reading the stories. I was somewhat surprised at how prominent the older crew was. The progression from there to later books when it was the 'kids' getting into situations and solving problems on their own was so smooth I think I missed it. LOL Anyway, while one Squad member makes a couple of appearances and another has a small cameo, this is about the dads. Now, if I could just get in bed between them...

LOL Go check your mailbox, I just sent you a PM. It's surprising how some characters appear to take over. CJ was so easy to write and still is. I knew I had to start with him as a teen but when I figured out he would be the star, I couldn't wait to get him as an adult. I'm looking forward to writing his next book. A couple of short stories and another novella and I'll be ready for him.

Thanks, B! The last one was a bit more somber than my usual fare, so this one is all fun. Well, mostly.

Thanks, Jay. So, yeah, I'm sure Chipper freaked out when he realized it was Greg Nalbo's house they were talking about. I love how fiction can make a small world even smaller. Brett must have really enjoyed himself knowing Chipper would figure it out when he told him where he'd grown up. That man is devious!

The dads may get frisky again in future chapters. I'm pretty much over writing explicit sex scenes. I think the fading to black works well in most instances. And Brett's salty comments while nibbling on leftovers added a little hint of what goes on at their house. I think the last two naked romps I wrote about in detail were in Singer when I wanted to show Chipper with two guys one day and with a girl a few weeks later. Talk about the ultimate horndog!

Let me stress the part about it being a work of fiction. LOL The 2020 pandemic will NOT be a part of the series. I posted about CJ's college graduation and Liebe's birth a long time ago and those events took place in 2020. There was no way I could include COVID19 without disturbing the continuity. However, should I be around to write long enough, I may include a similar virus in the future. For my take on a world-wide pandemic, check out Allah's Revenge. Not my most polished work, but it does deal with people dying due to a virus.

When in June? My youngest nephew turns 12 on Saturday. Just because it's your month, I'll continue posting chapters all through June. Acceptable?

We heard Liebe utter a profanity in Ranger. I think she was around 16 months at the time. Let's hope her fathers do a better job policing their language in the future. Did you notice the piano mention? I'll describe it in more detail in a future story when I sketch out how that room is set up and what it's used for. Your mention of ensemble cast made me go count the number of named characters. Fourteen, I think. Hopefully, that wasn't too many. I can't help myself, Parker. I've grown to enjoy writing crazy, dialogue-filled group scenes. Oh, 15 if we count Wingnut.

Sometimes I wonder if readers connect all the dots. I know you do. This chapter was originally meant to be a prologue, but since GA requires chapter 1 be posted when the story is, I figured nearly 10k words in one day would be too much. I did try to establish the characters and relationships for any readers not familiar with the CJ series. I managed to reference events in Singer, Ripper Christmas, and Ranger, hopefully without confusing the uninitiated.