C James

Very evocative and eloquent.

The ending definitely took me by surprise, but it fit so well, and a re-read showed it clearly. Well done. Thank you Kanaye.

That's a very unique and creative format. Very well done! A heart-wrenching story, for sure, and very true to the title. Something unexpected can be devastating. The message I took from the story is "Better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all".

Very well done, Tiff! Utah IMHO was very much the victim, just as much as his mother. So too was Sun a victim, along with everyone in Utah's life. Utah... I understand why he did what he did. The only point I would differ on is he should have taken care not to get caught. He was, in his way, justice personified. Thank you, Tiff.

The Fall Anthology, "Something Unexpected" is now up, and I want to take this opportunity to thank Graeme, our Anthology-Coordinator, for what I well know is one heck of a lot of work; checking, approving, picking graphics, formatting, etc, etc, etc. I also want to thank Steph, for her work on the tech side, including putting the anthology online. Thank you both, for a wonderful job! And thanks also to the Authors and their teams, for giving us all something to read. It looks like a great collection, and I look forward to reading it. CJ

Happy Birthday, Connor!

Hrmmm. For a novel-length work, I prefer to use a few categorization terms, so if it were me, I'd prefer to use them, both as a reader and as a writer. For example, there are certain genres that I avoid, so I like to know what the genre is before reading. Also, bear in mind that the reader has the ability to stop reading. I have two short stories on my hosted site that have no gay content at all, and I don't have a warning of that fact on them. (One is horror and the other is historical non-fiction.) Would I post everything I've written to my site? Heck no, because amongst the things I've written are technical manuals and travel guides, and I'd be deterred by both copyright issues (those were paid/published works) and that my readers would probably kill me if I posted a technical manual. However, if I wrote a novel with no gay content, I'd have no qualms about posting it to my site, though I'd probably list that in the genre description, just like I have done with other aspects.

Now, now, no moderating! I removed my name (which you added to the poll) because the poll is for eligible candidates only. I am not one, so I cannot be on it. CJ, Non-cliffhanger-using-goat-team.

I dunno about that... I've never managed to write one.

Okay, my take on this is just a personal opinion; I don't get drag either. To me, a large part of being gay means not being attracted to women, so to me the logical extension of that is not being attracted to feminine behavior such as drag. But, as I often say; to each, their own. As for your "don't like" list, I'm with you on everything except track lighting; I installed track lighting in my workshop, garage, and utility room because I very much like the ability to reposition the spotlights on what I'm working on (I do a lot of woodwork, and some mechanical and metalworking.) For example, if I need to move my drill press to the end of one of my workbenches, I very much like being able to spotlight the thing with one of the track lighting cans. Mainly, I like my workshop workspaces lit by bare-bulb fluorescent overheads, with the track lighting (all high-power spots) on a separate switch to intensely light areas where I'm doing precision work, such as punching holes in steel plating with my drill press, or using a jig to make dovetailing. It's also ideal for engine work on my SUV: I aim a few cans at it from different angles, and that gets rid of any shadows while I work.

Just an update: Jake is taking longer to wrap up than I thought (mainly due to life intruding and slashing my writing time), though I do expect to do so this week, for the draft anyway. Then, I can get back to work on Circumnavigation. Sorry for the delay.

Yes, it is a close vote! I, of course, would never manipulate, but the others, well, we know them too well.

I've added you to the poll.

But Krista, you already said that a vote for you is a vote for me. I think that's an ideal way of looking at the actual voting in January, too; if you want to vote for me, vote for Krista! Ahhem! "Other" is clearly specified as "not C James"). But Wildone, there is no misdirection... This is merely an opinion poll for eligible candidates. Granted, TalonRider's eligibility might be in some dispute, but other than that, the poll is fine! Spelling error? Tell me where and I'll fix it! Omitted authors? Okay, please list any eligible authors you want added and I'll see about adding them. Eligible authors only, please. Ack! Now, now, let's not be mercenary! The Big Toothy Feline is indeed very worthy!

Awww, But Your Froggyness... does this mean that certain contentious chapters (those wrongly maligned as containing cliffhangers) are in need of separate Amphibious Certifications? Could we start with an Amphibious Certification of Cliffhanger-free for chapter 45, Ragnarok?

ROFL!!!!! That was hilarious! I thought it was a parody at first... Damn, I've got to see that movie! It looks like it's loosely based on the old Starchamber program at Langly; CIA did indeed have a paranormal research division, for quite some time. And, um, now I need to get my SAG card...

My sincere condolences, James. I know it probably doesn't feel that way right now but in a way, he was lucky. No better way to go than quick, while doing something you like. Best wishes to you and your family. <hug> CJ

Happy Birthday, Robert!!!

I love it! I wouldn't dream of arguing, so I'll second that! So, any of you out there who feel inclined (for some unfathomable reason) to vote for me, go vote for Krista for Queen of Cliffhangers!!!! And remember, Krista herself came up with the idea, so don't blame me! (and no, I did not edit her post!)

Sorry, but eligible candidates only.

Ahh, but Krista, you do indeed write cliffhangers! (dangling from a rope off a cliff would surely qualify!) Should we start calling you "Your Majesty" now? :king: And I'm afraid that I cannot be added. The poll is only open to those who are either eligible, or might be. I subscribe to the old motto of : If at first you don't succeed, try, try again! Besides, there's a little piece of information that, of the people in this thread, only TalonRider and I know. Sorry, Wildone, but only those eligible for the 2009 King of Cliffhangers can be nominated. My apologies, Bondwriter! I have done as you have asked, and have added you the the poll. Huh?? But that's not true! I'm just trying to be helpful ...

But Krista.... How is the poll crooked? Oh! Krista, I'm so sorry, I see your point! Okay, I have remedied my error and added your name to the poll. As for His Shadowyness... Isn't leaving poor Cody hanging for so long a cliffhanger in and of itself? TalonRider... He has admitted to giving us Cliffhangers, and that was in something he'd written. As for Graeme... Just go read "Price of Freindship". It's got some doozies of cliffhangers! So, I think the poll is just fine, now.

Whoa, I wasn't saying it should have ended at chapter one. Was it complete at chapter one? Yes. But it's written as a series of episodes, and I love the additional chapters, especially the desert ones.

In a word, yes.

Ermmm, Hmmm, How can I answer without it being a spoiler? Well... The novel "Jake" includes the short story "Three for Jake" as a prologue, and it is all in first-person, same narrator, continuing from the point where the short story ends. If Jake had died, that would be.. problematic. The ending of Three for Jake does not say that he died. He loses consciousness, and thinks he's dying, but nowhere does it say that he died. That outcome was merely left open for the reader's interpretation (and thus, not a cliffhanger). And, um, trash? I'm a slightly more finicky goat than that.