Mancunian

Wow, you certainly set the atmosphere I almost felt like I was there. Now you're back I hope to read more of your work. Thank you.

I just read this this and have to admit I liked it, you dealt with the prompt really well. It definitely has the promise of being the first chapter to something more and answering the questions as to who Emerald and Dan are. Any chance, even at this late stage, you may add more to it 😉

I like the way you managed to work both prompts into this short, nicely done.

This looks like another one to add to my ever growing reading list.

In the blog area the only difference between the blog listings is that those listed 'in author' are blogs posted by authors. Those listed as 'in member' are blogs posted by members who are not authors. Other than that there is no difference, as @kbois stated the subject matter varies but these are not stories. The weekly wrap up is interesting and useful as it gives a recap on weekly events and information posted by site admin. Ask an Author is just that, all members are invited to message @astone2292 with a few questions that we would like to ask a specific author. astone2292 will then interview that author to ask those questions, he then posts that interview for us all to read, they are interesting and sometimes funny and are a joy to read. Have a read of some of the most recent ones and you soon see what I mean. To post a story follow this link https://gayauthors.org/tags/post stories/ and all will be explained on how and where to post a story, if you have any difficulties any member of site admin will do what they can to help, don't be worried about bothering them that's what they are there for. As kbois said in her post there is no requirement to post lengthy stories, many of us post short stories, some as short as about 1000 words up to 5000 words. The length of the story is entirely up to you as the author. kbois suggestion of checking out the weekly prompts blog is a good one and worth looking into, as is checking out the anthology and considering participating. It may be helpful for you join the 'writers circle' follow this link https://gayauthors.org/clubs/6-writers-circle/Lastly if you need any help or assistance just ask one of the many members, we are a friendly bunch and one of us should be able to answer your question or at least point you in the right direction. Posting in the forums is bound to get someones attention and help will be close to hand. Sorry if my reply is a bit long winded, I'm trying to be as helpful as I can, as are the other members who have replied to you, see it shows we are nice and friendly (except between @kbois and @Mrsgnomie, they just love to bicker and do it for fun, it's very entertaining when they do, lol. I hope when they read this they remember I love them really).

Welcome back to the wonderful community that is GA. I hope you will enjoy the many offerings that have been posted over the years and that you will add to them. I also hope that you will make many new friends here and hopefully reconnect with friends from your previous time on here. 😃

What a great interview with a great author. The answers to the questions show how much thought @Headstall puts in to everything he does. The quality of his stories speak for themselves and shows how much thought and research goes into each and every one of them making them what they are. Most readers don't realise how hard it can be to write a story, or how much hard work an author invests in the work they produce. It needs to be said that Gary, and many other other popular authors, not only write the stories that we enjoy they also go out of their way and take time out of their busy schedules to help and encourage many of the newer authors. I need to get back to reading as I still haven't read of all of Headstall's stories, but what I have read I've enjoyed, thank you.

I think that there is something for everyone to take from this post. For authors it is wether or not to allow readers to define a writing style, or even how a story should develop. Positive comments should be treasured for what they are, encouragement and affirmation a story and the hard work invested in it is good and appreciated. Negative comments should be categorised as they do have different meanings. Some comments are constructive criticism and can be valuable as they may be something to learn from and develop our skills and are not necessarily intended to be negative. Other comments, which are usually fewer in number, are just simply negative with little or no value. They are the comments that can be hurtful, in my opinion they should be ignored, especially when the comments indicate trying to tell an author what they should or should not write. When I receive comments like this, yes I do get them, I simply give a polite response and try to move on, I will admit that sometimes I do find them hurtful. For the reader it is to think about what it is you are trying to say, a poorly worded comment can easily be misunderstood and cause offence when that is not the intention. I find that if I cannot say something positive, or give good constructive criticism, it is better to not say anything as I have no wish to cause offence to an author. If you are not enjoying a story then consider wether or not you should continue reading the the story, if you wish to leave a comment then please carefully consider what you say and how you word it, it is possible that your comment may not come across as you intend it.

Thank you for the comments, it's good to know what readers think. There are more stories in the pipeline, of varying length, however none are yet ready to be posted.

Short, sweet and simple, a nice way to end this episode in the series. Now I'm looking forward to the next story in the series, when you're ready of course. Thanks Carlos for keeping us up to date with developments in CJ's bigger story.

I'm sure that if there isn't one already we can come up with something and open one 😄

I'm all in favour of co-operation with friends from across the pond, I like in depth exchanges 😉

shown

aye

wages paid

Gateshead, UK

Nope Never have I ever driven a race car, would love to though.

Hey I'm in front of you, you admitted it earlier and I'm not done yet 🤪

I'd say Jake/Spike see's CJ, Owen and Liebe as pawns, but I know that CJ and Owen would upgrade that. Jake/Spike would have to be a Bishop or a Knight, after all there is nothing straight forward about him, he comes at things from different angles, lol.

I've no doubts that there will be many readers who wanted to be the one trying to lift Owen's kilt at the wedding, not that I would of course and we still don't know for certain if he was going commando underneath it lol. A great chapter with fun and balanced seriousness which is normal for CJ and Owen, but just what are they really being recruited into now? Is it as innocent as Jake makes it sound or is there more to it? I guess we will just have to wait to find out in the following chapters. Thanks @Carlos Hazday for another entertaining read.

It's sad to hear that another popular and talented author has passed away. @Mawgrim will be missed by many but he will live on in the hearts of those that love him and will be remembered by his friends on GA and those who have read and will continue to read the stories he posted. Those stories are his gift to us all and the world, and should be treasured.

I'm shocked, but not surprised, that the offenders did not receive harsher sentences. It's yet another sad reflection of society today.

Thank you @Freemantleman for your comments, you raise some very points, all of which seriously affects society and have far reaching effects and consequences. Society needs to invest in adequate social housing and our youth, while it would not solve or eradicate the problems highlighted it would have a positive effect in helping to reduce homelessness and helping out youth to be better prepared for dealing with life's problems without turning to drugs. While this story is fiction I will say that took a lot out of me to write as it is loosely based in truth, unfortunately the 'real life Mitch's' guitar could not be placed with him, it hasn't been played for more than seven years now and resides in my lounge where I look after it.

Thank you @frosenblum for commenting, it means a lot to me. I wanted to show that Mitch was a good and valuable person with a future, what happened to him was unfair and unjust. Usually when a homeless person dies the only attendants at the funeral are the minister and the funeral home staff. I decided to include many people at his funeral to represent the fact even someone who is homeless is important and should be acknowledged.

Thank you @drsawzall for your valuable comments. As you rightly say we are all as valuable as each other, being homeless does not make anyone less valuable, it merely means that we may need some support and an equal chance. As most of the stories I write are about homeless people it means that not all of the stories will have a happy ending, I believe that those stories are just as valuable.