Jump to content

astone2292

Promising Author
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    4,127

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Blog Entries posted by astone2292

  1. astone2292

    Ask An Author 3.0 #14

    By astone2292,


    Author Interviews
    I'm not sure about everyone else, but the weather in Kentucky's starting to warm up a bit. Well, at least for the moment. The chilly breezes were welcome for a short while, but I've had enough snow and ice. I'm ready for summer! Bring out the swimwear and IPAs! But you know what else we need?
    The March edition of Ask An Author! I'm all smiles with this month's featured author, although he might hunt me down after this introduction. One of GA's Signature Authors, Big Daddy @Carlos Hazday! An anonymous reader sent me some questions about his C.J. series, so let's dive in!
    • • • • •

    C.J.
    Carlos Hazday
    15 Books / 45 Reviews / 863,840 Words / Rating: Mature
    CJ’s fifteen when his step-father banishes him from his home for being gay. When he moves to Washington to live with his father, he begins a journey of discovery. The series follows him through high school and college as he accumulates friends, and learns what it’s like to be a young, wealthy, gay man living in an urban environment.
     
    What made you write the final book to the series in 2019 and then return to it in 2021 with a new CJ novel? 
     
    Exhaustion and fear.
    After churning out ten CJ books, I was tired of looking at everything through the same filter: could what I saw, heard, or read be incorporated into the series? By then, the stories had become more complex, and the supporting cast had gained popularity. I thought I could silence CJ by writing the stories some readers were asking for about secondary characters. As an aside, it didn’t work, CJ continues to infiltrate my thoughts constantly.
    I knew where CJ would end up twenty-years after his college graduation, and I feared I wouldn’t be able to share that. I have health issues that flare up now and then. Facing our mortality can be a motivator and with me the result was Hail to the Chief.
    Singer, Ranger, Cadet and a couple of other stories featuring secondary characters gave me the chance to expand the CJ-verse without having to feature him in every story. At some point I knew I had to return to the main series, and CDMX was the vehicle for it. One little comment in HTTC had followers up in arms wanting to know details. Those details are included in the final chapters of the Mexico book.

     
    When you created CJ in 2015, how did you go about creating the character and did you think you would still be writing about him 7 years later?
    Hell, no! As I’ve previously mentioned, the original idea was to write about a gay father with a gay son. Yeah, I still did that, but instead of CJ’s dad being the main character, his son took over. At some point I realized my plans to write about a rejected kid moving and spending a summer surrounded by gay adults would not be enough. Writing about summer let to three more tales named after each season.
    But the ideas kept coming, and CJ’s future looked too interesting to quit. I took him through high school and college before I jumped ahead those twenty years. CDMX picks up a bit over a year after his graduation from Georgetown. Inspiration has not abandoned me. I have three other CJ books in process right now. 
      
    How difficult is the research for the books, as they got more complicated as the characters got older? 
    It’s brutal. Because there’s so much. I’m a stickler for getting details right, and that leads to countless hours reading. Sometimes multiple references result in one line in a story. Actual research isn’t bad, but it is time consuming. Since Owen was introduced, I’ve learned a lot about wines. Because of the spinoffs, I’ve spent countless hours reading about music competitions, injured veteran recovery, and the Air Force Academy.
    And of course there’s been a lot of location and architectural research when writing about travel. Many locations I’ve used I’ve visited, but for some I rely on the internet and fellow GA members. I last visited Mexico City a couple of decades ago. Using my experience as a guide, I had to update my knowledge. You’d be amazed at the number of articles read and documentaries watched on Maya ruins!
    My next story’s set in Spain, so I’ve called on a Spaniard for assistance. So far he hasn’t quibbled with most of what I’ve written, but he has provided some great information I incorporate in the story.
     
    How many more CJ books are planned, will you be bringing us up to date with events that are mentioned in the final novel? 
    Short term, there will be three more stories with CJ and Owen as the main characters. After Mexico, I’ll jump five years and switch continents. We’ll spend a week in Spain 2027. Then I’ll return to 2022 for the three months following Mexico, and jump ahead to 2027 again for a party in Las Vegas. Long term, I’m not sure. I do have tentative titles for about a dozen other stories. But I think I want to write shorter installments from now on. The rambling novels are exhausting.
    Yes, I do clear up one tiny, little, item I mentioned in Hail to the Chief. But I still haven’t figured out why readers considered that a cliffhanger. LOL
    Thank you to the member who asked and to Aaron for coordinating the AAA feature. Having done it for a while, I know it’s not easy. And thank you to ALL of GA for the incredible support I’ve received over the years.
    • • • • •
    I love working with Carlos. This guy has taught me more about the English language than any of my educators, public or collegiate. If it wasn't for him, I'd probably still be writing in a coke-induced third person-omniscient perspective. A heartfelt thanks for answering the questions!
    As always, we're looking for more questions to ask authors! Did you leave a review for a story, but wanted to know more about the plot or the author's mindset? Send your questions to me, and I'll get 'em answered! Any author is up for being interviewed, and any member of the community can provide questions. Until next time!
  2. astone2292

    Ask An Author 3.0 #13

    By astone2292,


    Author Interviews
    Wow. Time flies, doesn't it? This marks my twelfth Ask An Author 3.0 article, and I'm so glad I messaged Renee a year ago. This has been an absolute blast! 
    But enough of that. It's the first Wednesday of the month, and we have another set of questions for one our gifted authors! @Kong Wen Hui brings fantastic answers for this week's AAA. Let's get into it! 
    • • • • •

    The Spirit of the Plum Blossom Tree
    Kong Wen Hui
    Status: In Progress / Sub-genres: Historical Romance, Alternate History, Dragon Fantasy, Mythic Fantasy / Rating: Mature
    Wanted criminal Hong Shen finally meets his end after being stabbed in the back by a comrade. As he makes his final resting place under a dead plum tree, he submits to death. 
    Instead, he receives two choices: die, or be given a second chance. 
    To take the second chance means he must complete a trial in the past in order to return to the present. But what he doesn't know is that the trial isn't only difficult for him, but even more difficult for the person he must be to fulfill it.
     
    The Spirit of the Plum Blossom Tree is a unique take on second chances. How did you come up with the idea to put Hong Shen in the past? 

    Putting Hong Shen in the past was not actually my original intention. At first, I was going to have the whole story take place in Ancient China, but I had a wonderful idea when I was drinking my morning coffee a couple years ago. There is a concept commonly taught in America that we must learn from history if we do not wish to repeat it. What better way to have a modern criminal learn from his previous ways then to experience the hardships of a historical prince?
    Of course, I was also heavily influenced by MXTX's novels, and I simply love the ancient cultures in general. ( ´∀｀)

     
    You’ve built a vibrant and believable world set in ancient China.  Is it all part of the fictional setting, or is there any ‘true’ history included?
    The world of the Guan Dynasty in my story is a fictional setting. However, there will be true history incorporated into the story. 
    I think of the Guan Dynasty as a mirror time period that existed at the same time as the historical Song Dynasty. They were two different Empires, one fictional and the other true, but some accurate events that occurred in the Song Dynasty will affect or influence the Guan Dynasty in different ways. 
    They may not all happen in The Spirit of the Plum Blossom Tree, though, as I plan to have multiple stories set in my fictional dynasty in the future. 
     
    What advice do you have for authors looking to write stories in the historical fiction genre? 
    For those who are interested in writing stories of the historical fiction genre, I will warn you now - it is difficult! If you wish to write something historically accurate, a lot of research is recommended. Specific people are the hardest, for if you want to portray them correctly you have to know almost everything about them to the point you could live them. Same with time periods and scenery; you have to imagine you live in your own story. What would you see? What would you wear? What were the cultural trends of the time? What is your purpose?
    The purpose is probably the most important aspect of historical fiction. After all, if your characters have no purpose and meaning in the past, why are they there?
    As difficult as writing historical fiction is, it is also incredibly fun, and I believe it gives you a better understanding of certain times in history than most other people, besides maybe historians. If you have a passion for it, then you will continue to grow and improve, and nothing is better to read and enjoy than a story filled with an author's love! (｡•̀ᴗ-)✧
    • • • • •
    I loved the last Q&A! Historical fiction is a genre I would consider a great challenge. I'm not sure I have the skill to produce a piece, but I'll check back after another twelve AAAs. As always, we're looking for more questions! If there's a story that has captured your attention and you want to learn more about it from the author's perspective, shoot me a PM with three questions. 
  3. astone2292

    Ask An Author 3.0 #12

    By astone2292,


    Author Interviews
    The holiday season is officially over with, and I haven't been happier! For those who just did a double-take, let me explain. January through March is a resting period for us retail folk. It's a time of recovery, restructuring, and... Uh-oh. I forgot about inventory counts! Can we go back to the everyone not knowing how to drive and Christmas songs on repeat?
    Hmm? Ask An Author? Yeah, I suppose we can get back on track. But first...
    ⚠️ALERT! ⚠️
    The well has run dry! The well has run... DRY!!! 
    There are no AAAs in the piggy bank! If y'all want Ask An Author to continue, submit three questions about a posted story to @astone2292 via PM! These questions can be aimed at any author on the site. Any story status, genres, length, or classification of work is welcome. This particular blog prides itself on giving a spotlight to much deserved work, regardless of author status. By sending in questions, you give your favorite authors more views, reactions, badges, reputation points, and reviews!
    Along the way, your questions about the author's inspirations and thought processes are answered. 
    *cough* Oh, sorry about that! Had something caught in my throat. With that out of the way, let's learn more about this week's edition! We got another In Progress story coming from @imogene_arant.  On to the questions!
    • • • • •

    Silver and Gold
    imogene_arant
    Status: In Progress / Genre: Fantasy, Romantic Paranormal / Rating: Mature
    It's a tale as old as time: When woman is traded to the faeries, the Lord of the Wood falls for her. It's the perfect love story — for them.
    Life is less picture perfect for the Lord's former lovers. For decades, Feldspar, Gneiss, and the Lord were a triad inside and outside the bedroom. 
    Eight months later Feldspar's heart is still broken. He has tried everything. Torrid threesomes, exercise, mind-altering substances, and faking it.
    When Silver, a strange faery who spends most of his time with humans, returns to the Wood Feldspar has a chance to remake himself. Will he be able to find love again, or will fear get in the way?
     
    Food and cooking are woven into this story so authentically.  Silver’s tales from the human realm and how he brings human food and cooking techniques into Faery makes the story relatable and gets my stomach growling!  Do you have a culinary background or do you just watch a lot of Food Network?

    This story is absolutely a love letter to food. I don't have a culinary background but several of the people I love most in the world do. When we get together, every meal is savored, discussed and critiqued. If it was a really good meal, we'll still be talking about it years later. I’ve got a lot of foodies in my circle now, but I grew up eating lots of junk food and meals from a box, which inspires Silver’s unpretentious love of food. As for cooking resources, I love Serious Eats (Kenji fan forever!), Binging with Babish, America’s Test Kitchen, and NY Times Cooking. I first learned to cook from Food Network stars of the 90s like Rachel Ray, Alton Brown, and Sandra Lee. 

     
    Someone mentioned in the comment section that you’ve written other stories featuring some of these characters.  Are you planning on posting them here as well?
    As a bisexual I’m pretty omnivorous and enjoy writing different variations of queer romance. I did publish Mal and Daniella’s story on another site. While Mal is definitely on the bi+ spectrum, his relationship with Daniella is the centerpiece of that story while his relationships with men aren’t explored deeply. Plus the tone of that story is… very… BDSM Beauty and the Beast. I don’t think it’s the right fit for this site and audience, but you’re welcome to Google my name and it should come up…. potentially on private browsing….
    I am considering writing a third story in this world focused on Nephrite, which in my daydreams will be a lesbian revenge/noir. If I ever write that, then I might publish it here if GA readers are also interested in a badass sapphic romance.
     
    The world-building and descriptions in this story are very well done.  Do you have any tips for writers who want to try their hand at writing fantasy?
    The world of this story literally came from me having stagnated on a more “serious” project and feeling cooped up due to the pandemic. I wrote this to give myself an escape into a world I would want to live in, and pulled in fantasy elements that appealed to me.
    If you’re newer to writing fantasy, you can always start small. Change one aspect of the world you write in, in one impossible way. Starting with more real-world based fantasy allows you to focus on just one magical aspect without needing to build a whole history, culture, currency, foods, etc. 
    I would also say read a wide range of fantasy books, of course!
    • • • • •
    Food? Well, that's all the motivation I need! Don't forget to send in questions for your favorite stories, and I'll see y'all next month!
  4. astone2292

    Ask An Author 3.0 #11

    By astone2292,


    Author Interviews
    Who has their holiday decorations up? I certainly do! It's the first Wednesday of December, and we have something special. It's a fantastic edition of Ask An Author! 
    I know many missed seeing the November issue, but as Renee put it, the well ran dry. Let me tell ya, I felt the site rumble with activity and the messages came flooding in! But I'm not one to act in desperation, folks. Ask An Author relies on readers sending in their questions. Let's end 2021 on a high note and stuff the AAA piggy bank full! I want to be buried in questions! Send them through PM, snail mail, telegram, or any other way you possibly can. This... is my wish for the incoming holidays.
    With that out of the way, you're probably asking, "Aaron, you said this edition is fantastic. We're going to need some proof." Oh, it's fantastic alright. As a matter of fact, one might even say it's epic! 
    Someone brought out the big guns in the questions department. I saw the name on this bad boy and I had to break out my scouts uniform to confirm I had some merit badges involving boats. Yep! Canoeing and Rowing, but I missed out on the Motorboating and Small-boat Sailing badges. Did I give enough clues? Am I starting to act like @wildone a bit? Are y'all ready for the biggest AAA 3.0 yet? I hope so, because we got three five questions for the longest story on the site!
    Circumnavigation. This story title is one of GA's finest gems. I haven't had the pleasure yet, but I think I'll need to take a deep dive after these amazing answers from @C James! Let's jump right in!
     
    • • • • •

    Circumnavigation
    C James
    Word Count: 1,080,266 / 158 Chapters / Status: Complete / Genre: Action/Adventure, Mystery, Thriller/Suspense / Rating: Mature
    Trevor, through little fault of his own, finds himself with few choices. Desperate and hunted, he decides that his best chance is to head out to sea on his boat, for a circumnavigation of the Earth. His boat, Atlantis, is a fifty-five foot cruising catamaran, bequeathed to him by his mother prior to her mysterious disappearance. Come along for the ride and explore with Trevor, as he discovers many things, not the least of which is himself.
     
    In Circumnavigation, you hooked me in for the long haul after the first chapter, with the prologue as a teaser. How do you manage to suck in readers so they are interested right at the onset? Some rely on a suspenseful, edge-of-your-seat craving for the next chapter, but in this story, you didn’t do that until later. What is your secret to get the reader to come back?

    I really don't know, other than I sure do remember worrying that there wasn't a "hook" right up front. I guess I kind of relied on the title to show what the story was about, plus I opened with a prologue, set years before, when Trevor's mom vanished at sea, and hoped readers would notice it's central to the story. The story was part mystery, part adventure, and I hoped to at least show the mystery part up front. It didn't work for all readers; some did leave (for a while, anyway) after chapter one. Then, knowing that I needed to give readers sort of a tour of Atlantes (due to most being unfamiliar with big cruising seagoing catamarans) I was facing a chapter with a lot of dry narration. So, I figured that wasn't a good thing for chapter 2, and decided to do it differently; play with reader's heads a bit, and rely on their expectations - a future lover interest showing up early in a story is fairly common. So, in chapter 2, we have Ben - who was only ever to be in chapter 2, though most readers thought otherwise. His real purpose was to give readers a tour of Atlantis from Trevor, and also do some character development  for Trevor (and Lisa too). It was the only way I could think of to avoid having an overly-dull chapter right up front. I also, especially in the first few chapters, tried to mention things that were not only critical to the story, but (I hoped) would make readers curious enough to look at the next chapter. One example is Trevor finding a certain box of old paperwork in the Chandlery, then not actually looking at it until a couple of chapters later. Another thing I worried about (especially for an adventure story!) was the main antagonist isn't revealed until many chapters into the story (though they'd been in it from early on). To be honest, I was very surprised that the story became as popular as it did.  

     
    Trevor and Joel were like brothers. Trevor knew Joel only since he dated Lisa. Did you consider how this could be an issue with Trevor truly finding someone? How did their relationship contribute to other issues in Trevor's life?
    You are right, Trevor hasn't known Joel as long as he has Lisa. The story also alludes to Trevor having a bit of a crush on Joel, though never says explicitly - and yup, best friend Lisa was a rather large consideration there. I did that as part of Trevor's character development; he started off having major qualms about his own sexuality, and was very uptight about it. Joel getting him to loosen up and accept himself was the key to Trevor eventually finding love - as was seeing Lisa and Joel's relationship. 
     
    Your attention to detail is amazing, which leads me to the assumption you do an incredible amount of research. Want to build a nuclear bomb, fly and land a jet plane? You are the guy! How much research was undertaken for Circumnavigation? Is it from self-experience? How do you do your research?
    I indeed do a lot, though I was fortunate enough to know a bit on much of this, which gave me a basis, thus making the research easier. I do know how to sail, but I hadn't ever so much as set foot on a big cruising cat like Atlantis at that time. And, most important of all, I had expert help - one of my beta readers, Red, is a yachtsman, and helped me in all kinds of ways (and on that point, my writing team gave all sorts of input and advice, and were vital to the story - this story is theirs as much as mine). Other parts, such as the radar system in Australia, I already knew about, so it was easy. Geography and scenes from all the places visited was easy as well; I've been to most of them. In fact, I think I was in Italy when I wrote some of the Italian bits, though the scene in Pompeii was based on an earlier trip (which was when I took the photos in that chapter). And harking back to Let the Music Play, there's a scene in the Piazza Navona in Rome. I wrote much of it while sitting in the patio of a cafe at the north end of the piazza. Some of the other stuff, like bits about a single-engine plane, were easy; I've flown that particular model.  For other things, like Florida law, statutes of limitations, etc, I did online research to look up the text of the actual laws, plus on a couple of things I asked a lawyer to double-check me. Generally though, for things like port entry procedures, bridge heights, weather patterns on specific days and dates, etc, etc, I just look them up online (not always easy, because I didn't need current ones, I needed ones from what was already several years in the past). Online research usually works, but it also caused me to make a massive error that's still in the story. It's the shuttle launch Trevor sees. I looked up a launch manifest to get that (to make sure that shuttle was actually flying on that day in the story). Well, oops, I didn't double-check (and didn't know until a reader pointed it out); turns out, the site I looked up had an error; they'd copied the prior year's shuttle manifest to the following year's page. There was no actual shuttle flight that day, not even for months before or after, and by then, I'd posted too much of the story to fix it (it would have required a massive rewrite, as I was timeline-constrained by many other real-world events that the story is built around.)
     
     
    Being one of the longest stories on GA, it must have been a challenge and a hugely rewarding experience. What did you do when you just didn’t really want to tackle the next chapter, or did you have times like that? You posted nearly weekly for what two years! What was the ultimate reward when you finished?
    The posting schedule for Circumnavigation was... well, hard. Yup, weekly, for nearly two years. Often, I had a reserve of completed chapters to fall back on when life got in the way. Sometimes, I didn't. I was very ill for a month (and too zonked to write) which did derail the posting, but another time I was traveling for nearly two months, and had chapters ready to post before I left. Another thing that was hard about posting as a serial was the inability to change past chapters when later chapters developed a bit differently than I anticipated. As for it being the longest story on GA, that didn't phase me, because I just called it a short story.  
     
     
    With so much passed time since you finished Circumnavigation, do you consider it your swan song? Or do you ever see doing a short story of Trevor and some or all of the cast, five or ten years later?
    Will I be posting more stories? I sure as heck hope so. I've promised to (in my forum) to be doing so long before now, and feel like a jerk for letting my readers down. For a while, I was burned out after Circumnavigation.  Then, life got in the way, so did family responsibilities (I've been caring for an elderly family member). I've been writing again, on and off, for several years, though nothing completed yet. One story, Going Sideways, is at around chapter 20 of about 30 (and most of the chapters are very long - 20k or more words). I hope to get it done soon. I'm not posting anything until done, because I learned my lesson from Circumnavigation on that, plus I can't devote the time per week I did to writing Circumnavigation, so no way could I post on a schedule. Another story, Damaged Goods, is underway, though I'm writing it piecemeal. Will we see Trevor and Shane again? Not in Going Sideways.
    • • • • •
    I need a roll call in the comments. Shout out if you've completed reading Circumnavigation! I think I'll make this story one of my New Year's resolutions for 2022. Thank you @C James for answering these questions! 
    If you've read a riveting story, shoot me a PM with three questions! I'll track down the author, knock on their front door, and ask them for you. All authors and stories are fair game. Ask An Author is a great way to give your favorite author a spotlight on their work! 
    I'll see y'all next month! 
  5. astone2292

    Ask An Author 3.0 #10

    By astone2292,


    Author Interviews
    Wow! Time flies! It's time for Ask An Author! We're dipping our tootsies back into some fantasy writing, but with a healthy dosage of sci-fi! This one is a little special because it's a sequel. I got the chance to interview another rising star in the GA community, @Yeoldebard! As a member of the Million Word Club, this author has a plethora of stories in their arsenal. Let's dive right in! A little message from the author first! This story can stand alone, but the first story, Wolf Pack, will help shed light on how this story was born. 
    Inspired by other Gay Author News and Writing World blogs, I'll add in a few more details about the stories we interview. Let me know if this encourages interested reading!
    • • • • •

    The Neko's Tail
    Yeoldebard
    Word Count: 94,020 / 42 Chapters / Status: Complete / Genre: Fantasy, Sci-Fi / Rating: Mature
    For those of you who wondered what happened to Elias when he went missing in Wolf Pack, here is his story. A young neko, lost in a new reality, making new friends and being brought out of his quiet shell.
     
    Elias, to me, was a beloved character in the first story, Wolf Pack. I was thrilled to see him getting his own story. His character's mentality is powerful, and he is one of the most beautifully crafted MCs in any story I've read. What was the inspiration for creating him?

    Elias was originally just a throwaway character, one inspired by a friend's insistence that I was more furry than anything. I decided to mix nekos and werewolves because of her, and the rest is quite literally history.
    But Elias took on his own role in the story. Quiet, broken, he became a symbol of me, of my own struggles. Throughout my childhood, I found it hard, nearly impossible to be heard for who I was, and Elias was my way of working through that. You'll notice more than a few of my characters are selectively mute, or fully mute, because for the longest time, I was not allowed to have a voice. They are my way of talking to the world, of getting my story out.

     
    This is a sequel. The first story is full of medieval and fantasy tropes. You completely turned this sequel upside-down, turned it around, and sent it in a direction I didn't think was conceivable! How... Did... What... Why... I'm speechless! Straight up, this is the most creative thing I've ever seen! It was absolutely beautiful! Are you a god? A writing god? But seriously, where did this come from?
    Elias was never truly meant to be in Wolf Pack. But I had made his character, and I couldn't let him go. He needed a different story to shine in. I had just finished reading Kidnapping Is Always an Option for the first time, and it got me thinking about why we always see modern people abducted by aliens. And I decided to try my hand at changing that. It was the perfect out for Elias. He could escape his former life, and I could start building new species, new creations, something that I have always enjoyed doing. More than that, it was a way for me to stretch my horizons, challenge myself. And it really was a challenge. I learned a lot about myself as I wrote The Neko's Tail, and even now I enjoy looking back to see my early work, to remind myself of where I've come from.
     
    At this time, I haven't continued on into the series, but that will be changing very shortly. Iason is an interesting character to me. Not much is given regards to his and Artemis' history. Is there a possibility for seeing my second-favorite Egaro in a future story?
    I can make no promises of seeing this particular Iason again, but Egaran Stars has a Iason that is very similar to this one. While that story is a much later inclusion to the universe as a whole, it goes much more in depth regarding both Egaro and Faro culture, and even introduces a new species discovered by Elias himself during his travels with Artemis. Iason himself is sort of a spiritual successor to another character of mine, Maximus Markhaus. His story is one of those included in my furry story, though he is not nearly as sexual as the average Egaro.
    • • • • •
    Well, that's another Ask An Author in the books! I hope y'all go check this story out. As soon as I got this set of questions, I had to read it! Give a comment down below if you've read this, or any other of Yeoldebard's stories. If you haven't, links are in the title and author's name above. 
    If you've read a riveting story, shoot me a PM with three questions! I'll track down the author, knock on their front door, and ask them for you. All authors and stories are fair game. Ask An Author is a great way to give your favorite author a spotlight on their work! 
    I'll see y'all next month! 
  6. astone2292

    Ask An Author 3.0 #9

    By astone2292,


    Author Interviews
    What is this? Is it the first Wednesday of the month? What does that mean? Why am I asking all these questions? Maybe I should... Ask An Author! We have another three questions for a wonderful author. Let's get right into it!
    Due to potential spoilers, some details will be redacted. 
    • • • • •

    Effigy
    Geron Kees
    Michael finds himself in a predicament: someone knows his darkest secret, and hates him for it. But who?
    A brief tale on the subject of fear.
     
    This story spoke to me. I connect with Michael and his fears, although I was not outed in high school. Because of the area I was brought up in, it was vital to keep my true self bottled up. Did Michael have these fears beforehand, or was this not an area where he had to be concerned?

    Let's say that before the incident that launched the story occurred, Michael was living a cautious life. I'd say the place he lived in was about average for being gay, in that the responses to it could be expected to vary across the spectrum, and so that caution was a reasonable course to chart. He was living with the knowledge that his parents pretty much knew who he was, but also that they were comfortable with not openly speaking about it. He had no reason to feel anyone else suspected that he was gay, and so he wasn't living in fear on a daily basis. He was not out.
    But even so, this state generates a sort of fear-but-not-fear that lends to a moody awareness of what might come, and that it's there at all allows for it to be easily inflamed by small things. The incident of the effigy in his yard was scarcely a small thing; it virtually screamed to Michael that someone did know about him, and that they aimed to make him pay for being the way he was, as well. So he went from the moody awareness that there could be fear in his life to having it arrive full blown, all at once.

     
    Fear, depression, and paranoia go well together. To me, one can start with any of the three, but eventually the other two will follow. Writing a story that combines them hooked me. What was the inspiration to use this theme?
    I don't think anyone that has ever lived with what they feel is an uncomfortable secret is ever far from a little bit of fear of exposure. Paranoia is too strong a word for the way most people would probably react to having a secret they fear having exposed, but they do have a heightened awareness of the way people react to them. An alertness to the signs that others suspect. And a comfortable sense of complacency over time when it becomes obvious that they don't.
    A lot of gay guys are extraordinary chameleons. They so obviously fit in that no one ever suspects otherwise. For others, living a secret life makes them nervous wrecks. And still others are OUT with a force of their own, and so open about who they are that there is no doubt at all. It's an individual thing, how you handle it. So personality plays a great part in the response that someone in Michael's position takes.
    Fear breeds paranoia and depression, certainly. I chose to have the forcefulness of the situation initially overwhelm Michael's fairly complacent defenses, but then to have his innate strength slowly rise to take charge as he realized that he was on the run from his own fears. For this to happen he needed to transit the worst parts of living in fear, that included some paranoia and depression, but not to have any of it take him over. I wanted him to learn to deal with others possibly knowing, and become comfortable with living with it. And, I wanted him to learn to defend himself if the need arose. To not be a victim of his fear. Or the attitudes of others.
     
    When John was arrested, Michael seemed rational when stating he would be out before him or Barry would know it. While I admire Michael's attitude in this, was this secretly produced from his fear/depression?
    Michael's interest in mystery novels and what he had learned of police procedure from them was what prompted his comment that John would be out of jail before either Michael or Barry knew it. At least here in the US, a young offender on a first arrest is likely to be released back into the custody of his family very quickly for most anything short of a capital crime. Michael was just cautioning Barry not to feel like his troubles were over. That may have surely been a result of Michael's new awareness of his own problems, though. Confronting any fear would tend to heighten a person's awareness of where trouble might come from next, I would think. Michael was sharing his experience at that point, but it's fair to say that the warning came out of his new, heightened sense of caution.
    • • • • •
    Looks like I'm adding another story to my reading list! These answers got my mind pumping. Forget adding it to the list, this one's going right at the top! 
    Y'all know the drill! Send me three questions about a story, I'll go bother the author, and we'll see you next month!
  7. astone2292

    Ask An Author 3.0 #8

    By astone2292,


    Author Interviews
    Whoopsie-daisies! Missed the deadline by a few hours, but don't you worry! Ask An Author is here, and we got a story for you. Without further ado, let's get celestial!
    • • • • •

    The Lesser Evil
    ObicanDecko
    Edwin is a young shop owner living a quiet life in the kingdom of Wisian, but that peace is shattered when his best friend vanishes without a trace. Desperate for help, he meets a mysterious man offering his assistance - a seductive demon named Lothar.
    As attraction between the two men grows stronger every day, Edwin finds himself getting entangled in a conflict between demons and angels. Will Lothar be able to find Edwin’s friend in time, and what will be the price of his help?
     
    What was your inspiration for this rendition of the never-ending war between angels and demons? I particularly enjoyed the take on angels and their abuse of humanity to recruit in their favor.

    I play a lot of Diablo, which is a game about the "eternal conflict" between demons and angels, with humans stuck in the middle, so I wanted to try and write my own take on such a story.
    There was also another game where one of the characters was a demon who is trying to seduce the player, which inspired me to create Lothar. I wanted to put some of the focus on a love story between a human and a demon, and explore the whole "making a pact with the devil" trope, and how it inevitably has bad consequences.
    I'm glad you liked my take on angels - I wanted to avoid having the angels be the obvious "good guys". In this case, both sides are selfish and only in it for themselves, and don't care much about what happens to humanity.

     
    Mildburg is one of my favorite characters in this story. Her intelligence/power is something to behold, but I'm interested in the world's opinion. Did humanity naturally find this power, or did one of the two warring sides leave them at some point?
    Mildburg is one of my favorite characters too. Very intelligent, but mysterious. The origins of her and Sigrid's powers were left unsaid because I usually like to leave some things a mystery and let readers fill in the blanks with their own theories. But my headcanon is that people with such power are very rare and that they don't even know where it comes from. They are simply born with it. It could be from either angels or demons, or maybe some combination of the two.
     
    The chapter before the epilogue had me screaming! This outcome slapped me in the face. I should have seen it coming, but dang! What influenced you, as the author, for Edwin's decision?
    I'm sorry for springing such a big plot twist on you, especially at the end of the story! The rest of the story was quite dark, with big threats from several sides, so I knew it couldn't have a perfect happy ending. Maybe it could've been easy to have Edwin and Lothar end up "happily ever after", but I didn't want that. I wanted a more impactful ending, something that showed the sacrifices we sometimes have to make.
    Also, Edwin would never be able to let himself be happy while his little sister is suffering. He had to take that chance and help her.
    • • • • •
    Oh, jeez! I love a story with a plot-twist! I'll have to add this one to my reading list. Make sure to check out The Lesser Evil and @ObicanDecko's stories through the links above! If you just finished a story and want to learn more about it, shoot me a PM with three questions and I'll pester the author for you! I'll see y'all next month!
  8. astone2292

    Ask An Author 3.0 #7

    By astone2292,


    Author Interviews
    I promise, I won't sing this time! But it is the first Wednesday of the month and we got three more questions to answer. As soon as I got the message to go bother this author, I put my little "press" cap on and booked it! It's @Aditus, one of GA's Signature Authors! Are you excited? I definitely am! Let's jump into the interview!
    • • • • •

    The King's Mate
    Aditus
    TKM - a three book series detailing the lives of Diarmad, King of the Seraei--an aggressive alien species--and Noel, his mate.
     
    The King’s Mate series was a riveting roller coaster ride that made me want to alternately scream, rejoice with the characters, and smack them upside the head!  This seems to be a recurring theme in your stories *coughcoughRedRunningShoescoughcough* Do you think there are similarities between Noah/Nico and Jonah from RRS?
    The King’s Mate series was a riveting roller coaster ride... Thank you. 😊
    I have to admit the idea that some readers feel connected to a character of mine so much they yell at their computer screen, telling them in strong words what to do or not to do next or else— motivates me immensely. *evil cackle*
    To cut a long story short, yes, even though both stories are vastly different, with RRS being a contemporary romance set up in Europe, and The King’s Mate series created in an alternative, paranormal world, there might indeed be similarities between Noël and Jonah, because... see above. This doesn’t mean all my characters are like them; I try to diversify. 😉
     
    Was it difficult to write Caesura after the intensity of Noel and Diarmad’s relationship in The Holly and the Ivy?
    Yes. I couldn’t believe what they did to each other and others in the second book. While I wrote it, I was constantly upset with myself and how they spoke to me. I believe there were times I hated them so much I couldn't write. And I thought I might just kill them off and be done with it. Going down in flames and so on. That’s why I needed a third book, to clear up the mess they/we made.
     
    Ivan and Sho are secondary characters that are brought to life extremely well.  Do you think you’ll ever write their story about what happens after Kabal?
    The story is in my head. However, after the last word of Kabal was written, I was immensely relieved. I was forced to take a long hiatus due to illness. It took some time before I could write again and find my characters’ voices. In the meantime, I had lost many readers. I’m honest, I need my readers’ feedback to stay motivated. When even die-hard followers didn’t react to the finished book, I felt too discouraged to step foot in the mate’s universe again. I’m sorry. I might overcome my hang-up, eventually, you never know.
    Thank you for your interest in my stories.
    • • • • •
    Wow! After the answer to the second question, I'll need to pick these stories up. This sounds intense! Make sure to click the link in the series title to head straight there, or check out Aditus' other works through the link underneath! 
    If you just finished a story and want to learn more about it, shoot me a message with three questions. Any story and any author will do! Until next month, buh-bye!
  9. astone2292

    I'm Going to Do This.

    By astone2292,


    Blogs
    Whoops! I missed my own GAnniversary last week... 
    If I can just spout some words, joining this website has been a freakin' blast! I found a creative outlet and it's been a ride. I found a community of wonderful people that treasure the written word as much as I do. I found a place to call home.
    I can't stop. This website has ducktaped my foot to the gas pedal, and there are a lot of the community members who had a hand in laying down a strip. I asked to learn to be a better writer and several have stepped forward to assist me. Looking back at my very first chapter, I see how far I've come. The results encourage me to further my skills, as do the reactions and comments. 
    This site has given me hope. I thought, for a very long time, that I would be stuck in a retail job until the day I died. Writing became a hobby, and now I want it to be more. I want more. Jesus, it's so crazy for me to type that, to say that! This site has given me a goal, and that's to make writing my job. Even coming out of my fingertips, it still feels crazy, but it's now a goal. Not a dream, a freakin' goal! It's been several years since I had one. Last one I had was in college. I told myself I will be in Kentucky Wesleyan College's Greek Life Hall of Fame, and I did it. Before that, I made Eagle Scout at the age of sixteen. 
    Now life has put a challenge before me. I will win. It's not often I become motivated, but I'm not afraid of dedication. It's my drug and no amount of rehab will fix me. I get high on dedication and I'm ready for another snort. Fork it, give me a whole line! Give me a pouch, I'll line it up with my old library card. Have I beaten the dead horse too much? Nah, I don't think so. Give me a dufflebag of dedication and I'll be happy for a while. 
    Look at me; I'm a junkie pointing at everyone saying, "You'll see! Some day, I'll make it big!" But it's strange at the same time. I don't feel like that person. I don't resonate with the person who's following their dream, despite insurmountable odds. I've watched Youtubers become famous during my lifetime. I went to college with people who have gone to play for the NFL. It's these people I want to be beside. They've put in the time, hard work, sweat, and effort. I don't want a miracle that forces me to magically learn how to mishandle money and commit to terrible decisions that may or may not refer to my druggie paragraph above. I want to earn it. 
    And I'll start with GA. I've got a long way before I am comfortable in making a more firm declaration, but I want to rise up. The title of Promising Author sounds pretty nice, and it'll sound even better in a couple of years. Admins, be warned. I'm a junkie addicted to dedication, and I got an empty dufflebag. 
  10. astone2292

    Ask An Author 3.0 #4

    By astone2292,


    Author Interviews
    It's the first Wednesday of the month, and you all know what that means! Bringing a fresh face to the Ask An Author universe is always an interesting maneuver, and we got a juicy one! I was sent some questions for a story that differs tremendously from the last AAA. We're going from sweet romance to dark and dangerous! Have you ever wondered what a serial killer thinks about? Well, @C. Henderson did with this gripping story!
    ***This is a warning to potential readers. The following interview contains massive spoilers for the highlighted story. We encourage reading the story before continuing with the interview. Click the link in the story title.***
    • • • • •

    Inhospitable Places
    C. Henderson
    After the death of his mother, professional dancer and choreographer Louis loses his job and falls into a deep depression. When his partner, Hunter, proposes a change in scenery to help Louis heal from the loss, he reluctantly agrees to move to Hartford, Connecticut.
    But soon after the move, a serial killer dubbed “The Hartford Menace” starts targeting men throughout the city. Numb from his grief, Louis doesn’t pay the news too much attention. That is, until his sister Francesca points out a terrifying fact: all the victims bear an uncanny resemblance to him.
     
    This was a gripping story involving a serial killer on the loose. What made you decide to use the killer's mindset as chapters?
    As a huge fan of the horror/thriller genre, I like to explore various dark themes in my writing. I think it's intriguing and challenging to attempt to expose the mindset of an individual with a thought process that most people can't understand or relate to. The chapters from Hunter's perspective in Inhospitable Place served in building tension throughout the story, as well as highlighting how different a killer's mind is from our own. When you read Louis' chapters he comes across as warm and caring (rescuing a dog, grieving the death of his mother, worrying about the state of his relationship) but when you get into Hunter's POV, there is a stark difference there. He is cold, calculated, manipulative and obsessive. And what's most frightening is that he's hiding in plain sight. 
     
    The box's placement was a very interesting choice. Obviously, most killers desire to keep mementos from their victims, but what was the reasoning for the location? The danger of being exposed, or is there a more underlying intention?
    Yes, the placement of the box has meaning behind it. The spare bedroom, which is originally supposed to be Louis' studio but turns into Hunter's room when Francesca moves in, is supposed to be a place where he finds his passion for dance once again. But little does he know that buried underneath his feet are the mementos of all the men Hunter killed. It's only when he forces himself to finally go in there and try to choreograph a routine for Derek's animal shelter dance class that he is able to uncover the truth. For a year Louis avoids dancing and lives in denial while self-medicating, so it's meant to be symbolic that it's getting back to the dance studio that finally ends up setting him free.
     
    I can't get my mind wrapped around Hunter's attitude when Louis planned a nice dinner for him! What was going on in this man's mind? You would think if your partner is going through serious emotions, it would be important to give a considerate gesture for putting forth such an effort.
    To Hunter, the act of killing satisfies an insatiable urge within him. After it's over, he is calm and satiated for a while, then comes the period where he picks his next victim, and the cat and mouse game begins again until it reaches its final crescendo. In chapter 4, right before the dinner sequence that comes in the next chapter, Hunter is slowly reaching the crazed stage that happens right before he just needs to kill. He gives us a glimpse into his state of mind when he says: "I pick up some groceries on my way back, then return to a mundane life. The thought of what I’m going to do to you so very soon is the only thing that gets me through the night." That night, he isn't capable of going through the motions with Louis and pretending to care about the dinner his partner made him, or the effort he put into it. The mask is slowly slipping, and all he can do is go to sleep and try to stifle his urges until he can finally satisfy them once again. 
    • • • • •
    I got goosebumps from those answers! This was certainly a treat. I don't read a lot of dark stories, but I think I might have to start. If you liked this story, make sure to go check out @C. Henderson's other stories on his author page! I just loved seeing a new author on AAA. Despite his dark and gloomy stories, I think we found a bright and shining star in the community!
    Don't forget to send me some questions! I'm always looking for a surplus of interviews, and you can ask questions about any story by any author! I'll be looking forward to your requests so I can pester our authors. See y'all next month!
  11. astone2292

    Ask An Author 3.0 #2

    By astone2292,


    Author Interviews
    This is so exciting! When I joined Gay Authors not too long ago, I began reading everything I could get my little fingers on. And Ask An Author has been one of my favorite segments! When I saw that Renee and the team were searching for someone new to tackle AAA, I pulled up my ankle socks and sent her a message. I'm so ecstatic to be even considered for such a responsibility! But before we get into this, I just want to remind everyone that these questions aren't provided by the staff. Nope. That's on you, guys! Shoot me a PM about a story you read, along with at least three questions, and we'll send the author an anonymous message. 
    • • • • •

    The Hollow Hills
    Valkyrie
    This story centers around The Hollow Hills - a horse farm in Vermont - and Galen and Joshua. Galen moves to New England after breaking up with his boyfriend and meets Josh. Their relationship is anything but easy, with many obstacles standing in their way. When tragedy strikes, they need to learn how to redefine their lives and live with the after-effects
    Alannah is such an important supportive character to the guys. What in her past made her so empathetic?
    Alannah had a difficult start in life.  She was raised by her drug-addicted mother in her early childhood, until she was brought to her grandmother’s farm and then abandoned there. Her grandmother was a kind and empathetic woman, who passed those traits on to her granddaughter.  Alannah learned to be compassionate and non-judgmental, and understands all too clearly how otherwise good people sometimes make mistakes.  
    Who was first? Galen or Josh.
    Josh.  Josh first appeared in a short story I wrote for a writing assignment way back in ninth grade.  Galen didn’t come around until about eleven years later.  
    How did you come up with the setting?
    See question #2! After I wrote that story, the farm kind of took on a life of its own. Josh needed someone else at the barn, so I came up with Alannah’s character, and then Adam’s.  The farm became almost a character in and of itself, and is based on my dream place to live.  At some point I want to write a prequel to The Hollow Hills, which would cover when Josh arrived at the farm, Alannah moving there from Ireland, and it would feature Adam’s story as well.  
    It's a long story. How did you stay motivated? Any tips?
    I was really gung-ho when I started writing it, then I got a nasty case of the flu and had to take a several-month-long hiatus from writing.  Getting back into the groove proved difficult at times, but these characters are so dear to me that not finishing was never an option.  I think my motivation was the need to get this story on paper, so to speak.  It was always my dream to share their story, so I’m thrilled I was finally able to do so, and that people liked it so much. 
    I don’t really have any tips as to how to stay motivated to write, since motivation is such a personal thing.  What works for me won’t necessarily work for someone else. It’s something I’m struggling with at the moment.  I think taking a deep breath and a step back sometimes is helpful.  Re-reading my stories can also be motivating to me.  So is reader feedback.  I love hearing what people think of my work, even when they’re ranting about Josh! 
    • • • • •
    And that does it for this month's Ask An Author! Since Renee made the rules for me, as per AAA 3.0 #1, we are showcasing a different author for every month this year. That means Valkyrie gets to sit back and relax! Don't forget to send me a message with three or more questions so our community can discover their next binge! After all, I'm starting to run out of things on my streaming services to watch. This pandemic is really rough!
    Since Valentine's Day is coming up, how about we try for a real sappy love story for next month? Go dig through your favorites and followed stories, ask some questions, and we'll get them answered! See y'all next month, unless Renee fires me! Also, Carlos! I stole your dots from 2.0. They're mine now, and you can't have them back!
  12. astone2292

    Ask An Author 3.0 #5

    By astone2292,


    Author Interviews
    Is it that time already? I believe so! Boy, oh boy, do we have a special treat today! We're doing things a wee bit different today, and I am so excited about it! Normally on Ask An Author, I get to pester an author about a story, but not today. This time, I got to pester one of our beloved Administrators about THREE stories! That's right, we got ourselves three amazing questions about a series! I hope y'all are ready, because we're diving right in. Here we go! 
    • • • • •

    Carthera Takeover Tales
    Cia
    The Carthera are a violent race, never failing to respond to battle, they nevertheless are a proud and honorable people. Except for the ferals. Battles for territory, fighting persecution from the humans, for the right to rule, have echoed down through the ages. In these modern times things are different, easier. Laws are made--and enforced--and peace, of a sorts, is possible. Some seek to end that.
     
    My favorite pairing is Dav and Ellis, don't know why, but do you have a favorite pairing between Natham & Velaku, Bashta & Cavel, and Dav & Ellis? If so, who and why?
    Dav and Ellis as well! Probably because I put a lot of myself in Ellis. Oddly enough, while I loved writing Dav as a character, I absolutely hate snakes in real life. My teen daughter has a 2 year old ball python that's somewhere close to 3 1/2 feet, and it's all... ewwwww. She wears it like a necklace and watching it move around her head creeps me out. Somehow, though, the idea of all that sinuous movement in a man? 😊 Totally works!
     
    How did you come up with the specifics of the plague that spread through the jaguar clans?
    ⚠️ This will have a spoiler, FYI to readers who haven't read Book 2 in the trilogy! ⚠️ Carthera have only been "accepted" in "human society" for about 50 years in this trilogy. So the medical knowledge isn't quite up to date. I treated the plague much like Ebola. Exposure from contaminated surfaces (the statue) then person-to-person among the vulnerable and least 'clean' (aka children who don't tend to wash up well). Antiserum from survivors was the most effective treatment for ebola for a long time. FYI, I used to work in the medical field, so that's one of my areas I try to be very exact and make sure is realistic, even when I'm writing a scifi, paranormal, or fantasy story.
     
    The Carthera are incredibly interesting to me. What made you detour away from the typical shifters and instead create the Carthera?
    I'm never one for writing 'run-of-the-mill stories' where I follow along with conventional mythos. I love to create twists. Either in the idea behind the original mythos I'm basing my storyline on or morphing the character types or as I'm going along in the plot events. Okay, okay, sometimes I'm greedy and do all three. I like shifter societies who have all sorts of animals (OMG, why limit myself to a single species when I could play with so MANY?) who carry their animalistic traits into their human form, and I do like it when they're integrated instead of being hidden society alongside humans.
    So with my Carthera, I decided to create "shifters" with mixed animal/human characteristics who were integrated into society, but I figured by timing it to recent 'coming out' as a species to humans I could also incorporate a lot of different societal dynamics in the storylines. One of these days I want to come back to the world; I have some ideas with ocean shifters, since they are some of my favorite animals. 
    • • • • •
    Unlike Cia, I love snakes! Let me tell you, if I ever got my hands on a man like Dav, I might be tempted to kick my husband to the curb (sorry, Noah...)! The second I got the request to go bother Cia, I screamed like a little girl! I dropped everything and wrote the fastest PM in my life! This series is one of the very few reasons I made an attempt at writing, and I come back to these stories often frequently regularly a lot when I want to get away from everyday life. Make sure to check out Cia's other amazing stories through the link in her name under the series title! If you have read a riveting story and want to ask the author about it, send your questions to me and I'll happily knock on their inbox for you! Until next month, buh-bye!
  13. astone2292

    Ask An Author 3.0 #6

    By astone2292,


    Author Interviews
    Is it Wednesday? I think it is! Which means it's time for...  🎶 Aaaaaaaask An Author!  🎶 Oh, boy! I hope speech-to-text capabilities don't advance any time soon, because that was just awful! My husband's looking at me like I'm a crazy person! Anyway, we have another three questions for one of GA's authors! 
    • • • • •

    Solitude of the Photo
    C.T. Piatt
    The lens of the camera is shallow.  It sees colour and shape.  It gives the illusion of motion in two dimensions.  It draws the light from the dark.  In that space between lens and subject, between picture and reality, lies solitude.
    Jonah lived in that solitude, content within its embrace.
     
    The descriptions and details really bring this story to life and made it a riveting read.  Are you a photographer or artist yourself?
    I dabble in photography, have a decent camera and a couple of lenses - well it was decent when I bought it 10 years ago. I've tried painting/drawing but I can't get my body to create what I see in my mind. Photography is simpler to achieve that. I do create in other ways - mostly sewing (from scratch and repurposing) and jewellery. I know I can 'see' what I want to create. And I want my words to paint what I see so others can see it too. I'm pleased to hear that I achieved that.
     
    All the stories you have posted on GA are short stories.  Do you have any longer work or plans for longer stories?
    I do have longer stories in the works, but they seem to just keep growing and I never find 'The End'. It's easier for me to write shorter and finish. Plus there is always another story jumping around in my head demanding some attention.
    Currently with the change in the world I have ended up with employment that takes up most of my time (too much of my time) and my hobbies are suffering. I know I need to achieve a better work/life balance - maybe this will kick my butt into doing more for me.
     
    What was your inspiration for this story?
    I was once that photographer - taking photos of cars racing around the track. But I was there with my family and friends, all of whom took part as drivers. Except me. I can't stand just being a spectator so I took up the camera to be active and to make memories. One such event 'Jonah' started talking to me. The story was born that night after everyone else had gone to bed.
    • • • • •
    I love the answer to the first question! I have a soft spot for a story that takes it time to paint every emotion, every movement, and every single second in the world. If you liked this interview, make sure to go read the story (link in the story title). After that, go check out @C.T. Piatt's other works (link in the author's name under the title)! 
    Don't forget to send me some questions! Anybody can send me questions about any author's story! I'll see y'all next month!
  14. astone2292

    Distance is Different

    By astone2292,


    Blogs
    Noah is off with his new job and it is taking time to get used to it. He accepted a job as an assistant project manager for remodeling, closing, and opening various stores across the country. While he isn't too far from home during this first job assignment, it is distant enough to bring me back to our dating days. When we first started dating, we were several hours away from each other for the majority of our relationship prior to him moving in with me. 
    We've reverted back to our dating tactics of looking forward to planned weekend moments and spending as much time with one another as possible. The main difference that I'm combating is being on my own. I've never done this before! During college, I lived on my fraternity's dormitory floor with friends surrounding me at all times. Even when I moved out of the dorms, I had a roommate. This is a surreal experience, to say the least. I'm cooking for myself and myself alone for the first time. If I make a dish that will generate leftovers, I'll be the only one eating it. There are four bowls of Mexican Street Corn sitting in my refrigerator, and now I'm cooking bacon to break the monotony! Grocery shopping is vastly different now! I'm shopping for one, and I'm passing family pack everything. There's no solution for this lonesome chef! It's almost tempting to start a TV dinner diet, but I refuse to let myself stoop to radiation meals.
    Our bed has become my office. It has been over a week since I last sat on any furniture in the living room. I'm also getting used to the silence. TV shows will be watched occasionally, but the only sounds in my apartment currently is the sound of my fingers slamming against laptop keys and the bacon sizzling on the stove. 
    Is this how people go insane, or how one achieves tranquility? My life has never been more productive. I have never been one to do laundry at a regular interval, but this new lifestyle has encouraged a schedule. I get home and begin a process:  shower, cook/reheat food, check on dishes (load dishwasher, start if needed), laundry check, spend remaining time on GA until bedtime. I have considered getting a gym membership or start walking around the neighborhoods just to get out of the house, but I'm usually sore enough from my job to constitute that as my exercise for the day. 
    But the daily calls from Noah keep my mind clean. I know he has it much rougher living in a hotel room without a proper kitchen and an unfamiliar bed. It's a lot of McDonald's and microwave meals for him, so I should have no room to gripe. Just listening to him talk about his job is enough to keep me smiling, despite his job consisting of him standing around and doing literally nothing. At the end of the day, I know he'll be home soon.
    Noah, two hundred miles won't keep us apart. I love you, big guy. I can't wait to see you again.
  15. astone2292

    Productivity Feels...Weird

    By astone2292,


    Blogs
    I've had a love-hate relationship with the word, 'productivity.' With my occupation, it is highly encouraged to be as productive as possible, but it feels strange to see myself being the only one performing. My shift ended several hours ago, but I still can't shake my distaste for how few cares my fellow coworkers give. Seeing how the pandemic is still going on, and a lot of people are finally understanding the lasting power it can hold on human life, workers are feeling fatigued. My fellow stock crew are of no exception to this. 
    Throw in a couple of icy nights and an incoming snow storm, and the remaining cares have been tossed in the rushing winds. Warehouse employees were scarce several days ago, so our truck size dwindled, only to come back up in monstrous quantity last night. My aisle called for eleven man hours. A singular aisle in a grocery store demanded my full and undivided attention, plus another's partial. The aisle was stocked in seven hours' time, and I was whisked away to bail out another coworker. This disgruntled me as I checked the summarized times for the aisles. I was being sent to continue stocking for an aisle that called for five hours worth of stocking time. 
    While I understand that not everyone can be as productive as others, I do expect for said others to meet company standards. Our standards are a wee bit harsh, but they are manageable. The company asks for the stockers to perform at an average of 55 cases of product per hour, or working a case every 55 seconds.  From picking up the box, to breaking the cardboard down, this is manageable. What I saw was inefficiency, and I will not stand for it. Why make your life harder? The answer can not be, "I get paid by the hour." I watched this worker walk ten steps from his pallet of product to his cardboard cart, just to place a box in it, and repeat the process for his aisle's stocking. 
    In a hindsight of how I value productivity:  I use my laziness to my advantage. Everything I need is within an arm's reach. My pallet, cart, stocking destination, boxcutter, and water bottle. I'm even starting to memorize how to open certain boxes of product in a particular way, just to cut down mere seconds. I don't have time to waste, because I don't want to be in that store any longer than I have to be. So if I can use my productivity to be lazy, and vice versa, so be it.
    Productivity is coming at me in my writing as well. I've never been one to have multiple tabs open on my browser, but I am kicking myself for not doing it sooner. As I type this, I have three different Gay Authors tabs open:  one for my most recent chapter of Cernunnos (using it as a footnote since I'm writing the next chapter), one for the Last Post Wins game in the forums, and one writing this blog. Along with those tabs, I have my Google Drive tab, my documents tab holding Chapter 11 of Cernunnos, and a Google Search tab for anything I may need. Before my writing adventure, I have never had more than two tabs open on a single browser. I am feeling like a computer mastermind with all these tabs running!
    I feel as I am getting somewhere in writing, but I also get the sense of holding myself back. I'm not looking for money as a product of my writing. I'm searching for an escape from being productive at my job. I don't feel appreciated for busting my butt there. Here...I'm thanked, and that feels weird to me. Every job I've had, I have thoughtlessly outperformed my fellow man, and I don't get thanked a lot. With every chapter I post, I get told, "Great job," or, "I love this," or, "Thank you for this chapter!"
    This has caused the term 'productivity' to have a warped definition to me. In one half of my life, I find it to be troublesome to be productive, while the other praises me. My thoughts are at war, and I don't know how to combat that. I've never been one to articulate my emotions before, but writing has opened that door for me. It is only cracked open, but the drafting winds are appealing to me. With words, I think I can finally begin to understand some of my mental issues and speak out about them. I don't know what they are, and for the time being, I'd rather them remain nameless. 
    So, for now, I'll just relate my issues to Bo Burnham's Left Brain, Right Brain song. I've always found solace in the song, but I could only find reason in the fact that I love comedy. Expanding my thoughts, the song is much more relatable. My job and hobby are at war, and, just as the song states, "my creativity and analysis are at war." Productivity is a hellish word in my job, while it is welcome in my hobby. Productivity...is just forkin' weird.
  16. astone2292

    Drained

    By astone2292,


    Blogs
    I am exhausted. Purely and utterly exhausted. 
    Work has been a nightmare. Currently enduring an eight day workday streak, and my night off on Thursday can't come fast enough. And if Rona and her hold over people wanting to buy more groceries isn't bad enough, our store has been plagued with a monumental challenge. If y'all read the newest entry for Dear, Grocery Shoppers, the new process of how our store's stock crew is to perform their job is truly kicking our spirits down. It's been a while since I've felt this drained. For the first time in almost a year, I had to resort to an Epsom salt bath. My knee is wrapped in a brace from the constant kneeling and unkneeling. This week is just some icing, as next week is going to be pure Hell.
    Our store's dairy lead needed emergency rotator-cuff surgery, and he's going to be out for up to six months. Another dairy worker is on vacation next week, and another dairy worker is going to be off for a weekend. In unadulterated managerial decision making, it is up to the overnight stock crew to make up for lost manpower. Boy...oh boy. We are not prepared for this. 
    Here's our game plan:  every member of the stock crew, including our supervisors, are going to be working a six-day workweek. The fella who will be taking the dairy lead's role for the next several months will be working all seven days of the upcoming week. We're all going to be working 48+ hours next week, and a few of us have been tapped to work the seventh day. By a few of us, I mean the best workers. This means...I have no freakin' clue when my next day off will be after Saturday night. I'm at a loss here. According to our HR manager, none of the people who applied to work for our store as new employees are 'available' to work overnights. 
    No new workers, a brand new way (completely unproductive, by the way) of doing our jobs, an upcoming overhaul of our ordering and inventory management system, and a worn-out stock crew. Next week will be no fun. I've already warned Noah about my soon-to-be cranky mood for the entire time, and despite his positive mental attitude, I just don't think the poor guy is ready. I'm already irritable about the lack of performance from the crew over the last several days, and it will not get better. 
    That isn't to say that I got this. I got this. I've endured worse. I did a thirteen-day workweek just last month. Several years ago, I mustered through an eighteen-hour shift. This is just another hurdle. 
    If there is one thing I have to say to Rona and her devious tactics that have plagued our world, it is this:  you can't break me. I've been working hard for a long, long time, sweetheart. This...this new little stunt you're pulling on our stock crew. It's cute, I'll tell ya that. 
    Unfortunately, this will probably cause some pushback on my writing time. I have a couple of chapters pre-written, and that'll help out, but my pacing will be thrown off. I'll do my best to keep up, but I'll be needing to rest when I can for these upcoming weeks. The important thing to remember about this scenario is that this is a marathon. Back in March, I endured my first sprint, dealing with monster-sized orders, stocking my aisle until the crack of dawn, and straight up performing. But sprints aren't my thing. I live for a marathon. 
    I've always had the pipe-dream of setting the world record for the longest worked shift in retail history, and I know I can do it. It seems like a wild and silly dream to have, but I've sprinkled the concept in DGS. I love to work. There's nothing I'd rather do than bust my back, put in a hard day, and be able to say that I'm contributing to something worthwhile. My position isn't looked at in a highsighted light very often. It is my role, and my stock crew's role, to put the groceries on the shelf so you and your family can have a meal. I put some serious pride into that thought. Do I wish for a better job? Hell yeah, but I'm happy where I'm at now. I like being one of the ten reasons why there is food available for purchase in the store I work at. I am one of the ten people that allows our store to hit $1.3 million in sales a week. 
    And this marathon has me salivating. 
    ***
    In other news! In case my In the Shadows fans missed it, Rising in the Shadows now has its first chapter! You may have missed it since I post-dated the publishing and it got buried in the Stories page. Oopsie daisies! My bad! That'll be the last time I do that, I promise! I got two more chapters in the waiting as I tackle the next when I get off work tomorrow morning. I need to find time to edit Noah's next entry into Dear, Grocery Shoppers, and I just posted Chapter 7 of Cernunnos. I'm remembering my words of "Aaron, don't bite off more than you can chew." I'm almost at the point of eating my words, but I'm just waiting for someone to tell me to quit poking it with my fork. No, sir! I shall poke and prod my food as long as I can! 
    And wow! Love in the Shadows is getting closer and closer to 60k views! I'm stunned, in all honesty! I just wrote that out of sheer boredom, and look what I did! Sixty thousand views. That is just bananas! I'm glad I finished it, though. I'm not one to finish hobbies, and seeing it done is so satisfying! 
    It's bedtime for me. I just wanted to get that little life update off my chest. Through the next week or so, I'll do my best to keep up with my writing, but it took me almost twice as long to pump out the newest Cernunnos chapter. I usually crank that out in several hours, but this one took about six hours across three days. I don't feel myself burning out...but I am going to need some pep pills or something. 
    Anywhoosin...night!
  17. astone2292

    Things are Happening!

    By astone2292,


    Blogs
    Well. Yep. Things are certainly happening!
    A lot has happened in a week. I started a new story, and it's been going well. I now have an awesome editor. And Noah's been busy with his own work, both on Gay Authors, and with his little podcast project he's been wanting to start. For some reason, after having a weekend off, working a singular shift, and now having another evening off tonight, I'm pooped! Bushwacked. Exhausted! I should be going to bed, but my fingers are dancing and I can't make them stop!
    Cernunnos has been a success! A week in and it now has five chapters and over two thousand views. I'm calling it a win...at least until Rising of the Shadows gets posted. Cyn will get left in Vincent's dust, I'm sure of it! I'm almost addicted to writing this new story. The chapters are shorter, and I'm finding it easier to write. Not saying LitS and RitS aren't fun to write, but a chapter can take me several days to finish. A chapter in Cernunnos can take me...a couple hours? I'm almost regretting the chapter sizes of my prized book and its sequel. If you're reading this and have no idea what I'm talking about, what are ya waiting for? If you like were-creatures, anything fantasy, or just a good lovey-dovey romance, get reading! 
    Noah's been a busy little bee. Well, I say little. He's half a foot taller than me, but that's beside the point. He's picking up on his poetry, but still needs his hand held when it comes to posting. And now we finally have the equipment and software running for his dream hobby:  a podcast. Dear Lord, have mercy on me. He wanted a podcast to make his millions of dollars, and I popped that bubble with world's largest thumb-tack. POP! "Honey...you ain't going to make money on a podcast." But he is going to try nevertheless. Being his husband, I have been roped into this adventure, which is fine. I want to be a comedian some day, and what better way to get started than by burying your husband in his own podcast? It's gonna be a great time. He was clueless on what to do in regards to segments, so I suggested random Top Five lists. Noah, the ever so innocent angel, was confused by my logic, so I gave an example. "Top Five Worst Vacation Destinations!" Sadly...I only came up with two before he had to go to work. 
    Utah. Nothing against the residents of Utah, but y'all got nothing to do. Your state's tourism website had two tabs that made me giggle:  Places to Go, and Things to Do. Being a curious little snot, I hovered over Things to Do, and my inner Boy Scout mentality cackled at the sight of 'Backpacking.' Noah...poor Noah, he's just a little city boy. He had no idea what backpacking was, and I nearly fell off the couch. If this is a primary highlight of what a state has to offer for tourism...in the wise words of Nicole Byer, "Ya done!" A Motel 6. Any of them, regardless of city.  Oh, and did I mention that I now have an editor! He's awesome! I feel like such an adult having him! He makes me want to, I don't know, send him a fruit basket, or some other adult-like gift of generosity. I'll let the main page of Rising in the Shadows reveal who he is, and y'all can thank him then. He has put in the work! Maybe in the future, after the In The Shadows series comes to a close in a year or two, I can have him tackle Love in the Shadows and let him make a complete fool of my mad typin' skillz. 
    Well, I'm tired! I'm going to bed! Sound off your Top Five Worst Vacation Destinations in the comments, and we'll steal them for our podcast! Toodles!
  18. astone2292

    Silent Night

    By astone2292,


    Blogs
    It may be a tad late to let you all know, but my favorite Christmas song is Silent Night. The tone, the pace, and the words all echo in my head. And I had a beautiful silent night. 
    As an overnight worker, my days off work have become silent nights. Noah soundly asleep, along with my neighboring Kentucky residents, and I just wind down. My muscles get a good relaxing rest. No stocking of groceries, no lifting pallets onto stacks, no loud cardboard balers screeching from the back-dock. Pure bliss. Sometimes I binge a show on the television, sometimes I open a bottle of wine...or two. But lately, it's been silent. No TV, no phone, and no distractions. 
    I get a lot of work done on these nights. And last night/this morning was no exception. I pumped out nearly 9,000 words this evening. For me, quite impressive with my little ADHD noggin. My phone may cause some distractions from news articles or if I play a few songs to take a mental moment, but I love my silent nights. I posted the second chapter to Cernunnos, my new little story about a timid deer shapeshifter facing the world of predatory dangers. And...well...I'm keeping a nice little secret for y'all. 
    There are some negatives to all this. I keep the house a little colder so Noah can get some good sleep since he has some temperature issues (yes, he's a body furnace). My fingers get a little cold and numb, but nothing that my gloves and a warm fuzzy blanket can't fix. None of my friends are awake at this time of day, so there's very little contact for me from the outside world. 
    But that's okay. I have Gay Authors! I have Vincent, Mason, Kaplan, Cyrus, and the whole Owensville crew. And now I have Cyn, the cernunnos/deer shifter. My laptop has literally become my world during the night. I'm not going crazy, I promise y'all. Writing created a hole in my life that I struggled with previously. Before GA, I was just playing my Xbox for hours on end, and not doing much of anything else. I could be hitting the gym and being a little bit more active during this time, but I consider writing to be a saving grace for my sanity. 
    I'll let y'all wake up, get your coffee, and get to work. Bedtime's in a few hours and I need to keep writing. Have a good GA day!
    *cough* February 1st *cough*
  19. astone2292

    My Whole World Is a Mess!

    By astone2292,


    Blogs
    Folks...y'all...I'm just the worst. My ADHD has caught up to me. My world is crumbling around me as I know it. 
    I am having two completely devastating crises at the same time, and I'm stuggle-bussing at the moment. I blame one on myself, and the other on Noah. 
    So...I'm blaming Noah...for the loss of essential information that I, supposedly learned in elementary school. I couldn't tell if I was just having one of my blonde moments, or if I have legitimately lost some of my memory, but I lost a crucial bit of geographical information somewhere along the way. And as per usual, if I can't point proper blame at something, I blame either myself, or Noah. Because that's a benefit of marriage, right? 
    The information that I have lost, and have now re-educated myself on via the power of the Internet and a textbook from college, is very embarrassing to me. Noah was watching a very delightful video, which was an interviewer asking citizens on the streets very basic questions of life. I was nailing every question with precise answers...until this one question that has rocked my entire world. And I can't even lie to you right now, I am beyond embarrassed. I genuinely feel wronged in life. Because I swear, Boy Scout's Honor, and with every ounce of my private college education...that there were only four oceans on Earth. Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, and Arctic. 
    Southern. There is the Southern Ocean. When...did this happen? My mind is completely baffled at the notion that there is a fifth ocean on this planet. Let me explain something:  in regards to the level of distress that I am personally going through, I want to find a therapist. I have never sat down with one, but I sure as Hell want one right now! Either being 27 years old is now the common age for Alzheimer's, or I just missed a lot in school. I mean...I did go through the Indiana Education System, and that could be the proper source of the blame. But my husband is giving me such the hardest time over this. Don't get me wrong, we are laughing our tushies off over this, but I am not okay with this! Southern Ocean...I do not know where you came from, how you changed every history textbook in my house, and how you infected the Internet with your lies, but you gotta go! 
    And now, on to the other issue that is giving me just as much stress at the current situation. I am writing the first chapter of Rising in the Shadows and I have made a discovery. While I do have a cast list, detailing out most of my characters' builds and personalities, I have made a few hiccups, and I need to re-read my entire book to take note of what I have said about my characters. The reason why I need to do this...is because I do not...have the color...of Dave's eyes...in my cast list file. 
    I am currently skimming my chapters with Ctrl+F, searching key words (eyes, irises, Dave) like a deranged mad man! Noah is over here writing poetry and having a great time making fun of my planetary knowledge and how both the public and private education systems have failed me, and I can't remember what color Dave's eyes were! I know I mentioned it...somewhere...in a sentence...in a chapter. They are not mentioned often, and that is another strike for me. I have smoked waaaaaaaay too many cigarettes in the past two hours, and I'm nearing the end of my patience for myself. 
    But! I am a comedian. And an author. I will forever make fun of this day. Tuesday, January 19th, 2021. They day that I found out that there are, in fact, five oceans on our planets. And I will either remember, or find out what color Dave's eyes are. I am determined. I am strong. I...need another cigarette. Please, for all that is sacred and holy, I ask of you, my blog readers:  make fun of this! I'm laughing maniacally, and think that this is the funniest day of my life, and I need some feedback! 
     
  20. astone2292

    Oh, Jeez!

    By astone2292,


    Blogs
    Yeah, look at that title, and you just have to know I'm in a pickle. A kosher dill pickle. Not a spear, not a chip, not even relish. A whole dill pickle. No butter or sea salt to be found. And most certainly not sugar free. 
    I...received a comment on a chapter of Love in the Shadows, which is now almost complete! All chapters are posted, but some minor editing needs to be accomplished. But...this comment. Ooooh, it was a juicy one. A big, juicy pickle. And because of reading this comment before my shift, I had puh-lenty of time to let it marinate in my little ADHD noggin. 
    I'm working on another book. Let me rephrase that:  I'm now working on two books. Rising in the Shadows, and now, a new story. Oh, no. Aaron...you're digging a hole, and you have no way of getting out of it. And to that I say...I'm a Boy Scout! I'll just keep digging until I find some tree roots, excavate them, and turn them into a ladder! It would be much easier for me to just dig upward and make a ramp of dirt...but I like taking the long way! It's more fun, and quite frankly, I could use some more fun in my life.
    This new story idea is a delight. But, I'm digging myself into another hole. This new story...is another shifter/were-creature story! Am I becoming a were-creature author? Is that bad? Shouldn't I switch things up a bit?
    How 'bout you let me roll around in my dirt pile? I like were-creature stories! They're great! It's a nice fantasizing adventure genre that takes away the troubles of the world we live in. Forget Rona and her new strains. Capitol schmapitol. Fortnite? Ha! More like Poopnite! Take that you screaming twelve-year olds!
    But I will be serious here for just a moment. Hang on, gotta find my 'serious bow-tie.' Now where is it...Ah! Found it! Okay...
    I am not getting myself backlogged. I'm finding out that I have a lot more free time than I initially thought. And I was posting chapters left and right on both Love in the Shadows and Dear, Grocery Shoppers. I kept saying, "Oh, I'll have one chapter of each, posted a week." And then two days later, I done posted yet another chapter! I was going fast. But I am starting to learn the art of marination. Just let things sit for a bit. Soak up some of them juices before you slap it on the grill. Because before you know it, all the steak is gone, and you're stuck with microwaving leftover pizza. I mean, it's still good, but you missed out on steak! 
    Now, I think I can read some minds here:  "Aaron, we love you...but TELL US ABOUT THE NEW STORY!!!" Adding another shifter story to my repertoire, the story is called Cernunnos. And it will be following a new hero...of sorts. He is a shifter, but not like any shifter that has had tales told of. Stories across GA, and other websites tend to focus on big name were-creatures:  wolves, bears, lions, and other ferocious animals. But our new hero, Cyn...is a deer. That's right! A deer. Think about that for a sec, would ya?
    Deer are widely hunted, whether it be in the stories we read, or even in our human world. Imagine how these deer shifters, or cernunnos, live their daily lives. Even they are not shielded well against hunters, whether they be standing on two legs, or four. 
    I'm going to leave it there, as if I keep typing, I'll keep blabbing. And that leads to spoilers being turned into the story itself. Let me know what y'all think about this upcoming story! I'm super excited to be working on both of these stories, and I just know they will make you all eager for more. 
  21. astone2292

    I Feel Like a Dad

    By astone2292,


    Blogs
    Just got off work, and my first instinct is to plop in my recliner, and make such a dad-like moan!
    This was a major mistake. I need to shower, cook some food, and get some fresh clothes on. In addition to this, our new office desk just came in that needs to be built, trash needs to be taken out, and some general housekeeping needs to happen. But...my recliner is so comfy!
    Let me tell you about this recliner. It is trash. Just a huge dumpster fire. It is a Wal-Mart branded chair, but I bought when we first moved into our apartment because furniture is nice to own. This thing was a beaut! Complete 360 degree swivel action, reclines almost flat, and...built in warmer and massage feature. And, I got it from a local outlet store that Noah works at. Was $299 at regular retail, but with the outlet's price, plus Noah's discount...$89. I called this thing a win.
    But now the cheap leather (or...whatever it actually is, because it feels liked tanned opossum hide) has begun to crack, the heating unit placements have all fallen in the upholstery to the posterior region, and the massage bulges are attached to the heating units...so...you get the idea. 
    And I can't even begin to think about the process of putting pressure on my tootsies to get up and turn the shower on. I am...such a dad. All of these tasks on my to-do list, let alone work on chapter 32 of 'Love in the Shadows.' And ooof! I am so behind on that! All I can do, is tap my thumbs on this keypad, and rock myself with my foot on the coffee table. 
    Then, I get this notification. A certain someone I know in real life has FINALLY joined GA, after months of nagging. Noah...has made an account. Let's add another thing to the list. He's gonna need me to help him get acquainted with GA. And that just makes me want to sit in my chair even more.
    There is nothing more dad-like than having an intimate relationship with a recliner. Every man's gotta have 'his chair.' No one in the house is to sit on it when Pops rolls in, lest you get the 'You're in my spot' rant. It's like the old 'Who touched the thermostat?' question. Ya just learned from your childhood to just don't even try. 
    I feel another dad-grunt rumbling in my belly. It is now time to get up and get started on my list. May the Lord above help my poor and desolate soul. Pray for me as I force my feet to scream in agony once again by the reason of completing necessary human tasks. 
  22. astone2292

    The End

    By astone2292,


    Blogs
    I have hammered out so many words into Chapter 33 of Love in the Shadows. Just today, I knocked out over two thousand words, beating my quota twofold for the day. And some serious thoughts have been coming into my mind.
    Am I serious about publishing this story? If so, should I keep it a proper length for a novel? How would I do it? Is there even a good way to end this darned thing?
    All of those questions have the same answer:  yes. But one of those questions can't be answered with a simple yes. How would I do it? 
    This story is nearing 220k words. In comparison, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows has 190k words. Order of the Pheonix has 250k. Eragon with 157k. I'm nearing a nice limit to set my book at. I never planned for LitS to be this long. I never planned on making this a series. I never planned on actually following through with bringing this fun little adventure to life. 
    I'm finding myself in a quandary. As much as I would like for this to be one big, fat, thick book, I need to make this into a series. No doubt about it. No questions asked. But...Vincent is nowhere near done with his magic training. He's nowhere near done with his adventures with Mason and the rest of the cast. And certainly, nowhere near ready to fight Stefan. His frost weapons would be reduced to snowballs to Stefan's flames. 
    The book has to end. And I think it's going to be soon. Much sooner than I recently intended. I wanted a dramatic ending. One that would leave me feeling accomplished with what I have done. But the more I type, the more I stall. And that's what I have been doing. Stalling. Waiting for the ending to come in my mind. The obvious dream ending for my readers is for Vincent to vanquish the murderous mage, but that can't happen in less than 100k words. 
    There must be a second, and...dare I say, a third book! My resolutions have been set. Love in the Shadows must have an ending. And it is happening within the next five chapters. I am making this blog post to announce that this book...it's almost done! And the second book, Rising in the Shadows, will be started almost immediately after. And, in proper author-like fashion, I just thought of the third book's title, and I'm digging it:  Death in the Shadows. Love when ideas just pop in your head as your typing out emotional moments! Thanks a lot, life! Big helping hand!
    So, to my dear readers, followers, and commentors of Love in the Shadows, this is the official heads-up:  we're coming to an end. And a new story will be unfurled. I've taken to some of my muses of various book series to decide on how to end this stinkin' thing. There are some good options, and I'm pulling a trigger. To what gun, I will leave that weapon on the table for y'all to figure out. 
    It's bed time for me, and I'm feeling pretty somber at this point. I am beyond proud of what I have done, and what I will continue to do for this series. As my first adventure in writing, I could not have expected the turnout that it would eventually create. I expected a flop. Like...when you fail at flipping a pancake on a griddle, and it just makes such an ugly shape as it doesn't land evenly. But I made a great freakin' pancake! This thing's got some blueberries and raspberries in it! And I will make sure it gets a nice dusting of powdered sugar on top when it gets slapped on a plate. And I will leave the syrup bottle out for you all to drizzle as much or as little on it as you wish. 
    Have a nice rest of the day, GA!
  23. astone2292

    I'm...Actually Doing This...

    By astone2292,


    Blogs
    Starting this blog entry is a little rough for me. Tears are beginning to well up, my fingers don't know where to go, and my leftover hibachi is losing its heat rapidly. I was starting to recognize myself as an actual writer. Over the past several months, I've just been hammering away on my poor Chromebook's keys and my phone's touchscreen, just...going. Non-stop. Writing when I woke up, went on my breaks at work, when I got home, as I tried to sleep. I just kept writing. Just as I'm doing now, completely off the top of my head and straight into my fingertips.
    Then this happened. I just wasn't paying attention, like at all! Love in the Shadows hit over 50,000 total views. 
    I'm...honestly speechless. There are some serious self-reflections going on, and I'm having issues articulating my feelings. I'm happy, elated, proud...I think proud is the feeling. There have been few moments in my life where I had been proud of myself. And I need it to be understood that I do not give myself that luxury very often. 
    Raised in a small town with very traditional views of the world's most sacred topics:  religion, politics, sexual orientation, personal orientation. These were situated in almost every conversation I was forced into as a young adult. Along with being a flop at sports (I played tennis, and only won two games, and they were by default because the opposing school didn't show up), there wasn't a single defining moment in my high school career. 
    It wasn't until college when I was told that I didn't have to be held down by the shackles of a closed-minded community. I was told to be free, be who you want to be, be with who you want to be with, learn what you want, and run around on your own for once. I always knew I was gay, but I felt forced into a metal chained jail cell. Not a closet. I was originally told that I couldn't be who I am, that everyone in the entire world would label me a degenerate. Lowlife scum. Filth. 
    But I am not that person anymore. That weak, tube-sock wearing, cargo short toting, buzz-cut owning little sniveling snot...he's dead. The new Aaron stepped up around my third year of college. I did something that no one in my high school ever saw coming. Both seriously, and hilariously, that excuse of a man climbed the rungs of fraternal politics and became the President. And did I wear that proverbial suit well. Conversing with high staff of the college about pressing issues across campus, collaborating with the Executive Council of my fraternal organization, and earning my spot in my college's Greek Hall of Fame. That...was the second moment of pride in my life. The first achieving the rank of Eagle Scout at the age of fifteen. 
    So...my first ever post-education writing adventure has hit 50,000 views. This is something that some Youtubers would relish over. But I am actually writing a book. I'm writing a book! This feels so good to say out loud! I'm writing a freakin' book over here! And it is picking up steam, and I'm not done throwing coal in this train engine. Not by a long shot! And I have this community to thank. Just...thank you, all. For reading, writing, posting, editing, and being there to bring some entertainment into our world. I'm now a member of your team. The Gay Authors team. There are so many stories in my head that are going to be put on this website.
    And I'll continue to make myself proud. 

  24. astone2292
    Howdy. Well, this is my blog. And I don't know how blogs work. 
    I'm Aaron. Overnight grocery stocker. Raised in southern Indiana by fire and brimstone Catholics. Taught by a troop of ninja Boy Scouts. Love carbonara. Not a fan of second-hand embarrassment. Can always go for a beer and a dart. 
    And I was just joshin' ya. I know how blogs work. That's just me sprinkling in my dreams of being a comedian. A lot of people never take me seriously. It has something to do with being a five foot, six inch tall lumberjack with a high-pitched giggle. But that's okay. I know a joke when I see one, even if it's self-deprecating. That's one rule of life that I'll hold dear to my heart:  you can't be serious all the time. Live a little, laugh a lot. 
    With my job, I have plenty of time to do some self-reflecting. Working on a singular grocery aisle, opening box and box, stocking jar after jar, it allows several story ideas to cross my mind. I thought of a new prompt, and there's something there. A spectre/ghost has lived his life wandering the planet over the last few decades. He has watched the living enjoy their moments of happiness, and their times of low. From addicts getting their next fix, to little children playing. But he's never been able to truly be a part of either, because he is trying to understand humanity. The story would involve severe reflection upon his new findings and how he could possibly find his place in such an estranged world that he could never physically connect with. I imagine the concept would be fairly dark in theme, but rays of sunshine would be sprinkled along the way.
    It was from mental wandering during work where my posted work became born. Daydreaming has always been an issue for me in school, but coming into more recent times, creativity has caused my fingers to fly. Typing out Love in the Shadows is my first serious attempt in storytelling, writing, editing, and showcasing of my ability. But it's been a while since I felt ambitious. And that's what GA has done for me. Since I believe in fair business and trades, I figure it's time for me to put more effort in. This is a phenomenal community, with solid leadership and courteous members. Plenty to read, write, post, and reply to. And boy, do I like lots of stuff to do!
    Well, I think I'll settle on this for a first post. There will probably be more posts like this. As this was the first post, I put my suit and bow-tie on. I usually have more silly and/or dark thoughts that get turned into jokes. If you like to see my true self, head on over to Dear, Grocery Shoppers and see how much of a terrible person I really am! Trust me, it's great! Toodles!
×
×
  • Create New...