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csr July CSR Feature: I Do Like to be Beside the Seaside by Ivor Slipper
Cia posted a blog entry in Featured Stories
Well, we made it halfway through 2020. Kicking and screaming, fighting the world, or maybe just resigned to the reality that is facing us. Honestly, I really liked the title of this story, which is what initially caught my eye. "How true!" I thought. "But can it be that lighthearted of a tale?" Then I wanted to know more. How about you? So while you're facing whatever your reality is, how about escaping into this story instead.... I Do Like to be Beside the Seaside by @Ivor Slipper Length: 54,627 Description: England in the mid 1960s. Chris Atkins suffering an unhappy home life, decides that as soon as he is 15 and entitled to leave school, he will also leave home. A Reader said: I can heartily recommend Ivor's story for its' character interaction and development and a storyline that deals with whatever good can come from being broken. ~ Bard Simpson Don't forget to come back to comment on the discussion day on Monday, July 27th. -
csr June CSR Discussion Day: Caz Pedroso's Here Kitty, Kitty
Cia posted a blog entry in Featured Stories
Did you read Caz Pedroso's story, Here Kitty, Kitty? What did you think of it? Make sure you share your thoughts below in the comments, but first! Enjoy this interview with questions Caz graciously answered for me so you get the skinny on her! Are you a person who makes their bed in the morning, or do you not see much point? Not much point making my bed. When my daughter and husband are home, my bed is my office. If you were an animal, what would you be? A house cat, my food would be delivered to me, I’d get to curl up in the sun, and I could demand all the attention I wanted. If you had 30 minutes of free time, what would you do? Um…Read!!! What’s one location you’d love to go to research for a story? I’m torn between Egypt in the real world, or Discworld in the book world. If you had to only work on one project for the next year... what would it be? My medieval fantasy series that I am still trying to find time to devote to. I think the first book stands at roughly 20,000 words at the moment and has done for most of this current year so far. Was it harder to stay inspired writing 1k each week for this story versus longer chapters? Yes…In between chapters I would work on other projects and sometimes I wouldn’t want to put them down to write the weeks chapter on the current flash. Which do you prefer, vampires or shifters? Hmmm, depends are they single and straight? Joking aside I like both the same and try to include them both whenever I can in my writing. Was it hard to write a gender-neutral character like Angel? Yes. I had to do a fir bit of research and read others who have written similar characters. It is why they had only a small part this time, so I could ease into it slowly. Do you have a favorite part of Here, Kitty Kitty? As gruesome as it was, the part I liked was when Tristan stood up to his father and killed him. I like to think his father had a split moment to regret his actions and wish he’d runaway instead, before he died. Would you like to share anything about your current or upcoming work with readers? I’m afraid my readers are as much in the dark as me. I’m waiting to see what characters speak to me to see what unfinished story gets finished and posted next. -
Welcome to June! It's a nice, long.......... month. Yay? Well, no matter what your circumstances, there's a great way to keep yourself occupied! Read Caz Pedroso's novel Here Kitty, Kitty. A paranormal tale that started off of one of my games (you're welcome, lol) she took is so far beyond that prompt and made an awesome tale for readers to enjoy. So... enjoy! Here Kitty, Kitty by @Caz Pedroso Length: 56,464 Description: This started as a story for the Grid Game and has gotten bigger. Simon is a newly turned vampire, he's made his home in a lovely cave on a mountain. Unfortunately, someone else has decided they like the cave too. My prompt was - A newly-made vampire (verb) deep forest on a mountain no one dares enter (conjunction/pairing word) the cat won't move. A Reader Said: This was the latest Wednesday Brief from Caz and it was fantastic it didn't let up in action and suspense from chapter one. ~chris191070 Don't forget to come back to comment on the discussion day on Monday, June 29th.
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May CSR Discussion Day: Timber Pack Chronicles by Rob Colton
Cia posted a blog entry in Featured Stories
Okay, so I usually do an intro, but seriously? Do you care about what I have to say? No.... really? I'm hurt! 😢 Bah! Fine, I'll just post this awesome interview where Rob gives some AMAZING news that has me rubbing my hands and will make all of you clamor with your comments about the story and his news below. What, you want to know what it is? Really? Should I share? Shhhhould I? 😛 If you were an animal, what would you be? That’s a tough one, but I think the easy answer would be bear, because I can gorge myself on sweets and then go hibernate all winter 😋 What’s one location you’d love to go to research for a story? There are so many places I’d love to go, but if I’m travelling for research purposes, I think at the top of my list would be a tour of castles in Bavaria, Germany. There’s something epic and romantic about them and I’ve been fascinated with them since playing the Gabriel Knight adventure games by Sierra back in the day. I think they’d play in well with a vampire story I have bubbling in the back of my head. What do you like to do when you’re not writing? To be honest, the current pandemic has derailed a lot of my activities. Before all this happened, I loved going to the movies with my husband, going out to dinner, and hanging out with my friends. These days, I’m spending my free time planning and outlining my next visual novel. If you had to only work on one project for the next year... what would it be? I’ve just started working on a new visual novel which explores some paranormal themes. I’m really excited about the story as well as the preliminary artwork. I hope people will be as excited as I am when I’m finally able to share some progress. High school. Hormones. Howling. Why werewolves as a paranormal theme? I wanted to explore a dominant/submissive theme (though not BDSM), and werewolves let you take that to the extreme. There’s something thrilling about losing control to a physical change, but the werewolf theme also allows you explore alpha/beta pairings, as well as biting and scent play. Do you like writing paranormal, science fiction, or contemporary stories the most? I think I like writing science fiction the most because I’m able to create worlds that are familiar but have new or unexpected twists, or I can just go crazy and create something totally new and different. Timber Pack Chronicles has a great flow between the chapters. Did you write this story completely before you posted it, or was it shared as a serial work? I’d say it was about 75% finished before I started posting the chapters. I staggered the chapter posts with about a week between if I remember right, and that gave me time to finish the ending and also incorporate some feedback I received. If you could pick one character to meet in person, Parker or Colton, which would you pick? I’d have to pick Colton for sure. I mean, who doesn’t want a big strong overly-confident man to take charge and show them who’s boss? 😋 Colton and Jed both have stories in Timber Pack Chronicles series. Do you think you’ll go back and write more for the pack? I have outlined a couple of plots for future stories in the Timber Pack universe, but honestly, they’ll likely end up as short stories or novella-length stories as opposed to full-length novels. I hope to have something finished later this year, maybe for Halloween or Christmas! Can you share anything else about your current or future projects with your GA fans? Currently, I’m re-editing a previously published novella for re-publishing, and also re-working an erotic short I wrote. My first visual novel Human Cargo is wrapping up, with only a few final pieces of artwork in the queue. Planning and writing has also begun on my next visual novel, and I’ll be spending the next few months working on that. As I said, the preliminary artwork is fantastic, and I hope people will be as excited as I am when I’m finally able to share some progress.- 6 comments
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csr May CSR Feature: Timber Pack Chronicles by Rob Colton
Cia posted a blog entry in Featured Stories
Okay, so I admit it... this month's feature is all about a comfort read for me! I recently re-read Rob's Degan Chronicles stories, cause... awesome. Yes. I've loved Rob's work since I found him way back when on another site, and I cheered when he came to GA. His fans are legion, of course, so I know a lot of GA persons have read this story as well. If not... well, maybe many of us have some time on our hands while the whole world tries to stay healthy? What better way than reading? Timber Pack Chronicles by @Rob Colton Length: 93,326 Description: The object of Parker Montgomery's crush is big man on campus Colton Butler, who is much more than he appears to be. Colton has been watching Parker from a distance, patiently waiting for the day when he will finally be able to claim his destined mate. When Parker is threatened by a rogue wolf, Colton's instincts take over and he finds that his actions have consequences that threaten to tear his pack apart. A reader said: Captivating characters, compelling storyline, electric erotic action, this story hits the mark on all of the above. Great work all around, thank you. ~Miles Long Don't forget to come back to comment on the discussion day on Monday, May 25th. -
Well, it's come already. Can't believe it! How has spring come had flown so fast? We're already approaching May, but not before we chat about this month's featured short series, Clockwise, by Aditus. Did you read the series? Do you have a favorite story out of the four? I wonder if it matches his favorite? Read on to find out!! Do you eat your fruits and vegetables? I’m vegetarian, so, yes I eat lots of fruits and vegetables. Chocolate or Vanilla? What’s vanilla without chocolate? Both! What's your favorite room in your house? Do you plot or write there? In winter it’s the living room/office. I sometimes space out and stare at the slowly moving reflections of the rock crystals hanging from the curtain rods, and plot. In summer I love to write in a room part house, part garden. What’s something personal about you people might be surprised to know? I own a book with the title Vegan Food Porn. That’s probably not really surprising, though. Maybe I learn and collect swear words in as many different languages I can find is a better answer to the question. What do you like to do when you’re not writing? Reading of course. As we have many great exhibitions here, I also like visiting those, especially photo exhibitions. Then there's gardening, traveling, and slow-walking the dog who is very old by now. What’s the best part of being an author? Having an excuse for having a permanent movie theater in my mind and being able to show the films to others. Clockwise has 4 stories. Which is your favorite? The third story. I looked at so many different houses. In a way, I planned my dream house while I wrote 9:05 PM. Did you start writing the first story intending to do 4 different stories in the series, or did they just evolve that way? I wanted to write four stories for four consecutive anthology themes. I needed a connective element and thought a clockface with its division into four quarters would make sense. The ending… *cries* Did you plan to wrench hearts on purpose from day 1? No! Each story just happened and was inspired by something different. Would you like to share anything about your current or upcoming works with readers? I’m currently writing a story inspired by comicfan’s Bloody Valentine prompt. My editor thought it has the potential to become something longer: a novella or even a novel. I’m also working on a murder mystery story ‘The Puppeteer.’ Don't forget to share your thoughts about the stories below!
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April Fools is over so you know this month's feature is no joke... I'm happy to announce you get to read a 4 part series by Aditus, Clockwise! Sweet, sexy, just that bit of spring romance that's starting to float in the air... Clockwise Series by @aditus Length: 12,370 over 4 stories Description: We witness important events that happen to a certain time in Romeo's and Julian's life as we move on clockwise. * A/N: This series features Romeo, a side-character of 'Red Running Shoes'. Each story can be read on its own and you don't have to read the main story. A Reader said: You definitely pulled at my heartstrings with this one, Addy. Excellent antho! ~ Lisa Don't forget to come back ready to share your comments and questions about the series on Monday, April 27th!
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March came in like a lion, and it's still roaring down on us. The world is in an uproar, and if you're not affected by the current happenings, well... you're one of a very rare, lucky few. But the joy of GA is that you can escape into many different worlds through the stories if you just need to get away. How about this one? Did you read Elixir by @Comicality this month? You can share your thoughts below, but first, enjoy this interview with him! If you were an animal, what would you be? I've always loved panthers! I don't know why, hehehe, but a giant, velvety, black cat, with bright eyes? I always thought that was so cool! What do you like to do when you’re not writing? I'm REALLY into movies! I always have been, ever since I was little! I never get enough of them. The stories that people can tell with cinema just fascinates me. I also love reading books, and video games too. But all for the same reason. The 'story' aspect of it all is what draws me in. What’s one location you’d love to go to research for a story? I think New Orleans would be my number one spot. There is so much history there, and classic places that were left just the way they were built. Plus, the whole paranormal vibe is something that I've always been interested in as well. So the ghosts and magic and dark lore surrounding that area is a big thing for me. I've never been to New Orleans, but I would LOVE to go someday in the future! If you had to only work on one project for the next year... what would it be? Hmmm, it's hard to pick just one. But, if I had to choose, I think it would be the "Pak Rats" series that I've been putting together. I'm really excited about it. It's sort of tied in to the "Gone From Daylight" vampire series, but it is a big story involving the vampire mafia, and it's based on the whole Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack era. Every character will have their own book (Frank, Sammy, Dean, Peter, and Joey) and then they'll all come together in the final book. So I look forward to making that whole thing a reality. It's so much fun writing those! Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing? I think the hardest part of writing stories is patience. Because I always see all of my work as a whole, and there are certain points that I want to hit and parts of the story that I want to dive right into...but I think it's important to build up to those parts of the story, and give them some meaning. Even though I want, so badly, to just jump in and write the 'exciting' parts. Hehehe! So I had to teach myself to have patience and build a dramatic and meaningful bubble around those milestone moments in a story so that they can have a bigger impact. Do you have a favorite among the stories you’ve written? My favorites actually change with my mood when I'm writing. And I'm a moody person, hehehe, so that never stays stable. I love writing happy stories when I'm happy, I love writing sad stories when I'm sad, and I love writing horny stories when I'm horny. I guess it all depends on who I am that day. Did something specific inspire you to write Elixir? Nothing that happened to me, specifically. I think it was just the idea of...what if your biggest wish actually came true, and you weren't ready for the consequences that came along with it? You know? Like, if you just fancied somebody because they were cute, but didn't really know who they were on the inside...what would an obsessive love affair involving them be like? It's that old story of someone getting everything that they think they want, and not expecting a downside to that situation. So, "Elixir" is basically just a 'be careful what you wish for' story. Do you consider Elixir a romance or a horror story? I think more horror/thriller than romance. To me, romance takes time to grow. It's not just a matter of 'want'. And this story is all about 'want', and barely about 'love'. You have a two people that just want each other, no matter what, and have decided to go to great extents to make that happen. But there really isn't a 'romance' going on there. It's just instant gratification. I really wanted that to come through in the storytelling. Just what would the warning say if there was one included in the book Terrance used? Did he just ignore it? I'd say that any book of magic would basically stress the idea of there being good and pure intentions by the user. It's all about balance. If you're casting a spell for selfish reasons, it will not end well for you. Period. Hehehe! The more you give, the more receive. The more you 'take' for yourself...the more will be taken from you in the end. So be careful. Can you sum up this story in one sentence? Hmmm..."Love will come from love of yourself, so don't force it." Don't forget to share your thoughts below!
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csr February CSR Discussion Day: Self-Portraits by Richie Tennyson
Cia posted a blog entry in Featured Stories
Did you catch this month's CSR featured story, Self-Portraits, by Richie Tennyson? Have you read the story? It's a quick read, for all that it is more than forty thousand words. Make sure you share your thoughts about the story or Richie's other stories. But first, as always, enjoy my interview with him! Are you a person who makes their bed in the morning, or do you not see much point? I do the most half-hearted feeble bed-making. I don’t see much point but I know I should at least try to be an adult. Have you ever gone out in public, realized your shirt is on backwards, and just don’t care? No, but recently I was out in public when I realised I was wearing a Harry Potter pyjama top. What’s something personal about you people might be surprised to know? I organise elaborate competitive Christmas Day treasure hunts for my family. The prizes are always terrible, such as framed pictures of my passport photo. When did you first decide to start writing? As soon as I could hold a pen. Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing? Sometimes it’s hard to gauge how much to “tell” the reader, versus whether the reader can make their own assumptions about certain things. Self-Portraits has some really… vibrant characters. Did you plot them all out before you write or did they come along organically as you started the story? The characters are mostly based on vibrant people in my own life, so they came onto the page organically. When you wrote the story, did you have the whole story idea from start to finish planned or did the characters take the story in any unexpected directions? The general storyline was planned from start to finish, but the Harriet character was totally unplanned. She just walked onto the page out of nowhere and took the story in a lot of unexpected directions. Self-Portraits really seems to have 2 similar-themed stories with different generations running simultaneously, influenced in different ways by their ages and experiences, with both the teens and the adults. Was this intentional? I hadn’t thought of it that way. Yes, both Richard and his mother go from being in a ‘couple’ to being ‘alone’ – and this plays out so differently, influenced by their ages and experiences. But the theme of powerful friendship/family love was intentional in both stories. What is your favorite scene in the story? The self-portrait itself. Is there anything you’d like to share about your current work or an upcoming story? I’m finishing a story called Happily Ever After, Ltd, which is about what happens when Prince Charming disappears from the pages of the Cinderella story. The fairytale company has to urgently find a temporary human replacement, but they don’t realise that the guy is gay. Don't forget to share your thoughts about the story! -
How's 2020 treating you so far? Hopefully a little better than the ups and downs faced by the characters in the story featured in this month's CSR blog... Elixir by Comicality. We all know teens have strong emotions, but this strong...? Elixir by @Comicality Length: 7,221 Description: Young Danny has suddenly found himself having strange and powerful feelings for another boy for the very first time. He's never experienced any homoerotic feelings before...but one day, out of the blue...it was like he couldn't live without him. Almost as if a 'spell' had been cast upon him. So the real question is...why is he feeling this way? What does he plan to do about it? And... ...Just how deep do those feelings go? A Reader said: very exhilarating to start off, kept you reading more ~ Tsukihana Don't forget to come back and share your thoughts about the story on Monday, March 30th!
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csr February CSR Feature: Self-Portraits by Richie Tennyson
Cia posted a blog entry in Featured Stories
Happy February! Do you have some time for Cupid this month? Feeling the love? Or just living through the end of the season and hoping for the change in weather wherever you are? Or maybe you're still focused on those New Year resolutions and working on you... No matter what February means for you, the first Monday of the month means a new CSR feature for readers to enjoy! And this one is another newer story I hope you will enjoy! Self-Portraits by @Richie Tennyson Length: 41,750 Description: In one short day, sixteen-year-old Richard has his entire world turned upside down. His coming out attempt backfires, his parents announce they're divorcing, and his secret boyfriend wants time apart. At least things can't get any worse ... right? A reader said: This story has been a thorough joy to read. Sad as I am that it's the end, I must congratulate you on a job gloriously done. You couldn't had written it any better really. ~ tepei Don't forget to come back to read my interview with Richie Tennyson and share your thoughts on the story on Monday, February 24th, 2020! -
csr January CSR Discussion Day: Silverwolf by Wayne Gray
Cia posted a blog entry in Featured Stories
This month's feature is a popular one, Silverwolf by Wayne Gray! Did you read it? Well, you have the chance to share your love for the story below, or ask extra questions, or beg for a sequel... whatever quirks your fancy. But first, you get to enjoy my interview with Wayne. Have you ever gone out in public, realized your shirt is on backwards, and just didn’t care? Backwards, no. Inside out? Yes, and I didn't care. If you had 30 minutes of free time, what would you do? Hrm. A half hour. Sit in an old, deep, wooden hot tub with my husband. We have them here at a place called Cafe Mokka, and they're amazing. A half-hour spent there with a glass of iced hibiscus tea is great. What brought you to the Gay Authors? It was when I was in the process of writing Fleeting Eternity. That story included Dom and sub dynamics, and one of my readers, Fae Briona suggested I contact Mikiesboy on GA. I wanted to get it right, so I did. And I'm glad I found this place though him. I love all of the ways authors can get feedback on their work, so I decided to begin posting here. Here we are. Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing? Commas. What’s the first thing you do when you start to write a story? Most of the time it begins with a single scene. Something pops into my skull while I'm driving, or during a conversation with someone. I vividly see character interactions, and all of the wild complexity in relationships people build with one another. Though, sometimes a story is prompted from a reader. A reader's email prompted Fleeting Eternity, and another's got me going on Camp Refuge. Silverwolf is set in a small town. Do you prefer a small town or big city? I do prefer small town/rural settings. I grew up that way, so I know how those places work, and how people deal and relate to one another. I also love the option of escaping to nature whenever I want, both in the real world and in my writing. What inspired your take on were-creatures? Mikiesboy and cider. I jokingly said to him over messenger that I should do a story starring a "werewolf with a silver problem." he said "do it." When I started, I wanted Jed to be very different from anything else I had ever seen. The dynamic between him and Wolfgang really makes it unique, I think. I really like how it turned out. Most of your stories don’t have the “paranormal” tag. Was this story inspired by something special to push you to the genre? See above. Heh. I just wanted to do something different with the genre. Most were-creature stories run along a similar theme (Alpha, beta, Omega), and I really wanted to turn that on its head. There's nothing wrong with something that has been done, I just didn't want to do it. Do you have a favorite scene in Silverwolf? When Evan McAllister, under the influence of his cadre of spirits reached with a single hand and stopped the blow of what was a tremendously strong opponent. I loved that bit. I could very much see it in my mind, and I hope the readers could too. Can you share a little of your current work or future story plans with readers? Just a little. This one is my "mainstream" idea for a novel. I have started very preliminary steps on it (outlining, and the basic research needed). I've had it in mind for a long time, and I've sharpened my teeth on erotica until I felt I could write something that's more of a challenge. We'll see if I can really pull it off or not. All I can really say about it is it will be a novel-length, near-future genre, with a little apocalyptic flavor too. -
Welcome to 2020! Well, no one wanted to revolutionize the CSR posts, and the author interviews still seem to be popular with blog readers enough to get at least a few comments each month, so I'll keep this going on to Year 8 of monthly suggested reads by yours truly! One of the best parts of this blog is I get to feature new and experienced authors and stories of all different types and styles; the only criteria for the CSR is that the story is 1) complete and 2) between 10,000 to 75,000 ish words preferably (though we do make short story exceptions from time to time). This lets people have a different variety of lengths to read, but we want to make sure they can finish the story. I occasionally get story recommendations to feature, but I ALWAYS am happy to get more! And yes, YOU can recommend YOUR story to me via a PM. Now, for this month's feature... I'm going with one of my favorite genres to kick off the new decade and the new year! Paranormal stories really make me wonder what might be lurking just out of sight of 'normals' or creeping about in the dark waiting to pounce. So let's see how Wayne Gray treats the genre in... Silverwolf by @Wayne Gray Length: 43,705 Description: Jed is a man of interesting talents used to life on the northern coast of California. Things are fairly sedate until a spate of murders begins to occur, bringing an interesting stranger to town. There will be sex between consenting adults in this story. This story is dedicated to @Mikiesboy, who encouraged a cider-drunk Wayne to take on such an erotic take on the werewolf genre. A Reader said: That was a great wrap-up to an amazing and thoroughly engaging story! I can't imagine a better vehicle for my first read into the paranormal genre. I kept waiting for the new Conduit, but Shane's reveal caught me totally off guard. Looking forward to lots more. Tom Don't forget to come back to read my interview with Wayne Gray and share your thoughts on the story on Monday, January 27th, 2020!
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Can you believe we're at the last month of 2019 and our final CSR story for the year? I've yet to hear any suggestions from members/readers on what they'd like to see on the first/last Mondays of the month blogs as an alternative... any ideas? In the interim, we have a great story for this month, an oldie but funny from Palantir, Hypno-trouble. Sure, I could have picked a holiday story or something light-hearted, but I totally thought something from the naughty list might be more fun. Enjoy!! Hypno-trouble by @Palantir Length: 27,436 Description: A relaxed and light-hearted take on the Erotic Mind Control genre. Hopefully you'll get some smiles from the ridiculous situations portrayed. Warning, explicit scenes throughout. A reader said: Lmao payback can be such a bitch but they so deserve it. Thanks for a great story. ~ Daithi Don't forget to come back with your thoughts on the story, Monday, December 30th, to comment on the Discussion blog!
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csr November CSR Discussion: Those Cerulean Eyes by Arran
Cia posted a blog entry in Featured Stories
Happy November! Are you ready for Thanksgiving, my US friends? Maybe you can take some time this break week (if you have one) to enjoy this story, if you haven't already. I hope you have, though, and can share your thoughts on Arran's story, Those Cerulean Eyes, after you enjoy this interview! Do you eat your fruits and vegetables? Definitely. There isn’t a fruit or vegetable that I don’t like. If you were an animal, what would you be? Probably a puma because it is a stealthy, patient and efficient hunter. What’s one location you’d love to go to research for a story? Florence, Italy because of its rich history associated with the Renaissance. What brought you to Gay Authors? Dom Luca’s stories. I enjoyed every one of them. If you had to only work on one writing-type project for the next year... what would it be? I enjoy Catherine Ryan Hyde’s books, so probably something of that nature. Why cerulean? Because blue is my favorite color and cerulean is the most beautiful shade of blue for me. Okay, are you a fan of Starbucks or do you prefer local joints? I am definitely not a fan of Starbucks. I chose to use Starbucks in Those Cerulean Eyes because the story takes place in downtown Portland, Oregon where there seems to be a Starbucks on every block. I don’t make a practice of going to either because I have a Keurig at home that makes the best coffee that I could ever want. However when Borders Books was in business, i spent a fair amount of time sampling books over a great cup of Cafe Americano. Do you ‘identify’ with one character better, Mark or Mickey? Mark, because I wrote the story from his perspective; however, I think both characters have their own merits and goodnesses. What is your favorite scene in Those Cerulean Eyes? The scene between Mark and Mickey’s mother at the end of the story. Would you like to share a little about your current or upcoming work? I am currently working to get I Will Sing for You published. While it has already been written, I am editing each chapter before publication to make it as good as it can be. I’ve gotten good comments relating to some stylistic problems of my writing, so I’m trying to incorporate them into the final product. I guess the one thing that I can share is that I, like Callan, am a geologist who finds Arizona geology fascinating, from the very ancient 1.75 billion-year-old Vishnu Schist at the bottom of the Grand Canyon to the remnants of the very recent (less than one million-year-old) San Francisco Peaks stratovolcano near Flagstaff. And I find the Arizona-Sonora Desert one of the most thrilling and beautiful places on earth. -
Happy November! Just 2 months left until 2019 comes to a close, and I thought I'd feature a story that just came to a close as well, Those Cerulean Eyes by Arran. Long-time member of the site, this is one of a few stories Arran posted this year. Did you read it? If not, here's your chance before the Discussion day at the end of the month! Also, I'm still looking for ideas on how to feature site stories and authors to change up the first/last Monday of the month blog. The CSR format has been going on for about 7 years now, since we first started doing weekly staff blogs again, and I'd love to ensure we're keeping things fresh and fun to encourage member participation. Do you have an idea of a blog format? A new type of feature? Share it with me via PM! Those Cerulean Eyes by Arran Length: 32,605 Description: Mickey is a rather shy twenty-year-old first-year college student majoring in interior design and Mark is a more worldly twenty-two-year-old first-year law student. Mark has an eye for Mickey from the moment that he sees him and strikes up a conversation with him as soon as Mickey seats himself at the table next to him in Starbucks. As fortune would have it, Mickey moves to Mark's table and they forge a friendship. But sensing that there is more to this enigmatic young man than meets the eye, Mark sets out to confirm it, hoping that he and Mickey can become more than just friends. A Reader Said: This is a tale about two college students Mark and Mickey. Mickey is a rather shy guy whilst Mark is a more worldly guy. We follow them as they meet in a coffee shop and forge a friendship which develops into more. What follows is the wonderful tale of there time together and the problems that they overcome. A truly wonderful tale that I recommend as a fantastic read. ~ Chris191070 Don't forget to come back and share your thoughts on Monday, November 25th!
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So begins the week of Halloween short stories!! We featured several stories this month and welcomed members to decide why they liked them to share with other readers. What drew you in? Title? Description? Type of monster-riffic plot to enjoy? Well... I can't wait to hear it! Share your thoughts and comments below. me Zombie Tired of the same old zombie thing? Looking for different? Well drop in to visit with Stephen and family. Nice twist on this well-worn genre. Great job, tim! ~ MichaelS36 June 30, 2018 Shepherd's Crook I have been waiting for this story to be posted in full in order to read it, and as the number of reviews grew I figured it must be a good one! You write very realistic dialogue, K.C., which I admire. So easy to be taken out of the story when the dialogue is stilted. There were a number of surprises in here, definitely an original tale. They kept me turning the pages...or scrolling down in this case. Engaging characters throughout though I would have liked a little more insight into the foundation of Amanda's cruelty and lack of remorse. Pure mental illness or were there other factors? Well done K.C. And I look forward to your next. ~ Percy September 30, 2012 Z is For Zombie It may say "Z is For Zombie," in the title, but don't let that fool you into thinking this is just another Walking Dead clone. It's not. Geron creates a world that feels alive in the post-apocalyptic sense of what happened during the Changes. It follows a brief period in the lives of a group of survivors who after two years, are more family than just a collection of people. And they are all under the age of 18. Five stars for this terrific tale. ~ Brayon September 29, 2018 Purpose "To borrow a famous quote, this story is "a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma" with deadly and frightening consequences. The two main characters are bonded by forces outside themselves and it takes luck, persistence and danger to tease out the meaning of it all. It is wrapped in a love story between two men. So those who are repelled by homoerotic love should be warned, but love scenes are not explicit. Their journey to self-awareness and knowledge of the forces that bind them is tense and dramatic. I heartily recommend this story for everyone with a sense of danger and adventure." ~ Daddydavek August 8, 2017 Don't forget to share your thoughts about these stories in the comments below. And on Wednesday, we have even more coming with the Halloween Hunt short stories! And Thursday's the Anthology Haunted look back.
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Wow, it's October 2019, and I've been doing the CSR blog every month for 7 years this year.... 7 is one of those spoooooky numbers. Or is it lucky? Guess it depends on who you ask... or if you're in Vegas? When the holiday season comes around, I like to change this up, or really, any season where I can theme the stories or give readers a chance to try something a little different. I've been doing interviews, a LOT of interviews, over the years as well. Well, this month it's going to be a little different. I've picked several stories, and I'd love for readers who enjoy the CSR to tell me which story they'd pick to read/comment on this month and why it grabbed their attention. Just a sentence, or two, or four if you really want to go on and on. You can do that as soon as you read this blog. Especially if you've read all these stories and know you love one of them, or you like one type of paranormal plot-type, or if you check out all the stories and try reading the first chapter and one sucks you in, or... I don't know. You tell me and your fellow readers! These comments will be featured on the Discussion day, and then everyone can still share their comments on the story plot/characters below the blog feature. And since it's the month for all things spooky and fun, I've chosen the theme of Spirits and Spare Parts (Zombies, of course!) with 4 stories of varying lengths. (Is that one aspect that matters to you?) How many people like the CSR blog as it is? How many people have the 7 year itch and want a change and have an idea for me? You can share them below too! I'd love to keep featuring stories on the site and authors, but we want to keep this activity interactive and what people want to see/read/take part in!
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Well, September is the start of Fall in the US, and this story was written for the 2017 Fall anthology "The Fall Out"... so this is the perfect month to feature it! Plus, I don't know about everyone else but with school kicking back off, September is a rude shock to my system. I have a routine to get back into, kids to nag back into their routine, and a school full of K-5 students ready to run me ragged. Naps are a biological imperative! Much like Will's father in the beginning of the story, it's hard to tell if I'm asleep or comatose when someone stops by to visit at the end of my days. So, how about we enjoy this sure to be emotional novella (even I can stay awake through 10k!) or refresh your memory if you read it before and can't recall all the fine details? Just make sure you come back at the end of the month with plenty of comments for the Discussion day! Willpower by northie Length: 10,819 Description: Will Carmichael is visiting his father who lives in a nursing home. One word which his father keeps repeating, holds the power to change Will's life. During his journey to uncover the word's meaning, Will makes discoveries that affect both him and his father. A reader said: The story is cleverly told without being maudlin. However, if you are a sympathetic old softie like me, you may want to have a tissue handy. As I said in my chapter comment: Stories that convey important truths in a warm and loving way are the best and this was a gem! I highly recommend this story. ~ Daddydavek Don't forget to come back to share your thoughts and comments for the Discussion Day on Monday, September 30th!
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Well, well, well, happy August everyone! This month we MUST stay indoors and beat whatever awful weather is destroying the outside, so what better way to do that than with a nice, loooong story? And, even better, it's part of a series! A looooooooonger series, at that! Mike Arram is an established author who came to share his work with us from other well-known gay fiction sites, so you might have already seen his name, or read his stories, or maybe this is all new to you. Either way, this month you're in for a treat! As always, don't forget to come back on the Discussion day with your thoughts ready to share in the blog comments. The Heart of Oskar Prinz, Rothenian Tales #1 by Mike Arram Length: 76,374 Description: Will Vincent, schoolteacher, exits the closet and finds it leads him to very strange places, for almost out of the door he encounters the beautiful Oskar, cynic and porn star, who is not at all what he seems. A reader said: Thanks for posting this excellent story. I enjoyed it several years ago on crvboy, and very much enjoyed this improved version here. ~vonfoto Don't forget to come back on Monday, August 26th, for the Discussion Day!
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Happy July! Can you believe the year is halfway over already? We've featured a lot of stories over the year, but here's one more you might not have read yet... Love is Blind! This story, inspired by a figure from the author's past, was also helped along by several other GA members. That's just what the site is here for! I can't wait to hear what @Nick Brady has to say in his interview this month, which will be on the last Monday of the month, July 29th. Love is Blind by Nick Brady Length: 39,873 Description: Andrew and Ian are college friends. One is sighted and one is blind. They have much to learn from each other. A Reader said: thank you for sharing your beautiful story with us. you have picked the perfect spot to end it though I am sad this is it and that no more chapters will be coming. ~ mayday Enjoy this month's CSR selection, but don't forget to be ready to come back and share your thoughts and comment on the Discussion day on Monday, July 29th!
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Welcome to June! Can you believe this month marks halfway through 2019? June is often a month of vacation, trips, and time off beginning for many! This month we're featuring a story by a well-known GA author and the past anthology, Road Trip, with the short story, Exit to Redemption by @Valkyrie And, with this being a short story, you should have plenty of time to read the story before the discussion day... of course, Valkyrie tends to connect a lot of her tales, so you might just get sucked in to reading more and more! Exit to Redemption by Valkyrie Length: 5,361 Description: Pete meets Henry at a conference and can't get him out of his mind. He doesn't understand why Henry won't give him the time of day. Pete needs to decide if Henry is worth changing his behavior for, and figure out if redemption is possible. Those of you familiar with my Max and Elliot stories will recognize Pete as Elliot's arrogant ex-boyfriend. It's not necessary to read those stories first, however. This story reads fine as a stand-alone piece. A reader said: In some ways, Pete is a more interesting character than Elliott. You want to dislike him and even kick his ass, but he almost seems lost... ~ Cole Matthews Enjoy this month's CSR selection, but don't forget to be ready to come back and share your thoughts and comment on the Discussion day on Monday, June 24th!
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csr CSR Discussion Day: The Strange Life of Jonas Marks by Comicfan
Cia posted a blog entry in Featured Stories
Well, how has May treated you? Are you ready for Pride next month? This month we had a great double feature of @comicfan's story, The Strange Life of Jonas Marks, which included Coming Out, some fun fantasy, a romance, and so much more!! Did you read Puppilull's review or enjoy the story yourself? I hope you did! First, of course, is my interview with Comicfan, then you can share your thoughts on his story in the comments below! Are you a person who makes their bed in the morning, or do you not see much point? I usually like to make the bed. My mother was always one to say, “Wayne, god forbid you leave your bedroom door open, you don’t want people to think you’re a slob.” If people look into my room they’ll never think I’m a slob, just a book whore. If you were an animal, what would you be? I’d say a dog. Faithful to one family/person, loved, sleep a lot, belly rubs, taken for walks, and get to bark at those you don’t like … I’d say that works for me What’s something personal about you people might be surprised to know? I have a collection of Smurfs. What’s the best part of being an author? All those crazy ideas in my head, I get to put down on paper, then type up, and share with other people. The incredible part is some people actually like my crazy ideas. If you could give advice to yourself when you first started writing, what would it be? Write and be fearless. Never be afraid to make mistakes. Things can be edited later, but if you don’t write you can’t share. No idea should be abandoned until you attempt it. But the best thing I could tell myself is to remember not every story will be a hit with everyone, so keep your head up and keep trying. Is fantasy your preferred genre to read and write? Fantasy has always been a mainstay in my reading. Fantasy can take many forms and I’ve always been a voracious reader. The nickname name Comicfan isn’t because of anything other than I love comics as well. From newspaper comics like Peanuts, Cathy, and Garfield, or comic books like Superman and Wonder Woman I read and loved them all. My mother got me hooked on mysteries and I have all of Agatha Christie and Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes. Horror author Stephen King is well represented as is Edgar Allen Poe. Then again you’ll find all of Kalayna Price’s Grave Witch series, Neil Gaiman’s American Gods and more, Rick Riordan, Patricia Briggs, and JK Rowling to name but a few. I admit to being a book whore. You posted a new chapter to The Strange Life of Jonas Marks after a long break. Did something reinspire you? Can you consider major surgery inspiration? I feared if something happened to me, Jonas and other stories that I’d had to put aside while dealing with life would never be completed. I focused on completing everything I had so readers would never have to wonder what happened. How did you decide what kind of fantasy characters to have come through the door in Jonas’s office? As I admit willingly to, I have always read a lot. I never go anywhere without a book. When the time came to choose characters I had to do little more than glance at my library. Hobbits? Check. Fairies? Check. Orcs, Dryads, and more? Check. If I felt there could be someone who wanted to date an angel, well then it was safe to bring one in, because the only who could see through the glamours was Jonas. Do you plan to write more in this setting, either for the other characters or Jonas? When I finish a story, for me that is usually goodbye to that world. However, some characters like to come back. I’ve learned to never say I won’t go back, but just don’t expect it to be any time soon. How about any other projects you would like to share with readers? Seeon has a new story. Couldn’t quite get it done for the spring anthology, but with just a few tweaks it will fit one of the fall topics. I am also trying to finish two short pieces for other projects on site as well as a longer one I’m calling Next Chapter. Hopefully, it all gets done. -
csr CSR Feature: The Strange Life of Jonas Marks by Comicfan
Cia posted a blog entry in Featured Stories
Well happy May to everyone! Is it moderate and beautiful where you are? The year is moving faster and faster, but and we're approaching Pride month next month. Did you catch the feature call for the Premium short stories themed with coming out stories? It's something many gay authors face, no matter what orientation we claim (and can't that be interesting to explain?!) and it's no surprise it's often the subject of teen fiction as well. Let's take a look at another long-time favorite GA author's take on the subject with this month's CSR feature! The Strange Life of Jonas Marks by @comicfan Length: 57,189 Description: Jonas Marks has just graduated high school when he tells his father he is gay. The end result is that Jonas is tossed out of his home. With no money, no job, and no place to call home he ends up on his friend Jenny's couch till he starts working at Kroger's. Then his life just gets strange. A/N: This story originally began as a short story in the Anthology Walk on the Wild Side. I had a number of people comment on how it really needed to be expanded. The end result is what you are now looking at. For those who read and comment, this is for you. Thank you for your vote of confidence and I hope this lives up to what you expect of me. A Reader Said: What a surprise to suddenly find an epilogue here! It suits your story quite well. The story arc developed nicely and I like the end. I'm glad it's not a major cliffhanger but interestingly a sequel might be possible, who knows Anyway, thank you for this great story, I enjoyed it a lot. ~ Zenobia So enjoy this month's CSR selection, but don't forget to be ready to come back and share your thoughts and comment on the Discussion day on Monday, May 27th! -
No April Fools, we're really featuring The Assassin by Lilansui this month for the CSR story! Darkish, lightish, twisted, different, definitely what you don't expect... what more could you ask for? Read the description and check out the review from one of the readers who thought he'd just give it a quick glance... then make sure you're ready come back and share your thoughts on the Discussion Day on Monday, April 29th! The Assassin by @lilansui Length: 71,240 Description: Kian spills his strawberry milkshake on Daven at a Mall Food Court. Daven is caught between irritation and fear when Kian follows him to the men's bathroom. In mere minutes, Dr. Daven Noland meets Kian Raja, an Assassin with a warped sense of humor, and a valid contract with Daven's name. A Reader Said: On a whim, I decided to read this story last night. It was 10 p.m. and I figured I would read the first couple of chapters before I went to bed...The time read 5 a.m. by the time I read the final word of The Assassin. I lost a night's worth of sleep, so, the question is, was it worth it? Oh, who am I kidding, of course it was worth it! This story kept me on the edge of my seat, my heart racing at every moment of danger, and me swooning at each and every romantic moment. This is one of those stories that I know I'll reread and never get tired of it. ~ @Drew Espinosa Don't forget to come back and comment on the Discussion Day on Monday, April 29th!
