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Monday I featured CassieQ's story, Save Tonight, as this month's Signature Feature. Have you read it yet? It's one of my favorites, definitely an oldie but goodie. Please take the time to check it out, if you haven't yet. And maybe this excerpt will help convince you. Want to read more? Click here

November is a month when we focus on family in the US. Sometimes it's the thing that holds us together, sometimes it's the thing that breaks us... and sometimes it's both. All I can say is bring your tissues when you read Save Tonight, if you haven't already, or you can't pass up another read like I couldn't! Length: 5,911 Description: 'What do you want?' A wish reluctantly made, urged on by his little girl, brings Gavin something unexpected. A Reader Said: Written in 2013 this story has aged like a vintage port. It is beautifully written and a tough read emotionally. It deserves to be rediscovered in 2013. READ IT! ~ Gary L If you want to spread the word about CassieQ's story, download the graphic below and add it to your signature! Make sure you come back on Wednesday to see the excerpt I chose to share!

We call those sentences enhancers in my family! 😆

It's November, can you believe it? Canada just had their Thanksgiving and this month the US has ours. Do other countries have this holiday, or ones similar to focus on family and giving thanks? Share that below, if you want! In the vein of the focus on family, I wanted to share a story with that same theme, but this is no fluffy and light story, so be warned! Sometimes family is all we can count on to get us through this painful journey life thrusts upon us. Hustle by @Talo Segura Length: 25,531 Description: Two brothers move through life together, shuffled around from pillar to post. Trouble follows them everywhere and all they really have in life is each other. Clinton plays with his dice and always has a plan, Morgan always does what his older brother tells him. They leave their rough childhood behind and get caught up in the escapades of South American drug trafficking. Clinton will do anything to keep them together, but it is Morgan who pays the price. Drugs, prostitution, and encounters with no one they can really trust. There is one goal, somehow to make it back to the States. A reader said: I have really enjoyed this whole story. Great plot with plenty of twists and turns, so many I might just read it again to make sure I got it all. Anyway a great read. I could see it making a great tv mini series, it might need some editing, though given what some channels show, after teasing warnings, maybe not! Congratulations on another well crafted piece of authorship. ~RevSimon Come back on the last Monday of the month, November 25th to check out the Discussion day and share your thoughts!

Did you read this month's feature, a short story with all the thrills and chills for October? Turnabout is Fair Fae by Valkyrie was a fun quick read, so I hope you'll share your comments below after you read my interview with her! Let's share the love (or shudders... you know, whatever works!) Do you eat your fruits and vegetables? I eat a lot of veggies, but not much fruit. I like the flavor of fruit, but not the texture. What are you wearing (and no fibbing!)? It’s 6:30 PM and I’m in my kitty cat jammies for the night. #thuglife What’s one location you’d love to go to research for a story? Oh, there’s so many! I took my trip of a lifetime earlier this year and spent two weeks in England. My story for the current anthology, In too Deep, is based on my experiences on that trip. I’d love to visit Ireland and Scotland on my next venture across the pond. I think Petra would be an absolutely fascinating place to write about and visit. What’s the best part of being an author? When readers connect with my characters. It really makes my day when people can relate to my characters and appreciate them as much as I do. Is your writing process a daily word count goal or more of a burst of inspiration writing flurry? Definitely writing flurries. Deadlines help too. How many stories have you written? Which is your favorite? According to my story profile, it’s 62. It’s really hard to pick a favorite. The Hollow Hills is very dear to me, since the characters have been around since I was a freshman in high school. I had an absolute blast writing A Leg to Stand On. It was my first attempt at comedy, and I think it produced some really relatable characters. Do you enjoy stories of the Fae variety, and did that inspire this Anthology piece? Yes, I do. I’ve always enjoyed reading fantasy stories and learning about the Fae. I honestly don’t remember what inspired the story, but that sounds plausible! It was interesting that ‘made magic’ versus ‘inherent magic’ featured in Turnabout is Fair Fae. Was that a deliberate choice? Yes, that was deliberate. I wanted a combination of the two, especially since it figured prominently at the end. I don’t want to say too much and give away any spoilers to anyone who hasn’t read the story yet. What do you think happens with changelings? Why do fae want them? Good question! I’ve always imagined the fae wanted them because they were a curiosity. Something to pique their interest until they get bored of them. I tend to think of changelings as living a charmed life for a while, then living more of a hellish existence when the charm wears off. I guess I have a bit of a cynical view in that regard. Can you share something about your current or upcoming story with readers? My anthology story should be live or going live soon after this interview is posted. It’s based on experiences I had at several different stone circle sites in England. There may or may not be a Christmas collaboration this year with myself, Aditus, and Cole Matthews… I have a multichapter modern fantasy I’ve been working on for years. Hopefully one of these days I’ll get a writing flurry and actually finish it.

Did you catch Monday's feature of I.D. by CarlHoliday? This short story can really catch you in the feels, in so many different ways. Seriously, it's a gamut of emotions, but if I tell you what they are, I might give away too much, so you'll have to read the story to feel them for yourself. If I haven't tempted you yet, check out this excerpt below. Want to read more? Click here

When I read this story, it honestly spooked me... so what better month to feature it than October? Do you remember this anthology feature from 2021 written by one of our Signature authors? Check it out! I.D. by @CarlHoliday Length: 3,071 Description: At the time it seemed a good idea, but how it played out nearly cost Charlie his life. He had the big ranch, but his wife had died and all the kids didn't want anything to do with ranching. So he decided to sell and move into the city. Everything was good great until he decided to take that walk in the park. Potluck Theme: Through a Glass Darkly A Reader said: A well written and touching tale of an octogenarian who'd moved to new home, and then while out for a walk suddenly realized that he couldn't remember anything about his life. Of course, there are extenuating factors involved, but I won't tell you what they are because I don't want to ruin the story for you. However, it made it even more difficult for him, so what will happen now that he's lost in a big city? ~Bill W If you want to spread the word about CarlHoliday's story, download the graphic below and add it to your signature! Make sure you come back on Wednesday to see the excerpt I chose to share!

It's October which means spooks, ghouls, fae, vampires, werecritters... yep, this month is for all the spookies! If you can handle them, that is. I chose to feature an older story written by our very own admin, @Valkyrie, for the 2017 anthology The Fall Out and Secret Spaces. This short story is a perfect bite-size treat for the season! Turnabout is Fair Fae by @Valkyrie Length: 4,055 Description: Not all fairies have wings and sprinkle pixie dust. Briar Toadthistle and Shade Sourthorn are attempting a mission they've failed before. If they don't succeed, their heads are on the line. Karma isn't limited to the human realm, though, and a choice made may prove more costly than either of them anticipated. A reader said: A very dark tale, but well written and showing the portent of expansion into a complete story. ~Will Hawkins Come back on the last Monday of the month, October 28th to check out the Discussion day and share your thoughts!

Did you read the CSR feature this month, La Tambola? This story tells all about how humanity does... and doesn't, manage new beginnings. Before you share your thoughts below, check out my interview with drsawzall. Are you a person who makes their bed in the morning, or do you not see much point? I do make my bed in the morning 75% of the time. If you were an animal, what would you be? A clone of dabeagle who has to be among the best crafters of written dialogue, he constantly stuns me with what comes out of his head. Now if you had asked what kind of inanimate object I would like to be, I would have to go with Geron Kees, for the very same reasons. What’s one location you’d love to go to research for a story? Machu Pichu hands down. What brought you to GA? A never-ending search at the time, for another quality gay story site. I’ve found a home here, I am amazed at the response to my work, the encouragement, camaraderie, and the shear number of stories encompassing nearly every possible genre. I love the ability to comment and to have my work commented on, so much I became a proud premium member. This story site stands head and shoulders with the best of them out there. If you could give advice to yourself when you first started writing, what would it be? Spell and grammar check are critical must haves, and an editor/coach in the fine art of crafting dialogue. It is something I struggle mightily with even tho my friends tell me I have the gift of gab. What is one thing you enjoy about writing a story in the scifi genre(s)? The ability to create a plausible world reflecting the struggle of life. If you had to leave Earth to colonize another planet, would you like to be part of a pastoral planet or a more technological planet colonization team? That’s a tough question, I would prefer some sort of mix where both sides keep each other in balance. How did you come up with the idea for your native species in La Tombola? I read a reprint of Shirly Jackson’s short story called the Lottery circa 1948 or so. So much was packed into that short story that it stuck with me for some time. When the voice in my head became insistent that it had something to share with our fellow readers, I sat down and wrote the first part that afternoon. For some time, I had a vision of a world, for a different story, that featured the Gnos, it was to be set in a post-apocalypse world. Where conflict would arise between the survivors, those from the cities/urban against the rural/woodland areas. The need for food was to be the crux of the story and the impetus of conflict between the two ‘societies’. Neither side being able to get the upper hand over the other, the city/urban dwellers derogatorily referred to their ‘enemies’ as the ‘Gnos’ as a derivative of oregano, a valuable spice at the time, much in demand in the urban/city areas, as growing food is a struggle. I could never do that story justice, and at the time I was writing La Tombola, the Gnos insisted that I include them, they were very tired of being cooped in the further recesses of my cranium. What is your favorite scene or line from La Tombola? I’m torn between the fifth chapter, I struggled mightily with it as it was so crucial to future events, In the writing, the chapter was touching some difficult areas and it needed the right touch for such a sensitive subject matters. Then when Ned Boone finally being reunited with Peter for good in Chapter 13 and Epilogue. I believe the following was a decent distillation of the arc of the story… And then, there was his last meeting with Mithras, the details still vividly clear in his mind. “You have done me great service Ned Boone, not once but several times. I have not forgotten the gift of what was most precious to you, nor the promise that you would be together again, for your unselfish sacrifice and service.” Continuing, “Yet you have something that is mine, and as you say, I have something that is yours, what is it you seek in exchange for that cloth you carry always?” It was with temerity Ned thought that he had asked, it had to be, the shear boldness…audacity of it all, as he remembered the rest of that engagement with Mithras. One does not bargain with the gods after all, and yet as he ran his fingers through the few graying hairs on a sleeping Peter’s chest, watching it rise and fall with his sleepy breathing, his plea had been listened to and granted. Will you share something about your current or upcoming work with readers? I’ve been reading, something I love to do, a couple of alternate history books, you know, what would have happened if the Allies lost WW2, that sort of thing. As a history buff it tweaks my interests. I’m thinking of something along the lines of Lincoln losing his reelection bid in 1864. In many ways it is a rich vein to mine.

It's interesting that just certain words can trigger people but most people have very strong likes and dislikes that relate to personal experiences and memories. I do get the names. I can't use names of people, specifically young people, in IRL and even reading stories where they are in can be squicky. Certain visuals or sensory things can also be issues, since I don't see the words when I read, but more of a movie in my head. The sound of a belt sliding through pant loops, especially a leather belt, is a HUGE trigger for me IRL and I've found it'll knock me right out of a story because so many romance authors will mention it in relation to stripping down. Just... nope, no, nuh-uh. Food can also be a big plus or minus in a story for me.

Monday I shared the graphic feature for Aditus's story, One Hundred Forty-Five Candles, and today I'll share an excerpt. This is a very short story, so there's no excuse to miss the rest! Just... if you're going to take a stab at the recipe, maybe use a few less candles or keep an extinguisher on hand? Want to read more? Click here

I felt a bit of a kinship with this story, being as I like food challenge shows, and September happens to be my anniversary with August my birthday... and those often get mixed together due to hunting season, lol. Trust me, the story is FAR better as you learn the reason for all the candles! Length: 1,813 Description: What's better than one reason to celebrate? Two reasons. Victor and Peter will explain in an interview for the cooking blog Stirring the Pot why they decorated their cake with one hundred forty-five candles. A Reader Said: This is a nice slice-of-life story told through a podcast format with a lot of good character moments. It's an understated story with main characters, who have been through a lot, but they literally get their cake and eat it (PS: I need to watch a few episodes of The Great British Bake Off now after reading this, thanks @Aditus for reminding me ) ~ W_L If you want to spread the word about Aditus's story, download the graphic below and add it to your signature! Make sure you come back on Wednesday to see the excerpt I chose to share!

Welcome to September! The return to school and another year (work for me, boo!), the changing of the seasons for most of us, and life continues to march on for another month and we're that much closer to the end of another year. Where DOES the time go? Enjoy it here on Earth while it lasts, because it might not be forever, and then where would humans end up? (no more pumpkin spice, that's for sure!) Check out this month's CSR story by @drsawzall to see what he came up with! La Tombola by drsawzall Length: 38,375 Description: Earth was dying, time had run out. In a fractured world cooperation was non-existent. A dedicated group humanity saw a way out and Operation Plymoth Plantation was born. A reader said: This is a well written, unique take on sci-fi fantasy. Or it's a character driven mystery. Or it's an epic romance spanning decades. It's all of these rolled into a tight, cohesive tale. Regardless of your favorite genre, you won't be sorry you read this wonderful story. ~CincyKris Come back on the last Monday of the month, September 30th to check out the Discussion day and share your thoughts!

As this is more of a philosophic question about writing, and not a "how to" or technical help question for GA staff/members, I am moving this topic to the Lounge instead of the Help forum. Just an FYI.

Thank you to all the authors who participated in the contest! You make this whole event possible by sharing your stories with the Secret Author (that evil devil themself!) so we can play this fun game each year of guessing who wrote what. Our winners will both get 3 months free Premium membership. This year our theme was Secret, and I've kept the winner of the poll a secret until now. However, the favorite story of this event was.... Hide and Seek by @kbois And, while it was a truly exhaustive list of those who commented, reviewed, and participated in the topics and polls, Random.org pulled from the HUGE list of names a single winner from our readers, and that winner is.... @lucretiaseeks