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Forum: Literary Merit
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Topic: HappY Pride Month
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With a nod of thanks to the Grateful Dead, and the current political situation, here's a motto for Pride Month 2025
Bensiamin
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Topic: Writing Challenge - Winning
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13798
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Two excellent entries to Winning, though I thought that picture was sufficient to provoke and inspire more.
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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Topic: Maxym
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13798
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I have read Maxym, again by Patrck Notchtree. Very different from his Dancing with Panthers, it is eiminently worth reading.
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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Topic: Dancing With Panthers
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13798
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I just devoured Dancing With Panthers is a single sitting. And it's not a short read. I reviewed it on Goodreads with 5 stars.
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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Topic: My journey, and Sam's
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Tillers
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Getting started |
Registered: October 2024
Messages: 7
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Hi all,
If you have the time, could you please take a look at my novel, Running Through Still Waters? https://www.amazon.co.uk/Running-Through-Waters-Christopher- Tiller-ebook/dp/B01C3HD572
It's about a young boy named Sam. It's his story--his journey through life between the ages of eleven and thirteen, and what he experiences during these years and how it changes and shapes him. HarperCollins expressed interest in the novel but sadly, for me as the author and for Sam, they ultimately decided against publishing it. At times it's hard-hitting and disturbing, but I believe Sam's story needs to be told.
This is my second novel. My first, after many rewrites is set to be published soon. Titled The Mouse Hunter, it's an autobiographical work reflecting on a summer from my childhood--a time I spent exploring the fields near my home during long, hot school breaks.
In this place, I searched for mice and shrews, surrounded by the melodies of birds, the high-pitched chirps of grasshoppers, and the lazy drone of bees gathering nectar from wildflowers. It was my sanctuary.
But in the summer of seventy-two, everything changed.
I was befriended by a man who showed a keen interest in me. He listened to my excited stories and watched as I searched for tiny mammals that inhabited the fields, which seemed endless - a sea of green and gold stretching out to the horizon, where tall blades of grass swayed lazily in the warm breeze.
I'd found someone who was intrigued by me, who wanted to know about me and what I was doing. Eventually, over several meetings with him, he persuaded me to do things I had never dreamt possible. Each time we got together, I would do as he asked. Then one hot summer's day, deep in my fields, he did something that terrified me.
I was going to die.
I didn't die, but I died every night in my dreams. Those nightmares haunted me for years to come.
What had happened led me to question myself, question my very existence, and also my sexuality. At the age of thirteen, I formed a close relationship with a friend from school. We shared our laughter, our thoughts and eventually our beds on those weekend school breaks.
Being brought up Roman Catholic, I struggled with the guilt and the shame of what I'd done with this man, and what I was doing with my friend. The nightmares continued to wake me with cold sweats where I'd frequently wet the bed. The fear at times was overwhelming, and the thought that this man, who had photographed me in bazaar positions and had made me do things I didn't want to do, would come for me. After all, I'd told him where I lived, and for years I'd walk down my street watching the gullies and alleyways that led to the fields, convinced he was watching me. I'd struggled with the thought that God knew my sins and I'd surely be sent to hell.
All this played heavily on my soul.
This is my story of how one summer in the fields turned into a nightmare that haunted me for many years. It is about how it affected my childhood, my relationship with my peers, and my family life. Writing this was therapeutic, but it also helped me evolve as a writer.
This experience gave me the ability to write Sam's story in Running Through Still Waters. I relate deeply to his character--his confusion over his sexuality, his longing for love and connection, his desperate need to feel seen and wanted. Like Sam, I understand the heartbreak of placing trust in someone who seems to care, only to endure betrayal. When Sam's world shatters, he is pushed to breaking point, setting him on a dangerous journey into the shadowy underworld of the city--a place where survival comes at a cost.
Thank you.
[Updated on: Mon, 25 November 2024 00:38] |
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Topic: Writing Challenge - How Do I Tell Him?
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Topic: Wow! And again WOW!
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13798
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Up to and including Challenge 48 we have 212 stories in challenges of the current style, plus 13 from the Summer Vacation challenge which we ran differently, plus another from the Face at The Window challenge. That makes Two Hundred and Twenty Six stories created by picture, and prompts.
We have one author who has contributed a story to 35 of those challenges. WOW!
Contributors, take a bow. Pedro, take two bows. And those who have read and offered an opinion in the surveys, award yoursellves a round of applause
[Updated on: Sun, 05 May 2024 09:12]
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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Topic: I'm enjoying A King's Legacy
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13798
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Previously on Nfty, A King's Legacy has been withdrawn from there and appears on Sofurry.com, a site where you will need to register. I think the author has a desire for mainstream publication.
Quote:This is a story of fantasy, prejudice, magic, triumph, loss, and eventual interspecies love between two or more men.
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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Topic: Of Dahl, Merry and Friends
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13798
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Receiving the final instalment of his great saga in Haven has spurred me to re-read George Gaultier's works from the start.
The second reading does not disappoint.
[Updated on: Mon, 05 February 2024 14:11]
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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Topic: The Soldier's Tale
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13798
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Showing versatility and experimentation with writing styles, Charles Lacey snuk The Soldier's Tale in under the radar. It's very different from his other work
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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Topic: Halloween Stories
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ivor slipper
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Likes it here |
Registered: September 2013
Messages: 129
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I thought all of the stories offered this year were highly enjoyable. My congratulations to all the authors who contributed.
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Topic: The first challenge of 2024 - Jamboree
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13798
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Jamboree is in preview here. Take your minds away from the adult unless you can use him in a moral role! Think outside the obvious.
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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Topic: Captians Obvious Challenge is open
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Topic: Challenge tales for Wrecked
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Geron Kees
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Likes it here |
Location: USA
Registered: February 2016
Messages: 154
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A very nice round of stories for this current challenge. All four authors did a good job of presenting entertaining and magnetic tales that were involving and well worth the investment in time. You guys deserve a good word!
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Topic: C. Travis Rice (aka Christopher Rice)
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Topic: A sequel to « « The Orchard Chronicles » from Jdonley75
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Topic: Lael
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13798
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Lael is a fascinating, whimsical-yet-direct look into the lives of the cast members.
Like all of Rafael Henry's tales it takes us towards places that are, should be, out of reach, yet without actually letting us know if a border has been crossed. It continues to its ending at chapyter 49. Today we are at 18.
[Updated on: Mon, 10 April 2023 06:33]
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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Topic: Lael
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I've only read the Explanation of Terms, and it was a trip back in time. I attended public school in the UK in 1958 & 1959, which is far before this story takes place but most of the terms were extant then. It's been decades since I heard anyone use the term Roundheads versus Cavaliers.
We certainly used it back then.
Rafael: thanks for the extensive definition of terms.
Now, onward to the story!
Bensiamin
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Topic: The Right Genes, by Nigel Gordon
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Bisexual_Guy
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Likes it here |
Location: USA Midwest
Registered: September 2015
Messages: 159
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I have just read "The Right Genes," the short story by Nigel Gordon. It is one of the best short stories I have read in years!
And as a bisexual guy who appreciates all sides of the spectrum, especially the male side, I can enjoy a huge variety of stories. The development of the story flowed well, and the story continually became better as it progressed.
Very well done, Nigel.
https://iomfats.org/storyshelf/hosted/nigel-gordon/shorts/th e-right-genes.html
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Topic: Colour Me Pastel Challenge Stories
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Bisexual_Guy
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Likes it here |
Location: USA Midwest
Registered: September 2015
Messages: 159
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Two really good stories, one from Pedro and one from Cole Parker.
I loved Cole's rewritten story originally published under another title. The new version, "The Boy on the Pedestal," is better than the original, which was also a great story. The new story has the same suspense of the original, but the order was also arranged to make better use of the internal timeline, and California's moped licensing laws. And the conclusion of the story! Still great!
Pedro's newest "The Challenge That is Tony" story, "It Should Wash Off,' hit all the proverbial right notes. It was great to see Ewan again, and learn more about Tom (Simon's father). The Narrator and Tony, as always, were enjoyable. And the scenes at The Indian -- each time we learn more about the uncles, Sabhya and Lilat, and some of the other relatives.
Well done, Cole and Pedro!
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Topic: lomax61 (AKA Brian Lancaster), author
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jbboucha
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Getting started |
Registered: May 2021
Messages: 14
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Do you read the stories of lomax61 (AKA Brian Lancaster)?
They can be found at this address: https://gayauthors.org/author/lomax61/
I strongly recommend "Inherited" which is being published and "Naked Calendar" which is complete. All the stories by this author are good and there are others that first appeared on gayauthors.org and have been published in e-books (kindle format) and paper (excuse my english).
JBB
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Topic: Back-up
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Fact or fiction? It is real enough, but is it non-fiction? A snippet from the life of parents, the father of a gay son who does the parental taxi thing and drops the boy off at a party only for it to turn into a drama when he goes to pick him up later.
"I now had to suddenly learn to know my son who until a few minutes ago was a person I knew and now was a complete stranger..."[/font]
The father and son seem both to have a close relationship and yet the son's life is a secret, although the father is very accepting when discovering his son is gay, even confiding his own same sex relationship in his younger years, a secret he has never revealed to his wife. [/font]
The story is full of dysfunctionality within the family and full of contradictions, are they a close family or not, I could not decide. Overall I wondered if everything was falling apart or coming together through adversity.[/font]
https://iomfats.org/storyshelf/hosted/peterg09/shorts/back-u p.html
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Topic: Puzzle pieces
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Topic: Mooring
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13798
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Mooring raises very difficult thoughts. I have prefaced it on PeterG09's index page thus: "Mooring is a deceptively gentle tale leading to a difficult end point. It covers the important topics of victimhood and overpowering guilt. The 'path' trodden is understandable, but should be walked away from."
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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Topic: Happy Halloween 2021
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Topic: New Release for Sci-Fi Fans
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For those that are science fiction fans, a worthy thing to note is that today the second volume of Felice Picano's trilogy City On A Star released.
Piano is well known as a gay author (with nineteen novels and short stories, as well as poetry and dramas), and most recently for being co-author of the updated version of the classic The New Joy of Gay Sex.The first City On A Star volume, subtitled Dryland's End, has the sweep of Asimov's Foundation Trilogy (inter-stellar empires, star travel, conquest and failure, etc.) and the unique story elements of Herbert's Dune (power politics, medieval family structures, semi-religious orders, etc.). Like Dune, the semi-religious order is a matriarchy striving to be the interstellar power player, but coincidental with our own current events, the story is built around responding to a pandemic--though it was written in 1994 and released in 2004.
Given that Pisano is such a prolific gay writer, it should come as no surprise that human sexuality is part of the story line, and that gay sex is a normal part of life... but the unique wrinkle is that gay sex become an unexpected vehicle for resolution of the problems that the empires face.
That's all I'll say, but here's what QueerSciFi had to say:A rebellion of intelligent Cybernetic servants has left the Females of the galaxy virtually sterile, crippling the controlling political body the Matriarchy. The race is on to find a solution, but will it be enough to save the Matriarchy as other galactic authorities attempt to dominate them using sabotage and all-out war? Dryland's End is Felice Picano's science fiction adventure for the new millennium. The novel touches on many of today's most controversial subjects, such as interracial relationships, gender conflicts, gender identity, and same-sex pairings-and views them with a lens toward the future.
If you haven't read Dryland's End, be sure to read it first. Volume Two of City On A Star is subtitled, The Betrothal At Usk, and the Kindle version is available today at Amazon here.
Bensiamin
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Topic: Him in the Dust
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13798
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How apposite that Him in the Dust arrived as chaos was created in Afghanistan. THere is to be a zecond part to the tale, for which we must await James's inspiration.
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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Topic: Tim and Ross
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Topic: I Want To Know What Love Is
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Topic: There but....
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ivor slipper
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Likes it here |
Registered: September 2013
Messages: 129
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My thanks to those who read this story, and especially those who took the time to comment or participate in the various polls.
The idea for the 'Stop/Push' poll occurred to me when I reached that point while writing the story because I was struggling myself to decide what Julian would do. It was interesting to see that early on in the voting period 'Push' held a lead, but as time went by the voting drew closer, to finally end with a small majority for 'Stop'.
Because I'd posed the question I didn't cast a vote. For what it's worth, after much thought I eventually reached the conclusion that because of his love for Lance, Julian would, very reluctantly, have stopped Paul, while thinking how lucky Ryan was to have him as a boyfriend.
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Topic: A Walk in the Country
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13798
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Not just any walk, but your imagined, maybe real, walk, A Walk in the Country opened for submnissions today.
[Updated on: Fri, 20 August 2021 08:03]
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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Topic: The Pretenders
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cm
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Toe is in the water |
Location: Somerset
Registered: May 2017
Messages: 64
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I just wanted to acknowledge Bensiamin's contribution to the three extra chapters of this story following on from the writing challenge. I originally wrote a brief 'postscript' to the story which I shared with him. His helpful (as ever) comments and observations encouraged me to write a fuller continuation, and the extra chapters are much improved as a result of his suggestions. Thanks, Ben.
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Topic: Never judge a book by its cover?
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Topic: Puppy for Sale 2 - A kind of sequel.
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Hi everyone,
Any of you who visit Gay Authors may have read Puppy for Sale. It's a story I wrote back in 2015. I took it down from GA and now all my stories are here. Anyway, this may be of no interest to anyone who does not like/read my work, haha. However for anyone that did read it. The sequel is finished and with Timmy to roll on after the republish of the first book.
Just sayin'
:)
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Topic: Not revealed yet...
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13798
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Two chapters away from the end I think we might look at Revealed. Talo keeps us guessing, but can he keep it up for two more chapters?
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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Topic: The only way is up!
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Topic: Not Here
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13798
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The next challenge has been chosen. I had trouble giving it a name, but I managed: Not Here.
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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Topic: Alex in Wonderland
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I'd like to add another recommendation for a published book, "Alex in Wonderland" by Simon James Green. I believe it's available both in print and on Kindle and comes recommended by Becky Albertalli, the author of "Love Simon".
The book has all the good stuff in it, teen awkwardness, longing, lonliness, love, friendship, humor, intrigue, mystery, fulfillment, and a final paragraph twist that brings it all together in a great story about typical teenagers just trying to make it in the world while they work at the local fun arcade.
Very good read. Enjoy 
https://amazon.com/Alex-Wonderland-Simon-James-Green-e book/dp/B07Q5HXT6Q/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=alex+in+ wonderland%2C&qid=1596586635&sr=8-4
[Updated on: Wed, 05 August 2020 00:19]
“There's no grays, only white that's got grubby. I'm surprised you don't know that. And sin, young man, is when you treat people as things. Including yourself. That's what sin is.” - Terry Pratchett
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Topic: Logan
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luvtwinks
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Likes it here |
Registered: August 2018
Messages: 178
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I always like when a story has an epilogue. Even though we know the characters are fictional, it's nice to see what has transpired in their lives in the author's mind during the years since the last chapter ends. Logan has not one, but TWO epilogues. 😀
Spoiler alert: They really do live happily ever after. ❤️
[Updated on: Mon, 01 June 2020 20:51] |
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Topic: Sofa Skater
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13798
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I was a little slow getting this preview off the mark, but I have done it now. Sofa Skater is in preview as our next challenge
[Updated on: Fri, 24 April 2020 11:27]
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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Wow! And again WOW! 
Puppy for Sale 2 - A kind of sequel. 
