What is the best story you have read that was published in 2025 by someone who frequents the Authors’ Hangout?

[FrancesScott]

Perhaps because the OP had an idea in mind for what they thought would be a cool and uplifting thread, and they expected it to go one way, but it disappointed them when it didn't.

 

[AwkwardMD]

@Dreamerman77 's The Pharaoh's Bloodline is some really good historical fiction erotica.

 

[SinclairGroupLLP]

I have no control over how you react to things or interpret them. You seem to be basing your argument on assumptions about things - my mental state - about which your have no privileged knowledge. But it’s your prerogative to think what you want. It’s mine to say you’re wrong when the subject is me.

Maybe reread what I wrote and see if it’s just slightly possible you are misinterpreting things. It’s a good exercise to do sometimes on-line. I think what I wrote was neutral and fact-based, but YMMV.

Reread it. Nope, that's still how it reads.

Sorry, dude.

 

[AwkwardMD]

@SamBomb 's Queen EJ is light and fun, and more wholesome and upbeat than I was expecting! Only the first chapter is up, but I'll be waiting to read more.

 

[SimonDoom]

Perhaps because the OP had an idea in mind for what they thought would be a cool and uplifting thread, and they expected it to go one way, but it disappointed them when it didn't.

I can think of several "logical" reasons why a relative newb would post a thread like this, and those reasons have nothing to do with wanting others to come and suck the OP's literary dick.

Nobody's angry at anybody here, and there's no need to assume anybody has bad faith in their posting. With respect, you seem to have drawn that conclusion about the OP on what, from what I've seen, is very scanty evidence.

I second this. I think a good rule of thumb is not to assume that others are acting in bad faith. It just sours everything when too many people make this assumption. I agree with you; I didn't interpret the OP's post this way and I think SinclairGroupLLP is off base. But even if there were a basis for SGLLP to express this opinion, why express it? What's the point? Assume that your fellow AH participants are acting in good faith, even if you have your doubts, and this will be a much more pleasant place to hang out in.

 

[FrancesScott]

Reread it. Nope, that's still how it reads.

Sorry, dude.

Your prerogative. Others saw it differently. It’s a free world, for now at least.

 

[lovecraft68]

I am merely pointing out that it was evident from replies that there are circular relationships of recommendations, and there are star authors. In retrospect, neither of these should have been surprising developments.

The word is clique and we have that here like any other group does. Being a good/bad popular/unpopular author on 'story side' does not always translate here where the back slapping, high fiving and wagon circling rules.

I am not saying that there are not good authors that frequent this forum because there are. But over time I've noticed some of the best and if not best very prolific and popular authors either rarely post here or don't bother at all. This is a very small percentage of writers here and like any small group cliques and politics evolve.

I can say that at this point there is no one here left that this would be directed at, but I said in a thread some time ago about me reaching the end of anything here for me to stive for that for several years what pushed me was stuck up forum members who thought they were all that and while they peacocked around the forum I slowly and methodically surpassed them on any list that mattered.

This-to me and a few others-is a mostly newer group and as a whole I don't see that same "I'm better than you" crap going on, but the circle jerk behavior among a few is simply inevitable.

This is a fun place to hang out but like any other forum not everyone gets along and that's just human nature.

Take what you can from here but always make sure that your writing is more of a priority than what goes on here and that includes whether or not people here are fans or detractors of your work.

 

[FrancesScott]

RESET BUTTON

So - and I should have been much more explicit here - what I was hoping for was at least a paragraph about why you like the story you chose.

Let’s pick on @onehitwanda - why is Damselfly so good? Characters? Plot? Language? Beauty? Themes? The feelings it generates in you? All of the above? I don’t mean a full literary review, but something.

And yes it would be great to give a nod to someone outside of your normal circle. Why was this work of interest, what was different about it?

Some people have tried to do the above already, but I was hoping for more and more reasons.

Equally, if you want to recommend your friend, why? I tried to outline what I liked about @PennyThompson’s in my original post. I’m not trying to make her embarrassed, but it would maybe help other authors to get some idea about what was so appealing about it.

 

[AwkwardlySet]

It’s a free world, for now at least.

I knew it! The Underground Lesbian Army is finally making a move?!

Fuck, I knew I should have bought myself a pair of tits instead of spending the money on a motorbike...

 

[lovecraft68]

I knew it! The Underground Lesbian Army is finally making a move?!

Fuck, I knew I should have bought myself a pair of tits instead of spending the money on a motorbike...

I heard you were denied lit tits because you didn't describe them as being triple D's

 

[AwkwardlySet]

I heard you were denied lit tits because you didn't describe them as being triple D's

Apple-size is the way to go. After all, two apples a day keep the arthritis away!

 

[Areala-chan]

The Underground Lesbian Army is finally making a move?!

We are? I don't even have my boots on yet. I don't even have boots yet! Can we at least wait until I can afford a good pair of boots?

 

[onehitwanda]

... should I be drinking?

I feel like I should be drinking.

 

[AwkwardlySet]

We are? I don't even have my boots on yet. I don't even have boots yet! Can we at least wait until I can afford a good pair of boots?

 

[lovecraft68]

We are? I don't even have my boots on yet. I don't even have boots yet! Can we at least wait until I can afford a good pair of boots?

On behalf of those of us with a foot fetish, please leave the boots off.

 

[AwkwardMD]

... should I be drinking?

I feel like I should be drinking.

Dealer's choice on this one.

 

[lovecraft68]

... should I be drinking?

I feel like I should be drinking.

I've been drinking Jim beam and coke for two hours, you have some catching up to do.

 

[AwkwardlySet]

... should I be drinking?

I feel like I should be drinking.

You aren't fooling us with that casual talk, General Wanda. We know you are preparing the weapons of mass lesbianization.

 

[Nynah]

Let’s pick on @onehitwanda - why is Damselfly so good? Characters? Plot? Language? Beauty? Themes? The feelings it generates in you? All of the above? I don’t mean a full literary review, but something.

All of those things, honestly. But I can offer a somewhat different pitch.

Anyone who's read Wanda's work before knows the dialogue between her main characters is top notch. But what stands out, to me anyway, about Damselfly is the richness of the worldbuilding she begins with and how she feeds it to the reader throughout the story. The first 3/4ths of the first page sets the scene with exquisitely-crafted vocabulary and dialogue with some ancillary characters without being heavy-handed in terms of exposition. We don't meet the female love interest until the last 1/4th of the first page and their first earnest one-on-one conversation doesn't happen until midway through the third page. Everything before and around that serves to set the rich backdrop of the world that these characters inhabit and its done in such a way that feels natural and lived-in. The care she takes with crafting her prose is evident and makes for a vivid read.

It honestly felt like experiencing a Ghibli movie in text form, and that's only the first third of the story. I could go on but you said not a full literary review.

 

[SinclairGroupLLP]

I second this. I think a good rule of thumb is not to assume that others are acting in bad faith. It just sours everything when too many people make this assumption. I agree with you; I didn't interpret the OP's post this way and I think SinclairGroupLLP is off base. But even if there were a basis for SGLLP to express this opinion, why express it? What's the point? Assume that your fellow AH participants are acting in good faith, even if you have your doubts, and this will be a much more pleasant place to hang out in.

Simon, c'mon. Do you actually follow this practice? I've seen you get into arguments with people, so I'm not sure why my pointing out my view as to what Frances meant was somehow out of line. Nor do I think it's out of line to call out the cynicism. But hey, I've got things to write, so I'll just go off and do that and leave you guys to your hypocrisy.

 

[onehitwanda]

It honestly felt like experiencing a Ghibli movie in text form

I was channeling Porco Rosso (among other things), so this is high praise.

 

[FrancesScott]

All of those things, honestly. But I can offer a somewhat different pitch.

Anyone who's read Wanda's work before knows the dialogue between her main characters is top notch. But what stands out, to me anyway, about Damselfly is the richness of the worldbuilding she begins with and how she feeds it to the reader throughout the story. The first 3/4ths of the first page sets the scene with exquisitely-crafted vocabulary and dialogue with some ancillary characters without being heavy-handed in terms of exposition. We don't meet the female love interest until the last 1/4th of the first page and their first earnest one-on-one conversation doesn't happen until midway through the third page. Everything before and around that serves to set the rich backdrop of the world that these characters inhabit and its done in such a way that feels natural and lived-in. The care she takes with crafting her prose is evident and makes for a vivid read.

It honestly felt like experiencing a Ghibli movie in text form, and that's only the first third of the story. I could go on but you said not a full literary review.

That’s exactly the type of analysis I wanted to read, thank you.

 

[FrancesScott]

Simon, c'mon. Do you actually follow this practice? I've seen you get into arguments with people, so I'm not sure why my pointing out my view as to what Frances meant was somehow out of line. Nor do I think it's out of line to call out the cynicism. But hey, I've got things to write, so I'll just go off and do that and leave you guys to your hypocrisy.

You seem very angry. I’m sorry if I have contributed to that in some way. Not my intent.

 

[SimonDoom]

Simon, c'mon. Do you actually follow this practice? I've seen you get into arguments with people, so I'm not sure why my pointing out my view as to what Frances meant was somehow out of line. Nor do I think it's out of line to call out the cynicism. But hey, I've got things to write, so I'll just go off and do that and leave you guys to your hypocrisy.

I disagree with people all the time about WHAT THEY SAY. I think that's fair game. I think it's not fair game, without good evidence, to attribute what they say to bad faith, ignorance, or stupidity. I think it's generally out of line to second guess what another AH member "meant" by what they wrote.

 

[Omenainen]

This year I’ve mostly been reading pink orchids, and I’m not picking favorites among those.

Title of the thread was amusingly specific to me, like how much should I narrow it down so that everyone’s favorite would be me? I tried to come up with a joke about it, but it’s late and brain is not braining so I’ll just leave it at this.