Just Joshin

I learned to read in college. I can tell you the exact story, in fact. It was by James Joyce and it was called "The Dead." It's the last story in a collection called The Dubliners.

Initially, I hated the story. As a matter of fact, I hated that entire course -- and the professor (who seemed to me to be in love with every dark and dreary story she could lay her hands on).

( Read along )

I've been out of town so I'm running a bit late on posting this, but Don't Look Back went live at Loose Id last night. This one is a little bit of a change of pace (I keep saying that, don't I?)  It's a mystery without a murder. In fact, Jenre did a very nice review of it right heyah. Hope you enjoy it!

Blurb:

He was chuckling, a deep, sexy sound as he pushed Peter back on the satiny cushions. Was this for real? Was he going to go through with it? Peter blinked up as his tie was unfastened, tossed aside, his shirt unbuttoned, laid wide. The evening breeze -- scented of smog and jasmine -- felt cool against his overheated skin, like the lightest breath…

Peter Killian, curator at Constantine House in Los Angeles, wakes in the hospital to find himself accused of stealing a tenth century Chinese sculpture. Peter knows he’s not a thief -- but that’s all he knows. Why is hot and handsome Detective Mike Griffin so sure he’s guilty -- and so hell-bent on seeing Peter arrested?

And why is Peter having these weird dreams about an unseen lover who somehow reminds him uncomfortably of Michael Griffin?

 

( Read a teeny tiny excerpt )

Just a reminder that if you haven't set up pages at GLBT bookshelf, the time is nigh.

NIGH. Not night. It's eight in the morning. Although if you prefer to work at night, be my guest.

Listen, seriously, GLBT Bookshelf is quickly turning into your portal for GLBT books, essays, reviews, and discussion.

Yes, there are a few discussion pages.

This is going to be a major fiction resource -- and speaking of which. May I thank Julia, Eve and Andrea for making my own pages a reality? Thank you very sincerely. I do appreciate it. (And will be proving it with the first copies of Don't Look Back.)

The cool thing about getting in on the ground floor of an endeavor like GLBT Bookshelf -- have you seen how that thing has grown in just a couple of weeks? -- is that you get to help shape it. Keegan and the gang keep asking for input, so if you have some thoughts, please share them with them.

As for me...back to the White Mountains. Is it still called the White Mountains? I don't even know. But it's really taking shape now. Whatever the heck that shape is. 

I'm guest-blogging over at Jessewave's today on the topic of series writing -- seems timely as tomorrow sees the ebook launch of Somebody Killed His Editor from Samhain publishing.

Gulp.

Anyway, not necessarily one of my most inspired posts, but perhaps the comment section will prove of interest -- it's usually the best part. Drop by if you have a chance and share your thoughts on series writing/reading.

The deliciously terrifying Miss Doreen interviews Jordan and I over at The Thrillionth Page.

Be very afraid.

If you've known me for any length of time -- or followed this blog -- you know I'm quite a fan of Mel Keegan's work. Anyway, a couple of weeks ago I got an email from Keegan regarding a brand new Wiki enterprise called GLBT bookshelf. I was buried in edits at the time (What. A. Surprise.) and didn't have a chance to really check it out until this week (although I knew I was in, just given the fact that it was Keegan's brainchild). I was delighted to see that GLBT Bookshelf is already turning into what I think is going to be an incredible resource.

So what exactly is GLBT bookshelf? Here's Keegan's blog on it.

I was kind of waiting to do my own post and summoning of the troops until we had more author pages up and running, but...that could take a while (specially in my case ). So...if you're a GLBT writer, publisher, reviewer, artist...get over there and start building pages for yourself. I guess my only word of caution would be that the focus here is on promoting books and selling books, so...content needs to stay positive and supportive of that goal.

There are not a lot of reader forums yet, and that's something I'd like to see happen soon -- but that will depend on you readers. I think Keegan and the gang are looking for some input in that direction so...give us some input! 

(And if there are any fanyons with time on their hands up to the alarming task of putting together a JL central bibliography page...I'll figure out a really nice reward for you. My skills at this kind of stuff are rudimentary at best. )

Anyway, go check it out! See what you think. They just put up new publisher and artist pages.

 

Finished the first round of edits on Don't Look Back last week and now I've got a short story due today for a military anthology from Aspen Mountain Press -- I'm really starting to like this story, and I'm not even sure what it is about it that suddenly clicked. Weird how that sometimes happens. I believe the story will be called "'Til We Meet Again." More on that later. 

Anyway, I did a recent interview with Jessewave. She's giving away (well, I'm giving away through her website) a couple of books for those who stop by and comment.

Also, the Josh Lanyon Collection (volumes 1 & 2) is now out. The price on volume one still appears to be wacked though the publisher has asked them to fix it. Anyway, the collection is available through B&N and Amazon and mega booksellers everywhere. 

Finally, if I could ask for a small favor? When you're browsing my titles at Amazon, would you be kind enough to click those little tag buttons about a third of the way down the individual book page? Apparently they make a difference when readers are searching for content and subject matter. Who knew? I'd appreciate it, anyway. You don't have to buy anything. Not that I wouldn't appreciate that too!

Today's Line of the Week is contributed by a regular listener in North Dakota.

Hard to tell, because Noel had eyes like mice; they ran away as soon they caught your attention.

I like an imaginative simile as much as the next writer, but...no.

Really.

No.

Just a very quick note as I am deep in edits for The White Mountains. (I am, Nikki. Swear to God.)

Partners in Crime 4 - THE ART OF DYING is now available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. True, B&N still has Sarah listed as my compadre in all things criminous, but...that's being corrected even as we gnash our teeth  speak. 

So buy it, read it, say nice things about it. It's our first try so we've got opening night nerves.

And I will talk to you laaaaater.

Calling all cars. Be on the look out....

So a month or so back I was contacted by the lovely Jennifer Leeland of Romance Divas to kick off the first day of their online Not Going to Conference Conference with an M/M Writing Workshop. The conference begins on July 14th and runs through the 18th. I can only be there (online, that is) on the 14th but the M/M workshops will continue with other talented purveyors of our genre.

Anywhoooo, the topic is pretty much open and God knows I'm happy to babble endlessly on any aspect of M/M writing, but what would some of you like me to focus on? Any preferences? I'd like the workshop to be be as helpful as possible -- and any angles I don't cover can probably be picked up by the authors who take the following days of the workshop.

What are you interested in discussing in workshop format? What can I do to make the online workshop experience more useful for you?
 

This is how those first lines read with the following paragraph. Makes a big difference, yes? For good an ill. Though I'll leave you to determine which is which.

 

( Read more... )

To make a first impression.

And other things your mother told you. So I'm watching Steven Seagal yesterday (part of my health and fitness program) and I hear this line.

We're not here to decide who is wrong or who is right. We're here to decide who lives and who dies.

Now...is it just me or is that not one of the funniest lines of the week? I'm convinced he (the writer?) really was trying to say something there. And the scariest part is...I sort of get what he was trying to say. Or maybe the wine and dark chocolate is getting to me. Anyway, I admire Steven for trying something new (a horror flick in this case) but the film was not a success. Not even by the standard of Steven Seagal flicks.

Anyway, I've been reading -- and enjoying -- and I'm thinking about first lines. There's nothing like a great first line to hook reader interest. Granted, a catchy or quirky first line that is not in keeping with the rest of the book...that is not relevant or is merely quirky for the sake of quirky or doesn't match the tone...isn't going to do you any favors. By the same token, it takes a lot more than a catchy first line to sell a reader on a story.

( Read more... )

So the lovely and talented K.A. Mitchell was kind enough to point out that Somebody Killed His Editor is now up on the Samhain Coming Soon page (with a release date of June 16th. I haven't talked a lot about this one, but it's the first book in a new mystery-romance series, with an emphasis on the funny (I dearly hope). So if you don't like the funny or you don't like classic gay mystery, this will not be the book for you.

I have to say that I'm really, really happy with the way Somebody Killed His Editor turned out. It was one of the easiest books I've ever written, frankly. And as we get closer to the release date, I'll be sending out a few ARCs to reviewers, and perhaps run some kind of contest here? 

In other news, Teddy Pig reviewed (and interviewed me a bit) Man, Oh Man: Writing M/M Fiction for Kinks & Ca$h. If I had it all to do again...well, it would be the 2nd Edition. Seriously, I'd interview more folks -- as I now have a better understanding of who the real heavy hitters are in our industry -- but I'd wait to put out that 2nd Edition 'til we see what happens with the Running Press historical romance line. Granted, I think we're all waiting to see what happens there (in line, historical manuscript proposals in hand).

The taking a break thing is going well. I've watched two Woody Allen movies, worked in the garden, eaten some dark chocolate and drunk excellent red wine...read over my notes for The White Mountains...answered emails... I've not read as much as I'd like, but I've restacked the TBR pile. That's a start, I think.

 

I'm celebrating.

( Read more... )

When we last left Major Valentine Strange he was in a small Indian -- sorry, Indusian -- shrine in the White Mountains shooting people in the face.

I like the major. I also like the minor, Master Aleister Grimshaw. He's a witch. He has Issues.

So...the fantasy thing. It's even more difficult than I anticipated. Hats -- pith helmets -- off to those of you who write fantasy and paranormal. 'Cause...it's bloody difficult, isn't it?  The world building -- I find myself getting lost for days in research, and this is not a good thing. The research is good, the getting lost, no.
 
Did you know that in the Indian Mutiny...well, no. Never mind. Not pertinent.

None of this is really pertinent to the topic of today's sermon. Today's sermon is Who the Hell Is Driving This Thing?

 

( Read more... )

By now you've probably heard something of the brouhaha about Amazon removing the sales ranking numbers of GLBT "adult" works.

In other words, m/m romance novels like Alex Beecroft's False Colours or Erastes' Transgressions are getting the bum's rush right out the door of the historical fiction bestseller lists because of the -- coincidentally gay? -- erotic content of the novels. You've also got gay mysteries like The Ghost Wore Yellow Socks -- with minimal erotic content -- losing its sales ranking. That one has me scratching my head since a handful of readers bitched that the book wasn't...as we say...hawt enough. I mean, I've read Harlequin Intrigues that have more adult content than TGWYS.
 
(However, I know you will be relieved as I am to see that Death of a Pirate King continues to hold its own in the HORROR and EROTIC bestseller category)

I'm not going to rehash the whole story, basically you can find out pretty much everything you need to know at Mark R. Probst's blog. Aside from the obvious problems of blatant discrimination, the thing that really bothers me is the lack of logic. If the sales rankings and bestseller lists no longer accurately reflect what Amazon customers are buying, then...what use are they?

In effect, Amazon has made their own lists and sales rankings meaningless, obsolete. I mean, the accuracy -- and long term significance of these numbers -- have always been debatable, but now...now they're truly pointless.

Anyway, if you were in the mood to buy books, this might be a good week to give your indie booksellers a shot. And there are various contact numbers where you can make your displeasure known. You can start here at Amazon Connect connect  -help  @amazon.   com (obviously you would remove the spaces in the email address.)

There is also a petition that you can sign.

I now return you to your regular programming -- and reading.

Jenre over at Well Read was kind enough to interview me last month. I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed her questions which took a different slant than perhaps the usual. Or maybe it's just been a while since I stopped to think before answering. *g*

Anyway, if you're looking for any excuse to avoid working on a Monday morning, pop on over and say hi.

I really AM working. My hand to gawd. But I stopped off at the DIK island to keep my l'il pal Lisabea company since she's hanging out there juggling cocoanuts and finding excuses not to finish her third (yes, she's up to three, count 'em THREE) book.

Anyway, I put together a mini bar exam. You have to be a good guesser or really know my work -- in which case, why would you need a copy of The Dark Horse and The White Knight? Dunno. But I am giving away a copy or two of said works (you can always have me email them to a friend if you manage to pass my fiendishly clever quiz.).

Come on, if it's Thursday we must be on DIY Island!

The White Knight -- prequel and sequel to The Dark Horse is now available.

There were obvious challenges to writing something like this -- not least being the fluid time line.  Why did I decide to combine a prequel with a sequel? Because, while I could see there was a bit more story there to justify a sequel, I had so many requests for the prequel. So many readers wanted to see when Sean and Dan met. Which presented a dilemma for me as a writer because everyone who read Dark Horse already knew the outcome of that meeting. Also, the most important emotional revelations -- well, even plot revelations -- took place in Dark Horse.

There did not seem to be enough story or suspense to justify a prequel on its own, so I combined the two...but is it a bit complicated for this genre? Dunno. Could be. You decide. I glanced it over last night (which I generally don't do), and I thought it worked pretty well all things considered. But then I would, wouldn't I?

It was a real challenge avoiding an early reveal on the big emotional moments in The Dark Horse, making sure the relationship didn't progress in a way that would make The Dark Horse obsolete. Dark Horse does need to be read first, followed by The White Knight -- White Knight is meant to supplement and continue the original story.  

So I guess...another snippet?

 

( A snippet )

I'm coming down with the flu -- and the first person who says you seem to get sick a lot dies a horrible death, right?

Anyway...deadlines wait for no man. One cannot call in sick (often) to one's own freelance livelihood. The hood being less lively today than at other times.

I did a blog about writing historical novellas for the m/m market. Not one of my briliant efforts, I freely -- stoned on cold meds -- admit. I plead...well, pretty much anything and request that you chime in with your own insights and tips because mine are lackey. Lacking. And you all have excellent ideas on this kind of thing. Perhaps you could chime in over there and make me look popular so they have me back. Although it does seem like a lot of effort at the moment. For all concerned.

Oh. And...there was another very interesting post over at Hayden Thorne's site about historical accuracy in m/m romance. Is it necessary?
 
I posted to the SpeakItsName list on this topic. I think I must be getting cynical in my old age. But I was thinking thisaway...

( What is he on about now? )