Ryan Field's Blog, page 525

Another YA by Michael Northrope, GENTLEMEN

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I've been on this YA kick all month and I've been surprised at how much I've loved the books I've read. It's not really my genre, but I do have eclectic taste...at times.

The latest YA, GENTLEMEN, by Michael Northrope, was just as good as the others. I don't like to review books here but I do like to mention them when I really enjoy them. And this book, trust me, has a surprise twist at the end that I didn't see coming. And that doesn't happen often. Nine times out of ten I can predict the ending of a book and that really doesn't bother me. But when I'm floored, as I was with GENTLEMEN, and have to go back and read certain parts twice to make sure I didn't get it wrong, I'm always thrilled.

But no spoilers. You'll have to trust me on this.

Author Lauren Myracle Talks About "Shine" and National Book Award

I posted about this on Monday, and wanted to follow up with a link to the author's comments.

The author of "Shine," Lauren Myracle, has written something over at Huff Post, here.

I find what happened to Lauren Myracle and her book, "Shine," disturbing. And it's one of the main reasons why I've never been fond of most book awards in a general sense.

The reason I'm active in the Rainbow Awards is because I know how well they are run, and I know how fair and honest Elisa Rolle is. I've never met anyone as fair or honest as Elisa. And I can tell you for certain something like this never would have happened with the Rainbow Awards.

Bullying, Crisis, Questioning?...This Might Help

Someone commented on a blog post I read yesterday about how it might help to let young LGBTQ people in crisis know there are good books out there that might help them. And I think it's a good idea for young people who are in crisis about their identities, too. In the LGBTQ world there's a lot of frustration during the teen and early twenty years and there's never an easy answer.

But there are people who have been writing about their own experiences, and some have been writing good books with the intention of helping people who are in crisis. And I don't believe everyone is cut out to call helplines or seek help out in an aggressive way. Some people are more introspective and they prefer to seek help in quiet ways.

I have one editorial client left. His name is Curt von Dornheim and he's written many non-fiction books that I think can be very helpful to people who are either going through a crisis or coming out of one. Although his books aren't strictly LGBTQ, he is very familiar with the LGBTQ community and he's worked with everything from AIDS patients to school children. I know his books are good because I edited them. I had nothing to do with the e-book releases because I know nothing about that. I'm not promoting his books because I'm receiving any compensation.

I'm doing it because I think it might help. And I would recommend his books highly to anyone who is in doubt or is questioning something in their life. They aren't religious books; they aren't exactly self-help. They aren't too spiritual and they aren't too complicated. But they do make you feel really good. And that's the best way I can explain it.

He's like Norman Vincent Peale for today's way of thinking...without the religious overtones. Every page has something positive. I like his books so much I even left a review for one on amazon, and that's not something I do often.

Here's a list of his e-books that have just been released:

Don't Take Your Treasures With You

Crystallizing Creative Consciousness

Help For Teen Bullying...Teen Victim Project

Update: I was informed the helpline on this site it no longer working due to loss of funding. But that doesn't mean there aren't other places.

Please see below or visit our Web site for resources and links to other
victim assistance:
http://www.ncvc.org/ncvc/main.aspx?db....

Thank you for your understanding and support.


Helpful Contacts:

Office for Victims of Crime, Directory of Crime Victim Services:
http://ovc.ncjrs.gov/findvictimservices/ [links to crime victim services
across the country]

National Association of Crime Victim Compensation Boards:
http://www.nacvcb.org/ [links to every state's compensation program]

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7223 or 1-800-787-3224
(TTY) or http://www.thehotline.org/

National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline: 1-866-331-9474 or 1-866-331-8453
(TTY) or www.loveisrespect.org

Sacred Circle: National Resource Center to End Violence against
Native Women: 1-877-733-7623 or http://www.sacred-circle.com

Women's Law: http://www.womenslaw.org/ [Information on orders of
protection]

Stalking Resource Center: www.ncvc.org/src [website only]

National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673 [24/7 hotline] or
www.rainn.org [online hotline]

National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs - National Advocacy for
Local LGBT Communities: 1-212-714-1141 or http://www.avp.org/ncavp.htm
[links to local programs]

The Trevor Project - Crisis & Suicide Prevention Lifeline for LGBTQ
Youth: 1-866-488-7386 or http://www.thetrevorproject.org

Identity Theft Resource Center: 1-888-400-5530 or
http://www.idtheftcenter.org

Internet Crime Complaint Center: www.ic3.gov

National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-422-4453 or www.childhelp.org

National Center on Elder Abuse: 1-800-677-1116 or www.ncea.aoa.gov

Parents of Murdered Children: 1-888-818-7662 or http://www.pomc.org/

MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving): 1-800-438-6233 or
http://www.madd.org/

National Runaway Switchboard: 1-800-786-2929 or
http://www.1800runaway.org/

National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264 or www.nami.org

Overseas Citizens Services: 1-888-407-4747 or 1-202-501-4444 (from
overseas)

National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255


I found this web site and I really liked what they had to say. It's called Teen Victim Project and there's a ton of information.

There are also e-mail addresses and phone numbers for those who are experiencing bullying or harassment.

Here's
Here's part of the web site copy:

Bullying is when one person hurts or threatens someone else physically, verbally, or in writing. The bully may choose a victim who is smaller or younger than they are, or who is from a different race or culture, or they may pick on someone who is different in some other way. The bullying might happen once or over and over again. Bullying can include pushing, shoving, kicking, hitting, teasing, or writing mean or threatening notes.

Do the Women Who Read M/M Fiction Care About Political Implications?

I'm really just throwing this question out there because I don't have a clue.

And being that this post will be up for a long time, I'd like to think that a few people will comment. If they don't comment, that just might be the answer I was looking for.

But I am curious about whether or not the many women who read m/m romance and fiction (or write it) actually care about the political implications the LGBTQ community experiences. Or is it just about happy endings and reading sexy scenes?

I was recently told that the women who read m/m don't care about political implications. I personally don't agree with this, but it was one of those situations where I wasn't in a position to offer my opinion. I think the women who read and write m/m do care. I've been in touch with them and I've listened to them closely. But I could be wrong. So I'm hoping to gain some insight.

And I know it's a discreet sub-genre. So feel free to comment anonymously. I'll never know who you are.

The Deal With Twitter...

Here's the deal with Twitter:

Unless you're Ashton Kutcher and you have millions following you on twitter.

Or you're a literary agent and thousands are following you because they want you to represent them and turn them into the next Stephanie Meyer.

I think it's a nice gesture to follow someone on twitter when they've been kind enough to follow you. It's simple, too. You just open the e-mail, click on the person's name, and then click "follow."

Twitter isn't easy to get into, not by any means. But once you do you'll start to enjoy it more than you thought you would. You'll also be connected to a lot of excellent things you would have missed otherwise. And there's a lot less "noise" on twitter than on most other social media.

New From Kobo: Vox

I love Kobo anything. I have two Kobo e-readers, one backlit and the other e-ink, and have no complaints at all.

So when Kobo sent me the e-mail about their new Vox I figured posting about it would make me feel less guilty if I decide to buy one.

Check it out here.

Kobo Vox™ is an eReader and more!

Shop over 2.2 million books – 1 million free. Experience color books for all ages on the brilliant 7" screen. Take reading to a new level discussing books with other readers and sharing your Reading Life™ to Facebook®. Built for connected life, Kobo Vox offers Wi Fi, Web browsing, Facebook®, email, music, games, plus over 15,000 apps for Android™! More


ORDERS START SHIPPING OCTOBER 28, 2011.
You could WIN a Kobo eReader! Find out how >>
Sign up for price alert

Availability: In stock

Jamey Rodemeyer's Bullies Still At It...

I've been reading that the little fuckers who allegedly bullied Jamey Rodemeyer are still at it. I've received personal messages and e-mails from people who've read more than I have and I find it hard to believe the audacity these bullies have...and now I'm talking about all bullies across the board.

I'd like to see them try these bully tactics on the wrong person...someone like me. I was never bullied. When it looked like I was about to be bullied it only took one look from me and they backed off. I wish I could say hope and change and love will make it all better. But I personally think a good hard kick in the ass works a lot better. At least that's what kept me from being bullied.

But everyone's different, and some people are more sensitive than others. And looking the other way might work better for them than fighting back. It can also be dangerous to fight back, so I'm not advocating it. There are no easy answers, because there always have been bullies and there always will be bullies. I remember the bullies when I was in school and how they tortured certain people. When I see them pop up occasionally on facebook I take great satisfaction in seeing how they wound up: not well, trust me.

I know when we say it gets better it sounds like a cliche by now, and I understand how futile it can be to imagine it will get better when you're in the middle of being bullied. Lady Gaga said she'd talk to the President about bullying and so far I've heard nothing from either of them. The President is off on his excellent adventure traveling the country by bus and who knows where Lady Gaga is. And we all know there's nothing coming from the other side of the political spectrum from that dismal list of Republican Presidential hopefuls.

But I do know a lot of people without titles and high profile positions who are working hard to do something about the bullying problem. At the very least, there are places to go on the Internet and people to contact if you're being bullied. My friend Ryan just posted about it. You can do this anonymously in most cases. You can let it all out and no one will judge you. So if you are being bullied, at least contact someone about it before you do anything drastic. It might not solve the problem instantly, but you will feel better.

Enabling Facebook's Timeline

I haven't checked into Timeline much because I haven't had time. But it looks interesting and I will check it out at a later date.

So far, though, I'm not sure about whether or not I'll really get into it. It might be a little too much info for my taste.

But I would imagine the really creative types, like those who have created completley false identities on other social media, will have a blast with this.

Here's a link to mashable that shows how to enable Timeline.

Check This Out: Amara's Place M/M Gazette

Thanks to twitter, I found this great new site, The Amara's Place M/M Gazette. It has a little bit of everything, from important news worthy information to pop culture.

It's smart and accurate, which is something I don't see too often.

And I really love the way it's set up. Here's the link.