Ryan Field's Blog, page 527
October 13, 2011
Michele Montgomery: A Post Worth Reading
I was hopping around different blogs last night and came across this. I'm a fan of Michele's fiction, and I've lurked at her blog before and I've enjoyed what I read. But this truly is worth reading.
Here's part of the post, and I've linked to the rest of it.
Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad
Looking at my activity here on the blog shows that I'm probably the worst blogger there ever was. Generally I'm so busy I can't even think by the end of the day, never mind write a blog, and if I do, it's because something has managed to grab me and inspire me so much, that I have to make time to get it out and on paper, so to speak. It's almost 11PM and something managed to grab me and inspire me enough to get it down and I hope when you read it, you'll take it to heart, because I did.
"…How we all have to be together in this life, that we all are each other's caretakers in this life and you never know if you're gonna be the most important person in someone's life."
Here's part of the post, and I've linked to the rest of it.
Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad
Looking at my activity here on the blog shows that I'm probably the worst blogger there ever was. Generally I'm so busy I can't even think by the end of the day, never mind write a blog, and if I do, it's because something has managed to grab me and inspire me so much, that I have to make time to get it out and on paper, so to speak. It's almost 11PM and something managed to grab me and inspire me enough to get it down and I hope when you read it, you'll take it to heart, because I did.
"…How we all have to be together in this life, that we all are each other's caretakers in this life and you never know if you're gonna be the most important person in someone's life."
October 12, 2011
Writer Beware: The Scams Continue
I don't do a lot of these posts because there are other web sites and blogs for writers where they concentrate on scams and rip-offs. But when I see something I think is important to post about, I do my best to help these things from spreading.
This morning I opened a private message on Facebook. There was a friendly note that I thought was from an author telling me about her new book. I get these messages a lot and I don't mind reading them. Sometimes, if I have the time, I even check out the book. It's friendly; no harm done; all is well.
But as I read on, I saw there was something different about this message. It wasn't a personal message at all. It was a marketing company promoting some author's book through a private message on Facebook. In fact, they weren't even promoting the author's book. They were promoting their own web site and their marketing services. These services, so they claim, are supposed to make writers instant millionaires.
I'm not going to link to these people and I'm not going to name them. There are more like them out there and I'm sure there will be more popping up in the future. Now that e-books have become so popular, more writers are publishing than ever before. Sleazy companies like these know how vulnerable writers can be and they play upon their weakest points. One of which is selling books.
The private message I received began with this, I see you like to read. Anything that begins that way sends off signal right away. Then the message went on to explain the book in a few lines and tell me about the marketing services by this company that are guaranteed to sell books and make writers millionaires.
There is no such thing. Trust me, I know this because I've been in publishing for over twenty years. And when you hear someone say something like this, run in the other direction as fast as you can. These companies are only out there to scam you and take your money. If there was a magic secret to promoting a book everyone would be doing it and we'd all be millionaires.
People are paying good money to companies like this and they will never get results. In other words, if it sounds too good to be true it probably is too good to be true. And this is how I replied to this marketing company, verbatim:
Hi,
This is just a suggestion. But I'm not sure these spams on private messages work. If I found out anyone was sending out private messages to other authors or readers about my books, I'd go postal on them. It's along the lines of telemarketing and it's intrusive. I really do think there are lines drawn when it comes to promoting books, and when those lines are crossed it hurts the author more than helps him or her. And I hate to see that happen to any author. You might want to rethink your aggressive approach for the sake of the authors you are promoting. It just doesn't work.
Ryan Field
This happened at nine this morning. I'm still waiting for a reply. If they had been reputable, they would have replied. The scammers never bother.
This morning I opened a private message on Facebook. There was a friendly note that I thought was from an author telling me about her new book. I get these messages a lot and I don't mind reading them. Sometimes, if I have the time, I even check out the book. It's friendly; no harm done; all is well.
But as I read on, I saw there was something different about this message. It wasn't a personal message at all. It was a marketing company promoting some author's book through a private message on Facebook. In fact, they weren't even promoting the author's book. They were promoting their own web site and their marketing services. These services, so they claim, are supposed to make writers instant millionaires.
I'm not going to link to these people and I'm not going to name them. There are more like them out there and I'm sure there will be more popping up in the future. Now that e-books have become so popular, more writers are publishing than ever before. Sleazy companies like these know how vulnerable writers can be and they play upon their weakest points. One of which is selling books.
The private message I received began with this, I see you like to read. Anything that begins that way sends off signal right away. Then the message went on to explain the book in a few lines and tell me about the marketing services by this company that are guaranteed to sell books and make writers millionaires.
There is no such thing. Trust me, I know this because I've been in publishing for over twenty years. And when you hear someone say something like this, run in the other direction as fast as you can. These companies are only out there to scam you and take your money. If there was a magic secret to promoting a book everyone would be doing it and we'd all be millionaires.
People are paying good money to companies like this and they will never get results. In other words, if it sounds too good to be true it probably is too good to be true. And this is how I replied to this marketing company, verbatim:
Hi,
This is just a suggestion. But I'm not sure these spams on private messages work. If I found out anyone was sending out private messages to other authors or readers about my books, I'd go postal on them. It's along the lines of telemarketing and it's intrusive. I really do think there are lines drawn when it comes to promoting books, and when those lines are crossed it hurts the author more than helps him or her. And I hate to see that happen to any author. You might want to rethink your aggressive approach for the sake of the authors you are promoting. It just doesn't work.
Ryan Field
This happened at nine this morning. I'm still waiting for a reply. If they had been reputable, they would have replied. The scammers never bother.
Something in the Making...Thanks to E-books
About a month ago I was approached about doing something with another author whom I've always admired. And though I've never collaborated with anyone on anything, I was extremely interested.
So the publisher introduced us...we'd never met...and the e-mails started flying. After a great deal of brainstorming, we came up with a concept, a theme, and a deadline.
Nothing is in writing yet so I can't give out details. But I can say this much. It's most likely going to be a novella collection, it's going to be m/m romance, and it will be out before Christmas.
The whole idea of collaborating has been very nice. The other author and I get along wonderfully and it's an experience I'm looking forward to. For years I worked on anthologies with many other authors, for Cleis Press, Alyson Books, and one other gay press. I've also worked with a few European publishers on short story collections. It's actually my favorite way to write and I'm glad that all the new advances in digital technology have allowed authors to have this kind of freedom. And as a reader, I would imagine people are having just as much fun as I am buying short stories, novellas, and full length novels. It's hard to believe we didn't have those choices five or ten years ago.
So the publisher introduced us...we'd never met...and the e-mails started flying. After a great deal of brainstorming, we came up with a concept, a theme, and a deadline.
Nothing is in writing yet so I can't give out details. But I can say this much. It's most likely going to be a novella collection, it's going to be m/m romance, and it will be out before Christmas.
The whole idea of collaborating has been very nice. The other author and I get along wonderfully and it's an experience I'm looking forward to. For years I worked on anthologies with many other authors, for Cleis Press, Alyson Books, and one other gay press. I've also worked with a few European publishers on short story collections. It's actually my favorite way to write and I'm glad that all the new advances in digital technology have allowed authors to have this kind of freedom. And as a reader, I would imagine people are having just as much fun as I am buying short stories, novellas, and full length novels. It's hard to believe we didn't have those choices five or ten years ago.
October 11, 2011
National Coming Out Day...Don't Feel Pressured
This might be the shortest post I've ever written.
If you're coming out today, I think that's wonderful. Huzzah!!
But if you're still living in circumstances where it's not possible to come out...or, more important...you're not ready to come out yet, please do not feel pressured into coming out just because there's a national coming out day and all your friends think it's the cool thing to do.
The process is different for everyone, and you should never feel pressured by anyone to actually come out until you're ready. Some do it all at once. Others take their time and do it slowly. There's no right way or wrong way. I never actually came out, at least not formally. And if I had to go back, I wouldn't change a thing.
If you're coming out today, I think that's wonderful. Huzzah!!
But if you're still living in circumstances where it's not possible to come out...or, more important...you're not ready to come out yet, please do not feel pressured into coming out just because there's a national coming out day and all your friends think it's the cool thing to do.
The process is different for everyone, and you should never feel pressured by anyone to actually come out until you're ready. Some do it all at once. Others take their time and do it slowly. There's no right way or wrong way. I never actually came out, at least not formally. And if I had to go back, I wouldn't change a thing.
"Trapped," by Michael Northrope
I hate to do book reviews, mainly because I don't want this blog turning into that kind of a blog. But when I read something I think other people will love, I post about it.
I just finished TRAPPED, by Michael Northrope, and loved it. If you're not into YA and you're curious about the genre, this is the book that might get you hooked. If you're into YA and you know the genre well, you'll like it just as much.
My only complaint has to do with the publisher, not the author or the book. And please don't take this out on the author because authors have nothing to do with pricing books (people have done this with me and I know how it feels: helpless). I read the e-book version of TRAPPED. I bought it on Kobo where I buy most of my digital books. And I paid something like ten dollars. This time, I can say with complete honestly that TRAPPED was worth the money and I have no complaints whatsoever. I even bought this author's other novel, GENTLEMEN, last night and paid something like nine dollars.
So I hope the way the publisher priced the book doesn't deter anyone. Publishers still aren't getting that we who love to read digital books don't like the prices they are charging. We buy often and we read fast...it's about volume nowadays. And sometimes authors suffer for publishers mistakes. I have, indeed, passed on many books just because of the prices. But I'm glad I didn't pass on TRAPPED. Like it said, it was well worth the money.
October 10, 2011
For Those Thinking About Self-Publishing
Although this isn't new, I figured I'd post it. I wanted to do it earlier but there have been a lot of things going on.
However, it is interesting and it is another choice for authors.
New Service for Authors Seeking to Self-Publish E-BooksBy JULIE BOSMAN
Published: October 2, 2011
The Perseus Books Group has created a distribution and marketing service that will allow authors to self-publish their own e-books, the company said on Sunday.
The new service will give authors an alternative to other self-publishing services and a favorable revenue split that is unusual in the industry: 70 percent to the author and 30 percent to the distributor. Traditional publishers normally provide authors a royalty of about 25 percent for e-books...read more
However, it is interesting and it is another choice for authors.
New Service for Authors Seeking to Self-Publish E-BooksBy JULIE BOSMAN
Published: October 2, 2011
The Perseus Books Group has created a distribution and marketing service that will allow authors to self-publish their own e-books, the company said on Sunday.
The new service will give authors an alternative to other self-publishing services and a favorable revenue split that is unusual in the industry: 70 percent to the author and 30 percent to the distributor. Traditional publishers normally provide authors a royalty of about 25 percent for e-books...read more
Pre-release Review: A Young Widow's Promise
This is the first time I've ever had a pre-release review for anything. In fact, I'm very bad about soliciting reviews and don't do it often. But last week, when the publisher sent me the ARC for this novella, I received an e-mail from Amos Lassen literally on the same exact day by coincidence...about something that had nothing to do with A YOUNG WIDOW'S PROMISE. I know he does review all LGBTQ books, but I always thought of him as more literary. And because I'm crossing genres this time with this novella, I've been worried about how I'm going to promote it. So I decided to ask Amos if he'd be willing to review A YOUNG WIDOW'S PROMISE, and he graciously agreed.
Though Amos has reviewed a couple of my books over the years, again, I always thought of him as a reviewer who concentrated more on LGBTQ literary fiction rather than m/m erotic romance. And A YOUNG WIDOW'S PROMISE isn't even considered m/m romance, let alone LGBTQ literary fiction. It's a pg rated m/f historical romance with a gay subplot that I thought was important to the storyline. I've written other m/f pg rated romances in many different sub-genres, but this is the first time I'm doing it without using a pen name. And when Amos agreed to review this, I was thrilled that he'd actually take the time to do it.
Here's a link to Amos Lassen's web site, and the review is below.
Field, Ryan. "A Young Widow's Promise", Loveyoudivine.com, 2011.
The Civil War ala Ryan Field
Amos Lassen
Living in the South, it is hard not to be a Civil War buff and in fact every day I pass a couple of monuments and battle sites. Southerners are proud people and just as they do not forget what some refer to as the Great War; they also erect monuments to battles that they lost. It's a strange life.
Every once in a while I like a good Civil War book (or as you Yankees call the conflict, The War Between the States). There is something very romantic about the period just as there is something very romantic about the old South. Of course, any novel about the Civil War will be inevitably compared to the great "Gone with the Wind"—well, maybe this one won't as it is being released only as an ebook for now (on October 29). I must compliment Ryan Field for undertaking such a project because to write a period novel, a lot of research is required and if you have been following Field's blog, you know that he did his share. He does not disappoint. Ryan Field is one of the most prolific writers around so I am sure it was not easy to take the time to do the research for this book and his research is evident. Life in the 1800's was very much different than it is today to be sure, but it is the little nuances of life that capture our attention. If an author makes a mistake about the period he is writing about, someone will call him on it. (No Ryan, you on the back and say "Job well done").
Ryan Field's extremely readable writing style is evident here and while I cannot say much about the plot, I am going to say that once I sat down to read, I read straight through the day. And since I have used the word straight already, I will say that this is a book about a straight romance between a man and a woman. But do not throw your arms up in despair—there is a gay subplot.
I suppose what I am trying to say is that we see the author's versatility as a writer here. I knew that he also writes straight novels under another name yet here he brings the two genres together and the result is very satisfying. You notice that I have avoided talking about the plot and the characters but there is a "method to my madness". Rarely do I give a book an advance rave without talking about the story but that is what I am doing here. I have too often been accused of saying too much about a story so I am saying nothing except you will learn about lawn mowers. Take my word for it—you will enjoy it totally—not just because of the plot and the characters but because Ryan Field is a wonderful writer who never ceases to surprise. I want you to have the same surprises I had. I know some of you will say that this is a cursory review and it is. Let's wait until some of you have a chance to share the story and then we'll talk about it. In the meantime, put it on your "To Read" lists and preorder it. You won't be sorry.
Though Amos has reviewed a couple of my books over the years, again, I always thought of him as a reviewer who concentrated more on LGBTQ literary fiction rather than m/m erotic romance. And A YOUNG WIDOW'S PROMISE isn't even considered m/m romance, let alone LGBTQ literary fiction. It's a pg rated m/f historical romance with a gay subplot that I thought was important to the storyline. I've written other m/f pg rated romances in many different sub-genres, but this is the first time I'm doing it without using a pen name. And when Amos agreed to review this, I was thrilled that he'd actually take the time to do it.
Here's a link to Amos Lassen's web site, and the review is below.
Field, Ryan. "A Young Widow's Promise", Loveyoudivine.com, 2011.
The Civil War ala Ryan Field
Amos Lassen
Living in the South, it is hard not to be a Civil War buff and in fact every day I pass a couple of monuments and battle sites. Southerners are proud people and just as they do not forget what some refer to as the Great War; they also erect monuments to battles that they lost. It's a strange life.
Every once in a while I like a good Civil War book (or as you Yankees call the conflict, The War Between the States). There is something very romantic about the period just as there is something very romantic about the old South. Of course, any novel about the Civil War will be inevitably compared to the great "Gone with the Wind"—well, maybe this one won't as it is being released only as an ebook for now (on October 29). I must compliment Ryan Field for undertaking such a project because to write a period novel, a lot of research is required and if you have been following Field's blog, you know that he did his share. He does not disappoint. Ryan Field is one of the most prolific writers around so I am sure it was not easy to take the time to do the research for this book and his research is evident. Life in the 1800's was very much different than it is today to be sure, but it is the little nuances of life that capture our attention. If an author makes a mistake about the period he is writing about, someone will call him on it. (No Ryan, you on the back and say "Job well done").
Ryan Field's extremely readable writing style is evident here and while I cannot say much about the plot, I am going to say that once I sat down to read, I read straight through the day. And since I have used the word straight already, I will say that this is a book about a straight romance between a man and a woman. But do not throw your arms up in despair—there is a gay subplot.
I suppose what I am trying to say is that we see the author's versatility as a writer here. I knew that he also writes straight novels under another name yet here he brings the two genres together and the result is very satisfying. You notice that I have avoided talking about the plot and the characters but there is a "method to my madness". Rarely do I give a book an advance rave without talking about the story but that is what I am doing here. I have too often been accused of saying too much about a story so I am saying nothing except you will learn about lawn mowers. Take my word for it—you will enjoy it totally—not just because of the plot and the characters but because Ryan Field is a wonderful writer who never ceases to surprise. I want you to have the same surprises I had. I know some of you will say that this is a cursory review and it is. Let's wait until some of you have a chance to share the story and then we'll talk about it. In the meantime, put it on your "To Read" lists and preorder it. You won't be sorry.
October 9, 2011
Toby Keith on Same Sex Marriage...
When I saw this piece about Toby Keith I figured I'd post about it. I know a lot of LGBTQ people who are country music fans (we don't all listen to disco music and show tunes), and I like a few of Toby's songs myself, especially AS GOOD AS I ONCE WAS. I also like his honesty and that he's not afraid to speak up. And if this video doesn't make you smile, something is wrong.
Here's the link, and part of the article is below.
In an upcoming interview on CMT Insider to be aired on Saturday, Keith says there's no reason we should be getting involved in people's personal lives and that banning gays from marrying won't stop them from living together. Keith believes we are wasting time and money trying to legislate what two consenting adults do together.
October 8, 2011
Cutting Off Amish Men's Beards?
Being that I have a new release coming out soon, THE VIRGIN BILLIONAIRE'S HOT AMISH ESCAPADE, I couldn't help posting this.
Amish Men's Beards Cut Off; Police Suspect Amish-On-Amish Violence
First Posted: 10/7/11 11:25 AM ET Updated: 10/8/11 07:59 AM ET
Sheriff's deputies are closing in on suspects from a troublemaking Amish splinter group in Ohio who have broken into homes and cut off the beards and hair of other Amish men.
Authorities tell HuffPost Crime they are planning to arrest at least four men who are followers of Sam Mullet, a bishop who Jefferson County Sheriff Fred Abdalla said has clashed with other Amish leaders for years.
At least three attacks in rural eastern Ohio since September prompted the victims -- all Amish -- to look outside their traditionalist community to seek help from local police.
In one nighttime raid in Carroll County, a group of men knocked on a door, pulled a man out by the beard and tried to chop off his facial hair, the Wheeling Intelligencer reports.
In Holmes County, a posse allegedly broke into a home, lopping off the hair and whiskers of everyone inside, including a 13-year-old-girl and 74-year-old man. There were no serious injuries, according to police.
"Who knows where it's going to end?" Abdalla said to The Huffington Post. "That's why we have to make these arrests."
Holmes and Carroll County sheriff's officials didn't return calls from HuffPost.
The unnamed suspects could be charged with kidnapping, assault, burglary and trespassing, the sheriff said.
Police say Mullet is not a suspect, but he is said to exert influence over the approximately 18 families that live near him in the village of Bergholz. The attackers in Carroll County allegedly identified themselves as the "Bergholz clan" to the victims. One person that deputies plan to arrest is a son of Mullet, Abadalla said.
The victims of the tonsorial onslaughts include two Amish bishops. Abdalla believes that Mullet is a ringleader who ordered his followers to launch the attacks against his potential rivals.
"Those people don't make a move out there without his orders," Abdalla told The Huffington Post. "He calls all the shots."
The Amish community in Jefferson County is small, numbering around 100 individuals, Abdalla said, but is much larger in the neighboring areas.
In Trumbull County last month, men and women allegedly invaded a home and returned to Jefferson County with the freshly cut locks as proof that they carried out Mullet's commands, according to The Intelligencer. The victims said their sons and son-in-law were the culprits, but refused to file a complaint, the Associated Press reports.
Amish do not shave or cut their hair, believing that it's forbidden by the Bible, said Donald Kraybill, an expert who studies the religious minority at Elizabethtown College. To forcibly lob off their locks is a direct insult to their identity, Kraybill said.
"This is very odd and clearly outlier behavior," he wrote to HuffPost. "Amish-on-Amish violences is extremely rare. ... These appear to be malicious assaults on symbols of Amish identity by a wacko little group."
The Huffington Post could not contact Mullet. Bryan Felmet, an attorney who represented Mullet four years ago, said he's no longer a client.
The haircutting banditry is the latest form of tumult that Sheriff Abdalla attributes to Mullet's colony. During a custody dispute in 2007 between Mullet's daughter Wilma Troyer and her husband, armed deputies stormed a schoolhouse to seize Troyer's daughters. At a subsequent hearing, Abdalla claimed that Mullet had threatened his life and that sexual abuse in the Amish community had been covered up.
October 7, 2011
You Missed a Spot, Big Guy: Number One Bestseller on TLAgay.com
One of my author friends over at loveyoudivine.com, Jon Michaelson, just informed me that one of my e-books, YOU MISSED A SPOT, BIG GUY, hit number one on the bestseller list over at TLAgay.com. Here's the link. And here's the TLA page where it can be purchased.
