Ryan Field's Blog, page 559
May 5, 2011
New Release for May 6th: Skater Boy
For those who are fans of skater boys, you might be interested in this short story e-book. And for those who are fans of attractive middle aged men meeting younger skater boys in their twenties, you might be interested too.
Below is a blurb for the story. Here's the link. It's more modern romance than traditional romance. And there is hope for a future relationship between the two main characters. Those who've read my work know that I almost always have a happy ending. Life's hard sometimes; not everyone gets a happy ending in real life. There should at least be a happy ending in fiction.
When Bradley Klinger moves from the city to a small town in the mountains of upstate New York, the last thing he expects to find is a hot young skater boy named Jared who never stops flirting with him. They meet in the small restaurant Jared owns, thanks to Jared's sixty year old partner in New York with whom he shares an open, sexless relationship. Though Jared is kept by the older man in every sense of the word, from his Bentley Continental to his small restaurant in the mountains, Jared doesn't waste any time getting to know Bradley much better. And though Jared is the kind of young skater boy, in baggy, low-hanging jeans and loose T-shirts, Bradley has always dreamed about, Bradley is concerned the age difference between them might be too vast. But Jared doesn't stop pursuing Bradley, to the point where he actually follows Bradley home one night on his skate board.
The Interesting Thing About Gay Men...
In one sentence: The interesting thing about gay men is they are men.
I know this sounds a little too obvious to most people who don't know much about gay men. And when I say "don't know much," I'm talking about people who aren't gay and get their information from TV shows, Hollywood films, and some lgbt fiction. Notice I said "some" gay lgbt fiction. I'm not writing this post to single out anyone in particular. But I have seen a few lgbt books...one written by a national bestselling author...where a gay character was treated more like a woman than a man. The dialogue made me groan out out and I felt like tossing the book out the window. And, to be fair, it was a damn good book!
It's just that the author was faking it. She obviously has one or two gay friends in her life and she drew her information from them without going any deeper. Part of this is the fault of the silent, closeted sector of the lgbt community. For as long as I can remember, it's always been the loudest voices in the lgbt community who propagate the most stereotypes. Don't get me wrong. I love these people, all stereotypes aside. I love their courage and I love how they speak up for all of us. And, though I get a lot of flack for this, I personally don't mind stereotypes when used in appropriate circumstances. I think we've all become a little too PC...to the point where everyone is afraid to speak.
But the reason the vast majority of gay men aren't heard often is because they are men. Men don't think like women, they don't react like women, and they don't navigate the world like women. With men, it's black and white, with very few gray areas. Men react differently to sex as well. They don't seem to need as much emotion, and sex is more of a physical need than an emotional need. I'm not talking about "studies" now. I'm speaking from my own personal experience as a gay man and from my experiences with gay men. There's a reason psychologists have written bestselling books about the differences between men and women. And gay men, though I hate to burst anyone's bubble, think like men.
One of the least explored relationships, I think, are the friendships between gay men and straight men. I see TV shows, films, and books all the time where the gay guy always has a best girlfriend, the consummate fag hag. And yes, there are gay men like this. But most aren't. At least most of the gay men I know aren't. And, unfortunately, the reason why this is usually so hard to see is because half the gay men who are friends with straight men aren't open about being gay. In other words, you can't tell them apart no matter how hard you try. If you want to read a book or check out a movie where the relationship between a straight man and a gay man is close to perfect, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil does an excellent job.
I don't want anyone to get the wrong impression here. I'm not dissing effeminate gay men or the women who love them. Personally, I love women...I appreciate their energy most of all. And I have had, and still have, many gay male friends who love feathers, rhinestones, and glitter. I love them, too. But the lgbt community isn't what it appears to be on the surface. I think this is changing as time passes and more people start to feel comfortable with themselves and their sexuality. If I'd been born thirty years earlier, I wouldn't be writing gay fiction openly, I wouldn't be writing this blog post right now. I would most likely have been in the closet, sneaking around on the down low...like so many gay men are still doing today.
But the fact remains, gay men are still men. And no matter how anyone tries to twist it around, it's always going to be this way.
May 4, 2011
Amazon News...Expanding Into Publishing
The article below is from PW, and here's the link. I heard about this on the down low a while ago and I've been waiting to see how long it would take for the buzz to begin.
At this point, all I can say is it sounds interesting. If nothing else, it marks yet another huge change in the publishing industry.
Montlake Romance Marks Tip of Amazon's Expansion Into Publishing
By Rachel Deahl
May 04, 2011
| Reader Comments 1
With the news that Amazon is expanding its publishing arm, launching in the fall Montlake Romance (with plans to deepen its category-publishing to mystery, science fiction and thrillers), many in the publishing business have been talking about the company's hiring strategies. And agents have been eyeing the unfolding process closely, trying to gauge whether the retailer will become as viable a place for their books as the legacy houses.
For weeks job openings at Amazon, in both editorial and publicity, have been posted online, offering positions in Seattle and New York. Rumors have surfaced that the company is opening a New York office and is on the hunt for a high-level executive to be publisher of its expanded publishing wing. Amazon did not return e-mails inquiring about the expansion Wednesday afternoon.
A number of sources inside the publishing houses said there was a sour feeling about the way Amazon has, to this point, gone about its employee search. The company sent a form letter to a number of senior executives, some within the same publisher, inquiring if they would be interested in working for Amazon. While some sources scoffed at the respect a suite of Amazon imprints could establish in the industry—one insider said Amazon will likely be left with a "proprietary bookseller-publisher pretty far down on the food chain of quality publishers"—agents were less inflammatory.
One agent noted that Amazon is uniqeuly positioned to promote authors and books in a way traditional houses are not—through content on its Web site well as by tapping into information about its customers' book-buying habits. This agent said that, for this reason, there is a certain appeal to selling a book to them. He then noted though that "when any new publishing company or imprint is created I generally like to wait and see how they're going to do before placing my authors' intellectual property there."
Questions also persist about what Amazon will do in the way of distribution. If it handles its own fulfillment, or hires a traditional distributor, it is unclear whether print books from Amazon would find their way into Barnes & Noble or the independents, since both see the company as their most significant competition. While one source said it would be presumptive to assume that B&N wouldn't stock a book simply because Amazon published it, other sources added that, for the right title, having no distribution in B&N or the independents wouldn't be prohibitively damaging for sales anyway.
Another insider said he thinks it was inevitable that Amazon expand its influence in the publishing sphere and that the company will likely start to "acquire big names in the editorial ranks as well as make runs at big authors." He then added: "And I think agents would sell to them, especially since they'll probably spend big money."
Amazon has proven recently that, for the right author, it is willing to pay big money. After St. Martin's Press closed a reported $4 million four-book deal with self-publishing sensation Amanda Hocking, word leaked that Amazon had put in a competitive bid in an an attempt to land the author.
"They probably know enough about the book business by now to do as well, or better, than the old school houses," said another agent, acknowledging that he would probably sell a book to Amazon. Of course, as the previous insider guessed, it may come down to money on the table. Yet another agent said: "The big question is whether Amazon will pay advances, and at what level. And, of course, what will their tolerance of risk be as a publisher."
At this point, all I can say is it sounds interesting. If nothing else, it marks yet another huge change in the publishing industry.
Montlake Romance Marks Tip of Amazon's Expansion Into Publishing
By Rachel Deahl
May 04, 2011
| Reader Comments 1
With the news that Amazon is expanding its publishing arm, launching in the fall Montlake Romance (with plans to deepen its category-publishing to mystery, science fiction and thrillers), many in the publishing business have been talking about the company's hiring strategies. And agents have been eyeing the unfolding process closely, trying to gauge whether the retailer will become as viable a place for their books as the legacy houses.
For weeks job openings at Amazon, in both editorial and publicity, have been posted online, offering positions in Seattle and New York. Rumors have surfaced that the company is opening a New York office and is on the hunt for a high-level executive to be publisher of its expanded publishing wing. Amazon did not return e-mails inquiring about the expansion Wednesday afternoon.
A number of sources inside the publishing houses said there was a sour feeling about the way Amazon has, to this point, gone about its employee search. The company sent a form letter to a number of senior executives, some within the same publisher, inquiring if they would be interested in working for Amazon. While some sources scoffed at the respect a suite of Amazon imprints could establish in the industry—one insider said Amazon will likely be left with a "proprietary bookseller-publisher pretty far down on the food chain of quality publishers"—agents were less inflammatory.
One agent noted that Amazon is uniqeuly positioned to promote authors and books in a way traditional houses are not—through content on its Web site well as by tapping into information about its customers' book-buying habits. This agent said that, for this reason, there is a certain appeal to selling a book to them. He then noted though that "when any new publishing company or imprint is created I generally like to wait and see how they're going to do before placing my authors' intellectual property there."
Questions also persist about what Amazon will do in the way of distribution. If it handles its own fulfillment, or hires a traditional distributor, it is unclear whether print books from Amazon would find their way into Barnes & Noble or the independents, since both see the company as their most significant competition. While one source said it would be presumptive to assume that B&N wouldn't stock a book simply because Amazon published it, other sources added that, for the right title, having no distribution in B&N or the independents wouldn't be prohibitively damaging for sales anyway.
Another insider said he thinks it was inevitable that Amazon expand its influence in the publishing sphere and that the company will likely start to "acquire big names in the editorial ranks as well as make runs at big authors." He then added: "And I think agents would sell to them, especially since they'll probably spend big money."
Amazon has proven recently that, for the right author, it is willing to pay big money. After St. Martin's Press closed a reported $4 million four-book deal with self-publishing sensation Amanda Hocking, word leaked that Amazon had put in a competitive bid in an an attempt to land the author.
"They probably know enough about the book business by now to do as well, or better, than the old school houses," said another agent, acknowledging that he would probably sell a book to Amazon. Of course, as the previous insider guessed, it may come down to money on the table. Yet another agent said: "The big question is whether Amazon will pay advances, and at what level. And, of course, what will their tolerance of risk be as a publisher."
Shirley Maclaine's New Book: I'm Over All That
I'm almost finished reading Shirley Maclaine's new book, I'M OVER ALL THAT, and wanted to post something for other people who might be interested.
First...and it's interesting because Shirley discusses how pitiful the media can be these days...you're not going to receive an accurate concept of this book just by watching talk shows like The View. Frankly, I'd be willing to bet none of the women on The View bothered to read her book. I saw the interview the women on The View did with Shirley and I found it more than insulting...for Shirley and for potential readers. (Especially Joy Behar's stupid questions.) But that's for a different post. Shirley did a fine job discussing good journalists and bad, quasi journalists in the book.
I've also checked out the amazon reviews for this book and most are very good, so I'm not alone in writing this blog post.
So far, I've read snippets of her life as it is now. And because I've read all of her other books, from the first to this one, I often feel as if I've been following her life for years.
I don't agree with her concept of reincarnation. I've had too many of my own experiences with different frequencies to believe in reincarnation. But I also believe that one person's reality is never the same as another person's reality, and if Shirley believes in reincarnation it may very well exist...for her. And I don't agree with Shirley's opinion about e-mail. She doesn't do e-mail and believes it's better to speak in person. I disagree because I find that in many cases e-mail is even more personal than speaking to someone on the phone to talking face to face because our defenses are down and we feel more comfortable. I wish she'd give e-mail a try...I usually find that people who don't like e-mail just aren't getting what e-mail is all about. And the benefits outweight the negatives all the time.
She discusses her feelings about aging, about her relationship with her dog (I have an eleven year old dog I take everywhere with me, so I could seriously relate to these chapters), and how she deals with family. She also discusses her feelings about sex and relationships. Like I said, I've read all of her other books, so I'm familiar with her life. And it's interesting to read this book, because it's almost as if she's summing up many things she's already shared with her readers.
As a writer, Shirley Maclaine is probably one of the most professional authors I've read as far as celebrities go. She writes very well, and never makes any of the mistakes I often notice that so many people/celebs make while writing non-fiction. I always find myself wondering whether or not she was trained or if it just comes naturally. This would have been a great question for good old Joy Behar to ask, that is if Joy Behar knew how to conduct a decent interview.
I paid 9.99 for the e-book version of Shirley's book. I think it's outrageous that publishers will charge this much for an e-book, but this is no reflection on Shirley Maclaine or the book. Shirley, I'm sure, just like me, has no control over how her publisher prices a book...and probably doesn't want that kind of control either.
I'll post a full review, with excerpts. But for now, if you're looking for something interesting to read that flows well and covers a variety of topics, you can't go wrong with I'M OVER ALL THAT.
First...and it's interesting because Shirley discusses how pitiful the media can be these days...you're not going to receive an accurate concept of this book just by watching talk shows like The View. Frankly, I'd be willing to bet none of the women on The View bothered to read her book. I saw the interview the women on The View did with Shirley and I found it more than insulting...for Shirley and for potential readers. (Especially Joy Behar's stupid questions.) But that's for a different post. Shirley did a fine job discussing good journalists and bad, quasi journalists in the book.
I've also checked out the amazon reviews for this book and most are very good, so I'm not alone in writing this blog post.
So far, I've read snippets of her life as it is now. And because I've read all of her other books, from the first to this one, I often feel as if I've been following her life for years.
I don't agree with her concept of reincarnation. I've had too many of my own experiences with different frequencies to believe in reincarnation. But I also believe that one person's reality is never the same as another person's reality, and if Shirley believes in reincarnation it may very well exist...for her. And I don't agree with Shirley's opinion about e-mail. She doesn't do e-mail and believes it's better to speak in person. I disagree because I find that in many cases e-mail is even more personal than speaking to someone on the phone to talking face to face because our defenses are down and we feel more comfortable. I wish she'd give e-mail a try...I usually find that people who don't like e-mail just aren't getting what e-mail is all about. And the benefits outweight the negatives all the time.
She discusses her feelings about aging, about her relationship with her dog (I have an eleven year old dog I take everywhere with me, so I could seriously relate to these chapters), and how she deals with family. She also discusses her feelings about sex and relationships. Like I said, I've read all of her other books, so I'm familiar with her life. And it's interesting to read this book, because it's almost as if she's summing up many things she's already shared with her readers.
As a writer, Shirley Maclaine is probably one of the most professional authors I've read as far as celebrities go. She writes very well, and never makes any of the mistakes I often notice that so many people/celebs make while writing non-fiction. I always find myself wondering whether or not she was trained or if it just comes naturally. This would have been a great question for good old Joy Behar to ask, that is if Joy Behar knew how to conduct a decent interview.
I paid 9.99 for the e-book version of Shirley's book. I think it's outrageous that publishers will charge this much for an e-book, but this is no reflection on Shirley Maclaine or the book. Shirley, I'm sure, just like me, has no control over how her publisher prices a book...and probably doesn't want that kind of control either.
I'll post a full review, with excerpts. But for now, if you're looking for something interesting to read that flows well and covers a variety of topics, you can't go wrong with I'M OVER ALL THAT.
May 3, 2011
Some Praise For Prince Harry Of Wales
I know I shouldn't be posting superficial photos of the Prince, especially in these times of global intrigue. I should be posting something about Bin Laden. Or something about Shirley Maclaine's new e-book I'm reading, "I'm Over All That."
I know everyone's probably tired of reading about the royal wedding by now...not to mention talking about certain hats I refuse to mention again on the blog.
At the very least, I should be posting something about publishing and books.
But I thought this photo was worth sharing. Oddly enough, I'm a bigger fan of natural photos like this one than I am of outright nude photos or porn. I like it when the photo leaves something to the imagination. And I don't think this photo would embarrass the Prince at all.
I also think Prince Harry deserves some undivided attention for a change. I don't know if the photo is real or photoshopped. Looks real to me, and since I'll never actually meet his royal highness in person, it's going to have to suffice.
May 2, 2011
Strawberries and Cream at the Plaza: a Review by Gerry Burnie
I posted a short list of the book review sites a week or so ago that I often check out when I'm looking into buying a book. And when I mentioned that I often read Gerry Burnie's reviews for lgbt books (especially historicals, which I know nothing about), Gerry decided to review one of my books. Check out the link and check out all of Gerry's reviews; the full review is below.
The book he reviewed is a short story e-book titled, STRAWBERRIES AND CREAM AT THE PLAZA, and I'm thrilled to see that he liked it. This story is one of the few things I've ever written in the first person, and also one of the few things I've ever written where there's almost no erotica at all.
I received flack from some of my readers about there not being any erotica in the book. But sometimes a story just doesn't call for too many erotic scenes. And with this story, an overkill of erotica wouldn't have worked.
Sometimes fate really does work in your favour … Well, in fiction, anyway. That's the premise behind Ryan Field's charming short story, Strawberries and Cream at the Plaza [loveyoudivine Alterotica, 2010], and it comes across quite delightfully.
The main character, Kellan—a free lance writer and first-person narrator—is given a writing assignment to review a blog authored by Jason Patriot. Impressed by what he sees he contacts the writer to set up an interview, choosing a neutral place to meet in Central Park. They meet, and as these things sometimes do, events progress to where Patriot invites Kellan—not to bed—but to the dining room of luxurious Plaza Hotel for strawberries and Cream.
To reveal more of the story line would be a bit of a spoiler, but I can say that the narrative flows like strawberries and cream, and the story is as tasteful as a sprinkle of sugar. If I have a quibble it would be that the ending is a bit truncated without a satisfying resolution.
Enthusiastically recommended for a short read. Four stars
Osama Bin Laden...
Here's a piece from The Huffington Post about Bin Laden...
I still can't believe it took ten years to get him. In these days of speed and intelligence, it's almost too hard to comprehend.
But at least they got him. I live in New Hope, PA, not far from the New Jersey border. NYC is only 60 miles from here...most people who communte to work travel to NYC. I did it myself for a long time.
There are people in this area who lost family members during the 911 attacks. Recently, a steel beam from one of the towers was set up as a monument in a local public place. After 911 there were more memorial services between here and NYC than I care to count right now.
On 9-11-2001 I was working in a business I owned in New Jersey. My brother, who lives in NYC and has a business there, was in the air, flying to Nebraska on business when the attacks took place. My best friends were in the city; in-laws who are like family to me were there. And all my publishing friends...editors and agents...were there as well.
I'd just returned from vacation on Cape Cod, and one of the guests in the hotel I met that week was on a plane out Boston that morning. I never saw him again.
One of the pilots who was flying one of the planes that hit a tower lived five miles away from me. Another guy in town who was flying on business went down with the plane in western PA.
In this area, so close to the attacks, we were stunned. The world stopped moving and no one did anything but stare at the TV. I couldn't reach my brother or his partner because all phone lines were down. I couldn't reach friends or family. And when the plane went down in western PA, we weren't sure what to expect next.
And the aftermath didn't stop. All my business mail from the New Jersey business went thought the Princeton, NJ post office. I stopped getting bills and manscripts because of anthrax scares. We were terrified to open our mail without plastic gloves. And when the mail finally did arrive, months later, it was enclosed in anthrax proof sealed envelopes, which I still have, unopened, to this day.
This is just the tip of what some people I know experienced that day. And it was because of Bin Laden.
All I can say is I'm glad they finally got him. And bittersweet as it is, at least he won't be causing any more pain to innocent people.
I still can't believe it took ten years to get him. In these days of speed and intelligence, it's almost too hard to comprehend.
But at least they got him. I live in New Hope, PA, not far from the New Jersey border. NYC is only 60 miles from here...most people who communte to work travel to NYC. I did it myself for a long time.
There are people in this area who lost family members during the 911 attacks. Recently, a steel beam from one of the towers was set up as a monument in a local public place. After 911 there were more memorial services between here and NYC than I care to count right now.
On 9-11-2001 I was working in a business I owned in New Jersey. My brother, who lives in NYC and has a business there, was in the air, flying to Nebraska on business when the attacks took place. My best friends were in the city; in-laws who are like family to me were there. And all my publishing friends...editors and agents...were there as well.
I'd just returned from vacation on Cape Cod, and one of the guests in the hotel I met that week was on a plane out Boston that morning. I never saw him again.
One of the pilots who was flying one of the planes that hit a tower lived five miles away from me. Another guy in town who was flying on business went down with the plane in western PA.
In this area, so close to the attacks, we were stunned. The world stopped moving and no one did anything but stare at the TV. I couldn't reach my brother or his partner because all phone lines were down. I couldn't reach friends or family. And when the plane went down in western PA, we weren't sure what to expect next.
And the aftermath didn't stop. All my business mail from the New Jersey business went thought the Princeton, NJ post office. I stopped getting bills and manscripts because of anthrax scares. We were terrified to open our mail without plastic gloves. And when the mail finally did arrive, months later, it was enclosed in anthrax proof sealed envelopes, which I still have, unopened, to this day.
This is just the tip of what some people I know experienced that day. And it was because of Bin Laden.
All I can say is I'm glad they finally got him. And bittersweet as it is, at least he won't be causing any more pain to innocent people.
May 1, 2011
She Didn't: Another Facebook No-No For Authors...IMHO
I've talked about how I think posting about politics on facebook can hurt authors. I take no sides on this issue. I think political posts can be harmful if you're trying to build a readership. Readers care about the books you're writing, not about your politics. Of course there are some exceptions. I've seen smart, well written posts about politics that left me respecting the author...whether I agree or not. But most aren't like that.
But this post isn't about politics. This is different. I've posted about how ranting on all social networks, in a general sense, can hurt authors. And tonight I saw something else that really floored me.
An author...and someone I like, too...ranted, on facebook, about not flirting with her boyfriend on facebook. Meee-Ow!! At first I thought it was a joke. But when I read more in the comments I realized it wasn't.
Of course there are no rules about things like this, and whether I like it or not means nothing. When I see people in their twenties posting jealous rants about other facebook friends flirting with their significant others I not only find it amusing, I find it endearing. We've all been there, in our twenties, filled with love and passion, ready to pounce on anyone who even looks at our significant other the wrong way. And there's a lot of flirting going on on facebook.
But we grow up. And when an author in her fifties does this, regarding a boyfriend who is in his fifties, it's not the same thing...seriously...far from cute. And I'm not just singling out women...I would say the same thing if a man did it. There is a certain age, I believe, when you stop playing high school games, especially in public. And frankly, if you've reached the age of forty and you're still having jealous rants in public, you have more problems than someone flirting with your significant other on a social network.
So please don't, for the love of all, throw a jealous, hissy-fit tantrum on facebook. Punch a wall, kick a door, or do something in private. Because if you do post jealous rants on facebook and you're close to being a member of AARP, I can assure you that people will be rolling their eyes and thinking, "She didn't."
Princess Beatrice's Hat As A Cupcake
I was lurking around one of my favorite blogs a few minutes ago, "Cupcakes Take the Cake," and fell over laughing at this one.
I'm on the fence about Princess Beatrice's hat. I know that hat has had many comments since the Royal Wedding, but I thought it was interesting. And, let's face it, most of the hats worn at that wedding were really cheesy. Those hats suck. The Queen's hat...and her entire outfit...looked as if she'd just stepped out of a l960's time capsule. Seriously. And don't slam me because she's in her eighties. The Queen has been wearing styles from the l960's since the l960's, and this isn't something new.
But I guess we all have our little quirks. And the only royal who ever had a sense of style was Diana. Maybe Princess Beatrice had an ulterior motive for wearing that hat. I wouldn't be surprised. Be interesting to find out whether or not her mother, Sarah, who was snubbed by the royals, had it designed especially for the occasion.
Kind of like the middle finger of all hats, in a quiet subdued way.
Frankly, though I do hate to admit it, I probably would have done something like that if my mother had been snubbed by her ex-in laws.
