Leta Blake's Blog, page 92

Goodreads Rating System – Stars In Confusion

So, I made a post last week about some things I don’t get, some more controversial than others. Today I’m going to post about something I think every author and reader can agree on “not getting”.   The Goodreads rating system.

For example, in what world does two stars equal “it was okay”? Do you look at a two star rating on a book and think the person liked the book? Heck no. You think, “Wow, they didn’t like this book, but it wasn’t the worst thing they’ve ever read in their life either.” But apparently in Goodreads world, two stars means “it was okay”. I don’t understand.

This rating system makes sense to me.

In my mental star system (where Jean-Luc Picard reigns in naked glory like the time when the Borg kidnapped him), it works more like this:

One star = Loathed this book and think it sucks like a massive black star of suck.

Two stars = This book was pretty bad, but I’ve read worse.

Three stars = The book was incredibly mediocre but the author could spell and use commas, even though it was dull and I almost didn’t finish it.

Four stars = Yay, I liked it!

Five stars = Yay, I liked it a hell of a lot!

So, here’s my question–when you rate at Goodreads do you use their star system or your own mental star system? And does your star system more closely resemble mine or Goodreads’?

Also, what about rounding up? If you feel like the book was really 1.5 stars, do you give it the benefit of the doubt and round it up? Or do you stick it with the lower number because you’d hate to mislead people?

Another thing I’ve noticed about Goodreads–some people give stars based only only literary merit and not how much they enjoyed the book. I got a few emails from a friend proclaiming that she was crazy about a book featuring gay football players in love, couldn’t stop thinking about it, spent the whole day at work wishing she was home and could read the book. When it was over I got a text reporting that she was sad the book was done and the ending had been just what she wanted. Yet, on Goodreads, she gave the book only three stars. When I asked her why, she said, that it was a great read and she’d loved it a lot, but it was no Deathless or Fortress of Solitude.

This was fascinating to me because I always like to give stars based on the books effectiveness in its genre. If it’s erotica, did it engage me and get me titillated? If it’s romance, did I fall in love too? If it’s literature, was I impressed by the words and the craftsmanship? If it’s fantasy, how was the world building? If it’s self-help, was it actually, you know, helpful? If it’s a children’s book, will actual small children enjoy it? If it’s a spy novel, was it exciting and did I guess the end before it was over? If it was historical fiction, was it well researched?

I couldn’t resist.

It had seemed to me, from the outside in, that the gay football players in love novel had been a total five stars for her in terms of it being a book that did what it was written to do. But she rated on how it worked as literature, not how she reacted to the book in the context of what it was designed for. And that’s her prerogative and one of the things that makes Goodreads a confusing mire when it comes to interpreting the ratings given to a book.

What are your thoughts on the Goodreads rating system? How do you use it?

 

ETA: I wrote this post a month ago or more, and I honestly have no idea what Jean Luc Picard has to do with any of it. Just…you know…go with it.

Fanworks Friday: White Blank Page

by Suzvoy

Originally found here. It’s pretty great. Oh, ATWT, you were such an asshole to your loyal fans in the end.

Writer Wednesday: Berengaria Brown and Combustion

Today we’re interviewing Berengaria Brown’s main characters from her book Combustion.

 ***

What are your names? And tell us a little about yourselves?

Hi. My name’s Xonra Gibson and I’m Vice President of Advertising for an HR company called HR Resources Ltd. I attended the memorial service for one-hundred-one-year-old MaryAnne Menzies, a family friend, and was embarrassed to be attracted to the broad-shouldered hunk squeezed into the chair next to me at the overcrowded event, Glenn Hilton. Glen is partnered to the equally yummy Morgan McLean.

How did you meet? Was it love at first sight?

It was definitely lust at first sight for all of us. I was trying to focus on the service for MaryAnne but couldn’t keep my eyes off Glenn.

Hi, I’m Morgan. Glenn and I followed Xonra back to her car. Not only did we want to spend more time with her, but also, she’d said the car wasn’t fully inside the parking space and we’d had our car wheel-clamped at the same funeral chapel only a month or two earlier so we knew her car would be in trouble. And it was. I almost died of embarrassment when she insisted on phoning my sister to check that we weren’t a couple of slave traders or ax murderers, though. It just proves what a strong and feisty partner she is.

What do you believe is your worst or most frustrating quality? What about his/hers?

Hi, I’m Glenn. It wasn’t easy to convince Xonra to come away with us for a weekend to get to know each other better. And even then she’s busy scenting a mystery and trying to solve it instead of thinking only about us. But I wouldn’t have her any other way. Morgan and I love that she has brains as well as a body that calls to us.

What is your best quality? What about his/hers?

Morgan again. I think the fact she was so determined to discover what was happening at Berisford Village only made us love her more. She wanted to help those people and it showed her tender, human side, a side I plan to find out a lot more about in the future.

If you could have one wish come true, what would it be and why?

The men have already made my wish come true, that we’ll have our own happy ever after. But I want that for the people of Berisford Village as well.

***

And now we’ll speak to Berengaria!

Tell us a little about yourself.

Berengaria is a multi-published author of erotic romance: contemporary, paranormal (magic, ghosts, vampires, fairies, dragons, and werewolves), futuristic, medieval, and Regency-set historical. She loves to read all different kinds of romance so that is what she writes: one man/one woman; two women; two men; two men/one woman; three men, two women/one man, three men/one woman…. Whatever the characters need for their very hot happily-ever-after, Berengaria makes sure they get it.

What makes your current offering a different and compelling read?

For such a short book, (19,000 words) there’s a lot happening. Apart from the funeral, there’s a hot and sultry ménage romance story, and the vacation mystery as well.

What’s next for you?

I’ve just contracted a new book with Ellora’s Cave, called “Four-Way Split”. We haven’t done edits yet, but I’m hoping they won’t be too far in the future.

 

BUY LINK

Berengaria Brown Around the Web!

http://berengariasblog.blogspot.com/

http://berengariabrown.com/

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25 Things I Want To Do Before I Die

By Trever Coe

It has been occurring to me lately that I’m almost forty. That’s not so very old, but it’s not so very young either. The time has passed for letting life slide by me without planning or effort, belief in years to come in which stuff will just simply ‘snap into place’ for me is no longer reasonable. Life has taught that, yes, sometimes good things just fall into your lap, but sometimes you have to decide to make them happen, too.

And so, it has come to this. Unless I actually admit in some real way to the twenty-five things I most want to do before I die, then I might not even know what they might before it is too late. I’d hate to be too old to travel and realize, “Gosh, it’s only just now occurred to me that I’d have liked to see Paris in springtime.”

Another thought that occurs to me about owning up to Twenty Five Things I Want To Do Before I Die–this is such an intimate question! I’m not sure I can answer it with complete honesty in this public space. The truth is there are things I want to do that are so incredibly unlikely simply because of a lack of talent or ability that it is embarrassing to admit to longing for it. But, hey, vulnerability is a good thing, right?

So, I’m starting a series of twenty-five things I want to do before death. Once a week for 25 weeks, I’ll post one of the things I want to do. I’m vowing to be as honest and vulnerable as possible, though I am not vowing to post them in order of importance, because that would be too difficult and lack spontaneity.

See you next Tuesday with the first one.

Three Things I Don’t Get

I generally try not to be too controversial or make statements here that might alienate readers or publishers or other writers. I’m not saying today’s post is going to be wildly contentious, because most of the things I don’t get are purely a matter of “to each his own” and “your mileage may vary”. But this is just a heads up that this post might push a few buttons.

1. Ménage books

There are so many things I don’t get about Ménage books. Let me count them:

a) I don’t get why they are called Ménage instead of Ménage à trois, given that the word ménage means “household”. People are always saying, “I wrote a ménage for my next novel”. I think they really mean they wrote a ménage à trois, because otherwise they’re saying they wrote a household for their next novel. I could almost get this if it was a four or more person arrangement, but almost all so called “Ménage” novels are actually just ménage à trois.

b) I know that poly situations exist in all permutations. Based on research I’ve done into it and the examples I’ve seen, it does appear that the most successful often are the V-shape relationship. Two guys, one girl, where the guys don’t hook up sexually but are good friends and not jealous of each other. Or two girls, one guy, same set up. Or three guys or three girls, but the same deal–two of the people aren’t fucking each other and aren’t jealous of the ones who do fuck.

Obviously, there are successful examples of poly arrangements in this world where this is not the case. So, please don’t feel the need to reply by saying I’m minimizing the options here. I’m not. I recognize that there are many, many ways this kind of thing can play out. I just…don’t get it. Deep down in my monogamous little heart, I’m boggled by even the V-shape arrangement, and have a hard time processing the plethora of stories out there which seem to focus on two guys fighting over a girl until they decide to ‘share’, or continued jealousy, or arrangements where everyone is fucking everyone else. I also kind of don’t get the appeal, but that’s the next one.

c) I just don’t get it. I’ll admit it. I have a tendency to develop an OTP (one true pairing) about characters. I tried reading a poly story once a long time ago written by a pretty well-known author who happens to be a friend of mine, and I was sick with jealousy on behalf of one of the characters, even though that character was not jealous himself. I could not even finish the entire story because it made my heart hurt so deeply to read it. But, obviously, I’m in a minority here because so called ménage books are everywhere these days. When I asked authors to do Writer Wednesdays again with me, about half the books that came back seemed to be Ménage à trois.

So, what is it that appeals to you, ladies (and gentlemen)? I know, I know, it’s as simple as two guys and their accompanying bits seem pretty hot as a fantasy. And, yes, in 99% of books written by women it is two guys and a one woman. And, sure, you know, if I’m reading straight up porn (also known as PWP), I’m totally down with threesomes and moresomes and all the holes being filled at once. But once love and romance is introduced? I guess I’m just way too monogamous to truly understand the appeal.

[BTW, because it needs to be said, I respect everyone's right to live their life as they see fit and to have any arrangement, with any number of people, so long as it works for them, and so long as everyone is consenting to said arrangement, and adult.]

I know, I know, I just don’t get it. See the title of this post. It seems like I’m massively in the minority in terms of not really enjoying a romance book featuring more than two main lovers.

Basically, I look at this trend as a boon to those in successful and happy poly relationships, or who wish to be. They certainly have a new avalanche of books aimed at issues they might enjoy. I’d be curious how people in actual poly relationships feel about the way the situations are represented in these books.

Anyway, all y’all that love it, please go on loving it! I just don’t get it.

2. Sushi.

 

It’s cold. It’s spicy. It’s got a strange texture. I don’t get it.

3. Sports that involve balls and points.

 

I do get how they can be fun, but I don’t get the massive amount of excitement put into them, the devotion, the heart-stopping love for a team and its wins. It isn’t like a character from a tv show or a book. I can’t sink my teeth into the points earned and take my imagination on a day long ride. And I have no control over it! If they win or lose is completely out of my hands. And it’s often loud. And there are a lot of people there. And, yeah, I just don’t get it.

So, this has been my three things I don’t get. I hope you enjoyed my little revelations of odd-ballness.

Go Slow by Haim

I’m obsessing over this band and this song especially. A full-length album would be much appreciated! From what I can tell, their EP is only available on iTunes.

Sex With Fairies

For the (on average) twenty people per day who come to my blog via Google looking for some version of “fairy sex” or “fairies having sex”. I know you’ve been disappointed to find yourself reading this entry. But, I’ve got good news! Keira’s and my next book, due out in the next month or so, will feature a ton of fairy sex. Cheers! 

In the meantime, feel free to check out our first two fairy tale inspired books. There’s plenty of sex in those, too. Just, you know, no  fairies. 

Fanwork Friday: Pause for Zokka Flailing

So, last night I had a migraine, but that’s not the important part of this post. I put the kiddo to bed, but I could hear her reading in her room. I wanted to wait to go to sleep until she was out, too, so I decided to while away the time by going down the rabbit hole of the internet. I honestly have no idea how I even clicked my way to this story, but I ended up opening an Avatar: The Last Airbender slash story with very little intent to actually read it.

But then, holy crap, I fell.

The rabbit hole sucked me down.

I found that I was wrong this whole time about my Avatar OTPs. I thought they were Aang/Katara, Sokka/Suki, and Zuko/Mai. But guess what? This was incorrect. I am still all for Aang/Katara, but my new shiny OTP is Sokka/Zuko! Oh, man, it is delish. Who knew? Whoooo knewwww???

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By Rabby at DeviantArt

***

Sokka: So we came all this way for nothing. I failed. Again.

Zuko: Err, what would Uncle say‌? Sometimes clouds have two sides, a dark and light. And a silver lining in between. It’s like a silver sandwich! So…when life seems hard…take a bite out of the silver sandwich!

Sokka: Maybe we haven’t failed after all!

Zuko: That’s the spirit! I can’t believe that worked. I didn’t even know what I was saying!

Sokka: No, what you said made no sense at all.

Sokka: My first girlfriend turned into the moon.

Zuko: That’s rough buddy.

***

Oh, and the story, which is kind of crack-fiction and chock-full of epithets and kind of over the top with unrealistic sex, but who cares, is Volatile by squirrellysemantics. Just so you know.

Writer Wednesday: Fires of Justice & Sabrina Garie

Thanks Leta for hosting me and letting me share a little about myself and my book Fires of Justice. I enjoy sharing a blog with you over at Darker Temptations so I knew coming over would be great fun. Let me introduce you to my heroine and hero.

What are your names? And tell us a little about yourselves?

Hey, I’m Calista. I live in Maine in a small home over an occult book shop I inherited from my parents. They died when I was an infant and my aunt, the great queen Esmy to whom I bow in honor, raised me. I’m a fire witch, the only one in my coven, which can be a little isolating at times. I lived a quiet, disciplined life, praise be Aunt Esmy, until soldier boy over there decided to come for a visit.

Boring more like it. I got you out of the house, took you places, added a little zest to your existence. I’m Cullen and like my lady over there, I’m a fire elemental, a shifter who morphs into mythical creatures attached to fire, like a phoenix or a dragon. Fire also gives me and the little lady quite the appetite. When we met, I was a marked one, a soldier of Argenta, the guardian of justice, balance and unity, and tasked with delivering justice when magic is thrown out of balance. Callie was my assignment.

How did you meet? Was it love at first sight?

Callie: On the contrary, Cullen was a total buzz kill. Argenta forced us to work together and he hated me at first sight. Mr. Grumps and Scowls out-iced the frost giants when he arrived on my doorstep.

Cullen: In my defense, I did have a nasty history with your parents. I figured you’d be the same—DNA and all that. You surprised me and I warmed up quickly enough. You were moaning loud enough to wake the dead by midnight.

If it wasn’t love at first sight, what changed?

Cullen: After years of talking my assignments out of bathrooms and down from trees, Callie was a breath of fresh air. Not only did she not take any of my crap, she really saw me, not just the soldier holding her marching orders. All those drinks she poured down my throat to get me to loosen up didn’t hurt either.

Callie: It took my best bottle of wine to get you to finally crack a smile. When he did let loose, he had enough energy to keep a fire witch satisfied. In addition to the amazing, frigging, monkey sex, it’s the way he made me feel that had me tumbling head over heels–as if I belonged. I’d grown up without a family. My aunt barely knew what to do with me. But Cullen felt like home.

What do you believe is your worst or most frustrating quality? What about his/hers?

Callie: My sarcasm, it drives everyone around me crazy. He’s got a serious grumpy side.

Cullen: I do not. I just didn’t want to work with you. I can be unforgiving, she can be a little dreamy, which drives my practical nature into seizures.

What is your best quality? What about his/hers?

Callie: Mine is my resilience, I can handle just about anything. I survived her highness. His is loyalty, his rootedness. Before he was indentured to Argenta, he had been an earth shifter. He brought me a solidity I never had.

Cullen: I have to agree, my loyalty is my best quality. Hers is her courage—to face me, to face her past, to forgive—it’s like no one I’ve ever known. I think I fell in love with her for that.

If you could have one wish come true, what would it be and why?

That our children will have Callies’ red hair. And Cullen’s smile. And they’ll be safe, they said in unison. The why is self-explanatory.

***

What keeps you inspired?

My daughter. I’m finally living my dream of being a writer but it took me a long time to find my niche and drum up my courage to do so. I’m a serious late bloomer. When I think about her, and the life I hope she’ll lead, the best thing I can do for her is to model that behavior to consciously and subconsciously show her the way. In addition to my love for writing, that need to teach my daughter the importance of persistence and hard work to achieve your dreams gets me coming back to the page. And I do, every day, even if I can only find ten minutes.

What is the most rewarding aspect of writing and/or publishing? The most terrifying/frustrating?

Being able to create something that you can share with others is hands down what I find most rewarding about writing. It gives me a way to express my thoughts, ideas and feelings that others can respond to—in a dialogue or in private. The most frustrating thing is time—I never have enough and the next story always starts to emerge somewhere in the middle of the current WIP. Sometimes it feels as if I’ll never get to them all, even though the characters are screaming to get out.

What’s next for you?

I’m excited to announce that my second novella, Next Move, has just been accepted by Ellora’s Cave. It’s a contemporary second chance romance, where the characters are a little older, have scars from past marriages, and the heroine has a child. Since I think we need reminders sometimes that moms are sexy too, I wanted one to be my heroine.

Blurb

Always read the fine print when swearing an eternal oath to gods and guardians…

Beholden by the sacred vows of her coven, fire witch Calista Reid agrees to temporarily mate with shifter Cullen McMahan to fulfill a mission assigned by the guardians. When tall, dark and damaged arrives on her doorstep, generating enough heat to scorch a fire witch, Calista finds herself drawn to his battle-hardened body and broken soul. His pain speaks to her own deep-rooted isolation and the intensity of his hunger slakes her passion like no other.

Cullen, scarred by a past that left him an indentured soldier to the guardians, resents yet another hump-on-command assignment…until he encounters the compassionate, fearless, incendiary redhead who detonates his body and reawakens the emotions sacrifice and loss had suppressed. But Cullen harbors a terrible secret—one that reaches back into Calista’s troubled childhood and threatens the foundation of their growing bond.

Buy Links

Ellora’s Cave

Amazon 

Barnes and Noble

You can find me on the web at:

Website/Blog: http://www.sabrinagarie.com

Straddling the Language and the Kiss

I’ve always tried to straddle the choice laid out in this song. It’s my responsibility to always straddle it. And because of that, I doubt I’ll ever be actually very good at either the language or the kiss. I suppose the pain of that stretch is something to love because while it means mediocrity all around, I’ve still got a damn excellent life.

Maybe I should change this tag line from “working hard to become stellar at life” to “working hard to be okay with mediocrity and failure because of all the beauty and love”. Or maybe that is how one becomes stellar at life.