Cameron D. James's Blog, page 29
April 1, 2015
Book Review: Serenity: Leaves on the Wind
Serenity: Leaves on the Wind
Zack Whedon, Georges Jeanty, Joss Whedon
In the film��Serenity,��outlaw Malcolm Reynolds and his crew revealed to the entire ‘verse the crimes against humanity undertaken by the sinister government–the Alliance. Here, in the official follow-up to the film, the crew has been in hiding since becoming everyone’s most wanted, and now they are forced to come out. River uncovers more secrets, leading these former Browncoats on a dangerous mission against the Alliance that, with hope, will bring them together again . . .
Television writer Zack Whedon (Deadwood, Southland, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) continues the saga of Joss Whedon’s space cowboys!
Leaves on the Wind is the official follow-up to Serenity, the movie sequel to the Firefly TV series. ��A fair bit has happened since the end of Serenity, so the reader has��to play a little bit of catch-up in this book. ��Most notably, Zoe is pregnant with what I assume is Wash’s child. ��They must have conceived shortly before he died in the movie.
The story was good, but I get the sense that there’s some real trouble brewing. ��This graphic novel sets up what looks to be a very large story arc that will continue on for quite some time.
I rate myself as about a 75% Firefly/Serenity fan. ��I enjoyed the movie and TV shows, but I’m not a browncoat (Serenity’s equivalent to Star Trek’s Trekkies). ��I can’t reference episodes and I don’t remember many of the characters beyond the core cast. ��However, Whedon does a good job of laying out the story so that I can remember bits and pieces and pick up tidbits if I’ve forgotten something.
I had a little difficulty with this story told as a visual medium. ��There are some characters who look similar when drawn (but are much more obviously different from each other when seen on TV), and so a few times I had to look at secondary characteristics to determine who I was looking at. ��(In particular, I had some trouble between River and Kaylee and sometimes Inarra; as well, for secondary characters, I had great trouble telling Jubal Early apart from��“The Operative” from the Serenity movie, whose name escapes me at the moment — but he’s the “bad guy” from the movie.) ��However, by slowing down my reading and really examining the artwork, I could follow along easier.
All in all, a good read. ��I always find, though, that graphic novels are a quick read, especially when it’s a very large story and world like this one.
Book Review: Star Trek: The Next Generation: Takedown
Star Trek: The Next Generation: Takedown
John Jackson Miller
An all-new novel of��Star Trek: The Next Generation���one of the most popular��Star Trek��series of all-time, featuring the adventures of Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of the U.S.S.��Enterprise!
When renegade Federation starships begin wreaking destruction across the Alpha Quadrant, Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of the��U.S.S. Enterprise��are shocked to discover that the mastermind behind this sudden threat is none other than Picard���s prot��g�� and friend: Admiral William T. Riker. The newly minted admiral is on board the��U.S.S. Aventine��as part of a special assignment, even as the mystery deepens behind his involvement in the growing crisis. But the��Aventine��is helmed by Captain Ezri Dax���someone who is no stranger to breaking Starfleet regulations���and her starship is by far the faster vessel���and Riker cannot yield even to his former mentor. It���s a battle of tactical geniuses and a race against time as Picard struggles to find answers before the quadrant���s great powers violently retaliate against the Federation���
This was a pretty good read. ��The premise certainly intrigued me — how could the author put Riker and Dax into such a situation without shattering their careers? ��And, if their careers are to be shattered, then we’re losing an awful lot of Star Trek characters over the past few years.
The set-up was certainly intriguing — a secret peace summit that ends with Riker and several other of the major powers wreaking devastation across their own territory and each other’s territory. ��However, the execution of the premise left me a little unsatisfied.
I read a writing book recently that said it ruins storytelling to keep a secret from the readers. ��I had a real hard time understanding and accepting this. ��The fun of books is when they surprise you, right? ��Turns out that’s wrong — the reader likes to have obvious clues that allow them to (correctly) guess the answer to the plot, then the “surprise” is satisfying. ��There are some exceptions, but they are carefully carried out. ��Orphan’s Triumph by Robert Buettner, one of my favourite sci-fi books of all time, has a complete surprise ending that blew my mind — but when looking back, I realize that the clues were so obviously laid out, I had just interpreted them wrong. ��And that’s why it was satisfying, because the clues were actually there.
Takedown suffers from the problem of surprise. ��Miller keeps the reader so very in the dark that the reader can’t even begin to make guesses as to what’s happening. ��There are minuscule clues, but not enough to lead to a satisfying surprise. ��Halfway through, I was struggling to continue because I found this complete lack of information made me lose interest.
In the end, I’m glad I kept on with it. ��The ending was satisfactory and, really, I enjoyed the story as a whole.
I’ve been thinking about this book a lot, which is why it’s taken me almost a month to get to the review. ��If the author had let the reader in on the secret — which would keep the reader happier and interested — would the consequences of the plot been as riveting? ��Part of the tension was wondering what’s happening with these impeccable officers and how can they survive and get out of this relatively unscathed. ��If the secret to the plot had been revealed earlier, and thus the solution vaguely telegraphed to the reader, would the plot still have it’s gripping appeal to it? ��I think not. ��Revealing what’s happening would risk losing some readers, much as not revealing what’s happening could lose some readers.
My disappointments with the execution of the plot aside, I found John Jackson Miller to be a good writer. ��The pages were quick to read and his plot shows that he knows his Trek. ��(If I recall, the author bio said this is his first Star Trek novel.) ��I hope to see more from Miller in the future; I’m quite sure a stronger plot would allow him to excel.
Book Review: How to Really Self-Publish Erotica
How to Really Self-Publish Erotica
Dalia Daudelin and Michael Meadows
(Warning: Longest blurb ever…)
Why are so many people getting into writing and self publishing erotica? According to the New York Times, the porn industry brings in��$10 to $14 billion dollars��a year. You can tap into that income, too!
What about��E. L. James, author of the hit erotica series��Fifty Shades of Grey? As of late July in 2012, the author had��sold 15 million copies��of her books in the United States and Canada alone. That’s why so many people are getting into this business.
Making money with erotica isn’t as easy as people make it seem, though.��That’s why you need this guide.
Buy this quick how-to guide now and��start earning money!
What are the best stock photos?
How big should a cover be?
Where should the font go?
How and where do I advertise my stories?
What should my stories even be about?How often have you heard, “Nobody makes money from self-publishing”? It’s coming from the mouths of authors, agents, publishers and editors out of ignorance… or malice.��Don’t fall for their lies!
If you’re looking to jump-start your��career in writing, though, self-publishing is the average person’s solution. The problem is, the information you need is scattered all over the internet. And frankly,��the money is best in erotica, and money is ultimately the bottom line between you and writing full-time.
Not only do you need to know how to write well, you also need to know graphic design. You have to be well versed in the kinks you want to write, too.
Do you know:
What readers will want when they pick up a billionaire story?
What kind of kinks go well with werewolf or vampire stories?
What goes into making a cover that will stand out?If not, this book will shine a light on those topics.
This book is a short, but complete, introduction to the field of self-publishing erotica–though other writers may find some things of value, as well. Do you love writing? Are you scared of spending months on a novel only to not have it sell? Erotic shorts are the perfect place to start.
When you’re ready to make a change and really jump head first into the vast ocean of self-publishing, make sure you’re carrying this book as your lifesaver!
With that rather lengthy blurb aside, this book is really quite useful. ��What this book won’t really show you is the nuts and bolts of writing and publishing — but I think there’s good reason for that. ��If you’re looking for the nuts and bolts of writing, you can pick up a writing book. ��And with the ever-changing landscape of self-publishing, presenting the nuts and bolts of the publishing process would quickly become invalidated when Amazon or Smashwords updates their system.
Instead, what this book presents, and its real value, is in helping you navigate the landscape of erotica self-publishing and, more importantly, giving you the can-do attitude to go ahead and give it a try. ��This book, perhaps because of its easy-going conversational style, is entirely relatable. ��While the reader knows that their own path in self-publishing erotica won’t match Daudelin’s, you at least see some glimpses of where your path might be similar. ��(And as far as this goes, it reminds me of��Write What You Sell and Sell What You Write, by Skip Press, perhaps one of the most motivating writing books I’ve ever read.)
And while I disagree with some of the advice that Daudelin dispenses, I think that comes down more to (a) the style with which we approach the business of self-publishing erotica, and (b) the fact that I write gay erotica, which is largely a different market than straight erotica.
However, regardless of differences, as a self-published author, I still managed to find this “beginner’s guide” quite useful. ��I can only imagine how useful it would be in the hands of someone who’s just starting to toy with the idea of writing smut.
Cover Reveal – Sins of Lust (Go-Go Boys of Club 21 #4)
*drumroll*
There’s a chance this is too much ass for Amazon and Smashwords… so the cover is (unfortunately) subject to change.
Scheduled for release in April.
This Blog is (Still) Alive!
Well, it got awfully quiet around here…
I’ve been on vacation from my day job for a week and a half now (and I’ve got another week left) — and my intention had been to get back into some good blogging habits. ��You can see how well that turned out.
BUT — it’s for a good reason! ��I got sidetracked during the first half of my vacation and wrote a whole book! ��I’m currently working on four different projects, so I’ve been bouncing around between them all.
Now that things have settled down, I’m fully committed to getting a bunch of blogging done. ��This includes:
The cover reveal for the fourth Go-Go Boys of Club 21 story.
About five or six book reviews.
The launch of a new series of blog posts on writing, publishing, and promoting gay erotica and M/M erotic romance. ��(This is the topic of the book I wrote last week — I’m about to send it to my editor and hope to have it available for purchase by early summer.)
This’ll all start this afternoon with the cover reveal! ��See you then!
March 14, 2015
Go-Go Boys #4 – Coming Soon!
Go-Go Boys of Club 21 #4 is in the final editing stage!
And I’ve decided on a title — Sins of Lust!
This should be ready for sale by the end of March, so stay tuned for release details!
February 28, 2015
Newsletter Sign-Up = Free eBook
My birthday is coming up on March 10.�� How old I am will remain a secret.
On my birthday, I want to give YOU a gift!
On March 10, all newsletter subscribers will receive a promo code to download a FREE copy of Gaymer from either Selz or Smashwords.
Click here to sign up for my newsletter!
I wrote Gaymer in 2013 in honour of the local comic con, full of all of those cute nerds.�� It���s a quick story, but it got a great review from the Sex In Words blog:
“Really though, who knew that a little plumber video game action, what with all it’s pipes and going into holes could possibly lead to a smokin’ hot good time? With this simple trope, James has crafted an excellent short, erotic fiction. There is tension, a bit of suspense, an entirely plausible backstory and set-up and, I’ll say it again, an amazing sexual encounter between Carter and Zack.”
Since start of term, Carter has been secretly lusting after Zack, a quiet twink with smooth arms, geeky charm, and enticing proportions. When Zack invites himself over for retro video games, Carter waits and hopes, but the dreaded “game over” approaches. He has to do something — anything — to get a shot at tasting this delicious young man.
Out comes a strategy to save a gaming disaster. If Carter’s wrong, he might get a black eye, but if he’s right, then this session’s about to level up to something better than his wildest fantasy.
Click here to sign up for my newsletter!
Book Review: The Dick Book
The Dick Book: Tuning Your Favorite Body Part
Micah Schulze and Christian Scheuss
More fun with your dick ��� for you and your partner(s).
The Dick Book is the ultimate gay guidebook that gives you the answers to all your questions about your ���little willy.��� Did you know that sperm flies out of your cock at an average speed of twenty-five miles per hour? And that you can maintain a boner for four hours while asleep?�� Competent advice, facts and trivia worth knowing will help you get your cock in top shape.
The Dick Book is open-minded, and of course it���s richly illustrated. And don���t forget: If you really want to have fun, you should know what makes your dick tick.
I picked this book up out of curiosity (and because of the pictures).�� It���s sort of an owner���s manual for your dick.�� It���s full of health information, tips, suggestions, myth-busting, jokes, pictures, and more.
It was a quick read, but full of great info.�� Some of it I knew, some of it I didn���t.�� I enjoyed the pictures.
Like the other gay sex books I���ve read from this publisher, the content is a little heavy on sexual health (specifically, STDs and STIs).�� However, many people need reinforcing with these topics, so the inclusion is not a deterrent at all.�� And it���s nicely accented by pictures.
Oh, and there are pictures.�� Did I mention the pictures?
Book Review: Hormone Pirates of Xenobia and Dream Studs of Kama Loka
(Sorry about the shitty picture – it was the only one I could find online.)
Hormone Pirates of Xenobia and Dream Studs of Kama Loka
Ernest Posey
Pages of alien sex, erotic intrigue, and the adventures of lunarian superstuds will leave the reader gasping till the last page of Hormone Pirates of Xenobia. Dream Studs of Kama Loka chronicles the lusty explorations of a graduate student who takes part in his professor’s kinky dream project.
Those of you who follow my blog and book reviews probably know by now that I like books that are (a) sci-fi and (b) full of kinky sex.�� I found this book, which is the best of both worlds.
Hormone Pirates of Xenobia is a fun sci-fi novella about cock-milking and mega-hormones.�� You can imagine where that might go.�� It was a fun romp through an alien marketplace/factory.
Dream Studs of Kama Loka is a lucid dreaming piece in which the main character goes to visit the dream world of Kama Loka, which previous lucid dream test subjects have all reported visiting.�� This one is full of bizarre and fun-filled sex acts.
Both novellas are very quick paced and fun to read.�� And since this isn���t science-fiction that takes itself seriously, the scenes can get outlandish, providing both a chuckle and a stiffy.�� Normally, I���m not a fan of ���silly��� sci-fi, but this is a definite exception since the silliness was carried out very effectively and, in my mind, didn���t go too far over the top.
