Josh’s Comments (group member since Jun 17, 2010)

Josh’s comments from the Q&A with Josh Lanyon group.

Jordan wrote: "Josh wrote: "Jordan wrote: "Josh wrote: "Karen wrote: "Josh wrote: "Does anyone here read on any of the mobile platforms like Radish or Dreame or Inkitt?

Are youse guys familiar with web publishi..."

They are weirdly addictive!!!

True crime documentary INTO THE DEEP: The Submarine Murder Case.

https://www.netflix.com/title/80239100

I found this unexpectedly moving. The crime was interesting, yes, in fact, it was truly disturbing. But what really got to me was the effect of a sociopath on a small, intimate community. It was kind of heart-breaking, in fact.

Highly recommended. Having said that, it's a bit confusing because it flashes back and forward in time, so you have to be patient and pay attention.

Jordan wrote: "I DO think summer is my favorite season, but I also love the orange and red leaves and the coziness of fall. And Halloween."

Oh yes!

1 - Autumn.
As sorry as I am to lose summer, there are some wonderful things about autumn, from the luminous morning light to the hot drinks and cozy sweaters.

2 - Being greeted hello by the pups after a weekend away. Also, being greeted by the SO though he's not nearly as gratifyingly hysterical with joy. :-D

3 - Hanging out with my sisters for a musical weekend.

4 - Flowers arriving for autumn planting

5 - A perfectly made chocolate martini

The SO and I are doing Bouchercon next year and hopefully I'll be doing GRL, so international travel is probably out for next year (not counting Canada, which the SO is pushing hard for).

But maybe there's a chance of attending one of the Bookmark Edition Pop-up bookstore events in 2024? I'll have to look into it.

Karen wrote: "We're watching Andor, a prequel to Rogue One (which I haven't seen yet). My Star Wars viewing is spotty. I saw the first trilogy films when they opened, starting in 1977. Cringed through two of the..."

I REALLY liked Rogue One, so maybe I'll give this a try.

Karen wrote: "Jordan wrote: "I just finished watching The Day the Earth Stood Still. It’s not a surprising plot at all, lol. That’s us, shoot first. Ask questions later."

I kind of love this one — although it w..."

:-D :-D :-D

Oh yes!

Jordan wrote: "I just finished watching The Day the Earth Stood Still. It’s not a surprising plot at all, lol. That’s us, shoot first. Ask questions later."

LOL

Once upon a time I used to watch movies/scenes like that and think NO WAY WOULD ANYONE BE THAT STUPID AND VIOLENT.

Now I think, Oh right. Of course. :-D

Jordan wrote: "Josh wrote: "Jordan wrote: "Next year I’m planning to read one of Katherine Ramsland’s true crime anthologies where she documents these true stories. I got two of them at the Writer’s Police Academ..."

You won't sleep for a week. ;-)

Jordan wrote: "Happy Indigenous Peoples Day, if you’re not a fan of Columbus Day in the US. It’s also Mental Health day, so take care of yourselves!"

Speaking of things that make me crazy, I was reading this article on buzzfeed https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/...

I don't understand how this can be a movement. Or rather, I do, but I don't understand how anyone can think approaching the world with this attitude will end in happiness and success.

Jordan wrote: "Josh wrote: "Karen wrote: "Josh wrote: "Does anyone here read on any of the mobile platforms like Radish or Dreame or Inkitt?

Are youse guys familiar with web publishing?"

I've read a few chapte..."

It's a completely different mindset. I agree. No WAY would I pay for books like that--although, I confess I do sometimes get suckered into buying coins and tokens when I'm playing games on my phone. I'm always so aggravated with myself when I do that. It's just such a rip off.

Being lazy and just reposting from FB here because I'm so flipping tired! Yeesh.

Anyway, we got back from Ventura late Sunday night. Oh my gosh, it was gorgeous weather--cool and breezy (actually chilly in the late afternoon) and a great gig. We have a new bass player--or at least, we're trying each other out ;-) -- and it's proved reenergizing to the music.

Interestingly, post-pandemic, a lot of these formerly huge gatherings are reduced in size and scope. There's a different slightly melancholy tone to them. A lot of our somewhat older friends and fans are now quite older or have actually passed on, which is inevitable, but because we had the gap of years where we didn't get together, it feels like a harder stop? If that makes sense. In any case, it was lovely to catch up with old friends (and family).

But wow my recovery time from a music festival weekend is not what it used to be!

I actually took a day off to simply unpack and spend time with the SO yesterday (we ate pizza and watched BULLET TRAIN).

Anyway, sorting slowly through the mountains of STUFF TO DO I left on Friday afternoon.

Antonella wrote: "I didn't know where to write this, but in the future we will have an occasion less to get together: there won't be any more UK LGBT Fiction Meets!

It is really a pity. I have lots of good memories..."

It's a shame. I always hoped I would make it one year.

And I'm still so disappointed about the Paris Book Fair.

But one of these years for sure!

It's a lot of work to put these events together. I understand that people just run out of steam eventually. Especially, if new people don't come along to take up some of the slack. And these last years have been so tough for anyone trying to plan an event.

SamSpayedPI wrote: "Josh wrote: "2 - Marlowe the Alarm Clock
I think it's Marlowe's mission in life that I never sleep past seven o'clock. He has all kinds of little tricks for ensuring this: he'll sneeze loudly, he'l..."

:-D :-D :-D

I visualize your eyes popping open...

Susan wrote: "Josh wrote: "1 - Spending gift cards (which I did on Sunday)
I'm kind of a gift card hoarder, but after discovering one of my gift cards was hacked, I resolved to use my remaining ones up--or at le..."

That's very true! All things ARE relative. ;-D

Jordan wrote: "Next year I’m planning to read one of Katherine Ramsland’s true crime anthologies where she documents these true stories. I got two of them at the Writer’s Police Academy years ago, even signed by ..."

Oh! That would be interesting!

Melissa wrote: "I just watched a series on netflix called The Bodyguard. It's a british show full of spy stuff, and political intrigue, murder. I enjoyed it. Was glued to the screen the entire time. Only 6 episode..."

I've seen that listed for a while and wondered. Maybe I'll give it a shot.

Jordan wrote: "I had a Wattpad account... once. I dumped it in recent years. I've not used Radish, Dreame, or Inkitt."

Dreame has famously offensively terrible contracts for writers. Every few months of so, I get another "editor" inviting me to the platform. I used to explain in detail why no competent Western working writer would agree to such a contract. One editor I spoke to invited me to their Discord account to talk to the writers there--so I did. And the writers were unanimous in saying, WHY WOULD SOMEONE EARNING A LIVING AT THEIR WRITING SIGN UP FOR THIS?

I found that so funny. It was exactly what I thought, and yet this editor was convinced I would hear otherwise. :-D :-D :-D

But of course they have a never-ending supply of baby writers applying to the platform, so they truly don't care.

Jordan wrote: "Unfortunately here, in winter, it’s wake up in the dark and go home in the dark as the daylight hours get shorter. It’s really depressing. Like, 5pm, and it’s dark out. Sigh... oh well."

I do find it really depressing to get up in the dark. Even if it's for something fun--like going on a trip.

Karen wrote: "Josh wrote: "Does anyone here read on any of the mobile platforms like Radish or Dreame or Inkitt?

Are youse guys familiar with web publishing?"

I've read a few chapters on Kindle Vella. What's ..."

Yes, it's definitely geared to smut/guilty pleasures.

The demographic on most of the sites leans young. The main point of difference though is that stories are paid for in coins or tokens and those add up fast. Because of the interactive nature of the sites, readers end up paying $15.00++++ for stories they could buy for 3.99 (or less) on Kindle. And of course a lot of the stories never end, just meander on and on, teasing readers into paying for another chapter, another chapter, another chapter...

Which is just one of the reasons I think the audience is quite different. A KU reader is typically looking to save money through their subscription. The web readers are used to playing mobile games. They're used to plunking doing coins and tokens to keep playing--so it's not that difficult to train them to keep paying to read. To view a chapter as a prize.

KU has created what the industry refers to as "whale" readers (readers who consume vast quantities of fiction in large gulps--quantity is key for them). Maybe they read on their phones, but mostly they read on their designated reading devices. Web readers read almost entirely on their phones and they seem to prefer these tiny bite sized bits of story. It's like the antithesis of KU.

I find it interesting because companies are investing billions--BILLIONS--in these reading platforms. The theory is that this is the future of publishing.