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

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

Karen wrote: "Hmmm... how many ice houses are there in Josh's books? :)
I can think of one other right away [spoilers removed]. :)

And being locked in somewhere (like in Monet Murders)? Any others?"

Also falling through floors. And secret passages. I DON'T GET WHY THESE THINGS ARE THEMES EITHER. :-D

But clearly they resonate in my subconscious. Which is probably a very alarming statement about my subconscious.

Jordan wrote: "Okay, so slightly funny story. (I was up until 3am so maybe this won't be funny for anyone else...) But I'm ordering books for the library that patrons have requested this morning and I came across..."

Well, really, the whole series is a nonsense factory, if you think about it. But in the best possible way. In the way that cupcakes are nonsense or a crazy puppy is nonsense or laughing till you cry is nonsense. ;-)

Jordan wrote: "Okay, so slightly funny story. (I was up until 3am so maybe this won't be funny for anyone else...) But I'm ordering books for the library that patrons have requested this morning and I came across..."

LOL

WMD wrote: "I enjoy the series, particularly with the piratical historical background. There are a lot of people left to die in this town."

hahahahahaha

Yes. There are.

Antonella wrote: "Reciprocity by Wislawa Szymborska

There are catalogues of catalogues.
There are poems about poems.
There are plays about actors played by actors.
Letters due to letters.
Words used to clarify word..."

It's sad and it makes me smile because this is the--well, one--definition of humans and civilization.

Jordan wrote: "Antonella wrote: "Jordan wrote: "Thanks! It's official, but I'm only human."

;-).

What I meant is that it's good that the Boston Public Library has such a list. It must be affirming for LGBT per..."

You would think people would have better things to do with their time than spend it trying to crush others.

Ije the Devourer of Books wrote: "Well done. It is a huge achievement to have this insight into the way you work and what you can achieve for the future."

It does feel that way. Partly because I've accepted that I've changed. I'm not the person I was fifteen years ago. My priorities have changed. My passions have changed.

You wouldn't think that would be a struggle to admit.

And here I am, a bit more than a month later and...

1 - We're still eating properly. There have been some arguments, and I've made some tactical errors in trying to insist the SO not eat certain things. But I've backed away from that.

2 - Marlowe and Spenser continue to amuse and entertain.

3 - Finishing another novel. If this keeps up, I'm going to get my confidence back. :-D

4 - Making a reading list! :-D Loving reading again.

5 - Spring is HERE.

Youse guys have known me now for a long time, and you know that trying to come up with a reasonable, healthy work schedule has been an ongoing challenge.

One thing I finally figured out is that for years now I've been thinking that I would somehow "recover" the energy and focus I had when I first started writing fulltime. Back then, I wrote 12 hours a day every single day and never took a full day off--with the exception of Christmas. I did that for six years straight.

And then I burnt out (the first time).

And my conclusion was...I needed to try to pace myself until I could get back up to speed

So I really had learned nothing, because the lesson was, I couldn't continue to work like that and stay healthy, but my takeaway was, eventually I'll be able to do that again.

But finally, finally, FINALLY I've accepted that I'm not ever going to be that writer again. Partly because...this sounds so funny, but... I already did what I set out to do. I write for a living and have for many years. I survived for almost a year on my backlist. I don't NEED to work twelve hours a day every day. And I couldn't, even if I wanted to.

I've at last faced the fact that I need six weeks per novel, and two weeks in between projects. I average two thousand words a day, and that's a great number to aim for. And then on the days I do 500 I don't have to panic or count on the fact that toward the end of the book, I'll have some 6000 word days.

It probably sounds like this should have been something I worked out years ago--it IS something I should have worked out years ago--but for some reason, I just couldn't GET IT.

It took a flipping pandemic and not being able to write at all, for the pieces to finally lock into place.

But anyway, that was my big epiphany and though this year is not the year I put that into practice--that will have to wait until next year--this year is much better planned than previous years.

The wake-up moment was my realization that I'm way more productive working at a much slower pace.

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of Kess McKinley's Kess McKinley NOTHING BUT GOOD. She's Blind Eye Books' latest acquisition, and I'm hugely enjoying the ARC.

Johanna wrote: "Josh wrote: "ABE Books sent an alert for a book that I've been hunting for well over a decade. So even though I don't really read much in the way of Mills and Boon romances these days, I HAD TO HAV..."

I've never found it. The one time I had an alert, it was already gone by the time I responded.

The Best Thing About Today...

Looking forward to eight days of "catch-up," which doesn't sound fun but includes things like outlining new books and choosing cover art and making promo vids and getting to visit guilt-free on social media--the fun part of the writing biz!

Susan wrote: "TBTAT is two-fold. Today is two weeks since my second Pfizer shot. I am "fully vaccinated," and...it's my Birthday!"

<3 <3 <3

I'm so out of touch!!! Happy Birthday, dear Susan! And congratulations!

Alison wrote: "I have a vaccination appointment in two weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

That is so wonderful!

A quick update of sorts. ;-)

The SO received his first vaccination shot, so that's a wonderful relief. Still no word on when I'll be able to get mine. My parents have both had their first shots. My aunt had both shots but still got covid--she has it now. So that's a bit...WHAAA-?!

It's spring! It's cold--very cold--but there are little green buds and shoots everywhere. The temperature is supposed to climb this weekend, and I'm hopeful we might just manage to sneak in a couple of swim days soon.

I'm still eating healthy and I think it's a large part of why I was able to deal with last month's (why do I keep saying that? It's STILL March!!) stress.

Bell, Book and Scandal is finished, formatted, uploaded. So that's a huge relief. That is the book I was most anxious about, having delayed it so many times. But now it's done. And I'm happy with it--although a little sad to leave that magical world behind. At least for now.

Next up are two of the Secrets and Scrabble, which are such a delight to write. Even more delightful is that the preorders on these are really strong, so they do seem to be finding their audience. Which I wasn't quite sure would happen because of the lack of erotic content.

I've received a surprising number of emails from readers thanking me for writing something so "comforting." So maybe a portion of the success of this series is simply the timing. I think a lot of people have all the angst they need in real life. They don't need it in their fiction right now.

Johanna wrote: "Our yearly student diploma art work exhibition is now set up at school, because all the art galleries are closed. No outsiders (including students' families) are allowed to enter school building be..."

This is so wonderful! <3

Antonella wrote: "Good news:

Japanese court rules same-sex marriage ban is unconstitutional
Japan is the only G7 country that doesn't treat LGBTQ couples equally with shameful laws that harm them instead."

I'm so glad to read this.

It's especially a peculiar attitude given how really well my Japanese translations do.

I have to think that the public has had a more enlightened attitude for a long time--reminding me of another country where certain minority legislatures are hoping to hold the majority of their state and citizens hostage to their out-of-touch attitudes and beliefs.

Ije the Devourer of Books wrote: "Karen wrote: "Jordan wrote: "HUGS Karen! I love that you’re sharing pictures to tag what you want. When my family started cleaning out my grandparents house it was sorta like a free for all, and I ..."

Oh, Ije. I'm so sorry.

Antonella wrote: "In a funny commentary (only in Italian, sorry) about the famous Oprah Winfrey's interview to Meghan Markle and Price Harry the author ''quotes'' Buckingham Palace indignant answer to racism accusat..."

LOL

Melissa wrote: "Okay, random question. Is Mystery at the Masquerade at a discounted pre-order price? I swear i received an email saying that but i CANNOT find it to save my life. Thanks!!"

I haven't checked in for so long!

Last month--wait, it's still this month! Anyway, March has been brutal, and I haven't been online anywhere really much, but I wanted to check in here today.

And I will answer this question now.

I believe all of my preorders--definitely the Secrets and Scrabble books--are still listed at the preorder price. And I won't be raising any of those before they go live. In fact, I haven't even gone back and changed that price on some of the older books that have been live.

Which I will be doing shortly! So this is the heads-up.

In fact, I'm going to be going through my back catalog again and evaluating which books could and probably should have their prices increased.