Q&A with Josh Lanyon discussion
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Salsera1974
(last edited Oct 25, 2013 04:09PM)
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Oct 25, 2013 04:08PM
I don't think my comment on your blog registered, so I will make it here. My inner middle-schooler thanks you! CYOA was the BUSINESS! This is going to be a lot of fun! (Especially since you're still promising to give us the post-Dark Tide novella at some point in the future, lol! You know we need to see how our guys are doing! I mean, it's not like they're fictional or anything. ;-))
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Johanna wrote: "Calathea wrote: "And there is always Skype or Google Hangout to make it happen..."Ooooh. That would be so cool. :-)"
Mod
So, I can already see this happening. We'll have Adrien with German accent, Jake speaking slightly French-ish, Lisa who speaks with a strong Finnish accent, British Guy... :-)
ETA: Oops... no Guy in Fatal Shadows yet...
Calathea wrote: "Can't we do the CYOA together? Like, reading out loud passages to each other and then decide together where to go from there. I did this once years ago with a fantasy CYOA and it was tons of fun. :..."This might actually be a super fun way to spend some time on a weekend afternoon!
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Well, yeah, Calathea is the cleverest... ;-)
That's why we lurve her. :-)
Johanna wrote: "Josh wrote: "You guys are so funny -- and so clever!"Well, yeah, Calathea is the cleverest... ;-)
That's why we lurve her. :-)"
Salsera wrote:"This might actually be a super fun way to spend some time on a weekend afternoon! "
It's a date!
Josh wrote: "Johanna wrote: "Josh wrote: "I'm so glad you all like the idea! :-D"I can't see why anyone wouldn't!!!???"
Well, people started hoping for a new novel, so I wanted to get the word out quickly th..."
So no Jake POV?
Josh wrote: "Antonella wrote: "Johanna wrote: "Josh wrote: "I'm so glad you all like the idea! :-D"I can't see why anyone wouldn't!!!???"
Well, his last idea didn't find the universal approval I personally w..."
I am one of those who liked the last idea who so many hated, and is a little reserved on this one, but that is basically because I don't really know how it works, I have never tried. And I am not a gamer. :)
But doing it together sounds like fun, though.
Anne wrote: "Josh wrote: "Antonella wrote: "Johanna wrote: "Josh wrote: "I'm so glad you all like the idea! :-D"I can't see why anyone wouldn't!!!???"
Well, his last idea didn't find the universal approval I..."
I think doing this with Fatal Shadows is very clever. I will feel safe with the knowledge that Adrien and Jake are actually safe and sound and smitten with each other in TDT, even if I accidentally kill off Adrien...
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I can't see why anyone wouldn't!!!???"
Well, his last idea didn't find the universal approval I..."
Worse case scenario is you get to read additional vignettes with Adrien and Jake. And you get a retelling of Fatal Shadows -- sort of like an expanded version. :-D
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I can't see why anyone wouldn't!!!???"
Well, his last idea didn't find the univers..."
Yes, this is strictly for fun. It's all me -- which seemed to be a sensitive point with the last proposal -- and many of the scenarios are things readers themselves came up with (I asked last year on my Live Journal what would be some scenes readers wished I had written -- some were useable, some not).
And by having Fatal Shadows as my guide, I was able to still give something to those who don't want to "play." Just little insights or a slightly different perspective on some of the existing scenes.
I think, if you love the series, you will *probably* get a kick out of this.
Or not! ;-P
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No! Well, I can just see myself conscientiously trying to avoid that and failing. : (
Then backtracki..."
I'm planning to reread this with all the options. Prepare for the day I show up here in tears because Adrien died. It will happen. I just can't not read that to know how it happens and how Jake's emotions go. It'll tear me up, but I have to read it anyway.
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I can't see why anyone wouldn't!!!???"
Well, his last idea di..."
That's a really neat way to pick out what to write for a CYOA story! I love it! I would never have thought to ask for scenes readers wanted to see.
Josh wrote: "Anne wrote: "Josh wrote: "Antonella wrote: "Johanna wrote: "Josh wrote: "I'm so glad you all like the idea! :-D"I can't see why anyone wouldn't!!!???"
Well, his last idea didn't find the univers..."
I can live with that worst case scenario! So I will probably buy it anyway. There has to be a first time for everything, and what better than my first CYOA with Adrien and Jake? Don't say I'm not open minded.. ;)
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http://joshlanyon.blogspot.fi/2013/11...
ETA: Oops. Josh had already posted the link on the General News thread earlier. Sorry...
Johanna wrote: Josh had already posted the link on the General News thread thread earlier. Sorry... "Don't apologise - these things should be on record in this tread too!
Josh at Amber Kell's Blog with a snippet about Will and Taylor that takes place before the upcoming Kick Start:http://amberkell.wordpress.com/2013/1...
:-)
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http://amberkell.wordpress.com/2013/1...
:-)"
Such a sweet story. Like a surprise birthday present... : )
Karen wrote: "KC wrote: "Josh at Amber Kell's Blog with a snippet about Will and Taylor that takes place before the upcoming Kick Start:http://amberkell.wordpress.com/2013/1......"
Very cute :)
Josh's interview with Sean Crisden, narrator of The Dickens With Love audiobook:http://joshlanyon.blogspot.co.uk/2013...
The second half of this post by Z.A. Maxfield features Josh talking about his deepest, darkest, desire...http://zamaxfield.com/2013/11/17/sund...
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http://zamaxfield.com/2013/11/17/sund..."
Thank you for posting this, Hj. I'm still smiling at Josh's description of Catalina Island:
"It’s small, it’s isolated, it’s well-preserved. Like me."
LOL. :-D
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http://zamaxfield.com/2013/11/17/sund..."
It sounds so much more interesting than it is! :-)
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http://zamaxfield.com/2013/11/17/sund..."
Fun read, including the responses, but my big question is... Wait, you DO have a dog? I thought I remembered an ongoing debate about that. Or I'm confusing (your) life with art (Adrien and Jake). : )
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http://zamaxfield.com/2013/11/17/sund..."
Fu..."
No. But I still assume that I will! :-D (I know! But I do intend to have a dog, I just keep putting it off waiting for the "right time.")
Actually, I've been thinking about it a lot lately.
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http://zamaxfield.com/2013/11/17/sund...-..."
I want a dog so so so much. I need a dog. It's not even just the fact that I want one. I NEED one.
And I've always thought I would get one once I got a full time job and found an apartment that would allow a large dog. I want a rescue Greyhound.
But the problem is, most apartments that allow dogs have these dumb weight limits. You know, it can't weigh more than 30 pounds or 20, something really stupid. I keep trying to tell people that Greyhounds are extremely quiet and well behaved, but for apartment owners it's all about the weight. And I certainly don't want a foofoo dog that will do nothing but mop the floor and yap at me. I'd get a French Bulldog, because I hear they're very intelligent, they're adorable, and they fit the weight requirement, but they're too heat sensitive and I'm too cold sensitive.
Did I mention the rent around here is too high and my paycheck too low as well? I've had a full time, salaried job for a long while now, but I still can't afford a dog. Even if the only excess spendage I do is on books. *sigh*
Anyway, enough with the ranting and venting. Someday I'll get one.
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If you're not on his mailing list already, here's the link to sign up:
http://joshlanyon.us4.list-manage.com...
Jordan wrote: "And I've always thought I would get one once I got a full time job and found an apartment that would allow a large dog. I want a rescue Greyhound. ..."Jordan, you could get a whippet - they have all the characteristics of greyhounds but are much smaller and therefore much lighter. They're excellent pets - take them for a really good run first thing and they'll sleep all day. They're very snuggly, too - in fact the one thing which can deter people is that you never go anywhere alone again, as they follow you around (and get under your feet a bit). But that affectionate nature is wonderful! They rarely bark.
I know it's not the same as rescuing a greyhound. But it's a good compromise and better than not having a dog - and I bet you could find a whippet who needs rescuing too! (But be a bit wary - they can be rather nervous, and I suspect bad treatment from a previous owner might make a whippet very hard work to look after.)
Josh wrote: "Karen wrote: "Josh wrote: "Hj wrote: "The second half of this post by Z.A. Maxfield features Josh talking about his deepest, darkest, desire...http://zamaxfield.com/2013/11/17/sund...-..."
They do say that it is never the "right" time to have a baby, I guess the same goes for a dog. But when they finally arrive, it was the right time after all :)
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Jordan, you could get a whipp..."
I'll have to consider that for sure. Your description sounds perfect. Of course, first thing I need to find an apartment that will let me have one. That's not easy. Last time I moved I wanted a place with utilities included, bright and sunny, one bedroom, that allowed a dog. In my current neighborhood. That I could afford. Ha. Maybe if I got paid more.
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http://zamaxfield.com/2013/11/17/sunday..."
I suspect you're correct, Anne.
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http://dearauthor.com/features/letter...
I started thinking about this and one interesting facet is how we're always saying reviews are for readers, not authors. But what if the review is BY an author? Are those still just for readers?
And there is also, in my opinion, the conflict of interest in using reviews to up your own readership/followship/friendship numbers. In the case of negative reviews, aren't you essentially setting yourself up as an expert? In effect saying, Don't buy this person, buy me because I know so much more about writing?
Of course, the sad truth is there are authors who are very good reviewers and actually not very good authors. Like being able to direct and not act.
Anyway, any thoughts?
Josh wrote: "Interesting post on Dear Author about authors and promotion and reviews.http://dearauthor.com/features/letter...
I s..."
But the thing it doesn't take into account is that authors are readers, too. You told us how much you enjoyed LB Gregg's latest book, and you talk about other books you've enjoyed. We don't take it as promotion, just as discussion from one reader to another.
It is sad to me that authors have to be so careful since they are held to a different standard. Ya'll need to be able to like or dislike a book just like the rest of us.
My extremely short reviews I put in are simply so that my star rating is counted, and to remind me in a sentence or two what I thought of a book, since my memory is so poor.
I don't rate much below 3 stars, since if it's below that it's not likely I finished it, and I don't review books I didn't finish.
Josh wrote: "Interesting post on Dear Author about authors and promotion and reviews.http://dearauthor.com/features/letter...
I s..."
I can't speak for the m/m genre, but regarding "epic fantasy" I often see the opposite case: the authors are at least friendly colleagues, all ratings are four to five stars and the review is so praiseful, that you can only roll your eyes. I'm getting suspicious if they are unable to critice properly or if they don't want to because they share many fans and don't want to upset them (and turn them against themselves).
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If I really disliked something, I try to explain why. And if something was just that amazing that I can't shut up about it, then I'll say something. Otherwise, I don't say anything and just put a star on it.
I started to keep my reviews no lower than a three star. But recently someone kept recommending me a series that I'd started and didn't finish. I'd taken that book off my shelves it was so bad. I ended up putting it back on my shelves and giving it one star so that people would stop recommending it to me!
Which brings me to the other thing I'm not so fond of is the blind recommendations here. From people I hardly ever interact with. If I've interacted with you more than once or twice, that's fine, but some are from people I hardly know! And I usually end up ignoring the review because it doesn't look like a book I'd read, even if it is MM.
Tharayn wrote: "I can't speak for the m/m genre, but regarding "epic fantasy" I often see the opposite case: the authors are at least friendly colleagues, all ratings are four to five stars and the review is so praiseful, that you can only roll your eyes. I'm getting suspicious if they are unable to critice properly or if they don't want to because they share many fans and don't want to upset them (and turn them against themselves). "By and large, this has been my experience in m/m. It's not true of every author, but a number of the authors I've seen tend to leave 5 star ratings on almost everything, and then they rave about the books. If they leave a 4 star rating, it makes me think they would rather have left 2.5 or 3 stars. As a result, I don't take author reviews terribly seriously anymore. For the most part, I pay attention to them under only two circumstances: (1) the author doesn't rate/review very often, so I'm left with the impression that if he or she bothered to do so, it is probably an honest opinion, and (2) the author explains him or herself in something less than, "OMG, bestest thing ever!," terms.
Kaje Harper is my exception. She reviews all of the time, but she is quite genuine in the way that she does so. As a result, I trust her (and it helps that I adore her Life Lessons series -- yes, I value her professional expertise as a published author, but that matters to me only in combination with her honesty). She is diplomatic as all get-out, so she is capable of gently critiquing a book while (presumably) not setting an author's hair on fire.
Susinok wrote: "But the thing it doesn't take into account is that authors are readers, too."Exactly, I think they have the right to say what they like and dislike!
Susinok wrote: "to remind me in a sentence or two what I thought of a book, since my memory is so poor."
I've just noticed how important are my reviews *to me*! I forget why I gave a certain rating to a book I've read years ago, and a review reminds me about it (in particular of the negative points ;-)).
Jordan wrote: "Which brings me to the other thing I'm not so fond of is the blind recommendations here. From people I hardly ever interact with. If I've interacted with you more than once or twice, that's fine, but some are from people I hardly know! And I usually end up ignoring the review because it doesn't look like a book I'd read, even if it is MM. ..."I was recently friended by a person who was sending me up to 3 recommendations a day. I finally told her to please stop (I assume her,no idea) and she did. Her books and mine were very similar, and she had 5000 book to less than 100 friends ratio (my guideline for befriending is that you have to have more books than friends).
It seems there should be able to be some happy medium.. I don't know, but I have seen some authors write down their personal thoughts on a book, but not actually use the star system so as not to influence other readers. BUT, saying that, if it happens to be an author I respect, I will definitely take their thoughts into consideration. I know I've had to cringe at times when I have rated something much lower then the majority of readers, or much higher.. Depends many times on how I felt that day.. But I shouldn't be afraid to be honest, because I am using the tool for myself.
Also, there are some times when I just have to sit on my thoughts, and let things settle before I can honestly write/rate anything. I use the system like Susinok..I use it for my own reference, as it helps me remember if I liked that author, and if I might want to buy more from them.
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Writers are NOT unbiased. There is a conflict of interest there, whether some authors are honest (or perspicacious) enough to admit it. Of course there is!
It goes without saying that we writers love books and have opinions about books. And I have no trouble sharing my honest thoughts in this forum. (Well...actually, that's not true. I'll give my honest thoughts but I'll tone them down considerably.) But a review is different, I think.
Now maybe I partly think this because there are books praised to heaven here that I think are beyond stupid. And my saying so is liable to be interpreted as commentary on the taste of the readers who loved those idiotic books. Nor will my fellow writers forget or forgive, I assure you. :-) I am a very harsh, very critical reader. Which is why I mostly keep my mouth shut.
But if I enjoyed something, I am happy to share my enthusiasm.
Mod
But if I enjoyed something, I am happy to share my enthusiasm."
:-)
Johanna wrote: "Josh wrote: "Now maybe I partly think this because there are books praised to heaven here that I think are beyond stupid. And my saying so is liable to be interpreted as commentary on the taste of ..."I bet much tongue biting happens on your part, Josh. Admirable, really. But, saying that.. I understand why some people 'like the idiotic' books. For me, they sometimes give an escape from my purely technical, dry world, and escapism, in whatever way I need it that day, has many colors and flavors...LOL Sometimes I just don't care if their facts are straight in their alternate reality, as long as they aren't professing themselves to be experts, I can have a different opinion. What bugs me more is when an 'author' has crappy editing.. and what has potential to be a real good story in content is ruined for me due to the interruptions in flow. With all these self-pubs, I worry that we are getting an excess of books that people are raving about who just don't know that there are better stories out there..Quality vs. quantity.. I want to purge my kindle of so much right now :)
Josh wrote: "Now maybe I partly think this because there are books praised to heaven here that I think are beyond stupid. And my saying so is liable to be interpreted as commentary on the taste of the readers who loved those idiotic books. Nor will my fellow writers forget or forgive, I assure you. :-) I am a very harsh, very critical reader. Which is why I mostly keep my mouth shut...."And I am notoriously not harsh with my reviews. I don't LOVE everything I read but it doesn't make me nuts either. If I'm entertained and don't find too many inconsistencies or plot holes, I'm good to go. That being said I also do not always agree with the crowd on what's a good book.
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In general there's a tendency to want our likes to be appreciated by others, at least by others we have chosen to associate with (virtually or otherwise). So it makes me kind of not want to know where "here" is in Josh's comment, like I want to think he means wider GR rather than Q&A. ; ) Because I find myself in surprising agreement with the Q&A voices, not always, but I find a lot of shared book preferences here. Wider GR for m/m referrals is a very mixed bag, way too many flashing pictures, capital letters, and exclamation points for my taste.
I watch very little television these days because I suppose a lot of my guilty pleasures are found reading. Right now I'm reading a train wreck of a book. I really can't imagine what the author was thinking. Maybe all of his books are like this. It's self-consiously cute in a way that I suspect was meant to be clever. But I can't seem to set it aside. It's like one of those movies you watch to the end, perplexed and paralyzed, and later wonder why you wasted your time.
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And while paralyzed you sincerely hope that a miracle happens and it'll somehow, someway save the whole catastrophe... :-)
But the thing is that the more I read (and watch movies) the more I seem get impatient about that. Or maybe it's an aging thing? It definitely has to do with the fact that there is only a limited time to read and to watch movies.
By the way, have any of you ever walked out of the movie theatre in the middle of the movie? I haven't. But once I wanted to. Not because the movie was bad, it wasn't. But because it was so damn scary. Anyway, it was a date, so I couldn't just leave even though I would have LOVED to. Who takes a girl to see the movie Pet Sematary on a first date? Jeez.
Karen wrote: "Josh wrote: "Now maybe I partly think this because there are books praised to heaven here that I think are beyond stupid. In general there's a tendency to want our likes to..."
It's the same for me, my guilty pleasures are reading. For many years I "comforted" myself by pretending I at least became better in English since I usually buy and read English books unless the author is Norwegian (much cheaper), but I guess that kind of justification only go so far.
Nowadays I liken my reading to other people's way of relaxing by watching Paradise Hotel or other mind-numbing reality shows, which doesn't interest me. To each their own apparently. The fact is, there is only so much pressure my brain can take so after using my head at work, I need relaxing at home. This theory should of course mean I would read very complicated stuff during vacation time, but I am afraid it doesn't happen all that much either ...
I usually have several books going at the same time and sometimes at least look into other stuff. These days I have Far from the Tree: Parents, Children, and the Search for Identity on my Kindle, and I read a little bit in between. It is very interesting in fact, and well written too. But when I am tired or in the mood for something relaxing and fun, this is not the book I turn to :)
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Q&A with Josh Lanyon
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