What's New From Josh? Showing 301-350 of 2,852

[Liade]

Oh and Josh: thank you so much for taking a sabbatical. Without it the update job would probably be a LOT harder *g*.

[Josh]

Liade wrote: "Oh and Josh: thank you so much for taking a sabbatical. Without it the update job would probably be a LOT harder *g*."

I can honestly say that you are the first person I've heard THAT from! :-D :-D :-D

[KC]

Haunted Heart interview with Josh here:

http://rhysford.com/2013/08/27/a-one-...

:-)

[Josh]

And there's a giveaway attached to this Q&A and review: http://liveyourlifebuythebook.wordpre...

[Johanna]

Thank you for both links, KC and Josh. Great interviews! :-)

[Josh]

Also, thank you guys for the reviews on Haunted Heart and In Plain Sight. I won't deny that I'm feeling the strain of not having a publisher behind me to support these releases. So those reviews really do help.

[Johanna]

Josh wrote: "Also, thank you guys for the reviews on Haunted Heart and In Plain Sight. I won't deny that I'm feeling the strain of not having a publisher behind me to support these releases. So those reviews re..."

Which reminded me that I hadn't remembered to post my review (ETA: on In Plain Sight) here on GR at all... thank you for mentioning the reviews, Josh! :-)

[Calathea]

Have you seen the good news about upcoming audio books on Josh's fb fanpage? I looks like the I spy series will be next. :-D

[Susinok]

Calathea wrote: "Have you seen the good news about upcoming audio books on Josh's fb fanpage? I looks like the I spy series will be next. :-D"

Yes! I am looking forward to all of those.

[Sandra]

That's exciting news!

[Josh]

Calathea wrote: "Have you seen the good news about upcoming audio books on Josh's fb fanpage? I looks like the I spy series will be next. :-D"

I'll be listening to those final files today. As soon as I finish with the In Sunshine or In Shadow files. God. TWELVE HOURS of listening and taking notes yesterday. I hate my work. ;-P

[Susinok]

Josh wrote: "I'll be listening to those final files today. As soon as I finish with the In Sunshine or In Shadow files. God. TWELVE HOURS of listening and taking notes yesterday. I hate my work. ;-P..."

Too bad we can't take that onerous task off of your shoulders.

;)

[Josh]

Susinok wrote: "Josh wrote: "I'll be listening to those final files today. As soon as I finish with the In Sunshine or In Shadow files. God. TWELVE HOURS of listening and taking notes yesterday. I hate my work. ;-..."

After a while all I could think was ANOTHER SEX SCENE?!?! And yet I know I write kind of sparingly in the sex scene department.

E-X-C-R-C-R-U-C-A-T-I-N-G.

Though I will say some of these guys -- most of these guys -- read these scenes very well. I think they look at it as a challenge.

Oh no you di-int!

[Johanna]

Josh wrote: "Susinok wrote: "Josh wrote: "I'll be listening to those final files today. As soon as I finish with the In Sunshine or In Shadow files. God. TWELVE HOURS of listening and taking notes yesterday. I ..."

LOL. :-D

ETA: I don't understand how you can stand your job... ;-)

ETA2: Those must not have been your own books, because that doesn't sound too E-X-C-R-C-R-U-C-A-T-I-N-G to me... :-)

[Jordan]

Dangerous Ground on audio sounds dangerous to my wallet! Can't wait! Especially for ISOIS. Sigh ...

[Josh]

The one that has turned out unexpectedly well is the I Spy collection. I LOVE that guy's voice. Or at least the voice he uses for Mark. It's exactly right. Or at least as close to exactly right as anything could be where I wasn't actually holding the remote control. :-D

As an experiment I'm doing I Spy Something Bloody as a stand alone and then also selling all three I Spy books as a collection. The collection is liable to be pricy for some and this way they can sample the first book. Or it may just cut into the sales of the collection. It's just another experiment.

[Josh]

I've been trying to think WHY I enjoy audio books and the audio book process so much. Maybe there's a blog in there somewhere.

[Johanna]

Josh wrote: "The one that has turned out unexpectedly well is the I Spy collection. I LOVE that guy's voice. Or at least the voice he uses for Mark. It's exactly right. Or at least as close to exactly right as anything could be where I wasn't actually holding the remote control. :-D"

Oh cool!!! *practically jumps up and down and claps her hands* :-)

[Goge]

Josh wrote: "Susinok wrote: "Josh wrote: "I'll be listening to those final files today. As soon as I finish with the In Sunshine or In Shadow files. God. TWELVE HOURS of listening and taking notes yesterday. I ..."

LOL there is nothing wrong with sex scenes :) nothing at all :)

[Johanna]

Josh wrote: "I've been trying to think WHY I enjoy audio books and the audio book process so much. Maybe there's a blog in there somewhere."

When I was a child I was read aloud to a lot. And I mean A LOT. Even as an adult I find it extremely pleasurable to be read to. So, besides that audio books are super practical, there is something very soothing and enjoyable about them. Almost zen-like. :-)

[Josh]

Goge wrote: "Josh wrote: "Susinok wrote: "Josh wrote: "I'll be listening to those final files today. As soon as I finish with the In Sunshine or In Shadow files. God. TWELVE HOURS of listening and taking notes ..."

I agree! I really do. But there is just something about hearing the scenes read aloud...even when they are read very well...that is just so uncomfortable. And I'm pretty sure I would feel this way no matter who wrote them. In fact, the urge to fast forward is enormous. Except I know I have to listen to make sure nothing gets skipped or blipped. As has happened!

[Goge]

I know what you mean and I agree. Reading it though is nothing but a pleasure :).

[Josh]

Goge wrote: "I know what you mean and I agree. Reading it though is nothing but a pleasure :)."

Writing it is certainly enjoyable. But then, in all honesty, I don't write those scenes thinking of readers. In fact, readers are the furthest thing from my mind. Maybe that's why the audio is such a shock. It's suddenly very much a public enterprise. :-D

[Anne]

Johanna wrote: "Josh wrote: "I've been trying to think WHY I enjoy audio books and the audio book process so much. Maybe there's a blog in there somewhere."

When I was a child I was read aloud to a lot. And I mea..."

All that, and you can knit too :)

[Josh]

Anne wrote: "Johanna wrote: "Josh wrote: "I've been trying to think WHY I enjoy audio books and the audio book process so much. Maybe there's a blog in there somewhere."

When I was a child I was read aloud to ..."

:-D :-D :-D

And they dare to say she's not a superhero!?

[Josh]

And another interview...
http://www.cantonrep.com/entertainmen...

[Anne]

Josh wrote: "And another interview...
http://www.cantonrep.com/entertainmen..."

Lovely interview, especially your thoughts on prioritizing what is important.

[Antonella]

Josh's interviews are always interesting. And apparently I had missed till now following bit of information:

You have said your writing has shifted to focusing on female readers of male/male romance.

I suppose I'll lose my platinum fanyon-badge!

[Johanna]

Anne wrote: "Josh wrote: "And another interview...
http://www.cantonrep.com/entertainmen..."

Lovely interview, especially your though..."

Yes, exactly what Anne said. What a lovely, heartwarming interview.

[Goge]

Josh wrote: "Goge wrote: "I know what you mean and I agree. Reading it though is nothing but a pleasure :)."

Writing it is certainly enjoyable. But then, in all honesty, I don't write those scenes thinking of ..."

LOL I can understand your point, but as a huge fan of your work, I say fell free not to think about us when you write and you write what you want :) I'll read it in silence ;)

[Goge]

Josh wrote: "And another interview...
http://www.cantonrep.com/entertainmen..."

:)

[Sandra]

Josh wrote: "And another interview...
http://www.cantonrep.com/entertainmen..."

Nice. :)

[Josh]

Antonella wrote: "Josh's interviews are always interesting. And apparently I had missed till now following bit of information:

You have said your writing has shifted to focusing on female readers of male/male roman..."

That's not an easy question to answer in a couple of sentences. The bottom line is romance readers are primarily women and I write a lot of romance. So it's logical to pay attention to my audience.

But at the same time, I'm just writing what I like to write.

So maybe more accurately, I am largely marketing and promoting to female readers of male/male romance?

Of course ideally I would pretend that I don't market and promote at all, and that I never think of such things as $$$$. But...

[Antonella]

The only shift I can think of is from ''Fatal Shadow'' to all the rest. Is the shift meant to start there?

[Josh]

Antonella wrote: "The only shift I can think of is from ''Fatal Shadow'' to all the rest. Is the shift meant to start there?"

Fatal Shadows and the original A Dangerous Thing are definitely "gay mystery." There was relationship stuff, romance stuff, but it was most definitely subordinate to the mystery. Now the mystery and romance are half and half.

But I will say this, the first readers who clamored for more of Jake and Adrien's relationship was my original and mostly male GMP audience. So I don't think it breaks down to men's taste versus women's taste. I think it breaks down to romance readers versus other genre fiction readers.

And most romance readers are women (you need only head to a romance conference to see that). But I do not think that what women-who-read-romance like is very different from what men-who-read-romance like.

It's more about what romance readers like -- rather than what women versus men like.

Hopefully that makes sense.

[Susinok]

It does make sense. I know a lot of mystery readers really do NOT like a lot of romance in their books and shudder at the thought of sex. There are come clearly defined lines in some people's minds as to what comprises their genre.

[Josh]

Susinok wrote: "There are come clearly defined lines in some people's minds as to what comprises their genre.
..."

I don't know if that was a Freudian slip or what, but baby, you just nailed it. :-D

[Calathea]

Josh wrote: "Susinok wrote: "There are come clearly defined lines in some people's minds as to what comprises their genre.
..."

I don't know if that was a Freudian slip or what, but baby, you just nailed it. :-D"



Then count me in the romance reader variety. I love me some good mystery but I feel like something's missing if there isn't a bit of romance/relationship-stuff in there, too.

[Josh]

Calathea wrote: "Josh wrote: "Susinok wrote: "There are come clearly defined lines in some people's minds as to what comprises their genre.
..."

I don't know if that was a Freudian slip or what, but baby, you jus..."

I agree! The most interesting element to me in any story are the characters and their relationships. This is what I mean about writing what I enjoy. Writing romance gives me room and scope to develop elements I wouldn't be able to in a straight mystery.

[Susinok]

One thing that frustrated me to no end in some of my favorite mystery series is how the lead could never maintain a relationship. It was a trope of the genre at the time. Edna Buchanan's heroine, Sarah Paretzky's VI Wishawski (sp?), etc. They went through boyfriends like crap through a goose. As soon as the relationship got heavy, the guy would be bumped off or something.

Far as I know Nevada Barr's character is still married, but it could have gone south. I'm a few books behind...

Same goes for the male investigators. Those three just bubbled up to the top of my memory since I remember being very frustrated with VI. Her breakups were mostly of her own making. I dropped the series long ago, plus Sarah had a huge gap between books there for a while.

Josh I'm too sleepy still, what Freudian slip? :) I don't see it, hehe.

[Josh]

Susinok wrote: "One thing that frustrated me to no end in some of my favorite mystery series is how the lead could never maintain a relationship. It was a trope of the genre at the time. Edna Buchanan's heroine, S..."

Yes! That's one of the tiresome tropes in mystery -- although a lot of mystery authors are getting past it now -- that there could not be a healthy, happy romantic relationship for the protag.

Well, except for Parker and the endlessly annoying Susan.

Okay, there were a few. Muller, Paretsky, etc. And in fairness to disgruntled readers, a lot of mystery authors do seem to have trouble balancing relationship and mystery plot. Too many of the relationships go sappy and take over the story.

But the solution is not -- for me, anyway -- to pretend that operating in a lonely, isolated emotional vacuum is typical or even very interesting.

[Susinok]

Josh wrote: "But the solution is not -- for me, anyway -- to pretend that operating in a lonely, isolated emotional vacuum is typical or even very interesting. ..."

I agree! I have noticed a shift with mysteries lately, yes, that relationships last these days.

I did chuckle at one cozy where the woman did not sleep with her boyfriend for over nine months. I think it hadn't happened by the time I gave up on the books. The entire thing seemed to unrealistic to me.

If you are uncomfortable with writing sex, then fade to black, but leaving it out is just stupid.

[Jordan]

If you leave sex out, there has to be a good reason for the characters to abstain from it.

And yes, I've always written about relationships, no matter what else is going on in the story, the MC is hooking up with someone!

[HJ]

Josh wrote: "Well, except for Parker and the endlessly annoying Susan. ..."

Ha! I thought I was the only one who found her annoying! And the endless detail over food... But the descriptions of Boston are interesting!

[Carlita]

Hj wrote: Ha! I thought I was the only one who found her annoying!

The Spenser books were my first experience with romance and mystery. I did get tired of the eternal off- and on-again, living-apart relationship with Susan, which I've read mirrored Parker's ongoing relationship with his wife. Ironically, Spenser and Susan decided to marry in the last book, but Parker died so the "marriage" book was never written. Forty-one books was a long time to wait for closure, but I did enjoy the mysteries.

[Josh]

Susinok wrote: "Josh wrote: "But the solution is not -- for me, anyway -- to pretend that operating in a lonely, isolated emotional vacuum is typical or even very interesting. ..."

I agree! I have noticed a shift..."

Now in fairness, I have friends who embrace celibacy. And I certainly embrace it for my nieces. :-D I don't know if *they* will embrace it as desperately as I do on their behalf when they hit college and the world beyond.

But I think the key point here is the "relationship" aspect in those books was primary for you. Whereas the publisher and author would be thinking that the mystery plot was primary. Because this is how mainstream publishers of mysteries, even cozy mysteries (which do generally have romantic subplots) think.

[Josh]

Hj wrote: "Josh wrote: "Well, except for Parker and the endlessly annoying Susan. ..."

Ha! I thought I was the only one who found her annoying! And the endless detail over food... But the descriptions of ..."

No! Most readers detest Susan, which is why it grieves me to admit I hate her too. ;-D

[Susinok]

Josh wrote: "No! Most readers detest Susan, which is why it grieves me to admit I hate her too. ;-D..."

I keep seeing this and thinking, "What'd I do?" Susan is my real name. :)

I have not read the Chandler series. I really need to pick up a few.

from another post, Josh sez: "But I think the key point here is the "relationship" aspect in those books was primary for you. Whereas the publisher and author would be thinking that the mystery plot was primary. Because this is how mainstream publishers of mysteries, even cozy mysteries (which do generally have romantic subplots) think. "

Well not exactly. I knew it was a mystery. It was just that the relationship between the two was clumsily handled. I'll accept celibacy as a choice, but this was not the case with these two. It was just badly written.

The books had other problems in the mystery aspects as well, so my abandoning them was not due to the weird relationship but overall poor quality writing. The relationship was just one example of that.

[Murphy]

Josh wrote: "Antonella wrote: "The only shift I can think of is from ''Fatal Shadow'' to all the rest. Is the shift meant to start there?"

Fatal Shadows and the original A Dangerous Thing are definitely "gay m..."
I enjoyed both of the books and I love mystery. I wrote constantly to the Gay Men's Press to ask when the next Adrien English was coming out. I enjoy romance also, but I enjoy mystery and romantic suspense the best.

[Josh]

Murphy wrote: "Josh wrote: "Antonella wrote: "The only shift I can think of is from ''Fatal Shadow'' to all the rest. Is the shift meant to start there?"

Fatal Shadows and the original A Dangerous Thing are defi..."

Me too. I guess my idea of true love involves a high body count. :-D