Q&A with Josh Lanyon discussion
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What Are you Reading?
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by Harper Fox releases today.Here an excerpt:
http://www.harperfox.net/books/cold-f...
Buying links:
http://www.samhainpublishing.com/book......"
Yay!
Antonella wrote: " by Harper Fox releases today.Here an excerpt:
http://www.harperfox.net/books/cold-f...
Buying links:
http://www.samhainpublishing.com/book......"
Thanks for the reminder, Antonella!
I had it noted in my calendar but for some reason didn't get a notification...
Josh wrote: "HJ wrote: "I just read The Cornish Coast Murder by John Bude. It was first published in 1935, and I like crime fiction from that era so was hoping to discover anoth..."I find Bude's work a bit stiff. Not sure I've managed to finish anything by him.
Thank you. Good to know I'm not alone, and even better that it's you who agrees!
Calathea wrote: "So I stayed up until 4 a.m. because I could not put down this piece of 46k fanfic. Could not, even if I tried. It's one of the rare fanfics where you don't need the background to enjoy the story be..."I really enjoyed this one! When I go looking for more Bennguin fics I'm blaming you. ;-D
I'm trying to figure out a good system for keeping track of fanfics. I feel so unorganized! I have bookmarks everywhere and hundreds of unsorted fics on my Kindle.
Valerie wrote: "I really enjoyed this one! When I go looking for more Bennguin fics I'm blaming you. ;-D"LOL Reading at your own risk... ;)
I'm trying to figure out a good system for keeping track of fanfics.
If you figur one out please share. I have folders on my harddrive for the fics I download, sorted by fandom but... there are so many I only read online and usually the file name don't mean anything to me a few days later.
I guess you could use Calibre. I think it's possible to create empty entries and maybe add a link? Sometimes I make bookmarks with Evernote. That way I have the link to the source and a description or even the whole fic in one entry.
Calathea wrote: "Valerie wrote: "I really enjoyed this one! When I go looking for more Bennguin fics I'm blaming you. ;-D"LOL Reading at your own risk... ;)
I'm trying to figure out a good system for keeping tra..."
I don't have Calibre since my old laptop died and I just have a Chromebook for personal use. I started a Google doc at one point but it was too much work for my lazy self to keep updated.
I prefer to read on my Kindle so I usually download fics and send to Kindle and they are saved both in Google Drive and Amazon Cloud. But I end up with tons of fics on my Kindle and I'm way behind in organizing them . The Kindle is just soooo slow when it comes to adding items to folders.
I have used Evernote off and on - that will sync with my phone which is helpful.
Finished reading Angel Martinez's Endangered Fae series this week--back to back, stayed up late, got up early, worried about the MCs, and wanted to slap others silly. Angel's an amazing wordsmith and takes delight in torturing her characters and her readers. Eventually everything gets sorted and HEAs abound. But now I've a blazing book hangover--my brain won't disengage. Picked up and discarded several books because I was too wrapped up in the last book in the series NO FAE IS AN ISLAND.
I needed something different. Finally landed on MARTY AND THE PILOT by Harper Fox. Cute story with witty dialogue, but I just know Harper will twist me into knots before the end.
Yesterday, on last day of Christmas I finished my Christmas reading with A Case of Christmas. And it was fantastic. I want more! In fact I do think this novella would be splendid prequel to a serie where Shane and Linus globetrot all over the world hunting down art thieves while spending vacations on Catalina looking for pirate gold! Am I right or am I right? Right?! *looks at Josh optimistically*
looks good, I might be a bit too old for it, but I'm tempted ;-):Space Dumplins Full Length Book Trailer
Mod
It has possibilities for a light-hearted adventure series, I agree. I'm so over committed with promised sequels and series that I don't know if I'll ever get around to it, but I'm keeping that possibility open. ;-)
Karen wrote: "I'm thinking about why we read, and why we choose to read whatever it is we choose. I like to think that I read for the pleasure of a well-told story, a well-turned phrase, a bit of a challenge (gu..."I've enjoyed other books by Alex Gabriel (like the very awesome and very funny Love for the Cold-Blooded, or The Part-Time Evil Minion's Guide to Accidentally Dating a Superhero), but I remember I couldn't get into Learning How to Lose, in Six Easy Steps. Step One: Tetris / Step Two: Fun and Games. I don't entirely recall why either.
I read G. B. Gordon's The Other Side of Winter the other day and it's fantastic. It's emotional and intense and so well written. It's the sequel to Santuario, which is also amazing.
Trioseven7 wrote: "Oh I read Unwrapping Hank last night - it was absolutely fantastic."I finally bought that not too long ago and I'm really looking forward to it. I've really liked what I've read by Eli Easton so far.
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The organization I do outreach to for work has one rule (of many) that simply says "don't yuk my yum." I wish these Thirds agents would know about this rule! Lol.
Jordan wrote: "I started book five in the Thirds series and finally figured out my biggest issue with this series. Teenagers trapped in adult bodies as tough cops. But, here I am, listening to the fifth book, so ..."You have described it so well!!! 'Teenagers trapped in adult bodies' expresses my feelings exactly. Having said that I am listening to book 2 on audio and I love it :) It is a very enjoyable audiobook.
I am also reading Peck of Pickled Peppers which is book two in the series. It has such a rowdy cast of characters that are hard to keep up with but it is a very entertaining mystery. I am also reading The Glass-House Murder and enjoying it too. I only bought it because someone discussed it here and I cant remember who, but thanks for the recc.
Mod
This reminded me that I keep meaning to post that using the "search discussion posts" window towards the top right side of these pages is a great tool. For example, if you type in "Glass-House Murder" you can find the history of mentions from initial recommendation on. I use this a lot. (BTW, it looks like ttg was the first to mention it.)
Thanks for pointing that out. Very useful. :)
Mod
Yes! A great tool, this. I use it sometimes when I don't remember exactly when something happened or who recommended what. :-)
Finished THE SACRIFICIAL KNIGHT by Kestrel Drake last night. Published November 12th 2015 by MMRomanceGroup.com. Thoroughly enjoyable and I look forward to reading more of her work. Started reading SOULBOUND by A.L. Wilson, another Love is an Open Road treasure. Loving it. I'm on a paranormal tear--sticking with comfort reads for the present. *Lord knows I need them right now!*
Mod
Michael Nava wrote:I have started revising the first Rios novel, The Little Death, for a new print edition. I only meant to correct typos and do some light rewriting but instead I am treating it like a first draft and using only about 10% of the published book. While the characters and general narrative trajectory will be the same, it will be a very different book now that I have the advantage of having written six other episodes in the character's life and the perspective of 30 years since The Little Death was first published in 1986. I hope to have the revised book out in the fall.
And I had forgotten so say that a couple of months ago he had told me in private - and given me the permission to say in public: ''I may get back to Rios someday'' ;-).
Mod
I have started revising the first Rios novel, The Little Death, for a new print edition. I only meant to correct typos and do some light rewriting but instead I am treating it ..."
Wow. That's... huge.
I wonder why he's decided to edit so much of the book.
Antonella wrote: "Michael Nave wrote:I have started revising the first Rios novel, The Little Death, for a new print edition. I only meant to correct typos and do some light rewriting but instead I am treating it ..."
That sounds good. I would really like another Rios story too.
Antonella wrote: "Michael Nave wrote:I have started revising the first Rios novel, The Little Death, for a new print edition. I only meant to correct typos and do some light rewriting but instead I am treating it ..."
Oh, wow... I'm curious to see how that turns out.
Antonella wrote: "Michael Nave wrote:I have started revising the first Rios novel, The Little Death, for a new print edition. I only meant to correct typos and do some light rewriting but instead I am treating it ..."
I don't know... I loved the first books in the Rios series so much, despite their obvious flaws. There is such an emotional rawness, so much poetry, so much breathing space... I liked the last books too, but I always had the feeling that he got an editor who streamlined the plotting and writing to cater more to the mainstream audience - but maybe this was an inner editor? I just hope he will continue his planned quartet of historical fiction novels!
Varecia wrote: "I don't know... I loved the first books in the Rios series so much, despite their obvious flaws. There is such an emotional rawness, so much poetry, so much breathing space... I liked the last books too, but I always had the feeling that he got an editor who streamlined the plotting and writing to cater more to the mainstream audience - but maybe this was an inner editor? I just hope he will continue his planned quartet of historical fiction novels! "I was totally happy when he told me he might write another book, but my first reaction to this latest development was also disappointment: I liked the books as they were.
BTW sorry for writing ''Nave''.
Just finished Played to Death by Meg Perry. Easy, enjoyable read like the previous books in this series.
I read Ellen Wittlinger's Parrotfish over the weekend and it was really good. It's about a trans high school kid who's trying to sort out his life and I though it was well done.
I am catching up on a straight romance series, Lucky Harbor by Jill Shalvis. I read It Had to Be You over the weekend, and started Always On My Mind this morning.She's a pretty solid writer without any of the tropes that piss me off in het romance. I even like her heroines.
Mod
I have started revising the first Rios novel, The Little Death, for a new print edition. I only meant to correct typos and do some light rewriting but instead I am treating it ..."
Only using 10% of the original book?!
That's...I don't know, but I find that kind of troubling.
I mean, I know I rewrote FS three times, but I just kept adding and embellishing. I didn't really take a lot away. I did rewrite ADT more intensely, but even there is was mostly adding.
From a creative standpoint it's marvelous that we can keep rewriting and reworking...but should we? I mean, yes, for those who started out self-publishing or in epublishing, yes, it is not fun learning your craft in public. But the Rios books already had the advantage of good editors and a good publisher. Those are really well-written novels as they stand.
So I feel more sad than excited about this news.
Mod
I have started revising the first Rios novel, The Little Death, for a new print edition. I only meant to correct typos and do some light rewriting but instead..."
Honestly, I don't think there ARE obvious flaws in those books. I think they're smart and well-crafted mysteries.
Mod
Ooohh! That's one of my favorites!
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I have started revising the first Rios novel, The Little Death, for a new print edition. I only meant to correct typos and do some light rewri..."
That's my thinking as well.
Susinok wrote: "I am catching up on a straight romance series, Lucky Harbor by Jill Shalvis. I read It Had to Be You over the weekend, and started Always On My Mind this morning.She's a pretty solid writer without any of the tropes that piss me off in het romance. I even like her heroines. ..."
I agree; I've liked all the books of hers which I've read.
Mod
Why it makes me feel sad--which is not logical, after all. How is it even my place to feel sad about another writer's creative decisions?
But I think it's because it feels like he's disowning his younger self and his younger work.
And therefore his *cough* younger readers who loved and admired those first books?
Because of course the older you get, the more different your writing is. Not just that you're a more polished and sophisticated writer, but that the things that interest you, your perspective and your insight changes as you gain life experience (as well as writing experience). Your emotions change as well. The emotions of a teenager and a thirty-year old are very different. But so are the emotions of a thirty year old and a sixty year old.
You are a different writer at sixty. Maybe better. In some ways. But maybe the things that make you a better writer make for a less effective -- heart-driven? -- storyteller.
And now I am totally theorizing and not at all talking about Nava. I am thinking aloud. As I read so many of these vintage mystery series, usually the books themselves get better as the series goes on. But some of the initial quirkiness and passion fades out. The books are not always as entertaining.
Anyway, it's the artistic impulse never to let anything be. It is hard for writers to ever stop tinkering. I don't know a writer who is ever happy with the final result.
Which is why I think you have to make the decision to stop rewriting yourself and your literary history after a certain point. Like no rewriting after a decade or something. ;-) Because at that point you're now a different author.
Anyway, what an interesting topic.
That's interesting Josh, and I agree: no rewriting after a decade! One of the reasons I like to read authors who are new to me in the order in which books were first published is that one can see how an author evolves and changes over time. Also I'm not sure that an author is the best judge of his own work, even if he thinks that it's been so long that he can be objective.
Mod
I agree. Not least because you can never view the work with the same objectivity or perspective as a reader. I will never see Adrien and Jake as readers do. Nor any of my characters. It is not possible.
Nor can any two readers see any of my characters in exactly the same way.
Josh wrote: "I was thinking about this last night. Why it makes me feel sad--which is not logical, after all. How is it even my place to feel sad about another writer's creative decisions?
But I think it's b..."
Very much true, I had the same reaction to the news, sadness. I love the book, does that mean I'm wrong? I really don't think so. But of course, I don't know the reasoning behind Nava's view. But I don't think I will read the new " improved" version.
Antonella wrote: " looks good, I might be a bit too old for it, but I'm tempted ;-):Space Dumplins Full Length Book Trailer"
I just spotted this post. You are never too old for this!
Mod
looks good, I might be a bit too old for it, but I'm tempted ;-):Space Dumplins Full Length Book Trailer"
I just spotted this post. You are ..."
LOL. Very cute.
Mod
Why it makes me feel sad--which is not logical, after all. How is it even my place to feel sad about another writer's creative decisions?
But I..."
And there is the problem of already knowing how it ends.
I guess it's one thing if you just can't get enough of a particular set of characters. I've looked for fan fiction on some of Georgette Heyer's characters. If Ginn Hale wanted to add in material about Kyle and John, I'd go for that.
It sort of depends on what the rewrite might be.
When Hansen rewrote STRANGER TO HIMSELF three times...the first time he cut out all erotic content and the second time he was just tweaking (sometimes changing back to the first version). To me neither of those would have been justification for a reread had I not been doing it in order to write academic essays. From a readerly perspective, these were not improvements.
Mod
Before publication, that's your chance to make all the changes and rewrites you want! (which, of course, can be a bad idea too. lol, speaking from experience.)
Still reading my Shalvis series. Up to book 9 now. It's been a long while since I've read any het romance.
I loved that book! Her others are very good too.
I just finished the first book in the series Psycop: Partners and started the second book last night. So far I like it.
Finished today our BOM Fool's Errand. Loved it!!! Has anyone read anything else by Louis Bayard? For example: Endangered Species?
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Q&A with Josh Lanyon
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I find Bude's work a bit stiff. Not sure I've managed to finish anything by him.