Q&A with Josh Lanyon discussion
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What Are you Reading?
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"I've given up on reading so-called literary fiction; too often something really appalling happens to characters, and even if it doesn't one sometimes wonders what the point of the book was: maybe just to write beautifully? -- not enough for me!"
This is also why I don't read literary fiction either. I read a book once that had two AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL sentences that completely blew me away. I think I wrote them down somewhere they amazed me so much. I recall one was about a sunset and one was about a tree. Just wow. And yet, I never finished the book. I got 3/4 of the way through it and wondered what the point was and gave up. I don't remember what the book was or who the author was either.
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Yes, military (I love watching things blow up!) and mystery, historical and westerns and paranormal... they make romance so much more interesting! And romance makes all of these genres more interesting too.
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Oh!"
After looking further at the site, they say they take anything: "whether your work is romance, fiction, nonfiction, religious, biographical, self help or a children’s book, our experts will help you transform your book from rough draft to published hard copy and/or eBook available for consumer purchase at the world’s largest retail book outlets."
But you have to either call or email them to get the free author submission kit, so I don't know what that entails.
Here's a great book they offer and the description that goes with it:
"Drive-In Funeral Parlour"
This story is of historical significance, and is humorous as well as tragic. Tam Monoday was an Irish, Chicago gangster having character facets, and blue collar manners typical of the l930s. His determination to create a lucrative future resulted in innovative business growth via his 1,2,3 system. How he did it, and why, propelled his plans, and will surely open your eyes. Enjoy!
--Walter M. Smith
btw, the cover is red with black lettering for the title and the publishers logo at the bottom. Nothing more. wow. Thrilling. Notice how I'm jumping for joy at the fact that I could buy this and read it.
:-P
Also, thanks Josh for looking up the website!
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She does, but I still get confused about which bad guy we're dealing with sometimes. Honestly, it's probably just me and my Swiss cheese brain.
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Yes. I think there's a lot of wisdom in those words. And I totally agree with this. I feel exactly the same.
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True words.
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Partly that's due to changes in publishing -- a lot of mainstream- vetted writers went into indie publishing -- but part of it is the genre is now old enough that writers who were learning their craft in public five years ago, are now seasoned. That's great for the genre as a whole, even if we had a painful learning curve."
This is interesting pondering. And I think you're absolutely right about this.
Why I read romance novels? I'm with Anne, as I get older the more escapism I crave. My job is very stressful and at times emotionally exhausting so when I want to relax I do so with some wonderful romance with a happy ending. I still want them well written though. Among other things ;)
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Game #5 of our Very Valentine Week is up. :)"
LOL! Yes, we need you guys to drop everything else and join the party! :-D :-D :-D
Johanna wrote: "Calathea wrote: "We interupt this program for an important announcement:Game #5 of our Very Valentine Week is up. :)"
LOL! Yes, we need you guys to drop everything else and join the party! :-D :..."
Yes! There isn't nearly enough glitter in the pool! And i think we've misplaced Cupid....
Ame wrote: "Why I read romance novels? I'm with Anne, as I get older the more escapism I crave. My job is very stressful and at times emotionally exhausting so when I want to relax I do so with some wonderful ..."This is me, too. :-) It's nice just to be able to read for fun again.
When I was younger I could stomach horror and more gruesome stories. Now - not at all.
Things I appreciate in romances besides a happy ending, especially in Josh's books: humor, wit, adventure. And sometimes I just like to read about two dumb guys doing *things* and falling in love. Makes me wish it could always be so simple in real life.
Varecia wrote: "Alison wrote: "I spent the weekend re-reading Captive Prince 1 and 2 and then went right into the exciting finale, Kings Rising. What a great experience. I loved it. It's so grippin..."I'm about a quarter way through the third book and I'm with you. I like it so far but it doesn't have that "can't put it down" quality of the first two for me.
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I think the cupid actually misplaced himself into Josh's study. Is that a bad thing?
And oh yeah... I think we could use a pool boy right about now. To handle the glitter
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I think the cupid actually misplaced himself into Josh's study. Is that a bad thing?
And ..."
Cupid has his nose in one of Josh's books. But he won't tell me what it is. He's so engrossed in it, I can't even pry it out of his hands to look at the cover.
I just finished Enemies of the State and it was fantastic. Highly recommend, it comes out on Mondayhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Trioseven7 wrote: "I just finished Enemies of the State and it was fantastic. Highly recommend, it comes out on Mondayhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
It looks interesting. I remember something very similar though. Anybody else has read the similar book and remembers the title?
Varecia wrote: "Are you thinking of this one, Antonella?Dear Mister President"
Yes, thank you. It is a great book and I gave it ''only'' 4 stars because suspending my disbelief was really difficult.
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I also agree with this and with what has been said about genres (mystery, paranormal, etc.) I've experienced enough real life losses, and read enough, fictional and not, to want to seek out guaranteed HEAs or HFNs. This goes back to the discussion about how we came to m/m. I came to it, or came home to it, from my own habit of rewriting tragic endings in my head to imagine ones where the characters found reconciliation. And that's another theme shared here -- finding a way to overcome differences or come to an workable compromise. Again, hope.
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What Darlene said. : )
If you enter the series name into the search window in the upper right side of our group page you can track some the comments by group members. I think it's fun to track threads this way.
Karen wrote: "Trioseven7 wrote: "How about the Whyborne & Griffin series - did anyone like that?What Darlene said. : )
If you enter the series name into the search window in the upper right side of our group ..."
Oh, I've never tried that - what a great idea, thanks.
Up to Lessons for Survivors by Charlie Cochrane. I think it's a series I needed. The problem with a romance series is mostly there's a new couple each book. With mysteries or other series you can stick with one pair and follow them through a long character development arch. Besides, Jonty and Orlando are so wonderful.
Susinok wrote: "Up to Lessons for Survivors by Charlie Cochrane. I think it's a series I needed. The problem with a romance series is mostly there's a new couple each book. With mysteries or other ..."I'm so glad you're enjoying this series, Susinok; it's been a favourite of mine for ages. There's a short story called Sauce for the Goose featuring Jonty and Orlando in a free anthology Valentine Delights.
Trioseven7 wrote: "Jordan wrote: "Antonella wrote: "Calathea wrote: "I'm reading the first of THIRDS series Hell & High Water by Charlie Cochet. Not quite sure yet what to think of it."I didn't like it that much, s..."
Yes, I like the Whybourne & Griffin series. I think I've yet to read the latest book but I've enjoyed them all so far.
HJ wrote: "I'm so glad you're enjoying this series, Susinok; it's been a favourite of mine for ages. There's a short story called Sauce for the Goose featuring Jonty and Orlando in a free anthology Valentine Delights. ..."Cool! Thanks for letting me know.
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Game #5 of our Very Valentine Week is up. :)"
LOL! Yes, we need you guys to drop everything else and join ..."
I WANT CUPID BACK
Josh wrote: "Haldis wrote: "Johanna wrote: "Calathea wrote: "We interupt this program for an important announcement:Game #5 of our Very Valentine Week is up. :)"
LOL! Yes, we need you guys to drop everything..."
He'll be back, we just have to clean the glitter off him first, it sticks everywhere!
If you liked
or you trust people who liked it, could you please vote for the couple Laurie/Toby here at the bottom of the page?No need to register, just 2 clicks, 1 on the couple and 1 on ''vote'':
http://www.heroesandheartbreakers.com...
And you could do the same for KJ Charles' Silas and Dominic:
http://www.heroesandheartbreakers.com...
I voted :)Thanks for letting us know. Please do let us know about the next round. ;)
Antonella wrote: "If you liked or you trust people who liked it, could you please vote for the couple Laurie/Toby here at the bottom of the page?No need to register, just 2 clicks, 1..."
I just saw this on KJ's fb page and I've already voted for Silas/Dominic and Laurie/Toby. I loved both of these books.
I voted earlier. Two fantastic books.
Antonella wrote: "If you liked or you trust people who liked it, could you please vote for the couple Laurie/Toby here at the bottom of the page?No need to register, just 2 clicks, 1..."
Laurie and Toby are ahead w/63% of the vote!
Antonella wrote: "If you liked or you trust people who liked it, could you please vote for the couple Laurie/Toby here at the bottom of the page?No need to register, just 2 clicks, 1..."
voted
I'm currently alternating between several books. Yesterday i was trying to find something to hold my attention because of a sort of ugh mood and headache and surprisingly that happened to be Fitzgerald's The diamond as big as the Ritz. Then later, switched to Chandler's The Little Sister. Also reading Heidi Cullinan's Clockwork Heart. They're all very good and so very different.
For all those Captive Prince fans, here is an interview with C. S. Pacat, the author: http://joyfullyjay.com/2016/02/interv...
Interrupted my historical mystery binge with Strong Signal by Santino Hassell and Megan Erikson. It's a book for my MMORPG Gamer heart.
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I haven't read The diamond as big as the Ritz or the The Little Sister. But I just added them both to my to-read list. So thank you for mentioning them, KC.
I had a sudden, strong need to read something from Joseph Hansen yesterday. Even though it might sound strange his books have become one of my ultimate comfort reads during the last years (along with Josh). Although his themes are often heart wrenching, his writing is so starkly beautiful that it's very soothing to dwell in his words. So I started to read his Jack of Hearts which has been waiting in my bookshelf. It feels so achingly, wonderfully familiar to read him.
Johanna wrote: "KC wrote: "I'm currently alternating between several books. Yesterday i was trying to find something to hold my attention because of a sort of ugh mood and headache and surprisingly that happened t..."A couple of weeks ago I relocated one of the collections of short stories by Hansen - Brandstetter and Others - so that it would be closer to my reading nook; it makes me feel better just to look at it, and the first story, "Elections," features Dave and Cecil which made me feel a mix of emotions, but comfort is probably the main one. Anyway, i understand what you mean - even when heartbreaking, it's so very beautiful.
Enjoy Jack of Hearts! :-)
I finished Fitzgerald's The Diamond as Big as the Ritz. It's a strange story, but very compelling, and somehow real and surreal at the same time. Beautiful writing.
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LOL, I know exactly what you mean. This is why I always have a set of Josh Lanyon, Joseph Hansen, John Steinbeck ja Robert Frost books on my night stand. In case of emergency — or just that I see them at least a couple of times a day. :-D
Johanna wrote: "KC wrote: "I'm currently alternating between several books. Yesterday i was trying to find something to hold my attention because of a sort of ugh mood and headache and surprisingly that happened t..."For Fitzgerald, I got this edition which has advertising from the '20s, which added a bit of something more to the overall good-strange effect :-)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00H...
Johanna wrote: "KC wrote: "A couple of weeks ago I relocated one of the collections of short stories by Hansen - Brandstetter and Others - so that it would be closer to my reading nook; it makes me feel better jus...":-)
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I never bought Brandstetter and Other Stories because I didn't manage to find out what exactly it includes. So, did I understand correctly that these are some sort of extra stories to the Brandstetter series?
I have The dog : and other stories and I think I always assumed that it might be the same stories than in the Brandstetter & Others, but now I realize I must have been wrong.
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:-)
Johanna wrote: "KC wrote: "Johanna wrote: "KC wrote: "I'm currently alternating between several books. Yesterday i was trying to find something to hold my attention because of a sort of ugh mood and headache and s..."Brandstetter and Others includes: Election Day (not Elections...), The Anderson Boy, The Tango Bear, Surf, and Willow's Money.
I think only the first is with Dave, and there's one with Bohannon.
I didn't get The Dog..., but i can't remember why...maybe a couple of stories do repeat?
Varecia wrote: "Alison wrote: "I spent the weekend re-reading Captive Prince 1 and 2 and then went right into the exciting finale, Kings Rising. What a great experience. I loved it. It's so grippin...I did exactly the same, a back to back binge-read of the whole trilogy. Book 2 definitely remains my favourite, I need to reread book 3 with lesser expectations, because I found it quite disappointing on the first read."
Yes, we've been chit-chatting about it elsewhere, but I thought I'd pipe up here and agree with you about being disappointed. I still love the series, but it was a bit of a bummer. Hopefully it will be better the second time. :)
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Q&A with Josh Lanyon
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I didn't l..."
She does a great job of keeping the reader up to date also - I love the way she slips past events in just perfectly so you are never having to remember stuff from three or four books ago.