Q&A with Josh Lanyon discussion
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What Are you Reading?
Antonella wrote: "Apparently Harper Fox is going to publish the new story 
tomorrow and I didn't know it!http://harperfoxblog.wordpress.com/20...
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I'm so tempted!
Calathea wrote: "Antonella wrote: "Apparently Harper Fox is going to publish the new story tomorrow and I didn't know it!http://harperfoxblog.wordpress.com/20...-..."
I ordered it although I have no idea when I get the chance to read it. But the thought of having it on my Kindle gives me a little bit of joy :)
Anne wrote: "I ordered it although I have no idea when I get the chance to read it. But the thought of having it on my Kindle gives me a little bit of joy :)"Same situation here...
Yesterday I had half a day free and I prayed that I would get work just to avoid starting with the tax forms. My wish came true, in fact a bit too much: 4 translations jobs came this morning, plus one I refuse to get money for (for a dear friend).
Anne wrote: "Calathea wrote: "Antonella wrote: "Apparently Harper Fox is going to publish the new story tomorrow and I didn't know it!http://harperfoxblog.wordpress.co..."
I'm still a bit weary after the Cold Fusion thing... (too much of a crazy roller coaster). Priddy was good though. So still gathering energy and trust to plunge into this one.
Merry Christmas, Mr. Miggles will come before that, though. :-)
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Josh had picked Maze-Born Trouble for us to read this month.
We're a book reading busy group right now!
Our Adrien English Challenge is still going on right now as well as our Peter Grant series challenge. So don't forget to read and check in with those challenges as well if you are participating!
Read two short novellas The Invasion of Tork (which is free atm at Amazon) and The Invasion of Adam by Claire Davis and Al Stewart - new to me authors. So absolutely wonderful! I also read recently their Shut Your Face, Anthony Pace! which was also wonderful and funny and poignant. They have a certain minimalist style that i really enjoy, a way of getting things across - situations and intense emotions - that is at times heartbreaking and breathtakingly beautiful, and always suffused with a subtle humor and lovely, heartwarming moments.
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I read The Invasion of Tork, and am kind of holding on to The Invasion of Adam as a treat when a pick-me-up is needed. You described their writing well.
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Added these two into my to-read list. Thank you for taking the time to describe them, KC.
I am reading Santa Baby by Heidi Cullinan. She's taken characters from the second book in the series and added a third person to the relationship.I'm ok with this. What is tedious is that she's queer-splaining polyamory. Over and over again. Does no one edit any more? Did no one tell Ms. Cullinan that pages and pages of exposition before you get to the sexytimes is really a mood killer? Sigh.
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tomorrow and I didn't know it!http://harperfoxblog..."
This looks so wonderful to me -- archeology and motorbike riding vicars and the healing powers of true love.
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I'm ok with this. What is tedious..."
Who put the book out? Isn't it Riptide?
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And then onto MAZE-BORN TROUBLE. Woohoo. Although I'm asceared to read Ginn when I'm writing my own stuff. I'LL RISK IT. ;-)
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I was reading a university press book the other night on masculinity and disability in the Victorian period and every single freaking thought was reiterated over and over and over until I had to stop. WE GET IT ALREADY.
The problem with a lot of these academic books--and I hope we don't make the same mistake with Mr & Mrs Murder is there is always too much of repeat analysis and rarely enough of the source material.
Josh wrote: "Who put the book out? Isn't it Riptide? s...."No, this queersplaining would not have gotten past Riptide editors. It was self published, which explains a few things. I'm 33% in and on day 2. It is s.l.o.w. going. For an mmm polyamory story, so far it's dull.
She tends to run on a bit on her favorite topics. She really needs a red pen and someone to enforce it.
Josh wrote: "I'm just about to start Single Malt by a new-to-me author by the name of Layla Reyne. It's a the first book in a romantic suspense trilogy about FBI agents coming out through Carina next year."Just looked this up on Carina. It looks really promising. Thanks.
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:-)
Josh wrote: "Jordan wrote: "Just checked, and it appears, at least according to GR, that Santa Baby was self published. Maybe she just didn't hire the right editor?"I was reading a university press book the o..."
They have to fill a lot of pages... ;-)
Probably stretching what should be an article into a book to be able to sell it?
Susinok wrote: "Josh wrote: "Who put the book out? Isn't it Riptide? s...."No, this queersplaining would not have gotten past Riptide editors. It was self published, which explains a few things. I'm 33% in and o..."
Maybe she's writing more for her patrons group. The last couple of books have had a different feel for me.
Josh wrote: "Jordan wrote: "Just checked, and it appears, at least according to GR, that Santa Baby was self published. Maybe she just didn't hire the right editor?"I was reading a university press book the o..."
How is your Mr. & Mrs. Murder project going? I've been wondering.
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I was reading a university pre..."
It does seem like a lot of saying the same thing over and over again. And given that the audience for the topic is relatively small and pretty well informed, it gets to be aggravating pretty quick.
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I was reading a university pre..."
We postponed it until next year. There was just too much going on between health crises and me not writing commercial fiction for so many months.
Oh, but one terrific thing is after nearly two years of searching I located a copy of Body Beneath a Mandarin Tree It's so rare I wasn't even positive it existed. But I found a copy and it's now sitting on the shelf.
It would be hard to finish analyzing a series without the final book! So that's a relief.
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No, this queersplaining would not have gotten past Riptide editors. It was self published, which explains a few things. ..."
Oh! I wonder how the patron thing is working out. I see a number of authors have opted to try that, but I haven't heard much from readers or writers as to how they like it.
Josh wrote: "Loretta wrote: "Josh wrote: "Jordan wrote: "Just checked, and it appears, at least according to GR, that Santa Baby was self published. Maybe she just didn't hire the right editor?"I was reading ..."
Great news on finding the book!
Josh wrote: "Oh! I wonder how the patron thing is working out. I see a number of authors have opted to try that, but I haven't heard much from readers or writers as to how they like it. ..."I'm not gonna pay to fangirl over someone. I was tempted to join Santino's Patreon, since I like him a lot, but really I don't sign up for monthly payments for anything beyond basic bills. Otherwise you nickle and dime yourself into having no money at all. I got shoes to buy!
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I'm n..."
True enough!
Honestly, if enough readers remain willing to pay the price of a cup of fancy-schmancy (which my copyedit program appropriately enough translated to SCOTCHMAN) coffee for the stories they enjoy, we should all be able to hang on. And by "all" I mean a handful of us. Because if you need KU to survive, you're already cooked.
I was never looking to get rich (lucky for me) I just wanted to be allowed to tell the stories I yearned to write and earn a living wage. It doesn't have to be a luxurious living wage. I just don't want to die in a cardboard box under a bridge. I mean, I'M okay with that, but the SO has grander plans for his funeral than the cardboard box being sealed and mailed to ADDRESS UNKNOWN. :-D
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So much of the money in publishing is made by selling services to authors, and so I--cynically--wonder if this is more of the same.
I'm old school. I believe that if I write enough books that people want to buy, hopefully I can stay afloat.
But there is a whole generation of readers being trained to completely devalue fiction. The idea of paying more than a few cents for fiction means that in the long term only hobbyists and conveyor belts will be able to continue writing. There will be no such thing as a professional writer, at least as we currently understand.
Josh wrote: "Interestingly, PATREON keep showing up in my FB sponsored timeline. So much of the money in publishing is made by selling services to authors, and so I--cynically--wonder if this is more of the s..."
I agree. I think some of that is to do with ebooks and the generally low cost of ebooks and the number of free ebooks available. I get offers of free ebooks everyday and I wonder if that creates an expectation in readers that ebooks will be cheap or free.
Josh wrote: "Interestingly, PATREON keep showing up in my FB sponsored timeline. So much of the money in publishing is made by selling services to authors, and so I--cynically--wonder if this is more of the s..."
I thought Paetron started with artists in mind though, not writers? It was meant to mimic the old European patron system where artists didn't have to work during the day but could just concentrate on their art-- to a modern degree, of course. I mostly see fan artists and comic people using it.
And I think your comments about fiction writers apply equally to non-fiction writers too, seeing the rise of "fake news" and lifestyle bloggers, and the devaluing of investigative journalists and other forms of news turning into infotainment. I think it's a more widespread and complex problem than just leisure reading.
Josh wrote: "But there is a whole generation of readers being trained to completely devalue fiction. The idea of paying more than a few cents for fiction means that in the long term only hobbyists and conveyor belts will be able to continue writing. There will be no such thing as a professional writer, at least as we currently understand. ..."But the big 5 are still publishing books at 7.99 each or even 9.99 and 12.99 when a new book comes out, and people are buying them fast as ever. The Indy market is pretty grim, but not so the mainstream. And unlike many, I don't think the mainstream publishers are going anywhere.
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So much of the money in publishing is made by selling services to authors, and so I--cynically--wonder if this is ..."
Yes, the written word in general. This idea that if it's available on the web, it should be free. It's fascinating but it's also a death knell in the distance.
I think you're right, but now I see it being used for musicians and writers. I can see how a writer might come up with monthly content, but I'm wondering what musicians do to make their patrons feel they're getting their money's worth?
A free song a month would be brutal. I don't know any musician who could produce at that pace.
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:-D
Before breakfast even?
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http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by...
The last thing I read indicated that sales were down everywhere except with Amazon's own imprints -- I think that was from Nick Stephenson's list.
Josh wrote: "Kirsten wrote: "Josh wrote: "Interestingly, PATREON keep showing up in my FB sponsored timeline. So much of the money in publishing is made by selling services to authors, and so I--cynically--wo..."
I see it with YouTubers and FanArtists. They do stuff like live drawing sessions or watch-while-I-cut-the-newest-video or extra content or extra access to the artist...
Absolutely crazy stuff in that regard is Twitch. Watch people play video games. They perform for their audience and have lots of followers and earn decent money that way.
Oh, and I remember seeing one fanfic live writing session. You could follow the making of the next chapter live on screen.
I think the main aspect is the interaction with/accessability of the artist/author/gamer. People seem to be prepared to pay money for the privilege like for a concert or signing on a convention.
Josh wrote: "I think you're right, but now I see it being used for musicians and writers. I can see how a writer might come up with monthly content, but I'm wondering what musicians do to make their patrons feel they're getting their money's worth? ..."Live performances. That's what my husband says makes their money. It's something you can't replace with digital.
Calathea wrote: "I see it with YouTubers and FanArtists. They do stuff like live drawing sessions or watch-while-I-cut-the-newest-video or extra content or extra access to the artist... --..."I follow a handful of YouTubers. Some are just "follow me" entertainment, some are lessons (watercolor, drawing, etc.) and some are gamers, and I watch the game that was played.
I haven't gone as far as watching Twitch or YouNow.
It's an interesting dynamic.
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I honestly don't think I'd pay for most of that extra content. It would have to be really cool content.
Watching on Twitch is free. So is YouTube, and many of those YouTubers make a living at it. Unconventional, but it works for them and they are supporting themselves.
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Whaaa?
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It's does look a little... weathered, but it doesn't smell bad... :-D
Johanna wrote: "My copy of Here There Be Dragons arrived today! Woo hoo!It's does look a little... weathered, but it doesn't smell bad... :-D"
Great! IMO you'll enjoy it!
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It's does look a little... weathered, but it doesn't smell bad... :-D"
Great! IMO you'll enjoy it!"
I'm sure I will! :-)
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:-D
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I'm reading a book -- I won't share the particulars -- but there is such a confusing lack of place that it basically feels like talking heads. I AM BORED OUT OF MY MIND.
What's also interesting is how flat the characters feel -- although the author has worked hard to build background and history for them -- without placing them in a believable context.
I'm not talking about fine-tuning with a lot of sensory details, by the way, I'm talking about...taking the time to maybe describe the room with a sentence. It's a lab room or it's someone's kitchen or its a car or a dock...give SOME details so the reader can picture the scene.
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Q&A with Josh Lanyon
Books mentioned in this topic
Subtle Bodies (other topics)Husband Material (other topics)
Sing for the Coming of the Longest Night (other topics)
A Shattered Silver Crown (other topics)
A Shattered Silver Crown (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Jordan Castillo Price (other topics)Alexis Hall (other topics)
Katherine Fabian (other topics)
Iona Datt Sharma (other topics)
Cynthia Zhang (other topics)
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http://harperfoxblog.wordpress.com/20...
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Thank you for heads-up, Antonella!