Q&A with Josh Lanyon discussion
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The Big Dangerous Ground Re-Read!
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It's so interesting hearing which books you all read first, and what convinced you (or made you hesitate) about moving on to the next book(s). ;-)
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David's own book...? I would definitely read that. I do feel sorry for him the way he lost out to Taylor. I'll h..."
hahahaha. Now that's thinking out of the box!
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It's not as bad week days, but yeah. Probably. :-D Seeing that the last time I drove down there it took almost six hours on a Saturday afternoon.
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I think the only excuse for Will there is he's still a little rattled from getting conked on the head. CLEARLY there were more long term effects than anyone realized. ;-)
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:-D :-D :-D
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It definitely is helpful from a writing standpoint to be reminded, in particular, of what seemed broken in the relationship -- and, of course, what the other person could do to fix that.
Well when decided to go off to Paris he made Taylor cry.If I remember the book before.
I do think Will is the one for Taylor.
Loved that they actually talked in KS.
Josh wrote: " I even appreciate K's comments, though I have to admit I'm not exactly sure why she thinks Jason is like Will. And I'm not quite sure why she hates them both SO much. But okay! :-D "Probably shouldn't have written my thoughts about Will and Jason in this group. Not very nice of me I know. Sorry :( But regardless of my feelings toward those two, Josh you are still my favourite m/m author. No other author has managed to create such awesome complicated charaters like you do in this genre. And then you went and wrote Will and Jason, which leaves me completely mystified.
I don't think I explained why I brought Jason up in comparison to Will. I actually liked both Will and Jason in book one, while I didn't particulary care for their partners. Then came book two and both of those characters took to me as a reader a big turn for worse. Just when I think that Will can't get worse, next book comes and he is times worse then before. So to me Will is a character that has being going downhill from book two ( not a climpse of redemption anywhere..). I really didn't like Jason in book two, but I was a minority there and I do have a feeling that you will continue to write him like he was in book two, which will probably mean that I will not like him. So that's where I got the comparison that Jason is the new Will. And I also know that every awful thing they do gets just shrugged off with : aww but it's understandable, it's realistic, it's just Will....
Just to clarify I don't hate Will, I strongly dislike him. Hate is such a strong word, it doesn't apply here. Maybe it looks that way since most who write something here about Will completey ignore all awful he has done and I don't. And that stands out.
What Will did in the end of book four...resigning his and Taylors job (or at least he started the process without a single discussion with Taylor about it) was just too much. Will crossed a line so far that he wasn't in the same continent with the line anymore. And in Kick start that is brushed over. Sure he apologized, but without actually meaning it. He didn't get that he did something out of line. I know that there are few in this thread who are bothered by that...but the rest, Would the pitchforks come out if this thing would happen in m/f relationship? If someone would try to treat your kids
like that? This attitude that one person in a realitionship just decides where the other one can work, whether he should have healthcare etc. "Aww dear just don't strain that pretty empty head of yours. "Because Will did that, he made a decision he had no right to do. How it's just shrugged of as a non issue in this thread...I don't understand how that can be. I don't.
I don't understand how Taylor could go along with it. I'm completely lost. Kick start didn't do anything to solve it..to make it right. Get balance back into that realtionship.
While I could overlook everything else Will has done, that job resigning was too much. Josh you are amazing author...I don't see how there could be any redemption written for Will...that would actually work and solve what he did.
Originally though the reason why I started to dislike Will was because of his constant pining after David. It wasn't one time. We got hit with his yearning, pining for another man over and over and over and over. It was just overwhelming for me.
That combined with Will's reluctance to anything to do with Taylor. Like first he didn't want to be anything more than friends. Ok. Then came pity sex. Next book was about Will not wanting to be in relationship with Taylor, because he thought Taylor was not good enough for him. It's in his POV! Then he didn't want to move in with Taylor. Then came Paris. How dare Taylor even consider accepting a promotion...he was supposed to be dogsitter for Riley. How dare Taylor even consider doing the same as Will who did accept his promotion. Then came the amnesia. All Will cared for was David.
That was when it all clicked. Will pining after David endlessly..that all made sense now. Because the man he truly did love and respect is David. Not Taylor.
Now before you all start saying that this is a series about Will and Taylor. It is very realistic that not all couples work out. How can a relationship where one has no respect for the other ever work out well? Will says a lot of things including straight out lies ( like he lied to Taylor that he wanted him to go meets his family, but since we had his POV we know it was an utter lie), but like the saying goes "an action shows more than thousand words". Will showed what he thinks of Taylor when he didn't think to even consider speaking to Taylor before he started the resigning process. He confirmed that when he jumped on the car at the start of Kick start. it's actually something that comes through Will's pov more than once...of how little he trusts Taylor and the lack of any respect.
I guess I dislike Will because he is in a realtionship with a guy who he doesn't think is worthy of him or is capable of thinking (like the employment thing showed). Why stay in a relationship with Taylor if all he wants truly is to be with David?
Sorry for the long post :( But that pretty much sums up my issues with Will.
Since I have only practically talked about Will....What I like about Taylor the most is that he knows who he loves. There is no doubt, there is no reluctance. Taylor is all in from the start. He want's to make this work.
Another thing what I like about Taylor is that he sees through Will. I think there was comment somewhere about Taylor being too insecure? Well that's the thing. We have access to both pov's. There has been plenty of reasons for Taylor to feel threatened, because Will has always been one leg out of the realtionship, never all in.
I did not like that taylor went along with the resigning thing. I don't like that he went to meet Will's family, i'm pretty sure he understood that Will didn't want him there. I wish he had more self-respect to bow out. Not go meet his boyfriends family when that boyfriend doesn't truly want that. To not go where he is not wanted and welcomed. To not be in relationship with a guy who wants another man...
Mymymble wrote: "K. wrote: "Did Will junk their careers because he was running away from his feelings for David? "Yeah, I do think so. And maybe that was also the reason why Taylor went along with quiting, because he finally saw Will's true feelings for David...and Taylors always been more into their realtionship and that was his last effort to keep Will?
If that was not the reason...then Will was running from something else. He lied about the offer Taylor was going to get to stay in Paris. Why was it so important for Will to get Taylor away from Paris?
K. wrote: "Josh wrote: " I even appreciate K's comments, though I have to admit I'm not exactly sure why she thinks Jason is like Will. And I'm not quite sure why she hates them both SO much. But okay! :-D "..."
Holy Moly! I wonder if we even read the same books. You sure read a lot that I sure didn't see. Plus, I think the matter of Will resigning for the both of them has/is being addressed. Taylor was livid and wasn't sure he could trust Will anymore. It's interesting to me that people can read the same book and get so many different things out of it.
M wrote: "K. wrote: Holy Moly! I wonder if we even read the same books. You sure read a lot that I sure didn't see. Plus, I think the matter of Will resigning for the both of them has/is being addressed. Taylor was livid and wasn't sure he could trust Will anymore. It's interesting to me that people can read the same book and get so many different things out of it. "*sigh* I know...
Also I know that Taylor got mad, but Will was so not sorry about what he did. He said he was but there was zero genuine feeling in that sorry. Will's "I've already said sorry 3 times attitude", makes me think that Will has not even scratched the surface why Taylor was mad about it. That he totaly doesn't get that he did something wrong.
K. wrote: "Will's "I've already said sorry 3 times attitude", makes me think that Will has not even scratched the surface why Taylor was mad about it. That he totaly doesn't get that he did something wrong."K, I've had so many similar thoughts and feelings about Will, although I've been willing to cut him more slack. ;) But yeah, Will doesn't get that he crossed a line, he doesn't really understand what Taylor's issue is here. And that's a dangerous factor in their relationship, that inability to understand where the other is coming from.
But it's part of what makes their story gripping to me as a reader -- the uncertainty as to whether they're going be able to make it work -- when I really, really want them to make it work. Because in spite of having many of the same concerns about Will's commitment that you've had, I finally came around to believe that Will does love Taylor, as best he can. And like you say, there's no doubt that Taylor loves Will.
At any rate, I like the big picture view of what Josh has done with their relationship -- even if suffering through the details has sometimes been so painful! At this point I'm completely invested in these guys. And I've really gotten a lot out of reading your comments here. Agree or disagree (and like I said, I agreed with a lot), it's fascinating to see alternative interpretations because it can add depth to my understanding of the characters. So thank you for that.
K. wrote: "This attitude that one person in a realitionship just decides where the other one can work, whether he should have healthcare etc. "Aww dear just don't strain that pretty empty head of yours." Because Will did that, he made a decision he had no right to do."THIS. EXACTLY. I almost couldn't get over this. But it seems like it's a non-issue to many people -- just like it was a non-issue to Will! I can't understand it, but just have to accept that my fellow readers are divided on how they see this, exactly the way Will and Taylor are divided on how they see it.
K. wrote: "Josh wrote: "I really didn't like Jason in book two "..."
I know we are supposed to be talking about Will here, but I just wanted to say to K. about Jason... I know you really didn't like his decisions and how he handled things in The Monet Murders but his flaws and mistakes are part of who he is and as a young man he's learning and growing. Those decisions (which you didn't agree with and were offended by) just makes his character more interesting and real.
If every character acted well and made good moral choices how boring MM lit would be.
I do love when you comment though, and your input adds so much to our discussions, please don't stop contributing :)
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LOL I will never live down that clown cover. "
I suppose not. :-D
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It's so interesting hearing which books you all read first, and what convinced you (or made you hesitate) about moving on to the next book(s). ;-)
In fact I won the second book of this series in a contest you had for Lone Star. I think we readers were supposed to come up with what kind of Christmas presents Mitch and Web would give each other, and I was lucky enough to win one of your ebooks — and I chose Old Poison. AND when you sent me my prize, you had included also Blood Heat file to the email. I thought that that was so very kind of you! :-) That must have been sometime around Christmas 2011.
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"I think the only excuse for Will there is he's still a little rattled from getting conked on the head. CLEARLY there were more long term effects than anyone realized. ;-) "
:-D
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Wow, that's pretty amazing!
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..."
Many of the things you list there are the aspects that make the story truly come alive to me. Moments that make it so gripping, so interesting. Things that make me want to be so invested in it, invested in the characters.
All in all, it seems that "your" Will and "my" Will look a lot different from each other. I think this might be one of those times when we're probably going to have to agree to disagree (especially because Jason is fast becoming one of my favorite JL characters). :-)
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Here're my first impressions after finishing: Will’s possible, future Paris posting casts its shadow over the whole story, doesn’t it? What I find curious (and very clever from Josh!) is that while Taylor thinks that he’s the one more invested in their relationship, Will thinks that he cares about Taylor too much to be able to do his job properly. So it seems that they're both struggling with similar emotions, actually.
Also, I’m enjoying hugely how their dynamics kind of go back and forth throughout the series when they’re taking turns to be the secure and the insecure one! :-)
I also love the way Josh shows us how Will and Tay are totally in sync in some of the things, but how their timing could be better at times. Like how Will has tried to make himself to say the words ”I love you” for some time now, and when he finally does, Taylor doesn’t really respond to that much in return.
Oh, and Taylor shooting Will is priceless! Or rather—Will’s flabbergasted reaction to it is priceless! :-D Honestly, I didn’t remember how action packed Blood Heat is. The very pregnant, feisty suspect provides some hilarious moments and dialog!
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Think about how a few lines of dialogue between Taylor and Varga, coupled with his thoughts about working with her, manage to create a character the reader feels something for when she's killed."
Yes! Absolutely this!
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How could we ever forget that. :-)
For some reason I only now saw your comments about Old Poison. Your “Let's go. Move it or lose it.” Taylor chose to move it. quoting made me think of a sweet moment in Will and Tay's lovemaking when it was said something about giving and receiving being equally satisfying. Or maybe I've dreamed that part? I can't seem to find the bit anymore...
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Agreed. :-D
Any lit, really.
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True! :-)
Do they listen to Lifehouse at some point further into the story?
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This reminds me of a couple of Dangerous Ground playlists we have posted here in the group. If you guys click yourself here you'll find Josh's playlists for Dead Run and Kick Start.
M wrote: "K. wrote: "Josh wrote: " I even appreciate K's comments, though I have to admit I'm not exactly sure why she thinks Jason is like Will. And I'm not quite sure why she hates them both SO much. But o..."Except it would be impossible for Will to resign for both of them. Taylor's the only one who can initiate that on his own behalf. Will just turned down the Paris assignment without asking Taylor, IIRC. Not the same thing as resigning, since they would both still have their jobs back in the States.
Jordan wrote: "I've noticed that Will doesn't listen to anything other than Emmylou Harris in the car. Good choice. But every time someone turns the car on, she's the one singing. Never anyone else."I got a Greatest Hits CD of Emmylou just because of this series. I can see why Will's a fan. :D
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Johanna wrote: "Do they listen to Lifehouse at some point further into the story?"Were they trying to fall asleep? Lifehouse is good for that. ;)
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Jordan wrote: "Oh, the pregnant woman! I swear, every time I read this I think she must be faking her pregnancy. Until I get to the end, and then realize Taylor would have figured that out when he patted her down..."I remember being so surprised that they sent two male agents to pick up a pregnant female. Like, were there no female agents available? And would they really take an 8-months' pregnant woman on an airplane? I thought doctors warned against women that pregnant flying, because the baby could come at any time-- and it does come by the end of the book!
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Johanna wrote: "K. wrote: "Josh wrote: " I even appreciate K's comments, though I have to admit I'm not exactly sure why she thinks Jason is like Will. And I'm not quite sure why she hates them both SO much. But o..."Yes, I think you are right :) But I do think that it's natural that people see things differently. What a boring world it would be if we all would think the same things!
Teal wrote: "K. wrote: "This attitude that one person in a realitionship just decides where the other one can work, whether he should have healthcare etc. "Aww dear just don't strain that pretty empty head of y..."Thanks Teal! Heh I was starting to feel alone here :P
I was once suggested that books should be read cold. Like that we shouldn't get invested in the characters etc. I never learned how to do that. To not try to understand why characters do things they do, what makes them tick. To not care about the book. I don't know how to do that...
I don't think I'm that unreasonable here.
Plus I seem to be unable to stop poking at Will's sainthood cape he seems to wear here :P
Johanna wrote: "...Blood Heat...Oh, and Taylor shooting Will is priceless! Or rather—Will’s flabbergasted reaction to it is priceless! :-D Honestly, I didn’t remember how action packed Blood Heat is. The very pregnant, feisty suspect provides some hilarious moments and dialog!"
Oh, lol, yes :-)
In terms of the action/adventure Old Poison and Blood Heat are my favorites. This seems to change as i think about the books, i.e. i like all the DG equally, each for different reasons. Because really, i like the action/adventure aspects in all of them and the fact that they're different, setting-wise, for example. And there's always something thrilling and with exactly the right kind of atmosphere and detail.
Trio wrote: "K. wrote: "Josh wrote: "I really didn't like Jason in book two "..."
I know we are supposed to be talking about Will here, but I just wanted to say to K. about Jason... I know you really didn't l..."
:D Yeah I think we just have to agree to disagree on Jason! (view spoiler)
K. wrote: "Yes, I think you are right :) But I do think that it's natural that people see things differently. What a boring world it would be if we all would think the same things!"Most definitely! And there are so many little things that influence us consciously or not as we read. Sometimes a tiny thing can remind us of something unpleasant that we've experienced, and then we kind of project that onto the story and characters, and other times we find something that we can relate to deeply in a good way. But either way, i think as long as a story moves us and makes us ponder, that's good in the grand scheme of things. :-)
Jordan wrote: "Oh, the pregnant woman! I swear, every time I read this I think she must be faking her pregnancy. Until I get to the end, and then realize Taylor would have figured that out when he patted her down..."Lol, same here.
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This is so well said, KC. Sometimes I see this in myself when I reread a book. Every time I seem to concentrate on different details, emotions, dilemmas. Things that I didn't remember being there before can move me deeply during the reread. And it's not only books, it's all art forms, really: music, movies, paintings...
KC wrote: "K. wrote: "Yes, I think you are right :) But I do think that it's natural that people see things differently. What a boring world it would be if we all would think the same things!"Most definitel..."
Ha! Well said. Yes, stories/characters can trigger things from one's history big time which can tint the whole experience of the story.
Jordan wrote: "I've noticed that Will doesn't listen to anything other than Emmylou Harris in the car. Good choice. But every time someone turns the car on, she's the one singing. Never anyone else."Now see, that didn't seem odd to me at all. when I listen to music in my car, it's always The Browne Sisters and George Cavanaugh. It may be different CD's but it's always the same artist. I get stuck in a loop. LOL
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How on earth is one supposed to do that?! And if you do manage it, what's the point? I don't think books would be enjoyable then. For me part of the enjoyment is to understand the characters, to get to know them, to feel what they feel.
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Oh, and Taylor shooting Will is priceless! Or rather—Will’s flabbergasted reaction to it is priceless! :-D Honestly, I didn’t remember how action packed Blood Heat ..."
Action/adventure is a thing that needs to happen more often in adult books. Seriously. I love action/adventure! And Josh knows how to do it right!
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Yeah, I'm stuck on Pandora's Baroque station while driving. It's been months (and months) now. And the station is stuck on "top 10 hits" of Baroque music (did manage to eliminate endless replays of Pachabel's Canon), maybe because there's no thumbs up/thumbs down option while driving... just advancing to the next piece. This is for short in-town drives. It's audiobooks for the long ones. Yay!
I think it is as KC has said it,.We bring ourselves with us, when we read a book. We have experienced different things in our life, we have done and do different things in our life.
I rereading Josh's books often, not only because they are giving me comfort and the feeling to meet old friend, but also because I find always new aspects and other views, because I am changing too.
I have sympathy for both Will and Taylor. (And for Jason ☺)
When I think hard about a main character I was not really enthusiastic about....perhaps Wes.
So, I didn't judge Will too harshly for the unilateral career decision for both of them. Here's the reason - if memory serves, and I haven't read Dead Run in a long time so maybe I am recalling inaccurately -- it was Taylor who was very gung-ho about starting their own business and being true partners together in their new work in a way they could never be while they were hiding their romantic relationship from their bosses in the government. If they had accepted the Paris assignment at the same time, they would have had to hide their relationship in order to be work partners, or they could come out as real life partners and then they wouldn't be work partners. Also, the Paris assignment would be temporary and then they would be once more at the mercy of the U.S. government in terms of being stationed in the same place (or even the same country). In the private sector, working for themselves, they can theoretically have it all -- and it was very important to their relationship that they work together as well as have the marriage, as it were. That seems to be the key to understanding Will and Tay, and what makes them tick. They need to be able to protect each other's back - almost like a physical need. So, yes, Will was a very bad boy in not giving Taylor a say, but they probably would have ended up with the same decision anyway.I am actually a whole lot less forgiving of Will for the kiss with David Bradley in Old Poison. Yes, I understand he did not want to make a fuss because it seemed stupid to make a fuss but he was really playing with fire there and it was very cavalier.
I am a Taylor fan -- love his emotional honesty and his willingness to put it out there and his playfulness/recklessness. He stirs something in me, so I get how he could stir something in Will...
So, do you think that Taylor will always be satisfied with "meat and potatoes," or will he get bored with that eventually?
How was it there was a discussion about DG and no one mentioned the hot springs scene? Okay, I will mention it. I love that scene! So hot! So playful! So Taylor! Be careful what you wish for, Taylor... ...and one of my favorite Josh Lanyon lines at the end of it,
"Thank God we did this. Now we don't have to ever think about it again."
Ha!
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Q&A with Josh Lanyon
Books mentioned in this topic
Kick Start (other topics)Dead Run (other topics)
Old Poison (other topics)
Lovers and Other Strangers (other topics)
Lovers and Other Strangers (other topics)
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Once Taylor committed he was all in...on the other hand asshole Will...went off to Paris....lost his memory..."
LOL. Kim, I do not want to get on the wrong side of you! ;-D