Q&A with Josh Lanyon discussion
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Hi from Josh
Hey, Josh! Thanks for the invite. 30 odd works? Are you like the Nora of m/m? ;-)
Oh, Arzu! Please don't feel like a freak for not having yet delved into the fabulousness that is Adrien. It's probably those of us who love the series that are a little on the freaky side! I've read them twice in less than six months. I just hope when you decide to read them, that you enjoy them as much as I did. >>Josh wrote: I have readers who only like the Adrien books and nothing else I've done. It's just the way it is. <<
That is insane!
Good morning Josh and All.Thank you for the invite, Josh. I look forward in reading some great posts and enjoying some fun conversations.
Mod
Just a general question. As we all know a lot of m/m romance is actually written by females (whether they publicise this fact or not). What is the most common mistake they mak..."
SOME writers. Some male, some female writers. I have a bad habit of generalizing. But here I'm generalizing about the writers who don't get it right, not those who do.
I think characterization is the single most important element to satisfying storytelling, but it's also the hardest to get right. But I have to say that -- and this is based on the manuscript evaluations I do rather than published books I read -- men have to work just as hard to create believable male characters as women do. When it comes to writing character, I don't think there is such a thing as a natural advantage -- unless it's with those who are born naturally observant.
Mod
No, you don't have to like those books! You like what you like. Sometimes it's hard to know why something everyone else seems to love just doesn't appeal to us.
Mod
Hey there, Kari.
No, actually I think my release schedule is pretty normal for this genre. I do a lot of short works -- novellas, short stories -- and of course I had a lot of projects half-finished or completely finished (in the case of the first three Adrien novels) so I had a head start.
Mod
At first I did find it very puzzling because I tend to think that whatever readers like about my work is pretty consistent through genre and format, but who knows?
Mod
Thank you for the invite, Josh. I look forward in reading some great posts and enjoying some fun conversations."
Hi Tracey. Always nice to see you!
Mod
Everyone can just assume that I take that as a given. *g*
All kidding aside, of course it's very flattering to have created a character that readers like so much. It's actually pretty rare when readers love a character as much as the author does. *g* So I'm mostly just flattered at the requests for more.
Josh wrote: "Josh wrote: "A.B. wrote: "Hi JoshJust a general question. As we all know a lot of m/m romance is actually written by females (whether they publicise this fact or not). What is the most common mis..."
Thanks for the advice. I'm still trying to "man'em up dude" sigh.
Mod
Realizing there's something to fix is the first step. *g*
Oh my, what have we here? *grin* I joined this swearing to myself I would not let it keep me from writing... :pAnyway --- howdy. :)
Hey, Josh, hey gang. I see lots of people I know from LJ here! I will probably mostly lurk--I tend to get swamped with the writing and not keep up all the social things--but I wanted to say hello and thanks for the invite :D
ohh!! Hi Jordan! Favorite people. Group hug! :p
Congrats on your new release, I just bought it and am excited to read it!
Mod
Hi Josh,I just finished reading your "The Ghost Wore Yellow Socks" I enjoyed it very much, and am now looking forward to reading your Adrian English series.
Someone recommended your books after hearing I was having a PsyCop withdrawal. Your work isn't exactly like those but just as entertaining. Thanks again and I'll be looking for more books from you.
Please feel free to give me the whole list. *hint hint* LOL
Mod
I just finished reading your "The Ghost Wore Yellow Socks" I enjoyed it very much, and am now looking forward to reading your Adrian English series.
Someone recommended your books after h..."
Hey there, Sparkle. Were you part of the big mailing list giveaway? ;-D
I don't think Jordan and I are really alike -- other than that attention to craft -- but yet somehow I think our work compliments each other's. It's a good meld and we seem to share a lot of the same core readership.
Thanks for the kind words! It's nice to know I have a new reader.
Oh hmmmmmm there is a big mailing list giveaway? I guess I am not a part of that, whatever it is. I agree the two (Jordan Castillo Price and your works) aren't the same at all but they are equally entertaining. I am very new to this genre (as in those are the ones out of 4 authors I've read so far) so I am like a kid in a candy store. "oh look at all these new books" yeah!!!!!
Be careful Sparkle....I remember being new to this genre....now I have over 2500 ebooks in the mm romance genre.....and cant stop buying and reading them....very addictive...*grin*Josh, whats new down the road for you, in 2011? btw I love the Holmes & Moriarity books (I have been a Sherlock Holmes fan since childhood and luv the play on that) and I absolutely adore the Dangerous Ground books....oh hell what I mean is I luv your books and adore you....how's that for stalkerish....*grin*
jo
Johanna,Where were you when I got started? I think it's too late for me. I am sort of addicted.
Is there a place where I can get the complete list of what Josh has written? Is THAT stalkerish? if so, poor Josh.
good god, is Josh Dean Koontz in disguise? LOL He wrote almost as many books. J/KThank you very much Jan. I have enough to keep me busy for a bit, don't I?
well, one good thing...you cannot go wrong with Josh's books....however, they are like potato chips you just cant stop at one...*grin*Have fun shopping and reading!!!
jo
Sparkle, you are very lucky, you still have all Josh's wonderful stories to discover.Enjoy.
LC wrote: "We're all addicts here, Sparkle. ;-)And like Johanna said, you can't go wrong with Josh's books. I'm still working my way through his backlist, but so far, every single one is a gem."
We're "Fanyons." ;-)
Sparkle, after you finish Josh's back-list, check out this web site for reviews of other m/m books:
http://www.reviewsbyjessewave.com
I've discovered other really great authors and books here.
WOWThanks everyone. I will do that for sure.
I am still having a PsyCop withdrawal but I think Josh might cure that.
Oh you like the PsyCop books too huh? I luv them...even broke down and got pb copies...*grin*jo
I LOVE LOVE LOVE them. I can't get enough of it. I am camp Vic though.
Oh yeah! Victor Bayne is the perfect anti-hero, with his Psi abilities and his drug addicition...which I can completely understand taking the drugs like he does...I wouldna want to see what he does all the time either. Jacob Marks is the perfect lover for him, even though Victor doesna believe that Jacob wants him....or deserves him. I could go on all nite about these two....especially Victor...jo
hahahahahaI am going to read Adrian English series next. Can we go on and on about that one too?
Johanna,There is a group of us who can probably go on and on and on about both PsyCops and Adrian English series. That's actually where I got these suggestions from. We are on the Josh Lanyon binge right now. Can you tell? LOL
And yes, VICTOR all the way for me.
I luv the Adrian English books too....now he is a character so unlike the others....I luv what Josh has done with him from book to book...*grin* I hafta tell ya that a Josh Lanyon binge is a good thang! *grin* The series books are all good...I luv Taylor & Will in the Dangerous Ground series and Sean & Dan in The Dark Horse series. One that you would like is Fair Game with Sean & Dan....oh! and Mexican Heat the Josh wrote with Laura Baumbach very delicious...OKAY! I admit it I have a mad crush on Josh's characters... hahahahahahaaa
Enjoy your Josh binge...
jo
ooops! wrong characters in Fair Game the main characters are Elliot & Tucker....not Sean & Dan (they are The Dark Horse series)sorry 'bout that!
jo
Mod
No, no. Every couple of years I do a big book giveaway and this year I did it on my yahoo mailing list -- TGWYS was one of the popular requests, so I just wondered.
Actually the single most popular request was Blood Heat. It was the book a lot of people eventually intended to buy but had just never got around to. Followed by Fair Game. And then various short stories.
I actually found it really interesting to see what people asked for.
Mod
Nah. I have truly dedicated stalkers who put you to shame, little lady.
I'll try and put together a list of the confirmed projects for 2011. I'm having trouble doing the proposals, so there's really not a lot confirmed.
Which is scary but also exhilarating because in theory if I don't contract for them...I don't have to do them...and I could cut back to maybe a total of 6 projects this year?
But could I pay my mortgage, etc. with only six new projects? Especially since one project is a short story and one project is a four author anthology?
Hmmm...thinking aloud here. Anyway, I'll get that list together.
Mod
Thank you very much Jan. I have enough to keep me busy for a bit, don't I?"
I guess it's a decent backlog? But I've been looking at some other m/m authors' lists and really I'm steady but a lot of my initial releases were re-releases or stories I'd half written and just had to finish up.
Plus I do this fulltime (including nights, weekends and most holidays), so...it's reasonable that I'd get a lot done.
Mod
Wave's site is a great resource.
Hi, Josh,The 1st story I read of yours was The Dickens with Love a few weeks ago. Then last week I devoured Adrien English!! Loved the whole storyline and agree it should be read in its entirety to get the whole feel.
Your book list is overwhelming and I'm having difficulty deciding on what to read next. Any suggestions? I just want to read them ALL, Right Now!
And Sparkle, you better be reading Adrien English!!
Hi Josh and fellow fanyons ;)I'm Anita, also known as Cayendi. I'm 42, writer, wife, mother of two teenage boys and since March foster mother of another teenage boy. I have a lot of imagination, love my EeePc and can't imagine not singing every day.
I've become a big fan of Josh's writing just after I bought a (second hand) Sony ereader this july. I somehow stumbled across a world of gay romance (and mystery) novels/stories and haven't stopped reading them since. I do read other novels, but I keep coming back to this genre.
I can gush over the writing style (and I probably will at some point), but right now I'm in the mood to talk about 2011 and my new year's resolution and Josh's influence on my decision and my writing.
For the last number of years (I'm ashamed to say how long), I've attempted to study to be a teacher, but the first time I had health problems that interfered with my studies should have been a sign that it wasn't going to work out. I've tried and picked it up every time. My exams went well enough, I passed every single one without too much effort, but having a family and not being too good at planning, combined with other smaller interferences, have made it difficult to stay motivated.
And I wanted to write, I've always wanted to write. But I always felt guilty writing when I should be studying, or spending my free time writing, because, maybe, I could put some more study hours in.
I have three first drafts that should be edited, one of which I've been working on for the past three years, which I think is a ridiculously long time, considering how many hours I've effectively been working on it (aka, summer holidays, when I didn't have to study)
And then I stumbled across Josh's work. A writer who consciously made the decision to become a professional writer, and one whose work finally sheds some light on the sort of stories I want to write, have been writing, even subconsciously. I never felt at home in only one genre, could never stop myself inserting a mystery, a murder into my stories or mix fantasy with detective and having gay main characters.
I might never become a true professional, my work may never be as good as yours, but I feel so much better having made this decision.
Better yet, with full endorsement from my husband (whose money I've been spending on my studies). 2011 rocks.
Thank you, Josh, for giving me the push (even without knowing you did) I needed!
Best wishes for 2011 for all!
Anita
Thanks, LC. How many books so far in that series?
Lol, thanks LC, I will start those as soon as I finish up a few things I'm currently reading!
Mod
That has to be the nicest compliment anyone has paid me all year.
Seriously, Anita, thank you for telling me -- and I wish you all the success in the world. When it comes to choosing the work that you'll spend your life on, I believe you have to follow your heart. If you fail, you fail, but you know you tried.
If I can help along the way, let me know.
All the best in 2011.
Mod
The 1st story I read of yours was The Dickens with Love a few weeks ago. Then last week I devoured Adrien English!! Loved the whole storyline and agree it should be read in its entiret..."
Why thank you, Heather! Apparently nearly 15 THOUSAND people downloaded TDWL in those first two weeks alone. And a couple even enjoyed it! ;-D
Thanks for letting me know -- I'll leave it to the readers here to recommend what to try next. I guess it partly depends on whether you're a mystery fan first and foremost or a romance fan?
Mod
I'll write you a note. ;-P
Heather C wrote: "Hi, Josh,The 1st story I read of yours was The Dickens with Love a few weeks ago. Then last week I devoured Adrien English!! Loved the whole storyline and agree it should be read in its entiret..."
Oooh, go for the Holmes & Moriarity series (Somebody Killed His Editor and All She Wrote) They are really good.
Sparkle wrote: "Oh hmmmmmm there is a big mailing list giveaway? I guess I am not a part of that, whatever it is. I agree the two (Jordan Castillo Price and your works) aren't the same at all but they are equall..."
You might have missed his giveaway this year but you should join the Yahoo Group anyhow. Josh hardly ever puts anything on there, but when he does....it seems to be a lovely gift for his loyal addicts. (I was one of the ones who asked for something other than TGWYS) Oh and he has a cookbook on the site with the recipe for Stardust Martinis, which are lovely to look at but deadly to drink.
Q&A with Josh Lanyon
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Okay, I just decided to read the first one in the series. I'll let you know what I think about it, but I guess I'll love it as everybody loves the books. ((: