Q&A with Josh Lanyon discussion
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Becky
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Apr 25, 2011 11:50AM
I think this is a fantastic, eye-catching cover. And it matches the theme of the book well. Unfortunately, I liked the cover more than the writing. These cartoon covers wouldn't suit Josh's books at all, but they are attention grabbing.
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I don't know if I ever mentioned this, but two of my books have the exact same cover model on them representing two different characters. (They are from different publishers.) It's funny and also kinda sad.
I think it would be really interesting, and suit your tone to have something done in wood or papercut. For example an artist like Nikki McClure (sp?) who looks simultaneously vintage and modern.
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I think cover art is still crucial to a book's success. Even if a lot of these books don't make it to print, I think good cover art really makes a difference on Amazon and other website vendors.
Very often it's the cover art that first draws my attention to a book. And I have found both ugly art and bad titles to be a factor in not risking buying a book from an unknown author.
Fortunately or unfortunately, people build expectations based on the cover of a book. When they are matched - the guys on the cover look like the characters, the atmosphere matches that of the book - it adds to the overall enjoyment of the book. I think
was perfect and the guy on the cover IS Fanule.When the cover doesn't match the characters or the atmosphere, it's frustrating, because as much as I like picturing the characters in my mind, the impression of a cover always linger. And when a cover is better than the book, it's really sad :)
I rarely judge books by the cover and never buy books because of covers. Lovely covers are nice, but I want to read the content. So I always buy books based on reviews, blurb, or what I know about the author/ title. I think the best covers in this genre comes from Dreamspinner Press, as the example of KZ Snow's covers above, & Roland Graeme's
. I also like that their released books are immediately available at ARe where I usually shop for books.
Emanuela ~Zstyx~ wrote: "Fortunately or unfortunately, people build expectations based on the cover of a book. When they are matched - the guys on the cover look like the characters, the atmosphere matches that of the book..."
Totally agree E...and that is a really good Fanule :O)
Totally agree E...and that is a really good Fanule :O)
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The cover on the front page of my website is my webguy's first effort at creating a series logo/poster. I could be wrong about this, but I really feel like you want an artistic theme to link the books of a series.
And, ideally, generic m/m would not be the theme.
Just my opinion.
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Dreamspinner does have some very nice covers. So do some of the micro-presses! Beautiful covers, as a matter of fact.
Lou wrote: "Last night I looked at my regular book and realized that not many of them have great covers. The only ones that are consistently eye-catching are books on photography and cookbooks."Lou, do you have the cover you designed up anywhere? I really like the thumbnail avatar you have on Goodreads, and I would be really interested in seeing your cover.
Sorry LI shut you down.
Cleon wrote: "In terms of artistic merit, I don't think anyone can beat this cover yet: 
."I hope it's okay to spread this around, but it's harmless, I think. In the DSP thread, she was freaking thrilled with this cover, and rightly.
Emanuela ~Zstyx~ wrote: "Fortunately or unfortunately, people build expectations based on the cover of a book. When they are matched - the guys on the cover look like the characters, the atmosphere matches that of the book..."Definitely. If it wasn't an issue, 'don't judge a book by its cover' wouldn't be an adage.
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."I hope it's okay to spread this around, but it's harmless, I think. I..."
Of course! I have no problem with sharing this kind of thing.
Oh, I can has rant?
Am I the only one who's tired of what seems to become the customary format cover for m/m romance, which is two half naked guys merged with either landscape or an architectural installment? Even though some of them are beautifully done, c'mon, can't we move on already? :)
I personally prefer more abstract covers. (Especially since I keep my goodreads page open at work XD)
I think "The Petit Morts" series' covers are amazing, very stylish. I wish there were more original and artfully done covers like these.
Am I the only one who's tired of what seems to become the customary format cover for m/m romance, which is two half naked guys merged with either landscape or an architectural installment? Even though some of them are beautifully done, c'mon, can't we move on already? :)
I personally prefer more abstract covers. (Especially since I keep my goodreads page open at work XD)
I think "The Petit Morts" series' covers are amazing, very stylish. I wish there were more original and artfully done covers like these.
Suhi wrote: "I think "The Petit Morts" series' covers are amazing, very stylish. I wish there were more original and artfully done covers like these. "Well, JCP self publishes, right? So she can pick her own covers. I can't see a publisher ever selecting this one, for example:
As another example, IIRC, this one:
was selected by Josh from a contest on his blog. It does have a torso - but not two torsos! :-)
Charming wrote: "I can't see a publisher ever selecting this one, for example: ..." Hmm.. is it supposed to be good or bad cover? XD I don't like it anyway :)
"In the Dark Wood" is tastefully done and beautiful if lacks originality. Though in this case I don't think originality would be welcomed. I think the cover suits the book perfectly in this case. And yeah, there's only one half-naked guy XD
"In the Dark Wood" is tastefully done and beautiful if lacks originality. Though in this case I don't think originality would be welcomed. I think the cover suits the book perfectly in this case. And yeah, there's only one half-naked guy XD
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I think that's a good one. Certainly holds up well with any number of professional covers I've had!
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"In the Dark Wood" is tastefully done ..."
I love that In a Dark Wood cover. It's attractive and it perfectly captures the mood while answering the question What Genre is This?
Josh wrote: "and it perfectly captures the mood while answering the question What Genre is This? ..."
That's true :)
Since making a contest for a cover design has proven to be successful, do you plan making more cover contests for your other books?
That's true :)
Since making a contest for a cover design has proven to be successful, do you plan making more cover contests for your other books?
Mod
That's true :)
Since making a contest for a cover design has proven to be successful, do you ..."
I might. I'm planning to experiment with self-publishing something direct to Kindle and see how that goes. I'll need a cover for it, and I was certainly impressed by the incredible variety of covers that were created for that little contest.
Josh wrote: "Susan wrote: "Josh wrote: "The LI cover on This Rough Magic is just...bad"As painful and annoying as this has to be for you, Josh, I hope you know that your true admirers will always want to bu..."
Josh, story was wonderful. I loved it. Hope there are many, many more!
Lou wrote: "Ok, this was my design: "I like it, definitely genre appropriate without being ridiculously oversexed. Are you interested in designing covers? No, not fishing (yet). :)
Josh wrote: "Suhi wrote: "Since making a contest for a cover design has proven to be successful, do you ..." I might. I'm planning to experiment with self-publishing something direct to Kindle and see how that goes. I'll need a cover for it, and I was certainly impressed by the incredible variety of covers that were created for that little contest.
"
You know, there are art school dying for senior projects just like that. Sort of like a mini "Project Runway" sans cameras and Tim Gunn. And, you know, about cover art and not clothes.
Josh wrote: "Suhi wrote: "Josh wrote: "and it perfectly captures the mood while answering the question What Genre is This? ..."That's true :)
Since making a contest for a cover design has proven to be suc..."
I do think you have a very solid base if you want to start self -publish, Josh, or even build your own publishing house, like JCP.
Lou wrote: "Anne wrote: "Lou wrote: "Ok, this was my design: "I like it, definitely genre appropriate without being ridiculously oversexed. Are you interested in designing covers? No, not fishing (yet). :..."
It seems like you could put your own designs up on your website or wherever, but if you did it might lead to publishers asking you to design your own covers. Or not. What do I know?
This is, IMHO, the worst cover ever designed
but it was a good book. The author was so disgusted she kept a picture up of the guy she thought should have been on the cover for years until they reprinted. They gave her a great cover, then.
Finished Strange Fortune. My thought is here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... . It is really a satisfying read for me, adventure packed book with romantic undertone that is not too sweet. And "Lady Hyde". LOL. What a clever name! Although I think that Valentine is a ... well.. strange name, pun intended.
Cleon wrote: "Finished Strange Fortune. My thought is here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... . It is really a satisfying read for me, adventure packed book with romantic undertone that is not too s..."
Cleon so glad you found and liked
it is amazingly sweet...it's a favorite and I've been pimping nonstop too all my buddies I loved it so much...I've got other REALLY good ones on PDF that you might like if you likes this one....let me know!
Cleon so glad you found and liked
it is amazingly sweet...it's a favorite and I've been pimping nonstop too all my buddies I loved it so much...I've got other REALLY good ones on PDF that you might like if you likes this one....let me know!
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So glad you enjoyed it!
Lauraadriana wrote: "Cleon wrote: "Finished Strange Fortune. My thought is here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... . It is really a satisfying read for me, adventure packed book with romantic undertone tha..."I've saved the HTML files like I always do when reading stories online, but thanks for the offer! :)
It has been a while since I had a bit of a gush here so.... I have just read The Dark Horse and really loved it !! I am mixing up my reading so I really stretch-out my Lanyon reads and I have to say the books have been good in between, some actually great but... You just manage to convey so much more in what, is more often than not, less words. Sometimes I feel other books are padded out too much almost rehashing the same issues again, and again and AGAIN as if they need to cram as much make up sex as possible. I love to read the smexy as much as the next person but you have the ability to turn my innards to mush by just having Sean call Dan "Danny" and by Dan simply kissing Sean's wrist because the connection with your characters just hops out the pages ! I have read a "few" of your books now and kinda chuckle thinking wow! How many different ways can he write sexy scenes without repeating himself - which you never do! but also think it must be a challenge for you too - but you get the balance just right!
gosh i need to qualify my previous post.. it looks like all i get from your books is the dynamic duos and the sex that ensues :( ...in The Dark Horse, again, you had me wondering who the bad guy was; i thought early on that i "knew" - when he was surprised that the cards had stopped, but then all your trickery made me think, ahh bluff and double bluff!! so you had me til the end, again :)
So the Dark Horse is the first book? I have recently gotten both it and the White Knight but wasn't sure what order they went in... i think out of all of Josh's Books mine is still: The Ghost wore Yellow Socks. I re read that one a lot.
Norma wrote: "So the Dark Horse is the first book? I have recently gotten both it and the White Knight but wasn't sure what order they went in... i think out of all of Josh's Books mine is still: The Ghost wore ..."I believe Dark Horse came first, and then the prequel White Knight. I'm a little obsessive about reading series in order, so this kind of stuff always confuzzles me. Usually I just go with the publishing order, except for Lois McMaster Bujold, who wrote the whole Vorkosigan series out of order. (She's brilliant, but I always scratch my head over that one. It's such a complex series, and that seems like really going about it the hard way. But clearly it worked for her.)
Mark A Roeder does the same... Drives me nuts when I have to go back into a storyline... Though I still love his series.Okay, so which one am I reading first? Should I read the prequel first?
no I don't think so - I didn't. I have heard it is very clever how the sequel/prequel dovetails with the Dark Horse... I will start the White Knight tonight :O)
Norma wrote: "So the Dark Horse is the first book? I have recently gotten both it and the White Knight but wasn't sure what order they went in... i think out of all of Josh's Books mine is still: The Ghost wore ..."White Knight is both the prequel and the sequel. It's interesting. I loved it.
Norma wrote: "Mark A Roeder does the same... Drives me nuts when I have to go back into a storyline... Though I still love his series.Okay, so which one am I reading first? Should I read the prequel first?"
I know, I hate that about Mark A. Roeder, but on the other hand it gives me a reason to re-read some of the series every time.
Awesome series he is just about finished with a Brendan story... College story.
Norma wrote: "Awesome series he is just about finished with a Brendan story... College story."Eep! I haven't even read Just Making Out.
No, no, don't read "The White Knight" first - it contains spoilers for "The Dark Horse". "The Dark Horse" must come first :)
Really enjoyed "The Dark Horse" and then totally LOVED "The White Knight"!! The structure of the book, as a preque/sequel and with alternating between first and third narrative was brilliant! I had no clue how the whole plot was going to play out - really enjoyed the ride! Sean has joined Perry and Brett as my sweetest faves from all your books; and Dan is definitely up there with Jake and Tucker. It was just so lovely to be back in Joshlandia :-) I am wandering off again to read a JCP book, but "Cards on the Table" will be up after that .
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Thank you so much, Barb. That was the first title I wrote specifically for the m/m market -- and it was my most popular title for a long time (excluding AE). More popular than the Dangerous Ground books, etc.
It's starting to fall behind the flood of work now. :-D But I still have fond feelings for it.
You've nailed it with the comment on the sex scenes. I think this is why I'm increasingly bored with them -- not just in what I read, but in writing them too. I just feel like I've said all I can.
And yet...with each book it's the first time a particular set of characters have been together, so there is always something new to say or show.
I guess it's the mechanics of the scene that I'm increasingly bored with.
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Okay, so which one am I reading first? Should I read the prequel first?"
The Dark Horse should come first, Norma.
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Right!
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Glad you liked it, Norma!
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in The Dark Horse, again, you had me wondering who the bad guy w..."
:-D I'm glad I kept you guessing.
Josh wrote: You've nailed it with the comment on the sex scenes. I think this is why I'm increasingly bored with them -- not just in what I read, but in writing them too. I just feel like I've said all I can. "
Too much sex can be too much at times...But can I just say you do have a way with words...I remember a line and I'm pretty certain it was in Dark Horse when you wrote something like "such an ugly word for something so...ravishing" and I had to laugh...because I actually held my breath just from reading that, and thought to myself "only Josh Lanyon" :O)
Too much sex can be too much at times...But can I just say you do have a way with words...I remember a line and I'm pretty certain it was in Dark Horse when you wrote something like "such an ugly word for something so...ravishing" and I had to laugh...because I actually held my breath just from reading that, and thought to myself "only Josh Lanyon" :O)
I read the White Knight first, accidentally. It's one of my favorite books. I don't think it ruined the experience, exactly, but I wish I had read Dark Horse first.
Lauraadriana wrote: "Josh wrote: You've nailed it with the comment on the sex scenes. I think this is why I'm increasingly bored with them -- not just in what I read, but in writing them too. I just feel like I've said..."Yup, what else can be said about having sex that haven't been said millionth time before?
My favorite sex scenes are when Jack and ADrien made love again in The Dark Tide and Icecapade. Not graphic at all, but the emotion is so deep.
Cleon wrote: "Lauraadriana wrote: "Josh wrote: You've nailed it with the comment on the sex scenes. I think this is why I'm increasingly bored with them -- not just in what I read, but in writing them too. I jus..."I like Fair Game for sex. The best is when Elliot is remembering what sex with Tucker was like -- not even an actual sex scene. :)
Q&A with Josh Lanyon
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