Q&A with Josh Lanyon discussion
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Josh wrote: "...have a glass of wine and stare at my garden"Sounds good to me! *g*
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LOL! You should look at a twitter client now, it makes it so much easier and more fun to use. There are loads out there but tweetdeck is my favorite. Saves all that refreshing the page at the twitter site.
Josh wrote: "Or just give up and go have a glass of wine and..."You're doing an amazing job keeping up with everything; the present system works well, I think.
Yes, by all means, every once in a while give up, get that glass of wine, and stop to smell the roses. You have that garden for a reason!
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Because Lisa is English, Adrien picked up a number of phrases and words that she uses -- as we all pick up phrases and words from our parents. Also, Adrien traveled quite a bit when he was younger, so some of that stayed as well. He's well-educated and cosmopolitan, and what I've found is well-educated and cosmopolitan people use foreign terms interchangably.
Kids are impressionable. I still use phrases my dear departted and very Southern grandmother always said, despite the fact that I haven't been in the South for decades. I've been told it's very disconcerting for a woman with no discerning accent to suddenly bust out a "y'all," with a full-on twang, no less. *g*
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You can take a Southern belle out of the south, but you can't take the south out of a Southern Belle.
You can take a Southern belle out of the south, b..."
Heh, very true. But that's the thing. I was born and raised in the North. I just pick up accents easily. I'm always terrified when my British bosses come to town, I'll accidentally tune into their accents and they'll think I'm mocking them.
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That's so funny. I'm the same. A natural mimic. It's actually useful for writing unless you make the mistake of reading while you're working on a new project -- when every voice you read is liable to affect your own.
Yep, definitely! When I was a kid, my mother refused to talk to me for several days after I came back from my Gran's, not until my accent returned to "normal," LOL. Even today, my voice changes when I talk to my dad or, heck, even watch 5 minutes of The Dukes of Hazzard. *g*
JPerceval wrote: "Yep, definitely! When I was a kid, my mother refused to talk to me for several days after I came back from my Gran's, not until my accent returned to "normal," LOL. Even today, my voice changes whe..."When I visit my family, my accent gets noticeably thicker the farther south we go. But that's deliberate on my part. A great many in my extended family still haven't forgiven me for marrying a yankee. LOL
Kari wrote: When I visit my family, my accent gets noticeably thicker the farther south we go. But that's deliberate on my part. A great many in my extended family still haven't forgiven me for marrying a yankee. LOL I think that's my mother's problem. She was the "damn Yankee" who never learned to blend in. Heh.
I finished A Vintage Affair yesterday and don't know really what to think about it. I liked Austin and even our hero in denial Jeff, but why do I have the feeling the book isn't finished??? I don't have any problem with a book that doesn't have a HEA or an open ending, but here ... I don't know. Expected something else I guess.
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Not sure. I don't believe there are any loose ends. Did you think something wasn't tied up? There are no guarantees of a future, but they're going to try. They're a couple I might revisit later down the line to see if and how they survive that love at first sight thing.
No, not at all. I guess that will be it. There is no HEA, but only a certain hope and my wish that in the future they will find their HEA. I really would like to read more of them. It reminded me of a book I've read a few months ago, Most Wanted with the same kind of ending.
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Josh wrote: "I have what I think would be a fun follow up. A little bit of a comic mystery caper, but it's finding time to write all these sequels. Especially with the new and improved reduced schedule."Now it seems like you're just teasing us... J/k
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Well, it's a funny thing because for all the story ideas I have -- and I have thousands -- there are actually only a few that will ever get written. And yet the ideas...even plots...are there. Too bad there's not a more immediate method of extraction!
I have heard some authors have like sub-writes. The Author gives them the plot and specific things he wants done and then does the edits... I heard James Patterson does that but I am not a james patterson fan and maybe that's why
Josh wrote: "I have what I think would be a fun follow up. A little bit of a comic mystery caper, but it's finding time to write all these sequels. Especially with the new and improved reduced schedule."Josh, I hope you didn’t understand this wrongly. I wasn’t criticizing you. I really love your books, but I just wanted to give you a feedback. I am not talking about your writing, that was superb! The mansion in the south, the smell, the trees, the way of talking … I could feel, smell, see, hear it all – only the ending wasn’t what I expected.
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No, no. I mean it is that kind of a story. There isn't...well, it's *resolved* as far as the story goes, but the relationship is not. It's resolved as much as it can be at that stage, if you see what I mean? But at the same time it can be true to the story but still unsatisfying to a reader who wants more. I understand that -- totally.
One thing I try and remind myself as a writer is that every story can't resonate with readers the same way. Every story can't have exactly the same effect, every story can't be a reader's favorite. I have writers I love, but within the loving those writers, I still have my books that are my favorites. This is not putting down the other books, it's just...some stories hit a chord that other stories don't. So no matter how excellent the writer is, I'm still going to like certain books more than others -- it's just a personal reaction and not a critical judgment because sometimes my favorites aren't necessarily even the author's "best" work (depending on criteria).
Of course as a writer you want to hear that every single book was magical and special and the best thing yet. But even in that most fevered state we usually realize we're hallucinating. ;-D
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In fact, the very tics and tricks that make some readers complain an author is repeating himself is probably what keeps the majority of readers coming back for more. How we develop characters or our sense of humor or whatever...it's like our signature tune. (Assuming the writer has a recognizable style and voice.)
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What you need us a USB port for your brain. ;-D"
Man, that would be convenient!
I'm posting here for the first time and I'm going to say something that we'll probably seem stupid. While I read, a book resounds in me in a physical way, I can experience the feelings of elation, sadness, disappointment, satisfaction, etc, inside of me. When I read something I like, it's like the writer is playing me like an instrument and the writers I like are those that play me better. I'm never tired of reading them, no matter how similar the plots are.
Hi Emanuela - I agree completely. If a story doesn't elicit a physical response I might as well be reading a textbook & makes it hard for me to finish.
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And so we hope -- pray -- that enough readers feel like you. That feeling you describe, that ability to touch the emotions...it does partly depend on what the audience brings to the book. Not every book or story or writer appeals to every reader, and that's partly to do with what the *reader* brings to the table. I always say my readers are a bit smarter than the average bear. Maybe "smarter" isn't fair, but some readers just don't respond -- just don't "get" what I'm trying to do in my stories. In my cynical moments I think...just throw in more sex and they'll be happy, but that's not true. Well...maybe. *g*
But it also has to do with the kind of characters I write and the plots that interest me and the relationship dynamics. Some readers will simply not respond to that. It won't feel real to them or recognizable or it just won't be interesting. Which is why readers like you, and posts like yours, go a long, long way to soothing anxious writers. *g*
Thank you.
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Physical response. Yes! That's true, Alli. It's astonishing when you think about it, but books and movies -- oh God, and music do elicit a physical response from us. Movies...well, it's visual and the sound is booming in the theater...but books the reader's imagination is at play and it's almost more powerful.
Josh wrote: "Arzu wrote: "Josh wrote: "I have what I think would be a fun follow up. A little bit of a comic mystery caper, but it's finding time to write all these sequels. Especially with the new and improved..."Hi, I have this on daily feed so I am following what's going on. This post was especially interesting as a writer. I'm thinking of writing something totally different heatwise and not sure whether that will affect how readers who like that level will feel when they read my other books. I can see why writers sometimes reserve different names for different levels.
As for this bit:
No, no. I mean it is that kind of a story. There isn't...well, it's *resolved* as far as the story goes, but the relationship is not. It's resolved as much as it can be at that stage, if you see what I mean? But at the same time it can be true to the story but still unsatisfying to a reader who wants more. I understand that -- totally.
When a reader first wanted a sequel to "Caught" I was loath to, as I hate manufactured conflict, but the conflict is usually there based on their personalities. Jump a year into the future and new stresses would arise just as they do in real life. I have the scenario now (thanks to a couple of critical reviews which inadvertantly steered me in the right direction). I actually get a lot out of well thought out negative ones. Not that there have been too many of those so far, thankfully.
I have writers I love, but within the loving those writers, I still have my books that are my favorites. This is not putting down the other books, it's just...some stories hit a chord that other stories don't. So no matter how excellent the writer is, I'm still going to like certain books more than others -- it's just a personal reaction and not a critical judgment because sometimes my favorites aren't necessarily even the author's "best" work (depending on criteria).
It must be tempting for a writer and also limiting to be pressured to produce "more of the same". I'm really looking forward to "Murder She Wrote" as I love what you're doing with that character. I'm not fussed on your fantasy/paranormal ones, lol. But that's me not into spirits, shifters, shedders an suckers. Yet I know a lot of people are.
Write what you like to read, I suppose.
A question about The White Knight and the first person/third person point of view. Did you plan it before writing or did it just happen? I was a little surprised at the beginning (Sean announced it loud and clear, so I shouldn't have been surprised) because I thought it was something difficult to maintain throughout the book, but in my opinion it worked beautifully and it was incredibly well balanced.
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It felt very risky as I was doing it, and I know it didn't work for everyone, but looking back I'm glad I took the chance. I think it was fresh if nothing else.
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Yes! Much more important than the idea of "writing what you know" is writing what you love. Write the book you want to read. Almost any idea can be made commercial with a deft hand, but every commercial idea can't be turned into a book you're going to enjoy writing. You have to start from the heart.
I was just re-reading these interviews that Josh did with Jake and Adrien. They are great fun to read. If you have not already seen them the whole series is worth a look.http://alexbeecroft.wordpress.com/200...
http://alexbeecroft.wordpress.com/200...
Josh, do you think this is something you might want to try again? Which on of your characters would you like to "interview" next?
Thank you for sharing Lori. I had not read those but it makes me want to read the series again
Bubbles (Dane) wrote: "Thank you for sharing Lori. I had not read those but it makes me want to read the series again"Me too, I was just thinking I could use some AE!
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Do Kit, do Kit pretty please. I love his "voice". Snark, snark, snark......Tho' he has to be nice about all us wannabe writers. (Not). See how naughty he can be. Do you want some questions?
Especially as his follow up book is due out soon....
He must be fed up by now with all the fans pestering him about when it would be finished. As if they didn't know just the tedium of answering all those letters would delay it even further...
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Tho' he has to be nice about all us wannabe writers. (Not). See how naughty he can be. Do you want some questions?
Espe..."
Heh. Now there's a funny idea. Writing advice from the irascible Kit Holmes. Granted, it might ruin a whole generation of writers.
I like it though. I like it a LOT. ;-D
Josh wrote: "Writing advice from the irascible Kit Holmes"That would be fun. Or you could interview Elliot's dad.
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Your description of the writer's convention was one of the best parts of the book."The room was packed with people, and everyone seemed to be talking at once— which, as I recalled, is pretty much how conferences go. A lot of the people were female and under thirty. Despite the chilly weather there were a lot of bare arms and bare legs. I'd seen fewer bare midriffs at a belly-dancing competition. That, of course, was the chick-lit contingent. They wrote mysteries called things like A Whole Latte Death and Death Wore a Little Black Dress. With their cartoon covers and glam author shots they'd managed to turn murder and mayhem into something quite... frivolous."
Wicked....
That was my first M/M book and I thought kit was hilarious.
Josh wrote: "I see you both have a taste for interviewees who are liable to say something that will get us all in hot water. ;-)"Those tend to make the best interviews ;o)
Josh wrote: "I'd forgotten about those, Lori. That's a fun idea. Hmm. I wonder who would be amusing to interview..."This series was so much fun. When I bought a new book, I went back to check if the characters had been interviewed.
I go back to a few of them once in awhile. And pretend we'll be hearing from Jake and Adrien again.
I think you should do Elliot and Tucker to celebrate your first audiobook. Which was very enjoyable, by the way.
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Those tend to make the best interviews ;o)"
Too true!
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This series was so much fun. When I bought a new book, I went back to check if..."
Elliot and Tucker. That could be an interesting one. Those two have some work ahead learning how to be together without killing each other.
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Q&A with Josh Lanyon
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Josh wrote: "Okay. Thanks all of you who responded. I don't want to inundate people with promo, but I want to make sure I'm not missing the obvious things I should be doing.
It's true that each of these gro..."