Q&A with Josh Lanyon discussion
note: This topic has been closed to new comments.
ARCHIVE (General Topics)
>
What else are you reading? (June 2010 - May 2013) *closed*
Susinok wrote: "I need some assistance picking my next books to read. I have a bunch of gay mysteries that have sat on my Kindle for a bit. Does anyone have experience with the following?Willing Flesh by J.S. C..."
Willing Flesh is an excellent book: great details and writing. The sequel is not bad but not nearly as good.
Lady*M wrote: Willing Flesh is an excellent book: great details and writing. The sequel is not bad but not nearly as good. ."Good to hear! I will give that a try.
Mod
Josh wrote: "By the way, just a quick reminder that when we get on my favorite topics I can be a little...vociferous. :-D Please don't mistake passion for ire. I just get a little excited sometimes."I think we're all a bit like that! :)
Josh wrote: "Cleon wrote: "If we mention, for example, a book where a bodyguard protecting a handsome actor, who might or might not be having a paranoid delusion about a stalker and is in the verge of nervous b..."No. No. Sorry to imply your book is heterosexual. I haven't been articulate enough I think.
Josh wrote: "you mentioned a male writer. Do you think perhaps this was a misguided attempt to capture tropes the author mistakenly believed important to female readers? "I'm sure Ethan Day didn't have that in mind when he wrote the series. For me, the series isn't a typical het romance turned into gay romance. The main character can be annoying and flaming yes, but he isn't a pushover or a typical need to be saved maiden.
Well, perhaps the point I'm inarticulately try to convey is who writes a particular trope does matter, and matter a lot. The book I described is Josh' book, Dark Horse and it isn't about the strong bodyguard saving the weaker man at all. For me, the series you mentioned, isn't focused on the heterosexual paradigm at all but struggles all new couples face to adapt to new relationships. Yes, the main character is flaming but he is who he is. There is a very important reason why one character can't move from his town and another guy can freely decline to move in with him. Their struggle to be together, while not angst filled, is real and faced by other couples, het or homosexual ones.
Mod
I'm sure Ethan Day didn'..."
Thanks, Cleon. Being clear about who we've been talking about here is probably a good idea. I guess some of us thought it was obvious because we've read/enjoyed the books. I don't think someone, in real life or fiction, who is "flaming" is necessarily channeling "heterosexual paradigms." Also, I don't believe these books are at all an "attempt to capture tropes the author mistakenly believed important to female readers."
Sno Ho
Life in Fusion
Mod
I've read Murder at the Windsor Club and In the Flesh + the rest of the Flesh series. I'd recommend both of these. They are very different sorts of books, so I'd suggest reading excerpts (Amazon) and some reviews to get a sense if you're in the mood for one or the other.
Karen wrote: "Cleon wrote: "Josh wrote: "you mentioned a male writer. Do you think perhaps this was a misguided attempt to capture tropes the author mistakenly believed important to female readers? "I'm sure E..."
I've read both those books, but to me the character was never a "female in disguise".
He may be campy and maybe flamboyant (both traits I love), yes, but I've never seen him as a damsel in distress or as someone who needed to be saved.
There are other series where the big brawny macho guy is paired with the helpless smaller one that were, well, not for me.
The thing for me is, I need to believe in what I read, otherwise is a total "turn off". And when the characters are too stereotyped I simply don't like it.
Karen wrote: "Cleon wrote: "Josh wrote: "you mentioned a male writer. Do you think perhaps this was a misguided attempt to capture tropes the author mistakenly believed important to female readers? "I'm sure E..."
I thought probably those were the ones you meant. I have read the first and enjoyed it, and the other is on the plan :) I didn't really think of Sno Ho as a camouflated het book at all, but then I am absolutely clueless about things like that. I either like a book or I don't, the story and the emotions being conveyed and the way it is written is what is important, then if it is a good match between the book and me, I sort of buy the book's premises and go with it. So gender or kids or geography are important for the story but it isn't what decide if I like the book or not. So it is back to good or bad writing and the heart of the story for me.
Josh wrote: "By the way, just a quick reminder that when we get on my favorite topics I can be a little...vociferous. :-D Please don't mistake passion for ire. I just get a little excited sometimes."That goes for most of us and is what makes this interesting. :)
Josh wrote: "Pender wrote: "Josh wrote: "I know I have a lot of women well-established in professional careers, a lot of older men who remember how it used to be (a surprising number of letters from men now in ..."Well, since I am one of those older, well-established professional women living overseas, what can I say? That I love your books because they are well-written, have real human people with flaws, annoying and endearing traits, described in a way that want me to meet them and talk to them. And yes, not to forget, we elderly types have been around the block a time or two, or as we say here, has spent several winter's nights out of doors, so we tend to know or at least suspect, that there is more than one road to happiness and as many ways of getting a HEA as there are people. ( To tell the truth, we usually are happpy enough with HFN and hopes for the future, but don't tell any authors that, I love me some HEA's in books even if I am a little more cynical about it when it comes to real life)
Mod
Oh yes. Another woman just like you nods and agrees. ;)
And I'm happy you brought up hope. I believe that we've talked about this earlier (and probably even several times) but at least for me the fact that there is a glimmer of hope for the main couple in the end of the book, is almost always enough to make me satisfied.
Mod
Hey now, we like your kind fierceness. :) And anyway, it's all the different opinions and point of views that make the discussion here so enjoyable.
Mod
..."
I think this is an important point about contemporary romance, and one of the positives. Perhaps fewer marriages of convenience -- one trope that I do not believe can be successfully transported to gay romance (other than spec fiction, and it doesn't work for me there either) -- and more ordinary but legitimate obstacles to keep two people from being able to be together.
Mod
..."
I agree.
Changing the topic here -- or diverging slightly -- I find it interesting and positive that m/m readers are more open to more diverse characters. A couple of years ago flamboyantly gay characters and transgendered characters would largely have been met with a cool reception. I think that has changed or is in the process of changing.
Or am I wrong about that?
Josh wrote: " I think this is an important point about contemporary romance, and one of the positives. Perhaps fewer marriages of convenience -- one trope that I do not believe can be successfully transported to gay romance (other than spec fiction, and it doesn't work for me there either) -- and more ordinary but legitimate obstacles to keep two people from being able to be together. "I have weakness for forced marriage/ bonding. LOL. Not many authors can pull that off successfully though, and I haven't read one in contemporary setting. I like Megan Derr's ones that are set in fantasy Regency world where same sex relationship is as common as hetero ones.
Mod
Hey hey! Not so much of the ELDERLY if you don't mind. :-D
I lumped everyone together in that sentence, but I actually meant that the older men are a slightly different (distinct) segment of my audience. They're mostly reading the print work, which is now the smallest portion of my readership. I don't think they're particularly active online beyond email.
Josh wrote: "I find it interesting and positive that m/m readers are more open to more diverse characters. A couple of years ago flamboyantly gay characters and transgendered characters would largely have been met with a cool reception. I think that has changed or is in the process of changing."There are definitely more diverse characters (and themes), and it's definitely a positive change. You're not imagining it. My recent release has a rather gender-fluid MC, and no one's complained about him -- yet. ;-)
Dreamspinner and Riptide are, I think, in the advance guard when it comes to expanding the genre's boundaries.
K.Z. wrote: "Josh wrote: "I find it interesting and positive that m/m readers are more open to more diverse characters. A couple of years ago flamboyantly gay characters and transgendered characters would large..."Storm Moon Press too. They accept and even have open calls for F/F, trans, het, and even plus size women.
Mod
Very much the truth. When someone tells me they watch FOX for the news, I pretty much know I have tailor everything else that comes out of my mouth.
Josh wrote: "When someone tells me they watch FOX for the news, I pretty much know I have tailor everything else that comes out of my mouth."No kidding. Jon Stewart calls Fox News "Bullshit Mountain." I simply think of it as the propaganda arm of the Republican party. They can't report anything without giving it a neo-conservative spin -- even a story as tragic as yesterday's.
Josh wrote: I find it interesting and positive that m/m readers are more open to more diverse characters. A couple of years ago flamboyantly gay characters and transgendered characters would largely have been met with a cool reception. I think that has changed or is in the process of changing...."I love the diversity of gay males and like to read about every iteration of them. I just went from reading a book with a very flamboyant twink to another book with a cyberpunk feel and an action hero type. I also have a real soft spot for transvestite stories.
Mod
Yes, as Aleks sad, thank you. As I've been wondering about pronouns for myself lately, sometimes it's hard to know what to go with. There is no gender neutral pronouns in English, which bugs the heck out of me. But, because there isn't, even if I picked something else, I would get tired of having to explain and tell everyone I meet (aside from tourists asking for directions) what they should use. That's one reason why I haven't said anything to anyone.
But even I have a hard time in public looking at people I don't know and trying to classify them somehow. I feel horrible for it because that's the way I grew up. Binary system and nothing else. So now that I'm acknowledging my own non-binariness, I'm having to retrain my brain to not slot others into the binary as well.
Mod
Grumpy Bear always was my favorite Care Bear growing up. He still is, actually. There has to be at least one person (bear) out there who isn't so cheerful all the time. lol.
Mod
The big bad, gay sheriff in a Western town - yes I like my hot, gay cowboys!
The slighter/smaller man being the more dominant one (without havin..."
I'm with you on the idea that a kid should be a part of the story, not the end result just for the sole purpose of an HEA. Those stories, that fully include the kids I do like on occasion.
Mod
I know, right! Well, I think mpreg happens more often in fanfiction than it does in original fiction.
Honestly, most mpreg I've read is horrible and childishly written at best. But I can say there was one author who took a well-known television show and went completely AU with it and did a fantastic job recreating the characters and worldbuilding. It was all about the mpreg, but it was done really well. I'm still sad that years later she couldn't keep the story going and stopped in the middle. It was one of the best fanfics I've ever read and would have made a really good fantasy/sci-fi MM novel for sure.
Aside from that, Wraeththu isn't exactly mpreg, and yet it sort of is. But Storm Constantine did a fantastic job with the characters and the worldbuilding, including the creation of the birds and the bees.
Otherwise, I haven't read any original fic that deals with mpreg, and no other story has caught my attention the way these two did.
I have the Eresse books which apparently have mpreg in them. I have not dipped a toe in yet. Color me skeptical.
Mod
Which books are those, out of curiosity?
Na wrote: "Chronicles of Ylandre series. I've read the two first books but just remember some desert (or the color orange), that they travelled by horse and a white kinda castle...."Yes those are the ones I was referring to. I haven't tried them yet but I do have all four of the series.
Mod
Mod
The hara in Wraeththu, are both male and female, but use male pronouns and are more considered men unless they are pregnant with the pearl, which then hatches like an egg later on. Sounds awkward, I know, but well written.
At some point I'm going to read the second Wraeththu trilogy. My only lament is that it's not all three books in one like the first one, and the first two paperbacks are way more expensive than the third. As far as I know, neither the first nor the second are in ebook format, but the first was definitely a book I wanted to have in print. And while it's long, like, exceedingly long, the trilogy in one book is easy to handle and very lightweight. Event hough it's large, it was still a delight to take on vacation with me. I didn't have to worry about finishing the book before I got home so I didn't have to bring more than the one book with me.
anyway, I'm rambling, and I'm tired, so I'll shut up now. Maybe go to bed too. lol.
Mod
Not sure I'm that brave. And I thought I'd read anything.
Jordan wrote: "Did not know there's a list of Mpreg books on here. Am shocked... though, really, I shouldn't be. I only glanced at a few, but the summaries of some of the top choices were horrendous and sounded r..."If you're talking about the Midnight Matings book, it's actually a pretty good, fun read (if pushing the limits of credulity since the other half of the pairing is a dragon shifter). On the whole, however, I'd have to agree with your over all opinion on most Mpreg stories.
Mod
I haven't noticed that.
Mod
I figure it must be pretty good since it's so high on the list, but just the summary alone, I couldn't do it. Some of the summaries could have been written better too. That didn't help either. I don't remember which list it was on, since I've just been looking at about a billion in the last few minutes and am about to fall asleep, but one book's summary made it sound like a contemporary romance when a review points out that it's actually fantasy. Huh?
Well, anyway, I get grumpy when I'm tired, so I'll shut up and go to bed like I said I was going to do ten years ago. lol.
Mod
Ha! So true. Sheriffs (redneck or otherwise) these days are actually less likely to be racist and homophobic than, say, the people who run the local chamber of commerce IMHO.
The good thing about fiction is.... anything is possible, and it is a pleasure to escape reality for a bit :)
ED wrote: "The good thing about fiction is.... anything is possible, and it is a pleasure to escape reality for a bit :)"Maybe - but I find myself putting down the book if the escape from reality feels more like a fissure in the fabric of the universe.
I've just finished Frat Boy and Toppy and I've been feeling really down these last weeks but this book was really a lift-me-up.
Mod
Maybe this is a good time for suggestions of all time favorite Christmas stories -- m/m or otherwise. What do you guys read this time of year to pick up and get you in the holiday mood?
More than any other time of year I read a lot of vintage mystery during this season. And if I can find vintage stories set at Christmas, all the better.
Even though I had a friend visiting, I managed to finish at night The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. I have already ordered Coraline and Neverwhere. Yes, I liked it that much!So now I read gay stuff, and also Gaiman's stuff ;-).
I used to read loads of vintage mysteries in my youth. Just found a box full of books in the loft, while looking for Christmas decorations, and I'm sure they'll be some in there. I definitely saw some Rex Stout and Margery Allingham.
Winter Knights by Harper Fox is my number one favorite, I think. But I've always had a thing for Lance and Arthur...
Mod
That being said, since our last December read of Larton, I have been feeling like rereading it, or at least skimming it. I just don't have the time with everything else I'm in the middle of.
And, since there were a lot of your books I hadn't read yet, I decided to read the holiday stories first since it was the season for them.
But yeah, normally, it doesn't matter. I'll read holiday stories any time of year if I'm in the mood for the story.
I haven't had any special stories either, unless you count my kids' favourite, the one about Andersen the carpenter. He found the family of Santa Claus living in a cozy home under a tree in the woods. So while santa gave gifts to his children, Andersen made gifts for santa's kids. He was a very good carpenter you see. The Norwegian santa, or 'julenisse' is actually a mix of the usual santa and the old house spirits that used to live with the animals. And he has a wife and kids who of course always stay at home while he is away giving gifts. So they really enjoyed the visit from Andersen the carpenter. ;)This last years I have enjoyed the Christmas m/m anthos with Josh, Harper Fox and other authors and also the cute little Simple Gifts.
Antonella wrote: "So now I read gay stuff, and also Gaiman's stuff ;-)."Gaiman's American Gods is one of my favorite books. I've read it so many times that its started to fall into pieces. And there's gay Ifrit in it. ~_^
Uh, then I should have ordered also my fourth Gaiman's book? I just noticed that the reviews for American Gods where a bit less enthusiastic than those for the other books...
This topic has been frozen by the moderator. No new comments can be posted.
Q&A with Josh Lanyon
Books mentioned in this topic
Chained Melody (other topics)The Far Pavilions (other topics)
Death in Kashmir (other topics)
The Flame Trees of Thika: Memories of an African Childhood (other topics)
Mistress of the Art of Death (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
M.M. Kaye (other topics)Elspeth Huxley (other topics)
Lauren Willig (other topics)
Charlie Cochet (other topics)
Damon Suede (other topics)
More...
The big bad, gay sheriff in a Western town - yes I like my hot, gay cowboys!
The slighter/smaller man being the more dominant one (without havin..."
I probably come across like I hate children and that's not the case at all. I dearly love my nieces and nephews. I loved teaching. That said, I HATE books where kids play a large role. And that's despite the fact that I've read some that I enjoyed and I've even written books with kids in them. And yet there is no greater turn off for me than a book blurb that mentions a kid.