Q&A with Josh Lanyon discussion
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What else are you reading? (June 2010 - May 2013) *closed*
I've started to copy my posts before hitting the button, just in case.Just finished Old Poison. Sigh. I'm finally getting over my snit from last night.
And thanks for the advice about His for the Holidays, all.
Now to prepare for a conference call.
Re: His for the Holidays - I didn't like Harper Fox's story at all. It had one of my pet peeves - a mystery/thriller plot that made no sense and required the protagonists to be idiots. The rest of them I enjoyed.
Becky wrote: "Well, uh, in that case, yay! You don't have to bother with the hassle of plugging your Kindle into your computer to side load anything! (I know, that's a pretty pitiful excuse for an upside, but it's the best I can do. :P) "I actually consider that a major advantage. I bought several books on FW recently with a coupon, and it was a pain to download them - had to do it one at a time and if I pressed download without selecting the format first it would pretend to download but really wouldn't. And then the books didn't show up on my Kindle with covers or authors. I probably should have selected a different format, but mobi usually works fine for me. And then the formating is ugly - I don't want to see a line at the bottom of the pages - I can download ugly PDFs for that experience. Amazon is onto a good thing making all of this effortless and transparent for people.
I have a rather alarmingly high collection of ebooks that are likely sitting around collecting unnecessary cosmic radiation (er, electronic dust), and I thought I'd be a good citizen and ask if any Kindle users here on this forum would like to borrow any m/m books I might have? I'm not sure how to go about doing this, although lending is easy (I just need your Amazon account email).
Any thoughts?
ns, the way we do it on M/M romance is make a bookshelf called something like Kindle Lendable and put the lendable books on it. You can check mine out to see. Don't forget to take them off when you lend them out, as they can only be loaned once.
mc wrote: "I'm thinking of getting "His for the Holidays" - so many good writers in that anthology, and though generally shorts aren't my favorite, it sounds pretty good (and of course, there's a JL story in ..."LOVE this book. They're all good stories, I think.
Charming wrote: "ns, the way we do it on M/M romance is make a bookshelf called something like Kindle Lendable and put the lendable books on it. You can check mine out to see. Don't forget to take them off when y..."Charming, thanks. I did check that out. One of the reasons I'm going about it without using the GR infrastructure is that I don't want to post the list of books there, nor do I want to lend to any Goodreads person randomly (although it is in my control).
I'd like to restrict it to this forum and regular posters here, and I really don't want to list the books in my GR shelves (they aren't catalogued by me in GR). Has anybody done this kind of thing before?
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Thanks. Between Teddy Pig, you, and the rest of the gang here -- and an old post on B&N customer service at Dear Bitches, I think my choice is made.
(I'm glad someone picked my Kindle for me or I'd still be trying to make up my mind.)
MC, those "libraries" currently serve as dumping grounds for the rest of the house, so they sound a lot grander than they are. It's also indication of what chaos my life is in -- I'm living like a teen without a parent on the premises.
I mostly use amazon, ARE or FW, but sometimes it is the only place you can find a book, like The Trouble With Angel. I couldn't find it anywhere.
I was at Fictionwise yesterday trying to use that special discount. I was specifically hunting Tamara Allen, but the two books I wanted weren't there. I did manage to find about five other titles of authors completely unknown to me, so that was fine. I'll still buy Tamara's books -- on Amazon if they're there.
Yes, we authors earn more from the publisher websites, but I think most of us are realistic enough to know that price matters for a lot of readers -- and so, frankly, does ease of purchase. It's easier when everything is in one place, and there's no denying those discounts make book binges feel nearly guilt-free.
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SMART Bitches, I mean. I was thinking of Dear Author, but it was SB.
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SMART Bitches, I mean. I wa..."
And I have to say that customer service post was pretty much the deciding point. It's weird how fabulous customer service seems to increasingly be a lost art. I can't believe how often the person waiting on me sees me and my business as an enormous inconvenience. What on earth is that about?
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Here's another good article out there, comparing Nook touch to Kindle 3.http://www.marco.org/2011/06/03/nook-....
@mc - I have tried all day, ever since you asked the question about His for the Holidays to post a response. Such frustration! Anyway, I liked Josh's story and the one by L.B. Gregg. Unfortunately, the other two, not at all.
Thanks, Susan. I'm with you on the posting issues. Thanks to all of you for your comments, those that have posted and those which are still lost in the ether.
mc wrote: "Thanks, Susan. I'm with you on the posting issues. Thanks to all of you for your comments, those that have posted and those which are still lost in the ether."The thing that was making me so crazy was that it was such a small post and it would not go through. But I refused to give up. With all the comments about posting problems, this was the first time I experienced it. I must have written that damn response 10 times. It was exhausting! :)
If I'm posting a long post I always copy it before I post.
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(And if this goes through it will be 3rd try)
Josh wrote: "I filed a help request with Goodreads and they said they're working on it. I know it's very frustrating.(And if this goes through it will be 3rd try)"
Thanks, Josh. (Second attempt.)
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Anyway, I wasn't sure where to ask this, but I'm trying to get an overview of spirituality and religion in m/m fiction. Does anyone have any recs on books where religion -- Christianity in particular -- is either handled in a way that you approve of OR that offends you?
Off the top of my head, I thought of Andrew Grey's Love Means...No Shame, which involve an Amish youth. I thought that was well-done. There's a book I have but haven't read it (and I'm blanking on the title right now, but I think the author was James Buchanan) that has to do with Mormonism (is it Hard Fall?)I'll check my list for others.
Josh wrote: "This morning's posts are going through, it seems, abeit slowly. So maybe it's on its way to being fixed. Fingers crossed.Anyway, I wasn't sure where to ask this, but I'm trying to get an overvi..."
Trust Me, Jude in Chains, The God Box, Dona Nobis Pacem
Jeff Erno's Trust Me is a fiction/memoir of a homosexual boy who grew up as a very devout Christian. It is pretty touching. This and the God Box by Alex Sanchez are young adult books that portray the other side of Christianity, that not every branch of Christianity is homophobic fundamentalist.
Dona Nobis Pacem was about a mute bar owner and a former priest in Western setting. In this book, the preachers were not portrayed positively.
I believe Marie Sexton just launched Between Sinner and Saints when one of the character is a Mormon?
I'm going to kill myself. I just wrote a very long post and it is in the ether again.What I wanted to add was that a peeve of mine is if religion is portrayed too two-dimensionally, in either direction. Granted, there's a huge conflict between religion and LGBT issues in the public discourse right now, but if the author is fixated on proving a point, rather than telling a story, with complex characters, I generally don't like it. I feel the same way about portraying the opposite - the saintly, perfect always accepting church.
I know this seems rather hypocritical, given my support of these issues and my overall, well, anger about people who have prejudice against others for ANY reason, but basically, it comes down to the author and creating great characters. If one wants to stand on a soapbox, write an editorial.
I realize I'm sounding not as pleasant as I try to normally, but I assure you, that's just because of having lost the prior post. I feel like I'm not explaining myself as well this second time.
By the way, I'm not Christian, so how I feel about this has nothing to do with Christianity per se. It's really about the craft of writing.
Again, sorry for my poor powers of explanation.
I think it's hard for anyone to touch religion in a book without letting their true feelings show - and I think it's the same for politics.When I feel I'm being lectured, even when I agree on principle, I have to resist the impulse of abandoning a book, because I don't like hearing the author talk through the characters and I feel like I'm the dumb reader that needs enlightenment. So, as you say:
mc wrote: "if the author is fixated on proving a point, rather than telling a story, with complex characters, I generally don't like it. I feel the same way about portraying the opposite - the saintly, perfect always accepting church."
That really sums it up for me.
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The worst results seem to come from hitting "reply." But I strongly advise everyone to cut and paste. I was ready to commit murder last night.
Josh, I think that's a great blog topic - as Emanuela noted, it's an area where the writer brings a bit of his or her own personal beliefs into the mix. And why shouldn't he/she? But it certainly can be controversial.I'm looking forward to reading your thoughts about it, as well as the other posters.
I was ready to commit murder last night. A new idea for a book!
Josh, I have a lot of books that I rec for religion. Of the top of my head, Thinking Straight, Cleon already mentioned The God Box, I know Bobby Michaels wrote one in the Jock Dorm series (never read it), some of Mark A. Roeder's touch on it heavily. I know there are others. If you want more rec's I'll dig up my list. I also posted a list of YA rec's a month or two ago on this thread (I think) that lists some.
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Your columns for Jessewave are epic, really, I always can't stop wondering how much research there is for writing something that deep and thoughtful and thought-provoking.
Josh wrote: "If it's not too much trouble, yes. I'd love to see your list. Even the YA stuff might be relevant. Sometimes these posts are my own way of working through things. The danger of a life on line."It will be a couple of hours before I can put it together, but I'll post it this afternoon/evening.
Okay, this is my short list of books that deal with religion and GLBTQ questions. Some of them were already mentioned. I only listed the ones that deal with it most directly. I made some notes after some of them, especially noting when they were YA. None of them really qualifies as true erotica, I think:Thinking Straight by Robin Reardon (YA, one of the best ones out there on the subject IMHO)
Common Sons by Ronald Donaghe (Sort of YA)
This Time Around by Mark A. Roeder (YA -- lots of his books touch on it, but this one deals with it pretty directly)
The God Box by Alex Sanchez (YA)
Love Means... No Shame by Andrew Grey
Personal Demons by James Buchanan (not Christianity)
Hard Fall by James Buchanan (Mormon church)
The Preachers's Son by Kevin Backer (YA -- honestly can't recommend it, though)
Jude in Chains by KZ Snow
Oscar's Soul by Missy Welsh (sort of indirectly)
Tim Mead, on crvboy http://www.crvboy.org/stories/timmead... has written some that feature a preacher, I think.
I didn't list any historicals, because it's almost a given they're going to have some kind of Christian clash in them.
There's also John Morgan Wilson's Blind Eye which is gay mystery with a relationship (although not strictly m/m romance) and a dark view of the catholic church, although there are sympathetic priest and nun characters.
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As for religion, I'm currently reading Angel Land by Victor Banis, which deals heavily with Christianity. It's a futuristic story that's well written and very engaging. A new church called the Fundamentalist Church sprung up and swallowed up all the little churches, and cast out Catholics. These Fundies, as they're known, don't like gays, and have put them all into a separate territory, mostly because AIDS returned full force and went through five changes, becoming worse every time, until it became the Sept Virus. So, the Fundies don't want to get the virus. There are a lot of church people trying to figure out what they want in life, and what's really ok, versus what the Church tells them is ok.
It's kind of hard to explain. There's romance, but it's not handled in the traditional way romance is treated. I think it would be best to just read it. I don't know if I'm explaining it very well. And I haven't gotten to the end yet. I will soon though!
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Those are the only books I can think of that haven't been listed already.
Josh wrote: "This morning's posts are going through, it seems, abeit slowly. So maybe it's on its way to being fixed. Fingers crossed.Anyway, I wasn't sure where to ask this, but I'm trying to get an overvi..."
Between Sinners and Saints One of the MCs comes from a large Mormon family and is estranged from them due to his homosexuality. The story is about the family coming together again and trying to make sense out of their religious views and their love for the MC. It's really handled quite well. I liked that the main concern the family had for the MC was that he wouldn't get to be in the same level of heaven as the rest of them, and they all wanted to be together in the afterlife.
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Jordan S. wrote: "Cheryl, that reminds me of Angels in America. It's a six hour long movie, but it does deal with mormonism and homosexuality in the 80's in the middle of the AIDS crisis. Sure, it's not a book, but ..."I loved Angels In America! Seeing that fountain some day is one of my dreams, simply because of that series. :-)
However, the series is actually based on a play, which maybe makes it more relevant to the query?
The plays are phenomenal - I saw them originally and then the recent revival. One of my very favorite pieces ever, and something I consider absolutely brilliant.And Marie, Bethesda Fountain is beautiful, though I haven't passed by there in a long while.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bethesda...
Angels is a really good example of religion in art, though it may be wider than what Josh wants to write about.
mc, thanks for the link. :-) I can't get over how beautiful it is. If I ever get to New York, that's probably at the top of my list.ETA: I forgot to add the link in my first post:
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angels...
I read a mystery called "The Puppy Bomb" about some Christian rituals. Unitarians have a very positive approach to homosexuality. They are truly supportive and have pamphlets on it. Unity has a gay retreat every year in Unity Village, MO. Both of these religions are very left wing and very supportive of the gay lifestyle.
By left wing, I meant they are against war, think everyone should be treated the same and accept almost everyone who walks in their doors. Also, in Video, Noah's Arc season 1 has an episode about Chance trying to tell his "Baptist like" church folk he is gay and wants to get married in the church. I can't find the exact episode but near the middle to end.
the only I can think of is Murder on Carmac - it's a mystery and full of conspiracy theories re the sudden death of Pope John Paul - its pretty good.
mc wrote: "I'm going to kill myself. I just wrote a very long post and it is in the ether again.What I wanted to add was that a peeve of mine is if religion is portrayed too two-dimensionally, in either di..."
Agreed. Being preached at is oppressive, and so often the given author, all fired up, feels he or she has to exaggerate to make their point--no subtlety allowed or maybe we won't "get it." Some very 2-dimensional characters result.
Jordan S. wrote: "Josh... someone else made a comment here about people telling us they're going to commit murder... you shouldn't tell us this! It ruins the end of the book when we already know who did it! Well... ..."OK I had a senior moment. The book I have coming out deals with a future world that's been drastically changed by religious zealotry. :P
Minne wrote: "the only I can think of is Murder on Carmac - it's a mystery and full of conspiracy theories re the sudden death of Pope John Paul - its pretty good."That sounds interesting.
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Jordan S. wrote: "Anne, have you read Angel Land? You might like it. The romance is downplayed, but it's still good. I'm so close to the end I can smell it, and it's driving me nuts!"I'm going to put it on my list, but I can't see reading it until I'm done with the series. It always distracts me to read that's too close to what I'm working on. I think you told me this once before, too.
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Q&A with Josh Lanyon
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This keeps happening to me, by the way. I just had two long comments eaten. Probably a message from on high that I should be working right now not co..."
It's possible GR is dropping random connections due to the servers being overloaded for some reason -- so if you're typing in a long post you're more likely to get dropped (no idea, really, what the problem might be, this is just speculation). It might be easier to type your response in another app and then cut and paste.
Of course, the tech in me wants to say let's all hold off on using GR until they fix their issues...