Q&A with Josh Lanyon discussion
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May Read 2011: Three Wrong Turns in the Desert
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Josh wrote: "Loose Id is a publisher that pushes for more sex scenes. Their marketing folks feel convinced that that's primary for the readers, and I guess they should know.I'm fortunate that my editor is w..."
Some Dreamspinner titles doesn't have any explicit sex scenes. Sometimes their titles are not even romance at all. I like many Dreamspinner titles, but sometimes they need to clearly label the sub-genre.
Josh wrote: "Thank you, by the way, for that lovely compliment."Oh your sex scenes usually make me mushy insides, Josh ... and definitely never excessive!
Merith wrote: "Cleon wrote: "Josh wrote: "was when Liam demanded Aidan make noise to put the 'boys' to shame. I confess I skimmed them all. That's no comment on Neil's writing. I now do that pretty much univers..."
I sometimes wonder, do REAL guys do that in real life? lol Any guys dare to answer?
I agree with all the points you all made. Setting:
I think the setting is wonderful. The author made me really feel like I was in the busy streets of Tunis, in the sandy trails in the desert, running or walking, on a bus or riding a camel. The book has the flavor of the adventure books I liked to read when I was a child, I lost myself in the pages and I read the story in a blur to see where the characters would take me and what would happen to them.
Main characters.
Liam got branded in my brain the first time I caught a glimpse of him showering outdoors in a backyard, skin gleaming and nipple rings sparkling under the sun. It's easy to fall in love with Liam because he's really impressive and I am so shallow and I can't resist hotness.
Aidan grows on the reader page after page. The story is told mainly in his point of view and at the beginning Liam overshadows him for his sheer physical appearance and because Aidan has a low self-esteem and he can't see his qualities. It takes a while for Aidan to realize he is much better than his ex made him think of being and the brattier side of him slowly emerges, making him maybe more interesting than Liam in the long run. It was good to see how resourceful Aidan was and even if he insisted on following Liam in the most dangerous situations, he knew how not to make things worse. He was brave but not reckless. At the end of the book, Liam - ex Navy SEAL, big, butch and trained - seemed a bit dumb in comparison to Aidan.
The chemistry between the two is incredible and when they are together, they are sizzling. As I said before, I was a bit blinded by Liam at the beginning - probably by the jockstrap, mmmm - but I loved to see the way Aidan was able to manipulate Liam to get things his own way. The exotic locations of the book gave everything an even more sensual edge and I liked that the author was able to make this spill in every aspect of the book.
Point of view.
I have a pet peeve. I like when the point of view switches between the main characters with a rhythm that makes me expect to hear from the other character. But I also like books with a single point of view. In this book the point of view is mainly Aidan's with a few switches to Liam's. I wish we had had nothing from Liam's or significantly more, because otherwise I am left with the feeling that the author had the intention of writing a single point of view, but couldn't work around certain situations easily without changing it.
What didn't convince me.
I have a few reservations about the ending. I wasn't really convinced about the Tuareg tribe problem turning to an anti-terrorism operation with anthrax, etc. It suddenly became this big thing and even if I am very good at suspending my disbelief, this turning of the events took me out of the story. Another thing that I didn't really like was the re-appearance of the ex, which seemed a bit out of character for what I knew about Blake - or not sufficiently explained, or wrapped up too quickly. I don't know if the author was already planning of writing a sequel, but I would have kept this reunion for a later book.
Anyway: great book, very good writing. I've already bought the sequel :)
Josh wrote: "I confess I skimmed them all. ... I now do that pretty much universally."Josh, when I buy a book it's because something in the blurb appeals to me and I want to read more. When I get to the sex scenes I read the first 1 or 2 to get a feel for how the author handles them. If it's like what I've read a hundred times before, I skim the rest. Hopefully the actual storyline sans the sex will sustain why I thought I would enjoy the book to begin with.
Your sex scenes are a different matter entirely. Each one is a thoughtful inclusion; unique and germane to the story in which it appears. The characters talk to each other with more than 'grunts', and the plot is advanced during these scenes. There is no sense that they are just insertions for titillation. I wouldn't skip a word!
This is one of the many reasons your work is head and shoulders above all other m/m writers out there.
Becky wrote: "I did notice that the penetration scenes featured more pain and less lube than most of the genre."And more sand.
Josh wrote: "What needs to happen is readers need to communicate clearly to publishers that they aren't buying books in this genre for the sex scenes. Or maybe some people are, but most of the readers I hear fr..."What we need is a M/M Romance genre. I say this as someone who writes sex scenes :)
Anne wrote: "Josh wrote: "What needs to happen is readers need to communicate clearly to publishers that they aren't buying books in this genre for the sex scenes. Or maybe some people are, but most of the read..."And what HOT scenes they are, Anne! :D
Josh wrote: "Jordan S. wrote: "I could have done with less sex, sure, but it still wasn't too over the top for me in this one. Though, Josh, I think you're right, about how fast they fall for each other, es..."
Okay, so I'm reading along and trying to catch up (one day, people, I skipped out for ONE DAY and look what you've done) and the dog thing keeps coming up.
I think the dog is symbolic of something that I haven't been able to put my finger on until now. I didn't really understand Aiden. I didn't understand his reactions to some things. Not that he was written poorly or the characterization was bad (it seemed very consistent to me), but I didn't get him.
Anne wrote: "Becky wrote: "I did notice that the penetration scenes featured more pain and less lube than most of the genre."And more sand."
Sands in sensitive places... OWwwwwiieee...
I think Neil writing is very typically "male", if there is any distinction at all. Not very emotional (dog scene & anthrax scene as examples) & straight to the point. I find Roland Graeme's writing similar in this case. Of course, Sean Michael's writing is also very "male" but it turns out that Sean is a woman. And Josh' books are emotional but he's a man.
Cleon wrote: "Anne wrote: "Becky wrote: "I did notice that the penetration scenes featured more pain and less lube than most of the genre."And more sand."
Sands in sensitive places... OWwwwwiieee...
I think..."
I agree about the male thing. Sometimes male writers seem to almost force the inner aspects of their character's development. I'm not sure that was the case, here, but it crossed my mind that he could have missed the dog reaction because he (Neil) is having to think, "Okay, need to inject some inner turmoil here, here, here,...".
Of course, it could also just be that what he sees as Aiden's inner life and what I expected to see of it were different.
Cleon wrote: "Anne wrote: "Josh wrote: "What needs to happen is readers need to communicate clearly to publishers that they aren't buying books in this genre for the sex scenes. Or maybe some people are, but mos..."Stop, you'll make me blush. :P
Anne wrote: "Cleon wrote: "Anne wrote: "Josh wrote: "What needs to happen is readers need to communicate clearly to publishers that they aren't buying books in this genre for the sex scenes. Or maybe some peopl..."No, Anne. YOU make me blush. LOL.
I think someone mentioned this before, I can't find it anymore. I didn't understand Aidan's relationship with his ex Blake. I couldn't understand why Aidan decided to stay in that relationship for so long, or probably I missed it somewhere: was it only to feel safe? Economically safe maybe? Because it seemed Blake didn't give him reasons to be reassured. On the other hand Aidan tells a few times how adventurous he was before meeting Blake. So I felt as if Aidan didn't feel the need to tell the reader about his feelings. It was as if Aidan didn't really live while he was with Blake.RE sex scenes. If they don't make me roll my eyes in impatience, it's something. Sometimes sex defines a relationship - how it starts, for example - in that case even if it happens at the beginning of a story, it's ok. I've grown to love anticipation though.
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I'll have to check Flywaway. Sounds like my kind of thing.
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Oh your sex scenes usually make me mushy insides, Josh ... and definitely never excessive!"
Thanks, Cleon!
Emanuela ~Zstyx~ wrote: "It was as if Aidan didn't really lived while he was with Blake."To me, it made sense, but I've had at least one relationship that I stayed in for reasons I still don't understand (only for a year, not 11, thank god).
I think you hit the nail on the head, Emanuela -- if he had lived during that time, he never would have stayed with Blake. Not to mention the whole economic situation -- obviously, Aiden didn't do anything to make himself financially independent of Blake, so it made it really hard to leave.
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I think the question -- for writers -- is not does anyone do this in real life because people do all kinds of stuff and a lot of it is unbelievable to other people.
What you have to decide as a writer -- particularly a romance writer -- is whether readers are going to be able to understand or identify with your characters. That's the key to writing successful (i.e. "loveable" romance protags).
I see these heated discussions on lists about whether guys -- as though all guys were exactly the same -- do such and such. And without fail, no matter how weird or extreme the thing is, someone is going to pop up and say, yes! I do that. Or yes, my husband does that. Or my first boyfriend did that.
But as someone who is pretty reticent in real life, exhibitionism of any kind makes me uncomfortable. Which I guess could make it a big kink...except it doesn't. It makes me feel like I'm wearing wet socks. :-D
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I also have to blame the editor for one mistake that ruined an ext..."
That kind of thing is so annoying. This is why writers get so irritable at copyeditors. They go on and on arguing over semicolons and then miss something like that.
My biggest 'niggle' -- aren't SEALs more prepared than Liam seemed most of the time? Like, don't they make contingency plans? When Liam went off and left Aiden with the camel dude, why did he say "I'll be right back.", instead of "If I don't come back, do xyz."?They're in the middle of this dangerous situation, and Liam was never talking about (or at least not sharing) escape routes, what-to-do-if scenarios, nothing. Okay, maybe once or twice near the beginning of the book, like when he goes back to his place and leaves Aiden with the cab.
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I just found the whole thing...fresh. Fresh and fun.
Not that terrorism is fun, but...it captured the spirit of those old flicks for me.
Josh wrote: "This story reminded me of those crazy-fun espionage-adventure movies in the 60s. A lot of those had Middle Eastern settings and characters too. So the whole time I was reading I was getting that Ma..."I agree. It's part of what made the character of Aiden so believable for me. He was just impulsive, and it was so easy to see him just sort of rolling with everything.
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I don't know what to say when you guys say things like this. Other than thank you.
Josh wrote: "Cleon wrote: "I sometimes wonder, do REAL guys do that in real life? lol Any guys dare to answer? ..."
I think the question -- for writers -- is not does anyone do this in real life because pe..."
I think you also have to add in here is would the book's characters do that? We all know Liam has no qualms about showering in the open, but Aidan does. Aidan also doesn't like Liam's exhibitionism. I didn't really get that Aidan's personality would go for something blatant. I mean, by his own confession (this is in book two) while he and Liam share clothes often, they fit Liam tight the way Liam likes to show off and they fit him loose, because he doesn't like to draw the attention. So... this scene had me going 'huh?'
A day late to the party thats me! I'd forgotten just how much I enjoyed this book. To go through the points that other people have raised:
The locations are fantastic, I can feel the heat and the dust, Neil is consistantly good at drawing places in his books.
I fell for my hubby almost instantly! So I have no problem with the instant attraction between Aiden and Liam. Equally the frequent sex, they are young men in the first throes of lust! To my mind of course they are going to have a lot of sex, its the beginning of their relationship, but it also serves to show how the passion had gone out of Aidens relationship with Blake. At least they have recovery times between rounds!
I did sometimes feel that all the help they received was a bit convenient, but it wasn't an intrusive thought.
Blake... I have known both men and women who stay with unfulfilling relationships, either because they lack the umph to leave or because its not actively bad, just not good. I was surprised when he showed up at the end, but I enjoyed seeing Aiden tell him where to go! I felt that the reason Aiden thinks about Blake so often is because he has done so little with his life during their relationship, certainly little that Liam would be interested in or would be relevant to their life in Tunisia.
THE DOG! Well, i'm not a dog person, but I did feel sorry when he left it behind, but he had only been there a week and the dog had presumably survived well enough before he arrived and would do so again! And he did go back for it!
The anthrax, for an off the cuff solution to their problem, I thought it was pretty clever, its not as if they had time to plan a less drastic way to evacuate the compound, or any equipment to manufacture anything!
I loved the book, and the sequel and I'm looking forward to the third.
I do enjoy this book very much! so much that I immediately read the sequel and then bought some of Neil's books. If I hadn't read it for book discussion, I might not be as critical. Of course, Liam's hotness also fried some of my brain cells, so... Yeah, sometimes I can be very shallow. lol. But sometimes, I just need something fun and light to read. This book definitely falls into that category.
Yes, its a good fun read, life has enough angst as it is! Cleon wrote: "I do enjoy this book very much! so much that I immediately read the sequel and then bought some of Neil's books.
If I hadn't read it for book discussion, I might not be as critical. Of course, Li..."
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I think the question -- for writers -- is not does anyone do this in real life ..."
Well, that's certainly true. The actions do have to be in character for the character.
I'm still stuck somewhere in the second half of the book. I just had no time to read anything the last few days. But all your comments make me curious and want read more right now. :-)I already can tell that I love the description of the location. It feels right to me. Especially people our two heroes encounter are a good mix of the various possibilies. I like that there are women too and they are just normal people. That makes it feel like normal population to me, while in other m/m novels one could come to the conclution that world population consists only of men... ;-)
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Anyway, Jan, you do bring up some valid points about the anthrax and other parts. Or at least, points that make it easier to just enjoy the book and go with the flow.
I definitely wouldn't be this critical if we weren't reading it for the group either. Except for that editing issue, of course. I loved the book, as I've said a dozen times, and I find it's the perfect book to just sit back and relax without having to think too hard.
Back to Blake, yeah, I've known people who stayed in bland relationships for decades. Mostly because depending on where and how you grew up, or what religion you practice, that's what you do (especially when there's children present). It's not fun to look at from an outsider's position, but them's the facts. And, sometimes, if you're in a relationship like that, you fall into a rut, and you don't even realize you're in it for a long time until something comes along to jar you.
Jan, you made good points here too, about the sex and the relationship with Blake, in that one shows us (and Aiden) just how bad the other was. And yeah, both Aiden and Liam were young guys starting out in a fresh new relationship, so of course there will be lots of sex.
But, as Josh said, not every guy is the same. Just like women, they're not made with a cookie cutter. Some new relationships will have lots of sex, and some won't. I think it really depends on how well the writer handles it, so that the scenes don't get boring, don't take over the plot, and move the story along.
For this particular novel, I'd say the sex scenes were about middle of the highway, just teetering on the edge between too much and just right.
Jordan S. wrote: "Calathea, that is a very true statement! Women are seldom seen in m/m books! It seems odd to say that, but then, I'm writing/plotting a few stories and novels for m/m and I'm realizing that I do th..."I'm right with you Jordan, I think Neil has it about right. There is more sex in the second book, but its a different story with a different setting and pace to it.
OK, I'm more than a few days late to the party, as usual. Blame it on a craptastic mood and I didn't feel it would be fair to talk about the book when I was feeling snarly, LOL.But now that I'm feeling fit for company again, I have to say I very much enjoyed Three Wrong Turns..., for the most part.
What I loved:
1. Whoever brought up Romancing the Stone -- I think it was Josh -- it so spot-on. OK, so it's m/m and we're in the desert, not the jungle, but the caper vibe was there and I loved that.
2. Liam and Aidan were just both very likable characters, each with very relatable features -- Liam as the guy trapped in the closet by circumstance, then not knowing how to deal once out, and Aidan coming back to life after being stifled for so long. Plus, OK, I'm shallow, hotness and chemistry out the wazoo. *g*
3. The setting. Everyone here is right -- Plakcy does an amazing job with this. I felt like I was there. Not since reading Anthony Bourdain's nonfiction A Cook's Life have I encountered such vivid but succint and readable descriptions. Loved it.
4. The dog. I have dogs, I'm a sucker for animals in books. I didn't think twice about them having to leave the dog behind like others here did, but I was thrilled to pieces that Aidan went back for the dog later.
5. The humor. It's all part and parcel of "madcap caper" but the humor was well-placed and well done. Cracked me up when Aidan's gaydar helped them out along the way and things like that.
6. That shower scene will pass through my head from time to time for years to come.
Quibbles:
1. I too wondered what happened to the nipple rings. My thought is that perhaps Liam takes them out when he's on assignment? Can anyone who's read later books confirm?
2. For the first third of the book I was a bit frustrated with Aidan. It seemed like every other thought of his was about how Blake, in their 11 years together, blah, blah, blah. Eleven years, really? I was in danger of forgetting for a second there...(, sorry). I think that may have been a stylistic issue more than an issue with Aidan's character, though.
3. Another writing style quibble, and I didn't read everyone else's comments in nitty-gritty detail, but I may be the first person to bring this up: in all but maybe 1 of the sex scenes, one, or usually both men "howl" when they come. All the time. Are they wolves? Are there no other noises?
4. What others said about easy escapes and others willing to help them. Also about the tribe willing to non-nomad themselves for the anti-terror cause. Sounds unlikely to me.
All that said, I had a rollicking good time reading this book and I definitely want to read more of Liam and Aidan's adventures. I do like the fact that there are sequels, b/c like many straight adventure romances, I wonder if the professed love really can be lasting love, so I appreciate the chance to see the romance develop and grow.
JPerceval wrote: "Also about the tribe willing to non-nomad themselves"That bothered me too, because I think it's something important in their culture and they wouldn't want to change it. I thought then that maybe they don't want to really non-nomad themselves, but they want a place where children can go to school and people in general learn something useful for the their future, while preserving their customs. Ok, I like to fill in the blanks, lol
That would definitely make more sense, I think. To kind of have a "home base" check point spot, rather like the school for terrorists, but this one for anti-terrorists.I'd also like to know what happened to the girl that was with the pharmacist's assistant -- she went off with the tribe, and we never heard whether she caused mischief or anything!
Sorry I am so late to the party-- I thought I had set up to follow but must have missed something. I'll try and address some of the very interesting comments you all have made!First off, Aidan and Blake. This book started one day when I was driving home from work, pissed off at my partner and ready to ditch everything and run away. it started, as many books do, with a "what if?" As I wrote about Aidan and found he was doing a lot of the things I do in taking care of a very demanding partner, I realized I had to make Blake more difficult. That made Aidan more of a wimp, but it made for a better change in Aidan's character.
And Blake had to come back! Maybe it wasn't quite believable that he dragged all the way to Tunisia, but I did want him to recognize what he had lost in Aidan.
The dog? She just showed up on Aidan's doorstep. I have no idea where she came from or what she wanted. She was just there, asking to be loved. Don't worry, she sticks around for the next books, but she's not a major character. :)
I also didn't know that I was writing a series when I wrote this book. But the characters really resonated with me. And when I saw that Three Wrong Turns sold well right away, I was motivated to write more!
The way I described the book when I began talking about it was "a gay Romancing the Stone set in Tunisia." So the Romancing the Stone reference was right on target. That's exactly the kind of book I wanted to write, a fun, romantic, sexy adventure.
Neil
My power is wonky today so I thought I'd break this up into two posts.I follow a pattern I learned in graduate school when writing, one based on screenwriting. There are two "plot points" when things change for the characters, turning the book in a different direction.
In Three Wrong Turns, the first plot point (about a third of the way in) is when Aidan gives in to temptation and throws his lot in with Liam's.
The second plot point is the discovery that the money to the tribe wasn't a gift, but instead a payment for information. I knew that, but didn't know what the info was for a while. And then once I knew, I had to figure out what Aidan and Liam could do about it.
I'm sorry if the anthrax plot threw readers out of the story-- it was the best I could come up with!
To me the most interesting part of the anthrax plot was Liam having to go back to the SEALs, to the commander who kicked him out for being gay, and recruit their help. I like putting characters through that kind of emotional dilemma. And I liked the other guys' response to seeing Liam again, and his own recognition of what he had lost by leaving the SEALs.
I didn't know Liam's real name was William until Joey, his SEAL buddy, called him Billy. I loved that little detail of him changing his name when he left the military and came out. Similarly, I didn't learn his confirmation name (Aloysius, after the patron saint of brewers) until it came up in book 3.
Finally, sex scenes and nipple rings. I should have done more with the nipple rings, I know. I promise they will reappear! And I admit that I really like writing sex scenes, and I'm pleased to write in a genre where I can.
In the Mahu books, I have to hold back on the sex because the focus is on the mystery plot. In my erotic stories, the sex comes to the front and everything else gets dialed back a bit. In romance I'm happy to be able to do it all.
Thanks so much for all your wonderful comments. I'm kvelling (as Aidan's Jewish grandmother would say.)
Neil
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As you can see you've got a hit on your hands with Aiden and Liam's adventures. Of course in any book group everything gets nitpicked to death, but that way you know we're all paying close attention!
Anyway, a very enjoyable book and a great kick off to the rest of the series.
Have you ever been to Tunisia?
Where did you come up with the idea of nipple rings? :-D
Can you tell us a little more about what's next for Aiden and Liam in the new book?
Neil wrote: "To me the most interesting part of the anthrax plot was Liam having to go back to the SEALs, to the commander who kicked him out for being gay, and recruit their help. I like putting characters through that kind of emotional dilemma. And I liked the other guys' response to seeing Liam again, and his own recognition of what he had lost by leaving the SEALs..."Yes! This! I totally felt this. In fact, since his commander had said Liam's orientation made "some" of the team uncomfortable, and that's why he had to go, I was definitely curious as to how he would be treated when the SEALs showed up. I didn't get a vibe that anyone was displeased to see him back or to be following his lead, which made me think maybe the ones who had the problem with him being gay might have missed his mad skills once he was gone. *g*
Hi Neil! Thank you for your very fascinating and entertaining book! I wanted to know if a real guy inspired you for the character of Liam and where he is. :-) That first outdoor shower was really out of a dream.
My problem with the re-appearance of Blake was that I would have liked to see him groveling for a hundred pages in a later book, but it's understandable that you wanted to wrap up your loose threads if you weren't sure it would have a sequel.
Well, I really enjoyed your book and Tunisia was finally something different from the American or European settings we are used to.
Hi Neil,
I really enjoyed these books and I'm thrilled that there is more of Liam and Aidan to look forward too.
I loved the setting as well, I was also curious if you had been to Tunisia...you described it so vividly. You also seemed to have a lot of the cultural nuances down.
Thanks for the great story and can't wait for more of these boys.
I really enjoyed these books and I'm thrilled that there is more of Liam and Aidan to look forward too.
I loved the setting as well, I was also curious if you had been to Tunisia...you described it so vividly. You also seemed to have a lot of the cultural nuances down.
Thanks for the great story and can't wait for more of these boys.
Hi, Neil! I hope you don't mind us dissecting your work. lol. It's a good book and a good series, very enjoyable and HOT. I am looking forward to more Neil & Aidan!
Any book has multiple inspirations, and Three Wrong Turns in the Desert is no exception. One of my inspirations was a picture of a very buff guy showering naked outdoors, and when I started to think about Liam I connected to that photo. The guy in the picture had nipple rings.Here's my rationale on the rings appearing and disappearing. Liam wears a leather vest with no shirt to appear intimidating to clients and bad guys. When he's on duty, he takes the rings out. (And I guess sometimes he forgets to put them back in!)
I have never been to Tunisia, but I live in South Florida, so I know how to write about a hot climate. I use a lot of photos I find online for inspiration-- often from peoples' vacations, or travel sites, and I use Google maps also to make sure I'm not making gross errors.
I don't think the rest of Liam's team thought he should leave-- but the commander was stuck adhering to the rules when Liam came out. Now that "Don't Ask Don't Tell" is on the way out, will Liam want to go back to being a SEAL? I've been wondering about that, but right now I think he values his partnership (on many levels) with Aidan too much to give that up.
Emanuela, perhaps if I had known the book was going to be a series I might have held off on Blake's groveling! And Cleon, I don't mind the dissection at all-- I'm quite flattered, even with the problems raised, because it means people are reading the book and thinking about it.
Teach Me Tonight releases in e-book form from Loose Id (only on their website for the first month or two) on June 6. I wanted to see what would happen if Aidan went back to teaching and remembered how much he loved it. What if his insecurities come back and he thinks he ought to stop being a bodyguard and go back to teaching full time?
How would Liam react? And then what if Liam's old SEAL buddy Joey shows up and he and Liam resume their camaraderie? Would Aidan get jealous? Would Liam feel some uncomfortable stirrings seeing his friend naked? And what if their new adversary is an awful lot like a darker side of Liam?
I'm splitting point of view between the two guys again in this book, because there are things each of them will do independently. And I'm trying to bring in the lush romanticism of that song by Al Jarreau, and to show that both Aidan and Liam have things to teach each other.
I'm starting to fiddle around with ideas for the next book and right now just have a lot of bits and pieces floating around that haven't gelled yet. But I'm interested in taking advantage of the recent political unrest in Tunisia. And I'm trying to figure out if the guys will stay in Tunisia or travel farther afield.
I'm also continuing the Mahu series, and finishing a book about a new hero, a cute young openly gay FBI agent named Angus Green, who made his first appearance as a minor character in Mi Amor, my South Beach romance from Loose Id.
Lots of writing to do this summer!
Wow, you would never know you'd never actually been to Tunisia, with as wonderfully descriptive as the book was (mind you, *I've* never been, so I can't attest to accuracy, LOL!)!And, ha! I called it on the rationale for the disappearing nipple rings! *g*
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And, ha! I cal..."
The Mahu books have great atmosphere and sense of place too, but we sort of take that for granted when it's a place there's a lot of info on and access to. So extra points for doing such a great job.
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I felt the same way 40 books ago. :-D
I'm kidding. Half kidding. Anyway, your enjoyment shines through and you are making readers very happy.
I really love the emotional complications and conflict you've got planned for the next one.
Thanks, Josh! So far I have written books set in Hawaii, Florida and Tunisia, and I have a book in the final stages set on the French Riviera (a place I've actually been and loved for decades.)I'm always on the lookout for another hot, sunny place I can write about. But now I have all these guys from different series clamoring for more adventures, and it's hard to say no!
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Now you're going to have to challenge yourself and set something in a rain forest. Or England. Or Seattle in the winter. :-D
Neil wrote: "First off, Aidan and Blake. This book started one day when I was driving home from work, pissed off at my partner and ready to ditch everything and run away. it started, as many books do, with a "what if?""I am not surprised at this, because that relationship felt very real to me. I am not at all surprised Aidan stuck around, because those type of relationships tend to have intermittent reinforcement, which is very powerful. And to be fair to Blake, we're getting one side of the story - people do focus on the bad when they are trying to get over a relationship. Usually both partners contribute to the dynamic, and it takes a while for the dumpee to their part in it.
I think my favorite part of the book was Aidan's character arc. The initial flakiness and lack of confidence after being dumped rang true, even though it was hard to witness. I really liked the way we gradually learn how he used to travel and be slutty, and so he is getting back to something he used to do and be rather than suddenly turning into a different person. I like the think the crazy me of my youth is still there under the layers of responsible adult, you know?
Q&A with Josh Lanyon
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I also have to blame the editor for one mistake that ruined an extremely romantic mo..."
Yeah, I caught that too, and had a bit of a chuckle. :)