(no subject)

[alg]

Today I transferred from the L to the W to go one stop up to 23rd St. and the Flatiron building. I had originally wanted to walk, and then ended up reading a book and becoming engrossed, so train it was.

When I looked up again, I was in Queens.

Here is something I love about my office: When I say, shamefacedly, "Sorry I'm an hour late to work... I was reading The Essential Bordertown and when I looked up, I was in Queens," people beam at me.

And now, the book I read last night when my internet did not work properly: What Love Means to You People by NancyKay Shapiro.

I am not sure how to talk about this book. It does a lot of things that I personally do not like. However, I have a feeling it will hit kinks (and I mean kinks) for a lot of you on my flist.

I don't know the author and I don't know her intentions with the book and I have never read her blog. I say this because I am now going to say a lot of things about her novel, and I want to make sure that you all know that these are my reactions to the text, rather than to her own meta on the text, or anyone else's meta on the text. (I don't actually know anyone else who has read this, either, because although it's published by SMP, I don't know its editor.)

Frankly, from the cover copy, I was sort of expecting either a gay romance, or a pulp novel turned on its head and fucked inside out. I got neither of those things. I wanted to like the book a lot -- I am a huge fan of queer literature and (as some/most of you know) I am (along with Paul Stevens and Liz Gorinsky and some others) trying to figure out ways to publish more books with queer protagonists here at Tor/Forge.

I personally do not like flashbacks, nor do I like flashbacks within flashbacks. I do not like large bits of text in italics. I do not like dialogue that all sounds the same. I do not like authors interrupting characters to discuss her own thoughts or observations within a scene -- particularly when the author's "voice" is nearly the same as the character's, although the language is different (for example, I have never met one single person from Nebraska who would call anyone's tone "stroppy" or say that anyone is "in a strop" -- even them who read a lot; perhaps I am not frequenting the correct backwater towns?).

However, here are things I do like, and my reasons for picking the book up: I like gay romance novels. A lot. I like the very idea of gay romance novels -- there are, in fact, young, queer girls and boys who want to read romance novels about people like themselves, and can. And they do not always end in death and disaster (anymore, or so I am told). I like older men (well, I do), and I have always been a sucker for a romance about an older person with a younger person, no matter what the sex/gender pairing. I like angst. I like love. I like books about people facing their pasts.

And, oh oh oh, how I love books about men having mid-life crises. Isn't that silly? But there's something about it that's always spoke to me. Trappings aside, a mid-life crisis seems a lot like teenage angst, and then later, the restlessness of one's twenties, and life in general, never knowing if you're making the right decision to make yourself happy, but knowing that where you are is stifling -- but maybe once you're gone, you'll miss it desperately, and --

Well, yes, it's always appealed to me.

This novel took a lot of cliches and tropes from romance novels and from pulp novels. There is an older, broad-shouldered, very rich man in New York City whose partner is recently dead. There is a young, skinny, nubile artist-type from Nebraska, running away from his past. There are the well-meaning, caring, older gay friends (think: fairy gayfathers) in a Brownstone. There is angst. There is passion. There is romance. There are lots of bits about New York City and the streets and the museums and the art (and I am more than a little bit a sucker for books with a lot of New York in them!).

(Sidebar: My very favorite book with New York in it is either The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg, or The Stone War by Madeleine Robins. They should be required reading for everyone.)

The novel even has a somewhat happy ending! Although I really did feel like nothing was resolved, and, frankly, I get enough of that in real life. That also bothered me because most of the book had a tinge, a film, of unreality to it. As I said, I don't know what the author was intending (and you will often hear Anna-as-reader proclaim that the auctorial intention means shit anyway*) but, to me, if one is trying to write a realistic book, one tries to make everything as real as possible -- and if one is writing a fantastical book, one tries to make things as real as possible so that the fantastical seems fantastical or ordinary, depending on the effects you're looking for, and if one is writing a romance novel in which reality is supposed to be consumed by, well, a romantical notion of how the world could or should be... then one should do that, and give us some closure at the end, for the love of Viggo.

Without closure, I find myself adrift at the end (of all books I read). Even if there is just a stopping point, rather than an ending point, I want to be satisfied with where these characters have stopped, even or especiallyif (cf. Casablanca) I am not particularly happy with the decisions the characters have made.

Savvy?

Back to the novel: The prose can be florid, purple, lurid. (Am I being redundant? These all imply slightly different things in my head.)

My biggest issue was characterization, which I am totally going to skip over, because different characterization works for different people, and my problems with that were totally individual.

My second biggest issue was, about halfway through a scene that had flashbacks within a flashback, and was about a gangbang rape.

(I have my own issues with gangbang rapes in backwater towns, and I know it happens more than we'd all like to admit, but...).

I don't know what the author was intending (is there an acronym for that yet?) but! But I have read a lot of fiction in which rape is sexualized -- not just in romance novels, but in other genre as well, including fan fiction (where it is, a lot of the time, not only its own genre, but also included or includes the subgenre of "if I fuck you after you've been raped, then you'll be okay!"**). And. The rape scene(s) in this book read like jerk-off fic. The language used was the language of sexualized rape. Or -- I mean, a lot of times rape is sexual, it's about power, power is very sexual, although not in a pretty way that we like to think about. But the language of sexualized rape is a flowery language of erotica/romantica/porn, whatever you'd like to call it.

And although we the reader know the character is traumatized by this (but we never get a flashback of how he gets over this trauma, and a lot of it is with him and never goes away, throughout the book, even at the end), the scene is supposed to, maybe, both shock us and titillate? Make us appalled and turn us on?

It just made me put down the book and go open a bottle of wine. And then drink the whole thing.

(I am not saying things like, "If the author had ever been raped, she would have..." I am saying, "This did not seem right to my eyes, though you may feel differently.")

In conclusion, this was not the worst book I have ever read, nor was it my favorite, but I know that some of you will like it -- and you do not have to tell me! Or anyone! Order it from Amazon or order it from B&N or order it from Powell's and read it for yourself.

PS, when the characters were described in the text, I immediately thought of David Boreanaz-as-Angel, and Vincent Kartheiser-as-Connor. That kind of made me squirm a little, too. Your mileage may vary!

* When I say that auctorial intent means shit anyway, what I mean is that most of the time, the reader is creating in his or her own head the world that the author is describing, and it will almost never be the same. Someone I was reading on el-jay the other day, when I was trolling for interesting things to read so that I wouldn't have to do my work (and if you recognize this, please please give me the link, for it was smart), said that, and I am totally paraphrasing… the author's job is to create about 50% of the world, and the reader will fill in the other 50% with their own interpretations of things, etc. -- and therefore the author's particular job is to create a 50% that will help the reader fill in the right other half, to get at least a vague sense of the correct vision in the author's head.

ETN: It was Elizabeth Bear, here, and the quote, that I am taking out of context (slightly) and using without permission is, "A story is indeed fifty percent what's on the page and fifty percent what's in the reader's head, but we play games to get the reader bringing as much of the right fifty percent as possible."

Even with amazing and wonderful authors, this does not always work. You say "tay-uk" and I say "tahhk" and the word is spelled "taak" and even with your pronunciation guide, I still say "tahhk". Savvy?

** I AM NOT JUDGING. I like stuff that you don't like too. I don't have a forced sex kink. Forced sex kinks do not mean that people want to be raped in their real lives. I understand this. You understand this. Together we are understanding of this. Kink in literature and fantasy is not the same thing as real world desire. Except for some people it is, but those aren't the people we are talking about. Right? Right.

Okay, phew. I am not sure if that is all I have to say about this book, but I think I am finished for the moment.

Comments

[joannemerriam.livejournal.com]

Was it this: http://matociquala.livejournal.com/765928.html ?

[alg.livejournal.com]

YES!!!! THANK YOU!!!

[kaigou.livejournal.com]

I am (along with Paul Stevens and Liz Gorinsky and some others) trying to figure out ways to publish more books with queer protagonists here at Tor/Forge.

I'm not sure I can even express what a relief it is just to read that line. The lack of information about anyone's specific interest in such storylines is why I'd written three agents and asked them point-blank whether I should pursue a m/m or f/f romance line in an urban fantasy; I'd seen perhaps three, maybe four well-known writers with such storylines (but even then, there's a lot of "fading to black" and "you must read between the lines, cock your head to the side, and squint" as opposed to bluntly treating any romance with the same amount of attention as a m/f romance would get in the same type of book).

It was good to hear all three agents say that this didn't bother them in the least. It's even better to know that a major publisher is not just neutral about such storylines (which is acceptable in itself, if that's the only option) but is actively willing to encourage such. You go!

As for the book, the entire issue of rape in a story is a damned hard one, I think. It can be such a politicized topic, when rendered outside the compassion we give a 'real' human, and that always seems to become: "just what is the author trying to tell us with rape that s/he couldn't say with severe assualt or even verbal assault or some other kind of violation?" That, and I can't help but think of all the stories I've read in which there's the strangest niggling feeling in the back of one's head that the author is punishing the character(s), even as with the other hand s/he insists s/he is all for the character.

I mean, I get the notion of "get your character up a tree, throw rocks at him, get him down" -- but it's the kind of rock you throw that can be saying a great deal, even when you aren't thinking consciously about it.

And now I think I have to look busy on a manual. Excuse me.

[alg.livejournal.com]

I actually have a "demystifying publishing" post/essay in the works about queer lit and its, um, issues and stuff. So keep an eye out for that in the next month or so -- I'm currently in the process of gathering information.

[kaigou.livejournal.com]

Yes, you've mentioned that before, and I'm looking forward to it--but I've moved past the "omg would anyone want this (let alone print it)" fear based solely on the subject matter of boy fish meets boy fish, boy fish loses boy fish, boy fish dies going over hydraulic dam, and then it's all sushi from there. Now I really only worry, really, about whether the boy fishes are well-sliced told.

[xanphibian.livejournal.com]

Yay! I'm so glad to find a review of this book here on LJ where I can interact and talk about my own views.

First of all, I am ever-so-slightly biased because 1. I know the author and 2. I've looked forward to this being published for a long, long time. And, if you take a look at my recent entries about it, I think it's pretty clear that I absolutely love this book in every. single. way.

I didn't find the gang-rape scene at all sexualized, but that's my perception. I did, however, find it triggery, and had to set the book down several times during that scene and wish I had something strong to drink. The flashback-within-a-flashback thing didn't work for me at first, but once I started thinking 'What is Seth actually telling Hannah, and what is he keeping back?' I was able to enjoy and appreciate the style a lot more. Cassie's remembrances of that time later on in the story hit me hard, because until then we don't see what happened, Seth doesn't really talk about it or think about it, other than this is the thing he's hiding, and this is the thing that does not make him good enough for Jim.

I didn't find the prose too purple at all. (This may be because I'm already quite familiar with the author's style.) I think the prose *could* have been too purple but was balanced quite nicely so that it wasn't overwhelming or off-putting. I enjoyed the more colorful turns of phrase, and I thought it lended a uniqueness to the novel that you don't often find in gay romance.

I have been trying to figure out what I like most about this novel, because I was planning on writing a review of my own. So far, I have a lot of possible answers. Cassie is a big one. I related to her in a big way, I think. (I believe the author started the novel with Cassie as the protagonist, and then the other characters took over and suddenly the story took on a life of its own.) I sort of lost that feeling of closeness with Cassie, though, near the end of the story. I felt that her dream of going to Paris was understandable in her youth, but once she matured and learned more of the world, I didn't buy that it would still appeal to her in the same way it seemed to.

Hmm. What else. The ending. I feel that yes, things were left unresolved, but I found that to be realistic. Maybe more realistic than the rest of the text, which did have a sort of fantastic quality to it, but I think I would have been unhappy with everything tied up in a neat bow at the end.

And the slices of New York! LOVE. I felt as if I were Cassie, and the author was showing me around the city. I enjoyed that emensely.

[alg.livejournal.com]

See, there you go -- the things you enjoyed were the things I did not enjoy. I knew someone who had this journal friended would like the book! Different strokes for different folk indeed. :)

[boniblithe.livejournal.com]

Two people!

I read an early draft back when she was shopping the mss around (I think it was 2002) and I'm glad to see the book finally in print. I have been in love with Jim and his mid-life crisis for all these months :) I strongly dislike the gang rape scene, because it makes me uncomfortable in general (not a fan of rapefic etc), so I never thought about how it was written - just that when I read it, I wanted to squirm away from it. That it evokes a reaction in me other than "meh", I suppose, I credit to the author's style.

[alg.livejournal.com]

I hesitate to say that I "enjoy" fiction involving rape, but I am very interested in characters who have been raped and their experiences with its aftermath, and how they accept/move on -- so on that level, I was interested in the rape scene and its effect on Seth's life. But I was very unsatisfied with the way it played out in the novel. That may be a reflection of me, rather than something the novel is lacking; who knows?

[niobedancing.livejournal.com]

LMAO at your very last paragraph (the **). I get into a lot of conversations/ explanations like that.

As always, an interesting entry.

[alg.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

Yes, I thought I would circumvent all wank by putting a disclaimer. :)

[aberrantvirtue.livejournal.com]

I wish I had as good a reason for how I took the subway to the wrong stop this morning, but no. I just fell asleep and forgot to transfer trains.

Although, I did end up somewhere awfully pretty.

[alg.livejournal.com]

Hee. Journey, destination, etc. Prettiness is good!

[snarkhunter.livejournal.com]

Oh, The Essential Bordertown. Talk about a book I need to track down. Love. So much love.

I like the very idea of gay romance novels -- there are, in fact, young, queer girls and boys who want to read romance novels about people like themselves, and can.

I was so delighted to come across a whole selection of gay YA romance--all by the same author, but still--at my local B&N, and to discover that they often had reasonably realistically happy endings. I'm just sad that there weren't more books like this.

Your analysis of the other book is interesting. I won't read it--can't handle rape scenes anymore--but I'd be interested to see what others have to say on the subject.

if one is trying to write a realistic book, one tries to make everything as real as possible -- and if one is writing a fantastical book, one tries to make things as real as possible so that the fantastical seems fantastical or ordinary, depending on the effects you're looking for, and if one is writing a romance novel in which reality is supposed to be consumed by, well, a romantical notion of how the world could or should be... then one should do that, and give us some closure at the end, for the love of Viggo.

Amen to that. I've been doing a lot of thinking about where the line between "realism" and everything else is, particularly as I find "realistic" novels generally depressing, but can't access fantastical or romantic stories--whether as novels or poems or fic--if there isn't some grounding in realism, which for me exists in the realm of character. But I'm intrigued by where that line is for others. What makes a novel "realistic" for Jane but not for Bob?

[alg.livejournal.com]

I'm intrigued by where that line is for others. What makes a novel "realistic" for Jane but not for Bob?

I think now you're getting into sociology and psychology! I think readers need different things from text -- and so, just like with anything else, you'll find some texts that seem to have an almost universal appeal because people can fill in the blanks in the ways they want to (or because the blanks are filled in in ways that appeal to them)... and some texts only appeal to a niche market, because the blanks/unblank bits don't have the same sort of "universal" resonance.

Does that make sense?

[tharain.livejournal.com]

I like gay romance novels. A lot. I like the very idea of gay romance novels -- there are, in fact, young, queer girls and boys who want to read romance novels about people like themselves, and can. And they do not always end in death and disaster (anymore, or so I am told).

I am (along with Paul Stevens and Liz Gorinsky and some others) trying to figure out ways to publish more books with queer protagonists here at Tor/Forge.

I'm sorry to quote so much of you back at you, but, like sgreer, this makes me so, so, so happy, and I wanted to see it again.

When I talk to my friends about the MS I'm working on (and am about to finish first draft, thank god), I say to all of them "We WILL have happy gayboy endings. I'm sick to death of unhappy endings, particularly unhappy gayboy endings. I hereby decree that anything I write will have happy gayboy endings."

Older guy with younger guy? Story of MY dating life. Maybe I should write a romance next.

One of the reasons I like the movie Trick, which some many people dismiss as trifling and cliche'd and lightweight is that it was, quite simply, a fun little romantic comedy for US. I loved it.

Sorry. Just babbling happily.

[alg.livejournal.com]

I didn't see Trick, but I like lighthearted romantic comedies, so maybe I should!
:)

[tharain.livejournal.com]

Okay. The scary thing about Trick: Tori Spelling is in it, and she's good.

And the two guy leads (Christian Campbell and John Paul Pitoc) are WAY Teh Pretty.

But...when you watch it, you'll know what the most spectacular scene is.

[alg.livejournal.com]

Hahahahahahah, poor Tori Spelling. Girl can't catch a break.

You have got me really interested now. I will totally go and rent it. Just promise me it's better than Fluffer. ;)

[tharain.livejournal.com]

I've never seen Fluffer, so I really can't say. But from what I remember about that when it came out, I'd say, yeah. It's probably better.

[alg.livejournal.com]

I couldn't help myself. I had to.

Of course, I also had to turn it off after a half hour. Le sigh!

[tharain.livejournal.com]

That bad, huh.

Damn. Now I'm nervous about this one.

The amazon reviews (if that's any help) tend to come in fairly good.

[nycshelly.livejournal.com]

If I tried that excuse, I'd lose the time, anyway. Of course, I'd also have ended up in Brooklyn, since I start in Queens. Same subway stop, tho. :)

I agree. The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler is a wonderful book. I read it as an adult and really enjoyed it.

[alg.livejournal.com]

I reread Mixed-Up Files once a year or so -- it never gets old, or loses its magic, for me.

[dmacabre.livejournal.com]

I love that book! When I was a kid, I used to dream of running away to the museum and eyed every coin-filled fountain with acquisitive greed.

Also agree re: older men. Rowr.

[alg.livejournal.com]

Hee.

I do not confine myself to older men, but I do find them far more interesting. :)

[dmacabre.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, no need to... ahem... limit oneself. ;D But since I'm more drawn by a person's mind and accomplishments, older men have a distinct advantage.

Besides, there's so many lovely ones out there...

[rutemple.livejournal.com]

I had the deligt of reading From the Mixed-Up Files - a cildhood favorite - to my dearling partner who spent several years of her growing-up-hood on the Upper West Side, who loved the book and now in her 40s says if she'd known the book when she was 12 and living there, she so would have wanted to do that.
She spent her Piscean pre-teen brooding time out at the gardens of the Cloisters, though, I think she did pretty well. (Teh Pretty!)

Thank you. I will immediately go out and The Stone War which I haven't yet read.

[aulus-poliutos.livejournal.com]

I agree with the others. It's nice to know there are publishers that have no problem with gay characters. Thus, my dear Decimus Aurelius Idamantes may yet find a home - once I've sorted out the mess that is part 2 of my outline, and written the dang thing (plus the other two books in the series). :)

[alg.livejournal.com]

Well, as I've said before, I have another essay brewing -- one about queer lit at major houses -- that I am still collecting information for.

Good luck with yours!

[aulus-poliutos.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

I'm writing epic historical fiction, don't know if that counts as 'queer lit'. But Idamantes' homosexuality is an important aspect for both character and plot. I have a gay antag in another book in the series, too.

Those guys are a lot of fun to write. :)

[alg.livejournal.com]

Well, in my book, "queer lit" is anything with queer characters. I try not to politicize it, or define it much more than that. I either get too sad or too angry, and then I drink too much wine. :)

It sounds like you're writing something really interesting that really interests you, and that's what matters.

[aulus-poliutos.livejournal.com]

I've been a history geek since my parents took me to a museum at the age of 5. Living in Europe with history all over the place (I live in a town with a pretty intact Medieavel centre and no less than six castles within a 30 minutes drive range) has added to it. Thus, when I started writing at the age of 40, historical fiction was the natural choice.

Though we better don't talk about that first novel I wrote in 2001-03. *grin*

And recently, I had to kick an epic Fantasy plotbunny. Hard. I don't need any more projects right now. ;)

[aulus-poliutos.livejournal.com]

BTW Here's a pic (http://lostfort.blogspot.com/2006/01/another-picture.html) of one of those castles I posted over at my Blog. With a link to another pic.

[tharain.livejournal.com]

Well, in my book, "queer lit" is anything with queer characters.

I'm sorry to cut in on another thread, but this is perhaps a topic I should put up on my LJ (exceptin' I don't have as many writers reading as you do).

What would constitute "Queer Lit"? I tend to think of it as 'Twinkie Lit', where every guy's a 10 and it's all about the endless white party.

I said to a friend who's a writer that I didn't think my thing would be picked up (assuming it's any good) by either mainstream houses or the LBGT houses: not queer enough for the latter (Gay main characters, but it isn't about being gay), and too queer for the former(gay main characters; not much het stuff).

This is part of the reason I'd asked the Genre Question in your posts. Too queer/not queer enough, some fantasy elements (people having abilities they normally don't have)/not enough fantasy (no elves). Based in this world. It's kinda...weird.

But the thing that's always concerned me most: is this queer lit? is it not? what defines that?

[ivyblossom.livejournal.com]

Looking forward to that!

This is a complete aside, but I read your review on a shuttle between campuses, and it was most enlightening and entertaining. I've never really given much thought to how interesting it is to read about what people don't like in books, but it really was. I would have commented, but the wireless dropped out after about 5 minutes on the go. (But soon Toronto will be entirely wireless downtown, and I won't have this problem anymore.)

Oh, and also, I too am interested in how the aftermath of rape can influence a character, but I fear writing it. A little too hurt/comfort perhaps (or just too obvious? Or too emo? I dunno). I don't even know if it's rape per se that makes it interesting; trauma of any variety that leaves a psychic mark, something that echoes through a character's life, I dunno, that appeals to me in a character. Either as a something that's been overcome, or something that hasn't been, either way.

I try to resist being an angst whore, but sometimes...well, you know how it is.

[buffyx.livejournal.com]

I found your review really interesting, even though I've never read the book in question before. I get the feeling that if I did, I'd probably agree with you on it, as I think I have most of the same likes/dislikes in general that you list here.

My very favorite book with New York in it is either The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg

I read this book in elementary school something like ten years ago. I mostly remember thinking that it had a lot of good ideas should I ever decide to run away. And when they're hiding out in the museum, standing on the toilet seats, and how she sleeps in the fancy bed but it turns out it's really dusty and uncomfortable. ...and now I need to go track that down and reread it because it's been so long.

Queer Books

[(Anonymous)]

If you like reading lesbian stories, head on over to Girlreader.com (http://www.girlreader.com). She is somewhat unpolished, but a good, quick read for her short stories.

I agree, there needs to be more published queer fiction. I'm a SF junkie and rarely do I get to read a queer novel that is also SF. The only ones that I've found are the Isis series, by Jean Stewart.

Heather
http://deathbyabsurdity.blogspot.com (currently on a RL hiatus)

[janni.livejournal.com]

I love The Mixed Up Files more every time I read it.

I want to know how many kids try to hide out in the Metropolitan Museum each year. I really do.

I also want to know why, when I was growing up on Long Island, it never occurred to me that I ought to try to hide out in the Metropolitan Museum, too.

Let me get this straight... (grin)

[the-lady-m.livejournal.com]

You seriously want TOR (which I am under the belief is mostly fantasy fiction - please correct me if I am wrong) submissions that have gay characters? Does TOR normally accept these kind of writings - or is that what you are trying to change?

Is the industry actually publishing a lot of them now?

Or, is this something they are saying is taboo?

(If you're looking for erotica F/F in Paranormal {Vampire, werewolf stuff}, check out Savannah Jordan, I've seen a few of her writings and she's hot stuff.)

Alrighty then.

A LBGT Fantasy or Paranormal Novel would be interesting to write. LMAO! But not for submission - just for giggles and kicks... and experience.

Do you have a preference? M/M F/F etc.?

Do you have a preference for Fantasy (D&D style: Wizards, Knights, Thieves), Paranormal (Vamps, WWs, Psychics, Witches) or Sci-Fi (Lasers, Space Ships, Futuristic Stuff)?

I do these kind of things for exercise usually on my blog and not for publishing - just so you know and won't feel burdened by answering.

Every thing I write strengthens my skills and widens my ability. Which is what I think you are trying to do with all of your readers... Make them stronger - more educated.

And I love challenges!

Although, I must admit, the book you just finished reading sounds more like a literary book and not Fantasy, Sci-Fi or Paranormal. I like your honest review of it. It wasn't "The writer sucks donkey morsels"... It was more... "Hey, I just didn't care for it personally - but I can see some talent in it."

Lady M

Re: Let me get this straight... (grin)

[alg.livejournal.com]

Okay, I am not quite sure exactly what you want answered in this! I will say that Tor/Forge has published several books with GLBT characters as both primary and secondary characters, in several genres, not just SF/F. We don't care about race, sex, or sexual preference of the characters in the books we publish. We want interesting stories. We want interesting (and good) writing. We want interesting (and compelling) characters. Any Tor/Forge editor will tell you this.

That said, marketing books with GLBT characters is a different story. For example, the target audience of the paranormal romance list is not GLBT-identified persons, and therefore none of the paranormal romances have GLBT primary characters.

As I've said to several people, I'll cover this more later on, but for the moment, all I can say is that you have to read the market if you want to write for it. And that is way more work than anyone ever expects.

Re: Let me get this straight... (grin)

[alg.livejournal.com]

Oh, also, I wanted to mention that Tor/Forge is actually Tom Doherty Associates, and we publish every single genre out there, although some more than others. We're primarily known for SF/F, but we also do mystery, historicals, westerns, romances (both with and without paranormal/sf/f elements), chick lit, women's fiction, horror, etc. You can see more information at www.tor.com.

Re: Let me get this straight... (grin)

[the-lady-m.livejournal.com]

LMAO!

Ok - I felt like a school girl there hand in the air... "Oooh oooh oooh - and what about __________!"

My questions that were based on Tor - you answered those very succinctly. (Danke)

The personal preference ones probably overwhelmed you. *g* (Yeah, ADHD has been observed in my family.)

What are your personal preferences for reading?

(If that is too personal to answer, you can say "Shut the hell up! I'm not going to answer that!" and I won't be like "OMG she hates me," or anything ponderously ridiculous.)

And what are you doing awake at this ungodly hour? It's 11:25 Alaska time for me. What - 4:25 a.m. for you?

Have a splendid day.

Lady M

Re: Let me get this straight... (grin)

[alg.livejournal.com]

It's 3:30 right now. I am an insomniac. :)

I like to read a lot of different stuff. It depends on my mood and what's around me and what the format is. In my del.icio.us -- del.icio.us/loubloublou -- are a bunch of links to fanfic that I've really enjoyed. Gen, het, slash, whatever.

I don' t have a list of books I've enjoyed, although I talk about books a lot here in this blog (as you've seen).

Mostly I like books about bipeds, although every once in a while I can be convinced to read a book about a horse.

Re: Let me get this straight... (grin)

[the-lady-m.livejournal.com]

Yeah - Me too. Sometimes it is a blessing. Then there are the times it is insane and surreal - especially when you're going through the day trying to keep up with everyone else in the waking world... and everything you see or hear is hazy. It is always amusing and continuously exhausting.

I hear it is akin to bi-polar, but I never seem to be in a "great" high mood or a "horrible" low mood, so I discount that. But I certainly don't have it so badly that I need to worry over much.

I'm glad that I have stuff to keep me busy when those days hit. I am also thankful that I am not one of those people who cannot sleep - EVER. Those that have the genetic mutation for it wake up one day in their 30's and for months they cannot sleep. Some chemical in them will not permit it. They usually die shortly afterwards. FFI...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6822468/?GT1=6190

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatal_familial_insomnia


That'll keep you awake. :P

[stephanielynch.livejournal.com]

Yet another reason I adore you. The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg is one of my all-time favorite books! I recently reread it. :-)

[(Anonymous)]

First of all, LOVE the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, also one of my all times faves. Second of all, I wonder if I could use your excuse about reading to my editor. "Sorry I'm late with the manuscript! I got caught up in a book!" Jill

http://www.jillshalvis.com/blog

[alg.livejournal.com]

Hahaha! I bet you could! Editors understand these things. Try it and let me know how it works out! ;)