Sunday Entertainment: February 26, 2012

Stuff from the Web:

Jamie Fessenden found these blogs and shared them on one of the loops we mutually belong to. I thought they were fun blogs about stuff all writers sould think about now and then, so if you're a writer, and you've got a few minutes, have a gander.

http://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2012/02/you-are-what-you-love-a-numeri.html

http://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2012/02/between-the-perfect-and-the-re.html

http://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2012/02/operating-narrative-machinery-.html

http://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2012/02/not-enough-credit-not-enough-t.html


GayRomLit: The schedule of events is up and ready. Looks like a full roster of publishers: Loose _d, Total e-Bound, Dreamspinner, Samhain, MLR, Torquere, Resplendance, and Silver Publishing are all sponsoring events, along with all teh author readings and other activities. I'f it's anything like last year, there will be no time for getting board!









Appearances:

I'll be poking my head in at Ethan Day's Yahoo group today for Gay Day to talk about my latest release: Better, and just generally hang out and chat. I'm sure, as always, there will be tons of other readers adn writers there to play. It's always great fun and all those books down there will be available to win just for stopping by. So dooo it!





Lords of Aether:

Of course. This week, Beare has made another log post of his and the club's history. Drop by and have a read. this character has more disdain for his Lords than you can shake a tail at, but he'll protect them just the same. Plus, he's entertaining when he goes on about the Lordlings of his self-imposed  charge.

Sunday Entertainment February 12, 2012

Fun Stuff First:

A video. I know it's old, but so what. I like it and I suspect a fair number of people who might wander past a blog by a m/m romance writer might as well, and besides. It's Lady Gaga. What's not to like, right?

The Edge of Romance: The Gay version. (Sorry about the link. One day, I swear I will change my Wordpress Theme to one that will allow me to embed video. Just not today.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=be9w4QpQ4Xw&feature=player_embedded#!

Where Am I At?

First, at SJD Peterson's blog talking about valentines Day celebrations and my latest release, Better.

Also, I posted at Lords of Aether this week. Alexi finally unveils his surprise for Leo, and Leo struggles with his feelings. Some more. The poor boy is so repressed.

  The Rest:

So, on a day that's been rather melancholy for a lot of reasons, but also full of celebration for others, I leave you with this review for Better, in which April says:  "Samms did a great job avoiding easy solutions or turning either of her leading men into stereotypes...And do not even get me started on how much I want to have the babies of Chapters 20 and 21." (Yes, I did take a quick peek to see if those were the last two chapters in the book, and they are, and yay! I'm thrilled they worked.)

Book Talk: Luck in the Shadows by Lynn Flewelling

I know, I know. This book has been out for what? A decade? And me a fantasy reader from way back in the beyond, so whats taken me so long to read this series? But I am reading it, at last, and I'm enjoying it.

It isn't epic fantasy in the tradition of Tolkien. More like...Robin Hood, maybe? Seregil, one of the main characters, is your basic swashbuckler/master of disguise. I know. Those two should be mutually exclusive, but somehow, in this book, anyway, they are not. I'm around a quarter of the way into the book and am finding this character delicately balanced on the knife edge of selfish indifference and paternally overprotective as of his young and clueless apprentice, Alec, whom iveheard is supposed to be his love interest eventually. But I've also been told to be patient on that.

We all know that's one of my strongest traits...so not!

And Alec. What is there to say about Alec? He's just stepped over the threshold of manhood. Barely. Seventeen, I think he told Seregil was his age, and newly orphaned (can he be an orphan if he's practically a man?) so he's a man-child of exceedingly naive proportions, and they, he follows Seregil around with nary a twinge of doubt or contemplation over the 'bard's' many disguises, his skill with weapons or ability to bust them both out of a torture dungeon and be away before dawn. And at the same time, the kid can shoot a bow, skin a rabbit, ride a horse, sing, track, guide and do any number of things with confidence and skill. Do I sound tongue in cheek? I might be, a little bit.

I don't dislike these characters. Don't think that. I like them both as long as I remember to embrace their epic, bigger-than-life qualities. It's been a long time since I read a fantasy novel, i tend to forget, at times, I'm not reading one of my many contemporary paranormal or real world gay love stories. The characters are meant to be competent, intelligent people with the ability to learn and develop necessary skills for survival. They don't have to be tragically flawed just because that's what seems to have become the norm in the books I often read lately. They are allowed to be completely capable men who don't balk when asked to step outside their comfort zone.

Still. The author in me who loves to torture her own characters would like to see one of them stumble and fall on his face. Just once. Promise I won't laugh....much.....

But don't let my assessment steer you away. Remember, this is just my opinion of a book I'm still reading, and despite my remarks about the characters seeming perfection, I do like both men and I'm enjoying the read quite a bit.