King Perry by Edmond Manning

[reviews_and_ramblings]

This was a Bittersweet Dreams title (this is the definition from Dreamspinner website: Bittersweet Dreams, stories of M/M romance with nontraditional endings), and so I was not expecting from it to have a standard romance development. And indeed the story develops almost like a fairy tale.

Perry is a man with potential, but all that potential is hidden behind a layer of sadness. He is not aloof or else, and when he is approached by Vin at an art gallery, he is willing to maybe share a pleasant chat and why not, a night of mutual, enjoyable sex. But that is not what Vin is thinking to give to Perry.

Vin is like a gay fairy godmother, he sees the potential in men and allows them to spread it around, becoming from Cinderfella to King, cloaked in their own greatness. Vin does that in an unconventional way, asking to Perry to give up power to Vin for an entire weekend, granting him that, at the end of the weekend, Perry will remember the king that is in him.

I think the author picked 1999 as year for his story since the www was still at the beginning, and the world was still defined in the land you can reach by foot; Perry and Vin’s weekend is spent around San Francisco, and the magic of San Francisco is right up the alley with the fairy tale atmosphere of the novel. San Francisco becomes a main character like Perry and Vin, and Vin will use all the city tricks to allow Perry’s unleashing.

Perry and Vin are not fated to be together, Vin is preparing Perry for his bright future and he is priming him for someone else, but maybe Vin will always remain Perry’s fairy godmother, someone who will be always there ready to remember to Perry that he is a king.

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=2802

Amazon: King Perry
Amazon Kindle: King Perry
Paperback: 350 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (February 27, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1613723784
ISBN-13: 978-1613723784

Reading List: http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading_list&view=elisa.rolle


Cover Art by Anne Cain

Comments

[a-b-gayle.livejournal.com]

Glad, you reviewed this bok, Elisa.
I'd really like to discuss "King Perry" with the author. I felt that there was still mystery in Vin's background and he was helping others because he either felt himself beyond redemption or not worth redeeming. I'd love to delve into that aspect.
How much, if anything is reflections of his own life?
I'd also like to know if he plans any more books around this theme.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

that is an interesting ipotesis, and indeed I wondered why Vin is seemingly so selfisly bent upon making other men "king" without wanting nothing in exchange.

[lou-harper.livejournal.com]

Yes, Edmond is writing the next book already, and has plans for several. You should send him a message. He's very approachable.

Great book, isn't it?

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

it was "strange" but in a good way.

[eroticjames.livejournal.com]

Edmond is absolutely approachable and would be absolutely tickled to hear from you.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

I found his novel to be really original and kind of magic but at the same time completely contemporary

Thanks, Elisa!

[(Anonymous)]

Thank you for reading King Perry! I'm delighted you really 'got' what I was trying to do: write a modern-day fairy tale! I wanted readers to keep wondering 'will there be actual magic in this story?'

King Perry is the first of six books in this series, The Lost and Founds. I'm currently rewriting Book 2, and actually have a few chapters of book 6 to share by October (I know that doesn't make any sense...but this tale will have an odd unveiling...three chapters of Book 6 will be shared before Book 2 comes out).

Many strange little mysteries are initiated in King Perry which will eventually be answered. What's Vin's real name? Will he ever 'take his own medicine?' What happens to Lost Kings? And as Elisa pointed out, 'why does Vin do this - what's in it for him?'

A few months ago, I had dinner with a local Minneapolis man who read King Perry and "had a few questions." He requested we meet. When we got together, he actually had four pages of handwritten questions about clues he discovered in the story - and he actually found a lot of little secrets that I had hidden. I had to answer some of his questions with "to be revealed" or "I can't comment on that right now." We had a great conversation about what makes someone 'lost' or 'found.' I was delighted he discovered so many clues.

Anyway...my point is, feel free to email me and ask questions. I'm happy to discuss the books (unless I can't reveal an upcoming spoiler). I'm finishing a youtube video on 'book club questions' regarding King Perry about some of the themes in the book.

But the three chapters of Book 6 I plan to release in November (or October...not sure yet) will answer some mysteries that were raised in King Perry...

Thank you for reading! I discovered your posted review on Gay Pride day. What a lovely, lovely surprise.

Edmond

Re: Thanks, Elisa!

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

I didn't know it was gay pride day, but that is a nice coincidence, isn't it? I hope Alison will read your comment, I think she has as many question as your othr fan ;-) maybe I will save my questios for October LOL

Re: Thanks, Elisa!

[a-b-gayle.livejournal.com]

Hi Edmond, yep I did find this response. Thanks!

I had a discussion with Jordan Castillo Price once about how whether I should spell out a character's motivations in detail or let the reader work them out for themselves.

Her answer was that the majority of readers want to be spoon fed, but your loyal readers like the mystery, like not being told everything as long as you deliver in subsequent books.

Syd McGinley did this in "Out of the Woods". By the time it finished, I'd made a collection of "Guns on the Wall" much like your fan in Minneapolis did.

Just make sure you leave your notecbooks in a safe place for posterity.....