reviews_and_ramblings: (Default)
reviews_and_ramblings ([personal profile] reviews_and_ramblings) wrote2008-11-23 09:00 pm

My First(s)… and I call the name!

No, it’s not the story of the orgy that was my first time (even if maybe it would be more interesting!) but two years ago I opened my LiveJournal and so I think it would be fun to share with you my walk on memory.

The first gay romance I read is Crossing the Lines by Stephanie Vaughan: as I said before, blame her if I'm around.

The first review I wrote (and yes after two years I finally have the courage to call what I write "review") is Angel's Evolution by T.A. Chase; it was a surprise to find an "historical" gay romance, and it opened me to a variety of genres.

The first person I contacted on LJ is Erastes ([livejournal.com profile] erastes ) and also the reason why I'm on LJ: I was browsing the net on authors’ websites and found the link to this "strange" tool, which allowed you to blog, but also to have all the blogs of your friends in a page... wow, way better than other blog tools and so I thought "why not?".

The firsts to friend me back are Jourdan Lane ([livejournal.com profile] jourdanlane ), Luisa Prieto ([livejournal.com profile] l_prieto ), Sean Michael ([livejournal.com profile] sean_michael ), Jane Davitt ([livejournal.com profile] janedavitt ) and Jules Jones ([livejournal.com profile] julesjones ) (all on the same day, so I don't now who was the first! In this case the paternity is uncertain…): thanks guys and girls, I'm really happy to have you still in my friends list! Jules Jones is also the first person to comment on one of my posts: thank you!

The first LJ friend I met by person is James Buchanan ([livejournal.com profile] eroticjames ): so kind to invite me to a dinner at home where I found also Stephanie Vaughan, Jay Lygon, Eden Bradley, Zoe Nichols ([livejournal.com profile] zoenichols ) and Marame ([livejournal.com profile] marame ).

The first author who sent me a print book to review is William Maltese, actually he sent it to me since he is a wonderful man, but I obviously reviewed it! Not only, he packed the book three time to send it to Italy, since the post office gave him so much trouble... when I finally received to book I had to open three different envelopes, all of them with my address on them handwritten! Poor William, I'm really honoured that you had so much patient for me.

The first author who linked one of my reviews is Carolyn Gray ([livejournal.com profile] paragraphs ) for her wonderful and till now only gay romance, A Red Tainted Silence; I was very proud of that link.

The first author who linked one of my websites (I have two blogs and one website) without me asking him, (and we didn’t know each other!), is D.J. Manly: he is a very sweet man, I like his yahoo groups, it’s almost a place to chat among family.

The first author I contacted is Laura Baumbach, I was really impressed from her Out There in the Night and I wanted to tell her so. I had so the chance to see also her first attempt to self-publishing (I proudly own probably one of the few copies of Details of the Hunt published through Lulu Press) before she successfully launched MLR Press.

The first publisher that listed me among the official reviewers is Linden Bay Romance and thanks to Lee Rowan ([livejournal.com profile] lee_rowan ) who thought that my reviews were a worthy social activities; again I was very proud. Thanks also to the other publishers which followed soon: Torquere Press, Dreamspinner Press, Sofawolf Press, Samhain Publishing, Changeling Press, Lethe Press, MLR Press.

The first publisher who used one of my reviews in their print books is Samhain Publishing on the print version of With Caution by J.L. Langley ([livejournal.com profile] jl_langley ); not only, but my reviews is the first before other more famous review sites like Literary Nymphs or Joyfully Reviewed... so I was even more proud.

The first person who asked me for an interview is Josh Lanyon ([livejournal.com profile] jgraeme2007 ) for the manual on how to write gay romance, Man, Oh Man!: well, I was pretty surprise by it, but obviously I agreed with joy.

Finally my top ten commenters are: Max ([livejournal.com profile] maximvanziel ), Robin ([livejournal.com profile] snowmore ), Lauralyn ([livejournal.com profile] abstractrx ), L.C., Alex ([livejournal.com profile] ashmedai ), Leeteng ([livejournal.com profile] leeteng ), Lee Rowan ([livejournal.com profile] lee_rowan ), Jules Jones ([livejournal.com profile] julesjones ), James Buchanan ([livejournal.com profile] eroticjames ) and Tiffany ([livejournal.com profile] muroku ), in this order: thank to you all!

And now a bit of numbers (remember guys, I studied Economics, I love numbers!):

Last month my LJ had 8.099 single visits per month, an average of 260 single visits per day... well guys, you are a lot but you don't comment so much... Why?

In the last 12 months the number of single visits per month was always higher than the previous month... I don't believe that this November will be the same, and I almost feel relieved, I was wondering if I should take some type of viagra pills to maintain the performance! I'm joking of course, but lately I was really wondering why such a trend was happening. I believe that most of the success was also due to my Man Candy posts :-) I know there are people out there that only wait that day... and probably there are also people that don't like them, but I really try to not doing a meat market: I don't post a list of anonymous pics with the only purpose to raise the number of hits. I try to choose the Man Candy for something special in him, something that tickles my fantasy (yes, of course, also my sexual fantasy), but also for his personal story; and for this reason I call them MY Men Candy, since I feel for them.

I have a rank of 7.000 (more or less) on Amazon.com, and this means that I'm a Top Reviewer (reviewers with a rank under 10.000); recently they changed the ranking system and I jumped on 1.500: well, it was a surprise, but also a pleasure. Now my goal is to go under 1.000 and obtain my badge!

Last I have almost 1.000 friends on MySpace, among authors and models: I don't use a lot MySpace, I only post bulletins and similar, but it's a good way to build a wider network than LiveJournal. But truth be told, I don't check it as often as LJ.
julesjones: (Default)

[personal profile] julesjones 2008-11-23 02:26 pm (UTC)(link)
Yes, the flist is part of what keeps me here on LJ -- it's a very handy way to keep up with people, especially after I discovered how to use the flist reading filters effectively.

[identity profile] elisa-rolle.livejournal.com 2008-11-23 02:29 pm (UTC)(link)
Ciao Jules. Welcome to my party online. And again you are the first to comment! mmm, maybe the paternity test has your name on it! Elisa

[identity profile] erastes.livejournal.com 2008-11-23 02:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Hi Elisa! I'm honoured to be the first person you stumbled across on LJ - you've been a good friend and supporter. Keep up the good work!

[identity profile] elisa-rolle.livejournal.com 2008-11-23 02:35 pm (UTC)(link)
I still remember that entry: you were talking about a letter you received from an editor. That night I only read than after some time, I bought you book, Standish, and I went again on LJ ant that time I left a comment on a post where you were announcing the release of Standish. Elisa

[identity profile] pandorasvase.livejournal.com 2008-11-23 02:58 pm (UTC)(link)
Buon compleanno al tuo LJ ^_^

Questo è uno di quei giorni in cui si guarda indietro con un sorriso, eh. Dà una certa soddisfazione.

[identity profile] elisa-rolle.livejournal.com 2008-11-23 03:03 pm (UTC)(link)
Si infatti. Così tanto è cambiato in due anni, ma nel mio piccolo mondo che è il mio LJ è cambiato solo in meglio :-)

Elisa

[identity profile] maximvanziel.livejournal.com 2008-11-23 03:16 pm (UTC)(link)
Weird. I'm still keeping the top, lol.

The first person I contacted on LJ is Erastes(erastes ) and also the reason why I'm on LJ

I didn't know that :D Same here, then.

Now my goal is to go under 1.000 and obtain my badge!

I'm curious to know what'll happen when you'll enter top 100 :) Keep it up!

[identity profile] elisa-rolle.livejournal.com 2008-11-23 03:18 pm (UTC)(link)
> what'll happen when you'll enter top 100 :) Keep it up!

you said "what'll happen" so you are sure that, sooner or later, I will manage to :-) thanks for the faith you have in me! I don't know what I will do, but I have a lot of time to prepare something. Elisa

[identity profile] mroctober.livejournal.com 2008-11-23 03:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Your reviews are always very entertaining and informative.

[identity profile] elisa-rolle.livejournal.com 2008-11-23 03:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you Steve. They are not real reviews, they are my brainstorming on the book, and so they don't have a serious structure. But I'm really happy and proud if they help people to choose what to read. Elisa

From D.J.

(Anonymous) 2008-11-23 03:27 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks so much Elisa for the invitation. I think you're very sweet as well. And congratulations!!

I appreciate all you do. You are a marvel!

Love D.J.

Re: From D.J.

[identity profile] elisa-rolle.livejournal.com 2008-11-23 03:36 pm (UTC)(link)
Welcome D.J., you are an external guest since you haven't a LJ account :-) Your yahoo group is an happy heaven for authors and readers as well. Elisa

[identity profile] l-prieto.livejournal.com 2008-11-23 03:33 pm (UTC)(link)
*hug*

Congrats, Elisa :) I love reading your blog and am glad we've met, both in person and via the blog :)

[identity profile] elisa-rolle.livejournal.com 2008-11-23 03:37 pm (UTC)(link)
Ciao Luisa! It was a pleasure to meet you last September in SF. Hope to meet you and all the others again soon. Elisa

[identity profile] marquesate.livejournal.com 2008-11-23 03:40 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm always wondering: how do you find the time? It's amazing how often and how much you post and in how many places.

I am, as we say here: gobsmacked. :-)

It's an amazing lot of work and I enjoy reading your posts, especially the ones about long lost/forgotten romance writers, I just love the covers of those books. ;-)

[identity profile] elisa-rolle.livejournal.com 2008-11-23 03:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Yes, I know that I post too much :-) but I hope my friends suffer me, since they know that I'm like that and can't change... maybe I should put a warning on my profile.

It's nice to know that someone like my Romance History posts... I post them since "I" like them (also like you for the covers) and hope they are not too boring :-)

Elisa

p.s. for the time: I'm a totally loss as housekeeping and have a mother that does all the work. I don't watch tv and my nights are devoted to read and post. When I will post less you will know that I have someone else in my bed rather than my lappy!

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[identity profile] jgraeme2007.livejournal.com 2008-11-23 03:50 pm (UTC)(link)
Congratulations --and happy birthday, Elisa! Thanks for all you do to promote romance and romance writers.

By the way, I really enjoy your retrospective looks at authors from the distant and not so distant path! Those are my favorites.

[identity profile] elisa-rolle.livejournal.com 2008-11-23 04:01 pm (UTC)(link)
Welcome Josh! Another "romance of the past" lover :-) And also not of the past as well. Good to know because I have every intention to go on with them and it's a pleasure to know that I'm not the only one to read them. Elisa

[identity profile] janedavitt.livejournal.com 2008-11-23 03:56 pm (UTC)(link)
So happy to have met you here on LJ and thank you for all that you contribute to the community.

Happy LJversary!

::hugs::

[identity profile] elisa-rolle.livejournal.com 2008-11-23 04:03 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you Jane! you are also the first to teach me how to use LJ-cut, even if sometime, I don't use it as I should... but now I don't post more than two big pics if not under a cut! Elisa

(Anonymous) 2008-11-23 04:05 pm (UTC)(link)
Hi Elisa! Happy Birthday to your LJ. You've been a wonderful friend and a great reviewer. I know supporting the M/M genre in your country isn't the easiest thing to do and every effort you put forth is appreciated and valued. Thank you so much for that first email about OUT THERE IN THE NIGHT and for you latest review of MEXICAN HEAT. Each and every one is appreciated! You're a gem and you LJ and is beautiful, well-maintained and informative.
Laura Baumbach

[identity profile] elisa-rolle.livejournal.com 2008-11-23 04:10 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you Laura. I appreciated all your books, and it's always a pleasure to read them. And yes, it's not simple having a LJ like mine here in Italy, I lost some friends on the path for this reason, but I found a lot more, so the balance is positive. Elisa

[identity profile] vaughan-steph.livejournal.com 2008-11-23 04:08 pm (UTC)(link)
Congratulations on your second year! I'm so glad we got to meet at James's house. You're an amazing friend of the genre and I wish you many more years of happy LiveJournaling.

Love,
Steph

[identity profile] elisa-rolle.livejournal.com 2008-11-23 04:12 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you Stephanie! your romance will always have a special place in my favorite list, you never forget your first. Elisa
ext_7009: (Bravo)

[identity profile] alex-beecroft.livejournal.com 2008-11-23 04:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Guilty as charged I'm afraid. I read every post on your LJ, but hardly ever comment. One of your man candy posts inspired my ghost hunting hero Jasper :) And you are a first of mine - the first reviewer ever to add me as a friend. I carry on being very honoured that you did.

[identity profile] elisa-rolle.livejournal.com 2008-11-23 04:47 pm (UTC)(link)
Ahahah here it is one of my ghost reader :-) Yes, I think to remember that my man candy Kent Edwards was your choice as Edward. He also inspired another author, Layla Aaron: probably Kent has a romance face!

I'm happy to have friended you. Now I don't friend so much, I had a bad experience with a lj user who friended me back to defriend me one day after: he had every right to do so, but I felt pretty sad. I was serious when I said that I probably should put a warning on my profile.

The daily visits considers only the click on my page, so if you read me on the friends list you are not counted on the daily visits. But if you click on my post to see a cut or leave a comment, in that case you are counted.

Elisa

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[identity profile] eroticjames.livejournal.com 2008-11-23 04:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Happy 2nd B-Day. Have to figure out some way to get Man-Candy popping out of a cake all the way to Italy for you.

[identity profile] elisa-rolle.livejournal.com 2008-11-23 04:51 pm (UTC)(link)
It would be for sure an happy surprise :-) One of the pics I was considering to use for the post was this one

Image

but it was a bit too naughty... Can you send me someone like him?

Elisa

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Happy birthday to you...

(Anonymous) 2008-11-23 05:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday, dear Elisa. Happy Birthday to you. And mannnnny more!!!!! --And I'm happy you sent the official invite, because I actually thought your birthday was tomorrow -- which proves my head as usual is stuck somewhere up my ass. Oh, well. --Whenever, did want to stop by and comment upon how I've always enjoyed your site, not only for its Man Candy (not really Man Candy), but for your reviews (not only of my books, either). --Some viewers are, well, not really reviewers at all. While you are a reviewer extraordinaire (which has nothing to do with my fondness for everything and any one Italian). -- Ciao, Babe (with accompanying hugs and stolen kisses). --Please, do, keep on truckin' (which has nothing to do with the "f" word). --William (Maltese).

Re: Happy birthday to you...

[identity profile] elisa-rolle.livejournal.com 2008-11-23 05:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Welcome William! And you are right, at first I thought to post tomorrow, because I opened the LJ on November 23 and posted the first time on November 24. So yes, I said to you that my LJ birthday was Monday. But then I decided that Sunday is a better day for a party, don't you think so? I have more time to welcome all my friends in this way.

Hugs and kisses back, the first night we spent together (speaking of your italian sweet romance as Willa Lambert) will always be a special one for me.

Elisa
Edited 2008-11-23 17:51 (UTC)

[identity profile] jourdanlane.livejournal.com 2008-11-23 06:08 pm (UTC)(link)

Happy 2nd Birthday!!

I've enjoyed reading every one of your posts in the last two years. I don't comment as often as I used to on blogs, but I'm making a goal now to start doing better on that :)

*HUGS*

[identity profile] elisa-rolle.livejournal.com 2008-11-23 06:13 pm (UTC)(link)
Welcome Jourdan. I know that you went through a lot in the last months and so I'm happy you pass by today.

Truth be told also I don't comment often, even if I try to read my friends list every day.

Elisa

[identity profile] ebony-silvers.livejournal.com 2008-11-23 07:22 pm (UTC)(link)
Happy Birthday! I'm certainly enjoying all your labors.

[identity profile] elisa-rolle.livejournal.com 2008-11-23 07:37 pm (UTC)(link)
Welcome you to the party! And I enjoy as well your books. Elisa

[identity profile] zoenichols.livejournal.com 2008-11-23 08:13 pm (UTC)(link)
Happy 2nd, hun! It was a pleasure to meet you at James'. Hope you shoot by the states again someday!

[identity profile] elisa-rolle.livejournal.com 2008-11-23 08:20 pm (UTC)(link)
I hope so myself, but probably this time I'd like to see the East Coast :-) Elisa

[identity profile] mongrelheart.livejournal.com 2008-11-23 08:20 pm (UTC)(link)
Happy 2 year LJ anniversary Elisa! I'm really glad I found your journal. Thank you for all your wonderful posts (especially Man Candy, heheh!)

[identity profile] elisa-rolle.livejournal.com 2008-11-23 08:26 pm (UTC)(link)
Ahahah here is one of the Man Candy lover! Stay tuned if so, since Tuesday I have a very fine pair of Men Candy! Elisa

And thanks, birthday gal ...

(Anonymous) 2008-11-23 08:38 pm (UTC)(link)
...for, I see, reviewing my latest MLR Press Aussie epic, SNAKES! Seems it's your birthday, and I get the present. --More hugs, just because. --William Maltese

Re: And thanks, birthday gal ...

[identity profile] elisa-rolle.livejournal.com 2008-11-23 08:41 pm (UTC)(link)
I will always read your books William, birthday or not :-) Elisa

[identity profile] snowmore.livejournal.com 2008-11-23 08:48 pm (UTC)(link)
*pulls hair out*

I've been busy today and couldn't join the party!

Elisa, Congratulations on two years at LJ. Thank you so much for all that you do to promote love and the beauty of the male body.

I must run off again, but will leave you with some eye candy (unlike you, I didn't catch their names :P):

Image (http://s130.photobucket.com/albums/p256/Robinegg-QAF/?action=view&current=spanktrunks_hunk.jpg)

Image (http://s130.photobucket.com/albums/p256/Robinegg-QAF/?action=view&current=briefsdry.jpg)

Image (http://s130.photobucket.com/albums/p256/Robinegg-QAF/?action=view&current=CalvinKlein.jpg)

[identity profile] elisa-rolle.livejournal.com 2008-11-23 08:59 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, I can forgive you to not join in time since you send me such lovely Man Candy to take me to bed, here in Italy is almost bed time :-) And maybe I even can find the full name of the first one, since I know that his first name is William and that he has a VERY interesting personal story (yes, yes, I can say it from the picture!)

Elisa

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[identity profile] clarelondon.livejournal.com 2008-11-23 09:56 pm (UTC)(link)
It's been such fun to meet you both on LJ and in person - it makes all the difference to 'read' your voice when I've also heard it! Your posts are always fun and entertaining, and I think they also give us a little more of your charm every time.
*hugs*

[identity profile] elisa-rolle.livejournal.com 2008-11-23 10:22 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you Clare. It was a pleasure meet you too! Better been fun than boring, and I'm happy that me and my posts are one and only. I believe that my LJ says much of who I am. Elisa

[identity profile] paragraphs.livejournal.com 2008-11-23 11:07 pm (UTC)(link)
whew, late to the party but I was working on my fic all day? Is there punch left? Thanks for the mention, Elisa! Hopefully there will be a second fic with Loose-Id soon...just turned it in...but it is another long one so may be awhile before I hear. I wish I could write short. Argh.

Carolyn

[identity profile] elisa-rolle.livejournal.com 2008-11-23 11:11 pm (UTC)(link)
There is always space, and punch, for a friend more :-) Good news about the new novel, and I don't mind if it's long, I learned with A Red Tainted Silence that the time spent is worth! Elisa

[identity profile] lee-rowan.livejournal.com 2008-11-24 04:32 am (UTC)(link)
Happy anniversary! I must've run across your LJ not long after you started it. It's amazing how much you've done for m/m romance in such a short time. Thank you and please keep up the good work!

[identity profile] elisa-rolle.livejournal.com 2008-11-24 08:13 am (UTC)(link)
Thanks Lee. Yes you are among the first, at that time I posted about your anthology Sail Away and you find me through google, I believe :-) Elisa