Who Needs A Manual To Write Real Good?

Interesting article by Marc Acito, author of "How I Paid for College" (one of the books in my Top 100 Gay Novels List). It's not specifically aimed to the gay novels fiction world, and this is exactly the reason why I liked it. I read it from a "foreign" point of view, trying to understand if how I write in English is right or wrong, since people said that I write in English with an Italian accent... and even if I like this defintion, I really don't understand what it means!

Anyway here is the link to the article:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103169900

Who Needs A Manual To Write Real Good?

Interesting article by Marc Acito, author of "How I Paid for College" (one of the books in my Top 100 Gay Novels List). It's not specifically aimed to the gay novels fiction world, and this is exactly the reason why I liked it. I read it from a "foreign" point of view, trying to understand if how I write in English is right or wrong, since people said that I write in English with an Italian accent... and even if I like this defintion, I really don't understand what it means!

Anyway here is the link to the article:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103169900

The M/M romance challenge

I decided to join the M/M romance challenge... at first I wasn't of the idea since 10 book in 6 months, well, it was too easy. But I decided to make thing more difficult (for me) and up the books to 40, and to spicy the thing, in different genres, so all right, I'm in!

If you want to be with me in this challenge, here is where you can join:

http://iheartpaperbacks.wordpress.com/2009/03/21/the-mm-romance-challenge-sign-up/

There are different level of challenge, so no worry if you are not crazy like me ;-)

The Phade forum is hosting an overlapping contest, to join you have to be member of the forum and visit this link:

http://z3.invisionfree.com/The_Phade/index.php?showtopic=1713

Here is the link to enter the books you read:
http://mmromance.blogspot.com/2009/03/mm-romance-challenge-book-reviews.html

And here is the link to list all the books when the challenge is complete:
http://mmromance.blogspot.com/2009/03/mm-romance-challenge-completed.html

The challenge started March 21 (and will end August 31), so I don't know if I can enter the book I read from March 21 to today, If I can't please let me know and I will reset the list.

Read at least a book from each of the following genres/themes:

( Alpha Males )

( Cinderfellas (from rags to riches) )

( Friends (with benefits) )

( Multicultural lovers )

( Pretty Men! (hustlers) )

( Virgins (at least in one way) )

( Cowboys )

( Pirates )

Sheikhs:

( Contemporary )

( Fantasy )

( Futuristic )

( Historical )

( Paranormal )

( Cops / Detectives / PIs )

( Firefighters )

( Military )

( Elves, Gods, Deity & Witches )

( Furry Lovers )

( Shapeshifters )

( Vampires )

( Angels )

( Demons )

( Ghosts )

Apocalypse Now:

( Back to the Future )

( Bondage / Submission )

( Breeches Rippers )

( Coming of Age )

( Disability )

( Gay for You )

( May / December )

( Menage a trois (or more) )

( Twincest )

( Art World )

( College )

( Medical Romance )

( Office Affairs )

( Show Business )

( Sports )

Total Count: 40 - M/M ROMANCE CHALLENGE COMPLETE!

The M/M romance challenge

I decided to join the M/M romance challenge... at first I wasn't of the idea since 10 book in 6 months, well, it was too easy. But I decided to make thing more difficult (for me) and up the books to 40, and to spicy the thing, in different genres, so all right, I'm in!

If you want to be with me in this challenge, here is where you can join:

http://iheartpaperbacks.wordpress.com/2009/03/21/the-mm-romance-challenge-sign-up/

There are different level of challenge, so no worry if you are not crazy like me ;-)

The Phade forum is hosting an overlapping contest, to join you have to be member of the forum and visit this link:

http://z3.invisionfree.com/The_Phade/index.php?showtopic=1713

Here is the link to enter the books you read:
http://mmromance.blogspot.com/2009/03/mm-romance-challenge-book-reviews.html

And here is the link to list all the books when the challenge is complete:
http://mmromance.blogspot.com/2009/03/mm-romance-challenge-completed.html

The challenge started March 21 (and will end August 31), so I don't know if I can enter the book I read from March 21 to today, If I can't please let me know and I will reset the list.

Read at least a book from each of the following genres/themes:

( Alpha Males )

( Cinderfellas (from rags to riches) )

( Friends (with benefits) )

( Multicultural lovers )

( Pretty Men! (hustlers) )

( Virgins (at least in one way) )

( Cowboys )

( Pirates )

Sheikhs:

( Contemporary )

( Fantasy )

( Futuristic )

( Historical )

( Paranormal )

( Cops / Detectives / PIs )

( Firefighters )

( Military )

( Elves, Gods, Deity & Witches )

( Furry Lovers )

( Shapeshifters )

( Vampires )

( Angels )

( Demons )

( Ghosts )

Apocalypse Now:

( Back to the Future )

( Bondage / Submission )

( Breeches Rippers )

( Coming of Age )

( Disability )

( Gay for You )

( May / December )

( Menage a trois (or more) )

( Twincest )

( Art World )

( College )

( Medical Romance )

( Office Affairs )

( Show Business )

( Sports )

Total Count: 40 - M/M ROMANCE CHALLENGE COMPLETE!

Gay Commercial: XFM 104.9 London

I like this commercial since it's funny, look at the face of the young and smaller man, and look at the reaction of the other man... and when it happened? Doesn't he say something like "I will call you later"? as if he is planning to have a following to that kiss ;-) nice!

A young man is waiting at a bus stop, when a business man walks up and stands next to him. The business man is so close that he bumps into the young man when he puts his brief case down.

Although he is talking on his cell phone, the business man sounds as if he is a radio announcer, saying things like, "Good morning and welcome. Well, what have we got for you today? Coming up after the break we've got a bunch of hot new talent in the studio. Later on in the show, we've got the news. Let's go to Sandy - she's gone!" The young man is clearly annoyed by the business man, and grows more agitated as he chatters on. Finally, he clenches his fist as a sign that he cannot take anymore. He quickly turns to the business man, grabs his face and kisses him. While they are kissing, a message at the bottom of the screen says, "Stop the Voices." After the young man lets go of him, the business man looks less than thrilled and says into his phone "I'll get back to you, Keith." The young man appears to be very pleased with himself.

The screen fades and the words "Xfm 104.9 London. More Music. Less Ego" appear on the screen.

Commercial Closet Association

Company: GCap Media Plc
Brand: xfm
Ad Title: Bus Stop
Business Category: Media Outlets: Broadcasters-Publishers-Online-Games-Music
Media Outlets: Television
Country: United Kingdom
Region: Europe
Agency: Quiet Storm
Year: 2000
Target: Mainstream

Gay Commercial: XFM 104.9 London

I like this commercial since it's funny, look at the face of the young and smaller man, and look at the reaction of the other man... and when it happened? Doesn't he say something like "I will call you later"? as if he is planning to have a following to that kiss ;-) nice!

A young man is waiting at a bus stop, when a business man walks up and stands next to him. The business man is so close that he bumps into the young man when he puts his brief case down.

Although he is talking on his cell phone, the business man sounds as if he is a radio announcer, saying things like, "Good morning and welcome. Well, what have we got for you today? Coming up after the break we've got a bunch of hot new talent in the studio. Later on in the show, we've got the news. Let's go to Sandy - she's gone!" The young man is clearly annoyed by the business man, and grows more agitated as he chatters on. Finally, he clenches his fist as a sign that he cannot take anymore. He quickly turns to the business man, grabs his face and kisses him. While they are kissing, a message at the bottom of the screen says, "Stop the Voices." After the young man lets go of him, the business man looks less than thrilled and says into his phone "I'll get back to you, Keith." The young man appears to be very pleased with himself.

The screen fades and the words "Xfm 104.9 London. More Music. Less Ego" appear on the screen.

Commercial Closet Association

Company: GCap Media Plc
Brand: xfm
Ad Title: Bus Stop
Business Category: Media Outlets: Broadcasters-Publishers-Online-Games-Music
Media Outlets: Television
Country: United Kingdom
Region: Europe
Agency: Quiet Storm
Year: 2000
Target: Mainstream

Out of the Blue by Glyn Soitiño

Before saying anything on this novella, I would like to anticipate that I made a search online with the name of the author, and the only other result I found, other than this book, is a short story in another Torquere Books anthology, so I'm quite sure that Glyn Soitiño is a new author, and so some uncertainty I found are probably to add to this. Said that, I would also like to add that the novella was nice and maybe with the expert hand of a proved writer it could have been more than that: the main story is not so original, the genie who falls in love for his temporary master, but the characters, especially the genie, are what made the story interesting.

Zahir was a magician in an old arabian country. He fell in love for a prince of a near kingdom but their love was doomed and as "punishment", Zahir was imprisoned in a blue bottle, forced to grant the usual three wishes to the man who temporarily frees him, to then come back in the bottle waiting for the next master. This time his master is Aidan, a man who is still mourning the death of his first and only love Richie. Since Zahir can't bring back to life who is already dead, Aidan is not interested in anything else; Aidan is drowning in his sorrow, as often in this case, Aidan doesn't want to stop the pain since it's the only thing he has that links him to his lost lover. For the same reason, Aidan "wears" the scar he has due to the accident in which his lover was killed, as a reminder of what happened and who he lost.

Since here the story is not different from other I read, but at this point it takes an original turn: Zahir is not an "ethereal" creature; everytime I read of a genie in the bottle, I always wonder what is his life inside that bottle? The author gives as an answer, Zahir spends his time watching television and having naughty thoughts on Aidan! At some point, the author also tells us how Zahir takes care of his personal hygiene, and even how he can "entertain" himself when there is not a willing human to do so... all of that allows us to see Zahir more as a human, than a fantsy creature. Anyway Zahir is also "different" from our classical genie, since he is not at all a strong and invincible man; on the contrary, Zahir is more the pretty boy type, who is willing to let the command in the hand of his partner. In his only other relationship, with his doomed lover, Zahir was the older partner, and his partner gave me the impression to be a bit spoiled, and so he preferred to be the cherished one, and Zahir accepted that role, even if it was not his favorite. But with Aidan he can be as twink as he wants. Problem is that Aidan is not exactly the dominant partner, he is more for an equality in life and bed; also with his lost lover, Aidan was at the same level, in age, in work and in life. Here maybe there is a lost chance for the author, to push on the funny side of the story.

When at first I said that the story could have been better, I said that since I have the idea that the story lies in the middle: it's not a full angst story, Aidan's sorrow is not pushed till the edge, and it's not a full funny romp, the twinkiness of Zahir is not fully developed. From my side I would have been inclined for the funny romp, there are some sparks in Zahir that would have made it real nice. Anyway, for a novella and a new author, the story is nice and easy to read.

http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1889

Reading List:

http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading list&view=elisa.rolle

Out of the Blue by Glyn Soitiño

Before saying anything on this novella, I would like to anticipate that I made a search online with the name of the author, and the only other result I found, other than this book, is a short story in another Torquere Books anthology, so I'm quite sure that Glyn Soitiño is a new author, and so some uncertainty I found are probably to add to this. Said that, I would also like to add that the novella was nice and maybe with the expert hand of a proved writer it could have been more than that: the main story is not so original, the genie who falls in love for his temporary master, but the characters, especially the genie, are what made the story interesting.

Zahir was a magician in an old arabian country. He fell in love for a prince of a near kingdom but their love was doomed and as "punishment", Zahir was imprisoned in a blue bottle, forced to grant the usual three wishes to the man who temporarily frees him, to then come back in the bottle waiting for the next master. This time his master is Aidan, a man who is still mourning the death of his first and only love Richie. Since Zahir can't bring back to life who is already dead, Aidan is not interested in anything else; Aidan is drowning in his sorrow, as often in this case, Aidan doesn't want to stop the pain since it's the only thing he has that links him to his lost lover. For the same reason, Aidan "wears" the scar he has due to the accident in which his lover was killed, as a reminder of what happened and who he lost.

Since here the story is not different from other I read, but at this point it takes an original turn: Zahir is not an "ethereal" creature; everytime I read of a genie in the bottle, I always wonder what is his life inside that bottle? The author gives as an answer, Zahir spends his time watching television and having naughty thoughts on Aidan! At some point, the author also tells us how Zahir takes care of his personal hygiene, and even how he can "entertain" himself when there is not a willing human to do so... all of that allows us to see Zahir more as a human, than a fantsy creature. Anyway Zahir is also "different" from our classical genie, since he is not at all a strong and invincible man; on the contrary, Zahir is more the pretty boy type, who is willing to let the command in the hand of his partner. In his only other relationship, with his doomed lover, Zahir was the older partner, and his partner gave me the impression to be a bit spoiled, and so he preferred to be the cherished one, and Zahir accepted that role, even if it was not his favorite. But with Aidan he can be as twink as he wants. Problem is that Aidan is not exactly the dominant partner, he is more for an equality in life and bed; also with his lost lover, Aidan was at the same level, in age, in work and in life. Here maybe there is a lost chance for the author, to push on the funny side of the story.

When at first I said that the story could have been better, I said that since I have the idea that the story lies in the middle: it's not a full angst story, Aidan's sorrow is not pushed till the edge, and it's not a full funny romp, the twinkiness of Zahir is not fully developed. From my side I would have been inclined for the funny romp, there are some sparks in Zahir that would have made it real nice. Anyway, for a novella and a new author, the story is nice and easy to read.

http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1889

Reading List:

http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading list&view=elisa.rolle