2010-02-09

reviews_and_ramblings: (Default)
2010-02-09 12:00 am

Who says that there are not out gay Football players?

Dabbed as the Best Super Bowl photo ever... I lifted it from [livejournal.com profile] kyellgold, who lifted it from someone else, but well, I will give the credit to the journal I saw it on.



I'm not an expert of Football, sorry, so I don't even know who the teams are, but hasn't the player in gold, other than the name, also the walk in "accordance"? And he seems to say, well, if you don't want to share the embrace, I don't want to "play" with you. And what those two players are saying to each other?

And of course this is for fun, I would be more than happy that it was a real news, and I well know that homophobia is a serious problem in the professional sport fields. So yes, mine, is more a wishful thinking, that maybe in the future it will be for real.
reviews_and_ramblings: (Default)
2010-02-09 12:00 am

Who says that there are not out gay Football players?

Dabbed as the Best Super Bowl photo ever... I lifted it from [livejournal.com profile] kyellgold, who lifted it from someone else, but well, I will give the credit to the journal I saw it on.



I'm not an expert of Football, sorry, so I don't even know who the teams are, but hasn't the player in gold, other than the name, also the walk in "accordance"? And he seems to say, well, if you don't want to share the embrace, I don't want to "play" with you. And what those two players are saying to each other?

And of course this is for fun, I would be more than happy that it was a real news, and I well know that homophobia is a serious problem in the professional sport fields. So yes, mine, is more a wishful thinking, that maybe in the future it will be for real.
reviews_and_ramblings: (Default)
2010-02-09 09:53 am

Behind the Cover: Tony Mauro

In 1994 at the age of 23 Tony Mauro left the city of Buffalo, NY, where he grew up and spent most of his adult life bound for the west coast to pursue his career as an illustrator. He landed in Los Angeles in November of '94 and began working in the entertainment industry as an illustrator and designer.

 
Cover Art for Sea Witch by Virginia Kantra

more pics )

Tony graduated from the Art Institute of Pittsburg in 1991 with a degree in visual communications and a major in airbrush. After spending six years as an airbrush illustrator he eventually crossed over to the computer. The first several years in Los Angeles were spent working with an illustration and design studio in Santa Monica. This was where Tony refined his computer skills and began developing the style that he uses today. For about two and a half years Tony worked almost exlusively on designing posters, calendars, book covers, and video box covers for the hit show "The X-Files".

His transition into Pin-up/Fantasy art came shortly after that when he started developing the When Darkness Falls Vampire Series. Using what little knowledge of photography he had from shooting his own referene as an illustrator, he started photographing friends and acquaintances on evenings and weekends. Those photographs would later serve at the foundation for his vampire series. By the time he was wrapping up the series he was being contacted by Playmates, Penthouse Pets, and some adult film stars wanting to get involved in the project that was starting to develop quite a buzz among the model circuit in Los Angeles. Tony categorizes his art as photo-based illustration.



Amazon: When Darkness Falls 2010 Calendar

Tony travels around the country doing pin-up, comic and horror conventions to market and promote his prints, books, and calendars. In 2004 Tony's debut book, The Dark Art of Tony Mauro, was released worldwide by a publisher in Germany.

The Dark Art of Tony Mauro ) 

Amazon: The Dark Art of Tony Mauro

Commercially Mauro has spent the last 9 years designing movie posters for every major film studio in Hollywood. Some of the campaigns he is credited for designing are The Pirates of the Caribbean Intl, M. Knight Shyamalans The Village, The Pink Panther, Friday Night Lights, The Chronicles of Narnia and Black Christmas to name a few. You've probably also seen his work gracing numerous video game box covers such as Marvel's Ultimate Alliance, Medal of Honor, Brothers in Amrs, Diablo, WarCraft 2, Clive Barker's Undying and most recently Spiderman Friend or Foe.

Tony has recently returned to his home town of Buffalo, NY, to focud more of his time on his fantasy art while still freelancing for the entertainment industry designing movie posters as well as crossing over into the world of publishing and book covers.

http://www.darkdayproductions.com/
reviews_and_ramblings: (Default)
2010-02-09 09:53 am

Behind the Cover: Tony Mauro

In 1994 at the age of 23 Tony Mauro left the city of Buffalo, NY, where he grew up and spent most of his adult life bound for the west coast to pursue his career as an illustrator. He landed in Los Angeles in November of '94 and began working in the entertainment industry as an illustrator and designer.

 
Cover Art for Sea Witch by Virginia Kantra

more pics )

Tony graduated from the Art Institute of Pittsburg in 1991 with a degree in visual communications and a major in airbrush. After spending six years as an airbrush illustrator he eventually crossed over to the computer. The first several years in Los Angeles were spent working with an illustration and design studio in Santa Monica. This was where Tony refined his computer skills and began developing the style that he uses today. For about two and a half years Tony worked almost exlusively on designing posters, calendars, book covers, and video box covers for the hit show "The X-Files".

His transition into Pin-up/Fantasy art came shortly after that when he started developing the When Darkness Falls Vampire Series. Using what little knowledge of photography he had from shooting his own referene as an illustrator, he started photographing friends and acquaintances on evenings and weekends. Those photographs would later serve at the foundation for his vampire series. By the time he was wrapping up the series he was being contacted by Playmates, Penthouse Pets, and some adult film stars wanting to get involved in the project that was starting to develop quite a buzz among the model circuit in Los Angeles. Tony categorizes his art as photo-based illustration.



Amazon: When Darkness Falls 2010 Calendar

Tony travels around the country doing pin-up, comic and horror conventions to market and promote his prints, books, and calendars. In 2004 Tony's debut book, The Dark Art of Tony Mauro, was released worldwide by a publisher in Germany.

The Dark Art of Tony Mauro ) 

Amazon: The Dark Art of Tony Mauro

Commercially Mauro has spent the last 9 years designing movie posters for every major film studio in Hollywood. Some of the campaigns he is credited for designing are The Pirates of the Caribbean Intl, M. Knight Shyamalans The Village, The Pink Panther, Friday Night Lights, The Chronicles of Narnia and Black Christmas to name a few. You've probably also seen his work gracing numerous video game box covers such as Marvel's Ultimate Alliance, Medal of Honor, Brothers in Amrs, Diablo, WarCraft 2, Clive Barker's Undying and most recently Spiderman Friend or Foe.

Tony has recently returned to his home town of Buffalo, NY, to focud more of his time on his fantasy art while still freelancing for the entertainment industry designing movie posters as well as crossing over into the world of publishing and book covers.

http://www.darkdayproductions.com/
reviews_and_ramblings: (Default)
2010-02-09 05:55 pm

Paul’s D’Marco by Leiland Dale

The plot of this crime story is quite common, police detective has to investigate on a child serial killer and he has no leads. Mourning sensitive arrives from out of the city to help him solve the case. So far nothing new.

Probably the most interesting thing of all the story is the development of it, told in first point of view from both Matt, the detective, and Paul, the sensitive, and the rarefied atmosphere. Despite the cruel crimes both men witness, there is no “splattering” effect, both the emotional development of the characters than the story follow a quite flow, without rollercoast. Even when the drama occurs, it’s like in undertone, sottovoce, I don’t know how to explain, but it’s like the author’s voice never screams, and instead it’s like a whisper.

As often with cop themed stories, it’s also a Gay for You plot. Matt is just coming out of a bad divorce, and even this event it’s not so dramatic as it could be, Matt lives his divorce as it was just another event in his life. Before meeting Paul, I don’t think Matt has ever had a sexual thought on another man, and truth be told, even if now he desires Paul, it’s like Paul is without gender. Yes, Matt wonders about this sudden desire for another man, but it’s more the unexpected that causes him trouble than the desire in itself; Matt needs only to adjust to the new situation, and everything it will be all right.

Probably the quiet atmosphere is a consequence of Paul’s presence. Due to the overload of sensation he is bombed every day, Paul needs to live in a peaceful situation, and so, even if he is affected by Matt’s initial refusal, both of him as collaborator than possible lover, he simply steps back and waits. Everything will go smoothly in the end, Paul has no need to accelerate them.

I think the author did a good job in dealing with an abused theme like the relationship between cop and sensitive even if, maybe, she didn’t dare so much. I actually didn’t understand if the “restrained” feeling I had reading the story was an intentional feeling dictated by Paul’s particular needs, or if it was instead a consequence of the first experience of the author with this genre. Anyway it was a nice debut, and the “odd” feeling wasn’t negative at all.

http://silverpublishing.info/shop/index.php?main_page=product_book_info&cPath=1&products_id=6&zenid=56d2bdeb56c4e34be9c574de0c4708c7

Amazon Kindle: Paul's D'Marco

Reading List:

http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading list&view=elisa.rolle
reviews_and_ramblings: (Default)
2010-02-09 05:55 pm

Paul’s D’Marco by Leiland Dale

The plot of this crime story is quite common, police detective has to investigate on a child serial killer and he has no leads. Mourning sensitive arrives from out of the city to help him solve the case. So far nothing new.

Probably the most interesting thing of all the story is the development of it, told in first point of view from both Matt, the detective, and Paul, the sensitive, and the rarefied atmosphere. Despite the cruel crimes both men witness, there is no “splattering” effect, both the emotional development of the characters than the story follow a quite flow, without rollercoast. Even when the drama occurs, it’s like in undertone, sottovoce, I don’t know how to explain, but it’s like the author’s voice never screams, and instead it’s like a whisper.

As often with cop themed stories, it’s also a Gay for You plot. Matt is just coming out of a bad divorce, and even this event it’s not so dramatic as it could be, Matt lives his divorce as it was just another event in his life. Before meeting Paul, I don’t think Matt has ever had a sexual thought on another man, and truth be told, even if now he desires Paul, it’s like Paul is without gender. Yes, Matt wonders about this sudden desire for another man, but it’s more the unexpected that causes him trouble than the desire in itself; Matt needs only to adjust to the new situation, and everything it will be all right.

Probably the quiet atmosphere is a consequence of Paul’s presence. Due to the overload of sensation he is bombed every day, Paul needs to live in a peaceful situation, and so, even if he is affected by Matt’s initial refusal, both of him as collaborator than possible lover, he simply steps back and waits. Everything will go smoothly in the end, Paul has no need to accelerate them.

I think the author did a good job in dealing with an abused theme like the relationship between cop and sensitive even if, maybe, she didn’t dare so much. I actually didn’t understand if the “restrained” feeling I had reading the story was an intentional feeling dictated by Paul’s particular needs, or if it was instead a consequence of the first experience of the author with this genre. Anyway it was a nice debut, and the “odd” feeling wasn’t negative at all.

http://silverpublishing.info/shop/index.php?main_page=product_book_info&cPath=1&products_id=6&zenid=56d2bdeb56c4e34be9c574de0c4708c7

Amazon Kindle: Paul's D'Marco

Reading List:

http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading list&view=elisa.rolle
reviews_and_ramblings: (Default)
2010-02-09 10:13 pm

And now for something completely different: Authors who are not trying to tear each other eyes off

Since I list both of them in my friends list and they are both in my Top 100 Gay Novels List, I read both their posts, and I love how they managed to "solve" a question in a very ladylike manner, for once using hearth and mind.

Some fans of the Nightrunner's series by Lynn Flewelling, are commenting on Kirby Crow's Amazon reviews page saying that her Scarlet and the White Wolf series IS NOT like the Nightrunner's one. (http://kirby-crow.livejournal.com/324923.html)

Obviously it's not! Problem is that Amazon's recommendation system is linking the two series together, saying that if you like one, you maybe will like also the other one. (http://www.amazon.com/dp/055359009X/?tag=elimyrevandra-20)

Lynn Flewelling posted to specify that she and Kirby Crow, without any online wank feast, talked about the matter, and in particual Lynn would like to let reader know that they're not at odds with each other. (http://otterdance.livejournal.com/353754.html)

So why don't we all take example from them, and stop to try to raise a storm in a glass of water? The reason why Amazon states that "Customers Ultimately Buy" also the Scarlet and the White Wolf series After Viewing The Nightrunner series, it's probably quite simple: Gay Romance readers probably put both series in the same ListMania, or probably they go to Amazon to buy both series after reading about it on some blog. Mine for first has linked them together in the Top 100 Gay Novels List, but I'm not probably the only one. For example this Friday I will post Lynn Flewelling's Inside Reader list on my LiveJournal; Kirby Crow is listed in my Friends list; many friends of mine are also friends of Kirby and probably fans of Lynn... SO it's only natural that they are connected on Amazon. And BTW, where is the problem? Why you can't enjoy both series without feeling like you are hurting one or the other of the authors?
reviews_and_ramblings: (Default)
2010-02-09 10:13 pm

And now for something completely different: Authors who are not trying to tear each other eyes off

Since I list both of them in my friends list and they are both in my Top 100 Gay Novels List, I read both their posts, and I love how they managed to "solve" a question in a very ladylike manner, for once using hearth and mind.

Some fans of the Nightrunner's series by Lynn Flewelling, are commenting on Kirby Crow's Amazon reviews page saying that her Scarlet and the White Wolf series IS NOT like the Nightrunner's one. (http://kirby-crow.livejournal.com/324923.html)

Obviously it's not! Problem is that Amazon's recommendation system is linking the two series together, saying that if you like one, you maybe will like also the other one. (http://www.amazon.com/dp/055359009X/?tag=elimyrevandra-20)

Lynn Flewelling posted to specify that she and Kirby Crow, without any online wank feast, talked about the matter, and in particual Lynn would like to let reader know that they're not at odds with each other. (http://otterdance.livejournal.com/353754.html)

So why don't we all take example from them, and stop to try to raise a storm in a glass of water? The reason why Amazon states that "Customers Ultimately Buy" also the Scarlet and the White Wolf series After Viewing The Nightrunner series, it's probably quite simple: Gay Romance readers probably put both series in the same ListMania, or probably they go to Amazon to buy both series after reading about it on some blog. Mine for first has linked them together in the Top 100 Gay Novels List, but I'm not probably the only one. For example this Friday I will post Lynn Flewelling's Inside Reader list on my LiveJournal; Kirby Crow is listed in my Friends list; many friends of mine are also friends of Kirby and probably fans of Lynn... SO it's only natural that they are connected on Amazon. And BTW, where is the problem? Why you can't enjoy both series without feeling like you are hurting one or the other of the authors?