Sam and Jason something

 hahahahahahahahahahaha.

Oh my gosh.

So this was a spot I was holding for a little Sam and Jason...not exactly a coda and not exactly for Halloween. But a little something with Jason and Sam. 

I got the idea from my friend Steve Leonard. It's called THE RETURN and it starts thusly:

“I can’t believe you thought I was dead.”

Ethan was laughing, but there was that slightly defensive note in his voice that Sam remembered. His light, restless gaze avoided Sam’s, and Sam remembered that too.

“Hell, yes, I thought you were dead.” Sam did not want to recall the horror of the thing in that shallow grave. The thing that had been wearing the tattered rags of Ethan’s red plaid shirt and rotted jeans with the smear of viridian on what remained of the frayed hem.

If not, Ethan? Who? Who had been buried in that grave wearing Ethan’s clothes?

“And that you’d tell my dad!”

Sam’s attention jerked back to Ethan. “Why wouldn’t you tell him if you were still alive?”

“If I was still alive?” Ethan gaped.

Yeah, he was right. That was a strange thing to say. This was Ethan. So why was he resisting the idea? Why didn’t he want to accept what was right in front of him? This was more than a relief, so much more than good news. This bordered on miraculous.

So why that unsteady but persistent flicker of unease?

Would he have known him if he’d passed him in the street?

Yes.

He’d have known Ethan anywhere.

Sure, he had changed. He was older. Mature. A man. There were little flecks of gray in his unruly eyebrows, same as his father. Silver threads in his soft, dark hair. He still wore it the same: soft waves springing up from his forehead. He was thin. There were crow’s feet around his blue eyes; his fine boned face had a weathered look, and it wasn’t all from painting outdoors in hard sunlight.

--------------------------------------------

Needless to say, I forgot all about holding a space on my blog for it! 

It's not quite done. I'll share it here next Halloween. ;-) 

Sorry for the confusion. 

New(ish) Release: HIDE AND SEEK

 

For museum curator Andrew Allison, the sleepy little Maine village of Safehaven has always lived up to its name—until now. Fleeing an abusive relationship, Andy has returned to Safehaven for a few weeks while he figures out the future and helps his elderly Uncle Cuthbert run his antiques shop. But when Andy arrives, he learns Uncle Cuthbert is in the hospital, critically injured, the victim of a late-night break-in.

Worse, one of the first messages on the shop’s answering machine is from Marcus, Andy’s ex, demanding to know Andy’s whereabouts.

Nor does the bad news stop there. It seems whoever broke into Time in a Bottle is still looking for that mysterious whatever. Something they didn’t find the first time. Something they now believe Andy has.

Something worth killing for?

The good news is former bad boy Quinn Rafferty, Andy’s high school crush, is back in town and interested in renewing their acquaintanceship.

Quinn is not a man to run from things that go bump in the night, be they mysterious midnight prowlers or a relationship-shy, fish-out-of-water museum curator.

But Quinn has a few secrets of his own…

 

 AVAILABLE THRU:

Amazon

Smashwords

Google

Barnes and Noble

Kobo

AUDIBLE

Spec Fiction Author SETH HADDON on Writing REFORGED

 

It's been a long time since I was genuinely excited about the release of a spec fiction novel. I can count my all-time favorite spec fiction writers on two hands--and Ginn Hale takes up one of those hands. :-D But from the minute I read the description of Seth Haddon's Reforged, I was hooked. And that was even before I saw the gorgeous cover art! 

Granted, the book is coming out from Blind Eye Books, so you KNOW it's going to be good. Anyway, when BEB editor extraordinaire Nicole Kimberling asked if I'd like to host Seth on my blog during his launch week, I said, "You know it, milady!" 

Okay, no. I didn't say that. But I was delighted. 

Anyway, here's the blurb for Reforged:

Since time immemorial the warriors of the Paladin Order have harnessed arcane powers to protect their rulers. For Balen, who has given up his chance at love and fought his way to the top of the Paladin Order, there can be no greater honor than to serve his king. But when assassins annihilate the royal family, Balen suddenly finds himself sworn to serve the very man he abandoned.

Now with their nation threatened by enemies both within and outside the kingdom, Balen must fight hidden traitors and unnatural assassins, while also contending with the biting wit and dangerous charm of young King Zavrius. To save themselves and their nation they will have to put aside their past and reforge that trust they lost so long ago.

Available October 4th 

AND here's Seth himself on learning that magic known as PLOTTING. 

Why Writing My Debut Novel Turned Me Off Pantsing

Seth Haddon

 

 

Anyone who knows me knows I am really driven by aesthetics and vibes.

Sadly, these are not enough to write a novel. But that never stopped me from trying.

 

All of my writing is inspired by a scene or aesthetic before I get to any plotting. For Reforged, there were two images that kickstarted the story. The first was an image of the Maximilian I gauntlets–these beautifully articulated gauntlets on a red velvet cushion–and the second was an Edward Light lute-harp from 1815. My initial pitch centered on magical armor and a tournament to be the king’s protector. But anything resembling a solid plot was non-existent.

 

I was still only working part time, so I had the leisure of a few days a week to formulate something plot-wise. I spent a lot of time walking down at the piers trying to conjure ideas. This wasn’t really like me–I had always pantsed my way through a plot before. But I knew I needed something solid here. Why? Reforged was initially pitched as a 20k word novella.

 

Short form writing is a whole other ball game. Before Reforged, I’d written a necromancer manuscript, and then edited it, and edited it some more. It was 100k, then 112k, and at one point it had ballooned to 150k. I tried pitching it to agents, but all my full requests fell through.

 

I realise now the result of my edits and credits was this amalgamated mess of a novel that is still sitting on my shelf waiting to be rewritten. But in the moment, it was really all I’d known. I wrote what came to me in the moment.

 

So knowing I’d have to contain my usual rambling self to 20k words, I researched and poked around the internet until I found a good spreadsheet template to flesh out. I had one that tracked the words in every scene, and I was determined to keep it under the word limit.

 

As you might have guessed, I failed. The first chapter of Reforged was 6k, and I’d barely gotten through the first two scenes. A novella wasn’t happening, but a tightly plotted story could be. But if I’m going to be honest, that didn’t happen either.

 

When I say I was turned off pantsing, I’m not saying I completely ignored flexibility and stuck to a rigid plot. I really don’t believe adaptability is something to be ignored. There’s great value in letting go of a rigid structure when the story wants to change. And that is what ended up happening in Reforged.

 

I was consistently getting feedback from Blind Eye Book’s editor, Nicole Kimberling. That meant, on a weekly basis, I was having plot holes and inconsistencies pointed out to me. Things were pushed in different directions. Some of the scenes I’d initially imagined never came to fruition. Half of that was because the characters were very different from how I’d first envisioned them. Zavrius in particular was less villainous, and far more witty. He really had a mind of his own half the time.

 

The point here is that a properly rigid plot structure was impossible. But so was pantsing. By the end of Reforged, I felt I had a firm grasp on what novel writing should be. I’d still consider vibes and aesthetics a crucial part of the process, but I’m no longer willing to rely on them and nothing more solid. In order for the novel to have a truly meaningful climax, all elements of it have to build in some specific direction. For me, a balanced pace wasn’t possible without clear markers, which were achievable with a more structured plot.

 

But every writer has a different way of working, and if you can do all that with only vibes and aesthetics, I take my hat off to you!

 

That’s all from me! Feel free to reach out with your thoughts on this!

 

Join Seth on Facebook for news and updates! 

The Mystery of Hallmark's Movies and Mysteries Programming

 

I was trying to figure out what in the blue blazes happened to Hallmark Movies and Mysteries handsdown best series Mystery 101, when I stumbled on this little gem of an article at Giant Freaking Robot wherein I learned that Hallmark is locked in mortal combat with something called Great American Media. 

Just the name alone, right? CLUE.

You can read the article for the full details, but one little nugget I gleaned is that some blame Hallmark's struggles for audience share on all that wild and crazy diversity Hallmark is shoving down everyone's throats. 

Which... HUH? I guess they mean there are a couple of shows with African American leads and a couple of holiday movies with...GULP...g-g-gay people? 

For example, Bill Abbott, the departing CEO of Crown Media Family (which owns the Hallmark Channel) AND an outspoken opponent of  "diversity and inclusion initiatives," shared his concern that they (diversity and inclusion???)  will change the tone of a channel where once, viewers could expect light-hearted fun without having to consider “dark situations, violence, sexual situations, things that just…create anxiety," says Abbott. His goals for Great American Media involve the integrity of its stars and heartwarming stories.

Take a moment to unpack all that and then consider the quaint notion that gay people are somehow not compatible with Faith, Family, and Country or lighthearted fun and heartwarming content.

For HEAVEN'S SAKE. And I do mean that literally. What is the MATTER with you weirdos? 

Why on earth would stories about LGBTQ people have to be dark, violent and sexual? Do you think maybe you're projecting a wee bit?

But I'm not even going to try and tackle that level of insanity. Instead, I'm going to point out the obvious to whoever is currently in charge of programming over at Hallmark Movies and Mysteries. Oh. Right. Michelle Vicary.

If you call your channel Movies and MYSTERIES, you obviously want to attract MYSTERY viewers. You know, viewers who like MYSTERIES. And who have probably ALREADY seen all the episodes of Monk, Murder, She Wrote, Diagnosis Murder and Hart to Hart like a BILLION times. That's not fresh content, nor do we need to turn to Hallmark to see old shows that are pretty much streamable on every content provider we have. 

NOR do your regular non-mystery viewers need to turn to the Movies and MYSTERIES channel to see the same schmaltzy content they can see on all your other channels.

Do you understand what I'm saying, Michelle? Viewers like me tune into Movies and MYSTERIES because we're hoping to see more MYSTERIES. Not just mysteries, mysteries with that peculiarly cozy comforting Hallmark vibe. The Faith, Family, Country vibe that--dare I say it?--is not the exclusive property of straight, white, right-wingers who create their content mostly in CANADA.

Do I wish you had a cozy mystery series or two that featured LGBTQ protags? I sure do. But at this point I'd be thrilled if you had ANY mysteries featuring ANY credible protags. I want to scream every time another of those month-long Christmas in Another Inappropriate Month extravaganzas start. 

You had some charming little mystery shows with devoted followings: Mystery 101, the Martha's Vineyard mysteries, the Crossword Mysteries, and even Ruby Herring (she was growing on me!). 

Personally, I think Aurora Teagarden and Hannah Swenson--as much as I enjoyed them both--have run their course, so oh well.

And then there were the so-so offerings. They tried. You tried. I respect that. 

What I don't respect, let alone understand, is yanking shows that were just getting their footing, finding their audience, bringing in the views and market share you desperately need. That's not how the mystery world works! That's not how you win a mystery reading-viewing audience. Mysteries are more cerebral than romance. You have to win our minds as well as our hearts. It takes time. It takes more than beloved Aunt Joan dying in a freak logging accident and leaving spunky Samantha a Christmas Tree farm and a cranky but hunky (widowed-with-one-adorable-poppet) head lumber jack who's forgotten the meaning of Christmas.

I'll be frank. I think you lost your nerve. I see a new crop of not-very-promising contenders. Maybe Francesca Quinn, PI. Maybe. But I'm afraid to get my hopes up. I'm afraid to commit to any of your new shows because you broke that most sacred covenant. You commited the worst crime you can against a mystery reader: you cancelled mid-series. ON A CLIFF HANGER. 

P.S. Signed, Sealed, and Delivered is NOT a mystery.

Now Available! HIDE AND SEEK in Audio

 

For museum curator Andrew Allison, the sleepy little Maine village of Safehaven has always lived up to its name—until now. Fleeing an abusive relationship, Andy has returned to Safehaven for a few weeks while he figures out the future and helps his elderly Uncle Cuthbert run his antiques shop. But when Andy arrives, he learns Uncle Cuthbert is in the hospital, critically injured, the victim of a late-night break-in.

Worse, one of the first messages on the shop’s answering machine is from Marcus, Andy’s ex, demanding to know Andy’s whereabouts.

Nor does the bad news stop there. It seems whoever broke into Time in a Bottle is still looking for that mysterious whatever. Something they didn’t find the first time. Something they now believe Andy has.

Something worth killing for?

The good news is former bad boy Quinn Rafferty, Andy’s high school crush, is back in town and interested in renewing their acquaintanceship.

Quinn is not a man to run from things that go bump in the night, be they mysterious midnight prowlers or a relationship-shy, fish-out-of-water museum curator.

But Quinn has a few secrets of his own…

NOW ON AUDIBLE

Cozy Mystery Giveaway!

 If you're a lover of cozy mysteries, you're probably well aware that 99.9% of cozies feature female protagonists. Unlike NO sex, NO swearing, or NO on-screen violence, that's not a rule or anything; it's just how it shakes out. 

That said, there are a handful of cozies (typically gay and occasionally referred to as "quozies") which do feature male protagonists. My own Secrets and Scrabble series, for one. SC Wynne's Kip O'Connor series. In mainstream we have Rob Osler's Devil's Chew Toy. Come to think of it, Dean James' may have started us out with his charming Simon Kirby-Jones gay vampire series, back in the day.

ANYWAY. That was a needlessly long intro to the fact that I'm taking part in a cozy mystery giveaway featuring cozies with male protagonists (a sprinkling of LGBTQ, but mostly not) which you can sample by CLICKING THIS LINK. 

What I Did on My Summer Vacation - 2022

 

Other than nearly slicing my thumb off Tuesday night (ugh, don't ask) all is well in the land of Lanyon.

Unlike last year, this summer has been both creative and productive and, better still, pretty much drama-free. I completed The Movie-Town Murders, Death at the Deep Dive, and Hide and Seek. 

The sibs and I are rehearsing and performing again--and batting around the idea of producing an eighth album. 

I've got lots of audio coming, new translations, etc.

Currently, I'm working on Puzzle for Two (for Patreon) and Lament at Loon Landing (Secrets and Scrabble 6) with no hard ETA on either. 

That's pretty much the update. I KNOW. THRILLING STUFF. :-D

My social media presence is pretty minimal right now. I guess I'm choosing to be present in real life as opposed to the virtual space where I spent the last twenty years? These last precious days of summer are being spent on swimming, gardening, experimenting with cocktails (hey, someone's gotta do it) playing with the pups, reading a little, writing a lot, and watching a fair bit of TV (I'm probably consuming more news than I should, but the midterms are coming and I want to brace myself). I got my first hair cut in three years and my first facial in six months. 

We've had houseguests and family get-togethers. Life is returning to normal. This weekend we're getting our next booster shot.

The new normal. 

You really can't ask for more than that. Yes, everything is different now. The pandemic years changed... everything. Changed me. But I'm happy and I'm more creative (and more productive) than I've been in years, so it's all good.

And what did you do on your summer vacation? 

Farewell, Lilibet

 

Five Things I Love Right Now

Five Things I Love Right Now

1 - Vocal practice - 

There's something really satisfying about stretching for and cleanly hitting those difficult upper and lower register notes. It's taken some work getting my range back after just about three years of not singing. Not just not performing, but not singing at all. 

2 - Beauty crime bloggers -

What a weird-ass combo. And yet there's something peculiarly relaxing about listening to someone discuss ghastly murder while they expertly apply makeup. 

Side note: One of the funniest things is listening to other YouTube crime vloggers bitch/criticize the beauty crime vloggers as "frivolous" or of "trivializing tragedy" or "turning murder into entertainment." Uh...yes. Because that's what YOU ALL DO. While it's true that citizen sleuths are a thing, anyone posting on YouTube is doing it for entertainment purposes. In the same way that Dateline is as much entertainment as journalism.

3 - Felix the Cat -

Everything I know about life I learned from Felix. 

 

4 - Discretion

Are there any two more boring words in the English language than TELL ALL? 

5 - WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS

I haven't laughed this hard in centu--er, years.

 

Death at the Deep Dive Playlist

 

THE PLAYLIST

Mills Brothers - Nevertheless (I'm In Love With You)

The Surfaris - Wipe Out

Regina Spektor - The Call

The Beach Boys - I Get Around 

Jason Donovan - Sealed With A Kiss 

The Mills Brothers - I'll Be Around

One Direction - Fireproof 

OneRepublic - Someday 

The Beach Boys - Don't Worry Baby

Dick Dale - Miserlou

Owl City - If My Heart Was a House 

The Mills Brothers - Till Then

DEATH AT THE DEEP DIVE: Secrets and Scrabble 7

Death at the Deep Dive: Secrets and Scrabble 7 is now available (I think) everywhere. 

Yes, I released Book 7 before Book 6. If you missed my weeks of explanation on various platforms, I'll explain again. 

 I was writing both books at the same time--and enjoying myself very much--when I realized that, as creatively satisfying as that method was, I was in danger of missing another deadline and losing preorders for Death at the Deep Dive. Which, for obvious reasons, I did not want to do. So I moved Death at the Deep Dive up, pushed Lament for Loon Landing back, and that's how we ended up where we are today. 

The good news is a lot of you still got the book at the preorder price! YAY.

There is no bad news. Lament at Loon Landing is coming probably at the end of September. The mystery in each book is COMPLETELY separate. There is no overlap. There is a plot point--a turning point--for the emotional lives and relationships of the characters, in this installment. So if you're reading for the mystery, there should be no problem. If you're reading for the relationship, maybe this would bother you? It wouldn't bother me, but if you think it's going to be an issue, hold off reading until Lament at Loon Landing comes out. 

Personally, I think this is the best of the series so far (previously, my favorite was Mystery at the Masquerade). 

The print version is coming momentarily. The audio is scheduled-ish for December.

BLURB:

We only see the things on the surface…

 

When Pirate Cove’s favorite mystery bookstore owner and sometimes-amateur sleuth Ellery Page discovers a vintage diving collection bag full of antique gold coins tucked away for safe-keeping in the stockroom of the Crow’s Nest, it sets off a series of increasingly dangerous events, culminating in murder.

 

 EXCERPT:

“Cheers,” Jack said.

“Yo ho ho,” Ellery replied. He sipped his cobalt cocktail. “Mm.” The tart sweetness of the cocktail and the crackling warmth of the nearby fireplace were the perfect pairing for a chilly autumn night. He felt like he’d been waiting to exhale ever since dumping those coins on his desk. “I have to say I’m very relieved you-know-what is you-know-where. The thought that it was just lying there in that cupboard all this time makes me feel a little queasy.”

“Any chance that it wasn’t in the cupboard the whole time? I thought Felix said he left it out on a storage shelf.”

Felix Jones, Libby Tulley’s boyfriend and the son of Pirate Cove’s previous mayor, had pitched in for a short time at the Crow’s Nest while Ellery had been convalescing.

“He must have been mistaken. It was his last day at work and his last day on the island, so it’s no wonder if he was distracted. When I asked him, he barely remembered Cap giving him the bag.”

Jack made a noncommittal noise and sipped his beer.

“Whoever broke in would have to have been in a hurry.” 

Jack conceded, “The assumption would be you had looked in the bag and so it was unlikely to have been left in the shop at all.”

“Exactly!”

Jack studied Ellery for a moment. His smile twisted. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. First off, there’s no proof the collection bag you found belonged to Vernon Shandy. The assumption is the deep dive suit was his, but there are plenty of other divers on this island. No one knows for a fact who hid that suit in the warehouse with the Historical Society’s collection. Or for what reason.”

“To hide those coins,” Ellery said.

Jack shook his head. “That’s an assumption.”

“It’s a working theory. And it’s the most logical.”

“Maybe. But let’s say you’re right. Let’s go with your theory that the suit belonged to the Shandys and that the suit was stashed away to hide the coins.”

“Doubloons.”

Jack laughed. “You really do love the idea of pirate’s treasure, don’t you? If your eyes were any shinier, they’d be glowing.”

Ellery laughed and sat back in his chair. He shrugged. “Okay, yes. I do love the idea of pirate’s treasure.”

“Especially pirate’s treasure with a mystery attached.”

Ellery couldn’t help pointing out, “Wouldn’t all pirates’ treasures have a certain amount of mystery attached?”

“Hm. Good point. But here’s what I was getting at. Even if we go with your theory about who owned the collection bag and why it was concealed, it still doesn’t prove those coins came from the Blood Red Rose.”

“Ah. Okay. You’re right.”

“There are a lot of wrecks in the waters around this island.”

“True. I’ll give you that one.”

Jack laughed. “Thank you. And finally, even if your theories are correct about who owned the diving suit and collection bag, where the coins came from, and why they were hidden in the Historical Society’s collection, there’s still no proof that Vernon Shandy was murdered.”

“I wouldn’t go that far,” Ellery objected. “Something happened to him.”

“Something, yes. One way or the other, he left the island. That’s for sure. But the surrounding circumstances are unknown.” As Ellery opened his mouth to debate this, Jack continued, “And there are plenty of reasons the Shandys might want to conceal those circumstances.”

Tom returned to the table, bearing platters of golden deep-fried fish, crispy french fries, and tangy coleslaw. He set the sizzling plates before them. “Another round?”

Jack asked Ellery, “Are you driving back to Captain’s Seat or staying over?”

There had been a time, not so long ago, when Jack would not have so casually or so openly asked that question.

Ellery smiled. “If Watson and I haven’t worn out our welcome?”

Jack gave him the slightest of winks and said to Tom, “Another round, thanks.” He added to Ellery, “We can always walk home.”

Tom gave Ellery a droll look. “Coming right up!”

Tom departed, Ellery and Jack reached for the salt and pepper shakers, exchanged the vinegar bottle, repositioned the little jars of tartar sauce.

Jack broke off a piece of fried cod and said, as though there had been no interruption, “I’m not trying to bust your balloon. Obviously, there’s an element of mystery surrounding these events. It just doesn’t automatically, inevitably indicate murder.”

“Well, no, of course not.” Ellery chewed thoughtfully on a french fry.

Jack observed him for a moment. “Which isn’t going to stop you from poking your nose into other people’s business and asking a lot of awkward questions, is it?”

Ellery’s brows shot up in surprise. “Me? Come on, Jack, whatever happened to Vernon Shandy is none of my business. Anyway, even if something sinister did occur, it was over half a century ago. Nobody’s going to remember anything this long after the fact. Assuming anyone involved is still around. Which is unlikely. Right?”

Jack sighed, shook his head. “That’s what I thought.”

 

BUY FROM YOUR FAVORITE BOOKSELLER 

A Conversation with Aki Fuyuto and Yooichi Kadono

 

One of the most validating things that can happen to a writer is when their work gets picked up for translation. As much as we'd all like to believe our work is "universal," the only actual proof you have that that might be even a little true is when a publisher in another country is willing to invest in your writing-- believes that their audience will enjoy your stories and be able to relate to your characters enough to actually make their investment a reasonable business decision.

There are practical aspects to having your work translated, as well, of course. First off, we're all always seeking ways to expand our audience, Secondly, that passive income stream can occasionally be a lifesaver. Which is why I warn against blithely handing over your translation rights when you sign with a publisher. Just because no one is interesting in translating you now doesn't mean that will always be the case. The global market is booming. Which means so is the translation market.

My work's been translated into a number of languages at this point, and I still love seeing the translated covers and hearing from fans who've only (or mostly) read me in their native language. Their comments and questions are particularly interesting, framed as they are by cultural differences.

Anyway, my Japanese translations are some of my very favorites. Partly that has to do with how engaged the Japanese readership is, partly it has to do with the fact that (the publisher) Shinshokan has been really good to work with--I feel like over the years my translator has become a friend--and partly it has to do with the fact that these translations are illustrated. Because of the wonderful art, a surprising number of my readers who don't speak Japanese have gone ahead and bought the translations! (So...kind of genuis on the part of the publisher. ;-))

Because I'm asked so often about the translation process (by other writers, yes, but also by readers), I thought it would be interesting to "interview" translator Aki Fuyuto and artist Yooichi Kadono (who, among other works, does the illustrations on the Art of Murder series).  

******

Hello to Josh and the readers of this blog! We are excited to get a chance to talk about ourselves here.
For those who wonder who we are, here is some information about ourselves.

Aki Fuyuto: a translator, mainly working on M/M romances with Monochrome Romance label, a sub label of Shinshokan. My first work as a translator was Josh's 'Icecapade.'
https://shinshokan.com/monochrome/

Yooichi Kadono: an illustrator. Worked in the film industry, which led to painting. With an offer from an editor in Shinshokan, started as an illustrator. My first work as an illustrator was Josh's 'The Case of Christmas.'
https://twitter.com/kadonoyoo


JL - Are you able to choose your own projects or are they assigned to you? If you're able to choose, what attracts you to a particular work? What do you look for? And if you're not able to choose, then what do you find especially satisfying in a work?

Aki Fuyuto: Yes, I can. I make a short list of M/M romance to translate for the publisher and decide with them which one is to be next.
What attracts me is difficult to put into words, but I like the intensity between two people and love to watch it turn their lives upside down, so savagely.

JL - That's it, isn't it? Love is a disrupter and a catalyst for change. It's not always positive--although in our stories it is.

Yooichi Kadono: I don't choose the project. I'll do it if an offer comes, unless I have other things already scheduled. I love to experience the new and unknown. I don't know much about 'satisfaction' in a work, um.

JL - :-D :-D :-D 


JL- What advice do you have for others wishing to enter your fields?    

Fuyuto: Love languages, dictionaries, and Google Search. Sometimes the latter two deceive you, so don't trust them, just be pals with them!

JL - Yes, more than once, Google Search has broken my heart. ;-D

Kadono: Most crucial thing is staying healthy. Even in the busiest time, you have to take good care of yourself.

JL - I think artists in general have trouble remembering this.

Questions for Aki Fuyuto

JL - My feeling is translation is a greatly under-appreciated art. How did you become interested in this line of work? Do you also write original fiction?

AF - I was always interested in translation work as a reader. It's fascinating to get a glimpse through the "window" between two languages.

But becoming a translator... kind of just happened. When my editor contacted me, I was merely an active M/M romance reader and reviewer. After giving some advice about the M/M genre, like which books were popular, I got a chance to translate one of them, so I went for it, thinking it's now or never.

I used to write some fan-fiction and original fiction, though not since starting as a translator. There is just no time. Maybe one day?

JL - That's so interesting! I had no idea. I think this is inspiring for other aspiring translators to read.

JL - What would you say is the greatest challenge in your work? For example I think humor must be especially tricky to translate.

AF - Oh, humor and jokes are always the most difficult ones! When a character says "no pun intended," I want to mutter "SO WHY YOU SAID THAT?" so many times, haha.

JL - *whistling and looking skyward*

AF - Sometimes a word or words contain cultural backgrounds, like history or common knowledge which is not so common here, it gives me a massive headache.

JL - I'm assuming that translation is a fairly solitary occupation. Is that a plus or minus for you? Did you find it difficult to work during the first years of the pandemic?

AF - I think it's a plus for me, being not much of a social person. So staying home during the early pandemic was not so difficult for me as for some others. Though I miss the long train trip so much.

JL -  - What is your work day like? Do you work under tight deadlines?

AF - Usually, I work from noon to night after getting some household chores done.

Not with so tight deadlines, unless when the publishing date gets dangerously closer and closer.

JL - The deadlines do have a habit of sneaking up, knife in hand. ;-D

JL - What do you wish authors, readers, (really anyone) better understood about the work you do?

AF - Just be kind to a messenger, haha. Sometimes translators ask so trivially-seemed questions to authors, but please bear with us!

JL - For the record, I never mind the questions! My Chinese translators catch a lot of funny little inconsistencies in the AE series, which is amusing, but also mmakes me think HOW HAVE THESE BEEN MISSED ALL THESE YEARS? :-D

JL - Which is your favorite of our shared titles/series? And why?

AF - Adrien English Mysteries, though this is a tough question and I may choose other books if asked other days.

I first read AE Mysteries a little time after I found the M/M romance world so that I could enjoy reading as just a reader. The feeling I got while reading them is rich, intricate, and sometimes almost painful. That made this series so special for me and led me deeper into M/M romances.

JL - Those characters still live in my thoughts and imaginings.

JL - How do you refresh your creative energy? Where do you find inspiration?

AF - Playing with my 4-year-old cat, cooking challenging recipes, walking around with my camera, and watching sports on TV like tennis or marathon.

These days, I love going to figure skating shows!

JL - I love seeing the pictures of your cat! 

JL - What relationship advice would you give to Sam Kennedy and Jason West if you could talk to them? ;-D

AF - Wow, relationship advice to those two? I think it's beyond my capacity! LOL.

JL - EVIL LAUGHTER

AF - i have a joint answer with Kadono-san for this, so see below for our solution.

JL - Do you have advice for authors hoping to have their work translated into the Japanese language?

AF - Um, honestly, not much to give. The translation market in Japan is sadly not big, so it depends on the luck mostly to be picked. Just please make sure to put in your contact information if you self-publish! There is no guarantee, but I'm always seeking good M/M short stories, so give me a shout if you have a story under 15,000 words, I promise to get a look.

My Twitter account: https://twitter.com/wintzer

English account: https://twitter.com/AkiFuyuto

Questions for Yooichi Kadono

JL - I know Aki told you I'm a huge fan of your work. My niece is now also a great fan and so the first question comes from her. She'd like to know the artists you feel have most influenced your own work and also the artists you think most highly of.

YK - There are so many...though this two are very special for me, Tabata Kihachi III and Dries Van Noten.

Tabata Kihachi III, 三代 田畑喜八(1899−1956), was a textile-dyeing craftsman for luxury kimonos, and his book 'Flora sketches,' 三代 田畑喜八の草花図, is my favorite. His artistic flow feels so free and pleasant, so natural to me.

https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/483810507X

Seeing the collection of Dries Van Noten always inspires me. Especially, I love those collections in 1993, 2015,16, and 17.

His documentary film is also my favorite, I feel super recharged every time after watching it.

JL -  Do you select the scenes you illustrate or are those scenes chosen for you? If you choose the scenes, how do you make your choice? If the scenes are chosen for you, do you find that difficult?     

YK - The editor selects the scenes more often than not for me, though it depends on the case. It takes the same amount of effort, regardless of whether I select the scene or not.                            

JL - What is your work day like? Do you find that deadlines constrain your creativity?

YK - Getting out of bed at ten in the morning, working from noon after lunch, taking dinner at six in the evening, working again from seven, and going to bed at three. (Actually, I want to get up at five in the morning and sleep at 10 in the evening!)

Deadlines make me more concentrated, but I hate it when a shortage of time rushes me to decide on composition without thinking through it.

JL - Yes, deadlines have a way of doing that. ;-D And I agree.

JL - What do you find most challenging or difficult in your work?

YK - To materialize the image in my head, while the images are always so ahead of my hand. It’s the most challenging and frustrating thing.

JL - I was so excited to learn that you have two books out. Please tell us a little about those (include links!)

'MEN IN SUITS'

Many men in suites sketches!

https://amzn.asia/d/d58pAPu

'YOOICHI KADONO Sketches'

Simple sketches is the theme, I think...

https://amzn.asia/d/12q86H7

JL - I have to interject here to say that I have both of these books and they are WONDERFUL. I highly recommend them!

JL - Which is your favorite of our shared titles/series? And why?

'Night Watch.' I cried a lot, to my surprise, when I read it the first time. It feels like Henry's words and actions helped me during that hard time.

The Art of Murder series is also my favorite!

JL - Of course I love all your work, but the art in that particular series is genuinely inspiring. I can't wait to see what you do with The Movie-Town Murders.

JL - I'm assuming that illustration, like translation (or just writing!) is a fairly solitary occupation. Is that a plus or minus for you? Did you find it difficult to work during the first years of the pandemic?

YK - It has a plus and a minus. The plus tops the minus very slightly, by a grain of sand, making the solitariness easier so I can get along with it.

I'm also an indoor person like Fuyuto-san, so it's not difficult to work during the pandemic years. However, my close one got Covid and was admitted to a hospital for a long time, I think the experience changed my perspective more than a little.

JL - I'm so sorry! I hope they're better now.

JL  -  What relationship advice would you give to Sam Kennedy and Jason West if you could talk to them? ;-D

Fuyuto: Wow...really?

Kadono: I don't think they will have an ear for the advice, especially from us. LOL.

Fuyuto: Their communication skills are dubious, to say the least.

Kadono: Though it seems they talk to each other pretty frankly on the phone...

Fuyuto: THAT'S IT.

So our relationship advice to them is that:

Talk to each other on the phone, even when they are face to face at the same place.

JL - LOL. I have to work it into the final book somehow. :-D

JL - I love and appreciate every artist who helps bring my stories to life, but something in your work particularly resonates with me. What do you consider your strengths as an artist? What are you always seeking to improve?

YK - Umm...I'm not sure how to answer this. My strength as an artist...may...be...endurance? Never giving up art?

The thing I'm trying to get is the basics. Sometimes I get back to the basics to learn again from there.

AF & YK - We want to ask you some questions too!

What do you think of translation, not a particular work but a whole idea of translation, as an author? (Fuyuto)

JL - I think I answered this a bit above, but I find it validating yet also humbling. One thing that is always on my mind is the concern that I'm representing these characters (who ultimately become symbolic) correctly. Not just the characters, but also U.S. culture and society. Portraying things fairly yet accurately (or as best I can given that my viewpoint is subjective and my experiences limited) without getting overly political. If that makes sense.

YK - Do you visit museums often? If so, can you tell me some encounters you remember well? What opinion do you have about the restoration of old artwork? (Kadono)

JL - I don't visit museums as much as I used to or would want to. I love all kinds of museums. The last large museum I went to was the Met in New York a few summers ago with a dear friend. That was wonderful. I could have stayed all day.  And then when the SO and I went to Montreal, I dragged him to just about every museum we came across. He's a huge fan of Tom Thomson , so we tried to find every exhibit we could. I also love little weird hole-in-the-wall museums! 

When it comes to art restoration, I want art to be protected and preserved. What I struggle with is when, for example, an earlier sketch or an an abandoned idea by the artist is discovered and then "restored." From my perspective, the artist's final vision is what matters and what must be preserved. Also, like Jason West, I get a little homicidal when it comes to people who steal or damage these treasures that are part of our world heritage. These things belong to all of us. So even if I believe in a particular political cause, if someone glues themselves to a irreplaceable piece of art, I'm okay with doing any necessary damage to them to save that work of art. (Which doesn't mean I won't continue to donate to that cause.)

Do you have a favorite tea? (We just want to know a trivial thing about you!)

JL - I do! White peony tea is my favorite. 

I want to thank my two talented guests for being so generous with their time and information! I so much enjoyed learning a little bit about you both. I hope it won't be our last such converation! :-) 

WHERE TO BUY JAPANESE TRANSLATIONS

WE INTERRUPT THIS BROADCAST

 I was hoping--planning--to have my interview with my Japanese translator Aki Fuyuto and artist Yooichi Kadono up today, but I'm in the feverish stage of writing when the home stretch is in sight and I can't concentrate on anything else. 

I might actually hit this deadline! Which, given the interruptions of the last week (and yesterday in particular) is no small feat. 

Anyway, next Friday the interview will be up for sure and OH HOW WE WILL LAUGH ABOUT ANOTHER CLOSE CALL. Fingers crossed.

In the meantime, sorry for the delay. I have to say though, I think this book is especially delightful, but maybe that's the heat getting to me...