ManLove Monday: Josh Lanyon and I (Goof Off)

Well that thing with James Buchanan seemed to work out pretty well. I gave James an assignment, and like a good lazybones, I sat idly and let someone else handle it. Works for me! More than works...it’s a plan for future MLM’s! Why do something when you can get your cohorts to do it for you? No. That’s terrible. I don’t mean that. Remember, kids, in this time of year as our children embark for colleges and the real world, we want to project a positive life message…Oh something like: Effort Counts! I spent a freak of a lot of effort roping my pal Josh Lanyon into handling today’s festivities. Yay for effort!

OK so welcome, special guest, Josh Lanyon, m/m author and how to guy (uh how to write m/m not, you know, practice m/m….cuz that would be wrong *ed note: did that sound right?)...who is back for another ManLove Monday. Although this time we're goofing off. Clearly. Anywho, Josh is the author of The Adrien English Mysteries, Snowball in Hell, Dangerous Grounds...ok he's got a bunch of books out. And they're yummy yummy. This summer Josh has two book releases planned: I Spy Something Bloody and (please remain calm) Death of a Pirate King (aka Adrien IV). I shall not "woot" here. woot woot woot.

Men in Uniform. One thing for sure is that Josh likes to write about men in uniform. And we fanyons love to read about them. What is it about a cop that intrigues us and adds fuel to our (raging) fantasy life? It can't only be phrases like : Up against the wall! or Spread em!..or This body cavity search should only take a moment miss....No? that doesn't happen to you? Huh?

HOT COPS...phewie...Josh had some interesting things to say about what makes them compelling.

So. Josh, what's your take on this cop thing?

Well, Lisabea, it's all about the gun.

Wha-??? Really? All about the gun? Jump right in. I mean I thought the cuffs were kinda appealing but if—

It's the knowledge that this person is in theory licensed to kill -- it's power and it’s primitive.

And it sort of makes you feel...safe when it's protecting you versus...aimed at you. There's the best dressed guy in the room, and there's the best armed guy: who do you want to be with? Seriously, though, these guys -- soldiers, cops -- as a society we give them the power of life and death, the right to make these life and death decisions -- which is kind of the ultimate power. And power is sexy.

Licensed to kill. It is sexy...I'm thinking James Bond here. Wow, J, you're always so smart and on task...

And of course phallic symbols galore -- detachable penises

HOLY CRAP…did he say…detachable wasssits?? OK yes! We like that as well!

But mostly...it's the power (and responsibility) that comes with being the guy who carries the gun.

Power, responsibility, phallic. CHECK. This is going way better than I anticipated.

If you think about the personality types who are attracted to law enforcement...the sane ones, I mean...it's the white knight thing. Guys who want to make a difference, who want to protect and serve. That's pretty cool. Because everybody else is just trying to make it through to the weekend.

It is pretty cool. And heroic actually. I hold those guys in the highest possible regard...except for when I get pulled over. 50 in a 30..I mean C'MON! See they're also, well, for lack of a better word-rigid.

You also have the bad guys -- the bad apples .. LOL. er...Yes! Straight arrows.

I mean all the cops I know (the ones that haven’t arrested me or written me tickets or rescued me when my FREAKING tire fell off the car WHILE I was driving it) are uptight. They stand tall and unyielding. How can I find that so achingly hot?

...but in a good way...(you are SO getting me off the track)

Moi? Because in the long run, I just want to pants them and run away. Which is not a good instinct. Er. Do you think these dudes can serve as a muse? Or are they an object of lust? Or maybe a both?

Well , it's not exclusive. They can be both. Anyway, I really enjoy exploring that dynamic between power and weakness. Civilian and cop/soldier -- because it is a very different mindset. It creates a natural, realistic tension between the characters...and I'm totally forgetting what I was trying to say...

I seem to have that effect on people. OMG wait! Are we weak?

We're weak in that we -- most of us -- don't carry a gun, and most of us are not prepared to think like soldiers or cops in a crisis.

Well, I carry a cellphone.

Very often we're not eve--ha! yes! exactly. TO CALL FOR HELP.

Oh BURN. I use my cell to text my daughter things like: TAKE OUT THE GARBAGE.

Hey, but yes. Metaphorically speaking, these are the guys we call to take out the garbage. (Are you admiring my segue? I can feel your eyes on my segue. I am!) These are the guys who don't have the option of ignoring the trouble, the problem, the loony bloggers. That would not be directed at you, by the way.

I am so sure.

And of course – uniforms. Speaking of the best dressed man in the room.

There's a distance there with the uniform, right. Like me professional and all firm and disciplinary..and you..uh..not so much.

Uh...no. Yes. No. Anyway...the uniform thing...well, what is it about uniforms?

Distance....authority

Yes. And not having to worry about matching shirts with trousers.

::Snort:: Control. ( I did not shiver here).

And it scares some people. It's supposed to. It's supposed to underline the difference.

It's almost..de-humanizing, right?

Which is also a little sexy.

Right. Yes.And they give nothing away..which is why Jake (that prick) is so compelling. I cannot help myself. He’s authoritative, disciplined, and fighting desire for Adrien every step of the way.

In the Adrien English series, Jake sees himself as one of the good guys -- and he is one of the good guys, but the (I think) ironic thing about Jake and Adrien is that Adrien is actually braver than Jake. He's got this potentially life-threatening illness, and he never whines, never trades on it. He's knows exactly who he is, and he's up front about it. Not in a rude, challenging way -- he hates confrontation -- just...this is who he is, and he won't pretend otherwise. And when things come to a crisis between himself and Jake, he faces it. He doesn't tell himself comfortable lies. He just deals with it. Which takes a lot of courage. And that's what I like to show in...well, pretty much all my stories. The balance of power and why two different men find each other attractive -- why finding the right other person balances you. Makes you stronger. Of course in a story like Snowball in Hell, Nathan, the journalist and civilian, is the fearful one -- at least, fearful on certain levels. While Matt, the cop, is the centered one.

STOP. I love Snowball In Hell, you know I do...but back to my BFF, Adrien. I'm actually horrified by the discovery that Jake had some kind of relationship with that dude at the party (see teaser).

In Pirate King...Jake has to face some unfortunate truths about himself and Adrien is the catalyst, as usual.

You are tempting me. You are holding out a carrot. So, what's Adrien going to do? He's sick and he's just frail. I need to make him soup.

He's going to follow his moral compass as he always does. Physically this is a rough book for him -- in all ways this is a rough ride for him. It's going to be fraught. People will love it or really hate it.

Never, Josh. You so rock at internal/external conflict. Gosh dang it...I can't wait!

So I've pretty much always got a civilian "versus" a trained professional. And part of that training is that these guys are trained not to be ruled by emotions -- like fear or loving.

Fear and loving...oh I like that, Josh. Linear thinkers..

Er...yes. They're supposed to be willing to put their lives on the line -- yes, because it's all about the greater good and following the rules and blah blah blah. Which is why when they -- occasionally -- bend their rules for us...very flattering.

Bend….mmmm…

Not bend as in bad -- I mean when they let us inside.

Oh. Oh no. No no. I got that! I did!

When they put down the shield, literally.

So what your saying Josh, is that we want them to bend for us, to keep us safe, and to be strong where we are weak. Meow.

And here I thought you weren't listening! Yeah, that's pretty much what I'm saying.

Thanks again to Josh who put up with me. I think I showed him a pretty good time. Later this week, I have an interview with friend of the blog and smashingly successful author Sarah McCarty (and T, what did you think of Caine? Rootin' Tootin' cowboy or what?). Next Monday, Sula and I will duel dual dueling interview the duo (kill me) of Jamie Craig! Don't forget to pop over to Miss. BAM's for the serial.

Adrien

The Hell You Say by the sweet smarty pants Josh Lanyon (actually a very nice guy and he gets bonus points for putting up with me. Ok, not really. If he'd been a prick I'd still say buy this book) is this weeks You Gotta Read This push. Seriously. And folks, this isn't going to be any kind of literary review. It's going to be, er, a lisabea special. Order up!

The voice on the phone rasped, "Bones of anger, bones of dust, full of fury, revenge is just. I scatter these bones, these bones of rage, enemy mine, I bring you pain. Torment, fire, death the toll, with this hex I curse your soul. So mote it be."

I handed the receiver to Angus, who was facing out the "We Recommend" stand by the counter. "It's for you."

You know that feeling when you meet a character and you think: BFF? Here he is. Adrien English. The king of the pithy retort, kind yet ever the eye rolling champ, maintainer of outward calm (sort of) while his inner dialog is hilarious, smart, self effacing, strong, bewitching, and sometimes astonishingly sad and brave. He is deep in his head and you are right there, along for the ride. An amatuer sleuth, a book store owner (yes!) and a writer of mystery novels. OH, and he likes pirates.....I knew we were meant to be when it was revealed that he stocks his freezer with Lean Cuisine and his fridge with TAB. Too good to be true? Duh. Ok. Yes. I am in love. Again. SHUT UP! Adrien English is my kicky, fun, wickedly sharp new friend.

A friend who has a small problem. See, Adrien habitually stumbles upon dead bodies and endlessly fucks up (well, involves himself in) murder investigations led by his (sshhh don't tell any one I'm your hot homosexual not gay) boyfriend. Adrien manages to get himself smack dab in the thick of things in an uncanny and yet believable way. Naturally, he is unwilling, er, unable to extricate himself from the sitch. Who am I to judge his hobby?

So enough goofing off. Let me tell you about The Hell You Say.

It's almost Christmas and Adrien, slaving away in his book shop(pe), has been receiving bizarre phone calls, aimed at his young shop helper, Angus. He, employer of the year, urges Angus to take off until these losers tone down their violent threats and gives him $800 to disappear. Rut roh. Of course, this finds Adrien, mystery writer extraordinaire (and damned decent guy) bulls-eyed in not only another murder investigation, but as the victim of harassment by a bizarre host of grim, poorly dressed, occult fiends. Woooooo-woooooooo. From Adrien's perspective, it's hilarious.

A pause followed my greeting. Then, "We're watching you." whispered the voice on the end.

"Yeah? Did you see what I did with my keys?"

Silence. Then dial tone.

These younger demons. So easily discouraged.

Meanwhile, Adrien and Jake (after two books) have finally established a scheduled relationship (Mondays and Wednesdays) and while neither have admitted deep feelings for the other, theirs is a tight lipped, emotional pairing, upstaged by Jake's inability to deal with his sexuality Well, not only his. Jake's sneering contempt for out gay men is unsettling and hurtful and deeply rooted. He's one repressed, sexy as hell, copper. Who is motivated by his terror that his secret will be discovered. Oh. And he has a girlfriend. sigh. (The things we put up with. Don't get all girly and judgy on me now. That dude is some kind of messed up. This is out of the realm of our experience, me thinks, but I'm in for this.) Jake is tender, if reserved, and his stiff, awkward attempts to be Adrien's boyfriend are beautifully juxtaposed by his mad love making and post coital skilz.

Held hot and wet in Jake's powerful arms and never wanting to move again while pleasure echoed through me.

"I couldn't stop thinking about this all day. " His voice was rough on the admission. "Feels so fucking good with you."

I nodded, managed, "It is good." In fact, sometimes it surprised me how good it was with Jake, given his various hang-ups and extracurricular interests.

He kissed the back of my neck, and I felt my heart turn over. The sex was great, but it was those moments of quiet tenderness.....

OK. Are you thinking: CHEATER! BAD!? I ask you to put all your preconceived notions aside. This isn't an easy situation and, I feel, there is a heavy dose of real world experience involved here. Adjust your settings, please, and allow Jake and Adrien the time and space they require to figure this thing out. We have some load of shit to wade through to get there.

There were things I might have said. maybe even things I should have said. But I knew they wouldn't change the outcome and I wasn't sure I could say them and keep control of my voice and face. Right now, keeping control in front of him seemed like the paramount thing.

...

He seemed reluctant to drop this tangent. "It's got nothing to do with the way I feel about you," he added, as though I were making an argument.

But, after all, that was a stupid comment. I surprised myself by giving a sort of ironic laugh and saying ,"Whatever."

"Whatever?"

His eyes were so dark they looked black. I realized that he wanted to get angry, that anger would make it easier, and I didn't want to make it easier. He didn't deserve to have it made easy.

So I met his gaze. Asked quietly, "What do you want me to say, Jake?"

His face worked. His jaw clenched so hard, my own hurt watching. He shook his head fiercely.

"Good-bye," I said.

It's beautiful. And this isn't even the end. There is more. Much more in the book, but I can't let that particular gremlin out. I couldn't put this book down. I loved Josh's willingness to break us in order to drive home how wretched the relationship between Adrien and Jake is. How deep that conflict is and how often love does not conquer all. We know that Jake is going to break his already damaged heart. And he has to or they are never, ever going to have a chance later.

Josh Lanyon pulls you in from page one with a fast paced sleuthing adventure, wonderful characters, zippy dialog, brutal longing and sword through the heart devastation. Adrien gracelessly steps from ugly situation, to uglier relationship realities. He saves the day, predictably, but there is no prince charming to carry him off into the sunset. He is alone in a crowd, drink in hand on Christmas at the close of the book. It's solitary and leaves you trembling.

I know what you're thinking. It's a mystery series, for crying out loud. It's told from first person (ask yourself, will you, how hot that sex has gotta be? Cuz it is all that.) You only like romances (patently untrue, sometimes). There's no HEA, lisabea!!! How can you recommend this? Well. Tough titties. We all like Sookie and Stephanie Plum and they never get their HEA. Heck, they hardly ever get laid! Besides, I am beyond hooked. OK, these aren't your traditional m/m lets lube and get it on erotic romances, I mean, Christ, LOOK at the COVER! If I didn't know how fucking good these were, I would not have, in my shallow little world, bought them. (S'rsly. We need to talk. ) But they are romantic. And the fact that I am at the end, waiting for Jake's return, is evidence enough for me.

Anyway. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. You may buy it in print, here.

A. Fuckin-ay.