I was tagged today. Here’s my M/M meme

I was tagged by Devon Rhodes to complete this m/m meme. Thanks for including me. Devon! These are some good questions. And thanks to Kris at Kris ‘n’ Good Books who started it all.

LoveToKiss

(c) www.fotosearch.com

Rules:

1. Answer all the questions below in either the comments here or post it on your own site. If you post it on your own site you have to come back and give the link here so I/Kris can mosey on over and see if you have a sticky beak.

2. You have to tag two other people once you’re done and pester them relentlessly until they do the meme too.

3. Instead of a meme image thing you have to post a cookie, preferably a twofer. It is an m/m meme after all. ;)

Questions:

1. How long have you been reading GLBTQ fiction?
Two years this past October. Not sure I had read any romances with main characters who were GLBTQ before that.

2. What was the first book you read in this genre?
Lee Rowan’s Ransom

3. Are you ‘out’ as a reader?
Oh yeah. I’m out all over the place. As a writer too. Of course my dad wants to know how come I can’t leave the “sex stuff” up to the reader’s imagination. He’s so cute.

4. Ebooks, print or both?
Mostly ebooks, but I will buy my favs in paperback or some that are not available in ebook format.

5. Do you buy direct from publishers or from secondary sellers?
I buy from both. I’ve been trying to make an effort to buy more direct, but sometimes it just doesn’t work out (due to pricing and discounts or format)

6. Prove you’re a Book Slut. How many books would you say you buy a week?
That varies. I’ll buy a ton at one time then go a couple weeks or even a month without buying anything. It averages out to maybe 10-20 a month. Sometimes more if there’s a huge sale.

7. Are you a cover, blurb or excerpt buyer?
A nice cover can pull me in. But I always read the blurb before buying (if it’s an author I love). For new-to-me authors, I read an excerpt to see if I like the writing style.

8. Yeah, you read reviews, but do you actually take notice of them?
I do. I have a database of all the books I own/want to read. Sometimes I’ll add links to reviews with the book’s entry in the DB, especially if the review made it sound like something I’d like to buy.

9. Who’s your fave publisher?
Loose Id (Was I supposed to say anything else? They’re publishing my debut novel hehehe. Seriously, they’ve been great to work with)

10. What about authors? Your top two only!!
Oh man. Only two. That’s tough. Okay, off the top of my head, Josh Lanyon and JL Langley and WA Hoffman and Tere Michaels and Jordan Castillo Price and…uh, I can’t stop.

11. Is there a sub-genre you particularly dis/like?
I don’t read much fantasy, but will if I’ve heard enough good things about a book. It’s hard for me to get into the story and characters when I’m trying to figure out the world.

12. Short or long?? *rolls eyes* And, no, I’m not talking about cocks.
Usually long. I want the read to last a few days, and I want to really get into the characters’ heads. Some authors can pull off short fiction with great characterizations, but a lot of the time, I’m just left feeling like I wanted more.

13. Anything turn you off about m/m or is all just glorious smut to you?
I can’t think of anything I’ve actually read that was a turn-off in terms of the sex. Maybe too much of the same sex over and over. I”ll probably think of something later that creeped me out. I don’t like cheating, but if the author is really good and redeems the story/characters with huge emotional payoffs, then I can keep reading (and yes, that includes Jake Riordan. He’s on his way, and I’m hoping he sees the light and gets out of other people’s beds in book 5).

14. Finish this sentence. You know it’s m/m twu wuv when
They get a tattoo or piercing together

15. What trope or theme are you heartily sick of in m/m romance?
Not sure. If an author is really good at his/her craft, I’ll read any trope/theme again. It’s all in how well they build the characters within the plot.

16. If you could choose any 3 characters for a m/m/m who would they be?
It’s probably so wrong to say this, but I’d pick Luke, Richard, and Matthew, the three guys from my book More, an m/m/m tentatively due out in March from Loose Id.  :)

17. What new GLBTQ release are you most hanging out for right now?
I’m looking forward to The Dark Tide by Josh Lanyon and Matt’s story from JL Langley. Oh, and the final Raised by Wolves from WA Hoffman.

18. What GLBTQ book has completely blown you away this year?
The Adrien English books by Josh Lanyon (they were new to me this year) and Faith & Fidelity by Tere Michaels.

19. What do you think we’ll see more of in m/m romance in 2010?
Vampires. And more short stories and novellas rather than novel length.

20. Don’t you agree that author Josh Lanyon should kill off arsehole character Jake Riordan?
Not kill. I want him to tell Adrien what we all know he feels for him (and grovel…A LOT!). I’m a sappy romantic. I want them to have their happy ending.

Tag, you’re it:

Kathy Kozakewich

SJ Frost

Quote I love: Happy 40th Bert and Ernie

Once a week, I post a quote that I’ve read/heard recently. So here’s this week’s Quote I love …

Sesame Street recently celebrated its 40th anniversary. I saw this quote and just had to post.

“Happy 40th Anniversary to Bert and Ernie. You can’t get married yet, but your love inspires us all. Congratulations!”

Kate Clinton
Via Twitter

I grew up watching the show, and I have to say Ernie was one of my favs (as well as Oscar and Snuffleupagus). There was just something about Bert and Ernie’s relationship that I really liked as a kid. It wasn’t until I was older that I realized…”hey, they were gay.”

One of my favorite books when I was first learning how to read was The Great Sesame Street ABC Hunt. It was one of those buy-a-book-and-we’ll-insert-your-kid’s-name-and-other-info-in-the-text books.

GreatsesamestreetabcHunt

My best friend’s mom bought it for me and signed his name on the inside cover. I loved it because it was a gift from him and, of course, I was friends with Big Bird in the book! I still have it on my bookshelf. A huge thank you to my friend’s mom and Sesame Street for helping me enjoy reading.

Happy Anniversary Sesame Street!! And Bert and Ernie (my first m/m romance)!!

So who was your favorite Sesame Street character? And did you think Bert and Ernie were gay when you watched? Comment or send me an email. I’d love to hear from you.

Have a great day!
Sloan Parker

Free fiction: Gay erotic story posted to my site

I posted a free gay erotic short story on my site titled More Than Just a Good Book. It’s a light, sexy story. It’s less emotional, less romantic than my book More, but I enjoyed writing it for that reason. It was a lot of fun to throw Scott and Mark together and watch the sparks fly. I hope you enjoy it.

More Than Just a Good Book
Scott is a big geek and Mark is a little controlling between the sheets. During one afternoon at the university library, they’ll find they are the perfect match. And they’ll prove some things are even more enjoyable than a good book.

Friendly warning: This work contains graphic language and explicit sexual content between two men including some light spanking. Intended for adult audiences only. Not intended for anyone under the age of 18.

Read More Than Just a Good Book

Have a good one,
Sloan Parker

Video I love: Playing for Change

Once a week, I post a video I’ve seen recently that I’m loving. So here’s this week’s Video I love …

Today I have two videos I wanted to share. They are both from Playing for Change. If you haven’t seen them yet, take a look. Very inspiring. I LOVE the concept, the music, the inspiration of it all. Here’s what the website says:

“Playing for Change is a multimedia movement created to inspire, connect, and bring peace to the world through music. The idea for this project arose from a common belief that music has the power to break down boundaries and overcome distances between people. No matter whether people come from different geographic, political, economic, spiritual or ideological backgrounds, music has the universal power to transcend and unite us as one human race. And with this truth firmly fixed in our minds, we set out to share it with the world.”

(videos embedded below)

Introduction

Stand by Me

What do you think? Inspiring? Comment or send me an email. I’d love to hear from you.

Have a good one,
Sloan Parker

http://playingforchange.com/journey/introduction

A Big Surprise for an Ohio Soup Kitchen

Once a week I post about something I’m loving (tv, movies, books, art, photos, romances, authors, or anything else) that I’ve seen or read about recently. So here’s this week’s For the love of …

Thanks to author AJ Llewellyn’s tweet this morning, I read this article and I’m loving it.

Rachael Ray Makes Thanksgiving Brighter for Ohio Soup Kitchen

I’m from Ohio and many people I know are unemployed so this had special meaning for me.

It’s a neat story about Rachel Ray and Sara Lee doing some good. Yeah, they get some PR from it, but it’s still an awesome thing for Ray to give of her time to help feed people. I’m always complaining about not having enough time for everything I want to do, and let’s face it, I’m not Rachel Ray. If she can find the time to help others,  I should be able to as well.

Cheers,
Sloan Parker