Sep 26 2012
Debut Print Book: Barging In by Josephine Myles
I’ve had some concerns by readers who are primarily print readers that the coverage at Dear Author has been too focused on ebooks. When I asked the readers what they were interested in seeing, they responded that they would like to know more about print debut authors. We developed a little questionnaire and every Wednesday at 10:00 AM CST (as long as we have content) we’ll post the questionnaire answers along with links to the author’s site and a buy link to her book. I hope this helps people discovery new books. Now, on to the answers.
Name of debut release: Barging In
Release date: 08/07/2012
Publisher: Samhain
2 sentence summary: A devil-may-care city boy crashes into the life of a closeted boater on the English canals. The two men can’t keep their hands off each other, but neither has any intention of falling in love…
Genre: GLBT, Erotic Romance, Contemporary
Characters: Dan Taylor:a flirtatious and promiscuous travel writer totally out of his depth in the countryside. Dan has a working class background but with his sunny nature, manages to make himself at home pretty much anywhere.
Robin Hamilton: a surly, tattooed boater, still smarting from a past betrayal. Robin is a posh boy gone feral for reasons of his own, and Dan reminds him of everything he dislikes about gay men.
What makes this story different: The canal setting is not only unusual for a romance, but I was able to use my two year’s experience of living on a narrowboat to give it authenticity. The tensions between the boating community, British Waterways and the canalside locals near Bath are all based on my own experiences.
Is this a series?:
Why you wrote this book: I always knew I’d write something set on the canal one day, and when I discovered the m/m genre I felt like I’d come home. Finally, I’d discovered a community of readers out there hungry for the kind of stories I wanted to tell.
As for the story itself, there’s a lot about class differences and class mobility which is something we Brits are always aware of. I liked the idea of having two heroes from very different social classes, but who had both moved in the other direction and could meet in the middle. Apart from that it’s very much an ‘opposites attract’ romance, as all my stories seem to be. I find a vein of rich inspiration in putting two very different but well-matched men together.
Why is this your first published book? How many did you write before? Although I’d written plenty of short stories and a couple of not-fit-for-publication novellas, this was my very first completed novel. I worked through a crazy number of drafts before daring to send it to Samhain, and was stunned when they accepted it!
What’s your writing process? I work with a very rough plan and don’t worry too much about the first draft. My goal at that stage is simply to get the story out of my head and onto the screen. I find my characters take over as I write and change the story in ways I could never have anticipated, but I’m no longer quite so freaked out by this phenomenon and have learnt to trust my muse.
My redrafting process is extensive and I pay close attention to feedback from my beta readers, along with a few trusted critique partners who are also multi-published authors. I find my drafts grow longer each time, as I have a tendency to underwrite.
Your next published book. The Hot Floor – an m/m/m erotic romance from Samhain, September 2012
The last book you read that you loved. I recently reread KA Mitchell’s Collision Course which is one of my all time favourite gay romances. I love Joey as a character, and I’m so impressed by the way Mitchell makes me root for him and Aaron, despite them being such polar opposites. I’m still not sure I like the arrogant Aaron Chase, but I’m willing to concede that he’s perfect for Joey.
The last book you read for research. I’m currently dipping into a book on rope bondage for my WIP. It’s called Two Knotty Boys Showing You the Ropes.
The romance book character you most identify with. If we’re talking female characters then I’d have to go with a classic, fearless heroine like Dona in Daphne du Maurier’s Frenchman’s Creek. I mostly read gay romance these days, though, and can quite happily identify with male characters. I’m a huge fan of Crash, one of the side characters in Jordan Castillo Price’s PsyCop series. He’s a scene stealer, and I love his unapologetic hedonism, tempered with loyalty to his friends and wonderfully snarky humour.
You can check out more about Josephine Myles and her books at http://josephinemyles.com/
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Sep 26, 2012 @ 13:03:40
Class issues on a narrowboat? This could be a right treat.
And I have to confess; it isn’t often that the author’s photo is the deal clincher for me, but Myles looks like such a fun raconteur in that shot, how can I resist giving her story a chance?
Sep 26, 2012 @ 15:16:29
@hapax: She’s even more awesome in real life. :)
Sep 26, 2012 @ 15:24:52
LOLLL I should have guessed that Crash would be your favorite character :D He’s like the male version of you – kind of.
As you know I loved this book – so much. It made me feel like I was right there on the canals with them. And I really appreciated that – anything that can make me feel like I”m part of the story is a good thing. So happy this book has done so well :D
Sep 26, 2012 @ 15:51:56
@hapax: Hi Hapax! I’m glad the whole concept intrigues you. And I’m extra specially pleased to hear I look like a raconteur–even without the crazy specs and cigar. My photographer made me put them away ;D
Sep 26, 2012 @ 15:53:24
@Aleksandr Voinov: I didn’t even have to pay Aleks to say this *slips a tenner under the table*
Cheers, Aleks! It was lovely to meet you :)
Sep 26, 2012 @ 15:58:43
@Katherine: I adore Crash, and I keep telling Jordan she needs to write a Crash/Vic/Jacob threesome. She won’t listen to me, though ;)
It’s great to be able to bring the canal community alive for people who’ve never experienced it firsthand. They’re a bizarre bunch of people: fiercely independent and protective of each other, closing ranks against outsiders, but also generous and hardworking, with all manner of strange and esoteric skills.
Sep 26, 2012 @ 17:58:13
I read Boats in the Night earlier this year and loved it! I have The Hot Floor on my TBR list, but I think I might need to add Barging In :) I lived in the UK for 5 years, so I love books set there :)
Oh, and Crash is soa scene stealer! I definitely want him to find his HEA!
All the best with the release!
Sep 26, 2012 @ 19:28:28
I loved this book a lot too :)
Sep 27, 2012 @ 00:04:08
I meant to buy this one when it came out and forgot – thanks for reminding me. And, I’m looking forward to reading Hot Floor too. I really enjoyed the short you did about the stripper fireman (I think it was Pole Star?) :)
Sep 27, 2012 @ 04:49:17
@orannia: Thanks! It’s always good to hear from readers who enjoy the Britishness of my stories :D
I have a bad habit of falling in love with secondary characters. Wouldn’t it be great for Crash to get more of his own stories, with an HEA at the end? *sighs*
Sep 27, 2012 @ 04:58:04
@Sirius: Thanks, Sirius :D
Sep 27, 2012 @ 04:59:30
@Kaetrin: Glad to nudge your memory! And yes, the fireman stripper was Pole Star. I had a great deal of fun writing that one :)
Sep 27, 2012 @ 18:46:30
I know this is a post about a print book, but I saw all of Jo’s books are madly on special at Books on Board at the moment so I’m off shopping! :)
Sep 28, 2012 @ 01:43:01
@Kaetrin: Ooh, thanks for drawing my attention to that site–I’d never heard of it before. Shame they’ve got the original pre-release cover for Barging In up there. I’ll have to see if I can get that changed.
And what a great deal: 40% off all ebooks!