Bryl R. Tyne: Nerdvana Author Interview

When I asked reviewers to write a book review for Nerdvana, two of them said they'd love to because they love reading Bryl's work. After that I knew I HAD to interview Bryl R. Tyne for my blog. I know you'll fall in love with this author like the reviewers did.

1) What inspired your Nerdvana story?

You called for Nerds and Geeks. You asked that we show how brains are just as sexy as brawn (if not more so). I did as instructed, sat down, and wrote EXPOSED.

Baggage-laden Clay's a geek trying to perform his way to the top of the IT gaming world when he meets Dave--cool, laid-back, easy-going, poser, Dave. Doesn't take long before Clay's infatuated with both Dave and his bike, though... All hell breaks loose when Dave's given the promotion Clay's worked so hard to achieve, but of course, like all my stories, the guys work their way toward their happy ending.

2) How did you get into writing gay erotica?

I wrote. So far, all I've written is LGBT fiction.

Seems like a simple answer, but that's how it happened. I wrote my first story. Then, I stopped and asked myself, "Who in the hell's going to publish this?" Being in the closet all those years had it's disadvantages--one being that I had no clue of the many publishers already publishing the stuff or of the many readers already reading it.

3) What other erotica projects do you have coming out soon?

TOUGH GUY, a contemporary Western with Amber Allure came out on October 31st.

December 10th, JUST WINK, a short story published in Changeling Press's Christmas Sugar Plums will be out.

I'm also wrapping up two novellas that'll be out in 2011, one for Amber Allure called Behind Blue Eyes and one for Dreamspinner Press called Rite of Passage.

4) What non-erotic projects have you written?

All of my works out with Untreed Reads Publishing are non-erotic. Currently, I have a mini-series about an unconventional guardian angel named Zagzagel. The Zagzagel Diaries show that all people, regardless of gender or sexuality, have a guardian angel on their side. I also have a few single titles in the works with Untreed Reads.

Additionally, I write YA Queer Fiction as B.J. Holt, sometimes with my son, Zak Gaap. Our first story will be out the first of 2011 with Noble Gateway Romance. It's titled, NOT QUITE PIZZA.

5) Do you have a website or blog your fans can follow?

Official sites:

http://bryltyne.com

http://bjholt.com

Two blogs. One's on my official site, the other is through Google blogger.

http://bryltyne.com/blog
and
http://brylrtyne.blogspot.com

Helen E.H. Madden: Nerdvana Author Interview

Helen Madden is a prolific erotica author, podcaster, and artist. She writes erotica of all flavors. Her stories usually pack an emotional punch beyond the sexual arousal, so you'll find something more to sink your teeth into with her stories.

1) What inspired your Nerdvana story?

The Bully on the Playground was probably inspired by another story I wrote around the same time, called "The Honey Bee," about a dangerous relationship in Victorian England that did not have a happy ending. I honestly think the best stories are ones that don't end happily ever after, and that tragedy and angst work far better in erotica than happiness and warm fuzzy feelings.
For The Bully on the Playground, I wanted to show a really dysfunctional relationship, one where one of the partners can't admit his true feelings or sexual orientation, and the only way he can interact with the person he wants the most is to bully and dominate him. I think I was also inspired by some very naughty and rather pornographic pictures of attractive men having
fun at a playground.

2) How do you feel about a reviewer describing your Nerdvana story as "haunting?"

It was described as haunting? That makes my day. I want to write stories that linger in the brain for a long time afterward, whether because they make people think or make them want to wank. Either works for me. And since I particularly love writing stories that are creepy, spooky, and eerie, then "haunting" comments works all the better for me.

3) How did you get into writing gay erotica?

It was a gradual thing. I started out by writing vanilla hetero erotica after reading through the stories in an issue of PlayGirl. The stories were so awful, I thought, "I could write better than that!" Then I learned PlayGirl paid for those stories, and I thought, "Hell yeah, I can write better than that!" So that was my start in erotica in general. The more I wrote, however, the more I began to explore the possibilities of what was out there in terms of erotica. I gradually moved into BDSM and GLBT erotica as a way to explore various ideas I have about what is erotic and how people interact sexually. Eventually, I made the decision that I should be able to write erotica from any point of view or sexual orientation, and I continue to pursue that goal. BDSM and gay/lesbian erotica are probably the most exciting for me, as I tend to come up with the best story ideas and the kinkiest tales.

4) What other erotica projects do you have coming out soon?

I recently wrapped up the third season of my erotica podcast, Heat Flash. For three years, I wrote, recorded and produced at least one erotica short story every week. I had 164 stories when I was done, for a total of 300000 words. I'm taking a break from that now to work on a sci-fi noir novel called "The Little Death," which I intend to start podcasting in January, and hopefully publish in print and e-book format later next year.

I have a short story called "Metamorphosis" coming out in February with Freya's Bower. "Metamorphosis" is a coming out story with a twist and is being published as part of the latest Dreams and Desires charity anthology, with proceeds going to an art therapy program for women's shelters. In addition, I have a short story coming out with Dreamspinner Press called
"The Sower and the Reaper." That's another gay erotica story, one that focuses on the idea of sacrifice and how it affects people.

5) What non-erotic projects have you written?

Probably the closest thing I have to a non-erotic project is my weekly web comic, "The Adventures of Cynical Woman," which is about my life as a stay-at-home mom and erotica writer. I once did an interview for the Balticon Podcast, and the interviewer was rather surprised to learn that a mom would write sexually explicit stories. My response to that was, "Where do you think kids come from, pal?" I have to admit, I have a very unusual situation in that I don't use a pen name and I'm pretty open about what I do with my writing. I've encountered very little negative response, which I understand is pretty rare. The web comic is my way of showing the world that erotica writers are basically normal, everyday people too.

6) Do you have a website or blog your fans can follow?

I have two websites. The first is my writing and art website, Cynical Woman, at http://www.cynicalwoman.com. This is the home for my web comics, weekly blog posts, online art gallery and other miscellaneous stuff. Then there's the Heat Flash Erotica Podcast at http://www.heatflash.libsyn.com. I'm on hiatus right now, but all 164 episodes of the show are available for download in MP3 format. And they run under a Creative Commons 3.0 license, so they're free to share!

Rob Rosen: Nerdvana Author Interview

Over the years, I have read several of Rob Rosen’s gay erotica and admired how prolific he is with writing and submitting to various anthologies. I felt pleased to receive his story for Nerdvana. I look forward to reading more of his work and hope you will be too.

1) What inspired your Nerdvana erotica story?

First off, I love geeks and nerds, sexy wallflowers, cute brainiacs, so the whole anthology concept was fun for me. Also, I worked in a lab on a college campus for 9 years, so the setting for my story was an obvious choice. Throw in a randy jogger and a lab geek working late and you have the perfect recipe for a hot encounter.

2) How did you get into writing gay erotica?

I was totally discovered. Kind of like Lana Turner at Schwab's Pharmacy, only with, um, blow jobs and, uh, back rooms. But seriously, the editor at Men Magazine read my work online, loved it, and asked if I'd be interested in writing erotic fiction for their several magazines. Up until then, I'd been writing mainstream fiction. Still, I jumped at the chance and wrote for them for 5+ years, my work appearing in about 40 issues of Men, Freshmen, and [2], all now sadly defunct.

3) What other erotica projects do you have coming out soon?

I write mainly short stories for erotic anthologies and have over a dozen scheduled to come out, thus far, through the end of the year. Nerdvana is published by Starbooks Press, and with them alone I have stories in the upcoming: Gym Buddies and Buff Boys, Who's Your Daddy?, Big Holiday Packages, Video Boys, and Rock & Roll Over. So please check them out on Amazon when they're available.

4) What non-erotic projects have you written?

Beyond gay erotica, gay non-fiction, and my novels, I also write speculative fiction for the teaming masses. I love writing about zombies and vampires and ghouls of all shapes and sizes, always with a comic twist. To that end, I've been published in more than 50 anthologies, with new ones hitting shelves monthly. My novels, "Sparkle: The Queerest Book You'll Ever Love" and "Divas Las Vegas", winner of the 2010 TLA Gaybies for Best Gay Fiction, are both comic murder mysteries, with a slight erotic bend to them. And I'm working on getting my third novel out now, "Hot Lava", set in beautiful Waikiki.

5) Do you have a website or blog your fans can follow?

Sure, please visit me at http://www.therobrosen.com. I'm always updating my site on all things Rob Rosen.

Stephen Osborne: Nerdvana Author Interview

Stephen Osborne and I have published stories in several anthologies. Even though we live in the same city, we met through an editor for an anthology that accepted stories from both of us. Stephen is a very prolific author, and I am pleased to introduce him to you.

1) What inspired your Nerdvana story?

I have been a card-carrying nerd as long as I can remember, but for some strange reason in high school and college many of my friends were jocks. The party depicted in "The Grand Deception" is based on a real event. The names have been changed to protect the Now-Married-With-Children.

2) How did you get into writing gay erotica?

When I started sending out my stories, I wrote three, two of which were simple love stories. I saw a request for submissions to Jesse Grant's anthology "Hustlers" and thought why not give it a try. I wasn't holding out much hope for that story (Bus Stop) as I really didn't read erotica and thought it would be rejected. It was my first story accepted! Go figure!

3) What other erotica projects do you have coming out soon?

I'm included in Teammates, edited by Eric Summers (Starbooks Press), Skater Boys edited by Neil Plakcy (Cleis Press) and have 2 stories in Rock and Roll Over, edited by Eric Summers. I also have a story in Video Boys, edited by Mickey Ehlach (Starbooks Press) and a few others.

4) What non-erotic projects have you written?

I've written a book of ghosts stories and legends called South Bend Ghosts and Other Northern Indiana Haunts (Schiffer Books) and have stories in Best Gay Love Stories 2010 edited by Brad Nichols (Alyson Books), Queer Wolf, edited by James E.M. Rasmussen (Queered Fiction), and Best Gay Love Stories: Summer Flings, also edited by Brad Nichols.

5) Do you have a website or blog your fans can follow?

I don't have a website right now. Maybe I'll get one if I think people would be interested. I can be followed on Twitter under the name southbendghosts and I have an author page on the Goodreads site (http://www.goodreads.com/).

Lammy Award Winning Editor: Richard Labonte

By Fred Towers

Recently the winners of the 21st Lambda Literary Awards were announced. I was so glad to see an editor I have respected and tried to sell to for years on the list. So, I sat down with him virtually (via email) to discuss his recent win.

1) How did you feel when you learned that you won a Lammy for Best Gay Erotica 2009?

Pleased of course, though I wouldn't have minded if any of the other nominees had won, particularly James Lear's novel, The Secret Tunnel - but since he was my judge for BGE2009, he was a winner anyway. That said, I've been involved in the judging process for the Lammies in one way or another since the very first year - now I'm dating myself – and I know how the sausage is made... that is to say, I know that when everything else is equal in terms of quality, which is usually the case when many nominations have been whittled down to a few finalists,
the subjective taste of the judges comes into play - perhaps the judges this year didn't like long-form erotica, as with James's novel (I thought he pulled it off with great style), or prefer books with 20 authors to books with four (the equally readable Hard Working Men, the other finalist from 2009.

2) What other titles have you edited that have won a Lammy?

Best Gay Erotica 2005, with novelist and biographer William J. Mann, won a few years ago, and First Person Queer: Who We Are (So Far), from Arsenal Pulp Press in Canada, which I co edited with Lawrence Schimel, won in 2007. Again, It's a treat to win - but when an anthology wins an award, I'd say as much credit goes to the contributors as to the editors, so I don't really consider these to be *my* Lammies... I'm just the custodian.

3) What do you look for in a Best Gay Romance or Best Gay Erotica story?

Let me start my answer here with a wee excerpt from my foreword to Best Gay Erotica 2010, which will be out from Cleis in November: "I take the “erotica” part of the title seriously: porny is good, and that’s what this annual anthology hews to. But every year I encourage writers of a literary bent to sex up their stories some, and every year I coax polished prose from writers who honed their horndog skills in the glossy gay mags."

So: what I look for in the erotica best are stories where narrative arc, complex characterization, and vivid, inventive writing predominate; in the romance best, I look for stories that are less
overtly sexual but no less smart. Not every story achieves that ideal, I know, but it's what I strive for; and because neither anthology is a "theme" title - stories about Daddies, Bears, surfers, firemen, cops, frat boys, S/M, etc. - I like to mix and match sexual interests and fetishes. Again, the quality of the writing is paramount. I also look for new writers, and if I discern a story in the rough - something unusual or distinctive in terms of plot or character or setting but which needs a lot of editing - I'm willing to work with writers to polish the story. Almost every book I edit - and I've done almost 30 now - has one or two of this kind of discovery.

4) Besides editing, where else can gay readers find your work?

I'm not really a writer. I'm a reader. Plus, I appreciate writers, and collect some great ones. So I don't write fiction at all, and not many essays, either, except for intros to my anthologies. When asked, I've penned short forewords to a few books - Vincent Diamond's collection, Rough Cut, and Jack Fritscher's collection, Stonewall: Stories of Gay Liberation among them. And I was nagged enough to contribute to Sex by the Book, edited by Kevin Bentley, and Out in the Castro, edited by Winston Leyland. But compared to real writers, those constitute just half a can of spilled alphabet soup.

On the other hand, I review four lesbian/gay/queer books, fiction and nonfiction, every two weeks for Book Marks, distributed by Q Syndicate to a number of gay papers; that's 100 books a year. I also review contemporary fiction (nongay), books on nature and the environment, and the occasional gay nonfiction books for Publishers Weekly, about 35 of those a year. Google "Book Marks Labonte" and you'll find the reviews; PW reviews are anonymous...

5) What advice would you give a gay writer during these tremulous times in the publishing world?

Keep writing. Don't balk at being edited. Keep submitting to anthologies. Track down online magazines. Pay attention to the e-world. Have a good sense of what a publisher publishes before
submitting your work. Did I mention, don't balk at being edited? The publishing world is going through a shakeup and a new cycle, but there will always be people who want to write and people who want to read. A good number of queer presses have closed, but relatively new ones come along regularly: MLR, Torquere, Lethe, Dreamspinners, Rebel Satori/Queer Mojo, BigFib, Samhain, PD Publishing, Alpha World, Cheyenne, Palari, Seventh Windows, Zumaya... and I'm sure I've forgotten a few. So: do your homework, and your writing will find a home.

Interview

I'm interviewed in the April issue of Bare Back Magazine. No "bare back" doesn't mean what you think. LOL For them it's an erotica thing, but doesn't mean without a condom like it does in the gay community. Safe Sex still lives, except in our fantasies. At least for some folks.

Please read the interview and let me know what you think. You do have to be 18 years of age or older to read. Sorry! No underage readers please.

Fred