Author Interview: JON MICHAELSEN

FOR THE LOVE OF MEN - Interview By A.J. Llewellyn

1.Hi Jon, welcome to the Divas! When did you start writing M/M fiction and which authors - M/M specifically - appealed to you the most when you started writing your stories?

I have been writing stories as long as I can recall. I began writing M/M fiction sometime in my late teens and wrote my first novel at seventeen. Authors that appealed to me at this age were Patricia Nell Warren and James Kirkwood. In my early twenties, I discovered the writings of Michael Nava, Felice Picano, Armistead Maupin and Andrew Holleran.

2. I am intrigued that you describe yourself as an author whose characters 'just happen to be gay'. Do you see a difference between this and books that state themselves as M/M fiction?

Yes and no. I guess my answer depends on the targeted audience, material or which author. Some of my favorite novels do not contain a single gay character (or perhaps they get the obligatory cameo role), yet I find that I read many stories as if the protagonist is “gay” – so what if he/she has a love interest of the opposite sex! Why limit ourselves, I ask? I’ve been gay as long as I can remember, but it took years of personal growth before I began to speak so candidly about it. I don’t think my sexuality defines who I am – so why should it define my characters?

3. You mention one of my favorite authors Felice Picano as being an influence. I only recently discovered him and was over the moon about a short story of his, The Married Man that I read in an anthology called New York Sex. I could talk to you about him all day but what is it about his work that you particularly admire?

OMG! I discovered Felice Picano about two years ago. He released Like People in History, to date my favorite novel of his. I couldn’t believe that I never came across his titles before. Perhaps because most mainstream bookstores at the time didn’t carry gay-themed titles as much as they do currently, albeit a very limited selection. I searched online and ordered four more titles of his work right away: The Lure, The Book of Lies and Onyx. What intrigues me most about Picano’s writing is his uncanny gift of absorbing the reader into his characters’ lives. You don’t ever want his stories to end! I’m also intrigued by his versatility in his writing; he doesn’t stick with one genre.

4. I must mention something here about your personal life. I know you have been with your lifelong partner for 22 years. Congratulations! How do you sustain a relationship that long in this crazy world?

(Laughs) I’m always amazed when people – even close friends – seem shocked at the number of years I have been with my partner. We got together during the mid-80s and the rage of AIDS was not yet realized by our community, and indeed the world. I’d like to say we met at the right time, the right place, but our introduction was far less dramatic. Sustain, you ask? I think any relationship takes hard work. Our partnership is no different than a marriage between a man and a woman, with exception of obvious legal exclusions.

5. What are the three things you love most about him? Quick…first things off the top of your head…

His loyalty, honesty and enduring love.


6. What is your life like in Atlanta and have you found it to be gay friendly? Do you have a writerly ritual, like a fave coffee shop hangout?

Atlanta is very gay friendly! At least, within the city limits and some of the immediate suburbs. Once you get outside the city, outside the interstate perimeter I-285 (locals called it “OTP” or outside the perimeter), acceptance and tolerance lessens the further away from town one drives, but the boundaries of acceptance keep expanding each year.
My favorite haunt to pound out a few words in my laptop while enjoying a great cup of joe, friendly staff and excellent music is Outwrite Bookstore & Coffeehouse http://www.outwritebooks.com/ which is in the heart of Midtown, the gay mecca of Atlanta. In fact, I wrote scenes from my current e-book, Voyeur, while seated at a favorite table near to the window and glancing out at the tall buildings of Midtown. Outwrite is located at the corners of Tenth and Piedmont, a popular spot that manages to find its way into the pages of several of my stories, including my current work-in-progress; a murder/suspense novel releasing sometime early next year.

7. Have you considered getting married in California and can I come to the wedding??

No and Yes! We’ll wait for marriage to become legal in Georgia before going that route. When that happens - or we move to a state that legalizes marriage between same-sex couples, absolutely!

8. I promise not to embarrass you or spit at anybody, unless they ask me to, of course…Okay Jon, dish. You say you have three monstrous terriers. What are their names and how bad are they, really?

Have you ever owned a terrier?

AJ says: I have a golden retriever. In her puppy days when she chewed everything and tried to kill the cats, I threatened to turn her into a throw rug. The dog understood and has been a Stepford Dog ever since…but do go on…

LOL. Well, we have terrors, er terriers (!), but we love them dearly. You can’t threaten them; they’re up for the challenge! Each is unique in personality and smart as a whip. Their names in order of age are Gracie, Monte and Morgan and they are the of the same breed, Lakeland Terrier. I’m exaggerating some, but any terrier owner will tell you to keep an eye peeled in their direction at all times as they get bored and get into trouble at the drop of a dime.

9. If you were a Disney character, which one would you be, and why?

Hands down, Nemo! I love the ocean and plan to retire hear the water one day. My family lives in Florida. I would love to travel the currents and see the “underworld” like Nemo.


10. Do you read a lot? What books do you enjoy the most?

I read all the time. When I’m not writing or editing my own work, I’m reading and/or reviewing another author’s writing as part of an online writing workshop I’m involved in. I usually read two or three novels simultaneously; one sits in my car, one bedside my bed and another near where I happen to relax for the evening in the house. I love to read! In order to keep the story lines from merging, I’ll try to read different genres. For instance, currently I’m reading Rick R Reed’s psychotic serial killer thriller, IM.

AJ Says: Hold it right there. He is my new favorite author. He scares the pants off me! I loved IM!

Wow, what a thriller! Have you seen the cover of his new release set for October 2008, Dead End Street? OMG! The cover of the novel sends shivers up my spine! I can’t wait to read it. I’m also reading The Mistress and the Mouse by J.J. Giles, an erotic soap-opera that would make hardcore Dallas and Dynasty blush! The third book I’m re-reading at the moment (yes, re-reading since I read all stories prior to publication during creation) is the all male, erotic romance anthology titled, Men, from Loveyoudivine, which includes my story, Voyeur.

11. I have asked other M/M authors this and it continues to enthrall and baffle me. Why do you think so many women have become increasingly drawn to M/M fiction over the last couple of years?

I honestly do not know. No one was more shocked than me to learn that most of the people buying my e-book, Voyeur, are women. That holds true for the recently released print anthology, Men.

12. Can you personally tell if a woman (passing as a man) is writing M/M fic and what is the difference in your mind?

A difficult question to answer. I believe it can depend on the author, perhaps their experience to some degree. There is some m/m fiction where I can peg the difference on the spot, similar to if I tried writing m/f fiction – I don’t have the experience or knowledge in some areas of m/f couplings that would lend credibility to the story. I feel the same holds true in some m/m fiction written by women sometimes. But, I’m often proven wrong. Take Anastasia Rabiyah, for instance. She’s a wonderfully gifted writer who recently released, The Blindfold, another story in the Men anthology. If I’d read the story without knowing the author was a woman, I’d swear a gay guy penned it! Just goes to show, can’t judge the greatness of a novel by the gender of the author alone.

11. What are you working on now and please describe your writing process.

I’m in the editing stages of a murder/suspense novel that should go to my publisher by the end of the year centered on a closeted gay-homicide detective in Atlanta, Georgia; the first in a series. I have at least three novellas in the hopper that I hope to submit before the end of the year, and a selection to be included in Men II, which is set for release in early 2009.
My writing process? Scattered! I work on the story that I’m in the mood for at the moment, what ever jumps forward. I can move back and forth, work on a short-story or my novel based on where my muse takes me. I carry a micro-cassette recorder (remember those?) with me in the car at all times. I’m usually recording scenes, dialog or story ideas while tooling down the highway.

12. I was fascinated to see that on your website, you described Michael Crichton as a literary influence. Is this where you get your 'twisty' inspiration for your books?

Some, yes. Others include Ray Bradbury, Stephen King, M. Night Shamalyan, John Grisham and David Baldacci – and a recent discovery, Max Griffin.

13. I just ran your name through the Vampire Name Generator. It’s pretty cool, actually. This is what came out: The Great Archives determine you to have gone by the identity:
Emperor of Scandanavia
Known in some parts of the world as: Father of The Steely Moon
The Great Archives Record: A child of the Moon Goddess - Cold, determined, but of the light in the night.

Now imagine that you, Steely Moon, have just landed with a thud in Atlanta. Georgia in the gay ‘hood. What one special, unusual vampire trait do you have?

Wow, you’ve put me on the spot! How about, that I can move among the living even during daylight hours, a rarity of my heritage borne centuries ago.

14. Cool Answer…Now, forgetting you’re not single just for a moment, if you could conjure up any outfit and any man in the world you, Steely Moon, wanted for a hot night on the town, what you wear and who would your date be? And how long would it take for you to put out?

Hands down, my date would be Christian Bale. We’d dine at the Ritz Carlton in Buckhead in formal tuxedos, before heading out for the evening later in black jeans, dark boots and t-shirts. To “put out”? Depends on when he’s called into action in his bat suit.

15. Oh you have a great sense of humor. I love it!! So, what is next after Men II?

My goal? Lots and lots of writing! Men was just released this month, and before I know it, Men II will be here. I need to finish editing my murder/suspense novel, Pretty Boy Dead, and start on the second book in the series, as well as other projects throughout next year. Also, I have an idea for a ghost story.

16. One final question while I still have you under the harsh spotlight of the interrogator’s death beam…am I the sexiest guy to ever interview you?

Well, of course!!

On behalf of Dark Diva Reviews, I would like to thank Jon Michaelsen for stopping by today…and for being such good fun!!! Find out more about him at:

http://www.jonmichaelsen.com/
www.myspace.com/jonmichaelsen

Order my current e-book
http://tinyurl.com/LYD-Voyeur

Order Men from loveyoudivine
http://tinyurl.com/LYD-MEN

order MEN from Amazon.com
http://tinyurl.com/MENwhoLOVEmen

http://www.loveyoudivine.com/

ELISA ROLLE: Of Yaoi And Men

An Interview With the Internet's Most Intriguing Independent Reviewer by A.J. Llewellyn

Interviewer's Note: Elisa Rolle reviews M/M books exclusively and she has the rare distinction of purchasing the books she reviews, giving her the freedom to describe herself as an Independent Reviewer. She is a strong supporter of gay rights, M/M fiction and the authors who write books in the genre. We thank her for her time! Shy Elisa did not want to provide an author photo for this interview and suggested we choose one from her page. Oky doky, Elisa!

1. Elisa, when did you first start reading romance novels and what was the first book you read?

Actually I don’t remember very well when. I was an early reader, I have a home full of books thanks to my mother and father and I read all. When I was very little my mother bought me “Little Women” and “Anna of Green Gables”, but I wasn’t satisfy by them. Before my twelve birthday, I was reading Tolstoj, Gorgy, Dostojevski… when my mother saw me take in hand Frank Kafka (all books I found around the house) she started to worry, really, since she didn’t think it was reading right for a girl of my age. But strangely she was even more worried when I asked her if I could buy, with my money, Lady Chatterley’s Lover by D.H. Lawrence. I was 12 years old and she again thought that it was not reading right for my age! Anyway I was very stubborn and I read Lawrence and then also Maurice by E.M. Forster (probably my first M/M novel), and so on. When I say that I don’t remember when I started reading romance it’s true, since I don’t remember when the first romance entered my house: I only remember that, when I was in high school at 14 years old, my bedroom was just full of romance books… but I remember the first historical romance I read: it was The Wolfe and the Dove by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss, and it remains one of my favorite historical romances.

2. You write very poignant back stories for many authors and I am impressed with your research. Do you contact authors' families for info? Do any of them contact you after they read what you write?

I make all my research on the net. I also have some reference books about romance, and I also have an impressive romance library… better I had, since I needed to sell almost all my books since I can’t accommodate them in my house. But before selling them, I scanned all the cover and the blurb, and saved all the info in my website. Sometime if I know of some connections between authors, I ask around for a brief introduction. For example, when I was writing the memory post for Fay Robinson, I found that she was in the same writing group with Barbara Pierce, an historical romance author I hosted on my blog, and so I
asked her if she would be interested in writing something on Fay. She was very happy to have the chance to remember her friend, and she also passed my request to Lorraine Heath, another historical romance author, who contacted me to participate. Another time, I was searching info about Juliet Dymoke, an English historical romance author of the past. On the net I found very little and so I asked to Liz Fielding, another contemporary romance author I hosted on my blog, if she knew something else, since Juliet and her were members, in different period, of the same association (Romance Novelist). With my great surprise, not only Liz Fielding knew Juliet Dymoke, but more then thirty years before, when she was a young girl, she was friend with Juliet’s daughter, and she also went to the engagement party of her friend. So she gave me an interesting insight of Juliet’s private life, and some info that weren’t available on the net.

3. How did you first become interested in M/M? I know Maltese and Banis are your favorites but whose books did you read first?

Soon after my bachelor degree in Economics, I moved in Milan for work. I had a very demanding job and little spare time, so I stopped reading romance for more or less 5 years. When I moved back in Padua, my hometown, I started again to read romance, but my taste was changed. The traditional romance didn’t satisfy me no more, I wanted something more challenging. So I entered a reader group of women who wanted to bring innovative romance in Italy (a dead group now…). The main genre they considered was paranormal romance, and I read some titles, and some I liked very much, like Christine Feehan and Sherrilyn Kenyon, but, truth be told, after sometime I still was “bored”. Then one of them dared the group to read a M/M romance: she believed to shock and probably she expected that, if one of them pick up the glove and read the book, the response would be negative.
Since I can never give up a challenge, I accepted and read “Crossing the Line” by Stephanie Vaughan… I was enthralled, it was exactly what I was searching. Soon after I bought all the M/M romance ebooks from the same epublisher, Loose Id, and I discovered J.L. Langley, Laura Baumbach, Ally Blue… from that moment on I never stopped reading.

4. What is the worst thing a writer can put in a book in your mind?

Betrayal. And in a M/M romance, betrayal with a woman. It’s something I don’t suffer in real life, and above all I don’t want to find it in a romance. Maybe if there is a very good reason, and than the deceptive makes a very good job to be forgiven, I can still like the book, but it’s very hard. And another thing I don’t like it is when, in a sequel, the author breaks the happily ever after of the couple… it’s like a betrayal from the author itself.

5. One of my favorite romance authors was Victoria Holt, yet I was not a fan of her work as Jean Plaidy or Philippa Carr. Is this weird? or have you encountered the same thing? Liking one author's line of books and not the other?

I’m a very faithful reader, usually if I like an author, I like everything he writes. But I’m also very stubborn: for example, J.L. Langley. I love her M/M romances, but even if I bought her books as Jeigh Lynn (het romances), I have never found the patience to read them. Probably since she is very good as M/M author, her het romances should be wonderful, but still I’m in no mood to read them. I’m a very moody reader, you can’t force me to read something I haven’t the wish to read, otherwise my judgment will be invalidate by my mood. This is also the reason why I’m an “independent” reviewer (please forgive me the use of a so high term for what I do, but there isn’t any other…). I can’t be forced to
read something as a duty, I can only read as a pleasure.

6. Where do you find all those hot guys on your journal?

I’m a net explorer ? I wander a lot around the net, and when I find a face I like, I bookmark the site. Then I deepen the search and, if behind the pretty face, there is also an interesting story, he becomes my “Man Candy”.

7. How many books do you read a week?

I can give you a statistical answer: I opened my LibraryThing account to store all my reviews 15 months ago. From that moment on I wrote 715 reviews, that makes 10 reviews per week. But truth be told, 6/7 are short novels, under 100 pages. Usually I read 150/200 pages per night, so the answer could be, 6/7 short novels and 4/3 long novels.

8. Who did coin the term 'breeches ripper' because I am now in love with it!

I was questioning with a friend of mine, a very uptight and stubborn friend (that now is no more my friend, but not for my choice). She said that some of the historical romance writers of the past were bodice ripper writers, and that it was a pejorative word and that if I had the courage to ask to a modern romance author if she was glad to be define a bodice ripper writer, the answer would be for sure “NO” and maybe she would be take offence on the question. So when I saw that, in a review, Standish of Erastes was compared to a bodice
ripper romance of the kind of Johanna Lindsey, again I took the glove of my friend, and asked Erastes what he though. He answered that, if he could do the money that Mrs Lindsey does, he would be very glad to be define a bodice ripper romance author, even if, maybe, his romance were better defined as “breeches ripper”. And so it was…

9. Why are some writers offended by the term bodice ripper?

I believe for the concept of the rape. Some bodice rippers were very “strong”, like Rosemary Rogers’ novels, and the heroine was often forced during sex. I don’t like that kind of romances myself. But for example, Johanna Lindsey’s romances are truly “bodice rippers” but they are also funny and the heroine is always strong willed. As always you need to discern and not judge all the books from some of them.

10. Why do you think so many women have become interested in reading M/M?

I think there is a strong component of feminism in all this. In the romance history there has been an evolution that saw the female figure turned from object to subject of her destiny, hence the increasingly strong heroines, but that, in some cases, annoyed the female reader: how well expressed by Laura Kinsale, in her essay for "Dangerous Men, Adventurous Women", the female reader doesn’t identified herself with the heroine, but with the hero, and then, sometimes, she is annoyed by the woman in the book. In addition, in recent years, women started to "see" the man more and more as a sexual object, and so a beautiful body is crucial. So what's better than a romance where there isn’t the annoying heroine, but there are two beautiful heroes? True to appreciate this concept you must try to overcome very strong cultural barriers, especially in Italy, and often you risk to be seen as “perverse or strange.” I had a first hand experience and it is not pleasant to talk about it.

11. William Maltese told me on a group chat that women writing M/M has changed the genre, given it emotion. Would you agree with this?

This is an old argument for me, that I often share with my friend. I believe that M/M romance written by men are more direct, with a little less romance. Once I said that an M/M romance written by a man is like a dive in a swimming pool: a man dives directly on the core of the matter, splashing around like a little kid, and being happy in doing so. Instead a woman lingers at the edge of the swimming pool, first dips one’s hands in water, then maybe a foot, and even if she, in the end, immerses all the body, she is always worried of her hair or about how she appears… of all the details around… Do you understand?

12. If you were to write a M/M book what genre/time period would it be set in?

Contemporary I believe, since I have too much respect for History and historical writers, that I don’t judge myself worthy of writing an historical romance. I have also some plot bunnies in my head, but I have never found the courage to put them down as a real book. This one is my favorite:“A very wealthy old man had a son when he was just past his middle age. He married a young and beautiful woman, someone he loved dearly. They had only a son and they were an happy family. But then mother and son had a car accident
when the boy is only maybe 10/12 years old (he should be still in an age when he was old enough to have developed a own behavior but it is not yet an adult).
The boy remained blocked in the car with the dead mother for hours and when he was rescued he is deeply shocked. For months he behaved in a strange way, but doctors said it's right since what he has passed. But more the time went on and more the father realized that his son was not the same: he is like a child who doesn't grew, he sees the world with child eyes and he is too trusting even with unknown people. He is not dump, but he is like an eternal Pollyanna in male body. And plus, when the boy becomes a man in body if not in mind, he begins to have also sexual interests in other men instead of women and this attract all the wrong men to him, drawn more than the boy's wealthy than in the boy himself. The father is really worried since he is aging and sooner or later he would be not there to protect his son. And so when he happens to know that a very important business man he has some affair with, known for his ruthless behavior in affairs, but also for always honoring his word, prefers men's company in his private life, the old man develops a plan: the business man needs the old man's sign in an important business contract, and he decides to sign that contract if the business man will agree to take care of his son, in every possible way. And why the business man should not accept? The boy is young and beautiful, like his mother, and he will be also very wealthy when the old man will pass away. But what the young boy will say? And the ruthless business man will be sweetened by the naive behavior of the young boy?”

13. What is your town Padua like? Do people go out late? Eat dinner late? Is it a romantic place?

Poor Padua has the bad luck to be so near Venice that almost all the tourism pass by it without stopping. But Padua is a very old city, the second oldest city in Italy, soon after Rome. Padua, as Patavium, was the main Municipium of Roman Empire; a very old legend said that Rome was founded by Enea (his story was told in the “Eneide” of Virgilio) and one of the fellow mate of Enea, Antenore, continues the journey and founded Patavium. Plus in the thirteenth century Padua was the city were Sant’Antonio chose to live and where he made all his miracles: he also died in this City and there is an huge Basilica to commemorate the Saint, were his corpse is worshipped and thousands of pilgrims come every year. Moreover in the same period while Sant’Antonio made his miracles, a very important and laical movement of scholars chose Padua as its home and founded one of the oldest University in the world, in 1221: now it’s the second oldest University in the world still active; due to the presence of the University in the fifteen century in Padua was founded one of the first Public Hospital, also it still active. And last but not least, at the beginning of the fourteen century, the very famous Italian painter Giotto, frescoed the
Scrovegni Chapel, one of the most beautiful Italian affresco you can see, often compared to Sistina Chapel in Vaticano. This for the culture.
And for the social life? Thanks to the University, in Padua there are a lot of students, and so the life is pretty good, but no, the people usually doesn’t still out till late. Padua is in the Veneto county, and usually people who lives here prefers to stay at home, maybe host friends, but they are not much for night club and similar. If you want to eat out, most likely you will go in the near hills around the city, called Colli Euganei, a volcanic formation which generates also hot springs, so it’s a very green and peaceful place. I would not define Padua a “romantic” place. It’s a place full of culture, but not very romantic, even if Shakespeare set here The Taming of the Shrew.

14. Do your friends and family know of your work as an independent reviewer of M/M fic and what do they think?

My friends yes, and they are “quite” supportive, even if they really don’t understand me. But I have only two close friends, and one is a saint, who always thinks that I’m perfect, whatever I do, and the other has a very strong character, and probably I’m one among the few people who manage to stand upon her. My mother knows since we live together and she can see all the books around my room, and she says nothing. At first she was worried, kindly worried, that I was lesbian and that I didn’t have the courage to tell her, so she cautiously let slip one word here and there, telling me that, if I wanted in the future to go
living with a female friend, she was not against the idea, if I was happy. When she understood that all the books I read were about men with men, she was puzzled, but strangely less worried. Probably most of the merit goes to William Maltese: he often sends me his last book and he is so kind and well mannered, that my mother is happy that I have good friends (she read the dedication inside the book and also the accompanying letter…).

15. How do the men you date react to your work?

Do you intend my real work? As software analyst? Not so good. Two example: I was
dating an older man, five years older, and even if the sex was good, we always fought about my work. He wanted a housekeeping wife, and I’m all than and housekeeper. Second experience, a younger man: always was good till the day he asked me why a woman like me, with a good work, independent and cultured (his words) was dating a younger man, barely out of College, who was still studying?
Probably my answer was not good, if I remember well, I took too long a time to answer
and then I said something about the fact that he was “refreshing” and “easy”…

16. LOL! Have you considered writing a book on the history of romantic fiction?

I don’t believe that it would be a book that could interest to a lot of people, and then I haven’t the patience ? I like what I do since it’s not committed, I make all for pleasure, if it becomes a duty, I’m no more interested.

17. You are coming to the US (for the first time I believe) for the Yaoi con. How did you first come across Yaoi and how would you define it in terms of fiction?

No, it’s not the first time. I was in New York City in June 2000 and the again in Chicago in December of the same year. The first time for pleasure and the second time for work, but both time I had the chance to see a lot, and all in all I liked what I see. I like to travel, I visited England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Spain, Portugal, German, Russia, Romania, Hungary… I’m a bit of a globetrotter, always in motion when I’m out.
As for Yaoi, probably I made the reverse path: I came to Yaoi from the M/M romance. A lot of my online friend was speaking of yaoi manga and similar and one of my friend recommend me the Finder series by Ayano Yamane. I bought it in print (yes, I spend a lot in print books, but I like it and I think it’s a good thing to do) and soon after I bought all the Embracing Love series by Youka Nitta… From that moment on, I pick a yaoi manga here and there, but I’m not a
maniac, I still prefer the M/M romance.
As for the decision to go to the Yaoi Con in San Francisco, it was a spur of the moment: for various reasons, it’s a bit that I don’t travel and I miss it, and my friend (the one who usually comes with me in travel) always said that if we need to go to California, she would like to go in September, so, California + September = Yaoi Con!

18. What are you looking forward to most in the US?

San Francisco. I think that I will love the city. I want to see the Old Chinatown, but also I would like to “feel” the city. I like to walk around the cities, and try to imagine how the real life is.

19. What is the sexiest, most romantic paragraph you read in any book that still
haunts you?

Probably it was the first sex scene in Out There in the Night, the first book I read by Laura Baumbach. It is also a very “strong” sex scene, and maybe I was still a naïve reader, so I was deeply impressed. Probably the day after I read A Bit of Rough, again by Laura Baumbach, and again I was very impressed by the first sex scene, which happens at the beginning of the book and in an alley…again, I was an innocent reader and it was a very sexy scene…and with that I
answered to the “sexiest” part… but I think they are also very romantic, since the Alpha males by Laura Baumbach are formidable, and I like soo much a good Alpha male! Recently I read Welcome to Beaconsfield by D.J. Manly, about an abused child who grew into a scarred boy who hustles to live, but even if he has experienced almost all in his life, he still wants to fall in love and to dreams…another book I remember as very romantic and about the same argument, is Scarred by J.M. Snyder, about another abused boy who preserves his kisses for the one he loves.


On behalf of the Dark Divas I would like to thank Elisa for her thoughtful responses and her passion for what we do!!


Visit ELISA ROLLE at:

elisa.rolle@libero.it
My Blog: rosaromance.splinder.com
My Journal: elisa-rolle.livejournal.com
My Library: www.librarything.com/catalog/elisa.rolle

Kilts, Crowns and College Ménages!

Authors A.J. Llewellyn and D.J. Manly Discuss BLACK POINT, their upcoming September 1 Release for http://www.extasybooks.com/ but then things take an interesting turn...

AJ: Hi DJ, well, you and I did it. The dirty deed. We have co-authored a book, Black Point, coming to eXtasy Books on September 1. Tell me, am I the sexiest author you ever co-wrote a book with?

DJ: Well, ahem, AJ, you’re the ONLY published author I’ve ever written with in that way but…YES?? Lol, you may proudly wear that crown.

AJ: Was working with me everything you dreamed it would be? LOL…

DJ: Oh ahem, definitely. I would have to say honestly that it was relatively painless up to the climax…not climax…ah…exchanges of… never mind. IT WAS Great.

AJ: Some might say the storyline of two gay erotic romance writers meeting online then meeting in person is…well, close to the bone. It was your idea to begin with so what sparked it?

DJ: Well, I guess it’s up to the readers to figure out if art imitates life, or life imitates art? Actually, I came up with the idea on a whim. I dreamt it. And I figured, hey why not, I’m a guy who likes to push the envelope and go out on the limb. My hunch was correct and it worked out marvellously. I have pretty good instincts. And don’t forget, I love the attention.

AJ: What is your favourite sexual position?

DJ: My favourite sexual position??? Um, you’ve been re-reading the sex scenes in my books again, haven’t you A.J.??? Well, let’s see. That depends on…how much are you paying me again for this? Well, um...I’m a top…so ah…I suppose this is my favourite sexual position but sometimes I enjoy being…shall we say…overcome…lol…but even when I’m on my back, I’m a top. Figure that out. Just picture my partner as the cowboy…lol. I do so love the shower.

AJ: How do you top when you’re on your back???

DJ: Ah, well, it's like this...and I'm not sending pictures so stop asking already!! Ahem...well...see I'm kind of sitting up straight...not me exactly...but a part of me and ah...even though I'm on the bottom, he's acting like the bottom!! Damn it, that really challenged the writing skills...do you have to know everything??? LOL...

AJ: Have you ever been in an actual ménage or orgy?

DJ: Orgy, no. Ménage (looking around to see where significant other is…) yes. It wasn’t really my intention to be the filling in a sandwich but there were some hungry boys in the dorm once…

AJ: Oh, a DJ sandwich? Yum!

DJ: LOL…it was back in my college days. I started out with one guy, and well….the other guy didn’t even knock!!! The other guy wasn’t a student. He told me in the morning that he crashed the student pub. He didn’t know the other guy either…lol…needless to say, it was a busy night. That guy who crashed the party still emails me. He jumped the fence, got married. He’s got three kids but he told me once that he still remembers every detail of that night, and that it was the hottest sex he’d ever had. Some memory! All I remember is that I was finding condoms for weeks after.

AJ: Have you ever been propositioned in a place you least expected or by someone you least expected? What did you do about it?

DJ: Yes, and oh my God! It was a student in my college class last year, a young woman who never gave me any indication she had the hots for me.

AJ: She had no idea you’re gay?

DJ: I’m a very professional person and I would never come on to a student or respond sexually to one even if I did find them attractive.

AJ: Yeah, right. (Laughing) Sorry, go on…only…you know…you were a bit…freewheeling with the kisses when we were emailing our book back and forth…or was that just to keep me motivated?

DJ: But of course, AJ. I do have my methods….and I can be an extremely affectionate person when the mood takes me. And besides it worked! You typed really fast.

AJ: Go on with the story about the student, please…

DJ: Anyway, the class was over and everyone had left. I was packing up my briefcase and she gets up, goes over to the door and closes it. I teach at night so the college is mostly empty except for the janitorial staff. I looked up, perplexed, and she walked over, and said, “I need to tell you something,” in French, so, I asked her what it was. I never dreamed in a million years that she’d say, “I want to sleep with you.” My jaw must have hit the floor. I was speechless, and a little embarrassed. As gently as I could, I told her I was very flattered but I was in a relationship with someone. She proceeded to grab my hand. I took it back, and repeated the same words. She got a little pissed and slammed out of the classroom. She might have called me ‘an a**hole.’ I kept my boyfriend all night talking about that one.

AJ: Have you ever cheated on your partner or been tempted?

DJ: Ah, no, and yes. LOL…I was going to leave it like that but I will elaborate. My partner and I have talked about this. We agreed that it was normal to be tempted but that if we decided to do anything about it, we wouldn’t do it behind each others backs. We’re pretty open about what we want and what we need, in bed and out. I don’t see us being unfaithful to each other. I love him too much for that, and I believe it’s mutual.

AJ: So you’re telling me all those voodoo spells I did were for naught?

DJ: Keep trying sweetie. I think I felt a stirring the other night when I was editing that scene…you know the one!!!

AJ: I think I do...so what is your ultimate sexual fantasy? Have you lived it?

DJ: My ultimate sexual fantasy was to be ravished by three gorgeous hunks and…LOL…

AJ: Wait, lemme call Johnny Depp and see if he's busy.

DJ: (Laughing) I don’t know. I have many sexual fantasies. I think because I’m the dominant one in the couple, I have fantasized about taking on the other role. And yes, I’ve lived that out at times but not all the way. I’m a little nervous about being completely submissive. I have a really strong character. When my partner gets angry at me, he says, “You’re such a man!!” That should tell you. But, I’ve had dreams about being tied down and ravished by a couple of guys at a time…who hasn’t?

AJ: Have you ever had sex in a public place?

DJ: LOL...I tried it once and I hated it. I was too damn stressed out to go through with it. No, I’d rather be inside or outside where I’m sure no one will come. My ex and I used to go to his cottage and make out by the lake but it was pretty isolated.

AJ: Tell me about your first kiss? Where? Who? How?

DJ: OMG. My first kiss was at a school dance. I was eleven. I’ve been trying to forget it. This girl grabbed me and pulled me onto the dance floor and kissed me full on the mouth. My father walked in. He was there to take me home. He tapped me on the shoulder and asked me if I intended to come up for air. I was in shock for days. That girl wrote me love notes and stuck it in my locker for months!!! I used to rip them up and throw them in the toilet. We became great friends in grade eleven.

AJ: Some of your sex scenes in your books are pretty hot. Are some of them from personal experience?

DJ: Well…yes, I guess so. I think the feelings or sensations described are. I can’t say I’ve done those things exactly in the same sequence but I’ve certainly experienced them in some ways….and like I said, the feelings or sensations that are described come from me.

AJ: Do you really have a kilt, and have you have had a sword fight?

DJ: I don’t own a kilt…sorry ladies…but I rented one once for a Scottish wedding where I was the best man. It was the wedding of two of my best friends. I introduced them. One of them was born in Scotland. Anyway, I wore a kilt for the wedding. People kept falling down around me!! LOL…

AJ: Falling down? Trying to get a look under the kilt, or were they laughing?

DJ: I’ll never tell. As for sword fighting, I did some fencing once in college, I suck at it. My sweetie and I do throw those little left over dough rolls on top of the pizza at each other occasionally, but no swords.

AJ: Dough rolls? Cool…that leaves me with just one question, DJ. Your place or mine?

DJ: I think it should be yours, because damn it the weather here sucks, and NOT in a good way.

Thank you D.J. for being such a great sport and good luck with ALL your books, hon.

You can find out more about AJ's books and DJ's books at http://www.ajllewellyn.com/ and http://www.djmanly.com/

Coming Next Week to Dark Diva Reviews Author Interviews: "Mahu" series author Neil S. Plakcy.

Author Interview: DJ MANLY By AJ Llewellyn

DJ MANLY: SO MUCH MORE THAN TALENTED

For This Hot M/M Author, Writing is a Necessity ~ Interview by A.J. Llewellyn

1. DJ, how old were you when you first started writing and what were your earlier efforts like?I was around ten I guess. I remember writing this really raunchy soap opera…straight stuff…and cutting out pictures from magazines to paste on the cover. LOL…I’d hate to look at it today.


2. Do you read M/M erotic fiction and who would you say is an influence in your work?The first m/m fiction I ever read was Gordon Merrick’s “The Lord Won’t Mind.” I fell in love with the characters. You know, it’s weird, I don’t read much m/m fiction at all. I have more of a tendency to watch gay films and series. My influences are not gay literature, but literature in general. I would say they are people like Margaret Laurence, believe or not, who knew how to tell a good story.

3. Speaking of gay movies and series, do you have any favorites?
Queer as Folk, The Lair, Dante’s Cove, I have all these. I love Maurice, Pricilla Queen of the Desert, or there are far too many.


4. Your earlier work [I read Brennus' Witch] had a distinctive Yaoi feel to it, but you seem to have moved away from that. Will we see more of it in the future? Do you like Yaoi as a genre?That was clearly an accident. I wrote the book without trying to make it Yaoi. Someone said, hey, that’s Yaoi…and I went really??? You’re asking me if I like Yaoi as a genre, and I’m going to get in trouble here…big trouble…and I guess the surprise is…Not really or only sometimes. I do respect the genre. No one can ignore its popularity. Some of the stories are wonderful. When I read a book, Yaoi or not, and one of male characters is made to resemble a person with some exaggerated, effeminate characteristics, I really don’t like it. Now don’t get me wrong, I have no problem with men who act or dress in a stereotypical female way. I have a problem when the only kind of m/m love accepted is that which mirror male-female stereotypical roles. Now I could go on and on about this and put you to sleep. When I was in graduate school, my dissertation was about gender roles and homophobia. For me, gender is a social construct. There is nothing biological about roles we adopt. I don’t care what roles two men in love adopt but I get the impression that some people only accept m/m literature when one of th e characters adopt the role of female (i.e. helpless, whiny, etc…) Boy will I catch hell for this one…lol…I’m not saying all Yaoi is like that. I also know that in my books some characters are stronger or more dominant than others. But I would hate to think that I consistently give my men stereotypical roles. Enough said.


5. How do you manage to be so prolific? Do you have a set output you aim for every day? What is your writing routine like?Me Prolific? Lol…How do I manage it? My publishers nag me!!! Lol…no, I told someone once in another interview that writing is like breathing to me. I have to do it. So, every minute I’m not teaching, editing, researching, running my business, I’m writing. I do have a partner and he is usually somewhere in the house…lol…I do call him on the cell from time to time. But seriously, I nag myself and if I drag my laptop everywhere and in between clients and classes, I write or edit20or whatever else I have to do.


6. Is it easy juggling so many publishers?
Well, I have four. It’s not a problem.

7. Why do you think so many women readers are drawn to M/M romances?
That’s an easy one, whew…becaus e hetero women love beautiful men! And since I never do anything the easy way, the more complex answer is because they like to see two men in love…two men begin from the same status pedestal (did I say that???). Anyway, it’s fun to watch the fireworks, the sex, the romance. It gets away from Tradition…it’s fresh and new and oh so sexy. (psst, I have gay male readers)

8. William Maltese recently said women writing M/M have changed the genre, inserting emotion into the work. Have you noticed this yourself and do you agree with him?
Yeah, maybe but I think the difference Maltese speaks of is the difference between porn and eroticism. I know some women who write damn hard core porn…but eroticism blends the sexual with the emotional. But I believe a good writer can write just about anything. It’s a gift writing. You must be born with it then you have to practice and perfect it like with any art. I’m going off track, I do that. Women are tau ght to be more comfortable expressing emotion, on paper or off.

9. Where do you get your ideas for stories? Do you day dream? Do they come easily or do you work on ideas over a period of time?
I dream them sometimes or I take a germ of an idea and then let the characters play it out. Sometimes they come easily, sometimes not. I’ve written some stories in a week, others have taken months. Sometimes I stop mid way and start something else. I go back and the ending comes later. That’s hell. I hate that.

10. What books do you like to read yourself? Favorite authors?
I read books for work like English Second Language stuff, sometimes books on the craft of writing, very few books for pleasure I’m afraid.
11. Stephen King once said his muse is a fat, bearded guy who smokes cigars. What does your muse look like?I don’t have one. If I did, he/she certainly wouldn’t look like that. He’d probably be a clown with a big red nose.


12. What are you working on now? Do you work on more than one book at a time? I’m writing a sequel to “So Much More Than Naked” and a new vampire story. 3.

13. What are the publication dates for your upcoming books?
Oh well, I believe Arsenic and Rio at Extasy is coming out sometime in August. I have a trilogy called Love Most Inconvenient at Liquid Silver, I don’t have a date but I’m imagining early august. Melting Ice 2 at Mojo…I have no idea. Brennus’ Witch 3 at Extasy for Halloween.

14. AJ *perks* A sequel to Brennus’ Witch? Yahoo! Okay, DJ, do you work well under pressure?
I guess I’d have to say yes, I’m always under pressure.
15. What is the one thing we will always find on DJ Manly's desk? Coffee, tea. A pen, chunks of paper.


Thank you so much DJ. We know how busy you are. From all of us here at Dark Diva Reviews, keep the passion going!

Visit DJ Manly at
http://www.djmanly.com/
www.myspace.com/djmanly