A Book and Its Judged Cover

Make You Sweat received two great reviews last week. Whipped Cream Reviews gave it four cherries, and TRR gave it five stars, labeling it a Top Pick. Yay, and thank you!

Both reviewers commented on the cover, and it got me thinking. (Yes, that was the funny smell…)

When I filled out my cover art paperwork for Make You Sweat I mentioned that I loved PL Nunn’s covers, and then held my breath for several weeks. When I found out she’d been assigned to my book, it made my day. No, my week.

But I wasn’t always a fangirl.

Both of the reviewers for Make You Sweat mentioned the “cartoon” cover and said they might’ve passed it up because they didn’t like that style. Honestly, while I’m a fan of Nunn, I understand their reactions. I really do. The first time I saw one of Nunn’s covers, I thought the same thing. I didn’t know what Yaoi was at the time, and I’d only purchased books at the bookstores… you know, with photos, not drawings, as their covers. It was only after I read reviews and received several recommendations for the Heaven Sent series by Jet Mykles that I moved past my doubt and bought a book with Nunn’s art. She captured the Heaven Sent boys and their lovers perfectly, and from there, also capture me as a fan of her artwork.

Once I moved away from the initial doubt, I developed a habit of buying books with her covers without always reading the blurb. She has that effect on me. I broke out of my comfort zone and tried BDSM when I fell in love with Blue from fellow Slash & Burner Katrina Strauss’s Blue Ruin series. It turned out to be a good temptation, and the cover made me do it.

So what have I learned from this? Don’t judge a book by its cover? Heck, I hope we all know that already, but as I said, I still buy books with Nunn’s covers as if by rote. I enjoy most of them, but I have found myself tempted to purchase a book by an author I don’t enjoy when I see her art advertising it. On the flip side, as I draft this blog post, I think of a few books I’ve turned up my nose at because the cover was awful. I haven’t purchased a single ebook with a Poser designed cover, for example. The Poser men look creepy and unprofessional to me. (Yes, I’ve been told that sometimes they can look very real at the hands of someone who excels with the program, but alas, I don’t have an example for that.)

Will I read one now? It’s a habit I must break. After all, the reviewers at Whipped Cream and TRR took a chance on Make You Sweat, and loved it, so certainly I can pay that forward. I do like to challenge myself, stepping out of my personal comfort zone in so many ways. Yet this one simple challenge... 

Okay, dear Readers, leave me links for your favorite books with awful art. Help me to stop judging a book by its cover.

Ciao,
Pia Veleno

PS Speaking of judging covers, don't forget to vote in the Rainbow Awards poll for cover art. If you vote for Fallen, even better, but I promise to forgive you if you don't. ;-)

Responding to reviews

I'm discussing whether authors should reply to reviews over at my website, inspired by an author who replied to criticism of her book in an amazingly ill-advised manner last week. Is it ever a good idea for authors to respond to criticism? And should reviewers mention poor grammar and typos? (I say no and yes, respectively.) Would love to know what you think.

Reviews and Rewrites

Since my first book released last week, I've gotten two reviews—one from Elisa Rolle and one from Mrs. Giggles. I'm glad I have a thick skin. I'm an actor; I'm very good at handling rejection and criticism. Neither review was glowing, but neither panned it completely. Of course, Mrs. Giggles was less positive but that's to be expected. She is known for snark and she does it well. Both reviews had one criticism in common and I agree with it: the book starts slowly. ::shrug:: I'm okay with that. It was a lot of detail and description at the top. Visual world-building before leaping into the action. Some people like that and some don't. Usually I'm in the don't. Funny how that happened, eh? Irony. It's good for the blood. ;)

Right now I'm working on expanding a novella that my editor liked but wanted more of. Higher stakes, more back-story. I'm glad she didn't take it as is (or at this point as was). I initially wrote it for an anthology submission with a 25,000-word limit. These boys deserve more story than that and while I was pleased with the initial version, I think the expanded one will be much better. Here are pics of actors I'd cast were I casting. Pretty, no?

Jamie Bell
and Simon Woods

ETA: I discovered shortly after posting that I have another review. One which makes me very pleased, indeed. I got 4 Nymphs from Literary Nymphs!

A couple of things from me this week...

First of all, I have a brand new review of GWM Wanted that I want to brag about. :) Joyfully Reviewed gave it a recommended read, and I'm tickled to death about what the reviewer had to say about my novella.



Joyfully Recommended!
“Fantastic and so beautifully written, GWM Wanted is a must read. Amanda Young captured perfectly the insecurities and fears found within a marriage when the couple stops communicating. Gay or straight, all relationships hit roadblocks when partners don’t express their feelings and say what they need, want, and feel. Sam and Mark are a couple in love and still very attracted to each other, but because of lack of communications and letting fears take over, they were losing each other. Going to the extreme of inviting a third person into their sex life may not have been the answer, but in a roundabout way, it was the eye-opener they needed. Ms. Young did a great job with this and she also made a good point about the risks of answering online ads. I loved GWM Wanted and I Joyfully Recommend it.”
~Reviewed by Ley
http://www.joyfullyreviewed.com/reviews/RRs/June08RR/GWMWanted.AY.html

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Secondly, I thought I would give you all a shout out about the scavenger hunt going on at Rainbow Reviews. There are a bunch of authors giving away free books(myself included), and all you have to do to win is find the little icons on each other websites. For more information, just visit Rainbow Reviews.

Yaoi Manga

Anyone who’s read our work knows Barb and I are huge fans of yaoi. The genre’s popularity keeps growing with Western audiences, with certain titles moving 10,000 copies a month, according to this article in Publisher’s Weekly. Meanwhile, a number of online publishers include a category for fiction written in a yaoi-style.

So whaddaya mean you haven’t picked up a yaoi manga yet?!? It's time to dive in!

These are three of my favorite titles, which also make good starters for newbies to the genre. The next time you’re shopping online at Amazon or visit your local Barnes & Noble, drop one into your basket and give it a try. :D

Gerard & Jacques by Fumi Yoshinaga

This two-volume series is the first one I suggest for anyone who’s never picked up a yaoi manga before. With the French Revolution serving as the story’s backdrop, Gerard is an aristocrat-hating author (famous for penning scandalous tales about lesbian lovers) who surprisingly rescues Jacques, a young man indentured to a brothel in order to work off his father’s debts. The series has its moments of political intrigue, drama, humor and tenderness that tug on your heart strings as the two men realize their love for each other is more than platonic. Meanwhile, the art is simple, expressive and compliments the story beautifully. (And for those of you worried about such things, the sex scenes are not too graphic.)

Last Portrait by Akira Honma

This manga offers readers two thoughtful, artistically rendered stories with memorable characters. The first story focuses on a young artist who discovers he’s in love with his sister’s fiancé, but prepare to be pleasantly surprised by the second story in particular. In it, a wet-behind-the-ears FBI agent must work with an ex-member of Bureau who is only days away from being executed for a crime he didn’t commit. It's not the kind of plot I've come across often in yaoi manga, and the action coupled with drama makes for some great tension. As with Gerard & Jacques, there is sex, but not depicted in an overly graphic manner.

And because I can’t resist a good romp…

But…I’m Your Teacher by Yoshino Somei

This volume collects a number of short mangas, all of which *do* contain graphic sex. If cute, blushing penises on every other page aren’t your thing, leave this book carefully tucked away in its shrinkwrap. But for a series of fun, sometimes over the top stories, But I’m Your Teacher will not disappoint. (There is just one short near the end of the book that takes a dark, unexpected twist—but it’s handled in a very interesting way.)

Happy Memorial Day

First off, Happy Memorial Day to all those who live in America. Please take a moment and remember those who've died to give us our freedom. Also thank a vertern while you are at it and thank them for their time served.

Second, I'd love to share with you the reviews I've gotten for my latest release, A Master's Love.

5 stars from JERR

*still doing happy dance*

"Ms. Rayne has a sizzling erotic romance with A Master’s Love. The mentalattraction and play between Nate and Kyle is superb. The sexual tension andpower tugs between the two characters had me on the edge of my seat...If you likehomoerotic romance with a twist of BDSM then I highly suggest this book for yourreading." ~ Julie Esparza

4 rating from Night Owl Reviews

"In general, it's a solid and well-written novella, worth the read, especially if you're looking for a love story between two men that will leave you with a wry smile and warm fuzzies." ~ Nica

A Master's Love is now available at Loose-Id

Blurb:

Nate Jacobs had his health, a roof over his head, food in his stomach, and a best friend to keep him grounded. What more did a Dominant need? That was what he always thought until Kyle Turner knocked on his door.

Feeling like his life was in a slump Kyle Turner decided to try something different. He went to Angel’s Heart not really knowing what to expect from a house full of Dominants, but finds more than he bargained for when he discovers himself at Nate’s mercy.

Can either man take the chance at the love that is right in front of them?

Note: This is a M/M story with a strong Domination/submissive theme and includes graphic sex scenes and bondage.

Never before posted excerpt: For Adults

Kyle pushed Nate back into the nearest stall and locked the door, never breaking the kiss. He ran his hands through Nate’s hair, feeling the softness between his fingers for the first time. He pressed his body against Nate’s, his dick swelling and throbbing, pressing against his jeans, aching, but he ignored the discomfort. All of his attention was on the man pressed against him.

He could feel that Nate’s groin had stiffened in response to his touch, the thought sending thrilling chills down his spine. The lust that had filled him since meeting Nate threatened to explode, driving him to act upon his impulses. He ground himself into Nate, his excitement climbing when his movement was met with an answering whimper. At that moment, Kyle knew he wasn’t walking out of this room without fulfilling a portion of his desire.

With effort, Kyle pulled himself from Nate’s very addicting lips and let his mouth slide up to his ear and then slowly traveled down his neck, tasting as much of Nate’s skin as possible. His hands worked at unbuttoning Nate’s shirt, fighting the urge to rip it from his body. He was desperate to feel Nate’s skin beneath his hands. To feel his heat and finally touch the skin that had been torturing him for the past two weeks.

His mouth trailed down over Nate’s shoulders, his hands pushing off the shirt. His only care was where his lips moved, the skin he touched, and the response he received from Nate. Kyle moved further down until he captured one of Nate’s exposed nipples between his teeth and gave it a tug.

“Kyle,” Nate moaned softly. His head was thrown back, eyes closed, and his fingers had buried themselves in Kyle’s hair. The sound was deep and filled with want. Kyle wondered how long it had been since someone had touched Nate this way. With this much desire and yearning. When was the last time Nate had someone touch him because they desired him, Nate Jacobs? Not someone who wanted a Dominant, but someone who wanted the man who felt pain, lust, and loneliness like everyone else.

Kyle took his time caressing, kissing, and exploring Nate’s chest and stomach. He felt Nate’s hands slide from his hair to explore his shoulders and every other place he could reach. Kyle kneeled, their surroundings fading away, oblivious to any comings or goings outside the stall. All he could see and feel was Nate. The only sound he heard was his own heartbeat and the quiet sounds escaping Nate’s lips.

“Kyle...” Nate’s voice trembled when Kyle brushed his lips over his navel; his fingers had made quick work of Nate’s belt and pants, and were trying to push them down. “Kyle, we shouldn’t,” Nate tried again, his hands going to Kyle’s shoulders to push him away.

Kyle rose from his knees without a word and captured Nate’s lips again. The kiss was deep and unrestrained. He kissed Nate until they were both breathless.

“We are not in your room, Nate.” Kyle emphasized Nate’s name. “I am not your client right now. I am a man who is extremely attracted to you and seeks to give you pleasure. So shut your fucking mouth before I’m forced to stuff something in it.”

Kyle saw Nate’s surprise at his aggressiveness, but it showed only a moment as a smirk slowly formed on his lips.

“Promise?”

Kyle’s brow rose and he groaned at the sound of teasing in Nate’s voice. He didn’t respond, but knelt as before. He pushed Nate’s pants down his thighs and handled the hardened cock and tight balls. Kyle wet his lips and rolled his eyes up to watch Nate’s reaction, only to find the man’s eyes growing darker,while the gold streaks appeared to glow brighter. Testing the waters, Kyle licked the tip with his tongue, getting his first taste of Nate.