Q&A with Josh Lanyon discussion

In Plain Sight is a brand new and exclusive story published in Josh's In Sunshine or in Shadow short story collection.

I received my print book a couple of days ago and decided not to read In Plain Sight yet. I was going to save it and savor it as long as I could before reading it. Well, it turned out that two days was the absolute longest I could possibly wait. ;-)

From now on the cover picture of the short story collection represents Nash and Glen to me. In Plain Sight was intense, even scary at times and definitely heart-wrenching to read. I appreciated Josh's forewords and the wisdom in them. This incredible story that fitted on 25 pages, left me thinking about pretty damn important things in life.

What about you guys? What are your thoughts on In Plain Sight?

So. Not. Fair.

I don't have a copy. Yet. ;)

Love all his stories, but I don't have that one. :(

I don't have a copy yet either... :(
I can only order it next week (it will be the first book at the new address :)), and then it'll probably take something like two weeks for it to get to Canada from the US, i have no idea why it could possibly take them so long...

On the bright side, i look fw to reading the story as soon as it arrives and then discussing it here :)

Got my 3 days ago. Will read it this weekend.

No worries, no panic, no pressure... remember? ;-)

I just wanted to set up a topic for In Plain Sight because I thought it really deserved to have one. I knew that many of you haven't read it yet, that's why I didn't write any details or spoilers in my first post.

We'll just let this topic to be a teaser, a reminder for you guys, before you get the chance to read it. :-)

Should we use spoiler tags at first before more of us have read it?

My copy has an estimated delivery date of 6/13-18. It didn't arrive yesterday, so maybe today... fingers crossed.

Karen wrote: "My copy has an estimated delivery date of 6/13-18. It didn't arrive yesterday, so maybe today... fingers crossed."

One of the advantages of waking up early on holiday is that you are still awake too, Karen. :-) It's about 9:00 a.m. here. What time is it in New Mexico?

Not quite 12:30am. I'm a night owl, even during the school year. No wonder I get so worn out. ;-)

Good morning!

I'll head to bed shortly and read for a bit. I finished the utility room (except for a basket and small bag to sort through), and will start on the kitchen tomorrow and work through the weekend. "Culture" in the evenings though — a string quartet with guest bandoneon player this evening, and Shakespeare (As You Like It) tomorrow evening, throw in a bit of tango if I survive the kitchen clean-up. But if In Sunshine or In Shadow arrives, all bets are off!

Enjoy your weekend, tangoing Shakespeare lady. ;-)

You have been amazingly efficient with all the cleaning up! I really admire you and your energy. I am so much lazier...

I'll keep my fingers crossed for your In Sunshine or in Shadow. Sweet dreams. :-)

I gave up resistance ;-): I'll get my copy beginning of next week.

Antonella wrote: "I gave up resistance ;-): I'll get my copy beginning of next week."

Somehow I knew you would...LOL. ;-)

Johanna wrote: "In Plain Sight is a brand new and exclusive story published in Josh's In Sunshine or in Shadow short story collection.

I received my print book a couple of days ago and decided not to read In Plai..."

I got my copies last night and I am so aggravated and embarrassed. Somehow the newspaper clipping was inserted into the middle of Chapter 1. Oddly enough, the way the story is structured, it may not stand out as anything but a jarring shift in time, but...it's a mistake. So if you haven't ordered the book, hold off for a couple of days.

Josh wrote: "Johanna wrote: "In Plain Sight is a brand new and exclusive story published in Josh's In Sunshine or in Shadow short story collection.

I received my print book a couple of days ago and decided not..."

I ordered the book 5 minutes ago, cancelled the order 30 seconds ago *g* though I know I would have enjoyed the story regardless. I really don't know why I thought I could wait for the ebook version :)

Josh wrote: "I got my copies last night and I am so aggravated and embarrassed. Somehow the newspaper clipping was inserted into the middle of Chapter 1. Oddly enough, the way the story is structured, it may not stand out as anything but a jarring shift in time, but...it's a mistake. So if you haven't ordered the book, hold off for a couple of days."

Don't be too embarrassed, because I didn't even notice it being in a wrong place. :-)

Johanna wrote: "Josh wrote: "I got my copies last night and I am so aggravated and embarrassed. Somehow the newspaper clipping was inserted into the middle of Chapter 1. Oddly enough, the way the story is structur..."

If it had to happen to a story, this was actually the perfect story!

Liade wrote: "Josh wrote: "Johanna wrote: "In Plain Sight is a brand new and exclusive story published in Josh's In Sunshine or in Shadow short story collection.

I received my print book a couple of days ago an..."

:-D

Josh wrote: "Johanna wrote: "Josh wrote: "I got my copies last night and I am so aggravated and embarrassed. Somehow the newspaper clipping was inserted into the middle of Chapter 1. Oddly enough, the way the s..."

Well sure, because (just like you wrote earlier) it only feels like a trick of time, a small shift in the story. Where exactly is the right place for it then?

Josh wrote: "Johanna wrote: "In Plain Sight is a brand new and exclusive story published in Josh's In Sunshine or in Shadow short story collection.

I received my print book a couple of days ago and decided not..."

Whoops! I just ordered at Amazon Germany and canceled after reading this message. I will order again in a couple of days :D

Liade wrote: "Josh wrote: "Johanna wrote: "In Plain Sight is a brand new and exclusive story published in Josh's In Sunshine or in Shadow short story collection.

I received my print book a couple of days ago an..."

LOL, the same for me, I couldn't resist any longer!

Juthi wrote: "Yeah don't worry about it! Maybe it'll just become a rare Lanyon collectible in the future. :P"

My thoughts exactly. But we'll refuse to sell our copies, right? No matter how high price is offered. :-)

You mean I accidentally ordered a Lanyon collectible? :-)

Hi, Eve! Me too, anyway.

Me three, or four. :-)

Johanna wrote: "Josh wrote: "Johanna wrote: "Josh wrote: "I got my copies last night and I am so aggravated and embarrassed. Somehow the newspaper clipping was inserted into the middle of Chapter 1. Oddly enough, ..."

This is how Chapter One should finish...

“If you ever want to go fishing for steelhead…”
That had been the official excuse for staying the extra days. Idaho had some of the best fishing in the West. They never had got around to fishing, though. Nash didn’t even like fishing.
And Glen had never been out of Idaho.
So this was goodbye.
A public goodbye. Well, they had already had their private goodbye, not that they had said goodbye. But it had been quiet and tender when they had made l—the second time that afternoon.
Nash shifted his safari bag to his left hand, offered his right. Glen took his hand, his own grip hard, tight. They held on too long, and then they both laughed. Nash could hear the shakiness in his own voice.
“Fuck this,” he muttered, and slung an arm around Glen’s shoulders, pulling him close. For an instant they held each other and then Nash pulled free and walked away.
He didn’t dare look back.
* * * * *
Nash had a ninety minute layover in Salt Lake City. He grabbed tuna tacos and a beer at Squatter’s Pub, checked his email, answered a couple of priority communications, then checked his cell phone messages.
There was no message from Glen. Nash had not expected one and was irritated with himself for feeling disappointed. What else was there to say?
He spent the next fifteen minutes struggling with himself over the desire to phone Glen. For God’s sake. It had only been two hours since they’d said goodbye.
But hell. Why not just call and say thanks again for a nice time. Okay, that would be transparent and lame. But was there any legitimate reason he couldn’t call and say hello? Was there any legitimate reason they couldn’t talk?
If they lived closer they would certainly be friends.
They would certainly be a hell of a lot more than friends.
Nash pressed Glen’s number — he had the number programmed into his phone for a reason, right?
The phone rang a couple of times and went to message. Nash cleared his throat. “Yeah, hi,” he said gruffly. “Just wanted to say…you know.” The loudspeaker was primly announcing boarding for Delta Flight 7429. “I’ve got to go. I’ll maybe give you a call tonight.”
Or maybe Glen would call him, so Nash wouldn’t have to feel like he was turning into a stalker. Like the kind of nut he warned other law enforcement about.
He fell asleep on the flight to DC. He’d slept very little over the past week. Neither of them had. He and Glen had not wanted to waste a moment of their time together.
When Nash landed in DC, he collected his luggage, his G-ride, and headed home to Fredericksburg, stopping only to pick up a quart of milk.
At home, he unpacked, checked his landline messages, checked his cell phone again, did laundry, checked his cell phone, checked his email, checked his cell phone.
Nothing.
It seemed Glen had a better grasp of the meaning of the word goodbye than Nash.
But then Nash thought of Glen’s face at the airport. No, he couldn’t believe Glen wouldn’t want to hear from him. They were in agreement long distance didn’t work, but that didn’t change the fact that something had sprung to life between them. It didn’t have a future, true. Any more than cut flowers had a future. But they were beautiful while they lasted.
Oh, man. If he was getting poetical, he must be…lacking in vitamins.
But not Vitamin S, that was for sure.
Nash grinned at a certain memory, checked the contact info on his cell for Glen’s home number, and pressed call.
After a couple of rings, the phone was picked up.
“Yes?”
“Glen?”
“Who’s calling?”
The voice didn’t sound like Glen. It was higher, more nasal. In fact — shit — it sounded like Officer Ryan Walker of the MPD. Nash had had plenty of opportunity to hear Walker’s voice over the past week’s training session, Walker being one of those know-it-all types who just couldn’t believe his personal experience wasn’t the be-all and end-all for everyone else.
Hearing Walker’s voice on Glen’s phone confused and irritated Nash. “Is Glen there?”
“Who is this?”
Nash said crisply, “Officer Walker, this is Special Agent West. Where’s Lt. Harlow?”
There was a pause. The silence prickled across Nash’s scalp and down his spine.
Walker retorted, “Well, Special Agent West, that’s the question on everyone’s mind.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means nobody knows where Lt. Harlow is. He’s disappeared.”

Josh wrote: "Johanna wrote: "Josh wrote: "Johanna wrote: "Josh wrote: "I got my copies last night and I am so aggravated and embarrassed. Somehow the newspaper clipping was inserted into the middle of Chapter 1..."

The corrected file has been uploaded, so now we just have to wait for Createspace to okay it.

But other than THAT, the book looks beeeeeoutiful!

It turns out that my copy is now scheduled to arrive on Tuesday. I guess it took longer because I ordered the Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead DVD along with it. ;-)

Hey, Josh -- will this be available as an ebook eventually? (I feel like you answered this question already, but I don't remembe where!) If so, do you have a sense of when? Thanks!

Salsera1974 wrote: "Hey, Josh -- will this be available as an ebook eventually? (I feel like you answered this question already, but I don't remembe where!) If so, do you have a sense of when? Thanks!"

It will eventually, but I'm trying to hold off for about a year.

Oh, I did miss this thread, so ordered the book probably before it is fixed. But, I still look forward to getting it in my mailbox! :)

Okay. Not waiting a year. Hard copy purchased!

ETA: Josh, I just re-read the thread more carefully, and paid closer attention to the discussion about the error. Can you let us know when it's safe to purchase the book from Amazon? I just cancelled my order, but as soon as I get the go ahead from you, I will re-order it. (I don't know what Createspace is, or when they will okay the newly-uploaded file, etc., but I will wait to hear something more definitive.) I haven't read any of the Petit Morts, and I want to read In Plain Sight, so I'm really looking forward to getting this collection. Thanks!

Josh wrote: "I got my copies last night and I am so aggravated and embarrassed. Somehow the newspaper clipping was inserted into the middle of Chapter 1."

You know, I wondered about that...but it didn't distract from my enjoyment of the story at all. Which was immense. :-)

Josh wrote: "But other than THAT, the book looks beeeeeoutiful!"

My book arrived days ago, and I'm saving it to read during my upcoming hospital stay. I'm glad I read about the mix-up, and I'm sorry that they messed up your work, but I know it won't spoil the story for me. This book is my reward for a lot of PT. Thank you!

Josh wrote: "It will eventually, but I'm trying to hold off for about a year."

*sits self in corner*

*sighs*

I will try to be patient and wait for the electronic version to be released. Unfortunately, with my vision problems, trying to read a hard copy isn't an option.

*sits on fingers trying not to make grabby hands*

^____^

I've got the book just now. I'll read the story it this evening. For the moment I managed to stop at the excerpt I already knew.

But what's ''Vitamin S''?

Antonella wrote: "I've got the book just now. I'll read the story it this evening. For the moment I managed to stop at the excerpt I already knew.

But what's ''Vitamin S''?"

I thought it to be Vitamin Sex because it's in between these lines (page 145):

Oh, man. If he was getting poetical, he must be... lacking in vitamins.
But not Vitamin S, that was for sure.
Nash grinned at a certain memory, checked the contact info on his cell for Glen's home number, and pressed call.

Already the line if he was getting poetical, he must be... lacking in vitamins (instead of falling in love) made me grin like a fool. :-)

Oh, I thought it is a real existing vitamin.

Antonella wrote: "Oh, I thought it is a real existing vitamin."

In the german wikipedia it's listed as a different name for vitamine B11 which is another (not usually used) name for vitamine B9 which is another (rarely used) name for folic acid.

Salsera1974 wrote: "Okay. Not waiting a year. Hard copy purchased!

ETA: Josh, I just re-read the thread more carefully, and paid closer attention to the discussion about the error. Can you let us know when it's s..."

It's fine now. Amazon but the title on hiatus for a few hours while we made the corrections, so it should be okay to order again.

Antonella wrote: "I've got the book just now. I'll read the story it this evening. For the moment I managed to stop at the excerpt I already knew.

But what's ''Vitamin S''?"

That was me being funny. S is for Sex yes. ;-D

My copy arrived this afternoon and I read In Plain Sight right away. I'll re-read it and then be ready for our discussion. Happy. : )

Karen wrote: "My copy arrived this afternoon and I read In Plain Sight right away. I'll re-read it and then be ready for our discussion. Happy. : )"

Cool. I've been anxiously waiting that more people will read it, so that we'll be able to discuss it. :-)

My copy arrived today. Yay!!! :-D
Guess what I'll be doing tonight. ;)

Loved In Plain Sight. How so many emotions can be drawn out of me in such a few pages still boggles my mind. I won't spoil it as many haven't read it yet so all I'll say is I think I was a scared as Nash was! my poor heart!

Loving the entire collection actually. Revisiting some of these couples was wonderful. I was also really surprised at how a couple of these stories completely blew me away during the second reading. I think I'll have to go through my entire Josh collection and give it another go. :)

My copy is still in transit between the U.S. and here, I am getting impatient!

Alan wrote: "Loved In Plain Sight. How so many emotions can be drawn out of me in such a few pages still boggles my mind. I won't spoil it as many haven't read it yet so all I'll say is I think I was a scared a..."

I'm having the same experience of being amazed as I re-read and loving the new story. I've been re-reading a lot of Josh's books this year already. I just re-read A Vintage Affair. Might as well keep going. :-)

Alan wrote: "Loved In Plain Sight. How so many emotions can be drawn out of me in such a few pages still boggles my mind. I won't spoil it as many haven't read it yet so all I'll say is I think I was a scared a..."

That's interesting, Alan.

I do think though that my stories usually fare better on a re-read. I wonder why? I hear it a lot though, so it must be a common experience.

Do readers begin my stories with an expectation for something I just don't typically deliver on a first read? What would that be, I wonder?

Karen wrote: "Alan wrote: "Loved In Plain Sight. How so many emotions can be drawn out of me in such a few pages still boggles my mind. I won't spoil it as many haven't read it yet so all I'll say is I think I w..."

A Vintage Affair is one of those stories that does not seem to deliver what readers hope for until a second read. In fact, it seems to deliver a shock -- like the reader reached with wet hands for a plug -- on the first read. ;-D

I will be very curious to see what you all make of In Plain Sight.