Josh > Recent Status Updates

Happy Summer!

Kill Your Darlings is now available for preorder. Get it a day early and for a dollar less at my Fourthwall shop: https://josh-lanyon-shop.fourthwall.c...

Next wide release will be The 12.2 Per-Cent Solution. Probably late summer/early autumn.

Pssst! Preorder at my Fourthwall and get the book a day early and for a dollar less. ;-)

https://josh-lanyon-shop.fourthwall.c...

First line: "It's okay if you want to say, I told you so."

That and a very loose plot line is all I've got so far. I won't actually begin writing this until I'm back from August's Rainbow Cruise.

But I'm hoping to finish this before the end of the year. No promises, no preorders. Just a hope that things stay steady long enough for me to wrap this one up this year.

Done! Part of the delay arose from my realization that, as much as I LOVE the stranded-house-party-with-a-killer-on-the-loose trope, in such a scenario Police Chief Jack could not believably be stranded with everyone else. My fear was that readers were not going to enjoy a book where Ellery and Jack weren't physically together and that really froze me for a time (HA -no pun intended).

Hello!

I'm putting together a bibliography of gay cozy mysteries.

The books MUST fit the strict criteria of no on-screen sex, no onscreen violence, and no obscenity. The protagonist must be gay--supporting cast members do not count. And, last but not least, the books must have an unmistakably cozy mystery vibe.

These are rules, not guidelines.

Your help is needed. Your suggestions are welcome!

Heading for the annual Bouchercon Mystery Conference next week. This year the conference is being held in sunny (barring mini hurricanes) San Diego.

https://bouchercon2023.com/

*********************

Unfortunately, this has not been a great summer for writing. However, the book is still happening. I can't give an actual date, and there will not be preorders. But I'm still working on it and it will be the next thing I publish.

It seemed some things never changed.

"You know, it’s not like I’ve forgotten we did The Cat and the Canary at Tisch.”

Flip, Tosh, Lenny, and Chelsea all looked at each other.

Ellery sighed. “Uncle Cyrus dies and leaves his estate to his niece Annabelle with the stipulation she has to spend the night in the creepy family mansion. I KNOW you remember. Flip was the Cat and Noah played Uncle Cyrus.”

Noah. Wow.

Well, that was fun! I think we're going to go a bit darkier and spookier on the next title for Patreon. But meanwhile, PUZZLE FOR TWO should be for sale pretty much everywhere next week.

What. A. Week.

The Italian translation of the Fatal Shadows Collector's Edition came out from Triskell Edizioni. In addition to art, codas, interviews, chapters from Jake's POV, it contains the final exclusive AE short story.

The legendary LAMENT FOR LOON LANDING (SS6) released.

THEN came the print ed of 44. 1644 NORTH .

And finally, the 2nd M/M Mystery & Suspense box set of novellas was published.

Whew.

Flint said, “How’d it go with the detectives?”

“Didn’t your friend at the sheriff’s office tell you?” There was a little note in Zach’s voice that probably sounded like…something he did not want to sound like. But it was hard to remember that they were friendly, not friends. In fact, they were adversaries.

Except tonight, in this moment, it didn’t feel like they were adversaries.

"Another secret passage?" Ellery asked.

“I’m very lucky to have you in my life. Don’t think I don’t know that.”
“It wasn’t luck,” Ellery said. “It was persistence, determination, patience, your beautiful blue-green-green-blue eyes and the fact that you like my dog.”
Jack laughed. “I do like your dog.” He reached for the lamp switch. “And I do like you.”

****
So yes. Still writing. The book is still happening, but so is real life.

Finally, Flint said, “My friend at the sheriff’s office didn’t say a word about any of this.”
“If I’m really the prime suspect, maybe they’re keeping that information quiet.”
“No.” Flint gave a short shake of his head. “He’d tell me.” His gaze met Zach’s. “We’re more than friends.”
“Oh.”
The voice that came out of Zach didn’t sound anything like his own, but Flint didn’t seem to notice.

“Is it a deal breaker?” I inquired. Because if it was a deal breaker for him, it was definitely going to be a deal breaker for me. I was never again going to make concessions I didn’t believe in or agree with simply to pacify someone giving me ultimatums."

“No,” he said without hesitation. “Not unless you get yourself killed.”




Well, it's done! AND THREE MONTHS EARLY. :-)

Chico’s considered. His black gaze glinted as he said, “Maybe it did happen the way you say. Maybe you wouldn’t play nice and Beacher fired you when he got home that night. I’m not sure that helps you. The way I see it, it gives you a pretty good motive for murder.”

#amateursleuth #LGBTQmystery #MMromance #UH-OH

I guess it’s normal that people have trouble believing that someone they identify with could make choices they never would. But that’s the reality. We’re not all the same. That’s why people we love sometimes end up married to people we can’t stand. That’s why we sometimes end up married to people we can’t stand.

#amwriting #slowmowriting #fictioninspiredbytruecrime #mmromance #LGBTQmystery

The Josh Lanyon annual "Advent" Calendar is in full swing: https://joshlanyon.blogspot.com/2022/...

AND most of my audio backlist is currently on sale (SERIOUSLY ON SALE at Author's Direct)

https://shop.authors-direct.com/colle...

This is the time of year where my best laid plans go aft a-gley, TO PUT IT MILDLY. In between trying to finish fall planting, get ready for the holidays--how does preparing Thanksgiving for twelve turn into a week-long marathon?--and finishing up the last of 2022's projects, everything feels insurmountable. But mostly the mountains are moleholes and two weeks from now, I'll be...post Thanksgiving at least? ;-D

It just wasn't possible to make this truly affordable in print. So, while you can't really "collect: a digital version, it just didn't seem fair to create something for fans that so many fans simply couldn't afford. The digital edition goes live pretty much everywhere on December 15th.

It’s not like she was in the middle of nowhere. Not really. She could see a few scattered window lights, porch lights through the trees. She could ask for help at any of those homes. Better though, to put some distance between herself and the crash site. Just in case the sheriff’s deputy returned.

“This isn’t personal.”
“Maybe it should be.”
“Is this about Dylan or is this about you and the Abbott case?”
“Maybe it’s both, Jack.”
“Listen, I explained my reasons then.”
“Yep. You did.”
“And I stand behind them now.”
Ellery said shortly, “Oh, I know you do.”
Jack flushed.

“Because now it’s real,” Alton said. “Now others know about it too. Now the threats won’t be enough. Zora will certainly try to kill me.”
As Zach gazed in disbelief at what he could see of Alton’s shadowy features, Alton added unemotionally, “And probably you as well.”

Loosely inspired by the story that inspired my obsession with true crime: the disappearance of Maura Murray.

----
She was not afraid of the dark.
But now, beyond the ominous red flash of the Saturn’s hazard lights, her flashlight beam seemed to feebly poke and prod at the shroud of night enveloping Route 112.
It was very dark.
Unnaturally dark.

It's been a really busy and distracted summer, and because this a turning point book in the series, it required more time and focus than I've had available. But now we're heading into the home stretch. The book IS coming. I'm not going to cancel it. I can't give a hard and fast date, but I'm hoping to (NEED to) wrap things up before the end of November. Don't give up! ;-)

Inside, it seemed very loud, jarringly loud and, muted though the lights were, they dazzled his eyes. He walked right into someone, startled at the strong grip that closed on his arms, steadying him.
“That was awkward,” Flint remarked.
Zach wiped the rain from his face and focused on Flynn’s face. “It could have been worse.”
Flynn’s expression was wry. “How so?”
“He could have brought my mom.”

Surprise! HIDE AND SEEK is now available in audio, print AND digital.

https://amzn.to/3Skve31

Sooo... I've never done NaNoWriMo before. But I thought it might be fun to do as creative... Jumpstart? Kickstarter? Exercise?

Anyway, I'm not saying NORTH will be published in November, but I'll be working on it as an extra project over at https://nanowrimo.org/participants/jo...

Want to wrap yourself in a story as comfy-cozy and charming as a soft blanket on winter's night (with maybe an Irish coffee on the side)? Toddle over to Book Funnel for a slew(th) of new authors and free books! https://bit.ly/3S4PQMR
#cozymysterygiveaway #worldcozyday #cozyreads