The Inside Reader: Alex Beecroft

[elisa_rolle]

Show me the books he loves and I shall know the man far better than through mortal friends - Silas Weir Mitchell

This week Inside Reader is Alex Beecroft. Enjoy her list!

I've been making up m/m stories in my head since I was 11. At that time-sometime around the period when Stonehenge was built-I believed I was the only person in the world who

Comments

[theshirelife]

You really should! It's amazing. Hugh Grant was clearly in his true glory days when he portrayed Clive in this film. This is where his power is, and I hate that he squanders it with silly romantic comedies after 1994. Eh well. There's also James Wilby's phenomenal performance as good old Maurice. :-) Rupert Graves also makes a fine Scudder.

I have to admit, I'm new to eBooks, in that I tend to prefer to by books in print because I'm a greedy blighter and have to have the books within my grasp because my laptop isn't always. *smirk* So most of the books I would be reviewing are print, some older (classics) and the rest historical (with some) paranormal m/m fictions. The eBooks I have read already appear to be covered by dear Elisa, yourself, and others. :-) Furthermore, I am shameless, but I do have something of an ulterior motive to wanting to review as you both do. I'm a manlove historical fiction writer, too, and this before realizing just how much a market there is for historio-manlove eBooks.

At the moment I am struggling because of personal traumas and my energies being sucked by school (I'm graduating with a B.A. this January, and so my senior paper- though EXCELLENT in my topic and research, has been kicking my ass). But, when things slow after exams are over, I will be putting the nose to the grindstone and work to churn out the stories that have been stewing in my mind.

In essence, I figured if I could get myself in this network of reviewers, critics, and writers I could at least get my name out to help when I do have things I want to submit... well, technically I do have one finished story that I've submitted to two contests, and it wasn't picked up, not that this is the reflection of the quality (but it does need polishing), but rather that there are many other talented minds out there to choose from. It's a WWII story set in the space of a few days in a Gestapostellen (which is the title of the work) and though it does not have the classic happy ending (because I go for realism as much as I can) it does have a poignant bitter-sweet sort of ending.

Gods, I'm rambling- I'm sorry... but yea, at least now you can see how much of a scheming little wench I am... but I've just learned that as much as it relies on your own industrious talent, it also relies on who you now, and how you get your name in... Kind of alone in not having someone to mentor and beta my work or give me inside help and advice from established writer to an independent unknown writer...

[elisa_rolle]

I have not many advice from a writer point of view since I'm not ;-) But from a reviewer point of view, I hosted some reviewer in the past, basically to review the Top 100 Gay Novels (the list you find in my tags), so if you want, I'm willing to give you a space to discuss your opinion with other people. And I believe that among my friends list there are many writers that will be willing to cover the other side, the writer side ;-) Elisa

[theshirelife]

I'll definitely do that when I get a chance after final exams are over. :-)

[theshirelife]

I did ponder that, about good reviews and negative reviews. Definitely a tricky balance that.

I suppose I did submit to the wrong venue if I think about it. These two writing contests were for NIMROD and another university literary journal. Though there was no stipulation on subject matter, it became clear when I got the copies of their publication with the winning entries just what they were looking for and my WWII story wasn't it. And, like you said, the rejections, regardless of the fact that these were the wrong venues, has given me pause and spurred me to go over and make edits, however with recent circumstances, I've not yet been able to finish going over it. That will be my task for when I finish exams. Yes, I'm well aware that if it isn't good enough, it isn't good enough, no matter how much networking or advice I may get.

I suppose with my rambling I unwittingly made it appear that I am a hopelessly idealistic novice. I've been writing since I was thirteen, and I'm twenty-five now. I have become well aware that any artistry (literature, poetry, music, fine arts, dance...) is more than just born talent. It is hard work, dedication, determination, and more hard work. I'm fully prepared to keep working and improving as I have been the last twelve years. :-)

I sincerely appreciate your honesty. Honest and forthright as I am, I always respect honesty from others. I've gotten past the point of being discouraged when the response isn't something I necessarily wanted to hear. That's life. I always try to take the criticism (whether good or bad) and make the best of it.

p.s. Thanks for the community recommendation! I'll definitely check it out.

[theshirelife]

Aye. :-) See you there.