Ryan Loveless's Blog - Posts Tagged "ethan-who-loved-carter"
Overwhelmed by reaction to "Ethan, Who Loved Carter"
I haven't shut my jaw since the first review came in for Ethan, Who Loved Carter on Goodreads. 5 stars. Since then, almost every review is 4 or 5. On Sept 16, 70 people had it on their to-read list (I gained 10 a day before due to my GR chat on the DSP group). Currently, over 300 people have added it. That's a 230 increase in 3 days.
It's been in the top 10 on Amazon's GLBT lists since release. It even made top 10 on Amazon.co.uk. There are six 5-star reviews on Amazon.com.
Cole Riann did a review on The Armchair Reader that made me cry. http://coleriann.com/2012/09/18/ethan...
LL's Word did one that made me laugh. http://the-ll-word.blogspot.com/2012/...
I have 10 new friends or followers on Goodreads; I have 5 new fans on Facebook and a handful of new twitter followers.
Let me put this into context. My last two books, combined, a historical and a sci-fi, have sold fewer copies in 10 months than Ethan has done in 3 days. They each have 20 reviews on Goodreads and never came close to cracking the top 10 lists on Amazon (or anywhere). I don't think I got any new followers because of them. How do I compute that difference in response? You understand why I'm gobsmacked. For promotion, I did blog tours for both of those books, plus Goodreads chat, Yahoo and Facebook postings. For Ethan, I did a GR chat and posted about it on FB and Yahoo. That's it. (FB chat coming up this Saturday!)
But for all this, as thankful as I am that it's looking good I'll make my advance back and finally have something to put a little money in my pocket, the thing that brings me gratitude is the interaction I had with the mother of a boy with Tourette's who was so worried about how Carter would be portrayed b/c she's been burned by how fiction shows people with TS as clowns where I was able, with help from another reader, to put her mind at ease by sharing the foreword with her. And Cole's review in which he opens up a part of himself because of this book. And various other private conversations I've had with people as a result of this book, which included making friends with someone who has a dear attachment and protectiveness of TBI survivors and felt especially protective of Ethan as a result.
I just wanted to write a book with two adorable boys in a cute romance who happen to have TS and TBI. I wanted to do it honestly to the best my research and personal experience would allow me to do.
I never imagined this would be the result. People aren't only falling in love with Ethan and Carter, they love the supporting cast too, which is something I always hope for, but rarely happens. This is the first time in any of my books that the supporting cast is mentioned in almost every review. In particular the attention Ethan's teenaged brother Elliot gets, seeing evidence that he's understood, makes me so grateful.
Okay, I have to go before I get overwhelmed again. But let me say publicly, THANK YOU.
Ryan Loveless
http://www.twitter.com/ryanloveless
http://www.facebook.com/ryanlovelessb...
http://ryanloveless.dreamwidth.org
It's been in the top 10 on Amazon's GLBT lists since release. It even made top 10 on Amazon.co.uk. There are six 5-star reviews on Amazon.com.
Cole Riann did a review on The Armchair Reader that made me cry. http://coleriann.com/2012/09/18/ethan...
LL's Word did one that made me laugh. http://the-ll-word.blogspot.com/2012/...
I have 10 new friends or followers on Goodreads; I have 5 new fans on Facebook and a handful of new twitter followers.
Let me put this into context. My last two books, combined, a historical and a sci-fi, have sold fewer copies in 10 months than Ethan has done in 3 days. They each have 20 reviews on Goodreads and never came close to cracking the top 10 lists on Amazon (or anywhere). I don't think I got any new followers because of them. How do I compute that difference in response? You understand why I'm gobsmacked. For promotion, I did blog tours for both of those books, plus Goodreads chat, Yahoo and Facebook postings. For Ethan, I did a GR chat and posted about it on FB and Yahoo. That's it. (FB chat coming up this Saturday!)
But for all this, as thankful as I am that it's looking good I'll make my advance back and finally have something to put a little money in my pocket, the thing that brings me gratitude is the interaction I had with the mother of a boy with Tourette's who was so worried about how Carter would be portrayed b/c she's been burned by how fiction shows people with TS as clowns where I was able, with help from another reader, to put her mind at ease by sharing the foreword with her. And Cole's review in which he opens up a part of himself because of this book. And various other private conversations I've had with people as a result of this book, which included making friends with someone who has a dear attachment and protectiveness of TBI survivors and felt especially protective of Ethan as a result.
I just wanted to write a book with two adorable boys in a cute romance who happen to have TS and TBI. I wanted to do it honestly to the best my research and personal experience would allow me to do.
I never imagined this would be the result. People aren't only falling in love with Ethan and Carter, they love the supporting cast too, which is something I always hope for, but rarely happens. This is the first time in any of my books that the supporting cast is mentioned in almost every review. In particular the attention Ethan's teenaged brother Elliot gets, seeing evidence that he's understood, makes me so grateful.
Okay, I have to go before I get overwhelmed again. But let me say publicly, THANK YOU.
Ryan Loveless
http://www.twitter.com/ryanloveless
http://www.facebook.com/ryanlovelessb...
http://ryanloveless.dreamwidth.org
2 new books ready for pre-order!
Hi Everyone,
Here I come with a few exciting updates! First, Last Chance Charlie is available for pre-order here: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/stor.... (Please note that it has a BDSM tag. This refers to the "kink for pay" that the MC engages in as part of his job, which is written about in detail. The main romantic pairing are not in a BDSM relationship. There is no romantic aspect in relation to this tag.)
Next up, Ethan, Who Loved Carter will be available in German on July 15. Pre-order Ethan und Carter - Du bist meine Melodie here: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/stor...
And finally, I've opened my Ask box up here, so stop in and ask me stuff if you want. :D
Here I come with a few exciting updates! First, Last Chance Charlie is available for pre-order here: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/stor.... (Please note that it has a BDSM tag. This refers to the "kink for pay" that the MC engages in as part of his job, which is written about in detail. The main romantic pairing are not in a BDSM relationship. There is no romantic aspect in relation to this tag.)
Next up, Ethan, Who Loved Carter will be available in German on July 15. Pre-order Ethan und Carter - Du bist meine Melodie here: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/stor...
And finally, I've opened my Ask box up here, so stop in and ask me stuff if you want. :D
Goodbye, Friend (an Ethan, Who Loved Carter short
I was sad about Oliver Sacks dying, so I wrote this as a tribute to him.
Goodby, Friend (an Ethan, Who Loved Carter short) by Ryan Loveless
Dr. Oliver Sacks has died. Carter had lost count of how many times he’d heard that sentence today. He’d woken up to the news and then kept the radio on NPR all day while Ethan was at Pepper’s. Show after show was dedicated to him. Carter tried not to let it mean anything. He didn’t actually know Dr. Sacks, after all. It was just that…
His eyes skimmed over the books lining the shelves, each arranged with Ethan’s particular care. Spines in alignment, alphabetized by category. The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and Other Clinical Tales, Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain, An Anthropologist on Mars: Seven Paradoxical Tales. Which book had taught him that when he got overwhelmed by choice, that was his TS? In which had Dr. Sacks’ explained Tourette’s in a way he could grasp well enough to explain it to others? Which had let him read about other people, real, actual, people, who were like him? Every time he opened one of Dr. Sacks’ books, he learned something that he hadn’t known how much he needed to know. No, he didn’t know Dr. Sacks, but through Dr. Sacks he knew himself.
Getting up, he thumbed the top of the books. They’d come along with him from Tennessee to LA and now to Santa Josephina, to find a home at last mixed among Ethan’s ragged copy of Sherlock Holmes and 100 other bits and bobs.
“In a moment, we’ll replay another interview with Dr. Oliver Sacks, who died today…” The radio again. Carter moved over to the desk to turn it off. He stopped halfway and sat on the couch, thumping down like his legs had lost their will.
“Carter? What’s wrong?” He looked up to see Ethan hurrying in. He’d been so distracted he hadn’t heard Vera’s car.
“I didn’t expect to be this sad.” He felt miserable, and sure enough Ethan’s face reflected Carter’s pain as he charged in, dodged the coffee table and embraced Carter with that two-barrelled force Carter never got enough of. Carter nestled his nose into Ethan’s shoulder and breathed.
“I know it’s stupid,” Carter mumbled.
“Your feelings aren’t stupid,” Ethan said into his hair. “Trying to hide my birthday present from me was stupid.”
Carter bit back a chuckle. He hadn’t realized how seriously Ethan took hunting down presents until he’d made the mistake of telling him it was in the house. Three hours later, they were lucky to still have a roof. “Thanks.”
“Do you want to go out? You’ve been inside all day.”
Carter shook his head. “I want to listen to the radio a little longer.”
Ethan peered at him a long moment before he nodded. “Okay but then we’re going to the backyard and you’re going to tell me all about why this man is so special to you.”
“I already told you,” Carter protested. He gestured at the bookshelf. “All the things he wrote and…”
Ethan grabbed Carter’s flailing hand and held it tight. “I know. You’re going to tell me again and we’re going to look at the stars together and we’re going to see if tonight the music is different.”
Carter kissed Ethan’s cheek. “Think he’s adding to the chorus?” This was how they spent the quiet evenings, going out and finding music in the spaces between the stars, between the clouds, between the blades of grass.
Ethan kissed him back, pressing his lips to Carter’s like a whisper. “I don’t know. But I think that if anyone can hear it, it’s us.”
Carter got up and held out his hand to help Ethan to his feet. “Then let’s go. I don’t want to keep him waiting.”
A/N: Dr. Oliver Sacks died on August 30, 2015 aged 82. Both the author and Carter mourn his loss.
Goodby, Friend (an Ethan, Who Loved Carter short) by Ryan Loveless
Dr. Oliver Sacks has died. Carter had lost count of how many times he’d heard that sentence today. He’d woken up to the news and then kept the radio on NPR all day while Ethan was at Pepper’s. Show after show was dedicated to him. Carter tried not to let it mean anything. He didn’t actually know Dr. Sacks, after all. It was just that…
His eyes skimmed over the books lining the shelves, each arranged with Ethan’s particular care. Spines in alignment, alphabetized by category. The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and Other Clinical Tales, Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain, An Anthropologist on Mars: Seven Paradoxical Tales. Which book had taught him that when he got overwhelmed by choice, that was his TS? In which had Dr. Sacks’ explained Tourette’s in a way he could grasp well enough to explain it to others? Which had let him read about other people, real, actual, people, who were like him? Every time he opened one of Dr. Sacks’ books, he learned something that he hadn’t known how much he needed to know. No, he didn’t know Dr. Sacks, but through Dr. Sacks he knew himself.
Getting up, he thumbed the top of the books. They’d come along with him from Tennessee to LA and now to Santa Josephina, to find a home at last mixed among Ethan’s ragged copy of Sherlock Holmes and 100 other bits and bobs.
“In a moment, we’ll replay another interview with Dr. Oliver Sacks, who died today…” The radio again. Carter moved over to the desk to turn it off. He stopped halfway and sat on the couch, thumping down like his legs had lost their will.
“Carter? What’s wrong?” He looked up to see Ethan hurrying in. He’d been so distracted he hadn’t heard Vera’s car.
“I didn’t expect to be this sad.” He felt miserable, and sure enough Ethan’s face reflected Carter’s pain as he charged in, dodged the coffee table and embraced Carter with that two-barrelled force Carter never got enough of. Carter nestled his nose into Ethan’s shoulder and breathed.
“I know it’s stupid,” Carter mumbled.
“Your feelings aren’t stupid,” Ethan said into his hair. “Trying to hide my birthday present from me was stupid.”
Carter bit back a chuckle. He hadn’t realized how seriously Ethan took hunting down presents until he’d made the mistake of telling him it was in the house. Three hours later, they were lucky to still have a roof. “Thanks.”
“Do you want to go out? You’ve been inside all day.”
Carter shook his head. “I want to listen to the radio a little longer.”
Ethan peered at him a long moment before he nodded. “Okay but then we’re going to the backyard and you’re going to tell me all about why this man is so special to you.”
“I already told you,” Carter protested. He gestured at the bookshelf. “All the things he wrote and…”
Ethan grabbed Carter’s flailing hand and held it tight. “I know. You’re going to tell me again and we’re going to look at the stars together and we’re going to see if tonight the music is different.”
Carter kissed Ethan’s cheek. “Think he’s adding to the chorus?” This was how they spent the quiet evenings, going out and finding music in the spaces between the stars, between the clouds, between the blades of grass.
Ethan kissed him back, pressing his lips to Carter’s like a whisper. “I don’t know. But I think that if anyone can hear it, it’s us.”
Carter got up and held out his hand to help Ethan to his feet. “Then let’s go. I don’t want to keep him waiting.”
A/N: Dr. Oliver Sacks died on August 30, 2015 aged 82. Both the author and Carter mourn his loss.
