Q&A with Josh Lanyon discussion

Welcome to the new year! And what a great way to start 2019, by reading Josh’s latest novel, The Ghost Had an Early Check-Out!

Start discussing the book whenever you’d like, just remember there will be spoilers in this thread!

Thank you for setting up this topic, Jordan!

I finished reading The Ghost Had an Early Check-Out a couple of days ago. Here's a random thought before I will head to bed in a minute: I love the fact that—like Alston Estate in the first book of the series—Angel's Rest building and its rugged surroundings felt like one of the kooky characters. I keep wanting to visit these places for real! :-D

Just finished reading the book. Like that the setting was similar to The Ghost Wore Yellow Socks. I would have like a little more conflict between Nick and Perry though. I also enjoyed not knowing who was responsible for the trouble until the end.

Thank you, Jordan! :-)

I love the setting, both in the first book and here. It's actually one of my favorite settings for mysteries, kooky characters included. And I love how vivid everything is.

I also thought that Perry is still the sweetest thing ever! I just want to hug him a lot. And Nick - what I liked most about him here is getting to understand his point of view better, the way he negotiates with himself, as it were, between his own feelings of overprotectiveness and what he knows is best for Perry. That was really heartwarming, how important Perry's confidence is to him, for example. Or how he discovers little aspects of Perry's and marvels at them. How he wants Perry to always look at him the way he is now - I think this got to me the most the most. :-)

Mood after reading: 😍

:-D :-D :-D

I'm glad you enjoyed the kooky sweetness of it.

I’m so happy to be starting this one today!!! Yay! Squeeeee!!!

Ok, here’s a question or two for you all:

First, Who is your favorite side character and why?

Second, what were your initial thoughts about each character, and did your opinions change at all by the end of the book?

I finished this on my lunch break today! I have to say I loved it. I do think I like the original story best, of course, but this one was also good. I liked that so many suspicions could have been the truth here! And the romance was cute too.

Jordan wrote: "Ok, here’s a question or two for you all:

First, Who is your favorite side character and why?

Second, what were your initial thoughts about each character, and did your opinions change at all by ..."

ok, to answer my own questions...

I'm not sure I had a favorite side-character. Horace drove me nuts. So did Sissy. I think Ami was the most likeable side character.

lol, for question two... most of my initial thoughts did not change. I was mostly annoyed and simply disliked some of the people for their attitudes and how they treated Horace, even though he was not very likeable for me.

The funny thing is, most of the time when I say a character is unlikable, I really don't want to have to read about them. This one was different. I enjoyed trying to figure Horace out, even though he was really annoying.

I think I just wanted to slap a few people on the head for being so self-absorbed.

Jordan wrote: "First, Who is your favorite side character and why?"

Welllll, I kept wondering if Wally The Alligator would get along with Oscar The Ocelot from The Dickens with Love... :-D

Johanna wrote: "Jordan wrote: "First, Who is your favorite side character and why?"

Welllll, I kept wondering if Wally The Alligator would get along with Oscar The Ocelot from The Dickens with Love..."

LOL!!! I bet they might! ... or maybe not.

I think what I liked best about this book was seeing Perry's true personality shine through. TGWYS began with him at a low point in his life and then plunged him into stressful circumstances. Now that he's settled, and healthier, and in love, and secure, his sunny nature and kind disposition are on full display.

Teal wrote: "I think what I liked best about this book was seeing Perry's true personality shine through. TGWYS began with him at a low point in his life and then plunged him into stressful circumstances. Now t..."

You know, that's a really good point. It really was good to seem him in a good place, even if he is still eating cold cereal for breakfast. :-)

Teal wrote: "I think what I liked best about this book was seeing Perry's true personality shine through. TGWYS began with him at a low point in his life and then plunged him into stressful circumstances. Now t..."

True!

When some time has passed since I finished reading the book I now find myself pondering the fact how Perry and Nick's relationship reflect with Horace and Troy's in a what-could-have-been kind of way. I keep thinking into how different paths life can take us if we have our second chances or...if we don't have them. If they're denied from us somehow.

I found the story of Horace and Troy's relationship heartbreaking. How one can be crazy about someone and then, maybe due to circumstances, maybe due to foolishness, do thoughtless things destroying it all. And even when one would want to make it up later on, it turns out to be impossible for one reason or another.

I like to think that Troy and Horace would have patched up their relationship if they weren't stopped to do just that. But maybe that's just my romantic self dreaming. :-) How about you? What do you think?

I think what was also sad about Horace and Troy's relationship was that Horace never moved on. He kept hoping Troy would come back to him. I wonder what would have happened, how the book itself would have changed, if Horace had moved on and found someone else... regardless of what happened to Troy?

I justed started re-reading. I love Nick's inner thoughts. He struggles so hard between wanting to wrap Perry up in cotton and giving him room to soar. Perry always thinking What Would Nick Do.

Loretta wrote: "Perry always thinking What Would Nick Do."

That was cute.

Loretta wrote: "I justed started re-reading. I love Nick's inner thoughts. He struggles so hard between wanting to wrap Perry up in cotton and giving him room to soar. Perry always thinking What Would Nick Do."

He struggles, but he lets Perry do what Perry needs to do. :-) Perfect boyfriend.

I find it interesting how much Nick dislike cheaters considering he was one. That must be the guilt.

I like it even the second time. Nick and Perry are perfect for each other.

Loretta wrote: "I find it interesting how much Nick dislike cheaters considering he was one. That must be the guilt."

Ha. But I think he does mention in TGWYS that both he and Marie found satisfaction elsewhere. So is it cheating if you've both accepted this is how it is?

Mymymble wrote: "Jordan wrote: "Loretta wrote: "I justed started re-reading. I love Nick's inner thoughts. He struggles so hard between wanting to wrap Perry up in cotton and giving him room to soar. Perry always t..."

Well, this is why I won't be going back to revisit some of these earlier stories (NOT including Haunted Heart and Blind Side). I promised a sequel against my own better judgment. There really was not IMHO enough conflict left in this relationship--and I feel a story with a romance element is just going to work better if there's tension and conflict.

I'm very happy to have delivered a sequel that made the readers hungry for more Nick and Perry happy, BUT is that justification for revisiting a particular couple?

I have come to the conclusion--and honestly, the lack of discussion here confirmed it for me--that the answer is no. I mean, what is there to say really? They love each other and they solved a second mystery together. It's fun to see them in action, it's nice to see them happy, but is that enough?

From my perspective, no.

I did the book because I had promised it for so long, but this is a turning point for me regarding sequels and series continuation. The market has changed too much--there are just too many books out there now--for this kind of story to make sense anymore.

If you write it, Josh, I’ll read it. But you’re right, not everything needs a sequel. And I think it speaks volumes that people want more of a couple. It means you’re doing, or have done, something right with that story/couple. Doesn’t mean there needs to be more though. Leave them wanting more, isn’t that a popular phrase? I think it can work here too.

Jordan wrote: "If you write it, Josh, I’ll read it. But you’re right, not everything needs a sequel. And I think it speaks volumes that people want more of a couple. It means you’re doing, or have done, something..."

Whether as a writer or a houseguest, I've never gone wrong sticking to that one. ;-D

LOL

Josh wrote: "Loretta wrote: "I find it interesting how much Nick dislike cheaters considering he was one. That must be the guilt."

Ha. But I think he does mention in TGWYS that both he and Marie found satisfaction elsewhere. So is it cheating if you've both accepted this is how it is?"

In fact I was a bit surprised by Loretta's comment, because this is how I remembered it...

Antonella wrote: "Josh wrote: "Loretta wrote: "I find it interesting how much Nick dislike cheaters considering he was one. That must be the guilt."

Ha. But I think he does mention in TGWYS that both he and Marie f..."

I did not remember that. No, i don't consider it cheating if both parties are aware. I guess I'll have to read. 😉

Josh wrote: "Mymymble wrote: "Jordan wrote: "Loretta wrote: "I justed started re-reading. I love Nick's inner thoughts. He struggles so hard between wanting to wrap Perry up in cotton and giving him room to soa..."

Not every story needs a sequel. That is what is perfect about the codas; just a snip to gives us heartfelt sighs. However, i really did enjoy the story.

Loretta wrote: "Antonella wrote: "Josh wrote: "Loretta wrote: "I find it interesting how much Nick dislike cheaters considering he was one. That must be the guilt."

Ha. But I think he does mention in TGWYS that b..."

:-D After I posted that I had to go back and read to make sure I was right about it. Some of the details of these books run together! So yes, Nick does say something to that effect.

Loretta wrote: "Josh wrote: "Mymymble wrote: "Jordan wrote: "Loretta wrote: "I justed started re-reading. I love Nick's inner thoughts. He struggles so hard between wanting to wrap Perry up in cotton and giving hi..."

I'm so glad, and I was happy with how it turned out. Nothing heavy or too complex, just a fun little Halloween mystery. I feel like it's a good place to leave the characters--with the big problems resolved or at least manageable, and some promising things looming on the horizon.

Barbra wrote: "Not every story needs a sequel, but a series of mysteries with recurring characters can be fun."

Yes. And if I wasn't already over-committed to so many storylines and characters, it might be fun to follow Nick and Perry. As it is, it's such a huge relief to cross another one off that long list of promises-made-to-readers-long-ago.