And now, a moment of culture

Cecilia Bartoli displays her amazing voice.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rISjBGOtHhs

4.5 Stars for Grand Tour

Grand Tour has received an excellent 4.5 star review from Top 2 Bottom Reviews

http://top2bottomreviews.wordpress.com/2013/04/27/grand-tour-by-etienne/ 

While a very good book, in fact one of my favorites by Etienne, Grand Tour covers some very sensitive subjects that may be difficult for some readers. These incidents are an important aspect of the story line, and, although the author does not glorify them, they are detailed.

Etienne’s stories are the types that always seem to pull me in and Grand Tour was no different. I really liked Henry and William. Although the two young men come from old money, they don’t have that snooty quality to them, and in fact their altruism can be seen throughout the story. Before the two start their law careers they had decided to see the United States, but instead of going first class the young men have been back packing. Even before the reader knows just how the William and Henry feel about each other, there is a closeness that cannot be denied. The way in which their relationship comes about is not what readers would expect, yet from the time they reveal their feelings for each other there is not keeping them apart.

Like with the author’s previous stories, Grand Tour covers a large period of the men’s life, and while the chemistry between them is strong, it is not the focal point of the book. Early in the book Henry and William go through a traumatic event that plays a strong role in their lives. Rather than let it cripple them however, it makes them stronger and sets them on a course for justice. This part of the book is very gripping and I could not believe what the two young men went through or how they planned on setting things right. Many scenes had me setting on the edge of the seat and I was up late into the night reading.

Grand Tour is full of wonderfully written secondary characters. While some, like the men’s grandmother, are new to the reader many previous characters are already known to the reader. This is something the author does quit frequently and one of the aspects I enjoy, as I like catching up with couples I have seen before.

I have no problem believing that fans of this author will enjoy Grand Tour, and while the book does touch base with some previous characters it is not necessary to read their books before reading this one. As for those new to Etienne’s books, Grand Tour is a great book to start with and should not be missed!

 Highly Recommended!

Reviewed By: Lydia

Cleanse to be published in Oct/Nov 2013

A contract has been signed for the publication of Cleanse, sequel to Scourge. It is Book Two of the Ivory Solution.  Expected publication date will be October or November of this year.  Stay tuned.

Oh, those weird dialogue tags. Why do they do it?

The first book in a series was recently recommended to me by a fan and, acting on their advice, I purchased it.  I slogged my way through a dozen pages and put it down for good.

In the first eight pages (as counted on my Nook Tablet), the author used forty-two dialogue tags.

asked was used 10 times;
said was used 10 times;
murmured was used 3 times;
and the following were used one time each:

insisted
blurted
announced
hissed
greeted
ordered
inquired
suggested
started
interrupted
echoed
exclaimed
snarled
barked
acknowledged
instructed
gritted out
shot back
and
muttered.

Sorry, but you cannot hiss, greet, snarl, or murmur a sentence.  It can't be done.  Every expert article I can find says that the use of these kinds of dialogue tags take the reader out of the story and break the flow of words.

99% of the time 'said' is the only tag needed.  The human brain correctly interprets 'said' as punctuation, and doesn't waste time on it.  In fact, it sort of disappears into the woodwork.

There are better and much less intrusive ways to get the emotion of the sentence across, so why do authors do it?  More to the point, why do editors and publishers let them get away with it?

I ask you.

A new Avondale Story is on the horizon

Chris Bottoms is a total bottom.  Not because that was his preference, but because he'd been abused by his step-father for a  number of years, and it is now the only way he can achieve sexual release.

Eventually he has to stop being a bottom, due to a medical procedure, and learning to achieve sexual release in other ways becomes a challenge that he has to face.

Mickey, his best friend, former college roommate, and fuck buddy helps him, and they soon discover how they really feel about each other.  But due to the slip of a drunken surgeon's scalpel, Chris has another problem to deal with.

All is well until one day out of the blue, the past rears its ugly head when Chris gets a phone call.

Stay tuned for more about   "Bottoms Up" (an Avondale Story)

An annoying trend

More and more these days, when I shop on eBay or other on-line sites, I see this message: 
We do not ship to P O Boxes.   Huh?  Where does that leave me and tens of thousands of others.

My address is rural, and I choose NOT to have a box sitting out on the road.  I drive half a mile to the little village and pick up my mail from my P O Box.  It was my parents' address when I was born, and after they died, I retired and moved back to this area, I took over their P O Box.

In a way, it's been a valid address for me for more decades than I care to contemplate, and you're telling me that you refuse to ship to it.

Well, then, screw you, Mr. Merchant.  I'll make my purchases elsewhere.

Who says Opera can't be fun?

Here we have Cecilia Bartoli doing what she does best, and demonstrating the remarkable control she has over her instrument at the same time:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4EVNbHX1lI


The look of surprise on her face when she holds that line so long seems truly genuine, and it is clear that she's enjoying the heck out of what she is doing.

A new Avondale Story coming March 18

Look for Dueling Divas by Antonio, an Avondale Story at Dreanspinner Press on March 18th.

Purchase link:  http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=3648

The Next Club Superstar contest is just the venue Nash Argento needs to further his career as a singer. There’s only one problem: he has to dress in drag.

With the help of his best female friend, Nash negotiates the challenges of becoming a drag queen in order to compete. But his troubles are far from over. His key competitor is Stacey—a biological woman. Incensed, Nash tries to get her disqualified, but Stacey is desperate for the money, and with the help of her quirky divorcée best friend and the best friend’s lawyer, she manages to stay in the contest.

Bobby Carter is a lonely librarian looking for Mr. Right—and he’s looking in Nash’s direction. Nash seems to be everything Bobby needs… and then he brings Nash home for dinner and discovers Nash is his sister’s main competition. Nash and Stacey get to know each other and even become friends—and just in time. Someone is murdering the contestants one by one, and Nash and Stacey will need all the help they can get to escape the cruel fate the murderer has planned for them.

Cleanse has been submitted

Cleanse (Volume two of the Ivory Solution) has been submitted to my publisher for consideration.  Look for further news in about six or seven weeks.

This book contines the story of Clint Buchalla and  Lucien Cormier.

Children of Forever coming in July or August

A contract has been signed for Children of Forever.   Look for it to be published in July or August of this year.

Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.

Who says Opera can't be sexy

Ercole su'l Termodonte  by Vivaldi

La Scala produced a little known opera by Vivaldi in 2006, which featured bare-breasted Amazons, and American tenor Zachary Stains showing everything he has.  He has quite a bit, and he shows it very well:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IB9z2R34a5g


This is the rather sexy album cover for the complete Mefistofele featuring Treigle, Domingo, and Cabelle.

Who Says Opera Can't Be Fun?

Rossini composed this little duet as an exercise for sopranos.  It's formal title is  Duetto buffo di due gatti, but it is more commonly known simply as the 'Cat Duet'.  These two ladies seem to be having a ball singing it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2326N3DQQk

Many years ago when Dame Kiri te Kanawa and Frederica von Stade made a joint appearance with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, they performed the Cat Duet as an encore—to the extreme delight of the audience.

There are a dozen or so versions of this number on YouTube, but I think I like this one best.

Best Review Yet for Sold!

http://headoutoftheoven.blogspot.com/2013/01/sold-by-etienne-my-rating-5-of-5-stars.html


My rating: 5 of 5 stars

One thing that has made me love this writer all the more is his no holds barred approach to his writing. This is one reason why among all of the LGBT writers around, Etienne tops my list. This is also why many have read his work have become wary of them, not because of his lack in technique, but due to his straightforwardness.

The first time I read Etienne it was the Avondale book Curiosity Satisfied. This made me hunt for the rest of the series until eventually I became addicted to his work. The last books I read were, funnily enough, his Forever series.

Etienne's characters are too real, not the Hollywood stereotypes nor the gay paranormal/romance novels out there where most of the contents are almost uniformly equal in terms of plot, characterization and sexual activities. A friend I introduced his works to commented that the heat rating was almost zero. And that is, for me, exactly the whole point of Etienne. It is not the acrobatics done within the privacy of the bedroom that matters in a great story, it is the plot, the development of the characters, the realism of the story. His works make you think hours or even days after reading them.

In the case of Winston Martsolf who was captured by gunmen, thrown at the mercy of slavers who then categorically sexually nullify him and then sold off on the auction block, many readers who have no medical background would find the plot scary.

When I was reading this I would consult with my husband (yes, he's a doctor) and I would ask him about the specifics of sexual nullification, and he said that Etienne, as an author, was lacking. I was flabbergasted - Etienne??? Lacking?? And then my husband continued, reality is worse, this author skimmed over the truth. And that is when it hit me: if Etienne's words describing the sexual nullification was a skimmed off version, how much worse could it be? (Note: I won't bother relating the truth as my husband told and showed me as it is too horrifying to know, much else imagine.)

I have seen commentaries on Sold! and understand the hesitation of many readers. I can only imagine what they must have felt when they read the straightforward approach to the surgical techniques described within the novel. However, it is this book, Sold! that finally convinced me that Etienne is a writer who will not hesitate to write the truth of what is not openly discussed: sexual slavery.

Bravo! Etienne. You have, for me, confirmed what I already knew: you are a writer extraordinaire and I look forward to the third installment of your Forever Series: Children of Forever hopefully to be published within 2013.

More Praise for Sold!

4.5 Kisses from Top 2 Bottom Reviews

Sold! is Etienne’s self-published book through Smashwords. This is an intense story and although the author doesn’t go into graphic detail, some of the content may be hard for some readers. Fans of this author will know how he can pull you into his stories from the beginning. Sold! is no different and I found myself staying up late into the night just to see how Winston’s and Clancey’s story would play out.

When the story starts, the two men are already a well-established couple who have joined the Peace Corp in order to get away from Winston’s father. The men have no idea what is in store for them and the author puts them, especially Winston, through some hellish times. There is a lot going on in this story and I like that the author can tell it without feeling the need to drag some aspects out. One of the things that made this such a great story was that the author tells it in alternating first person, allowing us to get the tale from the viewpoint of more than just the main characters.

While this story is a stand-alone many of the secondary characters in Sold! are from the author’s various series. I liked seeing everyone show up to help Winston and Clancey, and while I knew that things would eventually turn out well for the men, I was still surprised by who planned Winston’s capture.
 
I must admit that had it not been for reviewing books I am not sure I would have given Etienne a try. I am so glad that I was given that first story and now cannot get enough. If you have not yet tried anything by this author you really need to pick one up today.

Reviewed By: Lydia

http://top2bottomreviews.wordpress.com/2013/02/03/sold-by-etienne/

Technical Advisor wanted

Does anyone out there have any experience as a Navy Corpsman?  If so, I'd like to ask you a few hundred (at least) questions.

I'm contemplating a story about a Corpsman.

Thank you, one and all.

Whatever happened to clean-cut?

Whatever Happened to Clean-Cut?

I visit a particular gay website once in a while to look at the forums, but I don’t stay long—all I ever see are the same fools spouting the same foolish nonsense at each other ad nauseam.

Lately, when you exit the site, you’re automatically thrown to a different site where, for a fee, you can watch different guys doing many things. The first views are free, but it you want more, and hard-core, you have to sign up and pay. Since I find most porn boring after about sixty seconds, I’ve never signed up. I have, however, flipped from one ‘room’ to another to take a quick look at what’s free. Before I give you a summary of what I found on one boring evening, I should define my terms.

To appear at all sexy in my eyes, the man should be clean cut. That means, no facial hair, no facial piercings, and none of those thing that expand the ear lobes so badly that only surgery can correct the problem. No wild hair-dos, and most of all no body graffiti, a/k/a tattoos.

Summary of my surfing:

Room 1: cute blond guy in his undies, one hand in them doing something, presumably playing a modified version of what we used to call ‘pocket pool’. He looked bored out of his mind. Don’t these young guys ever smile?

Click

Room 2: bearded guy puffing on a cigarette. Two strikes, one for the beard and one for the cigarette.

Click

Room 3: Nice body, but it’s covered with graffiti, facial piercings, etc.

Click

Room 4: Another smoker.

Click

Room 5: Gorgeous guy with his hand in his shorts doing? He could be faking it for all I know. I’m not about to sign up and pay to find out—he might not meet my exacting standards.

Click

Room 6: Beard, tattoos, and piercings. Three strikes and you’re out.

Click

Room 7: Really nice body. He somehow manages to frame his pose such that we see his chin at the top of the screen, and a towel across his thighs at the bottom—the towel occasionally shifts to reveal the beginnings of pubes, but he always pulls it up when than happens. He doesn’t seem to be doing much of anything except concentrating on the computer screen in front of him, but I guess if you have a body like that you don’t need to actually ‘do’ anything.

Click

Room 8: two bored and rather scruffy looking kids sitting around in their undies. I can hardly stand the excitement.

Click

Room 9: More body graffiti, and some sort of fungus growing under his lower lip. Didn’t anyone tell him that those huge earrings leave holes in his earlobes that won’t ever grow closed, at least not with out the aid of surgery?

Click

Room 10: Kind of interesting body and cute face, but what’s with that bird’s nest, or is it a rat’s nest, sitting on top of his otherwise closely-cropped hair?

Click

Room 11: Ok, here’s a free show, sort of. The guy is actually jerking off, or is he? He lets go of it for a second and you can see that his equipment, while longish, is totally soft. Reminds me of those bad porn films where the guy has to actually ‘stuff’ it in. Ugh.


And so it went.


Click, and I’m out. That’s about as much excitement as I can handle in one short session.


How do some of these guys expect other men to find them interesting, let alone desirable, when they’ve adorned themselves with ugly graffiti, grotesque facial hair, and other visible decorations. Are there no standards left? I still prefer ‘clean cut’, as do most of the people I know.


Did I mention that running down the side of the screen beside each image were mostly raunchy and totally inane comments from various admirers? Some people have a really strange view of what is actually sexy and entertaining, or maybe they just have entirely too much time on their hands. If that’s entertainment, I fear for the future of humanity.


I’ve recently come to realize that I find visual porn to be considerably less exciting than reading a well-written sex scene. Maybe that’s because I have a highly developed imagination.


Meanwhile I’ve got a work-in-progress to finish, so, break over.

Seven weeks post surgery

After I had my right knee replaced last year it took me a full three months to feel like sitting down and writing once again.

This time, I'm back in the saddle again less than two months after my left knee was replaced.  That's progress.

I am determined to finally finish the third book in the Forever series - Chilren of Forever, and am nearing completion.  Stay posted.

Post surgical observations

Two weeks ago yesterday, I entered the hospital to have my left knee replaced (the right knee was replaced 14 months ago).

It wasn't a pleasant experience, nor, for that matter, was it a particularly unpleasant one, if you don't count barfing up my dinner due to my usual reaction to morphine (can't take it, or any of its derivitives, without nausea).

The really bad thing about the experience was the total feeling of helplessness.  When you're confined to a hospital bed, you are really at the mercy of everyone else.  I was only in the hospital two nights this time (last time it was three) and my partner of 17 years slept in a recliner in the room.

The really tough stuff began a couple of days after I got home.  I've referring to the arrival of my visiting physical terrorist (oops, I mean therapist).  I have a window of opportunity during which I absolutely must regain as much motion in this knee as possible, and it's his job to help me do it, even if it means making my left leg do things it really, really doesn't want to do.

Is it fun?  Not only No, but Hell, No!  Is it necessary?  Absolutely.  100% necessary.  Would I do it again?  Fortunately, that question is irrelevant because I don't have any knees left.

Just having one good knee for the past year and two months has given me a freedom or mobility that I hadn't had for a long time, and I'm really looking forward to the total mobility that two good knees will once again provide.

Noises off and kill the Muzak

Noises Off—Stop the Muzak

I watch very little television these days simply because there’s virtually nothing worthwhile to be seen. That being said, I have observed an unfortunate trend taking place over the last three or four years—producers of television programming now seem to have an unfortunate tendency to fill every bit of silence with noise.

I love to watch Paula Deen’s show, both to hear her talk and to watch what she does in her kitchen. Her southern accent and occasional lapse from good to questionable grammar can be charming. This is true, even though I now know that much of the above is an act.

Unfortunately, it’s getting hard to watch and listen because every time she pauses we hear the ‘plunk, plunk, strum, strum, tinkle, tinkle, and occasional tootle, tootle’ of musical sounds. This is not actual music, in that it becomes any sort of tune, rather it is simply musical instruments of some sort being aggressed upon to no discernible purpose.

For example, on a recent program, we heard:

Paula: “Hey, y’all, welcome to my kitchen. Today, we’re gonna be making my Grandmother Paul’s biscuits. They’re a family favorite, and I know y’all are gonna love them.”

Strum, strum, tinkle, tinkle, plunk, plunk.

Paula: “But first, I seem to be out of bacon grease. Us Southern gals can’t cook anything without bacon grease, so I’m gonna create some by frying up a mess of bacon.”

Places slices of bacon in a frying pan.

Paula: “Listen to that. I just love the sound of bacon frying, don’t you?”

Camera focuses on bacon in pan.

Strum, strum, tinkle, tinkle, plunk, plunk.

(Gee, Paula, we’d love to hear it, but because of that annoying strumming and plunking, we can’t.)

Even the Home and Garden channel has been infected with this problem. In a recent show where a couple were looking at beach property in Central America, we were told that the nearby ocean could be heard from the patio, but when the camera zoomed in on the surf, all we could hear was Strum, strum, tinkle, tinkle, plunk, plunk.

The phenomenon is everywhere. During a recent program which involved touring a factory, with every close-up shot of conveyors and machinery, the hum of the equipment was very nearly drowned out by a near-constant barrage of Strum, strum, tinkle, tinkle, plunk, plunk, with an occasional tootle, tootle thrown in for good measure.

The phenomenon has infected Mike Holmes programs as well, adding annoying bits of musical noise all over the place.

Some network programs are even worse. NCIS, for example, is a fairly interesting program, but very nearly every action scene, and some non-action scenes, are ruined by the near-constant presence of loud and obnoxious music relentlessly pounding away.

To give credit where it is due, some producers seem to have the good sense to at least keep the Muzak down to reasonable levels. The Closer, is a pretty good example of this, in that the background music is usually quite subdued.

And yes, movie soundtracks have always included music, but it was actual music, usually especially composed for the occasion and, for the most part, it tended to enhance the experience. What we hear on television is, generally speaking, not even music—at least not in the sense that it contains actual tunes. It’s mostly just noise. And the noise enhances nothing. It does not add anything to the experience—instead, it detracts almost to the point of distraction.

More praise for Sold!

http://reviewsbyamoslassen.com/?p=16540

Etienne. “Sold!”, Smashwords, 2012.




Finding Home



Amos Lassen



There is never question about the quality of Etienne’s writing. He pleases over and over again. Now, for a change of pace, we go to Africa and meet Winston Martsoff, a young and new college graduate who is captured by slavers and becomes a sex slave of a sheik. As he sits in captivity, all he can do is dream of freedom. His boyfriend Clancey stays on his mind and Winston wonders if he will still want him when and if he is freed.



Etienne takes us into Winston’s mind as he tries to understand what is happening to him and when the chance to escape appears, he jumps at it. During a surprise storm, the sailboat upon which he was held is damaged and Winston escapes and is overjoyed that Clancey still wants him. This is certainly a different kind of love story with the idea that love conquers all. With all of the horrible things that have been done to Winston, Clancey is not ready to give him up and when they age back together, they want those responsible for what happened to Winston to be punished.



Etienne is a master story teller and this story shows us that he can write in whichever genre he chooses. And he writes with wonderful description and well drawn characters. This is probably the most erotic piece that he has written for publication yet his eroticism adds to the plot—let’s face, gay men love stories of capture and forced sex and I love stories that are well written and reflect the intelligence of the writer.