James Buchanan is a multi-published author of primarily homoerotic romance & fiction. He writes original erotic GLBT fiction, or what he says is gay porn with plot. James’ stories are homosexual fiction (some call it slash from the Male/Male designation) of the romantic flavour and he has also written pansexual and/or bisexual stories.
He grew up in a small Texas town, hours away from any other small Texas town and about as far west as you could go and still be considered in Texas. James is a practicing Lawyer during the day (someday soon he might even get it right) and we’re not sure what he does at night but I have a very good idea and so will you when you read the Fun section of this interview. *g* He has been writing erotic GLBT fiction for 3 years and has published 6 novels with several upcoming soon. His books runs the gamut of mystery, thriller, horror, fantasy, historical fiction and science fiction, much of which is often labeled “dark fic” or “Gothic” and it is edgy, just like James.
James’ first GLBT book The Darkness was published in March, 2006 and since then he has published 6 novels, 3 novellas, 7 standalone shorts and has been in 11 anthologies.
This is the first of two interviews with James (at least I hope he’ll return) and today we’ll talk about his writing career and what he does for fun. He even let us take a peek into his bedroom which is a pretty scary place (scary. .. it’s not so scary). When he returns, hopefully within the next 6 months, he’ll tell us more about his books.
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James you have been interviewed countless times . Can you tell the fans something about you that they don’t already know?
ahhhh…boxer briefs?
James Buchanan, Writer
So now that we know everything about you *g* let’s talk about your writing. You have written 
books about cowboys, cops, yaoi, horror etc., and you seem to be just as comfortable writing any type of story as long as it’s dark and edgy. How would you categorize the genres you write, other than M/M erotica?
Most all my stories are romances on some level. The shorter the story, the harder it is to bring that to the fore, but I’d say all my longer works are erotic romances instead of just erotica. I tend to keep things a little darker and edgier than most romances, because that’s what I prefer in reading. Also I think life is hard and sometimes dark. Lighter, fluffier romances don’t touch as much…that’s just my opinion. If you have the heroes in a world where things are not easy, where they’re confronted by a society that doesn’t fully accept them then I think their journey becomes that much more significant, poignant. Beyond that, I’m all over the place. That’s one of the reasons I like writing erotica and erotic romance. If I want to do space opera, or paranormal or cowboys I can.
What is the first book that you published and how difficult was it to get published?
Well, if you don’t count the teen angst stuff I wrote way back when which made it into a few college journals and the like… The Darkness, a 15k story. I submitted it to a contest where it was rejected: for length. And I was lucky that the editor liked the story enough to actually make some suggestions on both working it up more and some places to send it. Not being one to look a gift horse in the mouth, I followed said suggestions and submitted it to Torquere.
You have been writing for some time. How has your writing evolved? What would you say have been the most significant changes in the industry since you were first published, other than the increased readership for the genre and the number of ebook publishers compared to a few years ago?
My writing is tighter in some ways. I have the confidence to do novels and try things I wouldn’t have dared years ago. But, I’m looking at it from the inside. I’m sure there are people who can look at my earlier works and dissect the differences for you, but it’s hard for me to say. It’s like looking at yourself in the mirror, you see the same person you saw at 20 or 30, with some cosmetic changes, but it still looks like you. I can look at my first novel and see the passive voice was overused a little. Still, it sounds like me, it feels like me.
The industry, well it’s coming into its own. With Oprah touting her Kindle and publishers like Harlequin and Dorchester releasing eBooks the scorn of being ePublished is starting to fade. When I first started publishing, which wasn’t all the long ago, people assumed you were ePublished because you couldn’t get published in a traditional house. Of course, with gay male romance, that tended to be true…very few houses took that. Gay publishers wanted memoirs or porn, not romance. Romance houses didn’t want gay. But, now I’m on some forums with traditional romance writers and they’re asking those of us who started in E what to look for in their contracts and what percentage we get. We’re not bastard step children anymore, we’re the people who’ve been there done that
Can you tell us, of all your bestsellers, what is your most successful book to date in terms of sales?
Hard to say…and I’m not being cagey. Some of my books rip gangbusters in the first few months. Others have slow, steady sales. eBooks, where I make the most money…well The Good Thief outsold Cheating Chance in it’s first month. But, Good Thief was offered as a stand alone novel out of the box while Cheating Chance had been offered as subscription serial fiction. I understand that there were close to 400 downloads of the full book when it ended its cycle, which would put it up very close to The Good Thief. That, however, doesn’t show up on the statement – it’s part of the subscription service.
By the last royalty statements (and I haven’t gotten the final quarter for 2008) I’ve sold close to 1500 copies of The Good Thief in a year and not quite that many of Cheating Chance. Now eBook vs Print is hard to gauge. Print wise, Twice the Cowboy-Twice the Ride, Cheating Chance and The Good Thief all hover in the top 10 to 100 of gay romances on Amazon rankings that’s consistent “mid-list” sales. Especially considering that some of those books have been out a year or more. Frankly, I’d much rather be a consistent mid-lister than a one hit wonder. And I’ll never be rich doing this, but I love it.
What do you consider to be your most significant accomplishment as a writer?
Giving people a good enough story that they feel compelled to write and tell me how much they enjoyed it. Think about it. How many times have you ever written fan mail? I can think of maybe five times in my life…no matter how much I liked something. That means not only did they like my story, it touched them somehow.
What most surprises you about the responses you get from your fans?
Which books they like and the parts of them they like. I remember one fan e-mail that discussed how Jeff Weaver’s house in Inland Empire (Jeff Weaver being Brandon Carr’s detective partner in the Taking the Odds books – book 2 Inland Empire is running as a serial at Torquere Press) took her right back to her childhood. She told me how she remembered the front room for guests and you damn near needed an armed escort as a child to go through there. It was so fun learning how I hit that so spot on for her.
You’re quite different from most of the writers I interview – you’re very outspoken about GLBT causes, you do a lot of volunteer work for the Erotic Authors’ Association, you edit the ManLoveRomance Author Co-op. newsletter, you’re a lawyer by day and a parent and lover in the evening. So when do you find the time to write?
Whenever I can. I have a dictation recorder (which I hate to use) in my briefcase as well as several pads of paper. I’ve been known to drive down the freeway with a legal pad against the steering wheel. I’ll sketch out a scene while waiting for a deposition to begin. I get up early, turn on the computer and write. I don’t watch much TV. So when many people might be looking at their favorite show, I’m on the computer writing, editing or researching.
Twice the Cowboy won the Preditors & Editors Best Romance Novella of 2006 as well as the Golden Rose 2007 award for Best Novella. Having received the critical acclaim, if you had to choose, which would you prefer – sales or awards?
Fans, which to a certain extent translates to sales. Seriously though, I love that people like my work. I’m able to pay for a couple of fun trips for the SexyGuy and I, but it’s not big money — yet. Awards are nice. They make you feel good…like getting “best penmanship” when you were 6. You think, wow, that’s me. But the people who reach out to you as an author that makes it all worth while.
Your stories appear to require quite a lot of research because of their complexity, to make them seem authentic. What were the most difficult topics that you had to research recently?
Child abduction for All or Nothing, book three of the Cheating Chance stories. Seriously. Right now, I have three binders full of information from the National Center from Missing and Exploited Children and the FBI as well as a few books I picked up in the used book store written by parents whose children have been abducted. Beyond being complex for accuracy and procedure, it’s very hard to read given that I’m a parent. You start spinning out the “what if’s” in your mind.
Then there was rope climbing for Hard Fall. I’m terrified of heights of more than a couple of stories. It doesn’t bug me to get up on my roof and string Christmas lights. However, I used to work on the 32nd floor of an office building and I had to force myself into the elevator every morning. I wouldn’t go near the exterior offices because the windows were floor to ceiling. So, it’s not something I’ve ever done beyond the rock wall at the gym.
What advice would you offer aspiring writers?
Write, write and write. If one person tells you something…pay attention but don’t necessarily take it to heart. If four people tell you the same thing…change it. The editor is always right even when they’re wrong. Now that doesn’t mean you can’t discuss or reason with them. Ultimately, however, your editor has the final word. This is what publishing is about.
Don’t go blasting your peeves with your press all over the World Wide Web. The web is a very small place actually. And if your blog is a catalogue of rejections…doesn’t look so good, especially if you rant after each. As a writer, if you start off on what a dumbass your editor is, or how you think your royalties aren’t getting paid, or how your cover artist doesn’t ever capture your genius…guess what, you’re going to get a reputation eventually and it will not only get back to them but bleed out to other presses who you might want to submit to.
Ask questions. My presses have done things that irked me in the past. Sometimes that just takes a question to them to solve. But if you don’t ask and you assume, you’re probably wrong.
Hard Fall is being released January 31 – What can you tell the fans about the story?
Well the official blurb: Deputy Joe Peterson is Mormon and in the closet. Then ex-con Kabe Varghese lands in town on parole. When a tourist falls off the mountain, Joe finds he needs the help of this cliff climbing adrenaline junkie to solve the case. Will Kabe tear him apart or does Joe need to fall hard before he can start living?
Hard Fall is the novelette that wouldn’t stop. I started writing it for the Studs and Spurs four author anthology due out with MLR Press in February. It was supposed to be about cowboys and around 15k. The first sign was I started writing and this back country character starts developing into a Sheriff — and insisting that he’s Mormon. (The only difference between schizophrenia and being a writer…I know the voices in my head aren’t real. They’re just loud.) So I shot off an email to my publisher and asked if the backcountry sheriff and not a true cowboy was okay. Then it started drifting toward a crime novel, so another email. Then I’d email again and ask, “it looks like it may be longer than 20k is that okay.” Then a few weeks later I’d email again, “maybe closer to 30K.” When we hit 50k we both agreed I had crime novel and she found another story to go with the cowboys.
The story is set in the back country of Utah, which is incredibly beautiful country. We go up every summer to visit — go fishing, hiking, eat trout, bottled trout (no it’s really good) and venison jerky. We call into the office once a day, because there is intermittent cell reception. You provision for a month because shopping is 2 hours down the mountain and everybody cans food and keeps a year’s supply of rations. You can pick up some little stuff at the general store in the county seat of 1600 people, but it’s expensive.
Once I started writing, the story just started unfolding before me, all of what I’d picked up and tasted on all these trips and being around his family at other times. And the challenge of writing a story about a gay man in that very closed, insular environment…I mean people don’t understand that there are still places like that in the US. Being Out and Proud in Los Angeles is very different than trying to just survive in a place like that. As idyllic as it is, I can only take about 4 days of it. And SG was sick of me by the end of the book because I kept asking…”okay, so when you were in the church…”
What other book
Great interview. I am always so impressed by people who manage to write books and have “normal” jobs at the same time. Oh and a real life too. I can barely manage to function and work at the same time. 🙂 Looking forward to some of the new books and I’m with Wave, I’ll pass on fish in a bottle.
Hi Tam
As I said before, the quality of the interview is always dependent on the person being interviewed. James is definitely unique (and I’ll tell you a secret, he’s also nice but he doesn’t want people to know – got to protect that “kick ass” rep.) *g*
Definitely no fish in a bottle for me 🙂
Great interview, Wave and James.
My favorite series of James’s, so far, is the Taking the Odd series. I love Nick and Brandon, and the dynamic between them is amazing.
I’ll be waiting eagerly for all of James’s books coming out this year.
Kudos for an interview well done, Wave and James
Thanks TA
You’re so nice to me (and James of course).:) Wonder if you’ll be as nice when it’s your turn *evil grin*
Wave, another great interview.
Wow, you were right, James is not only a great writer but a VERY interesting person. Goth, Dom, Lawyer, Biker, Writer, Lover and Parent. You wouldn’t think all these words to describe just one person.
I love all the books I’ve read so far and am looking forward to the new ones coming out.
Thanks for sharing a bit about the “real” James, it’s wonderful that with your busy life we still get to enjoy reading your great books.
Lily 😀
Great interview. I have had both “Cheating Chance” and “The Good Thief” in my TBB list for a while now. I’m off to get them now…
Looking forward to hopefully part two of the interview.
Thanks for posting an informative and fun interview – James is an interesting person and fascinating author. This genre is filled with some authors who are all sex/porn for sex/porn sake..(and some readers like that – I understand that) IMO – There are too few who know plot developement and research is the true key to a well thought out and well written novel. I’m happy to say that JB is one of my favorite authors and humbled that he’s also a friend.
Ok, I grew up in Utah, and spent every summer in our cabin out by Bryce Canyon and I’ve NEVER had bottled trout. Fresh rainbow trout, yes…nom nom nom.
Shibari…it’s like watching grass grow. Very few of the baby Doms are interested in learning, since it doesn’t have immediate payoffs like picking up a flogger and taking a whack at someone does *sigh*. But for the few who take the time…it’s a beautiful thing.
I’ve heard. Iz virgin kitteh, and knows nothing about this *g*
Lily
James is the real deal, and as you said a very busy person. Wonder what he does in his down time? I could hazard a guess …… hmmmm
Hi Lynn
Great to see you back on the blog. I heard that The Good Thief is probably the one to start with but what the hell, go for the gusto! *g*
Hi Reb
Thanks for coming by. I wanted readers to get to know the real James and not some cardboard cut out and I hope I achieved that. He really is a wonderful interview.
Emmy
Are you outing yourself here. You seem to be speaking from the voice of experience and not a virgin no way, no how. I can’t believe you spent your formative years in Utah – that doesn’t compute and align with the virtual person I know and love *g*
I normally (somewhat) resist fangirling over James in very public places (I just tackle him and squee of his awesomeness while he rolls his eyes) but it’s always so damn neat reading one of his interviews and seeing what people pull out of him.
It’s also educational, from a less-experienced author’s perspective. There are so many writers, like Reb said, that don’t take the time to actually get into what they’re writing. From a reader’s perspective, sometimes I’m in a sad kind of awe at the amount of PWP – plot, what plot? – I see in stories far too often.
So when you get writers like James, real gems who put their heart into what they’re doing, it’s like…”Wow – someone is trying to tell a good story…and succeeding.” It’s both inspiring and amazing in my dual role as author and reader.
It’s why I think of him as my unofficial mentor. I learn a lot by reading his stuff and talking with him about writing in general. (But shh, don’t tell him about the mentor thing. I have him nearly convinced that its all fangirl worship, bwahaha!)
Great interview, Wave! Oh and thanks for the hawt menz while I was sick 🙂 I got better, reaaalll fast!
Response from Jen the insurance agent: Writing on a legal pad while driving? O_O Bad James! BAD!
Response from Jen the reader: Great interview. 🙂 Makes me want to back and read Coyote Crossing. I think that’s my favorite James Buchanan story.
Hi Zoe
I’m so glad the interview came up to your expectations. James should be rolling in after another hectic day in court putting good guys away and letting the bad guys go. *g*
I’m also happy that you actually read the interview and not just the titillating parts. He is a very thoughtful and insightful person and writes beautifully as well.
Glad the hawt menz helped in your recovery. There’s a fee for door to door service 🙂
Really, trout in a bottle is really good. Like tuna but not as dry. More flavor.
Tam – It's the only way for me to keep sane. You know. If I didn't write, I'd probably have gone postal a while back. Besides I get to kill off every person who pisses me off, without getting charged with murder. Very therapudic.
TA Chase likes Nicky & Brandon — iz killed, flz over ded. I'm always floored when other authors I respect like my stuff.
Lilly – thanks. Busy is a state of mind. And I'm the type of person who can't realy sit stil anyway.
Aunt Lynn – Hope you like those stories. They're near and dear to me.
Hey Reb. Well, you help alot. I appreiciate your advice and input on a lot of things.
Yeah, Emmy…kitteh – I believe you know nothing about Japanese Rope Bondage like I believe the moon is made of cheese. And yeah, it is a delayed gratification form of bondage play. Handcuffs do the same thing in a matter of moments. But it's just not the same look and feel.
Zo-zo. Smack in the back of the head. Get back to writing.
Jen – chastized. Although I have no points on my license and the last time I got bumped was 8 years ago. Well, and I backed the new BigAssPickup ™ into a tree at the office the other day. Hard getting used to a truck that's twice as long as my old vehicle.
Great interview! Thanks Wave.
I’ve read “The Good Thief” and “Cheating Chance” – his stories always remind me that they are romance written by a “male” author… there’s certain grit in the stories that you don’t usually find in m/m romance written by female writers. No sugar-coating! LOL… and for some reason – one of the characters always drives me nuts but at the same time I couldn’t wait to find out what will happen to him. 😛
Great interview James and Wave! Looking forward to your new releases this year, James! 🙂
Hi Eve
James is a surprising person in a number of ways and a terrific interview. His books definitely reflect his personality.
Hi ML
Thanks for dropping by. Guess you wanted to see who was being “punished” this month 🙂
thelastaerie – isn’t thought the men who push our buttons are the best ones? Sugar is what I put in coffee not in stories. And I think finding love in a imperfect world is a better story than finding it in a perfect one. That’s my 2c
Hello, ML- thanks it was fun to hang out with Wave.
Love the interview, y’all!!!
Hey Myc, thanks for stopping by!
Hi Jen
I overlooked your post earlier – sorry. Interviews always make me go back to read the author’s books:)
Myc
Good to see you on the blog again and thanks for stopping by.
Great interview! I really love how James doesn’t seem to fit any stereotype and anytime you think you’ve got a clue, you realize how much you still don’t know. It shows in his writing, I always think I can figure out what the characters will do, but they surprise me.
Can’t wait for the new releases!
James-a few things I didn’t know about you! Awesome interview. I’m writing a Shibari book-may need to ask you a few questions…:)
Kassa – Thank God…I’d hate to be, you know, normal or something. And I try and let my characters dictate how they’ll react instead of trying to force them to dance through a pre-scripted plot.
Eden – geez gal, my knowlege of Shibari is probably minimal compared to what you’ve piced up over the years.
Wave,
Great interview! James scares the bejesus out of me (but in a good way)
Hi Ozakie
James is a really good person – I had a lot of fun with him during the interview process. He’s not at all scary …. he says 🙂
Hi James and Wave!
Great interview. I just got to read all of Hard Fall for edits and… damn… You will LOVE it. I sure did.
Great job on the climbing research, too. I did some free soloing in my youth and I didn’t have much at all to correct.
Shibari…yumm…. all that patience definitely pays off.
Umm… I’ve heard it pays off…Really…
Hi Maura
Thank you. As usual I let the subject of the interview do all the heavy lifting and James has grown lots of muscles through this interview. He promised to let me have a peek at Hard Fall when it’s ready.
Ozaki — I’m not scary, I’m really not. It’s not like I bite or anything. Not unless people ask.
Hey Maura – Working hard on the edits. Just tell Kris there’s a little pause in working on her sci-fi story, but’ll all get done.
Terrific interview with James. I love his books and the whole genre and have even started writing my own stories! James’ stories are always erotic, engrossing and just plain fun to read and I’m looking forward to more of his stuff this year!
Wave, I’m open to answering pretty much any question..unless it’s going to incriminate me in some way…lol. 🙂
James, thank you for that marvelous compliment. I definite like your books. I find the dark edge stuff is a lot more fun to read. 😀
A well done interview, thank you. You've caught enough of my interest that I think I'll pick up one of his books.
Madeleine <3
Hi TA
I’m still sleuthing 🙂
Jon
Thank you.
Madeleine
Thanks – I appreciate the kind words – I do my best to get the author’s personality to emerge.
Maybe James will recommend a book for you to read – sort of baby steps *g*
Terrific interview, Wave. I discovered James only after The Protector was already published, but immediately send him a letter explaining that my evil villain slime James Buchanan, was not modeled after the author. I think he got a kick out of that. He hasn’t sued me yet. I take that as a good sign.
Bottled trout, huh? No thanks. But thanks a lot for another in depth interview, Wave. YOu always give us the naughty and interesting tid bits about your subjects that keep us coming back for more.
Hugs,
E
Nadja
“James Buchanan” in The Protector is not modeled after our James? Quelle surprise. I’m so disappointed *g* Well, whether or not he is, he gives a great interview!
Evangeline
I can’t imagine anyone eating that mess.
James does seem to have a VERY interesting life and I hope he tells us more about it when he returns, or I’ll dangle him off the side of the cliff in Hard Fall. 🙂
Jon – I’m glad you like my books. It’s nice to hear people like the blend I give them.
Madeleine – I usually recomend that people start with The Good Thief or Cheating Chance.
NL – There are debtors out there who would actually say I fit your evil villian
Evangline – geez folks y’all eat canned tuna and smoked salmon. With all the responses I’m getting on that little item…it’s gonna have to turn up in the next Deputy Joe book.
I vote it HAS to show up in the next Deputy Joe book!
Course now I’m curious to try it….