Today I am super excited to welcome the fabulous Josephine Myles to Joyfully Jay! Jo is here to share a bit about her newest book, Handle with Care. I reviewed this earlier today and totally loved it. Please join me in giving Jo a big welcome!
Writing a Seriously Ill Hero
When I first came up with the idea of having my main character in Handle with Care undergoing dialysis, I had serious words with my muse. Yes, I knew a bit about kidney failure and the various types of dialysis after seeing my brother-in-law go through the process (I’m pleased to report he had a successful kidney transplant three years ago), but I was still daunted by the challenge of researching and representing a serious medical condition.
Fortunately there is a wealth of websites out there, along with many patient guides available as books. I borrowed a book all about renal failure and kidney transplants from the local library, and began surfing dialysis patient’s blogs, kidney charity websites, and all manner of informative sites out there. I studied pictures of patient’s transplant scars and the catheters used for peritoneal dialysis. I read up on diabetes and the various factors that could eventually lead to kidney failure. I pestered by brother-in-law for details about how it actually feels to be on dialysis.
One of the most important decisions I had to make early on was which type of dialysis regime Ben would have. There are two main types: haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis, and I had seen my brother-in-law experience both types. Haemodialysis involves trips to hospital (usually three times a week) where the blood is filtered by a machine. Peritoneal dialysis is less common in the US but more so over here in Britain, and is home based. It involves the patient’s peritoneal cavity being filled with dialysate fluid, which is then given time to absorb waste products before being drained. It takes place either every night when a machine automatically pumps the dialysate through the abdominal catheter, or involves the patient manually infusing and draining it themselves on a 4-8 hour cycle throughout the day.
Since Ben is diabetic, it stood to reason his blood sugar levels would be more stable on the daytime peritoneal dialysis regime. This had various implications, which I explored in the story. Not only is Ben paranoid about the catheter tube taped to his abdomen, but he feels bloated and sluggish when filled with the two litres of dialysate. He’s positive that no other man would be interested in him sexually, and has convinced himself that he’s unable to become aroused while filled with the fluid:
“I’d look down and see my bloated abdomen and that bloody tube sticking out of me, and any trace of arousal just evaporated. I’d just start thinking about how the fluid was sloshing around inside my peritoneal cavity, getting more and more toxic as it leached all the waste products out of my blood.”
Ollie, however, sets out to prove Ben wrong! Not only does he find Ben incredibly attractive just the way he is, but he’s sure Ben’s impotence is purely psychological.
One of the biggest challenges with writing a seriously ill narrator was in deciding how much medical detail to actually include in the final draft. I didn’t want to bog the reader down with it all, so I chose to focus on how Ben’s health issues make him feel, and how they’ve impacted on his life and self-confidence. I concentrated on the low tech trappings of his type of dialysis, such as the piles of boxes of dialysate fluid, the drip stand, and the tape he uses to hold down the catheter tube under his clothing.
I wanted Ben to deal with his predicament by using wry humour rather than falling into the self-pity trap. I’m really pleased with how the novel turned out, and I hope that readers find my two unconventional heroes both lovable and fascinating.
How do you all feel about reading about heroes who are in less than perfect physical condition? Is poor health a turn off for you, or do you find it fascinating to read about characters battling with their health issues? Also, I’d love any recommendations of other books featuring heroes facing these kinds of challenges.
Handle with Care by Josephine Myles – the blog tour
To celebrate the release of my second novel, Handle with Care, I’m on a two week blog tour. A grand prize will be awarded to a randomly chosen commenter during the tour: an exclusive Handle with Care mug (which I’m happy to post worldwide), and a $25 voucher to spend at All Romance eBooks (or alternative ebook retailer of your choice). I’ll make the prize draw on Wednesday 9th May at 9am (GMT), and will announce the winner on my blog. Visit the tour itinerary for a list of all the stops, and comment on each to increase your chances of winning!
http://josephinemyles.com/published-stories/handle-with-care/the-blog-tour/
Blurb:
The best things in life aren’t free…they’re freely given.
Ben Lethbridge doesn’t have many vices left. After raising his little sister to adulthood, he wasted no time making up for the youth he lost to responsible parenting. Two years of partying it up—and ignoring his diabetes—has left him tethered to a home dialysis regimen.
He can do his job from his flat, fortunately, but most of his favourite things are forbidden. Except for DVD porn…and fantasizing over Ollie, the gorgeous, purple-haired skateboarder who delivers it.
Their banter is the highlight of Ben’s lonely day, but his illness-ravaged body is the cruel reality that prevents him from believing they’ll do anything more than flirt. Not to mention the age gap. Still, Ben figures there’s no harm in sprucing himself up a bit.
Then one day, a package accidentally splits open, revealing Ben’s dirty little secret…and an unexpected connection that leaves him wondering if he’s been reading Ollie wrong all this time. There’s only one way to find out: risk showing Ollie every last scar. And hope “far from perfect” is good enough for a chance at love.
Warning: Contains superhero porn comics and a cute, accident-prone delivery guy with colour-changing hair. Readers may experience coffee cravings, an unexpected liking for bad mullets, and the urge to wrap Ollie up and take him home.
Kindle US: http://www.amazon.com/Handle-with-Care-ebook/dp/B0073WI0ZU/
Kindle UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Handle-with-Care-ebook/dp/B0073WI0ZU/
Samhain: http://store.samhainpublishing.com/handle-with-care-p-6754.html
Author Bio:
English through and through, Josephine Myles is addicted to tea and busy cultivating a reputation for eccentricity. She writes gay erotica and romance, but finds the erotica keeps cuddling up to the romance, and the romance keeps corrupting the erotica. Jo blames her rebellious muse but he never listens to her anyway, no matter how much she threatens him with a big stick. She’s beginning to suspect he enjoys it.
Jo’s website: http://josephinemyles.com/
Email: josephine_myles@yahoo.co.uk
Blog: http://josephinemyles.com/blog/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/josephine.myles
Twitter: @JosephineMyles
Don’t forget, Jo is giving away a great prize to one lucky commenter along her tour, so be sure to leave a comment here by Wednesday 9th May at 9am (GMT), as well as the other blog stops along her tour!
>I have no problem at all with stories that deal with a character's health issues. So many people are probably going through this or something similar. I think this type of story can give them hope that they can still experience love and have a reason to keep on living, no matter what they are going through.
My dad was a diabetic and ending up having a lot of health problems because of it, including having both legs amputated. I know how difficult it can be for that person and their loved ones.
I read Center by Sean Michael and it deals with one of the main characters getting cancer. Can't think of any others right now.
Congratulations on your new release. I really look forward to reading it. 🙂
lkbherring64(at)gmail(dot)com
>Love this book so much. Great Post Jo!
>Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Lisa. I'm definitely interested in reading that Sean Michael story, so thanks for the rec.
Diabetes is a debilitating condition, and I think many people aren't aware of just how serious it can be. I hope the novel will raise some awareness. I'm sorry to hear about your dad's experience.
I do hope you enjoy the read. I like to think there's plenty of light, love and laughter in there along with the more serious stuff. That seems to be the way I roll…
>Thanks Darien! I'm really looking forward to reading your review and finding out more 😀
>Maybe I'm just bitter *g*, but I've got very little interest in reading about perfect people with perfect lives. I'd much rather the heroes had difficulties and doubts, and struggled to overcome them. I think you did a fantastic job in Handle With Care, showing how health problems can knock a guy for six – but don't mean he can't find love.
>I don't like my heroes and heroines perfect either. However, after 17 months of Mr Prue's health issues (he's slowly recovering thank goodness!) I've shied away from Handle With Care. Never say never, though 🙂
I enjoy your writing Jo, and after reading how you have approached this one, I will be reading your new novel. Ollie sounds wonderful 🙂
>Heh – if you're bitter then I must be too, because I can't stand perfect characters with perfect lives! Difficulties and doubts are wonderful for generating conflict, tension and plot 😀
Thanks hon – your beta read was a real help too – this is definitely a better novel as a result!
>Aww, thanks Prue! I was worried readers might be put off by thinking it would be a downer. A good dose of humour always helps, though. That was definitely my brother-in-law's approach to dealing with the indignities of dialysis!
Ollie is a real cutie. I just loved writing him 😀
>I'm another one, bored with perfect heroes 🙂 I think your point about concentrating on how Ben's illness makes him feel is a good one; how we deal with adversity can bring out the best or the worst in us and makes for interesting reading. I didn't feel overwhelmed with medical detail and you built up such a vivid picture of how invasive his illness is, it's literally taken over his home, as well as how strict he has to be with himself. He walks a fine line, health wise, and it takes a lot of self-control.
>Oh, and when I finished reading I had a cup of coffee with a Turkish Delight and really savoured it!
>I love the idea of a sick hero. Very intriguing. Don't enter me! Just enjoyed the guest post:)
>I don't like the perfect heroes. Things are more interesting when they AREN'T perfect. And of course you know how much I loved this one, seeing as how I've been gushing about it all over the place. *rolls eyes at self*
Congrats!
>So interesting to see a hero like this. This is on my to buy list and I can't wait to read it!
>I think there's something more hopeful about a less-than-perfect character finding love. We all know someone who has some pretty big issues to deal with, and I think we all know that there's no guarantee that we won't one day become one of them. My husband's on his 3rd military deployment, and every time I'm profoundly aware of the fact that I might not get him back, or might get a profoundly changed version of him. I like the thought that we can hang on to our current Happy-Ever-After, no matter what challenges we might face in the future.
>You read it quickly, Shelagh! Glad you didn't find the medical stuff overwhelming. I wondered whether I should include a scene of Ben discussing his health with his doctor, but I'm glad I didn't. It would have been too much.
I'm pleased to hear you savoured a treat afterwards! We shouldn't take these things for granted 🙂
>I hear you loud and clear, hon – but please, gush away as much as you like!
>Thanks Juliana – that's great to hear! Hope you enjoy it 🙂
>Hi Tracy – thanks for this. I agree, there are no guarantees, but it's wonderful to forge a relationship strong enough to cope with these issues. I like to think Ben and Ollie are rock solid now 🙂
>I'm not original here – I also love imperfect heroes. And I don't think it's uncommon. I've encounter many requests for recommendations for books with disability/handicap theme. My complaint it that most of books within the sub-genre just skim on the surface of very vast spectrum. They feature predominately heroes with some physical disfigurements whose main problem is low self-esteem. I wished there were more books that try to tackle mental disorders and chronic illnesses. I'm happy your books is in the minority. This post and the depth of research you run made me really, really interested in the book 🙂
In the end few of my personal favs with disability/handicap theme (no specific order):
– The Best Christmas Ever by Anel Viz (mental deficiency)
– Talker series by Amy Lane (scarring after accident)
– Cutting Cords by Mickie B. Ashling (blindness and self-cutting)
– Left of Center by Zathyn Priest (brain damage and consequently mood-swing and inability to learn after accident)
– Dance with Me by Heidi Cullinan (chronic pain after accident)
>I'm about half way through the book, and it's great! especially since we evidently have similar taste in men, Jo – Logan McCree, yum yum!
>Perfection is a fantasy as much as a paranormal being is. Imperfection in many guises is "reality". While I do need my fantasies to escape my reality imperfect characters are welcome in my nook as long as they get their HEA. Even in "reality" I must have my fantasy ending.
>I prefer reading stories where one of the main characters is less than perfect. It just adds more depth to the story.
I can't wait to read this one!
>Congratulations on the new release Josephine. I love the idea of a MC having to deal with a serious health issue like this. I've put this one on my wishlist for the new shopping spree. 🙂
>Fascinating article – I think an imperfect hero is definitely the best sort!
Anne
xxx
>Hi Jo
Having a hero with a major illness is good for getting us all thinking – about thie issues people have to deal with in real, aabout how lucky those of us in good health are and how our whinges are nothing and maybe thinking of different types of charities when it comes time to donate or raise money.
Thanks
>Oops, coz i have to use this anonymous thing, forgot my name and email – such a dimbo!
Email littlesuze@hotmail.com
Cheers,
Suze
>I absolutely love the sound of this book.
It's amazing the amount of research you put into it. I just know it'll be great!
Please count me in on the contest! >w< Thank you!!
Judi
arella3173_loveless(at)yahoo(dot)com
>Thank you so much for the recs, Joanna – I've read Talker and have Dance with Me waiting on my Kindle, but the rest are new to me and sound fascinating. I've just remembered how much I enjoyed Sleepwalker by Jordan Castillo Price, which features a narrator with a brain tumour and subsequent episodes of memory loss.
And you're right, while the superficial scarring and loss of self-confidence stories can be wonderful, there's a whole wealth of more challenging conditions to be written about. It's great to hear that there are readers who actively seek these stories out 😀
>Hi Tavdy – I thought you migh appreciate the mention of Logan McCree! LOL
Hope you enjoyed the rest of the book 🙂
>For me, it's the HEAs that make romance so compelling. I want that fairy tale too – especially if it can be woven into the story in a way that feels utterly realistic.
And you're right – "perfect" characters ONLY exist in fiction!
>Thanks SusanR – I love to give characters plenty of room for growth, so they often start out with more than their fair share of issues and character flaws 🙂
Hope you enjoy the read!
>Thanks Kaetrin! I was fairly sure I'd never heard of a romance with an MC on dialysis, but I have had a fair few paranoid moments thinking there was a good reason for that and that no one would want to read about it. I'm so glad that readers are telling me otherwise!
>Thanks Anne! It was a fascinating topic to research 😀
Jo x
>Hi Suze! You're right – thinking about chronic health conditions like this make me incredibly grateful for my own good health. I hadn't thought of it influencing charitable donations… Maybe I should put a link on my blog.
>Hi Judi! It was fascinating to research – that's one of the best things about being a writer 😀
>I'll jump in and say I loved the Talker series and Dance With Me was one of my top three favorite books last year. So wonderful! I definitely will check out the others.
>I don't mind characters with physical illnesses or who are imperfect at all. In fact, the main reason I bought this book and read it – just finished it a couple of hours ago, actually – is because I'm a diabetic myself. I hope it never ever comes to the point of renal failure, but I was interested in seeing how you portrayed Ben's character. Since I have diabetes, I'd been tossing around the idea of eventually writing a diabetic character and I think yours was the first I've come across. I enjoyed the book very much! And I appreciate that you were willing to go there, when in this genre there is so much focus on the gorgeous, model-perfect heroes. I know I've been guilty of the same thing myself, but I have some not-so-perfect heroes in the works, too. 🙂
>Hi Piper – thank you so much for sharing your thoughts. I'm sure there must be other diabetic characters out there in m/m romance, but I'm struggling to think of any. I'd love to read about more heroes struggling with mental health issues too – provided it wasn't done in too angsty a fashion.
I wonder if sometimes it's harder to write about a condition you have yourself? I know I like to feel a certain amount of distance between myself and my characters – I'd hate to think I was writing about myself in any way. I think that's why I've shied away from writing a character closely connected to someone with Down's Syndrome, as my daughter has the condition. I'd think I'd find it tough to separate out my own voice from the character's, and I'm worried I'd end up getting on my high horse about things.
Maybe you feel differently about it, though?
And I don't have a problem with heroes who look model perfect – they just need a few juicy character flaws for me to really love them!
>My dad's been dealing with some serious health issues the past two years, so usually I'm pretty reluctant to read about illness. On the other hand, I'd be much happier reading an honest treatment of the ups and downs of illness than the usual bait-and-switch approach of most fiction I've found. That is to say, when the story gets you attached to some incredibly sympathetic character only to kill him off near the end with little warning (or one bit of cliched foreshadowing like a cough or a chest pain). THAT really makes me furious. So, I really appreciate your honest and multifaceted approach…and hey, m/m never hurts. 🙂
vitajex(at)aol(dot)com
>I get a lot of review copies, but this one I actually went out and purchased because the blurb enticed me so much, plus I've heard nothing but good things about it. I'm really looking forward to reading it, since I read a ton about diabetes, etc, for work. Looking forward to it!
>Just ordered your book on Amazon! It sounds great! Count me in for the drawing, please
Kit Johnson
kit_singer@hotmail.com
>An amazing book and this informative blog was fascinating! Thank you for writing about characters with *real* problems!
>I agree – those tactics of making you love someone before they get killed off infuriate me. It happened to me one too many times with mainstream novels, which is why I'm more wary about what I read these days.
I hope my novel manages to walk the line between being honest and being optimistic. If you do decide to give it a try, I'd love to hear what you think 🙂
>Aww, thanks Alex! I hope it's not a let down after you hearing all those good things 🙂
>Hi Kit – you are counted! So glad you liked the sound of the book enough to order it. I hope you enjoy the read 🙂
>Thanks Becky! It was daunting to write about Ben's condition, but it provided for plenty of narrative interest. So glad to hear you enjoyed the read 😀
>I liked reading about Ben's illness – it made me very sympathetic toward very ill people and it was definitely something different. Made me appreciate my good health a lot more!
smaccall AT comcast.net
>Hi again! I'm glad Ben's illness had that effect on you. It's good for those of us who are healthy to really appreciate what we have rather than taking it for granted.
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