Comments for Jonathan’s Blog http://www.langfordwriter.com/blog A blog about Jonathan Langford’s writing, and especially about his novel, No Going Back, which features a gay (same-sex attracted) Mormon teenager who struggles to stay faithful to his religious beliefs. Sat, 14 Aug 2010 23:33:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 Comment on Running Out of Ideas by LauraN http://www.langfordwriter.com/blog/?p=248&cpage=1#comment-1454 LauraN Sat, 14 Aug 2010 23:33:08 +0000 http://www.langfordwriter.com/blog/?p=248#comment-1454 If Becca ever finishes the book, I think she will find some of her fellow grad students at Yale who would be interested in reading it. But at the moment, she is too busy reading about women fighters in civil conflicts--compared to which NO GOING BACK is quite a jolly romp. But we'll just have to wait for her to get around to it. If Becca ever finishes the book, I think she will find some of her fellow grad students at Yale who would be interested in reading it. But at the moment, she is too busy reading about women fighters in civil conflicts–compared to which NO GOING BACK is quite a jolly romp. But we’ll just have to wait for her to get around to it.

]]> Comment on Running Out of Ideas by Chris Bigelow http://www.langfordwriter.com/blog/?p=248&cpage=1#comment-1433 Chris Bigelow Thu, 12 Aug 2010 14:59:08 +0000 http://www.langfordwriter.com/blog/?p=248#comment-1433 I think you've done the best job of any Zarahemla author on publicity. I wish I could afford to hire you to handle publicity on other titles... I think you’ve done the best job of any Zarahemla author on publicity. I wish I could afford to hire you to handle publicity on other titles…

]]> Comment on Running Out of Ideas by Wm Morris http://www.langfordwriter.com/blog/?p=248&cpage=1#comment-1424 Wm Morris Wed, 11 Aug 2010 20:44:54 +0000 http://www.langfordwriter.com/blog/?p=248#comment-1424 The most logical next step is to write another book in the same vein and/or as sequel. And when that book comes out, price the e-book of No Going Back at $1.99. But I know you aren't, at this point, real interested in doing that. The most logical next step is to write another book in the same vein and/or as sequel. And when that book comes out, price the e-book of No Going Back at $1.99. But I know you aren’t, at this point, real interested in doing that.

]]> Comment on Fun at King’s English by Ann Best http://www.langfordwriter.com/blog/?p=232&cpage=1#comment-1223 Ann Best Fri, 23 Jul 2010 16:59:25 +0000 http://www.langfordwriter.com/blog/?p=232#comment-1223 I'm so glad you had such a positive experience! Wish I could have been there. I would love to be in northern Utah right now, somewhere up near Brighton or some other cool place. It is so hot and humid right now in Harrisonburg, Virginia!! My best to you and your family . . . I’m so glad you had such a positive experience! Wish I could have been there. I would love to be in northern Utah right now, somewhere up near Brighton or some other cool place. It is so hot and humid right now in Harrisonburg, Virginia!! My best to you and your family . . .

]]> Comment on Fun at King’s English by LauraN http://www.langfordwriter.com/blog/?p=232&cpage=1#comment-1208 LauraN Thu, 22 Jul 2010 02:07:17 +0000 http://www.langfordwriter.com/blog/?p=232#comment-1208 After JEREMY'S MUFFLER went out of print, Matthew found a copy for say on eBay asking a whopping $200 for this "rare book" signed by the author. It gave us all a good laugh. After JEREMY’S MUFFLER went out of print, Matthew found a copy for say on eBay asking a whopping $200 for this “rare book” signed by the author. It gave us all a good laugh.

]]> Comment on Fun at King’s English by Chris Bigelow http://www.langfordwriter.com/blog/?p=232&cpage=1#comment-1162 Chris Bigelow Thu, 15 Jul 2010 21:52:40 +0000 http://www.langfordwriter.com/blog/?p=232#comment-1162 Glad it went so well! My own experiences with any kinds of author signings or readings is that they're always very poorly attended and rather tedious and boring for me. But I'm definitely not as sociable as you--I would have made a beeline to escape at the earliest possibility. Don't forget me for lunch before July 22 or after August 5... Feel free to invite anyone else down here too. Glad it went so well! My own experiences with any kinds of author signings or readings is that they’re always very poorly attended and rather tedious and boring for me. But I’m definitely not as sociable as you–I would have made a beeline to escape at the earliest possibility.

Don’t forget me for lunch before July 22 or after August 5… Feel free to invite anyone else down here too.

]]> Comment on Thoughts on Kushner, Angels in America by Zelophehad’s Daughters | Mormon Gays in Mormon Plays: How Mormon Playwrights Portray Gay and Lesbian Mormons, Part I http://www.langfordwriter.com/blog/?p=139&cpage=1#comment-1140 Zelophehad’s Daughters | Mormon Gays in Mormon Plays: How Mormon Playwrights Portray Gay and Lesbian Mormons, Part I Mon, 12 Jul 2010 14:35:02 +0000 http://www.langfordwriter.com/blog/?p=139#comment-1140 [...] a cultural mindset if you’ve been raised outside the culture. To quote Jonathan Langford’s review of Angels in America: Angels in America, as I see it, is not really about Mormonism at all. That is to say, even though [...] [...] a cultural mindset if you’ve been raised outside the culture. To quote Jonathan Langford’s review of Angels in America: Angels in America, as I see it, is not really about Mormonism at all. That is to say, even though [...]

]]> Comment on King’s English Local Author Showcase July 13 by Ann Best http://www.langfordwriter.com/blog/?p=207&cpage=1#comment-1133 Ann Best Sun, 11 Jul 2010 22:18:02 +0000 http://www.langfordwriter.com/blog/?p=207#comment-1133 Jonathan: How exciting! Wish I could be there to hear the readings and meet you. Sounds like you're moving forward, step by step. Good job! as my daughter would say. As for me, I'm finally getting the second edits, maybe tomorrow, of my autobiographical novel. Was beginning to wonder if anything was happening. I'm not getting any younger! All the best. Ann p.s. I know my/our friend Maureen Keeler will be happy about this book reading, too. Too bad her family reunion in Northern Utah didn't coincide or she might have been able to hear you. Jonathan: How exciting! Wish I could be there to hear the readings and meet you. Sounds like you’re moving forward, step by step. Good job! as my daughter would say.

As for me, I’m finally getting the second edits, maybe tomorrow, of my autobiographical novel. Was beginning to wonder if anything was happening. I’m not getting any younger!

All the best. Ann
p.s. I know my/our friend Maureen Keeler will be happy about this book reading, too. Too bad her family reunion in Northern Utah didn’t coincide or she might have been able to hear you.

]]> Comment on No Going Back Comments by Jeff Driggs http://www.langfordwriter.com/blog/?page_id=24&cpage=1#comment-1007 Jeff Driggs Thu, 24 Jun 2010 04:00:34 +0000 http://www.langfordwriter.com/blog/?page_id=24#comment-1007 I just finished No Going Back, and found it a mature, thoughtful, and unique presentation of the extremely difficult situation faithful LDS who have same-sex attraction issues are going through. It’s neither a polemic nor an apologia, but rather a touching, engaging story that is refreshingly free of Lifetime Movie stereotypes. The characters are real and three-dimensional, and Jonathan deftly provides original situations for the main character, Paul, to deal with, rather than falling back on clichés. There’s plenty of drama to keep readers edgy and rushing along to see what’s going to happen, but nothing predictable or sappy. Jonathan doesn’t tie Paul’s life up in a neat little bow, with a “happy” ending that would anger one side of the gay rights debate or the other, but rather shows the choices that a person in Paul’s situation has to make, and hints at the struggles (and eventually the potential rewards) that come from his choice. I found it a totally realistic story that lets readers who may have felt less than charitable about homosexuals come away with a much more sympathetic attitude toward those who choose Paul's incredibly difficult path. I just finished No Going Back, and found it a mature, thoughtful, and unique presentation of the extremely difficult situation faithful LDS who have same-sex attraction issues are going through. It’s neither a polemic nor an apologia, but rather a touching, engaging story that is refreshingly free of Lifetime Movie stereotypes.

The characters are real and three-dimensional, and Jonathan deftly provides original situations for the main character, Paul, to deal with, rather than falling back on clichés. There’s plenty of drama to keep readers edgy and rushing along to see what’s going to happen, but nothing predictable or sappy. Jonathan doesn’t tie Paul’s life up in a neat little bow, with a “happy” ending that would anger one side of the gay rights debate or the other, but rather shows the choices that a person in Paul’s situation has to make, and hints at the struggles (and eventually the potential rewards) that come from his choice.

I found it a totally realistic story that lets readers who may have felt less than charitable about homosexuals come away with a much more sympathetic attitude toward those who choose Paul’s incredibly difficult path.

]]> Comment on The Writing Rookie #12: Realism and Artistic Convention by Braden http://www.langfordwriter.com/blog/?p=203&cpage=1#comment-978 Braden Thu, 17 Jun 2010 17:51:50 +0000 http://www.langfordwriter.com/blog/?p=203#comment-978 Very thoughtful post, Jonathan. My first book was just released, so I have been grappling with many of these same thoughts. You phrased them elegantly and articulated the challenge very well. Very thoughtful post, Jonathan. My first book was just released, so I have been grappling with many of these same thoughts. You phrased them elegantly and articulated the challenge very well.

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