It would be difficult to say ‘no’ to Sir Marco Satori especially when you’re in his gloved hands.
Is he a magician, hypnotist, both or more?
Siblings Edwin and Alma both fall under Satori’s spell on their fateful train trip. The mysterious and charismatic man has specific plans for the male youth weakened by ill health and repressed desires.

Sleight of Hand is a novella based on one’s mind releasing it’s most forbidden desires.
The man with the key to the hidden lust within Edwin is Satori.

art by Anne Cain

Katrina, the creator of the Blue Ruin series, TORTURES the reader with the short-length of the work.
Kitty how dare you not turn this into a full length novel?!? Or a manga? I’m on the floor flailing as I try to imagine Satori’s origins, Edwin’s and Alma’s relationship (is there more than just a simple sibling bond?) and what lies in store for these characters.
Although I can hope for a prequel AND sequel my task is to review the work I have right now.

For such a short story I was impressed by the rich detail which painted an accurate atmosphere of the 19th century. The author is comfortable in describing the environment and the social conditions in which the characters lived. I enjoyed how the situation for Alma’s marriage was established yet this doll-like, sweet, sweet girl provided such a delightful twist at the end and became a fascinating character in her own right. Edwin for most of the story was a decent uke for Satori’s predatorial impulses but hang-on folks, just as Alma wasn’t exactly the perfect young lady, her brother does not take magician’s deception lying down (well he does take it lying down but that’s not what I’m talking about!). I tend to favor feisty ukes so my only whiny complaint is that Ms. Strauss draw out the conflict a bit longer.

If you are concerned about the m/m scenes, I guarantee that this work will leave you satisfied.

Cleverly written with flawless prose and memorable characters leave me no choice than to give this work a “paws up” from the YaoiandYuri cat!

More eloquent reviews for SLEIGHT OF HAND:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5975908.Sleight_of_Hand

http://unique.logophilos.net/?p=1722

http://www.mrsgiggles.com/ebooks/strauss_sleight.html

1) Can you give us a general idea about the current state of OEL yuri at this time? (You don’t have to discuss sales or give figures of any sort, just tell us if more people are becoming more aware of OEL yuri or supportive or not).

I don’t know if the manga audience in the west is really sophisticated enough to be able to answer that. There are people who only want what they want – usually something they’ve seen scanlated - there are people that want to “support” Yuri, and will buy anything and then there’s some folks who only want to complain, regardless.

I don’t sell Yuri Monogatari as OEL, or as manga, really, but as “lesbian stories” so our audience is a little different. I’m not sure there is a “OEL manga” audience, but some western artists have managed to find a following.

I think the concept of OEL manga is in flux and will keep evolving, as western independent artists who draw in a more manga style than Indie comix style find their own space.

Yuri is its own small niche and the folks who support it are looking for good stories, not so much a particular style.

> 3) What work of yuri was the turning point for you in deciding it was the genre you would support?

Sailor Moon. I was blown away by Sailor Uranus as voiced by Ogata megumi, and started becoming interested in the world of anime and manga in general.

I started publishing because of Rica Takashima’s “Rica ‘tte Kanji!?” It was our first book at ALC and is still our best seller.

> 4) I personally like dark psychologically driven stories, or historical fiction, what yuri title by any publisher would you recommend for me? (^_^)

I don’t make recommendations, because my tastes and other people’s are not similar. I strongly recommend joining the Yuricon Mailing List (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Yuricon) and asking folks there. They love to share their opinions.

>
> Is there sci-fi yuri?

Sure. I can think of Stellvia, both anime and manga made it over here and Simoun (anime only).

I’m sure there’s more. There’s some Yuri in any number of genres.

5) What can yuri offer to people who would otherwise never think of picking up a f/f romance.

depends on what they are looking for. Yuri in Japan is not a “genre” so much as a quality. There may be a great story that has a Yuri character or subplot within a larger story. A good story that grabs you is a good story.

6) Have you tried reading western f/f e-books or paperbacks? If so, how different are they from works from Japan.

I don’t read ebooks, I prefer to hold books in my hand. No Kindle for me. Books are books – that’s like asking how are business books different in the West and Japan? It all depends on the aurthor, the genre, what I’m reading for? I can’t compare  Konno Oyuki with Sarah Waters because they write completely different kinds of books. Good authors write good books, bad ones write bad ones, in any language.

7) What is your all time favorite pairing and why?

Tenoh Haruka and Kaoih Michiru, Sailors Uranus and Neptune, from Sailor Moon. They were presented as an actual long-term couple and it came across.

8) Yaoi readers have the uke/seme relationship, does yuri have a similar arrangement?

Yuri readers will use the same terms, but in the lesbian world, we have butch/femme or tachi/neko in Japanese. These roles aren’t completely analogous to uke/seme. I’ve written about this a number of times on my blog, Okazu (http://okazu.blogspot.com) where i also review many many kinds of Yuri anime and manga, so hopefully people can find something that appeals to them.

9) Please leave us with any comments/words we should know about yuri. Are there any stereotypes you wish to dispel or any new trends which should be noted here?

Every generation redefines what “Yuri” means to them. Each generation thinks its the first ever to see the signs in anime and manga. It’s all fine. Whatever makes people happy is cool.

10) Tell us what to expect from ALC in the near future.

We *just* released “Yuri Monogatari 6″ (http://tinyurl.com/bgnvut) our most recent anthology of Yuri. We’re hoping to have the next volume of “Shoujoai ni Bouken” out next.

Erica

Looking for yuri manga where the girl gets the girl? ALC Publishing has what you want!
http://www.yuricon.org/shop/alcp.html

Yuricon – “For real women who like their women…animated.”
http://www.yuricon.org

Remember never forget to type in that asterisk folks XD

Bekki Lynn (she writes m/f)—I met her through Bookstrand.com a publisher which now sells books from other companies.

Barbara Sheridan (m/f and m/m)—the books are autographed.

***pre-registration is available NOW! (^_^)

Seriously, Barbara Sheridan‘s short story BEAUTIFUL C*CKSUCKER, has received more attention for the title rather the content. Even Mrs. Giggles couldn’t resist this story due to all the unfortunate drama.

If you google the title you should be able to find a few blog entries which discuss the title without taking into account whether or not the title is based on the content or if the negative reaction to the work’s label may be premature. Some of the biggest critics did not even read the work.

In any case, I’ve read the story and the title comes right out of the plot which was both a satisfying read and an interesting intro to the BDSM world. The voice for Ray Watts, a member of the NYPD, was very realistic and edgy. In contrast, the attractive Japanese Miki Nabeshima was more reserved but delivers a few good lines and exudes the aura of restrained violence. I would like to adopt some yaoi lingo here and say that both are seme types which only makes the work even more tantalizing.

There are two twists in the plot and both will end up pleasing Watts, satisfying Nabeshima and leaving the reader begging for a longer story featuring these two men.

The reviews are detailed and comprehensive because works are graded on all components: Plot, character, love scenes, editing, cover art and art if the work is a manga as well as an overall grade.

Recently, Katana Duet: Samurai’s Forbidden Love was evaluated by The Yaoi Review here.

Ally
http://www.allyblue.com/
http://blog.allyblue.com/
http://www.fictionwithfriction.com/

* What inspired you to write?

The adoration of the masses! LOL. Seriously, I started off writing band slash many years ago. People seemed to enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it, so I decided to try my hand at original character fiction. Though I guess I’ve always been a writer at heart. When I was a kid I used to write and illustrate books about the (entirely imaginary) adventures of my sister *g*

* Name some other novels you’d recommend to readers who enjoy your work.

Oh wow. There are so many! Let’s see if I can narrow it down a little…
- Jet Mykle’s Heaven Sent series, from Loose Id. Totally yummy series about the members of her fictional band Heaven Sent. My personal favorite of the bunch is Hell, because the title character is just SO adorable!
- J.L. Langley’s gay space regency series. Yes you read that correctly *g* My Fair Captain is the first book in the series. The second book, The Englor Affair, just came out this month. Both book are available from Samhain Publishing. These books are HOT HOT HOT, and chock full of intriguing plot to boot.
- Phoenix Rising by Kimberley Gardner, from MLR Press. Anyone who loves massive angst followed by a lovely happy ending NEEDS to read this book. Seriously.

* What is your favorite novel and why?

My favorite novel of all time (other than Lord of the Rings which is a category by itself IMHO) is Boy’s Life by Robert R. McCammon. It’s an absolutely beautiful book. Exciting, fun, heartwrenching, and magical all at once. A close second — and sometimes first, depending on my mood — is Stranger In A Strange Land by Robert R. Heinlein. It changed my life. I’ve never had any story before or since shift my worldview quite like this one did. Maybe because I first read it as an impressionable teen, I don’t know. But it still affects me now as strongly as it ever did.

If you mean romance novels, sorry, I can’t pick one. My favorite changes daily! LOL.

* Do you have any actors or models which you use to inspire your character’s looks?

Not really, no. My characters tend to be inspired by real people (musicians, friends, loved ones) when it comes to their personality traits, but their looks tend to just take shape in my head with no real rhyme or reason. I’ve only had a couple whose looks strongly resembled any actual people I’d seen. Which is probably why I can hardly ever find pictures of my guys for the cover artists. Pity the poor artists, working with only my descriptions to guide them! Yet they always do such an amazing job!

* Please let us know what future works you have in store for us and list the publishers.

Right now I’m working on a new novel for Samhain. The title is Adder and it’s about a singer/violinist/oddball personality and the hot-tempered drummer who changes his life. Fun stuff *g* After that, I’ll be working on a novella called Naked Richmond for Loose Id. That one’s more of a romantic suspense, which is something I haven’t really done for a while so I’m looking forward to that.

For anyone who’s been following my Bay City Paranormal Investigations series, Dean’s story is coming out in January. It’s called Where The Heart Is, and I can promise you all the angst and hot mansex you can handle. AND a happy ending for dear, sweet Dean. Check out the blurb and an excerpt:
http://samhainpublishing.com/coming/where-the-heart-is
Find out more about the series here:
http://www.allyblue.com/BCPI.html

* You mentioned that “Willow Bend” had specific sentimental meaning to you can you elaborate (just reveal as much as you feel comfortable to do so please).

My mom died of a brain tumor just over eleven years ago. I was hundreds of miles away with two babies instead of taking care of her, but Cory’s emotions in this book are pretty much mine, especially at the time of her death. Plus, I saw how it nearly killed my dad to take on the burden of full-time care plus working. Details and some circumstances are changed, but the feelings and emotions Cory has in the book are taken directly from real life. Hopefully that helps the story ring true with readers. Writing Willow Bend was therapy of a sort for me, and I find it very healing to have so many people email me to say how much the story touched them

* Feel free to let us know more about yourself as a writer such as your writing schedule and how you tackle writer’s block if you’ve experienced it.

Schedule? What is this “schedule” you speak of?
LOL.
Seriously, I have no set schedule. I work full time, and that plus family, friends, hobbies, etc means I write when I can, pretty much. I feel very lucky in that I’ve never experienced serious writer’s block. I’ve had trouble finding time to get down as many words as I need — it’s a daily struggle, in fact — but I usually know more or less where the story’s going and how I want to get it there. Crossing my fingers that doesn’t change…

Please visit this link to buy some of Ally’s books.

Review for KATANA DUET: Samurai’s Forbidden Love
by Silapa Jarun
Buy the book here.

Review by Wendy Koenigsmann at Authorsden here.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

~Silapa Jarun~
http://www.silapajarun.com

In 2007 Broccoli launched Boysenberry Books, a shonen ai imprint that was an attempt to get a share of what at that time was a growing market for yaoi manga.
http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/13785.html