J. Tomala (MM/Queer Romance Writer)
@authorjtomala.bsky.social
Writer of queer fiction, M/M romance, gay urban fantasy, light horror and sometimes artist. Lover of books, baked goods, plants, art and tentacled things. Books available in German and English.
But where do we draw a line? Castles and mansions were family homes, so were buildings that slave trade built. And those unethical practicses of the The East India Company or houses of shiping merchants. Historical homes and the ownership of them is more complicated than most people like to admit.
November 15, 2025 at 1:14 PM
But where do we draw a line? Castles and mansions were family homes, so were buildings that slave trade built. And those unethical practicses of the The East India Company or houses of shiping merchants. Historical homes and the ownership of them is more complicated than most people like to admit.
That's sometimes how it goes. I might try my first ever pitch this month. For a book that is only half written no less.
November 15, 2025 at 1:08 PM
That's sometimes how it goes. I might try my first ever pitch this month. For a book that is only half written no less.
I'm just really passionate about old houses and keeping them as places to live/family homes for real people.
November 15, 2025 at 1:06 PM
I'm just really passionate about old houses and keeping them as places to live/family homes for real people.
Yeah, that's true, we can't force them, and we shouldn't, but this is far from a hypothetical discussion. Mansions & castles that have been in families for generations are being sold off to the new ultra-rich because of taxes and high upkeep. And you are right, those ultra-rich don't give a fuck.
November 15, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Yeah, that's true, we can't force them, and we shouldn't, but this is far from a hypothetical discussion. Mansions & castles that have been in families for generations are being sold off to the new ultra-rich because of taxes and high upkeep. And you are right, those ultra-rich don't give a fuck.
You realize that if we did that, the risk that only ultra wealthy could own these homes would become higher, right? I feel like more people would sell to ultra rich, who could pay those taxes rather than deal with the hassle of upkeep, taxes and strangers in their homes. It's already happening.
November 15, 2025 at 12:45 PM
You realize that if we did that, the risk that only ultra wealthy could own these homes would become higher, right? I feel like more people would sell to ultra rich, who could pay those taxes rather than deal with the hassle of upkeep, taxes and strangers in their homes. It's already happening.
I can get behind that, which brings me back to understanding of the subject, which is also underpinned by lived experience.
I honestly don't mind. Most of the media I consume is queer, so that bit of het stuff is fine.
The artistic quality is really freaking good. Everything is so lavish.
I honestly don't mind. Most of the media I consume is queer, so that bit of het stuff is fine.
The artistic quality is really freaking good. Everything is so lavish.
November 15, 2025 at 12:43 PM
I can get behind that, which brings me back to understanding of the subject, which is also underpinned by lived experience.
I honestly don't mind. Most of the media I consume is queer, so that bit of het stuff is fine.
The artistic quality is really freaking good. Everything is so lavish.
I honestly don't mind. Most of the media I consume is queer, so that bit of het stuff is fine.
The artistic quality is really freaking good. Everything is so lavish.
Yeah, I know that :) I've been to a few museums in my life. I'm just disagreeing fundamentally with your opinion on this.
November 15, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Yeah, I know that :) I've been to a few museums in my life. I'm just disagreeing fundamentally with your opinion on this.
There are plenty of castes and houses that are open to the public. Out of necessityin some caes to be honest, because upkeep of these places is so freaking expensive, so yes, a lot of these people are letting strangers into their homes. But I would not force them to do that.
November 15, 2025 at 12:37 PM
There are plenty of castes and houses that are open to the public. Out of necessityin some caes to be honest, because upkeep of these places is so freaking expensive, so yes, a lot of these people are letting strangers into their homes. But I would not force them to do that.
That might be true, but at least here in Germany (Great Briain too) there are a lot of old really fucking old houses and small castles, that are of historical value and been in one family for generations. And if that family can pay for the upkeep of that place they should use it as the like.
November 15, 2025 at 12:34 PM
That might be true, but at least here in Germany (Great Briain too) there are a lot of old really fucking old houses and small castles, that are of historical value and been in one family for generations. And if that family can pay for the upkeep of that place they should use it as the like.
Not mad about the discussion of scholars (I don't tend to read treatises about novels) or anything, just saying I didn't pick up on it, and many others might not have either, and we create art with our understanding of the subject. Might not be malicious to exclude those vibes/undertones.
November 15, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Not mad about the discussion of scholars (I don't tend to read treatises about novels) or anything, just saying I didn't pick up on it, and many others might not have either, and we create art with our understanding of the subject. Might not be malicious to exclude those vibes/undertones.
I mean, I don't know. I feel like we should make exeptions for people who owned that house/masion/castle for hundreds of years. This is someones family home and not only a building of historical value. I wouldn't want stangers in my home touching and looking at my grand-grand-grand mothers stuff.
November 15, 2025 at 12:25 PM
I mean, I don't know. I feel like we should make exeptions for people who owned that house/masion/castle for hundreds of years. This is someones family home and not only a building of historical value. I wouldn't want stangers in my home touching and looking at my grand-grand-grand mothers stuff.
Haven't seen this one yet, but will for sure, because his work is always visually stunning. I read Frankenstein a few times and never picked up on the gay vibes. Might be the German translation, or I just didn't read it that way, as men seemed to use a closer/ more intimate language between them.
November 15, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Haven't seen this one yet, but will for sure, because his work is always visually stunning. I read Frankenstein a few times and never picked up on the gay vibes. Might be the German translation, or I just didn't read it that way, as men seemed to use a closer/ more intimate language between them.
Thank you. I thought at first there was something wrong with me, but yeah, it lacks basically everything that made Interview with the vampire & The Mayfair witches good. Setting, colorful characters, magic.Decent story. The books HAVE good material for this. At this point I'm hate watching it.
November 15, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Thank you. I thought at first there was something wrong with me, but yeah, it lacks basically everything that made Interview with the vampire & The Mayfair witches good. Setting, colorful characters, magic.Decent story. The books HAVE good material for this. At this point I'm hate watching it.
Yeah, it's messed up and why these models aren't illigal, I don't get, but as I said it's on the reader. And if readers want to read crappy books, what can you do?
November 11, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Yeah, it's messed up and why these models aren't illigal, I don't get, but as I said it's on the reader. And if readers want to read crappy books, what can you do?
I miss LJ so hard. It's not even funny.
November 11, 2025 at 6:54 PM
I miss LJ so hard. It's not even funny.
Fair to be honest.
November 11, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Fair to be honest.
I generally like the proofreading. I find it relaxing. But I also know I won't catch all my typos no matter what I do, so I'm glad I have someone now who helps out with that. Because dear lord proofreading is so fucking expensive.
November 11, 2025 at 6:53 PM
I generally like the proofreading. I find it relaxing. But I also know I won't catch all my typos no matter what I do, so I'm glad I have someone now who helps out with that. Because dear lord proofreading is so fucking expensive.
Yeah, it's a lot of work either way. It's not a quik fix if you want a good translation. I hven't tried it the other way around, meaning from German to English, but can't imagine it would work better. And I think the models will have a hard time with French or Spanish too.
November 11, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Yeah, it's a lot of work either way. It's not a quik fix if you want a good translation. I hven't tried it the other way around, meaning from German to English, but can't imagine it would work better. And I think the models will have a hard time with French or Spanish too.
Gonna butt in here, because I recently discovered that tumblr has a good sized book comunity.Lots of recs and reviews. I'm not one for talking books in an internet forum. I like three page long emails that feel like letters, but maybe you will find a place to talk books there.
November 10, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Gonna butt in here, because I recently discovered that tumblr has a good sized book comunity.Lots of recs and reviews. I'm not one for talking books in an internet forum. I like three page long emails that feel like letters, but maybe you will find a place to talk books there.
Not to be mean, but if readers have such a low bar, they deserve what they're getting. There're millions of books. Real good authors are on KU. Not only indie authors either and if you chose to read that slop, that's on you as a reader. It's freaking sad, but those people show what they value.
November 10, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Not to be mean, but if readers have such a low bar, they deserve what they're getting. There're millions of books. Real good authors are on KU. Not only indie authors either and if you chose to read that slop, that's on you as a reader. It's freaking sad, but those people show what they value.
Yeah, happend to me too. I mean I'm tempted to use it, because translating a 50K text takes a long time and you have to proofread it too, but the results are...not that great. Or in some cases as you said: rubbish.
November 10, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Yeah, happend to me too. I mean I'm tempted to use it, because translating a 50K text takes a long time and you have to proofread it too, but the results are...not that great. Or in some cases as you said: rubbish.
Generally I go with Plunder, as I'm from the north. But I figure you could use other words too. Zimtschnecke, Mohnschnecke, Nussteilchen etc. As long as it conveys the spirit of the thing.
November 10, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Generally I go with Plunder, as I'm from the north. But I figure you could use other words too. Zimtschnecke, Mohnschnecke, Nussteilchen etc. As long as it conveys the spirit of the thing.
I honestly don't get why readers don't use the preview function on amazon. Readers have to get smart about these things and reading the reviews is part of it. And I think we need to take this with a grain of salt too. Guy can talk a big game but if he doesn't show proof I don't believe such claims
November 9, 2025 at 8:21 PM
I honestly don't get why readers don't use the preview function on amazon. Readers have to get smart about these things and reading the reviews is part of it. And I think we need to take this with a grain of salt too. Guy can talk a big game but if he doesn't show proof I don't believe such claims