Category: Guest Blog

Patrick Stutzman: Do You Have To Be Female To Write Female Characters?

On By jccasselsIn Author Spotlight, Guest Blog3 Comments

There was so much positive response to a recent post on women and science fiction that when I had the chance to invite a male author who writes strong female leads beautifully, I jumped at it. Here is Patrick Stutzman, author of ALONE ON THE EDGE and his new release ALONE IN PARADISE.

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Writing can be a lot of fun, but it can also come with its challenges. Among those challenges can be making your story and/or characters believable, getting the story to flow smoothly and logically, and avoiding the pitfalls into which many authors inadvertently fall. My primary problem involves being a man and writing about a woman.

My series of novels revolves around a woman who finds herself left alone, away from civilization, and must cope with her situation to the best of her abilities. I have received compliments from a number of women that I have somehow managed to pull off the ardent task of hitting the nail on the head as far as accurately portraying female characters. Those that don’t know me figure it is because I am secretly a woman or that I am gay. The last time I checked, I am a male; I have guy parts. And, my wife can assure you that I am not gay.
How do I do it? No, I don’t follow Jack Nicholson’s formula in As Good As It Gets where he says, “I take a man and take away reason and accountability.” It all falls down to observation and error-checking.

As a gamer, I liked to play female characters in my games. I create women player characters in my Dungeons & Dragons and Star Wars roleplaying games, and I have a female character in World of Warcraft and Skyrim. Why? Most of the other players played males. I wanted to have women come along on the adventures, too. With characters like Red Sonja, Wonder Woman, Jean Grey, and Sheena as inspiration, women have just as much capability to kick some major butt as the men.

I live in a house with three other women: my wife and my two daughters. Learning what women are like and how they think, though it is still an exercise, comes a bit easier for me because of that. When I create the women in my books, I take what I know from the three ladies in my life and apply parts of them to the characters.

I cannot honestly say that it’s that easy. After I complete the story, my editor steps in and checks my portrayals for accuracy. It really helps that my editor is a woman, too. If something seems askew, we discuss it and make any necessary changes to finalize the character’s depiction.

I am not the only man that creates female characters, but I am willing to bet that I am one of the few that does not make my women damsels-in-distress or really butch. I have always strived to be as realistic as possible in my stories, and having women properly represented is something I am proud to do.

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Please feel free to visit each blog on the appropriate day and comment about the blog post, the book, me, or whatever you choose. One lucky person that comments on the blog stop that day will win a free e-copy of the book. Spread the word to your friends and come read about the continuing adventures of Anna Foster in the exciting sequel, Alone in Paradise.

World Building From a Pantser’s Perspective – Krystal Brookes

On By jccasselsIn Author Spotlight, Guest Blog6 Comments

While I’m off roughing it on top of a mountain in the Sumter National Forest listening for the sound of Dueling Banjos, author Krystal Brookes kindly offered to guest post for me until I can work my way down the river where Deliverance was filmed and find my way safely back to civilization again.  So here is Krystal with an interesting perspective on her writing.

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Hi, I’m Krystal Brookes and I’d like to thank JC for inviting me to her blog today.  At first I was unsure what I was going to write about and I asked my friend on Facebook what she thought.  She suggested I write about how I go about world building in my stories. I was slightly stricken.  You see, the friend is also my editor and she edited my short story, Bounty, which I will tell you about later.  Was now the time to confess that as a pantser I don’t do any world-building.  I pretty much make it up as I go along.

Bounty was my first attempt to be published and was accepted.  My acceptance email sits proudly on a frame next to my desk.  It states that the editor “loved the world building in this short story.”  So I confessed that I didn’t know a thing about it, and my editor told me that I am able to world-build even if I don’t think of it as a technical process.

I realized that I usually start with a utopian government.  I probably choose that because I first got into science fiction watching Star Trek.  And the Federation of Planets is pretty utopian, even if they do have to fight Klingons, Cardassians and the Dominion.  The different inhabited planets are usually linked through alliances or confederacies: a peaceful galaxy with a few baddies to spoil it.

For Bounty, I had to create some kind of criminal and legal system.  In space a police force would probably not be practical.  I had to think of something else. Paid bounty hunters seem to be a better way to capture criminals.   Because it is a utopian society, the criminal justice must be fair—but that’s not to say they never make mistakes.

Then I had to decide what kind of planet to make the prison planet Alcatraz.  Coming from freezing cold and wet Scotland, the idea of a desert area is a bit disturbing to me.  I’m sure people who come from Arizona don’t see it that way.  To me, that would be the height of discomfort and no one wants to see the baddies living in the lap of luxury.  So Alcatraz became a hot, sandy, desert planet.

So it seems that I did build a little world of my own, even if I didn’t realize that it was what I was doing.  It was great to think up new technology and consider what living in such conditions would do to criminals. Bounty is a short novella so I didn’t have time to explore it in great detail.  But I’m currently working on a new project and an entirely different type of planet.  I hope you like the excerpt of Bounty.

 ***

Bounty – Excerpt

 

“I see you’re awake,” a gruff male voice stated.

Gemma looked in the direction of the voice. Wherever she was, it was dark and damp smelling. Her mind was struggling to make sense of what had happened. She could tell there had been an accident but the immediate events before the accident were extremely fuzzy.

“Where…?”

“It doesn’t matter. You’re safe–for now. How are you feeling?”

“Sore and groggy,” she replied quietly.

She couldn’t quite make out the man in the dim light. She didn’t recognise his voice or where she was. Her memory was still fuzzy but something in the back of her mind scared her. She seemed to be alone with this man and she certainly was not in a hospital.

“Yeah, well, that’s what happens when you crashland your shuttle into a planet Ms. Scott.”

“How do you know my name?”

“Your ID was in your pocket. And your phase gun was in your holster.”

“Where is my gun now?” Gemma asked, trying to stop the fear in her voice.

“It’s safe.” The man moved forward into the thin shaft of light coming from the dim overhead light on the ceiling of the hut they seemed to be in. The man was tall, muscular and tanned, with a shock of medium length brown hair. She recognized him, but couldn’t quite recall from where.

“I’d prefer it if you returned my gun. I need it.”

“I said it’s safe,” he returned.

She sat for a few moments trying to remember what had happened. She knew she had to get her gun back from this man but her head was too befuddled to form a coherent argument for now.

As the details of the accident came back to her, she squinted again at her rescuer, trying to recall how she knew him. She felt her blood drain as she remembered.

“I need to fix my shuttle,” said Gemma, hoping that he hadn’t realized who she was.

“It’s dark outside, you won’t be able to do anything just now.”

She tried to sit up but a shard of intense pain ripped through her shoulder and made her fall back on the pillow.

“You dislocated your shoulder, so I had to put it back in the socket. It’s going to be sore for a while.”

She rubbed her shoulder and grimaced.

“Thanks, I think.”

“If I’d left you in that shuttle, believe me, you would have been murdered or worse.”

“What’s worse than being murdered?”

“On this planet? Not being murdered and being kept alive long enough to be aware of what they’re doing to you.”

She shuddered.

 ***

 

 

Bounty—Description

When Gemma Scott’s shuttle crash lands on Alcatraz prison planet, she’s sure of one thing. If the impact doesn’t kill her, the inmates will. She wakes up in the hut of a convicted terrorist and wonders how long it will be until the handsome but dangerous man finds she was the one who arrested him two years earlier. As their attraction grows, they work together to help Gemma escape the dangerous planet. But they can’t deny the sparks that fly between them.

Contact Links:

Web/blog:        http://krystalbrookes.com

Facebook:        https://www.facebook.com/KrystalBrookes

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Krystal-Brookes-Author/305059372898922

Twitter:           https://twitter.com/KrystalBrookes

Tumblr:            http://krystalbrookes.tumblr.com/

Spending “Quality Times” With Author Gayle Ramage

On By jccasselsIn Author Spotlight, Guest Blog7 Comments

Good news! It looks like the Author Spotlight is going to become a recurring feature here on GNMB! I’m excited because I’ve met so many wonderful writers on my journey and I’m happy to share these friends with the rest of my world.

Today’s featured author is Gayle Ramage, a talented writer with a quirky sense of humor and a fascination for Doctor Who. You know me, I can’t resist anyone who says they want to grow their own TARDIS (check out her Bio down towards the bottom)! I invited Gayle over to kick off her blog tour celebrating the launch of her new release THE WHISPERING TOMBS – A Quality Times Novella.

So, (settling in with some fish fingers and custard) Gayle, tell me about yourself.

I’m a life-long resident of Scotland, having been born in Edinburgh almost thirty-one years ago and have lived in various places in the lowlands since then. I’m “living in sin” with my partner, and we have two children – a girl and a boy – under ten. I’m currently a stay at home mum while writing, but during my working life I’ve been a shops assistant, admin assistant, and also a Reprographic Assistant for a large law firm.

In other words, typical writer with a diverse background… oddly enough, sounds like a typical background for a Doctor’s Companion, too… hmmm… (shaking myself back to the interview at hand)

Why Science Fiction? What is it about the genre that attracts you?

I think mainly for the time travel aspect, though it’s so much fun and freeing to create worlds and populate them with non-human beings. I think with science fiction, to a certain degree, you can make up the rules.

Where did the idea for Quality Times come from?

Two words. Doctor Who.

Of course (eye roll.) Why did I even bother to ask?

I’m such a huge fan and wanted to be able to write my own ‘space and time adventurer’ story, but obviously I couldn’t use the idea of the TARDIS (bigger on the inside) so I came up with a shrinkable time machine.

Which I think is a really cool twist, btw.

There are also elements of Doctor Who spin-off “Iris Wildthyme” in there, too. (Wildthyme is a mature lady timelord whose TARDIS is a red double-decker bus. Her companion is a talking toy panda, while Iris herself enjoys a drink or twelve. The stories are also very humorous.)

I got particular enjoyment out of the overt Doctor Who homage, and the influence certainly shows.

Like the Doctor Who series, you originally published QUALITY TIMES AND THE WHISPERING TOMBS as a serial. How did that work out for you?

It started well. Especially as I’d made the individual parts free to download. Unfortunately, there was a problem with Smashwords, and I had to unpublish the parts there. I did have them up on my own website for a while, but unfortunately I wasn’t able to tell how many people downloaded them.

Qez or Bluey, made quite an impression on me when I first read THE WHISPERING TOMBS. Love the “sexy police siren” description. How do you come up with Quality’s off-beat observations?

I suppose I tend not to overthink what she will say, in some situations. Just like real life, sometimes you just blurt out things without really thinking about what you’re saying. For the “sexy police siren”, it was the first thing that came to me when I was needing Quality to liken Qez to something.

The overall tone of the story really grabbed me and wouldn’t let go. It’s all very tongue-in-cheek. Is this a departure for you from your other work?

I suppose, to a certain degree, it is a bit of a departure. The Quality Times series is a lot more humorous and, as you say, tongue-in-cheek than my other work. Cigs, Bolan and Strange Men With  Guns had a bit of humour in it, as did my christmas short story collection, Three French Hens, but they weren’t as quirky as Quality Times.

What comes next for Gayle and Quality Times?

Well, the second book in the series, The Grandparent Trap, is still in its first draft but I have the overall plot sorted out so I need to get that completed, edited, etc. However, with that story, it’s being written in third-person narrative instead of first. Also, we get to meet Quality’s granny, Necessity, who is mentioned in The Whispering Tombs. I also have a few plot lines for another couple of books, so that will keep me going, writing wise, for the foreseeable future.

Thanks, Gayle, for stopping by and best of luck with THE WHISPERING TOMBS.

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If you haven’t had the pleasure yet of discovering the works of Gayle Ramage, I strongly recommend THE WHISPERING TOMBS. I’ve had the good fortune to read and enjoy the serialized version and I’m completely hooked! I can’t wait for the next installment in the QUALITY TIMES series! You can see my abbreviated review on Goodreads.

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Meet Quality Times, just your average 21st century woman who happens to own a shrinkable time machine. Along on her intergalactic adventures is Tim, a self-confessed sci-fi geek who takes everything in his stride.

In ‘The Whispering Tombs’, Quality and Tim are residing at the luxurious Baala Haven Resort, on an unpronounceable planet, when they’re invited on a quest to find ancient hidden treasure by a wealthy alien archaeologist. Reaching the caves of Azrokaran, however, loyalties are tested to the very limits as those within the group reveal their true colours.

A light-hearted mix of science fiction, adventure and humour.

BIO
Gayle Ramage is a writer, living in the Scottish lowlands. She would love to grow her own TARDIS if only to go back in time to find out if her ancestors were as mad as she is.

LINKS

Alone on the Edge with Patrick Stutzman

On By jccasselsIn Guest Blog4 Comments

Every now and then, I get to meet some fascinating people.  Someone who has been a good friend to me over the past six months is a fellow Jed-head and SF writer Patrick Stutzman. Not only have we played the Geek version of “What are you wearing?” over the Twitter feed, which is far less provocative than it sounds because the clothing involved happened to be a Phantom Menace T-shirt (which we both own identical copies of,) but we’ve also matched wits playing Star Wars Trivial Pursuit. (It was a draw.) I invited him to share some of his wit and wisdom on the old blog today.

I promise, no Star Wars trivia questions.

So… (breaking out zee little notebook) Make yourself comfortable on zee couch and tell me about yourself.

(You had to post the hard question first, didn’t you?)

Well, I could throw you a softball Star Wars trivia question right off, but I already promised no Star Wars trivia questions, so… yeah.

My name is Patrick Stutzman, and I am a writer. (Hi, Patrick!) My secret identity is that of a mild-mannered online support agent for a regional bank’s website. But by night, beware! I become a writing- and gaming-nightmare! Bwahahahaha! … (Oh, sorry). Seriously, I write science fiction, but I started as a freelance game designer. Some of you may recognize my name in association with the Star Wars Roleplaying Game, Saga Edition that was produced by Wizards of the Coast a few years ago. I have done some other assignments on the side as well, but most of my design work was for Star Wars.

Beyond that, I live in the greater Kansas City area with my wife, two kids, and a veritable menagerie of pets. I work with games, technology (computers in particular), and other minor things that may appear from time to time that are shiny and quickly catch my attention. I like long walks on the beach, relaxing by the fire at night, and … (Dang it! This isn’t that online dating survey! Stop that!)

To learn more about me, check out my websites (Is that a typo? No, I meant to make that a single word.) listed below:

The Worlds of Patrick Stutzman (writer site) – http://patrickstutzman.swtft.com

Star Wars: The Forgotten Tales (Star Wars RPG site) – http://www.swtft.com

The Sims Realty Co. (Sims 2 site) – http://thesimsrealty.swtft.com

Why Science Fiction? What is it about the genre that attracts you?

I have always looked to the future and speculate what lies ahead for me and the rest of humanity/civilization. I guess that’s why I’ve always had an interest in studying prophecies like in Revelation, the quatrains of Nostrodamus, etc. Science fiction, for the large part, allows us to delve into the minds of others’ ideas of what the future may hold, whether it involves space travel, crossing dimensional barriers, encountering strange, new lifeforms, or what have you.

You know, that explains so much to me.
Where did the idea for ALONE ON THE EDGE come from?

From the dark recesses of my mind! Most people emerge as a different person after they go in! Seriously, I finished work on my last book for the Star Wars Roleplaying Game and wanted to keep my writing skills sharp. So, I pulled out my handy-dandy … (Notebook? WRONG! It was my laptop! Ha, ha! 10 points for me!) laptop and started planning on a story to keep me busy. I was originally not planning on publishing it, but I looked up and found that I was already 40,000 words into it without being close to finishing the story. So, I figured I’d see where it took me.

Did you ever feel that you’d painted yourself into corner with your premise for ALONE ON THE EDGE?

No.

No? That’s it? Just no? 

Oh, you want a longer answer! My bad!

Not really. I have been writing my books organically. I put down the premise and the setting, and let the characters drive themselves. I know of several other authors that write that way. Honestly, I love it! I find it as entertaining as reading a book for the first time, because I don’t know what’s going to happen next until it happens. I feel like I am a reporter giving a play-by-play record of what is taking place inside my head. As a result, the characters are always looking for ways to resolve their situations. Sometimes, it works for them; sometimes, it doesn’t. You’ll find that to be the case with Anna throughout the book. Some of her ideas and plans go off without a hitch, while others will fall flat or just have a few unexpected complications arise in the process. She just has to deal with it and move on as best she can.

I find it interesting that you chose to have a character like Anna as your protagonist in this series. I’m also fascinated when male writers choose a female protagonist for a story like this. Why Anna? Why not Bob? What was it about Anna’s character that made her the only character to put into this situation?

I suppose the choice of writing about a female protagonist for ALONE ON THE EDGE originally came from my fascination and love for strong, independent women. You might say it’s a fantasy of mine. (It came true! I married one!) Throughout my life, I have had a STRONG attraction to the type of woman that you really don’t want to make angry but at the same time want to take home to satisfy your manly urges. I wrote stories involving women like that even back in junior high and high school. Thinking back, the seed for this came from George Lucas. Thanks for introducing Princess Leia Organa to the world!

It always comes back to Star Wars, doesn’t it?
What comes next for Patrick and Anna?

Anna’s adventures are far from over! Book 2 in the series, titled ALONE IN PARADISE, is currently being edited and should be released soon. In fact, Book 3, titled ALONE IN THE CROWD, is currently being written, so we’re looking at a full-blown trilogy. In addition to the other two books, I also have a short story already available called ALONE WITH HER THOUGHTS, which is best described as a missing chapter from ALONE ON THE EDGE. I have made the short available for free wherever I could.

Thanks for stopping by today, Patrick, and best of luck with Anna’s adventures. I look forward to ALONE IN PARADISE. 

Writers are very needy types and like to know that someone, ANYONE is out there. Please don’t leave Patrick ALONE ON THE EDGE. He would love it (you have no idea how much he would love it) if you would take a minute to leave a little encouragement for him in the comment section of the page. Just click on the quote balloon up at the top or on the comment link below.

Guest Blogger Frances Pauli

On By jccasselsIn Guest Blog5 Comments

Speculative Fiction Romance author Frances Pauli decided to stop by today to celebrate Valentine’s Day with us with an irreverent and fun interview as well as a giveaway! Frances is currently on her Blog Tour, Fairies in February , which wraps up today! She’s here promoting the third book of her trilogy SPIDERS FROM MEMORY but we decided to talk about the silly things that writers don’t often get asked.


  • “Toilet paper – over or under?”

Over, but only out of pure rebellion. I had a horrid, controlling ex who insisted on under. Once I’d ditched him, it’s been over ever since. How’s that for too much information?

  • “If your characters had to help you move into a new place, what do you think that would be like?”

I write fairies. Can you imagine the chaos? Lamps would be broken, papers scattered. Don’t even get me started on the dishes. Still, the little buggers can lift a lot for their size, and there are a lot of them. I suppose if I didn’t mind my books sorted by color and my clothes hung up inside out, it might not be a bad idea.

  • “Coke or Pepsi?”

Pepsi all the way. Coke tastes like syrup. Pepsi, good. Do you remember the Pepsi challenge? Ah, the olden days. I took it many times at fairs and such. I’m a Pepsi girl nine times out of ten.

Now that is a fun scene. I’ve always loved it, not to mention the childhood crush I nurse for Dick Van Dyke’s character in Marry Poppins. But, I assume you mean the random writing prompt and the ensuing, chaotic brilliance. I’m pro penguin—fish slapping ninja or not. Random is good. It makes you stretch, twist, contort (sometimes giggle). I’m also pro writing group. Anything that keeps the brain churning and the fingers tapping is worth its weight in gold…or fish.

  • “House elf or android domestic?”

Android. First off, I couldn’t take the guilt—those sulky looks and mumbled curses. Ugh. House elves are a great idea, but an android can be programmed to do its duty with a smile. They also have more attachments and would be a better line of defense in the case of apocalypse—zombie or otherwise.

  • “What is your favorite trick for getting over being stuck while writing?”

Sex or death. Not for the reason you might think, though. I always swear if I get stuck that I must either write a sex scene or kill off a character. Since I naturally resist doing either, I rarely get stuck. The pure fear of the ultimatum hanging overhead keeps my fingers moving. I have only once had to bring said threat into play, and I’m not about to admit which I chose.

  • “What is your writing-related vice?”

Chocolate. Okay, that’s not writing related. Escapism, possibly. I tend to live in my head, in my dreams, anywhere but in my own ordinary shoes. But when it comes to rejection letters, bad reviews, good reviews, acceptance letters, deadlines or releases, I find that chocolate always manages to fit the purpose.

  • “Why Speculative Fiction? Why not historical or mystery or men’s adventure?”

I’ve read Speculative Fiction my entire life. I adore it. I’m passionate about it. I live in those worlds in my innermost imaginings. Writing anything else would be very much like writing another culture. I’d have to learn it, and even then, would I understand it fully? Could I lend it the same passion and fervor? It might be fun to try, but I think I’ll always know where home is.

  • “Who are your favorite Speculative Fiction authors?”

Andre Norton, Tanith Lee, and Patricia McKillip are my all-time top three. They moved me at a very impressionable age, opened doors to worlds that still enchant my thoughts and taught me just how fantastic speculative fiction could be. My more contemporary favorites lean toward humor (which may have something to do with getting old and jaded) I read Christopher Moore, Gregory MaGuire, and Terry Pratchett as well as a great deal of amazing fiction by authors I know personally.

  • “Jed-Head, Trekkie, or Browncoat?”

Trekkie forever. I love Star Wars (or the older half of it) and I do enjoy Firefly immensely. But my fan levels spike when anything has to do with Trek–Original, Next Gen or DS9 in particular. I’m dating myself there, but I also have an uber soft spot for the Ferengi and an appreciation for the abundance of romantic subplots in the Star Trek franchise. Also, I own a Klingon headpiece, which a woman my age should probably never admit publicly.

  • “What inspired you to create this particular romantic hero, Lockland?”

I dreamed of Lockland, actually. He showed up in trouble and in need of serious rescue. He demanded, in fact, and I had no choice to provide a story to explain and solve his predicament. I can’t resist an elf, in particular not one with long white-blond hair.

  • “Why do you feel Elizabeth is perfect for him?”

Elizabeth is perfect for Lockland primarily because she is so intensely human. She is flawed, mundane, and at the same time inherently noble. He’s fascinated with her world, and she’s devoted her life and work to protecting his. They both struggle with not fitting exactly into their people’s expectations, and they both are working for the same ideal—equality and acceptance.

  • “Do you happen to have a number where he can be reached?”

If I do, and I’m not admitting anything, I’m not going to share it. Not for all the chocolate and fairy candy in the known universe.

***

Thanks so much for having me and for the FUN questions! I am offering a free pdf of any book from my backlist to one commenter today, and for each stop on the tour that you comment on, you will earn one entry into the final drawing for print copies of all three books. Follow along and enter to win!

Frances Pauli writes speculative fiction with romantic touches. Her books are published through Mundania Press LLC, Awe-Struck, and Devine Destinies, and her short stories are featured in various anthologies. More information on her worlds and writing can be found on her website and blog, and she offers free online stories, web serials, podcasts there as well.

http://francespauli.com

http://francespauli.blogspot.com

https://twitter.com/#!/MothinDarkness

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Frances-Pauli/112884745408149

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3426477.Frances_Pauli

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A Moth in Darkness

The boundaries between the worlds have fallen. Forced to integrate the creatures of fantasy into real life, humanity struggles against its disillusionment, prejudice and an inevitable feeling of inadequacy.

Once an agent for the embassy that mediates between the worlds, Elizabeth Larson has abandoned her past and slipped into a world of nostalgic addiction to fairy revels, dancing, and the dark lure of her own memories. But when Lockland Sheen, her former partner and lover, goes missing, she is pulled reluctantly back into service. She must venture once more across the borders, into the land that haunts her, facing a string of gruesome murders, the imposing Sidhe rulers and her own addiction in the process.

While the Embassy’s agents attempt to soothe tensions between the races, Liz and her new partner search the fairy realm for Lockland. Fighting the constant temptation of the revels, they piece together the trail of an unknown enemy. But the longer they follow it, the more it appears that the man they came to rescue is more villain than victim. And the more they rely on Elizabeth’s ties to the fairies, the closer she inches toward the madness that lurks behind her fantasies.

http://www.mundania.com/book.php?title=A%20Moth%20in%20Darkness

The Fly in Paradise

Something’s rotten in the Fey lands. While Marcus Bramble tracks the lunatic who started it all, Elizabeth and the crew at the Embassy sort through the evidence he left behind. With Lockland back, and the revels behind her, Liz’s world is slowly returning to normal. But on both sides of the borders, shadow creatures spring out of nowhere, and the dark legends surrounding the fey take on a whole new meaning.

Now time is against them.  On the mortal side of things, protesters rally to close the borders, politicians descend on the Embassy, and something that shouldn’t exist stalks Elizabeth through the city.

In his world, Marcus faces a madman with answers he doesn’t want to hear. The Fey rulers turn a blind eye on forests teeming with imaginary monsters, and the Sidhe tower stands silent amidst the chaos. Will the race to uncover its secrets solve the mystery of the elves’ past or unleash even more horrors on them all?

http://www.mundania.com/book.php?title=The+Fly+in+Paradise

Spiders From Memory

The Seelie court is gone, and the Tower has fallen into darker hands. Now nightmare creatures terrorize the Fey races, and the whole Fey world turns to frost and shadow.

Liz Larson holds the last remnant of the Seelie Sidhe’s power. The elves look to her for guidance, but all she has to offer them is the disturbing story of their origin, the final truth that will turn many of them against her. With her dwindling number of allies, Liz needs to reopen the borders, to find the missing Marcus Bramble, and to avoid the sudden, terrifiying attention of the new Fey ruler, the Unseelie Speaker and new master of the Sidhe Tower.

While her friends in Mundanity race to pry open the gates, and Marcus searches for the answer to a puzzle that could save or damn them all, the Unseelie Speaker marches north, bringing his army and his wrath to focus on Elizabeth. What can one, fairy-touched human do in the face of the Unseelie court’s full fury? How can she fight when the enemy’s anger is only partly blind, when she can see all too clearly the traces of justice behind it?

http://www.mundania.com/book.php?title=Spiders+From+Memory

Guest Blogger – Jessica E. Subject – Never Gonna Let You Go

On By jccasselsIn Guest Blog9 Comments

Today’s guest blogger is Science Fiction Romance Author Jessica E. Subject. She has a hot new book out called NEVER GONNA LET YOU GO and she’s stopped by here on her blog tour to give us a sneak peek!

***

Thank you for having me today, JC! I’ve brought Erik with me, the hero from my recent release, Never Gonna Let You Go. We’re going to find out more about his mission on the foreign planet, Airondelle, and the two ladies who were there with him.

[Erik clears his throat]: You make it sound like we were the only three people on the mission, when in fact there were ten of us there from Planet Core.

Okay, well, why exactly were you sent to Airondelle?

[Erik leans back in his chair, hands behind his head]: According to PC, we were sent there to prepare Airondelle for future inhabitants.

Oh, so like an alternative to Earth?

Erik: Not exactly.

Care to explain?

[Erik looks around, his posture no longer relaxed]: No.

Okay then, can you tell us about the first time you saw Calla?

[He smiles for the first time since arriving]: My first day of school. We both lived outside of the city, away from Planet Core. She came from a well-to-do family. Me, not so much. Anyway, she’d spilt paint on her fancy dress and started crying. Some kid made fun of her, and I pushed him. First day of school, and I get sent to the office. But Calla and I have been friends ever since.

And do you love her?

[His smile widens]: You could say that?

What about Melina?

[Erik scowls. His eyes grow dark]: What about her?

Weren’t you married to her?

Erik: Apparently, but not anymore.

And how does Calla feel about that?

Erik: She’s more forgiving than I am.

Okay, I guess we’ll wrap this up. Do you care to share your future plans?

[He scans the room, again]: Sorry, can’t. Planet Core is everywhere. I’m not willing to jeopardize everyone’s safety.

And with that, he leaves.

Sorry, JC. I thought he would stay longer. Thank you for letting us visit today! J

***

LOL! It’s my pleasure – you can bring a hunk like him by anytime! It sounds like he’s got his hands full. Thanks for stopping by. I’m looking forward to NEVER GONNA LET YOU GO.

***

Caught in a tangle of lies, Calla Jacobs must sort through the truth to discover where she truly belongs. A biologist for Planet Core, she finds herself ensnared in a web of deceit. Sent to Airondelle, she must work with a team to prepare the newly discovered planet for colonists from Earth. But the mission does not go as she expected. Her former lover, Erik Edwards, shuns her, sending Calla into the arms of Melina Holloway, their commander, for the attention she craves and more. A confrontation among the trio leaves her with a broken heart, and fleeing from the two people she trusted most.
Attempting to break free from the lies that bind her, she discovers Planet Core has deceived everyone. And when she returns to Earth, Calla learns just how far Planet Core’s control reaches.

Available from Decadent Publishing and other ebook retailers.

Buy Links here: http://www.markofthestars.com/wp/?page_id=7889

Giveaway!!

As part of the Never Gonna Let You Go blog tour, Jessica is giving away a $20 gift certificate to either Amazon.com or AllRomanceEbooks.com. Simply leave a comment with your email address for your chance to WIN! Be sure to follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: http://www.markofthestars.com/wp/?page_id=8999

Jessica Subject started writing to encourage her daughter to read. Now she writes to keep herself grounded. Although she reads many genres, she enjoys writing Science Fiction Romance the most and believes everyone in the universe deserves a happily ever after. She lives Southwestern Ontario, Canada with her husband and two kids and loves to hear from anyone who has enjoyed her stories. Her debut novella, Celestial Seduction is available from Decadent Publishing.

Website/Blog: http://www.markofthestars.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/jsubject

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jessica-E-Subject-author/205759796126370

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4959083.Jessica_E_Subject

Guest Blogger – Sandra Sookoo – Fractured

On By jccasselsIn Guest Blog10 Comments

Today, I’m happy to turn over my blog to a guest, author Sandra Sookoo. Sandra has a new book out that is a really fascinating new take on something very old – Fairy Tales. We’re not talking about anything as mundane as modern fairy tales, though. We’re talking about re-imagined fairy tales with a Science Fiction twist. That’s just what FRACTURED is all about. So here to tell us all about her new book, and the giveaway that she’s planned, is author Sandra Sookoo.

***

Thanks for allowing me to visit your blog today!

Hi, I’m Sandra Sookoo, and I have an addiction to happily ever afters.

That’s what draws me to writing and reading romance, knowing that after all the drama and trials the hero and heroine will have to overcome, I know there’s always going to be a happy ending.  Is it always traditional?  Not by a long shot, especially in some of my own work, but sometimes happy endings don’t always end with walking into the sunset or everyone watching shooting stars.

But I still cling to a deep love of fairy tales—although not the overly sweet ones.

When Liquid Silver Books announced their Silver Slippers call for reworked fairy tales, I was in the seventh heaven of delight.  Can you imagine?  My very own chance to put a stamp on the fairy tale world?  To have the opportunity to shake up beloved tales in my own way?  I couldn’t wait to get started.  I’d already had a reimagined fairy tale (which came out last December) call Wishful Thinking hit the virtual shelves, but I needed more.

But wait…  I wanted a different spin on things.  I didn’t want the same old blah, blah, blah.  So I plotted and planned.  I thought putting a sci-fi edge on the story would be good and making the heroine a blood-sucking alien would be even better.  Oh, the hurdles my hero and heroine would need to overcome.

Then I was surprised by my editor during edits when she mentioned the fairy tale she thought I’d re-imagined.  I had no conscious knowledge of that, but looking back, I can totally see it.  I mashed together two fairy tales into this retelling.  I guess that’s what happens when I have fairy tales in my blood.  What’s the second one you ask?  Ah, you’ll need to pick up a copy of the book and see if you can tell!

You can almost hear the wicked laughter in the background, huh?  I had the greatest fun writing FRACTURED.

Here’s the blurb:  What happens when beauty is the beast?

Major Rick Keenan has a near-impossible mission: repair his broken shuttle, rescue a missing crew member and get off an almost-dead planet.  Angry that the U.S. is discontinuing the space program, he wants to find a discovery that will revise the government’s position.  Unfortunately, that discovery might just kill him.

Marin is one of the last of her people.  Forced to flee to the planet in her childhood, she’s kept herself hidden away in darkness, safe in a castle-like fortress, only coming out when she needs to feed–from human blood.  Convinced she’ll never fit in, she shuns all contact, yet taking Rick hostage as a food source chips away at her perceptions.

Though their differences threaten to tear them apart, their humanity binds them together.  In a world where only the strong and determined survive, does a happily ever after stand a chance?

Book video:  

Now for a short excerpt.  In this snippet, the hero Rick and his teammate have just encountered a welcoming party from the planet they’ve landed on.

“I am Sharn. This is my daughter, Elisa. Welcome to Oolita, the village of the damned.” The man rubbed a shaking hand along his forehead.

“Damned?” Rick narrowed his eyes. “How do you figure?” He made another sweep of the medieval-style village and assessed his hosts’ period clothing. This planet’s not as advanced as Earth. Fantastic. Won’t be able to grab some guys from the village to help with repairs.

Elisa took a step forward. “There are beings who hunt these woods. If we do not bring them offerings or they are not interested in what we give, they come to kill. The victim is drained of blood and left as a soulless shell.”

What could you say to that? He glanced at Reigen. “Well, that doesn’t sound good.”

Sharn laid a hand on his daughter’s shoulder. “Forgive Elisa. The stories still fascinate her. The monsters have not come to the village for months.”

“Maybe they found a new hunting ground.” Reigen shifted his weight from foot to foot.

“No. It is said after they feed, they are satisfied for days before the need arises again and there are many villages scattered in the jungle.”

Rick shook his head. “Be that as it may, we’re here for a couple of things. First, do you have any idea where we can find one of these?” He reached into a pocket on his utility vest and pulled out a flat, square crystal, holding it up for Sharn to see. “We’re also missing a crew member. He’d be wearing clothes like us. Have you seen him?”

Sharn shook his head. “Anything we find of value we take to the ackarn orcha.”

“And that means?”

“Place of death or place of infinite sorrow. Both are interchangeable.” Sharn crossed his arms over his chest, hiding his hands in the robe’s wide sleeves. “We have not seen a man such as you. If he is lost, the monsters may have taken him.”

“Thanks.” Rick tapped his thumb on his weapon. “Any idea how long it takes to get to this place of death?”

Elisa gasped. “Two hours on foot, but no one goes there without an offering.”

“I never did believe in monsters.” Rick shrugged and nodded to his teammate. “We’ll just have to wing it and pray the ‘monster’ will go for my boyish charm.” He chuckled at the joke, but when the villagers merely stared at him, he sighed. “Okay, obviously stand-up comedy is before your time.”

All Romance e-books:  http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-fractured-668700-143.html

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Fractured-ebook/dp/B006V4Y63Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1326067754&sr=8-1

Liquid Silver Books:  http://www.king-cart.com/cgi-bin/cart.cgi?store=linda018&product_name=Fractured&return_page=&user-id=&password=&exchange=&exact_match=exact

Want to connect with Sandra?  Find her here:

Website:  http://www.sandrasookoo.com

Believing is Seeing blog:  http://sandrasookoo.wordpress.com/

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/sandrasookoo

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/sandra.sookoo

Giveaway:  One random commenter will receive book swag (bookmarks, postcards, etc) plus a cute little fairy tale themed necklace.  This giveaway is open to US residents and Canada only.  Please leave your contact information.  Winner will be drawn January 25th.

No Limits

Jenna McCormick – No Limits – Guest Blogger

On By jccasselsIn Guest Blog24 Comments

No Limits

I’m happy to turn my blog over to Science Fiction Romance Author Jenna McCormick today. Jenna has a new book out called NO LIMITS published by Kensington Aphrodisia. It’s a departure from her B Cubed Series and I love the world she’s created!

Jenna, tell us about the relationships you’ve created in NO  LIMITS…

***

Thanks so much to Cali for hosting me here as part of the No Limits Blog Tour!

When writing futuristic erotic romance, I have to keep reminding myself that no matter how many cool gadgets I think up, no matter how stellar a battle scene is, what’s going to really help the reader connect are the personal relationships. Obviously in erotic romance physical intimacy is a huge chunk of the story, but I’m going to talk about another kind of relationship in my new release No Limits. Family relationships.

Genevieve Luzon is a heroine who lives in the shadow of her formidable telepathic grandmother, Cora.  And when I say Cora is a telepath what I mean is she is THE telepath. Cora can pick a thought out of anyone’s head from miles away and even though she’s over one hundred years of age, she’s sharp as a tack and still a total spitfire.

Gen has developed a policy of total honesty, because let’s face it, lying to someone who can read your mind is not too bright. And Cora respects her granddaughter enough to respond in kind, which results in some very unique conversations.

***

Excerpt No Limits by Jenna McCormick

Cora picked up on the first ring, vid screen blocked, of course. “Genevieve Luzon, don’t think I’m so damned old that I can’t turn you over my knee and—”

“Sorry, Nana. I didn’t mean to worry you.”

Cora’s tone turned sly. “Who said anything about worry? I want to know how tricks are going. Have you gotten your groove on yet?”

“Um, yeah, about that. The situation is sort of complicated.” Gen put extra emphasis on the word, hoping Cora would probe her mind and find out all the gritty details. She really didn’t want to say it all out loud over a traceable line. Maybe Rhys did have her believing in some of his conspiracy theories.

Unfortunately, Cora wasn’t tuned in to her frequency. “How on earth can sexual relations with professionals be complicated? I thought you were working for Alison, the whole secret shopper gig. You aren’t running around telling all the man whores about that, are you? Because you know when I was an undercover agent….” Nana rambled on but Gen stopped listening. Usually she loved Cora’s wild tales of the bad old days, how she and Gramps had teamed up to fight a secret government task force but right now she was too preoccupied to hear about how Nana had saved the world. Again.

Damn it, of all times for Cora to be more interested in herself than what was doing with Gen. “I’ve been learning all sorts of stuff.”  Come on Nana, read between the lines.

Unfortunately Cora’s mind had wandered too deep into the gutter outside la la land to pick up on her granddaughter’s cues. “What kind of stuff? Oh, do they offer samples? Or maybe a senior citizen discount—”

“Not gonna happen,” Jack called from the background.

***

See what I mean? Unique. Can you imagine discussing your sex life with your grandmother in such detail? Then again how many of our grandmothers are government trained telepaths?

***

I do see what you mean. I don’t even want to think about how that discussion would have gone with my grandmother (shudder).

Thanks, Jenna! I really appreciate your stopping by to share your new book with us! Best of luck with your blog tour!

Make sure you comment below to be entered to win a Kindle FIRE, courtesy of Jenna McCormick! For more information on the rules for the giveaway, click on the tour banner or the link at the bottom.

Be sure to get your copy of NO LIMITS wherever books are sold!

No Limits

No Limits

Jenna McCormick

Now Available for Kindle, Nook, and wherever books are sold.

All Genevieve Luzon wants is to be loved by one man, a seemingly impossible task in New-New York City at the start of the twenty second century. Sure, she can buy sex as easily as order a pizza on a Friday night, but finding a forever kind of love among her self-centered peers is no easy feat for the unemployed off-world vacation coordinator. When an old friend offers her the position of secret shopper to test out the male prostitutes, Gen can’t think of a good reason to refuse. Hell, if she can’t find Mr. Right, she might as well try on a sampler of Mr. Right Nows.

Yet the perks of her new position don’t compare to the strange attraction she has, not for one of the prostitutes, but a candle that seems to warm places of her she never knew existed. When a man appears out of the flame, Gen is sure she’s found the one. Rhys is an empath, made a slave by the Illustra Corporation and he’s everything Gen could ever want. Except available. Because Rhys is on a mission. One that might claim his life. He must try to free his people, consequences be damned. Now, Gen must choose between turning her back on the only man she’s ever loved and the monumental task he has set for himself. Should she risk her life fighting a war hidden from polite society against those who wish to control us all?

Is love really worth fighting for?

No Limits Blog Tour

Join me for the No Limits Blog Tour and a chance to win a KINDLE FIRE!