2012

On July 13, 2012July 13, 2012 By jccasselsIn Black Wing Chronicles, SFFS15 Comments

Welcome to Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday. On the surface, it’s a web ring of authors who post snippets of their work for comment. In reality, it’s a close-knit group of friends and colleagues working together to support and encourage one another and promote the science fiction and fantasy genres.

This week’s snippet is a departure from SOVRAN’S PAWN. Don’t worry. We aren’t going far. I’ve been hard at work on Book Two of THE BLACK WING CHRONICLES, tentatively titled THE WATCHTOWER. Still in the first draft stage it’s nearly ready for the endless revisions to begin. Here is your first look:

***

When he had her arm immobilized against her body, he pulled her to her feet once more. “Come on.”

“Did you have any trouble?” she asked.

“I got it,” he said. “Next time, I’m the diversion and you go after the package, deal?”

Bo smiled to herself and tightened her grip on his hand as she followed him down the steep slope. “Have you seen what he hired for security?” she asked. “There’s no way I would have ever passed for one of them. You’re more the type which is why I contacted you.”

“Here I thought you missed me,” he said lightly.

***

Well, that’s the Saturday Snippet for this week! If you’ve enjoyed following this little serialized scene week after week, I have the complete scene posted under my Works In Progress tab up at the top, or you can go directly to it by clicking HERE.

Next week, we’re moving on to something else.

Please don’t forget to comment by clicking on either the blog title or the little quotation balloon in the upper right hand corner. Tell your friends. Stop back here next week for another!

***

If you’re interested in more about:

SOVRAN’S PAWN

United by extortion, divided by duty, someone wants them both dead. They want each other. The catch is, nothing is what it seems…

Convicted of treason and sentenced to be executed, Bo Barron is the last person who should be infiltrating a Sub-socia weapons auction. But when her father is kidnapped and the ransom demand is the schematics to an experimental weapon, she has no choice but to go under cover with her uncle to get it.

Nobody counted on former-government-agent-turned-holofeature-hero Blade Devon’s infatuation with her. A botched assassination under the guise of a bar brawl leaves Bo blind and Blade wondering if there isn’t more to this job than he was led to believe.

Never able to resist playing the hero, Blade tends her injuries and delves deeper into the intrigue only to find this mission isn’t about a weapon at all. It’s about two Sovrans’ maneuvering for control, with Bo and Blade as their pawns.

All Bo and Blade have to do is figure out how to survive the game they didn’t know they were playing.

The proof copy arrived today!

On July 12, 2012July 11, 2012 By jccasselsIn Black Wing Chronicles8 Comments

When I saw the key sitting in my PO box, I stood there with my heart pounding. I was only expecting one parcel in the mail: my proof copy of SOVRAN’S PAWN. My hands were shaking. I snatched that key out and skipped around the corner to the parcel boxes. It took me six tries to get the key in the lock!

It’s a good thing the PO was closed when I got there because I let out a SHRIEK that would have alarmed several people and likely have drawn the attention of the local constabulary.

I raced to the car, pulled out my phone and started taking pictures of the box! Then I realized what I needed was pictures of the BOOK!!

Once I got over the initial squeeing, I drove straight to my mom’s to show her. Yes, I immediately regressed to being four-years-old with a crayon scribble in my hand. I handed her the book and said “Mama!! See what I made?? Put it on the frigerator!!” Which only goes to prove that you’re never too old to want to show off the pretty things you make to your mom.

There are a few changes that need to be made before the paperback version of SOVRAN’S PAWN winds up in your hands, but it looks like everything is a go for August 1st!

I hope I remembered to lock my PO box back…

Leaving A Light On For Sovran’s Pawn

On July 10, 2012 By jccasselsIn Black Wing Chronicles, Update, Writing7 Comments

While involved in a writer’s discussion several weeks ago, the topic turned to music as inspiration for our writing. I was relieved to find out that I wasn’t alone in listening to music to help me get in the mood to write certain scenes. What I found fascinating was the wide range of musical tastes and genres preferred by the different writers. Some of their choices surprised me, but knowing their books, I could see the influence the songs brought into play.

I started writing BARRON’S LAST STAND first to the soundtrack of artists like Great Big Sea, Dropkick Murphys, and Flogging Molly. SOVRAN’S PAWN was originally part of my backstory notes for what I’d planned as a stand alone novel ~ a last desperate bid at publication. From the first moments Bo Barron and Blade Devon strolled across my imagination, I’d always planned to tell their story as a series. After nearly 30 years, delays caused by personal crises and multiple rejections from agents and publishers, I was almost ready to give up. BARRON’S LAST STAND was in actuality what the title suggests.

A submission call from an editor I admire and wanted to work with came out last October. BARRON’S LAST STAND was nowhere near completion, but I had enough of the backstory written to cobble together a novella. I toyed with the idea for weeks while continuing work on BARRON’S LAST STAND. It wasn’t until a spate of family tragedies hit that I turned to the goal of completing and submitting a novella to escape my own emotional turmoil. I needed a realistic challenge to regain a sense of control over my life and my situation.

With apologies to BARRON’S LAST STAND, I set it aside and threw myself headlong into SOVRAN’S PAWN.

It was about that same time that my husband took me to St. Augustine to see one of my favorite bands in concert supporting their new CD, released six months prior. The band is Duran Duran and the CD they were supporting is ALL YOU NEED IS NOW. As the band who provided much of the soundtrack for my misspent youth, I’ve always found a measure of inspiration in their often obscure lyrics and their haunting melodies. That night was no exception. I came away from the concert as inspired as I had been the night I drove home from their STRANGE BEHAVIOUR tour back in the late 80’s.

The title track touched a responsive chord in my soul and with this CD as my soundtrack, I attacked SOVRAN’S PAWN with an optimism I hadn’t expected to find. One track on my playlist kept returning to haunt me ~ LEAVE A LIGHT ON. The song captured for me the very essence of theme of the book as well as the relationship between Bo and Blade; and I played the hell out of it. Before I knew it, my novella became a full-length novel and I completed it in record time.

***

ALL YOU NEED IS NOW started out without a record label as a labor of love and a leap of faith by Duran Duran. I’d followed their progress on social media and was impressed with the grassroots way they rallied their fan base. By the time the tracks hit iTunes in December 2010, they had generated enough buzz to warrant a CD release, a music video and now a concert tour they’ve been on for more than a year.

Inspired by their faith in their own project, and the fact they recorded, released and now support it on their own terms, I decided not to submit SOVRAN’S PAWN to a publisher who wouldn’t have as much at stake, nor be as emotionally invested in the project as I would be. I followed the example Duran Duran set and I’ve published independently, on my own terms. I’m not sure I would have had the courage to do so without witnessing the painstaking progress of ALL YOU NEED IS NOW.

I didn’t set out to link my book to this CD, or to Duran Duran. It just happened that way. I’m so very glad it did.

Thanks guys!

Book Review: KEIR by Pippa Jay

On July 9, 2012June 23, 2012 By jccasselsIn Book ReviewLeave a comment

From the first scene I was hooked. I found myself rooting for Keir before I knew his story. The author weaves a sympathetic tale following tortured souls through a life-changing adventure. Her light touch keeps the characters easily relatable without ever dissolving into schmaltz.

Quin is an engaging heroine whose self-assurance, ingenuity and desire to help others immediately establishes her as a heroine of epic proportions. Keir is almost an anti-hero whose journey of self-discovery takes him to the darkest reaches of his own nature and eventually leads him to the hero within himself.

Together, they travel through time and space and save each other. This is a sweet love story woven through an epic adventure.

With shades of Doctor Who, Time Bandits, and LadyHawke, Keir is a different kind of SF romance that will leave you sighing long after you’ve closed the book.

The Paperbacks are Coming!!

On July 8, 2012 By jccasselsIn Black Wing Chronicles, Update1 Comment

I am waiting on the proof copy of SOVRAN’S PAWN in paperback to arrive.

The release of the paperback edition of SOVRAN’S PAWN has been delayed due to illness and other unforeseen circumstances. However, the long-awaited email announcing the shipment of the first proof copy of the book has arrived, telling me to expect to receive my copy any time within the next week or two.

If everything passes muster, look for SOVRAN’S PAWN in paperback by August 1, 2012!!

THE WATCHTOWER #SFFSat Snippet for 07/07/2012

On July 6, 2012June 29, 2012 By jccasselsIn Black Wing Chronicles, SFFS18 Comments

***

“Can you lift your arm?” he asked softly.

“No,” she whispered. “I thought I felt something tear when I landed.”

His hands moved along her neck and collarbone. “I need a medical scanner,” he said softly. “Wait here.”

Before she could ask where he was going, he’d slipped back into the shadows. Straining to listen for any sounds to indicate where he had gone, she was surprised when he soundlessly appeared behind her.

“Don’t mind the blood,” he said offhandedly. Working quickly, he fashioned a sling for her from a black piece of material.

***

Well, that’s the Saturday Snippet for this week! Please don’t forget to comment by clicking on either the blog title or the little quotation balloon in the upper right hand corner. Tell your friends. Stop back here next week for another!

***

If you’re interested in more about:

SOVRAN’S PAWN

United by extortion, divided by duty, someone wants them both dead. They want each other. The catch is, nothing is what it seems…

All Bo and Blade have to do is figure out how to survive the game they didn’t know they were playing.

BRAVE

On July 4, 2012June 28, 2012 By jccasselsIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

I took my four-year-old daughter to see the Disney/Pixar film BRAVE this afternoon. At my husband’s urging we went on a Mommy/Daughter day out. There were several reasons my husband knew we’d love it:

It’s set in Scotland.
The main character is a fiery, unconventional young woman.
A GIRL is proficient with sword and bow.
Both my daughter and I were riveted by the previews.

One of the things I love about science fiction is that it’s one of the first genres to open up to the idea of the warrior woman. In fantasy, warrior women were six foot Amazons of the type parodied by Jim Carey in the old TV show “In Living Color.” Science fiction opened the door to smart, savvy women who can outfight, outfly, and outshoot any average man, while still hanging on to her femininity. As a petite woman myself with a sword and a shoe weakness, that is what I liked about Merida.

The fiery-haired young princess, much to her mother’s annoyance, would prefer to be flying across the countryside on her trusty horse “Angus,” rather than learning comportment and manners and other “useless” skills.

Both my daughter and I (each with older brothers to keep up with) can relate to Merida’s lament. The boys got to have all the fun and excitement, while my mother expected me to “be a lady.” Being demure, calm and ladylike was never in my nature. In my rambunctious household, the only way to respond to being pushed was to push back harder. The only way to be heard over the noise was to get louder. The only way to get what I wanted was to go after it myself. I felt like an utter failure my entire childhood until, like Merida, I rebelled. My little girl is very like Merida…and me. She would rather plan her future as a Pink Ninja, saving the world with a sword in one hand, a ray gun in the other. She’d like to look chic and girly while doing it, so she’ll wear pink body armor, thank-you-very-much.

I love that Disney has finally given me a princess that I can relate to. Over the decades, Disney’s princesses have gone from being hand-wringing victims, sweet and helpless, waiting for Prince Charming to show up and rescue her from the evil machinations of those who would do her harm, to the fiery and independent young woman who is willing to defy her mother and fight for the right to choose her own fate, with bow and arrow if need be. Merida is the first Disney princess I really would like to see my daughter want to emulate.

Like many independent-minded, unconventional young ladies, Merida brings her problems on herself. However, she also quickly realizes what she’s done and she sets out with the same single-minded determination to put things right… on her own. In the process, Merida learns that some of the lessons her mother had been trying so hard to impart are, in fact, quite important and useful. Once Merida is able to tame her own independent streak, she redefines her priorities and makes amends with her mother. Once the two women, more alike than not, stop trying to force their own way on the other, each finds a new respect for the other. Merida proves herself the essence of the woman her mother wants her to be, but on her own terms.

For a firebrand with a fiercely independent streak, facing life on your own terms with the support of your loved ones is what it’s all about.

To my daughter, Brave is a fun movie that she thoroughly enjoyed as she watched from her Mama’s lap, snuggling and cuddling through the scary parts and dancing and waving her imaginary sword during the swashbuckling bits. When it comes out on DVD, she’ll watch it endlessly.

I wonder if she’ll want a Merida costume for Halloween this year.

Book Review: EVEN VILLAINS FALL IN LOVE by Liana Brooks

On July 2, 2012June 23, 2012 By jccasselsIn Book ReviewLeave a comment

I HAVE A CRUSH ON DOCTOR CHARM!!

At first I wasn’t sure what to make of a superhero romance, but within the first few sentences, I was hooked!

I am sorry to say that I am not immune to Doctor Charm’s… uh… charm. In fact the entire story was completely charming! If the premise of a superhero falling for a supervillain isn’t enough to intrigue you, throw in four absolutely adorable little girls, a smattering of genetically engineered minions, and then blur the line between good guys and bad guys and you have the start of EVEN VILLAINS FALL IN LOVE.

I found myself rooting for Evan and his quest to repair his marriage and win back his superhero wife Tabitha (Zephyr Girl.)It’s not your ordinary romance by any stretch. It’s MUCH better.

If you haven’t read this one yet, you owe it to yourself to do so IMMEDIATELY!!! (As I turn up my Agree-With-Me Ray.)

THE WATCHTOWER #SFFSat snippet for 06/30/2012

On June 29, 2012June 27, 2012 By jccasselsIn Black Wing Chronicles, SFFS15 Comments

***

After an interminable few minutes, Blade eased silently out of the shadows. He lifted the mask that concealed his face, just enough to kiss her.

“You were snoring,” he whispered in her ear. He pulled away before she could reply, resettling the mask over his face, but not before Bo saw his lopsided grin.

Shaking her head, she took his hand and let him help her to her feet. His arm slid around her for support, but when he touched her left shoulder, she tensed and swallowed her cry of pain. He froze, then eased her back onto the rock. Working quickly, he stripped off his gloves and tucked them into his pockets, then ran his hands over her, gently probing, checking for the nature of her injury. When his wandering fingers touched her shoulder, her breath caught sharply. His hands stilled briefly, then more purposefully, probed the tender area.

***

If you’re interested in more about:

SOVRAN’S PAWN

United by extortion, divided by duty, someone wants them both dead. They want each other. The catch is, nothing is what it seems…

All Bo and Blade have to do is figure out how to survive the game they didn’t know they were playing.

What Do Writers Read Over the Summer?

On June 26, 2012 By jccasselsIn Book Review4 Comments

Did you ever wonder what writers read when they curl up with a good book? My friends have asked me to share my Summer Reading List with them. As a fan of SF (science fiction) and M (mystery), there is a lot of it on my list, most of it R (romance), but not all of it.

Last time I gave you the list of books on my Kindle for Summer Reading, this time, I give you books I’ve read and HIGHLY recommend. These are some of my favorite new releases and some old favorites I go back to again and again.

Click on the book title for the Amazon sales link:

KEIR by Pippa Jay (SFR)