2012 – Barron’s Last Stand

On January 13, 2012March 21, 2014 By jccasselsIn SFFS27 Comments

Response from Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday was so overwhelmingly positive that I decided to post a total of three snippets from the same scene from BARRON’S LAST STAND for last week and this week’s installments. As you may recall, the idea is to feature a snippet of your work for others to enjoy.

Our heroine Bo Barron, has just taken her ship into hyperspace following a successful prison break that she was hired to manage. Unknown to her, along with her paid passenger, her estranged husband, Blade Devon, (a government operative also being held at the prison,) followed her and stowed away aboard her ship. Last time, she had just discovered him in her engine room. After hearing him out and extorting an outrageous fee out of him in exchange for passage on her ship, she’s escorting him, at gunpoint, to his quarters where she intends that will be locked in for the duration of the voyage.

***

Admiration shone in his eyes. With no other option, he reluctantly entered his quarters. Hands still on his head, he turned to face her. “Don’t I even get a good-night kiss?” he asked, his eyes settled briefly on her mouth.

Her breath caught and before she could stop herself, she lightly chewed on her bottom lip. She started to lean towards him, caught in his steel blue gaze, but hesitated when the memory flooded back. He’d made his choice and it hadn’t been her.

“Good night, Agent Devon,” she said.

He glanced briefly at the blaster in her hand, then a genuine smile quirked his lips. “For the record, Bo, I’m not your ex-husband. Kah Lahtrec doesn’t allow for divorce.”

***

You can find a brief summary of BARRON’S LAST STAND, along with a link to a longer excerpt on the Works In Progress page. It is, as the page suggests, a work in progress

Jenna McCormick – No Limits – Guest Blogger

On January 11, 2012 By jccasselsIn Guest Blog24 Comments

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

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?

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

The Power of Penguins

On January 9, 2012January 9, 2012 By jccasselsIn Uncategorized1 Comment

Penguins are silly looking birds. Flightless waterfowl often lampooned. A tuxedo has been called a “Penguin suit.” Nuns have been called “Penguins.” In “Mary Poppins,” Dick Van Dyke danced with them.

And who will ever forget Berkeley Breathed’s infamous Opus The Penguin from the Bloom County comic strip? He was an insecure, neurotic mess addicted to home shopping channels, 900 numbers and on an eternal quest to find his mother. Documentaries and musicals have starred them. In the animated Madagascar, they stole the show. There are even popular children’s television shows about them, The Penguins of Madagascar and 3-2-1 Penguins!

So when I was talking about the silliness of writers in facing both a deadline and blocked creativity, it only seemed natural for me use penguins to illustrate how to get past the block. Yes, when I reached a block on my NaNoWriMo, I used them.

At this point I have no earthly idea why Birdie is calling, but I really do think it’s time for some fish-slapping penguins to shimmy down a drainpipe. Three of the formally dressed, flightless waterfowl drop down unexpectedly, one is wearing a silly pointed had that looks like something a Catholic Bishop would wear to mass. The three little fellows break into a line dance.“Oh my,” thought Bittsy. “Can they really shake tail feathers? Do penguins even have tail feathers?”

So the dancing penguins manage a jaunty sashay to the thumpin’ mix before the one in the middle (which inexplicably has a beard and moustache) breaks out what appears to be a herring. He (presumably it’s a he, it is rather difficult to tell, but the beard is rather suggestive of maleness) turns and begins slapping the herring on the floor, much to Bittsy’s dismay. “I’ve just had those floors cleaned,” she protested. “Now they’ll smell of fish for weeks!”

The penguin merely winked at her and continued a rather lascivious dance with the herring before turning and slapping the penguin with the pointy hat in the face repeatedly. The hat wearing penguin doffed his odd cap and withdrew his own fish, a rainbow trout from the looks of it, and commenced to walloping his compadre with it. The third penguin, too preoccupied shaking his tail feathers to notice the antics of the other two (and yes, they do have tail feathers) did not see the catfish aimed at his face until too late.

With a naughty wink and a suggestive hip shimmy, the bearded penguin wielded the herring and the catfish like nunchucks, with surprising skill.

“Hmm,” said Bittsy. “Ninja penguins. How odd.”

I had no idea that my silly suggestion of fish slapping Ninja Penguins would spark such a surge of equal silliness among my fellow writers. In the online writing group to which I belong, “Penguins!” has become the battle cry for pushing past blocks and finding the joy in writing again.

So I urge you, one and all, when life seems to have you stymied, consider Fish Slapping Ninja Penguins as an answer. A little insanity every now and then can be just what the doctor ordered.

SFFS 1/7/2012 – Barron’s Last Stand

On January 6, 2012March 21, 2014 By jccasselsIn SFFS17 Comments

Response from the last Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday was so overwhelmingly positive that I decided to post a total of three snippets from the same scene from BARRON’S LAST STAND for this week and next week’s installments. As you may recall, the idea is to feature a snippet of your work for others to enjoy.

Our heroine Bo Barron, has just taken her ship into hyperspace following a successful prison break that she was hired to manage. Unknown to her, along with her paid passenger, her estranged husband, Blade Devon, (a government operative also being held at the prison,) followed her and stowed away aboard her ship. Last time, she had just discovered him in her engine room. He has offered to pay her for his passage. Knowing that she has him between a rock and a hard place, Bo sees an opportunity for payback.

***

He gaped at her. “One point two mill?” he said, incredulously. “For an extra passenger?”

“For an ex-husband.” She smiled. “If you don’t like the price, you’re welcome to leave. I will be happy to escort you to the airlock.”

He shook his head. “You’re a pirate, you know that?”

“You’re a stowaway,” she shot back. “I’m within my rights if I shoot you now.”

***

You can find a brief summary of BARRON’S LAST STAND, along with a link to a longer excerpt on the Works In Progress page. It is, as the page suggests, a work in progress

Coming Soon To A Blog Near You

On January 5, 2012 By jccasselsIn Update1 Comment

January is already shaping up to be a busy month here at Gotta Name My Blog. Keep on the lookout for the snippets to pick up where they left off this Saturday as I once again participate in Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday (SFFS). I already have my snippet picked out, and it picks up later in the same scene from BARRON’S LAST STAND between Bo and Blade. Does she shoot him, or doesn’t she?

Also this month I’ll be hosting guest bloggers, Jenna McCormick on January 12 and Sandra Sookoo on January 23. Jenna will be talking about her recent release, NO LIMITS, a futuristic erotic romance, and you’ll have a chance to win a Kindle FIRE. Sandra will be talking about FRACTURED, her hot new science fiction romance, scheduled for release on January 9.

Can you think of a better way to keep warm as winter rolls across the Northern Hemisphere than with these two steamy books? Neither can I. So don’t be left out of the fun!

Welcome to 2012

On January 2, 2012January 3, 2012 By jccasselsIn Uncategorized2 Comments

The New Year dawns crisp and cold. The last two weeks have been filled with family and food, good conversation around a bonfire underneath a starry sky so bright and clear that the Milky Way looked close enough to cause a hazard to astrogation.

For me, the year ended on a high note with the completion of the second draft of the Space Opera Romance novella THE TENNOVA JOB, the first installment in the series featuring Commander Bo Barron and Inner Circle Agent-turned-holofeature-hero Blade Devon.

To celebrate, I’m offering a link to an excerpt from BARRON’S FALL, a bonus short piece about Bo Barron’s infamous trial and conviction of treason for the Frostfire Massacre. Enjoy!

SFFS – Barron’s Last Stand

On December 16, 2011March 21, 2014 By jccasselsIn SFFS25 Comments

What better way to kick off this blog than with a snippet from BARRON’S LAST STAND for Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday? The idea is to feature a snippet of your work for others to enjoy. In that spirit, I welcome you to my blog and offer this tiny teaser for your amusement.

***

With a sound mental shake, Bo tightened her grip on her blaster and clenched her jaw. He did not get to swagger back into her life as if nothing had happened.

“On your knees!” she snarled. “Now! Keep your hands where I can see them!”

“Now, love, let’s not do anything hasty,” Blade said calmly as he obeyed.

“Don’t worry. Anything I do to you I’ve been thinking about doing for a long time.”

***

You can find a brief summary of BARRON’S LAST STAND, along with a link to a longer excerpt on the Works In Progress page. It is, as the page suggests, a work in progress. Provided there are no more world-shattering crises, the finished manuscript should be in the hands of eager publishers and agents by the end of January.

Full Circle

On October 2, 2011November 27, 2011 By jccasselsIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

I have a love/hate relationship with writing. That’s probably why I’ve put off really knuckling down and getting back to “serious” work for so many years. My husband will probably tell you that I have a love/hate relationship with just about everything that’s important to me in life. Why should writing be any different?

There’s no end to the satisfaction I get when I can communicate an idea, or bring a past moment to life for someone else to experience and enjoy. When it goes right, it’s a thing of beauty. Unfortunately, there is so much more to the process that is tedious, frustrating, or outright BORING!

I often daydream how nice it would be to sit down at my computer and begin spinning a wonderful story from start to finish and have it end up completely brilliant the first time through. It only works that way in movies and books. The process of writing isn’t too far removed from sewing, or any other construction process for that matter.

First you start out with an idea of what you want to produce. That’s the LOVE part: coming up with ideas! That’s when the tedium begins. Once you have your brilliant idea, you have to plan how to bring it from your mind to the table where everyone can enjoy it. The HATE part starts there. I’m a perfectionist. I also hate duplicating effort.

After the idea, you need a plan. You can’t have a finished product without a pattern to follow. You have to figure out your materials, your notions, the trim work. You have to lay it out, place the pattern pieces. Cut them out. If you’re really doing it right you try it out in muslin first so you can fit it and adjust the pattern for fit without risking your material. This is where the outline and the summary come in. Does the story work?

The actual WRITING part of writing, much like the sewing part of sewing, is a very small part of the process. The problem here is that this part of the work looks like so much loafing and work-avoidance. That illusion isn’t helped by the fact that when you run into a dead end in your plot, you actually do tend to loaf and avoid work while the snarl works itself out in your subconscious. At least, that’s what I tell myself.

In theory, if you do all the right prep work, whatever your project is will write itself… right? WRONG! Make no mistake, writing is a lonely, masochistic life of self-denial and self-flagellation. If you’re lucky (and talented) you *might* be able to make a paltry living at it.

For some reason, it’s easier for me to enjoy the process of sewing much more than I enjoy the process of writing preparation. I suppose it’s because I don’t feel the need to reinvent the wheel when sewing.

Writing is most likely going to take over the topic of my blogs more and more as I sink deeper into the morass of a writer’s life and writer’s habits. The more I look at its impact on my life, I wonder if writing is more of an addiction than anything else. I walked away for more than a decade and actually lived my life and didn’t think about stories and plot and pacing… much. But I can see the shift already.

My world is changing again and I already miss my non-writer days. My Chick-Fil-A compatriots are all finding gainful employment now that our children are no longer babies or toddlers, but preschoolers and older. We have less time to sit and be commiserating moms. It’s only natural that we go back to what we all know. They are teaching — and I – like it or not, I have come full circle. I am writing again.