Rebecca Enzor's Blog, page 4
July 9, 2019
Happy Book Birthday to Finn and Erie!
Last night *coughsEarlyThisMorningcoughs* I got all sentimental on the blog because SPEAK THE OCEAN is out today!
I had a post planned with all the buy links, but the printer is behind because of the holiday weekend, so…you can’t actually buy it anywhere except Kindle and Smashwords right now.
For those of you waiting on the paperback, it should be ready soon! I’ll let you know when the printer has caught up and you can buy it in paperback form 
July 8, 2019
Speak the Ocean
It’s July 9th, which means it’s the launch day of my debut novel, Speak the Ocean.
It’s been a long road here. StO started as a gender-bent YA with a boy who couldn’t speak because he was always wearing a snorkel. It wasn’t a horrible idea, but it didn’t spark anything in me, either. It was a beginning, based on a really cool science story about a petrified forest of tree stumps in the Gulf of Mexico. I couldn’t make it work, so I started writing it from end to beginning, using my background in fisheries biology, and that’s when it finally sparked.
When I saw the documentary, BLACKFISH, about Orcas forced to perform for human entertainment, it had a profound effect on me. It took me three days to watch, because I kept crying so hard I had to stop it. And all I could think about was: “What if they looked more human? Would we care then?”
But mermaid myths throughout the ages do give a glimpse into our psyche of “different is deadly”, and real world events do give a glimpse into how far we’ll go to deny humanity to anyone we decide isn’t human.
And you can’t argue that humans value entertainment over everything.
Even I still want to swim with dolphins someday.
So, today is a long way from where I started: a boy who thought he saw a tarpon stuck in a net. That “tarpon”-mermaid showed him a petrified forest that doesn’t exist anymore, but used to millennia ago.
And then Erie showed both Finn and me how to be better humans than we were.
While ripping people’s necks out.
They deserved it.
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My next post will have all the buy-links and such, but for now: Speak the Ocean. Speak the Land. Speak the Air.
Don’t be silent about what matters to you.
And absolutely, 100%, Humanize the Mer.
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July 1, 2019
Memorial for a Moose-Cat
Muskellunge “Muskie” Enzor
June 5, 2007 – June 24th, 2019
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To the kitten who pushed his way out of the kennel, chased after a bug, ate it, then hacked it back up. We knew you were ours.
To the kitten who hated Soca music, but who tenaciously crept closer and closer to his demon sister until she finally relented and loved you back.
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To the cat who grew up to love everyone he met, from humans, to other cats, to dogs, to even chickens. Who loved stealing snugs, and beds, and food.
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To Muskellunge, Muskie, Musk, Moose-cat, Moose, Musket, and all the other silly nicknames that fit you so well.
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We’re going to miss you, Brother-cat. We love you.
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June 10, 2019
One Month to SPEAK THE OCEAN!
Happy Monday Aledan Merfolk! The last few weeks have been full of exciting news, and so many of you have told me you can’t wait to read StO. Well guess what? YOU HAVE LESS THAN A MONTH TO WAIT!
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That’s right! SPEAK THE OCEAN will be out in e-book and trade paperback on July 9th! In fact, you can pre-order the Kindle book right now! If you prefer another e-book source or trade paperback, those will be available on the ninth
May 10, 2019
Sooooooon!
Happy Friday Aledan Merfolk! I have SO MANY fun things to share with you soon, but I’m still waiting for a couple links to do so. But I can tell you that you’ll get to see the cover for SPEAK THE OCEAN soon! And you’ll be able to preorder it soon too! And it comes out this summer! And if you sign up for my newsletter you’ll get a sneak peek at the stickers I made for StO, which includes a sneak peek at part of the cover 
December 17, 2018
So…It’s Been A While
Happy Monday, Aledan Merfolk! It’s been a while since I’ve posted, mostly because my website keeps crashing and I don’t want to deal with it this year. But, if you haven’t been here in a while, take a look around (assuming the website doesn’t crash). I’ve changed a few things, and added a Books page where you can find the Goodreads link to Speak The Ocean (still waiting on a publishing date, although it looks like it’ll probably be sometime in July next year?) and buy links for Putting The Science In Fiction!
Last time I updated you, I told you about all the exciting things that were going to happen this fall, and guess what? They’ve all happened! And I have more exciting things on the way! Ok, one exciting thing on the way. Assuming the editors at the City Paper accept it, my short story set in StO’s world will be appearing in the Literary Edition on December 26th! I’ll try to remember to post on the blog to remind you, but I guarantee I’ll post to remind you on Twitter and Facebook, so maybe add me on one of those platforms so you don’t miss it 
October 17, 2018
Let’s Put Some SCIENCE In Your FICTION!
Happy Wednesday, Aledan Merfolk! If you saw me online at all yesterday, I’m sure you know that PUTTING THE SCIENCE IN FICTION is finally out in the world! PSIF is an awesome resource for authors, covering topics from basic lab practices, to how the ocean can kill you (I’m excited for that one!), to the science of Star Wars. Have an official description:
[image error]This book brings together scientists, physicians, engineers, and other experts to help you:
Understand the basic principles of science, technology, and medicine that are frequently featured in fiction.
Avoid common pitfalls and misconceptions to ensure technical accuracy.
Write realistic and compelling scientific elements that will captivate readers.
Brainstorm and develop new science- and technology-based story ideas.
Whether writing about mutant monsters, rogue viruses, giant spaceships, or even murders and espionage, Putting the Science in Fiction will have something to help every writer craft better fiction.
Pretty cool, huh? And today we’re going to focus on that last bullet point: brainstorming new science-based story ideas. NaNoWriMo is next month, and I’m here to help you put some science in your fiction.
My essay in PSIF focuses on Proper Lab Technique, so let’s start there. What do you think of when you think of a laboratory? White lab coats, check (actually mine is dark blue because spills don’t show as well). Safety glasses to protect your eyes, check. Latex and/or nitrile gloves, check. Vials of fun colored liquid….
Probably not. While I have worked in a lab with lots of fun colored liquids (let’s hear it for Radium-228!), most labs these days are full of instrumentation instead.
What type(s) of research are your characters doing? What types of instrumentation or equipment will you find in their lab? (Not a complete list)
Wet chemistry will involve some of those pretty colored liquids everyone’s so fond of. Usually this type of chemistry is done to extract a certain compound.
Analytical chemistry uses instrumentation like Mass Spectrometers to test for the amounts of certain chemicals in a sample of water, soil, vegetation or tissue.
Genetics research uses gel electrophoresis and thermal cyclers.
Medical research uses a variety of wet and dry chemistry.
What dangers do your characters have to be aware of in their lab? (Not a complete list)
Strong acids and bases.
Explosions.
Neurotoxins.
Broken glassware/cuts.
Syringes.
Dry ice.
How can your antagonist take advantage of the equipment and the dangers in the lab? Acids are always a fun option. A centrifuge tube of dry ice and methanol will make a nice, loud explosion. Nearly everything in the lab is flammable. And muffle furnaces are a nice way to get rid of evidence.
How can your protagonist use the equipment and chemicals to stop your antagonist? Did your antagonist leave behind a chemical that can be analyzed and traced to the source? Find some DNA? Will they turn full-on anti-hero and use the same chemicals/equipment as the antagonist?
Leave your ideas in the comments below, and don’t forget to sign up below to win a copy of PUTTING THE SCIENCE IN FICTION!
August 13, 2018
PitchWars Wishlist!
Who I am:
Hey Everyone! I’m Rebecca Enzor, an analytical chemist and fantasy author from Charleston, SC, and this year I’m mentoring adult SFF. Since you’re here, you probably know I’m a huge fan of mermaids. I’m also a fan of science, and went to school for fisheries biology. I took these two loves and turned them into a book called SPEAK THE OCEAN, which is basically a mashup of BLACKFISH and THE LITTLE MERMAID. Mermaids at Sea World. It’s full of sciencey goodness, but also a good ol’ heaping of fantasy, which explains the things I love most pretty well. I’m also part of the PUTTING THE SCIENCE IN FICTION anthology by fellow PitchWars mentor Dan Koboldt, which means I can help you get your science right (or your pseudo-science right-ish, because I love making up pseudo-science).
What I’m looking for:
My favorite is low fantasy, bordering on magical realism. If you have just one magical element in an otherwise normal world, I’m your girl (like I said, I like science, so realistic fantasy is my jam). I also like the feel of big, epic stories (THE LIGHT BEARER by Donna Gillespie is my favorite book and does this so well. FINNIKIN OF THE ROCK is another example). Low fantasy + epic stories = definitely send it to me!
I love historical fantasy, because it takes the real and adds magic/mythology (for instance: FROM UNSEEN FIRE by Cass Morris). Same with contemporary fantasy or paranormal fantasy (although I’m not your gal for vampires/werewolves/angels/zombies – see below).
I love dark fantasy and light fantasy and humorous fantasy. If you have an anti-heroine like Lada from AND I DARKEN? Send her to me! If you have something that’ll make me feel light and fuzzy like a fantasy version of WHEN DIMPLE MET RISHI? Send it to me! If you have something that’ll make me laugh out loud like KILL THE FARM BOY? PLEASE send it to me! The same goes for Sci-fi. Funny Sci-Fi is the best. (MECHANICAL FAILURE by Joe Zieja is my favorite funny sci-fi)
For Sci-Fi I’m looking for all the pseudo-science! It needs to make sense, but if you can come up with something that doesn’t obviously break the universe, send it to me. The more character-centered the better (think A LONG WAY TO A SMALL, ANGRY PLANET, SEVENEVES, or THE BOBIVERSE trilogy). I love to read hard sci-fi, but I’m no astrophysicist, so if you don’t know the numbers for re-entry to the atmosphere, neither do I. If your book is about nuclear or analytical chemistry, though? I KNOW THOSE NUMBERS. Send it 
July 23, 2018
It’s going to be an exciting fall!
Happy Monday, Aledan Merfolk! I am rolling in exciting news for the second half of the year, so strap in and let’s do this.
First up: I’m going to be a PitchWars mentor! If you aren’t familiar with PitchWars, it’s a mentoring program for aspiring authors to get their books ready for querying/submissions, with an agent showcase at the end. If you’re an author with a finished manuscript, check it out and see if you might be interested. Even if you aren’t picked as a mentee, the community surrounding PitchWars is super helpful and definitely helped me get StO ready for querying.
[image error]I also have an auction up for a query/synopsis critique at Authors For Families. All proceeds go to helping reunite immigrant families, and there are books, critiques, even a website design package up for grabs! Head over before July 31st to bid 
April 6, 2018
Updates and Author Headshots!
Happy Friday, Aledan Merfolk!
If you follow me on Twitter, I promised yesterday that I’d show off my author headshots today! If that’s what you’re here for, feel free to skip the update and scroll down for the photos
