Cynthia Sax's Blog, page 189
January 23, 2016
A Little Chaos And Strong Heroines
I watched A Little Chaos last night, a film about a female landscape artist who wins the honor of designing a part of Versailles (Kate Winslet stars in it. Alan Rickman both directed and appears in it). I loved it. I don’t understand why I haven’t heard more about this movie.
Or maybe I do.
Because the lead character is female. She’s strong, stocky, wildly intelligent and super independent. There’s a love story. Yes. But her hero makes her even stronger. She’s a brilliant engineer and a savvy leader. Strong men choose to follow her.
I suspect that makes (mostly male) critics and award voters uncomfortable. Thank goodness I write romance. Romance readers EXPECT strong heroines. They EXPECT love interests to make these heroines stronger. They EXPECT heroines to find their own solutions and not wait for someone else to save them.
They expect a heroine like Sabine De Barra, Kate Winslet’s character. Sabine has a gripping back story (she’s a widow and is dealing with her grief, something all of us have struggled with). She has numerous goals and an unique view on the world. She isn’t perfect, far from it, yet she’s sympathetic (The director, Alan Rickman, sets this up beautifully with showing Sabine’s friendship with another woman right at the beginning. This woman clearly loves Sabine and that makes me love her also.).
She’s a character I could happily write a series about.
Aside: One of my favorite parts of the movies is when the ladies at court are talking about the deaths they’ve experienced. I found it interesting that Sabine doesn’t cry yet I felt the emotion even more strongly than if she did break down. It reminded me that I don’t need tears to convey a character’s sorrow.
Another note: There is debate about whether or not Sabine is a real historical character. That there is even a discussion around this tells me the film is historically accurate enough to make me happy. It COULD have happened.
***
Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Crash And Burn
Crash was manufactured to be one of the best warriors in the universe. The cyborg has spent many human lifespans fighting the enemy. But, unlike his battle-loving brethren, he doesn’t enjoy killing. When he escapes the Humanoid Alliance, he vows to never end another life.
Then he meets Safyre, an infuriating human female, and he considers breaking his vow.
Safyre will do anything to save her friend, the being she loves like a sister. She’ll ravish a huge hunky cyborg, kiss his best friend, and invoke scorching hot desires the male never realized he could feel. Dark soulful eyes, a quick wit, and a tempestuous passion won’t divert her from her mission.
Love, and a planet-destroying weapon, however, might stop her permanently.
Pre-order Now:
On Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Crash-Burn-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook/dp/B019EBKIF2
On Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Crash-Burn-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook-x/dp/B019EBKIF2/
On ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-crashandburn-1950244-147.html
On B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/crash-and-burn-cynthia-sax/1123141101
On Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-ca/ebook/crash-and-burn-13
January 21, 2016
For The First Time – USA Today Bestseller
Woot! For The First Time hit the USA Today Bestseller List!
Thank you to Skye Warren for all of her hard work on this boxed set. She ROCKS!
20 never before (and perhaps never again) released sexy short stories from some of the hottest writing folks in Romanceland plus 1 story from me (grins)
My story is Testing Driving The Billionaire.
Here is the blurb;
Drift Dornan, my billionaire boss, has a need for speed and sports the tattoos to prove it. He spends every spare moment at the track, with me in his passenger seat, driving speeds that make my heart pound and my fingers curl. My crazy sexy boss likes his cars fast and his women even faster.
I desperately want him to take me for a spin. But there’s a bump in that road. I’m a virgin, lacking the experience required to give him the erotic thrills he’s accustomed to.
Will he slow down enough to let me catch him?
Buy Now:
Kindle: http://amzn.to/1Pl0ICL
Nook: http://bit.ly/1mQ7vK7
iBooks: http://apple.co/1NSBCqt
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1VZrf9C
Google Play: http://bit.ly/1OnvTcs
Releasing Rage – A- Review On Dear Author
Woot! Releasing Rage received an A- review on Dear Author!
Here’s a snippet…
“Dear Cynthia Sax:
First, let me be very clear:
You write erotic romance like a boss.
No lie.”
***
Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Half Man. Half Machine. All Hers.
Rage, the Humanoid Alliance’s most primitive cyborg, has two goals—kill all of the humans on his battle station and escape to the Homeland. The warrior has seen the darkness in others and in himself. He believes that’s all he’s been programmed to experience.
Until he meets Joan.
Joan, the battle station’s first female engineer, has one goal—survive long enough to help the big sexy cyborg plotting to kill her. Rage might not trust her but he wants her. She sees the passion in his eyes, the caring in his battle-worn hands, the gruff emotion in his voice.
When Joan survives the unthinkable, Rage’s priorities are tested. Is there enough room in this cyborg’s heart for both love and revenge?
Buy Now:
On Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Releasing-Rage-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook/dp/B00ZOL1DRO
On ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-releasingrage-1850041-340.html
On B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/releasing-rage-cynthia-sax/1122455646
Cyborg Romances
Veronica Scott has an awesome post on cyborg romances today!
Releasing Rage is mentioned.
“The series is billed as a “Dark SF Erotic Romance” and the author herself warns readers on Amazon that if they’re sensitive to violence of any sort, to please read one of her lighter romances instead. But in the end the story is all about the cyborg and the woman he comes to love. I just finished reading Breathing Vapor and I’m eagerly anticipating Crash and Burn in February 2016.”
http://amazingstoriesmag.com/2016/01/cyborg-romance-is-here/
Also mentioned are fabulous stories by Melisse Aires, Cara Bristol, Eve Langlais, Donna McDonald, and M.L. Adams!
***
Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Half Man. Half Machine. All Hers.
Rage, the Humanoid Alliance’s most primitive cyborg, has two goals—kill all of the humans on his battle station and escape to the Homeland. The warrior has seen the darkness in others and in himself. He believes that’s all he’s been programmed to experience.
Until he meets Joan.
Joan, the battle station’s first female engineer, has one goal—survive long enough to help the big sexy cyborg plotting to kill her. Rage might not trust her but he wants her. She sees the passion in his eyes, the caring in his battle-worn hands, the gruff emotion in his voice.
When Joan survives the unthinkable, Rage’s priorities are tested. Is there enough room in this cyborg’s heart for both love and revenge?
Buy Now:
On Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Releasing-Rage-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook/dp/B00ZOL1DRO
On ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-releasingrage-1850041-340.html
On B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/releasing-rage-cynthia-sax/1122455646
January 20, 2016
CES For The SciFi Lover
There was plenty of things at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) to make any SciFi romance lover happy.
Of course, Star Wars was well represented.
BB-8 was the star.
I tried to get BB-8 with this background but the droid was moving too quickly for a clean photo.
Switching from droids to drones, drones have been at the CES for over a decade. This year, for the first time, drones had their own section.
One of the star drones was this massive beast. It can carry a person. Yes, it is like a personal helicopter.
SyFy Labs was there this year, promoting SciFi shows like The Expanse.
***
Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Crash And Burn
Crash was manufactured to be one of the best warriors in the universe. The cyborg has spent many human lifespans fighting the enemy. But, unlike his battle-loving brethren, he doesn’t enjoy killing. When he escapes the Humanoid Alliance, he vows to never end another life.
Then he meets Safyre, an infuriating human female, and he considers breaking his vow.
Safyre will do anything to save her friend, the being she loves like a sister. She’ll ravish a huge hunky cyborg, kiss his best friend, and invoke scorching hot desires the male never realized he could feel. Dark soulful eyes, a quick wit, and a tempestuous passion won’t divert her from her mission.
Love, and a planet-destroying weapon, however, might stop her permanently.
Pre-order Now:
On Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Crash-Burn-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook/dp/B019EBKIF2
On Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Crash-Burn-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook-x/dp/B019EBKIF2/
On ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-crashandburn-1950244-147.html
On B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/crash-and-burn-cynthia-sax/1123141101
On Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-ca/ebook/crash-and-burn-13
January 19, 2016
NASA at CES 2016
I was SUPER excited to see that NASA was at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). This was their first time at the show and they brought all the tech a space junkie could want to see.
There were mini rovers, a Mars simulator, and plenty of people to answer questions.
Robonaut 2 made an appearance. He is still legless, our poor humanoid robot. Robonaut 2 was designed to test the feasibility of robots taking on the more mundane tasks in space. He’s been to the International Space Station where astronauts tested his capabilities.
And there were humans at the booth, including Astronaut Dr. Don Thomas, who was signing autographs (folks were sneaking in questions also).
***
Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Crash And Burn
Crash was manufactured to be one of the best warriors in the universe. The cyborg has spent many human lifespans fighting the enemy. But, unlike his battle-loving brethren, he doesn’t enjoy killing. When he escapes the Humanoid Alliance, he vows to never end another life.
Then he meets Safyre, an infuriating human female, and he considers breaking his vow.
Safyre will do anything to save her friend, the being she loves like a sister. She’ll ravish a huge hunky cyborg, kiss his best friend, and invoke scorching hot desires the male never realized he could feel. Dark soulful eyes, a quick wit, and a tempestuous passion won’t divert her from her mission.
Love, and a planet-destroying weapon, however, might stop her permanently.
Pre-order Now:
On Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Crash-Burn-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook/dp/B019EBKIF2
On Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Crash-Burn-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook-x/dp/B019EBKIF2/
On ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-crashandburn-1950244-147.html
On B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/crash-and-burn-cynthia-sax/1123141101
On Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-ca/ebook/crash-and-burn-13
Releasing Rage Named One Of The Best Stories Of 2015
Woot!
2Shay at It’s About The Book has named Releasing Rage one of the best books of 2015!
http://itsaboutthebook.com/2016/01/18/2shays-best-of-15/
“Cynthia Sax has a beautiful story with a lot of underlying social commentary. A treat in every way.”
***
Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Half Man. Half Machine. All Hers.
Rage, the Humanoid Alliance’s most primitive cyborg, has two goals—kill all of the humans on his battle station and escape to the Homeland. The warrior has seen the darkness in others and in himself. He believes that’s all he’s been programmed to experience.
Until he meets Joan.
Joan, the battle station’s first female engineer, has one goal—survive long enough to help the big sexy cyborg plotting to kill her. Rage might not trust her but he wants her. She sees the passion in his eyes, the caring in his battle-worn hands, the gruff emotion in his voice.
When Joan survives the unthinkable, Rage’s priorities are tested. Is there enough room in this cyborg’s heart for both love and revenge?
Buy Now:
On Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Releasing-Rage-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook/dp/B00ZOL1DRO
On ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-releasingrage-1850041-340.html
On B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/releasing-rage-cynthia-sax/1122455646
Newsletter Shout Out
Renee Rose posted an awesome article on writer newsletters and she gave my newsletter a shout out! Woot!
http://writesexright.com/2016/01/16/getting-max-author-newsletter/
IMHO… a newsletter is not only a writer’s best way of promoting (we completely control it) but it also is expected by reading buddies. Reading buddies asked me to send a newsletter. I love it! I offer my newsletter subscribers exclusive, never-published-anywhere-else stories like Being Green, a cyborg short.
***
Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Crash And Burn
Crash was manufactured to be one of the best warriors in the universe. The cyborg has spent many human lifespans fighting the enemy. But, unlike his battle-loving brethren, he doesn’t enjoy killing. When he escapes the Humanoid Alliance, he vows to never end another life.
Then he meets Safyre, an infuriating human female, and he considers breaking his vow.
Safyre will do anything to save her friend, the being she loves like a sister. She’ll ravish a huge hunky cyborg, kiss his best friend, and invoke scorching hot desires the male never realized he could feel. Dark soulful eyes, a quick wit, and a tempestuous passion won’t divert her from her mission.
Love, and a planet-destroying weapon, however, might stop her permanently.
Pre-order Now:
On Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Crash-Burn-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook/dp/B019EBKIF2
On Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Crash-Burn-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook-x/dp/B019EBKIF2/
On ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-crashandburn-1950244-147.html
On B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/crash-and-burn-cynthia-sax/1123141101
On Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-ca/ebook/crash-and-burn-13
January 18, 2016
Crash And Burn – First Excerpt
Crash And Burn, the third standalone cyborg story will be releasing on February 23rd. This is definitely going to be a story you want to pre-order. I know there will be spoilers posted on reviews and other places.
While we wait, how about the first scene from the first chapter?
***
Chapter One
Safyre stomped along the battle station’s narrow hallways, her boot heels ringing on the floor tiles. Fellow members of Beings For Peace nodded to her, calling out greetings, wanting her advice on rescue plans. She nodded back but didn’t stop.
Her skull buzzed with pain. She’d had a headache for planet rotations, since her friend Tifara implanted the cyborg communications device in her brain.
And she had her own mission to organize. Nymphia, sister of her heart, had sent another emergency signal from Tau Ceti at sunrise. Twenty planet rotations ago, the infant-loving teen had ignored Safyre’s advice and left to transport children off the war-torn planet. She was now caught between the Humanoid Alliance and the local forces, trapped in the tunnels under the surface.
Safyre had to reach her. Soon. Before her rations ran out.
She paused outside the medical bay and swiped a cleaning cloth under her dripping nose. The fabric sucked up the blood, rearranging the molecules into air, removing all evidence that the device was affecting her.
Tifara would have a solar storm-sized meltdown if she realized the operation had aftereffects. She’d force Safyre to remove the device, and that couldn’t happen. It was Safyre’s only means of contacting Crash.
He wasn’t one of the warriors. Half human, half machine, cyborgs were designed to follow orders. Crash didn’t blindly obey any being.
He was a human conduit, a go-between. His communications device was more modern, having once belonged to an E model cyborg, and he claimed he could access transmission lines she couldn’t reach.
Female, the mysterious male transmitted through the cyborg communications device.
Did you speak with the cyborgs on board the freighter? That intergalactic freighter was her ride to Tau Ceti. It was transporting cyborgs to the planet and had the landing clearance she required.
Yes. The male’s deep voice coiled around her heart and tightened her nipples. A female could come simply from listening to him. If her head wasn’t splitting in two from pain.
Safyre winced. Can you control them? She’d crafted a plan. He’d control the cyborgs, ordering them to subdue the crew. She’d sneak onto the freighter before he arrived and take command of the vessel. That would give her control over Crash.
They’ll follow my direction. The certainty in his transmission reassured her.
Safyre was a pilot, not a warrior. She couldn’t defeat one cyborg on her own. The freighter carried one thousand of the manufactured warriors.
This is a reckless plan, female, Crash told her yet again. Discard it before you cause lasting damage to yourself.
The plan is set. She wasn’t changing it. Worry about yourself, not me. For a male interested in obtaining a cyborg army, he was overly concerned with her well-being. That was a strange experience for Safyre, a war orphan. She didn’t know how to deal with it.
And if I back out of the plan—
I’ll implement plan B. There was no plan B, not yet. She’d been contemplating other options, fearing no being would respond to her communications, when he answered. None of the alternatives were feasible.
You will not implement plan B, Crash barked and her spine straightened. I’ll meet with you on board the freighter in one planet rotation.
The line went silent. He must have severed their connection. Crash had the ability to open and close their transmission line, controlling communications. She hadn’t yet mastered that skill.
Crash would communicate with her again. They’d been conversing several times every planet rotation. She couldn’t sidestep Tifara’s questions and avoid his subtle probing at the same time.
She wiped the cleaning cloth under her nose, stuffed the fabric into the front pocket of her navy-blue flight suit and hurried into the medical bay. Tifara stood with her back to her, her curvaceous body covered with a white coat.
Assistants buzzed around her. They took one look at Safyre’s scowling face and vanished into the back chambers, giving them privacy.
Her friend continued inputting information into a private viewscreen. “Tell me you’re here to have the implant removed.”
“It remains necessary.” Safyre lowered into a single ass support and stretched out her legs. “I can’t communicate with the male without it.” Crash had given her no other means to contact him.
“You shouldn’t be communicating with any being.” Tifara turned. Her big brown eyes were a shade darker than Safyre’s and they reflected her concern. “The device was designed for a primitive B model cyborg.” It had been stolen from an ancient war artifacts exhibit and repurposed. “That cyborg would have had nanocybotics, giving him the ability to heal himself, to repair the damage the device was inflicting to his brain. You don’t have that ability.”
“Crash hasn’t mentioned any side effects.”
“And you trust this Crash, a being you haven’t even met?” Tifara lifted an eyebrow. “That’s not like you. You’re usually more cautious, more cynical. This could be an enemy trick.”
Safyre was aware that Crash could be a Humanoid Alliance operative, setting a trap for her, but she had no other options. She had to reach her friend, Nymphia. The girl was alone. The other members of her team had escaped the planet.
She must be scared.
When she had first met Nymphia, ten solar cycles ago at the Academy, Safyre had been a battle-toughened girl of sixteen solar cycles. She was a war orphan, as Nymphia and Tifara were. Her short lifespan alone in the harsh universe had trained her never to rely upon anyone else, never to care.
Then, the eight-solar-cycle-old Nymphia had curled her baby fingers around Safyre’s rough hands, gazed up at her with her big brown eyes and asked if she was her new mommy.
Safyre had told her to fuck off. The girl had blinked but wouldn’t let go.
Safyre wouldn’t let go now. Even if holding on resulted in her own death.
Read the next excerpt (available January 26th) here: http://tasteofcyn.com/2016/01/26/crash-and-burn-second-excerpt/
***
Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Crash And Burn
Crash was manufactured to be one of the best warriors in the universe. The cyborg has spent many human lifespans fighting the enemy. But, unlike his battle-loving brethren, he doesn’t enjoy killing. When he escapes the Humanoid Alliance, he vows to never end another life.
Then he meets Safyre, an infuriating human female, and he considers breaking his vow.
Safyre will do anything to save her friend, the being she loves like a sister. She’ll ravish a huge hunky cyborg, kiss his best friend, and invoke scorching hot desires the male never realized he could feel. Dark soulful eyes, a quick wit, and a tempestuous passion won’t divert her from her mission.
Love, and a planet-destroying weapon, however, might stop her permanently.
Pre-order Now:
On Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Crash-Burn-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook/dp/B019EBKIF2
On Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Crash-Burn-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook-x/dp/B019EBKIF2/
On ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-crashandburn-1950244-147.html
On B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/crash-and-burn-cynthia-sax/1123141101
On Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-ca/ebook/crash-and-burn-13
January 17, 2016
Writers On Vacation
Recently, the dear wonderful hubby and I went on a (super cheap) cruise from Florida. One of the stops was the Dominican Republic. The cruise terminal was situated miles away from anywhere. We needed to take a taxi to town. To save money, we partnered with another couple.
We usually travel on the cheap, hiring a driver if that’s necessary (more often, we take public transportation or we hoof it) and that’s it. The wife of this couple, however, really wanted the history spiel. This was her first big trip and she wanted to know everything about the place.
She talked us into hiring a ‘guide’. This guide assured us that he knew his history and he could speak English well. We piled into the taxi and took off.
It turned out… he could only speak enough English to convince us that he knew the language. He had memorized short speeches about the big sites. His answer to every question was ‘Yes. Yes.’
The wife was disappointed. She became more and more upset, arguing with our ‘guide’. The dear wonderful hubby and I could tell that this blunder was wrecking her day, coloring her view of an otherwise wonderful country.
So we started peppering our so-called guide with ridiculous questions.
“Is it true that General Luperon died fighting the vampirous, ferocious blood drinking invaders from a nearby island?”
“Yes. Yes.” The guide bobbed his head.
“I read that today is take your chicken to work day.”
“Yes. Yes.” The guide nodded.
“I understand that depression in trees is common here, that they have tree doctors who try to lift their spirits.”
“Yes. Yes.”
Soon, the wife was smiling, laughing, joining in, asking equally ridiculous questions. At the end of the day, the husband said it was the most fun he’d ever had on a tour. We had an absolute blast.
Never question that reading and creativity is valuable. It can change a ‘disastrous’ day into one of the best ever.
***
Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Crash And Burn
Crash was manufactured to be one of the best warriors in the universe. The cyborg has spent many human lifespans fighting the enemy. But, unlike his battle-loving brethren, he doesn’t enjoy killing. When he escapes the Humanoid Alliance, he vows to never end another life.
Then he meets Safyre, an infuriating human female, and he considers breaking his vow.
Safyre will do anything to save her friend, the being she loves like a sister. She’ll ravish a huge hunky cyborg, kiss his best friend, and invoke scorching hot desires the male never realized he could feel. Dark soulful eyes, a quick wit, and a tempestuous passion won’t divert her from her mission.
Love, and a planet-destroying weapon, however, might stop her permanently.
Pre-order Now:
On Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Crash-Burn-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook/dp/B019EBKIF2
On Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Crash-Burn-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook-x/dp/B019EBKIF2/
On ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-crashandburn-1950244-147.html
On B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/crash-and-burn-cynthia-sax/1123141101
On Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-ca/ebook/crash-and-burn-13
Other booksellers coming soon!
