Carol Van Natta's Blog, page 16
April 12, 2019
Geeky Fairy Light Addiction
Hello. My name is Carol, and I am addicted to geeky fairy lights. This is my story. Perhaps it can save others from a geeky fairy light addiction. Or not. As addictions go, it's cheap and harmless.
It all started when LED lights began replacing the short-lived incandescent light bulbs and the longer-lived but obnoxious compact fluorescent twisty things. Manufacturers soon realized they were no longer limited by fat wires and hot, fat bulbs. Tiny lights became affordable, and tiny circuit board meant they could add color and timers and simple programs.
Gateway to an Addiction
I bought one USB-based strand as an experiment. For my author business, I occasionally set up sales tables for my books, and I thought it would be fun to decorate with the lights. I plugged them in at home to see how they worked.
Big mistake. I loved them. They were subtle and cheery and fun.
Geeky fairy lights brighten the day
Next, I discovered battery-operated lights. Some run on standard AAAs, and some on watch batteries. I figured these might be better for sales table decoration. I was right—they are. Especially if the nearest outlet is 50 feet away.
Yes, those are little pine tree lights.
Don't look at me like that — they were on sale.
On the other hand, you have to buy batteries, so it’s best to have both the USB and battery-operated lights. More lights. More colors. Blinky lights. Lights on a timer. Color morphing lights.
Oh, the possibilities!
Full-Blown Geeky Fair Light Addiction
Then, of course, came lights for the holidays. The resident mad scientist is very tolerant of my impulse to put geeky fairy lights up everywhere. Luckily for me, he’s also tolerant of them never coming down again.
My former office. Bears love geeky fairy lights, too.
In the Ice Age Shifters series, a polar fairy named Tinsel makes her home in the sanctuary town of Kotoyeesinay, Wyoming (see Shift of Destiny). She lives in a miniature castle that she's made into a fancy bed and breakfast. The outside of her castle is decorated with lights. Tens of thousands of them. She adds more during the holidays. You could probably see her house from orbit, if the town wasn't shielded with magic. If I had a castle, that's how I'd decorate it.
Now I even decorate me.
The author, inordinately pleased with the lights in her hair
When I’m in my dotage, give me show tunes, cats, and geeky fairy lights, and the nursing home staff will find me to be a very manageable resident.
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April 5, 2019
Cats of War Excerpt #1
CATS OF WAR is a standalone novella in my Central Galactic Concordance space opera series. In the grand timeline, it takes place after the events in Jumper's Hope, but is not a part of the big damn story arc. It debuted in the limited-edition science fiction romance anthology Embrace the Passion: Pets in Space 3. I'm posting a few excerpts from the story. This is Cats of War, excerpt #1.
By the way, the line drawing of two cats of war is by excellent illustrator Nyssa Juneau. She does illustrations for all the pets in the Pets in Space anthologies, and for my Ice Age Shifters paranormal romance series.
The heroine in Cats of War is Ferra Barray. She rescued two creatures—superior cats—from the swamp and took them back to her room. Totally against the rules, seeing as she's in prison working off a restitution sentence, but she couldn't leave them alone in the rainy night. This is Ferra's first good look at the cats.
Cats of War, Excerpt #1
On impulse, she crouched down and held out her hands to the cats. The male ignored her hand and went straight for her knee. He rubbed his triangular-shaped face against her. She stroked his damp fur. The female cat licked her outstretched fingers.
For no reason she could name, tears threatened, and she wanted to gather the cats in her arms. She reluctantly stood and stepped back. She dimmed the lights further, then locked the door behind her.
In the lab, she put a drying mat on the shelf, then put Oran Mòr on top of it and left the cabinet open. “I’ll check you tomorrow,” she told it. If cats could be sentient, so could bots.
No emergency trouble reports meant she could close up the lab, so she returned the gravcart and walked back to her cell. Worry tried to hurry her feet, but she walked sedately, then closed and locked the door behind her, just like any other evening.
The bed looked inviting, but first, she had to look after the cats. Their presence was warm and comforting in her mind, even if she couldn’t see them. She used the wallcomp to turn up the lights and darken her only window.
The female oozed out from under the bed, followed by the male.
Now that she saw them in better light, she didn’t know what she was looking at. Wide, cat- like heads and ears, with narrower muzzles, and nose flaps. Mottled dark fur with a faint rosette pattern, and folded, bat-style wings with fine downy fur. No orange stripe on the female’s wing, so that must have been a trick of the light. Their front paws had sharp-looking claws and opposable toes. Their tails were long and ovoid.
We are cats. That was the female.
We were made for war, thought the male.
Food? asked the female.
Ferra didn’t know what to do with cats designed for war, since the Central Galactic Concordance government had kept the peace across the galaxy for the last two centuries, but she could do something about food.
Reaching up to the top shelf of her closet, she retrieved the mealpack she’d stashed there two days ago. She triggered the heater and put it on a narrow counter that served as the cell’s desk and table to warm.
She gratefully sat on the bed and pulled off her clammy shoes and tossed them onto the drying mat by the door. “Do you have names?”
The female’s tale twitched. Yes.
Ferra laughed. The cat was just like some AIs Ferra had known, unhelpfully literal and disdainful of imprecise questions. Ferra tried again, this time forming the words in her mind and projecting them to the female cat. What is your name?
My call sign is Novo Seventeen Alpha.
I am Bozlurian Four Delta, volunteered the male.
“I’ll just call you Novo and Boz, if you don’t mind.”
Read the rest in CATS OF WAR:
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About Cats of War
A tarnished military Subcaptain, a repair technician hiding from her past, and two genetically engineered cats join must forces to save an important factory.
Military Subcaptain Kedron Tauceti counts the days until he can leave the rare metals factory and his current duty station as the liaison to the galactic government’s Criminal Restitution and Indenture Obligation system. The post was protection—and punishment—for exposing a theft ring during his previous assignment. He's more than ready to get his career back on track on a new base halfway across the galaxy, even if it means leaving behind the one person who makes him want to stay. Not that he's told her, because technically, he's her warden.
Former financial specialist and current indenturee Ferra Barray, hiding from her past, only has three months to go on her restitution sentence. She's lucked into a tech repair job. If she keeps her head down, she'll soon be free to figure out her future. Unfortunately, the local shark behind every illegal scheme in the facility wants her to steal for him, and she's running out of excuses. And now the heroically handsome Tauceti, who she hoped could help, is transferring out.
Everything changes when Ferra discovers two genetically modified cats. Saving them takes incredible risks. She doesn't know what she'll do if she can't convince Tauceti to rescue the cats and keep them until she's free to come for them.
But when trouble erupts at the factory, it might just be the cats who save them.
Find out what happens in this exciting standalone novella from Carol Van Natta's award-winning Central Galactic Concordance space opera series.
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NOTE TO READERS: Cats of War debuted in the limited edition Embrace the Passion: Pets in Space 3 anthology. It has been edited for clarity, but is substantially unchanged from the original. If you already have the anthology, you don't need to buy this story again, unless you like your books standalone or want to support your friendly author. For fans of the Central Galactic Concordance series, the events in Cats of War take place after Jumper’s Hope, but are not part of the ongoing big damn story arc.
Buy CATS OF WAR today:
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March 29, 2019
Places I Write
I enjoy seeing—and am sometimes envious of—the lovely spaces my author friends have created for their writing. I've always said that if I win the lottery, I'll decorate my office to look like a starship bridge. Until that day, these are some of the places I write.
Like all authors, I have to fit writing time in between slices of Having a Life. Families, day jobs, obligations, cats, and unexpected events often get priority, as they mostly should. I solve the some of the problem by having multiple locations in which to write.
Basement Office, a.k.a. The Black Hole Under My House
Low ceilings? Check. Ugly 1970’s decor? Ridiculous windows? Check. Inadequate lighting and power? Double check.
That’s my basement office. But it’s also warm and quiet, with room for all the crap I’ve collected since the Jurassic age. My declutter/Mari Kondo/Swedish Death Cleaning project is a work in progress, and usually last on my list of things to do.
Carol’s cluttered basement office, with occasional cats
I love big monitors, and would have three if I had the room. I could probably move things around to accommodate that, but where would I put the cats?
Judgmental cat asks why the author isn't writing.
Coffee Shop
This is the approach to the Loveland Coffee Company in Loveland, CO, where I usually go three or four times a month. If I’m lucky, I snag the comfy chair near the electrical outlet.
The best chair in Loveland Coffee
Is it quiet? No. Does it have cats? No. But it has hot chai tea latte to make up for it. I deliberately trained myself to work with music overhead and conversations all around. That way, I can work more places. I don’t make as much steady progress as when I’m at home, but every paragraph helps when deadlines are looming.
I can work similarly at restaurants, repair shop waiting areas, airport terminals, and libraries. Hotel rooms are especially nice because of two words: Room Service.
Bedroom
For all that I love my basement, it’s sometimes too distracting. All my fun toys are down there, too—graphics programs, crafting tools, etc. So, for a change of scenery, I set up shop in the sun room (which we built for the cats) and in the bedroom.
Visitors to the sun room must pay the petting tax
The author, with observer cat
The cats love the bedroom because they can sprawl nearby or crowd onto my lap, according to their preference. They believe all stories are vastly improved by the inclusion of felines. I admit to having succumbed to their hypnotic suggestions, so about half my books have cats in them.
Such as Pet Trade, which debuted in the Pets in Space 2 anthology, and Cats of War, which debuted in the Pets in Space 3 anthology. Both stories are out as individual releases (Cats of War is on preorder). Come to think of it, my paranormal shifter romances have very big cats in about half of those books, too — an Ice Age lion, a leopard, and a Siberian tiger. Don't tell the cats, but the Ice Age Shifters® series also has dire wolves, Ice Age bears, and mythical creatures as heroes.
While you were away, we improved your story by adding more cats.
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March 22, 2019
My Cat Cosplays Cats of War
In case it hasn't been blindingly obvious from my previous posts, authors are crazy. When I wrote Cats of War, a space opera romance novella, for last year's limited-edition Embrace the Passion: Pets in Space 3 anthology, I commissioned a costume. For my cat.
My muse is from outer space, and I am owned by cats. This probably explains why I write space opera, and why cats are in about half my stories. Including, of course, Cats of War. It's about a tarnished military Subcaptain, a repair technician hiding from her past, and two genetically engineered cats who must join forces to save an important factory. It's scheduled for a solo release on 18 April 2019.
Cats in Space
The photo below is of two of our six cats “helping” me write and insisting all stories are vastly improved by the inclusion of cats, preferably rescued. The bigger, gray cat is the Resident Goofball, and usually a pretty good sport. The smaller, pale cat is tiny, but she is the Dowager Empress of the Known Universe, and demands love and adoration from all.
Author with “helpful” catsThis, by the way, is what happens when the Empress does not get sufficient love and adoration.
Cats as Heroes
My previous Pets in Space story, Pet Trade, had several cats, but the hero of the day was a dog. Believe me, I got an earful about that. My cats insisted that cats be the stars of the next story. And so, Cats of War.
Therefore, I felt it was only fair that they help me promote the story. I commissioned a lovely pair of wings suitable for cats to wear from the charming Jessica at Wings, Charms & Things. “My cat will look so cute!” I thought.
I know, you’re laughing. I'm pretty sure I said it above, but I'll repeat: Authors are completely nuts, and I’m no exception.
Cat Cosplay Tips
Should you ever be inclined to engage your cat in cosplay, here are helpful tips.
Choose the right cat. For example, the resident Ginger Tabby (see below) is convinced the world is out to eat him. Another of my cats would look like the Hindenberg blimp with wings. The Empress is too tiny. The Brown Striper cat (see victim, above) would destroy the wings in 10 seconds flat. The Basement-Lover cat has too many places to hide. That leaves the Resident Goofball.
Choose the right costume. Last year’s costume was a bit heavy, and the cat fell over. Yes, I’ve done this before. No, I did not learn my lesson. I mentioned that I’m crazy, right?
.If you are clever in the crafty way, you can make your own costume, and custom fit it to your cat. If your skills are iffy, like mine (see #2 above), commission a professional. Jessica even tried them on her own, long-suffering cat, who she had to bribe with chicken to gain cooperation and restore good will.
.Unless you have five or six arms, recruit a helper for the photography session. Holding the camera, the cat, the costume, and the props all in one place is enough to turn a well-meaning author to hit the Bailey's Irish Cream far earlier in the day than usual.
My cat cosplays Cats of War… with panache! Or at least, with tolerance.Our cats are precious darlings, but they are not designed for war, like hero cats of my story. They are also not telepathic spies and thieves, or top-secret military projects. Nor do they have opposable claws (no door or can opener would be safe) and nor can they fly (thank goodness; the house would be a shambles).
In upcoming blog posts, I'll share excerpts from Cats of War that introduce the hero, Kedron, the heroine, Ferra, and the cats. The humans are in for quite a shock.
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March 15, 2019
Evolution of Space Opera
I still get questions from time to time about what space opera is, and whether it involves singing*. This is my take on it, and a brief discussion of the evolution of space opera.
Science fiction, romance, and mystery all are big enough genres in terms of writers and readers to have multiple subgenres. Judging from Amazon categories, romance has the most—historical, futuristic, contemporary, paranormal, futuristic, just to name a few. Mysteries can be cozy, hard-boiled, thrillers, or suspense. Science fiction (often lumped with fantasy, but it shouldn’t be) has adventure, military, first contact, dystopian, and my favorite, space opera.
Soap Opera, But in Space
The genre name “space opera” was originally coined in the 1940s as an insult. An SF author and fan adored science fiction with serious, thought-provoking themes about exploration, humanity, instinct vs. intelligence, and transcendence. He detested stories that seemed like angsty human dramas set in space, with adventures, plot twists, humor, mysteries, and relationships.
I suspect by “relationships,” he meant romance. Every female science fiction author I know who happens to have included a romance in their science fiction story has gotten at least one review complaining about how she got icky romance in the reviewer’s precious science fiction. I'll bet dollars to donuts that male SF authors with similar subplots don’t get that complaint, but that’s a subject for another day.
TV Space Opera
Space opera might have evolved differently, had it not been for Star Trek. The TV show’s bridge crew had real, relatable, sometimes flawed characters. They didn’t always get along, but they went to extraordinary lengths to support each other. The series tackled thorny current issues and sometimes found no right answers. They hired some of the best SF authors of the day and set them loose.
The result was legions of die-hard fans who organized to keep the show alive and bring it back, despite the internet not even being invented yet. When they looked for books to read, they gravitated toward fast-paced, character-driven plots and approachable story lines. Authors were happy to oblige.
Please don’t get me wrong. While I may find military SF’s focus on ship specs and battle tactics to be uninspiring, I firmly support the right of authors to write them and fans to read them. I will equally support fans of plot-driven stories that tackle big ideas, and cautionary, dystopian stories, and first contact stories that challenge our humanity in unexpected ways, and … you get my drift. Readers should be able to read what they want to read.
Space Opera and Science Fiction Romance Are Roommates
I believe space opera and science fiction romance are roommates. So, hear me out. Space opera is SFR’s more adventurous roommate. Romance, yes, but with space battles, friendships, faster-than-light ships, villains, first contact, rebellions, and more.
The best of science fiction romance is where the story would fall apart without both the science and the romance. SFR tackles intriguing questions, but especially about love, romance, and sex. It also also leads the way for exploring the gender continuum beyond the traditional, binary model, considering sexual variances (ace, aro, poly, pan, etc.), and the imaginative possibilities for love.
Space opera can do this, too, but in a more abbreviated style, in between the interstellar race to colonize a new frontier planet, while discovering relics of an ancient race, and trying to avoid starting a galactic war. {Plot bunny, anyone? }
I Write Space Opera… With Romance
My Central Galactic Concordance series wanders back and forth between space opera and science fiction romance. Two of my novellas, Pet Trade, and the upcoming Cats of War have stronger romances. However, I deliberately include romances in all the stories. The big damn story arc in this series involves revolution. It's a dangerous, dirty business, so I wanted the justice and the hope that romance offers to temper that.
_ _ _ _ _ _
*The only singing is from me. While I have sung an opera aria two, my voice is more suited to musical theatre and jazz standards.
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March 8, 2019
Things I Learned at Whimsy Con
Whimsy Con in Denver was a delight. It’s the second year for the convention, which is an inheritor of the equally delightful but no-longer extant Anomaly Con. These are some things I learned at Whimsy Con.
It’s All About the Corset
It’s billed as a steampunk and costuming convention, meaning there were some amazing outfits on display.
I love this family. I especially laud them for getting a fidgety preteen boy to go along with them.
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Steampunk pirate — look at those boots!
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If you can't have a corset, bring shiny steampunk guns.
I have worn corsets for hours and hours. Believe me, it’s not as easy as it looks. There is no slouching in corsets, unless you like having your armpits gouged. But nothing says steampunk like a corset… and weapons.
I Still Love Meeting Authors and Readers
This is my table-sharer, Richard Friesen. He writes epic fantasy and a humorous superhero series (the hero’s superpower is falling asleep). Richard was lucky enough to get stunning artwork for his fantasy series covers from the fabulously talented and genuinely nice fellow Chaz Kemp.
Richard Friesen and Carol Van Natta at Whimsy Con 2019. Won’t you buy books from us? We need money for Girl Scout cookies.
More things I learned at Whimsy Con: When posing for pictures, turn your badge around and make sure your ears aren't crooked.
I reconnected with friends (shout out to author and professor Trai Cartwright), authors Stant Litore of Zombie Bible fame, and Owen Wears, and vendor Jessica at Wings, Charms & Things (she custom-made wings for my cat). I met new author friends on panels about the indie publishing business and how to play well with others.
3. Cats Still Rule My Life
I am weak. I succumbed to one of my addictions and bought a new cat.
Whimsy, the Winged Cat, who will be having more adventures in the near future.
Whimsy was born at Whimsical Whiskers.
The novella I wrote for last year’s Pets in Space anthology was called Cats of War, and featured (did you guess?) winged cats. They were named Novo and Boz, so if I ever write a followup story of the further adventures of winged cats of war, one of their offspring will be named Whimsy.
Other people had pets, too.
My cats aren't as cooperative about shoulder sitting.
Bonus: Here's a short video of the shoulder dragon, who moves when it is so inclined.
http://author.carolvannatta.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2019/03/FriesenDaughterWithAnimatedPet.mp4
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February 10, 2019
Star Crossed: 7 Novels Anthology is Free
Star Crossed: 7 Novels of Space Exploration, Alien Races, Adventure, and Romance is a science fiction romance anthology with first-in-series novels from bestselling and award-winning authors. My entry in the anthology is Overload Flux, from my Central Galactic Concordance series.
Right now, the Star Crossed: 7 Novels anthology is free!
Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Kobo Books ~ Google Play ~ Apple Books
Check out the 7 great novels you get for your zero dollars, pounds, or Euros:
Blood Will Tell – Christine Pope
When hacker Miala Fels makes a deal to split the hoard of a dead crime lord with the notorious mercenary Eryk Thorn, events take an unexpected turn….
Archangel Down – C. Gockel
Commander Noa Sato is arrested and interrogated for her part in the Archangel Project. A project she knows nothing about. Professor James Sinclair awakes in the snow knowing only one he must find Noa, a woman he's never met. In the face of genocide they must hatch a daring plan with a ragtag crew to save the lives of millions—and their own. Every step of the way they are haunted by the final words of a secret transmission: The archangel is down.
Overload Flux – Carol Van Natta
Someone is stealing the vaccine for a galaxy-wide pandemic. Investigator Luka Foxe's hidden mental talent is out of control, and security specialist Mairwen Morganthur hides a dark past. On a convoluted trail of corrupt pharma corporations, murderous mercenaries, sabotage, and deadly space battles, their only hope for survival lies in trusting one another. 2014 SFR Galaxy Award winner.
Star Nomad – Lindsay Buroker
The Alliance has toppled the tyrannical empire. It should be a time for celebration, but not for fighter pilot Captain Alisa Marchenko. After barely surviving a crash in the final battle for freedom, she's stranded on a dustball of a planet, billions of miles from her young daughter. She has no money or resources, and there are no transports heading to Perun, her former home and the last imperial stronghold.
The Iron Admiral: Conspiracy – Greta van der Rol
Thrust together in a race against time, ex-Admiral Chaka Saahren and Systems Engineer Allysha Marten, must resolve their personal differences to prevent an inter-species war.
Hurricane Moon – Alexis Glynn Latner
With Earth wracked by climate change, an ambitious private foundation launches a starship to discover a new world. The astronauts and scientists of Aeon are prepared to cope with every known outcome and every foreseeable unknown. But what they encounter on the other side of the stars is the unknown unknown.
The Key – Pauline Baird Jones
The key will unlock more than an unknown civilization; it will define who one woman will become…Elite pilot, Sara Donovan and resistance fighter, Kiernan Fyn must stop those that would use the key for their own agenda. Don't miss out on this Independent Book Bronze Medal and Dream Realm Awards Winner!
GET YOUR FREE COPY TODAY!
Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Kobo Books ~ Google Play ~ Apple Books
Hurry ~ Limited-Time Offer!
The post Star Crossed: 7 Novels Anthology is Free appeared first on Carol Van Natta - Author.
February 1, 2019
2018 SFR Galaxy Awards
The SFR Galaxy Awards are unique. They are awarded by seven judges who select outstanding science fiction romance books published in a given year. Nominations are secret (just like the Nobel Prizes!), and the winners are announced at the end of January. The 2018 SFR Galaxy Awards represent the best of the genre for last year.
According to Laurie Green, one of the co-founders of the awards, “They aren't a voter's choice or a popularity contest. They are seven judges who are reviewers, bloggers, librarians, and/or editors. They select books that they feel are standouts in the genre, either overall or for certain aspects of the work. The purpose of the awards is to highlight outstanding SFR and to help readers find books they want to read.”
My space opera series has won three* SFR Galaxy Awards in years past, so I could be biased, but I think they're truly an honor. I can't think of another case where excellent reviewers and bloggers who love a particular genre have organized to create awards and give them out every year.
Oh, by the way, the limited edition Embrace the Passion: Pets in Space 3 anthology won awards from two of this year's judges. By the time you read this, that book will have left the known universe, but a little bird alien pet told me there will be a Pets in Space 4.
Seventh Year for the SFR Galaxy Awards
In the romance world, SFR often gets lumped into paranormal romance, as if magic and science are the same difference. In the science fiction world, if SFR is acknowledged at all, it usually ends up under space opera. At least space opera fans like people to have relationships while they fight space battles. In my opinion, SFR is the best of both—you wouldn't have a story without both the romance and the science fiction, so it deserves its own genre—and seven years of awards.
This is the comprehensive list of the winners of the 2018 SFR Galaxy Awards. If you love science fiction romance as much as I do, consider this your one-stop reference for finding new authors to follow and new books to read (and one TV series to watch).
Winners of the 2018 SFR Galaxy Awards
Awards and quotes from Jo Jones, Mixed Book Bag
An Alien Exchange by Keri Kruspe
Best Dream to Nightmare Plot
“A lonely woman. An exiled alien prince. Can two different individuals find a way to be together to save the galaxy from a malicious plot threatening to tear it apart?”
Where to buy: Amazon ~ Kobo Books ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Apple Books
Breakaway by Michelle DienerBest Use of World Building and Back Story to Jumpstart a Plot
“Sofie is part of the resistance… Leo is the crime lord she admires… The time has come for a single, lethal strike–and that will not be without consequences.”
Where to buy: Amazon
Warleader by Susan Grant
Best Improvement After Rewriting
“Galactic Rules of Engagement: #1: Enemies must not become lovers. Welcome to the Borderlands, where rules are meant to be broken…”
Where to buy: Amazon
Awards and quotes from judge Riley Moreland, Whiskey With My Books
Aftermath (Hathe Book 3) by Mary Brock Jones
Potent Post-War Setting Award
“Aftermath has a complex plot, engaging heroes and heroines, and disagreeable villains. The slow burning romance between Jacquel (the understated antihero of the first two books) and Rheia is satisfying. But their roles as revolutionaries in the post war situation are what makes this book a great read.”
Where to buy: Amazon ~ Kobo Books ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Apple Books
Raven, Fire and Ice by Nita RoundBest Steampunk Transport
“I do love steampunk and here is a new-to-me author that is serving up what I want. In Raven, Fire and Ice, Nita Round describes an airship that anyone would love to take a ride on.”
Where to buy: Amazon ~ Kobo Books ~ Barnes & Noble
Infinity (Horizon Book 2) by Tabitha Lord
Arcane History Award
“In addition to all the hidden history, Infinity includes Derek and Caeli, the hero and heroine from two different worlds who may be the key to saving everything.”
Where to buy: Amazon ~ Kobo Books ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Apple Books
Lost Valyr (Project Enterprise Book 7) by Pauline Baird JonesArachnophobia Award for Creepiest Villain
“Lost Valyr also has one of the quirkiest romantic couples I had the pleasure to read about in 2018. Valyr rarely talks. Rachel makes up for it by filling in all the silent spaces. And did I mention they come from different planets?”
Where to buy: Amazon ~ Kobo Books ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Apple Books ~ Google Play
Not Fade Away (Interstellar Rescue Book 4) by Donna S. Frelick
Favorite Dog Hero
“With part of the action taking place on Earth and part off planet, Not Fade Way has constant action that overlays the understated, but crucial romance between Charlie and Rafe. A fantastic addition the Interstellar Rescue series.”
Where to buy: Amazon
Awards and quotes from Heather Massey, SFR Galaxy Awards Co-Founder and Author
DC's Legends of Tomorrow TV series. Greg Berlanti – Executive Producer; Showrunners – Sarah Schechter and Chris Fedak. Hottest Queer Sci-Fi Romance in a Superhero Universe
“What's a sci-fi romance fan to do when her reading in 2018 took a nose dive? Why, watch DC's Legends of Tomorrow, of course! In a nutshell, Legends of Tomorrow is about the adventures of a ragtag team of B-list superheroes as they travel through time to save Earth from power-hungry villains. …For me one of the standout elements is the romance between White Canary, a.k.a. Sara Lance (Cathy Lotz) and Time Bureau Director Ava Sharpe (Jes Macallan)… Their romance, one between an ice princess and an assassin, unfolds across seasons three and four.”
Where to watch or buy: Amazon: Season 1 ~ Season 2 ~ Season 3 ~ Season 4
Awards and quotes from Lee Koven, Cyber Post Punk Love
A Treason of Truths by Ada Harper
Most Intriguing Society
“Sabine, the Quillian Empress, is invited to a Cloud Vault summit, and her spymaster Lyre knows they can’t be up to any good. She used to work for them, after all. As the two of them try to uncover the plot against Sabine, the reader can explore this complex and unique civilization.”
Where to buy: Amazon ~ Kobo Books ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Apple Books ~ Google Play
Delta V by Elsa JadeMost Unusual Heroine
“Why? Because Lindy is not your typical romance novel heroine. She’s fifty years old… This is a space cyborg cowboy romance… Elsa Jade pulled it off.”
Where to buy: Amazon ~ Kobo Books ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Apple Books ~ Google Play
Implanted by Lauren C. Teffeau
Best Mobile Phone Replacement
“The implants from Implanted magnify the risks and rewards of this. Teffeau presents the possible consequences of the evolution of smartphones.”
Where to buy: Amazon ~ Kobo Books ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Apple Books
The Queen's Gambit by Jessie Mihalik
Best Serial
“Mihalik sets up a conflict wherein the ones who pay the price for war are often those who are least responsible for it. The first season has been collected into a novella.”
Where to buy: Amazon ~ Kobo Books ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Apple Books ~ Google Play
The Protector Series by Megan HartBest Bodyguard's Buddy
“Nina, the cyborg protagonist of the series, is a compelling character. But Nina’s friend Al is perhaps more so. …Al always drives her own ship, tries to look out for those she cares for, and risks her life to fight for what she believes in. She’s a buddy all of us could use.”
Where to buy:
Dangerous Promise: Amazon ~ Kobo Books ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Apple Books ~ Google Play
Wicked Attraction: Amazon ~ Kobo Books ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Apple Books ~ Google Play
Forbidden Stranger: Amazon ~ Kobo Books ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Apple Books ~ Google Play
Awards and quotes from Marlene Harris, Reading Reality
Edge of Eon (Eon Warriors) by Anna HackettHome Again Award (Dance With the One That Brung Ya')
“…if you like sprawling space operas, evil alien bugs, disgusting bureaucrats, hot warriors, kickass heroines and saving the world, this book is a terrific introduction to a marvelous series.”
Where to buy: Amazon
Entropy by Jess Anastasi
Firefly Redux Award
“The romance between Qae the flirtatious captain and Cami the space pirate’s daughter provides the lighter moments – for select definitions of “light” – in what feels like a turning point in this multiple-award-winning SFR series.”
Where to buy: Amazon ~ Kobo Books ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Apple Books ~ Google Play
Embrace the Passion: Pets in Space 3 by S E Smith, Anna Hackett, Ruby Lionsdrake, Veronica Scott, Pauline Baird Jones, Carol Van Natta, Tiffany Roberts, Alexis Glynn Latner, E D Walker, JC Hay, and Kyndra Hatch
Meow It Again Sam Award
“This collection is a combination of stories in familiar SFR universes with stories that are always new-to-me. I always discover someone I just have to read that I haven’t met before, along with several someones who woof, meow, squeak or squawk their way into my heart from worlds that I’m already in love with.”
Where to buy: This limited-edition anthology has left the galaxy. Check author websites for if/when they will be publishing their respective story elsewhere. Look for CATS OF WAR this spring.
Nightchaser by Amanda Bouchet
Shoulda Been a Contender Award
“Nightchaser is a thrill-a-minute ride from beginning to end, and I can’t wait for the next book in the series. I won’t forget Tess and her crew in the meantime, and I want to make sure that you don’t either!”
Where to buy: Amazon ~ Kobo Books ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Apple Books ~ Google Play
Awards and quotes from Chris Stock, Roswell Daily Record
A Darkside Interlude: Darkstar Mercenaries 0.5 by Anna Carven
Short Sweet and Feisty Award
“It was hard to pick just one of last year’s releases of Anna Carven, but I think this one stands out because it is so tricky to write a short story with all characters fleshed out and not losing anything.”
Where to buy: Amazon
Rage (Alien Breed 1) by Melody Adams (Translation by Sylvia Corbisiero)Best Similar But Different Out of Africa Award
“I am a fan of human women rescuing not-so-willing aliens, alien hybrids, alien pets–you name it, I read it. Many authors have included this theme, but some are just too fun not to read. This one comes to us from an author out of Bijilo, Gambia (West Africa). … The really fun part are the side-kicks — good ones and evil ones — dangers Rage and the girl have to go through until a HEA. I loved the lingo and the bantering.”
Where to buy: Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Apple Books
Beauty's Alien Beast by Linda Mooney
Best Out-of-Space Cop Award-Despite-the-Title
“A rough, yet honorable, female intergalactic cop with some fierce mental power sees a beast-alien from a mining planet getting ambushed… Instead of being able to help him, the cop gets caught as well and knocked out. …I loved everything about this book, though I think a different title would have been a better choice.”
Where to buy: Amazon ~ Kobo Books ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Apple Books ~ Google Play
Edge of Eon (Eon Warriors Book 1) by Anna Hackett
Best Start of a New Series and Kidnapping Scene
“Anna Hackett stands for amazing books and series. Her worlds are so full and diverse that you can almost believe that they are real. …Edge of Eon is a new series with aliens, yes, but with a twist that is too good… I can’t wait for the next in the series because Eve has two equally strong sisters. “
Where to buy: Amazon
Embrace the Passion: Pets in Space 3 by S E Smith, Anna Hackett, Ruby Lionsdrake, Veronica Scott, Pauline Baird Jones, Carol Van Natta, Tiffany Roberts, Alexis Glynn Latner, E D Walker, JC Hay, and Kyndra HatchBest Continuation of an Anthology that Makes You Feel Good
“For the third time authors came together to write about what they love most: Alien love stories and alien animals or pets. Best of it, they were able to raise with the sale of the anthology funds for Hero Dogs. …[the] non-profit that improves quality of life for our nation’s heroes by raising, training, and placing service dogs and other highly skilled canines, free of charge with lifetime support of the partnerships. …These anthologies are well-done, well-written and a perfect way to find a new favorite author, not to mention alien pets.”
Where to buy: This limited-edition anthology has left the galaxy. Check author websites for if/when they will be publishing their respective story elsewhere. Look for CATS OF WAR this spring.
Awards and quotes from KJ Van Houten, WWMB Reviews
Edge of Eon (Eon Warriors Book 1) by Anna Hackett
Alpha Award: Best New Series
“This new series by amazing writer Anna Hackett has a very resourceful heroine that manages to kick the feet from under the toughest warrior in the Eon fleet and keeps him unsteady for the entire story. …Best of all, the series sets up for more stories to come in an overarching plot of humans and Eon learning to trust each other in order to fight a common enemy.”
Where to buy: Amazon
Hunted by the Cyborg by Cara Bristol
Omega Ward: Best End-of-Series
“The Cy-Ops series has been one of my favourite cyborg series to read. Throughout the entire series, Carter Aymes has been in the background, leading the cyborg effort to stop the Lamis-Odg… Carter proves he is as much of a hero as anyone that has ever stood up to terrorism.”
Where to buy: Amazon ~ Kobo Books ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Apple Books ~ Google Play
Warleader by Susan GrantPhoenix Award: Best Resurrected Series
“Susan Grant is reworking her previous Borderlands series now that she got the rights back in her own hands. Warleader is a rework of Moonstruck, which was always one of my favourite SFR novels. I hadn’t realized she could make it better, but she did.”
Where to buy: Amazon
Collision by Lea Kirk
Little Green Men Award
“OK, so Anferthians are not little, being a tall race usually 9-12 feet tall as adults, but Fander is described as “eight-foot-tall” and “still the shortest Anferthian in the bunch.” Anferthians are a powerful, green-skinned race, with a lot of sex appeal and charm, when they are not murderous, xenophobic traitors. Fander is… probably one of the sexiest aliens I read the entire year! “
Where to buy: Amazon ~ Kobo Books ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Apple Books
*Overload Flux, Minder Rising, and Jumper's Hope all won SFR Galaxy Awards.
The post 2018 SFR Galaxy Awards appeared first on Carol Van Natta - Author.
January 9, 2019
2019 Themes for the Year
My author friend S.J. Pajonas, who writes excellent Japanese-themed science fiction romance and cozy mysteries, asserts that new-year themes are better than resolutions.
I agree. I find resolutions easy to make and hard to keep. For one, I lose the list.
For another, I have a contrary streak, and “for your own good” resolutions are about as compelling as dust. Themes, on the other hand, appeal to my author sensibilities. So, this post is about my 2019 themes for the year.
But first, a brief look at 2018.
The Past is Prologue, Except When It's Not
I'm not much one for looking back in general (just ask the people who are surprised I don't remember them from high school or college, or even last week), but sometimes it's good to look at accomplishments and lessons learned. First, I now have 12 books out since Oct. 2014, when I started*. I wrote 5½ stories in 2018. The half is for the space opera novel, which I'll get to in a minute. I launched a new paranormal romance series, the Ice Age Shifters, with 4 books. These are shorter novels, just right for a free afternoon or quiet evening. Readers seem to like them, so far. I also wrote a novella, Cats of War, for the limited edition Embrace the Passion: Pets In Space 3. The anthology made the USA TODAY bestseller list for the second year in a row. And the first 4 space opera novels came out as audiobooks, courtesy Tantor Media.
The biggest lesson I learned (or perhaps re-learned) is that the universe doesn't give a flying quark about my ambitious production plans. When I should have been finishing up Dire Wolf Wanted and plunging into writing Spark Transform, the long-awaited and past-due book 5 in my space opera series, I was instead dealing with life events that required family conferences and emergency trips. Nothing catastrophic, but very stressful. That crammed the rest of my production schedule into other commitments, which meant Spark Transform was delayed yet again. Le sigh.
So in the coming year, I'm scaling back my writing plans to only 4 stories—3 paranormal romances, and 1 space opera novel. This should allow me to handle Untoward Events and still make my production schedule. I'm also transferring some of the workload to virtual assistants, graphic artists, and a book marketing specialist, Narelle Todd, of Get My Book Out There. She's very knowledgeable, extremely reliable, and ethical, all in one package. I know I'm in good hands.
As far as the future of the indie author and publishing industry, I suspect 2019 will be more of the same. New voices, new opportunities, new ways to reach readers. Vendor changes, such as Amazon's poorly-handled closure of CreateSpace and its less-than-stellar data migration last summer, are inevitable. Also, probably more episodes of Authors (and Cover Models) Behaving Badly, interspersed with occasional episodes of authors working together for the common good.
On with my 2019 themes for the year.
Step By Step
To me, “step by step” means not being distracted by or overwhelmed by the end result.
I both am and am not motivated by deadlines. They work when they're reasonable, because I like the sense of achievement. However, if I've planned too optimistically and/or have been burning the candle at both ends, then deadlines push my “f*ck off” button and I blow past them. Writing a book is work, even though we authors tend to forget that pain when our muse pops up with a shiny new inspiration. Step by step means focusing on the smaller goal: the next scene, the next chapter, to get what I want.
This also applies to my life as a whole. I'm not fond of being bored, so I find things to do. And of course, there's always day jobs, family, commitments—you know, life. If I don't take them one at a time, step by step, I end up with a dozen things in progress and none of them done.
Stick to the Plan
A related theme will be “stick to the plan.” This means following an achievable business plan. In my case, it means marketing, production, conferences, and improving both my skills and my craft. The key is the achievable part, because there are only so many hours in a day. Not accounting for stress, or unexpected trips to the vet, or the wonderful opportunity that drops in my lap means achievable goes out the window.
Organize for Success (Not the Deck Chairs)
I like organizing things. Not for the sake of it, because that's just rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.
I'm as guilty as the next person of reorganizing as a way of avoiding doing harder things. “I'll write that wrenching scene right after I sort my greeting card collection by occasion, size, and color.”
But I can predict some needs that will be streamlined if I organize things up front, rather than reinventing a process each time. So my question for any 2019 organizing task will be, “Will this bring me success later on?” That way, I hope to reduce the deck-chairs exercise.
*I usually don't count the co-authored retro science fiction comedy, Hooray for Holopticon, because it was written in and for another time. Even though it's completely and totally different than the books I write now, and the cover desperately needs updating, it still sells 6 or 7 copies a year with no marketing or mention.
Photo Credits: Unsplash.com photographers Lucent Grey, Ricardo Gomez Angel, Jon Tyson, and Alexis Montero.
The post 2019 Themes for the Year appeared first on Carol Van Natta - Author.
December 26, 2018
Happy Holidays from Me to You
Best wishes and happy holidays from me to you as we move from this year to the next.
Thank you for reading my books, and reviewing them, and recommending them to your friends. I write stories with characters and themes that resonate in my heart. They aren't always on the beaten path, so I can't tell you how happy it makes me to know that you like them, too.
I have plans for the coming year for more books in both my space opera and paranormal romance series. The schedule is still up in the air as to when the books will be coming out, but you'll be the first to know. Okay, the third. My muse tells me, I tell the cats so they can tell me which books need more felines*, and then I tell you. Of course, life is what happens when you make other plans, so things may change.
I've probably mentioned that I love being an indie author, and the biggest reason is that I get to have a direct relationship with you, my readers and fans. I listen to what you like and don't like, and want to see more of. I can't always accommodate the request right away, because of plot reasons, or figuring out how to pull it off, but I never forget them.
So, happy holidays from me to you, and best wishes for a magical new year.
_________________
*My cats insist ALL books are vastly improved by the presence of felines. I negotiate it down to about half.
P.S. If you'd like to follow me in Instagram, I'm @carol.vannatta. On Facebook, my author page is https://facebook.com/CarolVanNattaAuthor. And on Bookbub, I'm Carol Van Natta. If you're a Twitter aficionado, my apologies, but I don't seem to have the right brain for it. I am on Pinterest, though, as CarolVN_Author.
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