Maria Hammarblad's Blog, page 45
February 14, 2013
Happy Valentine's Day!
Whether you're in a relationship or on your own, Valentine's day is a good excuse to pamper yourself and your loved ones. Do something nice, and have a wonderful day!
By now you're probably wondering why I'm showing a picture of a Lego castle next to my valentine's day's greeting?
Hubby asked what I want, and I said, "Go out for dinner. What do you want?"
He said, "Lego."
What? You thought Lego was a kid's toy? Well, I guess it is, but that doesn't mean adults can't have fun with it too. It's hard to take a really good photo of his castles - they're kind of too big to fit - but they're amazing.
Oopsie, I got a little sidetracked there. I wanted to tell you that if you need something to read for Valentine's day, I have a couple of freebees.
Courage and Retribution is a prequel to my novel Kidnapped, available free from my publisher. It's not all that romantic - it's kinda short - but it is a scifi romance.
Here's a little excerpt:
The wooden staircase creaked under William's feet. he squinted into the basement's complete darkness, remembered the flashlight in his hand, and made his way to a bare light bulb hanging from the ceiling. Its light didn't reach all the way into the corners of the room, and it sent strange shadows crawling over the walls.He kept his head bent; he was too tall to stand straight in the confined space. "It's not elegant, but should be safe enough for now."
Three dirty faces turned toward him with faith shining from their eyes, and he swallowed hard. What if he couldn't live up to their trust? No, he couldn't afford to think like that. He started down this road and there was no going back.
A female hand clutched his. It was small and cold and made him want to protect her. "Thank you. I don't know what we'd do without you."
He cupped his hands around hers. "I have to go. The congregation will be here soon. You just stay put down here, okay?"
Taking a glance around the bare room, he exhaled through his teeth. There had to be a better place to hide the family than this dank cellar, but he couldn't think of anything. "I'm sorry it's not nicer."
The woman made a dismissive gesture. "We're alive."
I'm also giving Embarkment 2577 away for Valentine's day. If you read it, remember the first novella is written kinda tongue in cheek. Don't take it too seriously. ;-)
Here's a brief excerpt!
I plodded out of bed, slipped on a robe, and stared at the person in the mirror. “You need to start taking care of yourself.”Not even an imaginary voice answered.
“You can’t rely on other people to do everything for you. Go make breakfast.”
Good advice. With such brilliant intelligence, talking to myself might be a splendid idea. Maybe I should do it more often.
A green light blinked on the replicator unit, and I decided to regard it an invitation. “Hi computer. I would very much like a cup of coffee and a croissant, please.”
The machine hummed to life, and presented a weird-looking piece of blue bread and a cup of liquid that smelled like chicken soup. I tasted the bread, and spit the piece out as quickly as it entered my mouth. “This is hideous!”
I was sure Adam used this device to feed me every morning, every evening, and sometimes in the middle of the day.
I dumped everything in the recycling unit and tried again. “Hmm, you’re sneaky, aren’t you? You gave me the equivalent for some weird alien species. I’m human, okay. Please give me a cappuccino and a French croissant.”
The panel hummed and I could almost taste the coffee. It gave me a grayish goo vaguely reminiscent of spoiled oatmeal.
That's it for me for today. However you choose to spend the day, I hope you have a wonderful time!
February 13, 2013
Interview with multi-talented Roxanne Rhoads
For my first book release, I turned to Bewitching Book Tours to get some help with promotions, and I've stuck with the company since; they do a fantastic job. I soon discovered that talented publicist Roxanne Rhoads has more than marketing on her plate; she is also a great writer taking readers into sizzling journeys into the supernatural. Today, it is my pleasure to welcome her to my blog! Oooh, by the way, her book Hex and the Single Witch is available free on Amazon February 13 and 14, so if you haven't grabbed it yet, now's a good time.
Welcome Roxanne Rhoads!
Roxanne, I am happy to have you here today. Please tell us your latest news.
Thank you for having me.
I have a few things in the works for 2013 (if I can manage to finish them). I have a series of erotic poetry eBooks I plan to publish along with book two in the Vehicle City Vampires series.
I have read your book Hex and the Single Witch – and have a bad conscience for not writing a review yet. How did you decide to write about witches, vampires, and other supernatural occurrences?
They’ve always been a part of me. Even when I was a kid I gravitated towards anything that had ghosts, witches and whatnot in them (The Munsters, The Addams Family, Scooby Doo, and any book that was spooky or otherworldly). Then when I was 10 or 11 I found Anne Rice’s Interview with a Vampire at a garage sale, and that made vampires my number one obsession.
Besides authoring, you also run your own company and have a family. Do you have any tips to share for combining these different roles?
Organization and time management. I have to-do lists and files that keep me on track and I try to stick to a schedule and routine every day. Of course with kids I have to be flexible because there are always doctor appointments, parent teacher conferences, and snow days but luckily my husband’s job is also very flexible so we can trade off on appointments and kid duties. It’s nice that neither of us have a 9-5pm stuck in a building job. It makes having a life and family time a lot easier to fit in with work schedules and responsibilities.
Please tell us about your latest book. I love that cover, by the way!
Hex and the Single Witch
Vehicle City Vampires Book One
By Roxanne Rhoads
Publisher: Bewitching Books
Genre: Paranormal Romance / Urban Fantasy
Word Count: 83,000
Anwyn Rose is descended from a long line of powerful witches yet she can barely cast spells young witchlings have mastered. She has one functioning witch gift, the power of knowing, which she puts to good use as a Detective on Flint’s Preternatural Investigation Team.
It’s a new era in Vehicle City, supernaturals are running the town.
The P.I.T has their hands full with paranormal crimes. Top priority is a serial killer, who appears to be a vampire, draining young women in the city.
Anwyn is on the case with her sexy partner Detective Mike Malone. Complicating things is her relationship Galen, a vampire who looks more guilty than innocent, although Anwyn trusts her instincts even if her power is on the fritz.
Mysterious spells, compromising situations, and a possible demon on the loose make it hard to focus on the case, but Anwyn has to make things right before the human police execute the wrong vampire.
Hex and the Single Witch contains magick, a little bit of mystery, a lot of supernatural mayhem, and a sexy love triangle that will leave you wanting more.
Check it out for Amazon Kindle
Who is your favorite author, and what really strikes you about their work?
Oh man that’s hard. I have a huge list of favorites- Kim Harrison, Jeaniene Frost, Darynda Jones, Juliet Blackwell, Annette Blair, Chloe Neill….I am an eclectic reader and all of these authors have grabbed my attention and kept it for various reasons. Kim Harrison’s books are character and plot driven and keep me wanting more; Jeaniene Frost… the relationship between Cat and Bones is swoon worthy; Darynda Jones has a wacky sense of humor that had me laughing out loud within two pages of her first Grave book; being an antique buff I love Juliet Blackwell’s weaving of historical homes and vintage clothing in her mysteries; Annette Blair also weaves magic and vintage clothing in her vintage magic series plus Annette’s humor had me hooked with the first book I read of hers, The Kitchen Witch.
Is there a single book or author that made you want to write?
No, I think I was born with a pen in my hand. Books have always been a part of my life, so has writing. Growing up I wrote for all the school publications and I won numerous essay contests. I even won a scholarship to college from a local newspaper. Ink runs through my veins.
I read a funny story on your Facebook wall one day about your husband trying to explain a book he read, and it turned out to be one of yours. That had me chuckling for a long time. Does your family generally read your books?
My husband does. Since many of my books have erotic content the kids don’t get to read those (obviously) yet though my daughter is waiting impatiently (she’s almost 14). I have other non-fiction and poetry that they do read though. I’m happy to share that with the family. My mom has taken my non-fiction and magazines to the senior center with her to show them off to her friends. ;-)
Do you have a favorite object pertinent to your writing? (Pen, coffee cup, pet, blanket, chair…?)
My comfy corner and my office chair- that’s my work zone. It has a great view of the woods behind my house. I can watch squirrels and birds play all day long.
Do your fictional characters develop on their own, or do you have their lives planned out in advance?
They develop on their own, sometimes in ways I am totally against. In Hex and the Single Witch Mike Malone totally high jacked the story. He was never supposed to be a love interest for Anwyn. Apparently he had other ideas.
Do you base any of your characters personalities off people you know, and if so, do you tell them?
Most of my characters are a mixed up mash of many people I know tossed in with some fiction. Many of my heroines display some of my traits mixed with traits I wish I had ;-), some of the villians are based on an ex or two, and then there’s my mother…yeah some of her traits get thrown into the mother roles. But for the most part I’d say the characters are 85% percent complete fiction.
Hahaha, creating villains out of exes, that's hilarious and a great idea. Tell us about your all-time favorite character (of your creating.) Is he/she modeled after a real person?
Mike Malone has to be my favorite because he has layers. And there’s no angst or drama like with the vampires. Plus he developed on his own. He was a side character that popped up and said “hey here I am, I’m not staying on the sidelines.” And he hasn’t. Much to my surprise he turned out to be a real hero and an awesome guy. I’m looking forward to more of Mike in the upcoming Vehicle City Vampires books.
Of all the wonderful pieces you’ve written (Please list them all so I don’t miss one or worse, misspell one), which is your favorite?
That’s hard. I think A Halloween to Remember may be my favorite because it was so much fun to write. I went a little wild on that one. It can be purchased as en book by itself and it appears in my anthology Paranormal Pleasures.
Book List with publisher:
Hex and the Single Witch, Bewitching Books
Paranormal Pleasures Ten Tales of Supernatural Seduction, Bewitching Books
Sinister Seductions, Crushing Hearts Black Butterfly
Complete Circle, Noble Romance
An Unexpected Evening, Noble Romance
No Place I'd Rather Be, Noble Romance
Naughty Little Forest Nymph, Xcite Books
Eternal Desire, Eternal Press
Insatiable, Eternal Press
Tasty Christmas Treats, Eternal Press
Erotic Dreamspell, L&L Dreamspell
A Halloween To Remember, Excessica
Lust Bites, Xcite Books
Daily Flashes of Erotica Quarterly 2, Pill Hill Press
Spirit Lovers 2, Xcite Books
Candy Cane Thrills, Xcite Books
Seriously Sexy Stocking Filler, Xcite Books
Red Hot Reads 3, Xcite Books
Like That Spark, Circlet Press
Lasting Lust, Ravenous Romance
Dark Pleasures, Mélange Books
Torrid Teasers Volume 59, Whiskey Creek Press-Torrid
Alfresco Loving, Xcite Books
Of Leather & Lace, Firefly and Wisp
Everything Erotic: The Best of Short Fiction 2011, Red Hot Publishing
Bella Morte: A Beautiful Death Anthology, Hot Ink Press
Wow, that's an impressive list. Thank you so much for stopping by today! :-)
About Roxanne:
Story strumpet, tome loving tart, eccentric night owl...these words describe book publicist and erotic romance author Roxanne Rhoads.
When not fulfilling one the many roles being a wife and mother of three require, Roxanne's world revolves around words...reading them, writing them, editing them, and talking about them. In addition to writing her own stories she loves to read, promote and review what others write.
Roxanne is the owner of Bewitching Book Tours and operates Fang-tastic Books, a book blog dedicated to paranormal and urban fantasy books.
When not reading, writing, or promoting Roxanne loves to hang out with her family, craft, garden and search for unique vintage finds.
See more of Roxanne:
Author blog: www.roxannesrealm.blogspot.com
Book Blog: www.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com
Bewitching Book Tours: www.bewitchingbooktours.blogspot.com,
Facebook: www.facebook.com/RoxanneRhoads
http://www.facebook.com/BewitchingBooktours
http://www.facebook.com/RoxanneRhoadsAuthor
http://www.facebook.com/FangtasticBooks
Twitter: @RoxanneRhoads
Roxanne can also be found on Linked In, Goodreads and Google+
Welcome Roxanne Rhoads!
Roxanne, I am happy to have you here today. Please tell us your latest news.
Thank you for having me.I have a few things in the works for 2013 (if I can manage to finish them). I have a series of erotic poetry eBooks I plan to publish along with book two in the Vehicle City Vampires series.
I have read your book Hex and the Single Witch – and have a bad conscience for not writing a review yet. How did you decide to write about witches, vampires, and other supernatural occurrences?
They’ve always been a part of me. Even when I was a kid I gravitated towards anything that had ghosts, witches and whatnot in them (The Munsters, The Addams Family, Scooby Doo, and any book that was spooky or otherworldly). Then when I was 10 or 11 I found Anne Rice’s Interview with a Vampire at a garage sale, and that made vampires my number one obsession.
Besides authoring, you also run your own company and have a family. Do you have any tips to share for combining these different roles?
Organization and time management. I have to-do lists and files that keep me on track and I try to stick to a schedule and routine every day. Of course with kids I have to be flexible because there are always doctor appointments, parent teacher conferences, and snow days but luckily my husband’s job is also very flexible so we can trade off on appointments and kid duties. It’s nice that neither of us have a 9-5pm stuck in a building job. It makes having a life and family time a lot easier to fit in with work schedules and responsibilities.
Please tell us about your latest book. I love that cover, by the way!
Hex and the Single Witch Vehicle City Vampires Book One
By Roxanne Rhoads
Publisher: Bewitching Books
Genre: Paranormal Romance / Urban Fantasy
Word Count: 83,000
Anwyn Rose is descended from a long line of powerful witches yet she can barely cast spells young witchlings have mastered. She has one functioning witch gift, the power of knowing, which she puts to good use as a Detective on Flint’s Preternatural Investigation Team.
It’s a new era in Vehicle City, supernaturals are running the town.
The P.I.T has their hands full with paranormal crimes. Top priority is a serial killer, who appears to be a vampire, draining young women in the city.
Anwyn is on the case with her sexy partner Detective Mike Malone. Complicating things is her relationship Galen, a vampire who looks more guilty than innocent, although Anwyn trusts her instincts even if her power is on the fritz.
Mysterious spells, compromising situations, and a possible demon on the loose make it hard to focus on the case, but Anwyn has to make things right before the human police execute the wrong vampire.
Hex and the Single Witch contains magick, a little bit of mystery, a lot of supernatural mayhem, and a sexy love triangle that will leave you wanting more.
Check it out for Amazon Kindle
Who is your favorite author, and what really strikes you about their work?
Oh man that’s hard. I have a huge list of favorites- Kim Harrison, Jeaniene Frost, Darynda Jones, Juliet Blackwell, Annette Blair, Chloe Neill….I am an eclectic reader and all of these authors have grabbed my attention and kept it for various reasons. Kim Harrison’s books are character and plot driven and keep me wanting more; Jeaniene Frost… the relationship between Cat and Bones is swoon worthy; Darynda Jones has a wacky sense of humor that had me laughing out loud within two pages of her first Grave book; being an antique buff I love Juliet Blackwell’s weaving of historical homes and vintage clothing in her mysteries; Annette Blair also weaves magic and vintage clothing in her vintage magic series plus Annette’s humor had me hooked with the first book I read of hers, The Kitchen Witch.
Is there a single book or author that made you want to write?
No, I think I was born with a pen in my hand. Books have always been a part of my life, so has writing. Growing up I wrote for all the school publications and I won numerous essay contests. I even won a scholarship to college from a local newspaper. Ink runs through my veins.
I read a funny story on your Facebook wall one day about your husband trying to explain a book he read, and it turned out to be one of yours. That had me chuckling for a long time. Does your family generally read your books?
My husband does. Since many of my books have erotic content the kids don’t get to read those (obviously) yet though my daughter is waiting impatiently (she’s almost 14). I have other non-fiction and poetry that they do read though. I’m happy to share that with the family. My mom has taken my non-fiction and magazines to the senior center with her to show them off to her friends. ;-)
Do you have a favorite object pertinent to your writing? (Pen, coffee cup, pet, blanket, chair…?)
My comfy corner and my office chair- that’s my work zone. It has a great view of the woods behind my house. I can watch squirrels and birds play all day long.
Do your fictional characters develop on their own, or do you have their lives planned out in advance?
They develop on their own, sometimes in ways I am totally against. In Hex and the Single Witch Mike Malone totally high jacked the story. He was never supposed to be a love interest for Anwyn. Apparently he had other ideas.
Do you base any of your characters personalities off people you know, and if so, do you tell them?
Most of my characters are a mixed up mash of many people I know tossed in with some fiction. Many of my heroines display some of my traits mixed with traits I wish I had ;-), some of the villians are based on an ex or two, and then there’s my mother…yeah some of her traits get thrown into the mother roles. But for the most part I’d say the characters are 85% percent complete fiction.
Hahaha, creating villains out of exes, that's hilarious and a great idea. Tell us about your all-time favorite character (of your creating.) Is he/she modeled after a real person?
Mike Malone has to be my favorite because he has layers. And there’s no angst or drama like with the vampires. Plus he developed on his own. He was a side character that popped up and said “hey here I am, I’m not staying on the sidelines.” And he hasn’t. Much to my surprise he turned out to be a real hero and an awesome guy. I’m looking forward to more of Mike in the upcoming Vehicle City Vampires books.
Of all the wonderful pieces you’ve written (Please list them all so I don’t miss one or worse, misspell one), which is your favorite?
That’s hard. I think A Halloween to Remember may be my favorite because it was so much fun to write. I went a little wild on that one. It can be purchased as en book by itself and it appears in my anthology Paranormal Pleasures.
Book List with publisher:
Hex and the Single Witch, Bewitching Books
Paranormal Pleasures Ten Tales of Supernatural Seduction, Bewitching Books
Sinister Seductions, Crushing Hearts Black Butterfly
Complete Circle, Noble Romance
An Unexpected Evening, Noble Romance
No Place I'd Rather Be, Noble Romance
Naughty Little Forest Nymph, Xcite Books
Eternal Desire, Eternal Press
Insatiable, Eternal Press
Tasty Christmas Treats, Eternal Press
Erotic Dreamspell, L&L Dreamspell
A Halloween To Remember, Excessica
Lust Bites, Xcite Books
Daily Flashes of Erotica Quarterly 2, Pill Hill Press
Spirit Lovers 2, Xcite Books
Candy Cane Thrills, Xcite Books
Seriously Sexy Stocking Filler, Xcite Books
Red Hot Reads 3, Xcite Books
Like That Spark, Circlet Press
Lasting Lust, Ravenous Romance
Dark Pleasures, Mélange Books
Torrid Teasers Volume 59, Whiskey Creek Press-Torrid
Alfresco Loving, Xcite Books
Of Leather & Lace, Firefly and Wisp
Everything Erotic: The Best of Short Fiction 2011, Red Hot Publishing
Bella Morte: A Beautiful Death Anthology, Hot Ink Press
Wow, that's an impressive list. Thank you so much for stopping by today! :-)
About Roxanne:
Story strumpet, tome loving tart, eccentric night owl...these words describe book publicist and erotic romance author Roxanne Rhoads.
When not fulfilling one the many roles being a wife and mother of three require, Roxanne's world revolves around words...reading them, writing them, editing them, and talking about them. In addition to writing her own stories she loves to read, promote and review what others write.
Roxanne is the owner of Bewitching Book Tours and operates Fang-tastic Books, a book blog dedicated to paranormal and urban fantasy books.
When not reading, writing, or promoting Roxanne loves to hang out with her family, craft, garden and search for unique vintage finds.
See more of Roxanne:
Author blog: www.roxannesrealm.blogspot.com
Book Blog: www.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com
Bewitching Book Tours: www.bewitchingbooktours.blogspot.com,
Facebook: www.facebook.com/RoxanneRhoads
http://www.facebook.com/BewitchingBooktours
http://www.facebook.com/RoxanneRhoadsAuthor
http://www.facebook.com/FangtasticBooks
Twitter: @RoxanneRhoads
Roxanne can also be found on Linked In, Goodreads and Google+
February 11, 2013
Cover reveal for Matt Betts' new novel!
Time for a new cover reveal for the friends over at Dog Star Books. This book is steampunk/alternate history, and I'm already curious!
Odd Men Out
Fighting for survival in a post-Civil War America overrun by zombies, Cyrus and Lucinda join a military group called the Odd Men Out, and together they face a terrorist army from the North in a showdown over a weapon of enormous power.
The Civil War went on far longer than anyone expected, prompting the North and South to call a truce to fight their common enemy: The Chewers – dead men come to life to attack the living. As a result, a peacekeeping force called the Office of Military Operations is created to watch over the tenuous peace.
Cyrus Joseph Spencer didn’t fight in the war and couldn’t care less about the United Nations of America that resulted from it. His main concern is making money and protecting his crew from all manner of danger. To escape a horrible tragedy, Cyrus and one of his wards, Lucinda, board a U.N. dirigible for safety. They quickly discover their situation has not improved as the U.N. team is chasing a group of rogue soldiers in hopes of stopping them from obtaining a terrible weapon.
They also have to contend with a larger threat - Drago del Vapore – a giant lizard attacking the West Coast and wreaking havoc on everything it encounters. As the two sides face off against each other and the huge beast, Cyrus feels more and more like an Odd Man Out and finds it harder and harder to stay out of the fight.
Author: Matt Betts http://zombiewrangler.blogspot.com
Cover Artist: Bradley Sharp http://www.bradsharp.co.uk/
Publisher: Dog Star Books http://dogstarbooks.blogspot.com
Genre: Steampunk/Alternate history
Release: July 2013
Odd Men Out
Fighting for survival in a post-Civil War America overrun by zombies, Cyrus and Lucinda join a military group called the Odd Men Out, and together they face a terrorist army from the North in a showdown over a weapon of enormous power.
The Civil War went on far longer than anyone expected, prompting the North and South to call a truce to fight their common enemy: The Chewers – dead men come to life to attack the living. As a result, a peacekeeping force called the Office of Military Operations is created to watch over the tenuous peace.Cyrus Joseph Spencer didn’t fight in the war and couldn’t care less about the United Nations of America that resulted from it. His main concern is making money and protecting his crew from all manner of danger. To escape a horrible tragedy, Cyrus and one of his wards, Lucinda, board a U.N. dirigible for safety. They quickly discover their situation has not improved as the U.N. team is chasing a group of rogue soldiers in hopes of stopping them from obtaining a terrible weapon.
They also have to contend with a larger threat - Drago del Vapore – a giant lizard attacking the West Coast and wreaking havoc on everything it encounters. As the two sides face off against each other and the huge beast, Cyrus feels more and more like an Odd Man Out and finds it harder and harder to stay out of the fight.
Author: Matt Betts http://zombiewrangler.blogspot.com
Cover Artist: Bradley Sharp http://www.bradsharp.co.uk/
Publisher: Dog Star Books http://dogstarbooks.blogspot.com
Genre: Steampunk/Alternate history
Release: July 2013
Overly lively characters
I don't know if other writers are like this, or if it's just me, but my head is filled with imaginary people. They're a mix of genders and ages, and all live extremely interesting lives. Sometimes they argue, and sometimes they start arguing with me. Can you believe the nerve?
"But I don't like him."
"And I don't want to die. I don't deserve that."
"There's no way you're locking me into that closet."
"Seriously, have you seen the size of these spiders?"
"Why do I have to be the prisoner? I'm always the prisoner."
"Hey, I've got this great idea!"
On and on it goes. Sometimes they wake me up at night to tell me something that happens in their stories. That's not too bad, actually, because they usually know before I do. Other nights, they're just chaotic. (Funny how that always coincides with having coffee too late in the evening, LOL!)
When it's way past midnight and they're all nattering about at least five different storylines, the inner me has to put her foot down. "Enough! Everyone go to bed! All heroines are sleeping soundly in arms of their heroes, be quiet!"
Works better than one would think. LOL!
"But I don't like him."
"And I don't want to die. I don't deserve that."
"There's no way you're locking me into that closet."
"Seriously, have you seen the size of these spiders?"
"Why do I have to be the prisoner? I'm always the prisoner."
"Hey, I've got this great idea!"
On and on it goes. Sometimes they wake me up at night to tell me something that happens in their stories. That's not too bad, actually, because they usually know before I do. Other nights, they're just chaotic. (Funny how that always coincides with having coffee too late in the evening, LOL!)
When it's way past midnight and they're all nattering about at least five different storylines, the inner me has to put her foot down. "Enough! Everyone go to bed! All heroines are sleeping soundly in arms of their heroes, be quiet!"
Works better than one would think. LOL!
February 10, 2013
Like-button
I stumbled over this really funny picture the other day. First I chuckled, and then I thought of how puzzled I am when using other websites that don't have Like-buttons. The urge to click "like" to say "I agree with what you're saying, but I don't really have a comment" has become deeply rooted. Does this happen to you too, or am I the only one indoctrinated with Facebook?
February 9, 2013
I read. Shocking, isn't it?
Lately, I've had some problems with Amazon deleting my reviews. I contacted them and pointed out that as a writer I also know how to read, and I consider myself entitled to an opinion. They wrote back and said they're removing all reviews where the reviewer might have a financial stake in the object reviewed. Sure I have a great financial stake in liking the books of author's I haven't even talked to online, even less know in real life. *cough*
I could see their point if I wrote horrible reviews of competitors books, but that's not how I roll. Seriously, my mother taught me "If you can't say something good it's better to say nothing at all." Even if I don't like something other people might, and I try to always find something positive to say. If I don't like anything about a book I'd rather keep my mouth shut, and I generally don't write reviews giving less than three stars.
When it comes to products that fall apart within two minutes of delivery I can be a little harsher, but not when it's about books. Someone poured a little part of themselves into writing, and differing tastes is no reason to be rude.
What do you think? Agree? Disagree?
I could see their point if I wrote horrible reviews of competitors books, but that's not how I roll. Seriously, my mother taught me "If you can't say something good it's better to say nothing at all." Even if I don't like something other people might, and I try to always find something positive to say. If I don't like anything about a book I'd rather keep my mouth shut, and I generally don't write reviews giving less than three stars.
When it comes to products that fall apart within two minutes of delivery I can be a little harsher, but not when it's about books. Someone poured a little part of themselves into writing, and differing tastes is no reason to be rude.
What do you think? Agree? Disagree?
February 8, 2013
The SFR Brigade presents...
Happy day, it is time for another SFR Brigade presents! I love excuses to share snippets from my works in progress, and doing it together with other scifi romance writers makes it even better. Don't forget to visit the brigade page for links to the other participants. There are so many talented writers in this group, I'm sure you'll find something you like. :-)
While I'm at it telling you to click stuff, there is a Science Fiction Romance Brigade Fanpage on Facebook. If you're interested in scifi romance, this is a great page to follow for news.
Anyway, time to talk about me, me, meeeee! (LOL!!!) Desert Breeze Publishing has a series of novellas called Borealis. They are all set around a decrepit space station at a point in time where humanity has spread over the galaxy, and the series fascinates me. All the stories interweave, but they're written by very different people in different styles, giving different points of view. Some are laugh out loud funny, some are thought provoking, some are sexy, and others are cute.
When I got the opportunity to participate with a novella, I jumped up and down and clapped my hands! Mine will be Borealis XII, and I think it's scheduled for release in November. Thus far I've written the beginning and the end. I know what happens in the middle, but I haven't had time to put it into words just yet.
Theresa pulled her feet up under her. The room probably wasn’t cold, but she still had to suppress shivers. “I wish we weren’t going to Borealis.”
“Trust me, you’re not the only one.”
Interesting. Captain Geo rarely answered when she spoke, even if he was right next to her, and she sometimes forgot what his voice sounded like.
Why is he standing guard inside the room anyway? He’s usually on the other side of the door. Oh well, maybe he needs company too.
She turned to meet his eyes and lifted an eyebrow. “Did something happen to you there?”
He stood right beside the door with his feet apart and his hands on his back, looking authoritative and unafraid. “Something happens to everyone who sets foot there. You too, am I correct?”
February 7, 2013
Guest post by Pippa Jay; her favorite books from 2012!
Today, scifi romance writer Pippa Jay treats us to a guest post! Yay! She'll return to the blog with an interview this spring. I'm already looking forward to it!
Pippa Jay has the pen!
Last year I read some great books, but I wanted to share three of my top science fiction romance titles from 2012 (and you can see all my reviews on Goodreads if you’d like to know what else I recommend).
Unacceptable Risk by Jeanette Grey.
Blurb:
She may learn to live for love…if vengeance doesn’t kill her first.
Plix spends her lonely, gritty life trying to solve the mysteries her father left behind. Armed with a variety of cybernetic enhancements and a talent for getting into places she shouldn’t be, she searches for clues to his murder—and who’s responsible for poisoning her city.
Waking up on a street corner with her brain wiring fried to a crisp, she figures she must have gotten close this time. There’s only one man she trusts to pull her back from the brink: a tuner who can retrieve the evidence hidden deep in the recesses of her mind. A man she dares not let too close to her heart.
When Edison downloads a secret SynDate schematic from Plix’s burnt-out circuitry, he knows with dreadful finality that nothing—not even the fiery kiss he’s been holding back for years—will stop her from pursuing her quest past the point of insanity.
All he can do, as he helps her plan her final mission, is ease her pain, watch her back…and hope one of them doesn’t pay with their lives.
This story absolutely tore my heart out. Plix puts on such a front of determined, unemotional stubborness, and yet underneath you know what a fragile, broken thing she really is. And it's done so skilfully that there's no temptation to roll your eyes and go 'get over yourself'. I so wanted Plix to get her HEA.
I was a bit nervous about reading cyberpunk - I've read scifi all my life, devouring Arthur C Clarke, Robert Heinlein and Frank Herbert in my teens - but these days I find very tech heavy stuff more of a struggle. But the tech in this was enough to give a real feel and weight to the story without overwhelming me with details. I understood enough to make sense of the cyber world that Plix inhabited without being pulled out of the story. And the romance? Even reading solely from Plix's POV, you could feel Edison's own turmoil even as Plix herself seemed to misinterpret it - even turn a blind eye to it.
Her personal quest and her own feelings of insecurity due to the scars left by her modification kept the romantic tension close to snapping point. UR was one of those books that had me shouting at the protagonist in frustration. For me this book was over far too quickly, but not because anything had been missed out or skimped on. No, simply because I loved the characters and I didn't want to say goodbye.
Published by Samhain Publishing.
Even Villains fall in Love by Liana Brooks.
Blurb:
A super villain at the top of his game must choose between the world he wants and the woman he loves. If you believe the rumors you know that Doctor Charm, the wickedly sexy super villain, retired in shame seven years ago after his last fight with the super hero Zephyr Girl. The fact that the charming Evan Smith - father of four and husband of the too-beautiful-to-be-real Tabitha - bears a resemblance to the defeated Doctor is pure coincidence. And, please, ignore the minions.
Everything is perfect in the Smith household, until Tabitha announces her return to work as a super hero. Evan was hoping to keep her distracted until after he rigged the 2012 presidential election, but - genius that he is - Evan has a backup plan. In his basement lab, Evan has a machine whose sole purpose is keeping Tabitha hungry for him. But children and labs don't mix. The machine is broken, and Tabitha storms out, claiming she no longer knows him.
World domination takes a back seat to meeting his daughters' demands to get Mommy back right now. This time his genius isn't going to be enough - he's going to need both his evil alter-ego, and the blooming super abilities of his children to save his wife. But even his most charming self might not be enough to save their marriage.
I'd been waiting eagerly on this book after reading the blurb as part of the SFR Brigade's 2012 Pitch Contest. I've never been a superhero fan as such - I'm afraid Superman, Batman and Spiderman all leave me cold, but this read like something between the more intriguing universe of X-men (big fan of those films btw) and a touch of the mocking humour of Austin Powers (namely Dr.Evil as a less handsome version of Liana's Doctor Charm).
I've never mastered the art of writing snark or funny and Liana has a real talent for it. This had all the tongue in cheek humour of the classic cult superhero comics with a truly bittersweet and romantic edge. I loved the premise of the supervillain marrying the superheroine, although this story does a good twist that clearly shows the real villain of the piece.
Sweet, sexy (without a load of explicit bedroom scenes to carry the point), heartbreaking in places yet with an edge of humour all the way through. It's even inspired me to try my own hand at a superhero story, although I don't think I can ever match up to the standard of this one.
Published by Breathless Press
Ambasadora by Heidi Ruby Miller.
Blurb:
The Ambasadora-verse...a new futuristic romance series.
If everyone told you love wasn't real, would you still be willing to die for it?
Sara Mendoza and Sean Cryer are.
Sara is part of the Embassy's plan. Captured, tortured, and falsely accused of treason, she is given a chance to win back her freedom. She only needs to charm information from one of the fragger leaders, then kill him. But by the time she figures out the Embassy's intel is flawed and that Sean Cryer is her true mark, she's already in love with him.
Sean knows why Sara is on his ship from the start, but as a lonely, anti-social doser, he doesn't value his life, only his ideology within the fragger organization. Against his better judgment, he becomes her protector, each day caring more about a future he was always afraid to hope for.
This was an incredibly complex bit of world building (sometimes a bit too complex) with so much romantic tension strung through it that it had me racing to learn if the two central characters would ever get their HEA, or even a HFA. The ending is bittersweet - but no spoilers!
There's a bit of cyberpunk in with the space opera, a nice secondary romance, espionage, double crossing, betrayal, addiction - and I loved the intra-tat. The pace never slackens, and sometimes I found I lost track of characters, but I can't wait for the sequel.
Published by Union City Publishing
So what were your favourite books from last year?
A stay-at-home mum of three who spent twelve years working as an Analytical Chemist in a Metals and Minerals laboratory, Pippa Jay bases her stories on a lifetime addiction to science-fiction books and films. Somewhere along the line a touch of romance crept into her work and refused to leave.
In between torturing her various characters, she spends the odd free moments trying to learn guitar, indulging in freestyle street dance and drinking high-caffeine coffee.
Although happily settled in historical Colchester in the UK with her husband of 19 years, she continues to roam the rest of the Universe in her head.
Pippa Jay is a member of the SFR Brigade, a community of science fiction romance authors dedicated to the writing and promoting of the very best of the genre.
Stalk her here: BlogGoodreadsTwitterFacebook
Pippa Jay has the pen!
Last year I read some great books, but I wanted to share three of my top science fiction romance titles from 2012 (and you can see all my reviews on Goodreads if you’d like to know what else I recommend).
Unacceptable Risk by Jeanette Grey.
Blurb:She may learn to live for love…if vengeance doesn’t kill her first.
Plix spends her lonely, gritty life trying to solve the mysteries her father left behind. Armed with a variety of cybernetic enhancements and a talent for getting into places she shouldn’t be, she searches for clues to his murder—and who’s responsible for poisoning her city.
Waking up on a street corner with her brain wiring fried to a crisp, she figures she must have gotten close this time. There’s only one man she trusts to pull her back from the brink: a tuner who can retrieve the evidence hidden deep in the recesses of her mind. A man she dares not let too close to her heart.
When Edison downloads a secret SynDate schematic from Plix’s burnt-out circuitry, he knows with dreadful finality that nothing—not even the fiery kiss he’s been holding back for years—will stop her from pursuing her quest past the point of insanity.
All he can do, as he helps her plan her final mission, is ease her pain, watch her back…and hope one of them doesn’t pay with their lives.
This story absolutely tore my heart out. Plix puts on such a front of determined, unemotional stubborness, and yet underneath you know what a fragile, broken thing she really is. And it's done so skilfully that there's no temptation to roll your eyes and go 'get over yourself'. I so wanted Plix to get her HEA.
I was a bit nervous about reading cyberpunk - I've read scifi all my life, devouring Arthur C Clarke, Robert Heinlein and Frank Herbert in my teens - but these days I find very tech heavy stuff more of a struggle. But the tech in this was enough to give a real feel and weight to the story without overwhelming me with details. I understood enough to make sense of the cyber world that Plix inhabited without being pulled out of the story. And the romance? Even reading solely from Plix's POV, you could feel Edison's own turmoil even as Plix herself seemed to misinterpret it - even turn a blind eye to it.
Her personal quest and her own feelings of insecurity due to the scars left by her modification kept the romantic tension close to snapping point. UR was one of those books that had me shouting at the protagonist in frustration. For me this book was over far too quickly, but not because anything had been missed out or skimped on. No, simply because I loved the characters and I didn't want to say goodbye.
Published by Samhain Publishing.
Even Villains fall in Love by Liana Brooks.
Blurb: A super villain at the top of his game must choose between the world he wants and the woman he loves. If you believe the rumors you know that Doctor Charm, the wickedly sexy super villain, retired in shame seven years ago after his last fight with the super hero Zephyr Girl. The fact that the charming Evan Smith - father of four and husband of the too-beautiful-to-be-real Tabitha - bears a resemblance to the defeated Doctor is pure coincidence. And, please, ignore the minions.
Everything is perfect in the Smith household, until Tabitha announces her return to work as a super hero. Evan was hoping to keep her distracted until after he rigged the 2012 presidential election, but - genius that he is - Evan has a backup plan. In his basement lab, Evan has a machine whose sole purpose is keeping Tabitha hungry for him. But children and labs don't mix. The machine is broken, and Tabitha storms out, claiming she no longer knows him.
World domination takes a back seat to meeting his daughters' demands to get Mommy back right now. This time his genius isn't going to be enough - he's going to need both his evil alter-ego, and the blooming super abilities of his children to save his wife. But even his most charming self might not be enough to save their marriage.
I'd been waiting eagerly on this book after reading the blurb as part of the SFR Brigade's 2012 Pitch Contest. I've never been a superhero fan as such - I'm afraid Superman, Batman and Spiderman all leave me cold, but this read like something between the more intriguing universe of X-men (big fan of those films btw) and a touch of the mocking humour of Austin Powers (namely Dr.Evil as a less handsome version of Liana's Doctor Charm).
I've never mastered the art of writing snark or funny and Liana has a real talent for it. This had all the tongue in cheek humour of the classic cult superhero comics with a truly bittersweet and romantic edge. I loved the premise of the supervillain marrying the superheroine, although this story does a good twist that clearly shows the real villain of the piece.
Sweet, sexy (without a load of explicit bedroom scenes to carry the point), heartbreaking in places yet with an edge of humour all the way through. It's even inspired me to try my own hand at a superhero story, although I don't think I can ever match up to the standard of this one.
Published by Breathless Press
Ambasadora by Heidi Ruby Miller.
Blurb:
The Ambasadora-verse...a new futuristic romance series.
If everyone told you love wasn't real, would you still be willing to die for it?
Sara Mendoza and Sean Cryer are.
Sara is part of the Embassy's plan. Captured, tortured, and falsely accused of treason, she is given a chance to win back her freedom. She only needs to charm information from one of the fragger leaders, then kill him. But by the time she figures out the Embassy's intel is flawed and that Sean Cryer is her true mark, she's already in love with him.
Sean knows why Sara is on his ship from the start, but as a lonely, anti-social doser, he doesn't value his life, only his ideology within the fragger organization. Against his better judgment, he becomes her protector, each day caring more about a future he was always afraid to hope for.
This was an incredibly complex bit of world building (sometimes a bit too complex) with so much romantic tension strung through it that it had me racing to learn if the two central characters would ever get their HEA, or even a HFA. The ending is bittersweet - but no spoilers!
There's a bit of cyberpunk in with the space opera, a nice secondary romance, espionage, double crossing, betrayal, addiction - and I loved the intra-tat. The pace never slackens, and sometimes I found I lost track of characters, but I can't wait for the sequel.
Published by Union City Publishing
So what were your favourite books from last year?
A stay-at-home mum of three who spent twelve years working as an Analytical Chemist in a Metals and Minerals laboratory, Pippa Jay bases her stories on a lifetime addiction to science-fiction books and films. Somewhere along the line a touch of romance crept into her work and refused to leave. In between torturing her various characters, she spends the odd free moments trying to learn guitar, indulging in freestyle street dance and drinking high-caffeine coffee.
Although happily settled in historical Colchester in the UK with her husband of 19 years, she continues to roam the rest of the Universe in her head.
Pippa Jay is a member of the SFR Brigade, a community of science fiction romance authors dedicated to the writing and promoting of the very best of the genre.
Stalk her here: BlogGoodreadsTwitterFacebook
February 6, 2013
My head is an impossible place!
Lately, I've had the attention span and memory of a guppy. I swim to one side of the bowl, boink my nose, and swim back again. Okay, it might not be that bad, but I could sure use some better focus. Oooh, shiny object!What was I talking about again? Oh yes... My working theory is that there's too much going on around me to be able to concentrate on one thing at a time. On the upside, I'm almost done with school -- only a couple of months left until I graduate -- and once I get these pesky evening and weekend classes off my back I might be able to remember stuff for more than five minutes. Wouldn't that be great!
I can tell when I'm weary, because I start using the word No. Swedish people in general have an aversion to saying no, because we don't want to start a conflict, or hurt someone's feelings. We're really good at saying stuff like, "Not right now," "I don't think so," "Let's think about it," or, "Maybe it would be better later."
Every Swede knows all these things mean no, but you don't have to actually use the word. This constantly gets me into trouble here in the US, because Americans don't understand that I'm saying, "Absolutely not, no way in hell." People here think "Let's think about it" means what it says. How silly! ;-)
Swedish people even have a special construction in our language. Yes is called Ja, and No is called Nej. If someone asks if you can do something for them, or if something is a good idea, it's quite alright to say, "Nja." Great word: it sounds like you're saying yes, but it means no. That way, you can decline without anyone's feelings getting hurt. That doesn't work very well here either.
My husband knows me well. Usually, people keep nagging for a few months and I avoid with "Not right now." Once I get to the dreaded N-word I'm pretty irritated, and if he hears it, he jumps and senses danger. If the person still doesn't get it -- happens more often than you'd think -- I go into denial. By now I feel insulted, whine, "Why can't you just leave me alone, I even said no" and ignore them. (If you've sent me three or more e-mails asking me to do stuff for you in a 24 hour period and I don't answer at all, you're probably in the ignoring phase, LOL.)
The next step of exhaustion -- after saying no a lot -- entails telling people what I really think. That might sound like a good thing, but trust me, it's not. Imagine me sitting in class at the university when the teacher says she doesn't accept anyone leaving the room during class time. Three hour classtime... Rested Maria shrugs and thinks "whatever." Fatigued Maria stands up and says, "You know what? I'm fourty years old, and I think I know if I need to pee." Very comical to people around me, I'm sure, and the teacher had no clue what to say, hahaha!
February 4, 2013
Brief excerpt from Undercover
When I wrote Undercover, I didn't intend to be funny. Kind readers claim a sense of humour still shines through. On a personal note, I'm particularly fond of the beginning, when Jenny and Alex are just getting to know each other.
Jenny cupped her hands around the warm mug. She should say something, but what? If she opened her mouth, something stupid might come out, like, "Nice weather," or, "What's the weather like in Russia?"
Alex's eyes glittered. "You have good coffee."
"Yeah, it's not bad. Mark usually makes a pot in the morning. He really likes coffee. So, what's the weather like where you come from?"
There it was, the stupid weather. Great for stalling a customer on the phone, but right now, not so much. Why couldn't she talk like a normal person instead of going from mute to babbling?
Alex chuckled, "Cold, colder, cold, really hot, and back to cold."
