Maria Hammarblad's Blog, page 47
January 19, 2013
Covers and contest reminder.
You haven't missed Jessica E. Subject's contest, right? Today (January 19th) is the last day to enter. All you have to do is comment on her interview here on the blog.
On a completely different note, I have finally decided on the cover for the Embarkment 2577 collection. I have to admit I don't really have a blue alien with red eyes in the book, but it's the symbolism that counts, right?
There was this one image I really, really, really wanted, showing a girl sitting alone in bed looking out through a spaceship window. Unfortunately, I can't figure out who owns it. It's all over the place on wallpaper sites and I've emailed them all. They either don't answer at all, or don't know.
Have I been tempted to use it anyway? Oh, you have no idea, LOL! My fingers are still itching to just do it and hope for the best...
The alien is cool, but the girl sitting there in the bed says so much more about the story. Unfortunately, I'm not talented enough to imitate it. I could probably come up with something on the same theme, but that would take more time than I have at the moment.
If you have any ideas on how to chase the below image down, let me know.
On a completely different note, I have finally decided on the cover for the Embarkment 2577 collection. I have to admit I don't really have a blue alien with red eyes in the book, but it's the symbolism that counts, right?There was this one image I really, really, really wanted, showing a girl sitting alone in bed looking out through a spaceship window. Unfortunately, I can't figure out who owns it. It's all over the place on wallpaper sites and I've emailed them all. They either don't answer at all, or don't know.
Have I been tempted to use it anyway? Oh, you have no idea, LOL! My fingers are still itching to just do it and hope for the best...
The alien is cool, but the girl sitting there in the bed says so much more about the story. Unfortunately, I'm not talented enough to imitate it. I could probably come up with something on the same theme, but that would take more time than I have at the moment.
If you have any ideas on how to chase the below image down, let me know.
January 18, 2013
Adam and Eve
It's finally here; the re-write of the third Embarkment novella Adam and Eve is done. Here's a little sneak peek:
The woman stood very close to me all of a sudden, and ran her hands over my shoulders. “What’s with all this meaningless lull in here, Alex? What would an android want with paintings and pottery?”
Considering how empty the rooms were before Adam met me, probably nothing. “I don’t know, but he seems happy.”
I tried to shrug her hands off, but they were glued to my shoulders.
She shook me. “I know he’s not as proud of his heritage as he should be, there’s some small programming flaw there, but it can and will be corrected.”
“Oh shit. You’re Eve, aren’t you?”
I knew Adam had a sister, but I never imagined having to face her.
“Aren’t you a clever little sack of meat?”
She hardly finished the sentence before she grabbed me by the neck and banged me against the wall. “How dare you, human?”
Blurb:
In this third novella in the "Embarkment 2577" series, Alex thinks nothing more could possibly stand between her and the peaceful and secluded life she covets. There aren't any aliens standing in line to meet her, no vengeful humans sneaking up on her, and no black holes anywhere in sight. She has found a home and a family, and nothing more could possibly go wrong. Right?
All she has to do before curling up in the sofa is to escort an unexpected visitor to the guest quarters until the Captain has the time to meet the newcomer. Should be a walk in the park...
The woman stood very close to me all of a sudden, and ran her hands over my shoulders. “What’s with all this meaningless lull in here, Alex? What would an android want with paintings and pottery?”
Considering how empty the rooms were before Adam met me, probably nothing. “I don’t know, but he seems happy.”
I tried to shrug her hands off, but they were glued to my shoulders.
She shook me. “I know he’s not as proud of his heritage as he should be, there’s some small programming flaw there, but it can and will be corrected.”
“Oh shit. You’re Eve, aren’t you?”
I knew Adam had a sister, but I never imagined having to face her.
“Aren’t you a clever little sack of meat?”
She hardly finished the sentence before she grabbed me by the neck and banged me against the wall. “How dare you, human?”
Blurb:
In this third novella in the "Embarkment 2577" series, Alex thinks nothing more could possibly stand between her and the peaceful and secluded life she covets. There aren't any aliens standing in line to meet her, no vengeful humans sneaking up on her, and no black holes anywhere in sight. She has found a home and a family, and nothing more could possibly go wrong. Right?
All she has to do before curling up in the sofa is to escort an unexpected visitor to the guest quarters until the Captain has the time to meet the newcomer. Should be a walk in the park...
January 17, 2013
Casting the character... Patricia in Kidnapped
I've seen many blogs and Facebook pages where authors cast the characters of their books. That is, put together a dream cast of actors if the book was turned into an imaginary film. I always get stuck. I know exactly who represents one or two of the people in the book, but beyond that, I'm stumped.
Take Kidnapped, for instance. When I wrote the dialogue, I heard Mila Kunis's voice in my head for Patricia's lines. Patricia in my head looks a little different from Mila Kunis, but in a dream cast, it would absolutely be her.
Picking her might sound like jumping on the bandwagon, but to my defense I'd only seen her in that 70's show when I wrote the first draft.
Travis? No clue. I know exactly what he looks like and how he talks in my head. Casting him? Why don't I go over here and potter about with some project while you come up with some ideas? =)
By the way, did I mention Kidnapped will be available as paperback soon? I don't have the exact date yet, but some time in February. I am excited!
Take Kidnapped, for instance. When I wrote the dialogue, I heard Mila Kunis's voice in my head for Patricia's lines. Patricia in my head looks a little different from Mila Kunis, but in a dream cast, it would absolutely be her.Picking her might sound like jumping on the bandwagon, but to my defense I'd only seen her in that 70's show when I wrote the first draft.
Travis? No clue. I know exactly what he looks like and how he talks in my head. Casting him? Why don't I go over here and potter about with some project while you come up with some ideas? =)
By the way, did I mention Kidnapped will be available as paperback soon? I don't have the exact date yet, but some time in February. I am excited!
January 15, 2013
Interview and giveaway with Jessica E. Subject
Today, it is my pleasure to welcome another scifi romance writer to the blog. Jessica E. Subject is an extremely productive author who released nine books last year, and she has two new releases today! I'm impressed.
A big welcome to scifi romance writer Jessica E. Subject!
Welcome Jessica! Please tell us your latest news!
Hey, Maria! Thank you so much for having me on your blog! Today is a double release day for me. One of the stories is a contemporary new adult romance, and the other, Made For Her, is a military sci-fi romance. Busy, but very exciting.
If you were to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
Not at all. With both of the stories, I learned so much, both in the research I had to do, and in my edits. In Made For Her, I had to learn how to get a plane off the ground (at least some of the theory), and basic military protocol. It’s all information I keep for future reference as well.
Who is your favorite author, and what really strikes you about their work?
Oh my gosh, this is such a hard question since there are so many authors I love. I guess I’ll just mention that last three authors whose books I read and loved: Pippa Jay, Laura Kaye, and Jennifer L. Armentrout. Two of them were science fiction romance, and the other was a military romance.
Is there a single book or author that made you want to write?
I don’t think there was a particular book or author. I started writing because my daughter was in kindergarten at the time, and she absolutely hated reading. I thought if I could write a book that was personal for her, and something she was interested in, she might enjoy reading more. I wrote that story, but preferred writing adult stories, and I never stopped. I’m happy to say that my daughter now reads above her grade level, and enjoys it.
Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
Oh, I’ve always been interested, taking writing enrichment programs in school, and writing newsletters for my youth group and the store I used to work at. It wasn’t until writing for my daughter that I considered it as more than a hobby.
Do you have a favorite object pertinent to your writing? (Pen, coffee cup, pet, blanket, chair…?
If I’m writing in a notebook, as I usually do, I have to have a comfortable pen. There are many that work, but more that don’t. I have to have a soft grip. And I usually use black ink, though sometimes blue. If I’m editing or critiquing, I always use a red pen. And when I write, I need to have background noise. I can’t write in complete silence
Can you tell us something behind-the-scenes about this book that the readers would love to hear - something not easily found on your website?
With the airplane simulator scene, I had a lot of help from pilot and author, Karlene Petitt. I honestly know nothing about airplanes, especially since I’ve never been in one. Karlene was a HUGE help in writing that particular scene, plus she beta read the story for me as well.
Do your fictional characters develop on their own, or do you have their lives planned out in advance?
I know some basic things about my characters before I start writing their story, but just like when I meet a new person, I learn new things about them all the time. Sometimes, they reveal something that comes as a complete surprise.
Do you base any of your characters personalities off people you know, and if so, do you tell them?
Sometimes. LOL And I have been known to base aspects of a character’s life on people I know. As to whether I tell them, well, that depends on the character and the person they’re based on. I think my story, The Power of Three, is the only one where all the people know the characters are based on them.
Tell us about your all-time favorite character (of your creating.) Is he/she modeled after a real person?
Oh gosh! To pick just one? I can’t do that. In Made For Her, Mikayla and Dare are not modeled after anyone, though, as with all of my heroes and heroines, they do share personality traits of my husband and I. Mrs. Madison is based on many of the older women I’ve met in my life, those older than my mom, but younger than my grandmothers. They were always so sweet and had the most interesting things to say to those willing to listen. And Thompson, well, he’s a guy who thinks he’s God’s gift to women. I’m sure we’ve all met guys like that sometime in our lives.
Would you share with us what inspired you to write a story about clones?
In my previous science fiction romances, I write about aliens, and visiting new planets. With this one, I wanted to try something different. Finding acceptance is a common theme to all of my stories, but in this one, more so. Not only do the clones face rejection from the average person, but they also have to deal with society accepting the science of cloning as a whole. With two strikes against them, their lives are a constant struggle.
What type of scene do you enjoy writing the most?
I enjoy scenes of conflict, whether it is internal, or between characters. That type of dialogue seems to come easiest to me. Though in real life, I tend to avoid conflict, keeping everything internal.
How does it feel when you write?
I feel free, lost in my own world. And it’s an escape for me as well. I get to take out my stress on my characters rather than real people.
What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced in writing?
Finding readers would have to be the hardest. There are so many wonderful authors and books out there. To get my name and books out there among them can be tough, especially since science fiction romance is such a niche genre. I can’t tell you how many readers have said they can’t find a lot of science fiction romance, and yet I know of hundreds of titles by fellow Science Fiction Romance Brigadiers. But participating in multi-author events really helps.
You have an impressive list of published material. Which is your favorite?
Celestial Seduction – 2011
Beneath the Starry Sky – 2011
Unknown Futures – 2012
Never Gonna Let You Go – 2012
Satin Sheets in Space – 2012
An Unexpected Return – 2012
The Power of Three – 2012
Sudden Breakaway – 2012
Crash Landing – 2012
Intergalactic Heat – 2012
Alien Lover – 2012
Accidental Romance – 2013
Made For Her – 2013
Once again, choosing my favorite story is like choosing my favorite character. I can’t do it. But, if I have to, I’d chose Intergalactic Heat, since it’s actually a collection of my 1Night Stand stories already published.
What’s your favorite place you’ve visited? Do you have a “must see” destination on your bucket list?
My favorite place to visit would have to be Duchesnay Falls in North Bay, Ontario. There is something about that waterfalls that is so relaxing. “Must see” destinations on my bucket list would be Hawaii, Alaska, and SO many places in Europe.
Is there something funny about you people don’t know?
I’m not really a funny person. I’m really klutzy though. When I was in grade four, I started having fainting spells, and the first time, I had just handed in a math test when I turned around to return to my desk and passed out. I fell backward, and a small chalkboard fell on my head. I’ve broken my toes many times, walking into corners when I’ve been in a rush, and sure the wall jumped out in front of me. Also broke one when I kicked my husband (boyfriend at the time) in the shin because he said something to bug me. Yeah, I don’t even remember what he said.
Anything else you want to share?
Thanks again, Maria, for hosting me today!
Anyone who leaves a comment will be entered to WIN a swag package from my new releases. Contest is international. Winner will be chosen January 19, 2013 and notified by email. Good luck!
Thank you so much for being here, I appreciate the visit! C'mon people, comment and win some goodies!
Made For Her Blurb:
After terrorists murder the love of her life, Colonel Mikayla Jones trains squadron after squadron of the clones he brought to life, to take to the skies. When she discovers a young clone of her husband in her newest class, her world spins out of control. How can she command the look-a-like when she can’t help but yearn for him to fill an ache in her heart?
Dare was created to be the best. As the first Daniel clone to leave Onatria labs, he needs to prove he is more than just a DNA copy. To do that, he must rely on the wife of the man who donated his genes. But when she refuses to train him, Dare faces discharge and returning to the labs. Can he convince Colonel Jones to finish his training and find a way into her bed? Or will long kept secrets unhinge the entire clone project?
Now available from Decadent Publishing and other ebook retailers. More information and Buy Links
Author Bio and more information:
Jessica Subject started writing to encourage her daughter to read. Now she writes to keep herself grounded. Although she reads many genres, she enjoys writing Science Fiction Romance the most and believes everyone in the universe deserves a happily ever after. She lives Southwestern Ontario, Canada with her husband and two kids and loves to hear from her readers.
To learn more about Jessica, and to contact her, check out these links:
Website/Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon | Authorgraph
Don't forget to comment to enter Jessica's giveaway!
A big welcome to scifi romance writer Jessica E. Subject!
Welcome Jessica! Please tell us your latest news! Hey, Maria! Thank you so much for having me on your blog! Today is a double release day for me. One of the stories is a contemporary new adult romance, and the other, Made For Her, is a military sci-fi romance. Busy, but very exciting.
If you were to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
Not at all. With both of the stories, I learned so much, both in the research I had to do, and in my edits. In Made For Her, I had to learn how to get a plane off the ground (at least some of the theory), and basic military protocol. It’s all information I keep for future reference as well.
Who is your favorite author, and what really strikes you about their work?
Oh my gosh, this is such a hard question since there are so many authors I love. I guess I’ll just mention that last three authors whose books I read and loved: Pippa Jay, Laura Kaye, and Jennifer L. Armentrout. Two of them were science fiction romance, and the other was a military romance.
Is there a single book or author that made you want to write?
I don’t think there was a particular book or author. I started writing because my daughter was in kindergarten at the time, and she absolutely hated reading. I thought if I could write a book that was personal for her, and something she was interested in, she might enjoy reading more. I wrote that story, but preferred writing adult stories, and I never stopped. I’m happy to say that my daughter now reads above her grade level, and enjoys it.
Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
Oh, I’ve always been interested, taking writing enrichment programs in school, and writing newsletters for my youth group and the store I used to work at. It wasn’t until writing for my daughter that I considered it as more than a hobby.
Do you have a favorite object pertinent to your writing? (Pen, coffee cup, pet, blanket, chair…?
If I’m writing in a notebook, as I usually do, I have to have a comfortable pen. There are many that work, but more that don’t. I have to have a soft grip. And I usually use black ink, though sometimes blue. If I’m editing or critiquing, I always use a red pen. And when I write, I need to have background noise. I can’t write in complete silence
Can you tell us something behind-the-scenes about this book that the readers would love to hear - something not easily found on your website?
With the airplane simulator scene, I had a lot of help from pilot and author, Karlene Petitt. I honestly know nothing about airplanes, especially since I’ve never been in one. Karlene was a HUGE help in writing that particular scene, plus she beta read the story for me as well.
Do your fictional characters develop on their own, or do you have their lives planned out in advance?
I know some basic things about my characters before I start writing their story, but just like when I meet a new person, I learn new things about them all the time. Sometimes, they reveal something that comes as a complete surprise.
Do you base any of your characters personalities off people you know, and if so, do you tell them?
Sometimes. LOL And I have been known to base aspects of a character’s life on people I know. As to whether I tell them, well, that depends on the character and the person they’re based on. I think my story, The Power of Three, is the only one where all the people know the characters are based on them.
Tell us about your all-time favorite character (of your creating.) Is he/she modeled after a real person?
Oh gosh! To pick just one? I can’t do that. In Made For Her, Mikayla and Dare are not modeled after anyone, though, as with all of my heroes and heroines, they do share personality traits of my husband and I. Mrs. Madison is based on many of the older women I’ve met in my life, those older than my mom, but younger than my grandmothers. They were always so sweet and had the most interesting things to say to those willing to listen. And Thompson, well, he’s a guy who thinks he’s God’s gift to women. I’m sure we’ve all met guys like that sometime in our lives.
Would you share with us what inspired you to write a story about clones?
In my previous science fiction romances, I write about aliens, and visiting new planets. With this one, I wanted to try something different. Finding acceptance is a common theme to all of my stories, but in this one, more so. Not only do the clones face rejection from the average person, but they also have to deal with society accepting the science of cloning as a whole. With two strikes against them, their lives are a constant struggle.
What type of scene do you enjoy writing the most?
I enjoy scenes of conflict, whether it is internal, or between characters. That type of dialogue seems to come easiest to me. Though in real life, I tend to avoid conflict, keeping everything internal.
How does it feel when you write?
I feel free, lost in my own world. And it’s an escape for me as well. I get to take out my stress on my characters rather than real people.
What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced in writing?
Finding readers would have to be the hardest. There are so many wonderful authors and books out there. To get my name and books out there among them can be tough, especially since science fiction romance is such a niche genre. I can’t tell you how many readers have said they can’t find a lot of science fiction romance, and yet I know of hundreds of titles by fellow Science Fiction Romance Brigadiers. But participating in multi-author events really helps.
You have an impressive list of published material. Which is your favorite?
Celestial Seduction – 2011
Beneath the Starry Sky – 2011
Unknown Futures – 2012
Never Gonna Let You Go – 2012
Satin Sheets in Space – 2012
An Unexpected Return – 2012
The Power of Three – 2012
Sudden Breakaway – 2012
Crash Landing – 2012
Intergalactic Heat – 2012
Alien Lover – 2012
Accidental Romance – 2013
Made For Her – 2013
Once again, choosing my favorite story is like choosing my favorite character. I can’t do it. But, if I have to, I’d chose Intergalactic Heat, since it’s actually a collection of my 1Night Stand stories already published.
What’s your favorite place you’ve visited? Do you have a “must see” destination on your bucket list?
My favorite place to visit would have to be Duchesnay Falls in North Bay, Ontario. There is something about that waterfalls that is so relaxing. “Must see” destinations on my bucket list would be Hawaii, Alaska, and SO many places in Europe.
Is there something funny about you people don’t know?
I’m not really a funny person. I’m really klutzy though. When I was in grade four, I started having fainting spells, and the first time, I had just handed in a math test when I turned around to return to my desk and passed out. I fell backward, and a small chalkboard fell on my head. I’ve broken my toes many times, walking into corners when I’ve been in a rush, and sure the wall jumped out in front of me. Also broke one when I kicked my husband (boyfriend at the time) in the shin because he said something to bug me. Yeah, I don’t even remember what he said.
Anything else you want to share?
Thanks again, Maria, for hosting me today!
Anyone who leaves a comment will be entered to WIN a swag package from my new releases. Contest is international. Winner will be chosen January 19, 2013 and notified by email. Good luck!
Thank you so much for being here, I appreciate the visit! C'mon people, comment and win some goodies!
Made For Her Blurb:After terrorists murder the love of her life, Colonel Mikayla Jones trains squadron after squadron of the clones he brought to life, to take to the skies. When she discovers a young clone of her husband in her newest class, her world spins out of control. How can she command the look-a-like when she can’t help but yearn for him to fill an ache in her heart?
Dare was created to be the best. As the first Daniel clone to leave Onatria labs, he needs to prove he is more than just a DNA copy. To do that, he must rely on the wife of the man who donated his genes. But when she refuses to train him, Dare faces discharge and returning to the labs. Can he convince Colonel Jones to finish his training and find a way into her bed? Or will long kept secrets unhinge the entire clone project?
Now available from Decadent Publishing and other ebook retailers. More information and Buy Links
Author Bio and more information:
Jessica Subject started writing to encourage her daughter to read. Now she writes to keep herself grounded. Although she reads many genres, she enjoys writing Science Fiction Romance the most and believes everyone in the universe deserves a happily ever after. She lives Southwestern Ontario, Canada with her husband and two kids and loves to hear from her readers.
To learn more about Jessica, and to contact her, check out these links:
Website/Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon | Authorgraph
Don't forget to comment to enter Jessica's giveaway!
January 14, 2013
Kissy kissy - sneak peek on a WIP.
I've been playing around with a little story for almost a year. It's almost done, would have been done a long time ago if I didn't have the attention span of a guppy. This is me: "This is absolutely fascinating, I'm going to put heart and soul into... ooooh, shiny object!"
Anyway, the story is about this sweet and super-smart girl who falls in love with a guy from a criminal biker gang. He's really a cop deep undercover, but she has no idea, and he can't tell her. There's all sorts of complications around that, of course. This is what I'm imagining for their first kiss:
Struggling to keep a stern face, Sharon poked his chest, “Watch your mouth, mister.”
Jimmy placed his hands on her hips and tugged her closer, staring into her eyes. "What are you gonna do about it?"
She wrapped her arms loosely around his neck. "I don't know. Some form of punishment where you can't use your mouth for profanity."
He brushed his lips over her cheek. "Maybe put it here?"
Her skin tingled where he touched it. "Maybe..."
"Or here?"
His lips barely touched hers, and she wanted more. "That's a good spot."
The teasing was over. He tasted like beer and cigarettes and everything forbidden. His arms around her were strong, and the body she pressed herself against muscular and hard. If an asteroid hit Earth and eradicated all life, she'd die pretty happy.
January 13, 2013
Plymouth Colony II - scifi romance
Plymouth Colony II by Sharolyn Wells is a sweet scifi romance. I read the book about a year ago and have been thinking about featuring it here on the blog, but never got around to it. Now is the time! Since reading the book I've also had the pleasure to get to know the author, and Sharolyn is a lovely woman. Come to think about it, I should invite her to the blog!
Blurb:
Teris Keyes and her brother Eric are two of the few ‘lucky’ humans to escape the destruction of earth through the help of the Kelkani, who plan to use the humans to repopulate their dying empire. Stuck in an intern camp on an alien world, mourning the loss of all she once loved, Teris finds comfort in a romance with Camp Commander Kovar Not. The Elite of Kelkan don’t want this human contagion in the Kelkani bloodline, however, and the emperor compromises by exiling all mixed couples to a remote subcontinent. But that’s not enough for the Elite — especially their leader, Raetin Dare, who vows to make an example of them all. He kidnaps Teris to make her a public example. Teris must not only survive until Kovar can rescue her, but she must protect their unborn child.
My review:
When Earth is faced with an undefeatable threat, a number of young humans are evacuated to an alien world. No one told them how long the journey would take, how dangerous it would be, or just how different the society they're arriving to will be compared to their old lives. In the midst of danger and chaos blooms love, and a sweet romance makes the reader root for the handsome hero and charismatic heroine.
Even though I am a science fiction lover, I'm not really a part of this book's target audience; it is both Christian and patriotic. I'm neither American or of the right religion, but I still enjoyed the read. The story is interesting and the characters believable. If you're looking for a romantic adventure amongst the stars, this might very well be a new favorite!
Blurb:Teris Keyes and her brother Eric are two of the few ‘lucky’ humans to escape the destruction of earth through the help of the Kelkani, who plan to use the humans to repopulate their dying empire. Stuck in an intern camp on an alien world, mourning the loss of all she once loved, Teris finds comfort in a romance with Camp Commander Kovar Not. The Elite of Kelkan don’t want this human contagion in the Kelkani bloodline, however, and the emperor compromises by exiling all mixed couples to a remote subcontinent. But that’s not enough for the Elite — especially their leader, Raetin Dare, who vows to make an example of them all. He kidnaps Teris to make her a public example. Teris must not only survive until Kovar can rescue her, but she must protect their unborn child.
My review:
When Earth is faced with an undefeatable threat, a number of young humans are evacuated to an alien world. No one told them how long the journey would take, how dangerous it would be, or just how different the society they're arriving to will be compared to their old lives. In the midst of danger and chaos blooms love, and a sweet romance makes the reader root for the handsome hero and charismatic heroine.
Even though I am a science fiction lover, I'm not really a part of this book's target audience; it is both Christian and patriotic. I'm neither American or of the right religion, but I still enjoyed the read. The story is interesting and the characters believable. If you're looking for a romantic adventure amongst the stars, this might very well be a new favorite!
January 10, 2013
Good vs. Evil – guest post by Eva Caye!
Today, I have a special treat: A guest blog by scifi romance writer Eva Caye! Welcome Eva, and thank you for coming over to my blog!
Good vs. Evil – That Tired Ol’ Trope? Eva Caye, author of the To Be Sinclair series
Yeah, yeah, you have a good guy who has had a hard life but does everything as best he can, but especially fighting the demons of his past, principally represented by some evil guy who had the good guy over the barrel at some point and wants to control Good Guy’s life once more, ultimately, forever, a perfect slave. Or perhaps Evil Guy is taking revenge upon Good Guy for striving for good now, rejecting the Dark Side once and for all. Next, please.
Really, how many people do you know who lead lives of unmitigated evil? Or even frequent deliberate evil? Or even occasional deliberate evil? Books and movies painting characters with no redeeming qualities are completely unrealistic to me. Honestly, I’m sick of those kinds of stories because they don’t represent the majority of people. In other words, they don’t teach me anything of value that I don’t already know. Know a bad guy? Sure, screw him up whenever you can, get him thrown in jail if possible, all the cop stories end that way, handcuffing the bad guy and leading him away from the firefight he caused. We’re lucky if they wrote one or two lines with the Evil Guy explaining some ‘good’ reason he performed his evil acts, stealing all the money to pay for his kid’s cancer treatment or some such.
I don’t care what you call good and evil, but this is the truth: most people are mostly good and want to be known as good. They strive for goodness because it’s simply a nice way to live, thinking you’ve done all the right things. They want to feed their children, get recognized for their work, have time and reasons to party on occasion, and follow their hobbies and dreams. The average man doesn’t want to have to fight anyone; he wants to live in peace, watch a good movie, read a good book.
But the entertainment industry, including the publishing industry, throws every Good vs. Evil scenario into our faces as if that is the only triumph of spirit there is. So what does everyone learn to do as a result? Demonize each other. Seriously. Everyone thinks it’s “Me vs. Them” now, and “Them” can be a pretty extensive group. People live lives of pure paranoia nowadays, for who can we trust? Can’t trust the government, can’t trust the police, can’t trust businesses, can’t trust banks, can’t trust our employers.
And the same goes for them. How many people in ANY government position scorn the thought of trusting regular citizens? How many police trust the average citizen? How many banks and businesses can’t trust their clients, or even their own workers? It’s a wonder people trust anyone else at all anymore!
I am not certain I ‘blame’ it on religion, yet they have been the biggest hype-sters of the ‘Good-vs.-Evil’ dichotomy for thousands of years, just as governments have been the biggest hype-sters of ‘Might-is-Right’. These institutions have made these formulas into archetypes so strong that it is taken for the only way to live. If you come out on top, yours must have been The Righteous Cause, and history is written by the winners.
I am not saying it is not desirable to be good and strong. I want people to be good, strong, defenders of the downtrodden, charitable, and all those good things. What I want is more literature to reflect that most triumphs of spirit are achieved by coming to an understanding and a solution with people with whom we have issues!
Trope: recurring literary device or theme; motif or cliché.
Why am I writing this article? Am I saying the ‘Good-vs-Evil’ trope is BAD? Would that not be some kind of paradoxical argument? Perhaps, but my purpose is to convince everyone that the trope is TIRED. It needs no further promotion. We all try to be good, so let’s take that as the assumption of regular, everyday people, and get to the questions that matter, such as when you can see the other person’s point of view as equally valid. If literature is to enrich our lives, it should teach us more than what we already know, like how to deal with situations we have yet to master. In other words, how to adapt.
How many Democrats think Republicans are evil, and vice versa? The truth is, both Republicans and Democrats think they are good and act in ways they consider good. Yet look at the ‘Good-vs-Evil’ trope; it basically says, ‘We are good, so if they are not like us, they are evil’. It keeps us from trying to understand the perspective of Other, it keeps us from trying to work for solutions, it keeps us constantly on the battlefield. So we have perfectly good, necessary laws proposed that one political party in Congress will vote against, just to thwart the other political party. It’s a sickening way to rule a country, and it’s a sickening way to run our lives.
The Other is not, by definition, bad. The Other is simply unique. I was a teacher for many years, and the definitions of ‘Other’ amongst children can vary in the blink of an eye. Girls vs. boys, smart vs. dumb, rich vs. poor, sexually active vs. celibate, nerds vs. jocks, stoners vs. non-stoners. If you can be identified with a group, name it, there’s a counter-group, and if you are outside someone’s group, you can figure they will judge you for it. Poor nerd boy can earn everyone’s respect with a sarcastic rejoinder against rich jock boy, and within one second, all the girls will look at each other and say in disgust, “Boys!”
If I had my druthers, I would eliminate the idea of ‘versus’ completely. Life is not a spectrum; life is +7 billion perspectives, individual ideas on how to improve the human condition. 'Versus' is binary, zero and one, zero no value, one with value. 'Versus' implies extremism, judgment, static inability to change. For that is the real issue, change.
People are resistant to change, for we have been taught and shown that it hurts. Yet everyone wants their lives to improve, correct? To improve, THERE MUST BE CHANGE. How do you resolve that conundrum?
By popularizing growth. The people addicted to growth are those who tend to succeed, those whose achievements make them stand out, those who find creative ways to adapt, perpetual students. Unfortunately, most people think the only kind of growth that matters once you are an adult is the growth of your bank account, which leads to hosts of people committing ‘evil’ acts in the first place. So what we need is literature and entertainment that popularize HEALTHY growth. That takes the old idea of ‘achievement’ away from ‘collecting items and money’, and emphasizes ‘achievement’ as things that matter, such as acquiring friends, trust, greater skills or education, and experiences that make life worth living.
Instead of the ‘welfare mom who earns supplemental income as a stripper/whore/drug dealer just so she can feed her kids, getting revenge on the men who use her’, why can’t we find literature in which that same woman makes friends with an old man growing veggies on his porch or windowsill, teaching her how to feed her kids that way, ending up with a community garden? Is that not a richer triumph of spirit, to learn how your own efforts can be turned from violent clashes into constructive behaviors that pay off better, in healthier and more productive lives?
What if every government involved in every conflict in the world could use the exact same amount of energy used to produce weapons and force, and turn that energy into ways to resolve situations by means of graceful, sustainable, humane, and truly beneficial growth? What if every corporation that pays CEO’s hundreds of millions of dollars were to reinvest that money into making sure the corporation’s employees had actual, living wages, increasing their productivity since they won’t need to work two jobs in exhaustion, and increasing employee trust and goodwill along the way? Sure, I’m a dreamer, but by God, if someone doesn’t dream it, it will never come into existence!
In one writer’s workshop, it was pounded into us that there are only three real stories: escape, acquisition, and revenge. Why can there not be a fourth theme, that of growth? If you consider growth an ‘acquisition of knowledge’, there have been a few successful movies and books along those lines, but to me, growth represents an acquisition beyond your wildest dreams. All stories really entail growth, anyway – the protagonist ends up knowing, learning, growing through great lessons during the story. Yet I believe we dreamers, authors, playwrights, producers of stories should focus more on the miracle of life, that we can and do and should pursue growth. Evolution at its finest, adaptation, deliberate construction of bigger and better ways of doing things. Achievement beyond our wildest dreams.
Good vs. Evil. Which quality is associated with growth, and which is associated with destruction, by the way? Given that destruction is so interesting to most moviegoers, I suppose my next blog should be on how to train the masses of humanity into realizing how degrading red, orange, yellow, and black special effects explosions are to their soul, for that is how we must really reach people: via symbols and imagination. I wonder if my next personal growth-spurt will be researching colors and sounds as stimuli? I wonder where it will lead me after that?
About Eva Caye
After 17 years of teaching, a health crisis forced Eva to re-evaluate her life. Morphing from dilettante writer to crafting 8 books in three years, she published her début novel of the To Be Sinclair series,
DIGNITY
, in August 2012, with
MAJESTY
released in October,
FEALTY
in December, and ROYALTY coming soon. She lives in a tiny, century-old farmhouse with her incredible husband and two precious mutts in Louisville, Kentucky.See more of Eva:Author Central: http://amazon.com/author/evacayeWebsite: http://www.evacaye.com/Blog: http://evacaye.blogspot.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eva.cayeTwitter: https://twitter.com/EvaCaye
January 9, 2013
Excerpt from Kidnapped
I can't remember if I've published this excerpt from Kidnapped on the blog or not. If you've seen it before, feel free to give me a virtual slap over the head, LOL!
The room was small and sparsely furnished. Besides bare walls, she saw a narrow bed, a metal table, and two metal chairs. Not until the door closed behind her did Patricia realize Travis hadn't followed her in, and she sank down on the edge of the bed, finding it anything but comfortable. "This place really sucks. Oh, you can probably hear me, can't you? I mean, don't get me wrong, it's much better than the cell, and I am grateful, I guess. I mean, the cell is even scarier than YOU are. Is there a shower? Why didn't I ask if there's a shower?"
The sound of her own voice was somehow comforting, and she got back to her feet, wanting to find that closet filled with clothes from possibly deceased strangers. Travis picking out clothes for her seemed creepy, but investigating would give her something to do.
When she approached the first wall, it didn't move at all. The second turned out to be a completely unresponsive computer terminal, and the third opened to show a small and peculiar restroom. Her next attempt rewarded her with a long row of clothes approximately her size, of very different colors and models. Holding one up against herself, she muttered, "Does he really expect me to wear this?"
After tossing the dress to the side, she ventured over towards the little restroom, where she poked the peculiar faucets and controls, wondering what they might do. Over to the side stood a metallic tube attached to both the floor and the ceiling, and when she stepped closer, the front part slid to the side. "Hmm, I wonder if you're the garbage disposal or the sauna?"
She jumped when the metallic voice she'd once heard on the bridge echoed in the little room. "Please remove your clothing, step into the personal cleanser, close your eyes, and hold your breath."
Looking around, she was both surprised and relieved not to see anyone. "I thought you weren't real. Who are you? Where are you?"
As Travis's words of them being completely alone on the large ship surfaced in her memory, she added quietly, "Are you a figment of my imagination?"
The voice offered no explanation; it just repeated its command. "Remove your clothing, step into the personal cleanser, close your eyes, and hold your breath."
Standing in a steel tube didn't seem appealing, especially not if it required closing one's eyes and holding one's breath, but personal cleanser did sound a little like shower, and she felt disgustingly dirty. She stuck her hand in cautiously and wiggled her fingers. When she withdrew the hand it was still there, and she decided to obey, dropping her clothes in a pile on the floor.
As soon as she stepped in, the opening in the tube closed automatically behind her, and she was trapped. She barely had time to remember closing her eyes and holding her breath before a smelly solution attacked her from all sides, spraying her from top to toe. Less than a second later, it was sucked off with enough force to make her hair stand up, and another solution drenched her.
She wanted to cough, or maybe scream, but there was no time. Hot air blew over her, drying her off with near hurricane strength. It only took a few seconds after she entered the tube before the door opened to let her out, and she staggered back into the restroom, gasping for air. "Personal cleanser? That's a freakin' carwash!"
Taking a look at herself, she made a little face of reluctant approval; she was clean. She lifted an arm up and smelled it, and even if the scent wasn't exactly coconut, it was acceptable.
Bending down to pick up her clothes gave a little shock; they were no longer there. She squeezed her eyes shut and opened them again, but every little piece of clothing, every trace of everything that tied her to the person she once was and to the world as she knew it was gone. Not even a thread of her old self remained.
She yelled, "What the hell! Who took my clothes? I was only gone for like five seconds!"
No one answered.
The room was small and sparsely furnished. Besides bare walls, she saw a narrow bed, a metal table, and two metal chairs. Not until the door closed behind her did Patricia realize Travis hadn't followed her in, and she sank down on the edge of the bed, finding it anything but comfortable. "This place really sucks. Oh, you can probably hear me, can't you? I mean, don't get me wrong, it's much better than the cell, and I am grateful, I guess. I mean, the cell is even scarier than YOU are. Is there a shower? Why didn't I ask if there's a shower?"The sound of her own voice was somehow comforting, and she got back to her feet, wanting to find that closet filled with clothes from possibly deceased strangers. Travis picking out clothes for her seemed creepy, but investigating would give her something to do.
When she approached the first wall, it didn't move at all. The second turned out to be a completely unresponsive computer terminal, and the third opened to show a small and peculiar restroom. Her next attempt rewarded her with a long row of clothes approximately her size, of very different colors and models. Holding one up against herself, she muttered, "Does he really expect me to wear this?"
After tossing the dress to the side, she ventured over towards the little restroom, where she poked the peculiar faucets and controls, wondering what they might do. Over to the side stood a metallic tube attached to both the floor and the ceiling, and when she stepped closer, the front part slid to the side. "Hmm, I wonder if you're the garbage disposal or the sauna?"
She jumped when the metallic voice she'd once heard on the bridge echoed in the little room. "Please remove your clothing, step into the personal cleanser, close your eyes, and hold your breath."
Looking around, she was both surprised and relieved not to see anyone. "I thought you weren't real. Who are you? Where are you?"
As Travis's words of them being completely alone on the large ship surfaced in her memory, she added quietly, "Are you a figment of my imagination?"
The voice offered no explanation; it just repeated its command. "Remove your clothing, step into the personal cleanser, close your eyes, and hold your breath."
Standing in a steel tube didn't seem appealing, especially not if it required closing one's eyes and holding one's breath, but personal cleanser did sound a little like shower, and she felt disgustingly dirty. She stuck her hand in cautiously and wiggled her fingers. When she withdrew the hand it was still there, and she decided to obey, dropping her clothes in a pile on the floor.
As soon as she stepped in, the opening in the tube closed automatically behind her, and she was trapped. She barely had time to remember closing her eyes and holding her breath before a smelly solution attacked her from all sides, spraying her from top to toe. Less than a second later, it was sucked off with enough force to make her hair stand up, and another solution drenched her.
She wanted to cough, or maybe scream, but there was no time. Hot air blew over her, drying her off with near hurricane strength. It only took a few seconds after she entered the tube before the door opened to let her out, and she staggered back into the restroom, gasping for air. "Personal cleanser? That's a freakin' carwash!"
Taking a look at herself, she made a little face of reluctant approval; she was clean. She lifted an arm up and smelled it, and even if the scent wasn't exactly coconut, it was acceptable.
Bending down to pick up her clothes gave a little shock; they were no longer there. She squeezed her eyes shut and opened them again, but every little piece of clothing, every trace of everything that tied her to the person she once was and to the world as she knew it was gone. Not even a thread of her old self remained.
She yelled, "What the hell! Who took my clothes? I was only gone for like five seconds!"
No one answered.
Real people in fictional settings
When I have the time, I like to put up goofy stuff on my Facebook page. Like this picture... There are also aprons, T-shirts, bumper stickers, and stuff I can't even remember with the same base message.I sometimes put real people in books, but I rarely kill them. In Undercover, most of the secondary characters are based on real people, but these are mostly people I like. This could be a game: If you read the book, try to figure out which character is based on a real life person I don't like. LOL!
Anyway, I digress. When I encounter really annoying people, they tend to become nuisances or flat out bad guys in my novels. I have a great example in Flashback (will be released in June by Desert Breeze Publishing). The heroine has some extremely irritating upstairs neighbours. They're my old neighbours, and the reason we're now renting a house instead of an apartment. Actually, I've made them better in the book than they were in real life.
I have a dilemma with my current work in process. The hero is a cop who has worked undercover in a criminal motorcycle gang for two years. He's pretty good at his job, and I need someone to tattle on him for them to discover him. I have the perfect victim for the role. This real life person does something - in real life - that would make headbutting with the hero inevitable, but it's also so characteristic no one who knows her would be able to not see it's her.
For making it work in the novel, I'd have to make her into a pretty unpleasant person. She's actually kinda nice and doesn't deserve that. (No, it's not someone close to me - you're all safe, LOL!) On the other hand... what are the odds she'll ever see it? I guess it comes down to, just how nice or bad a person am I? We'll see, as work progresses, mwuahahaha!
January 8, 2013
Exciting interviews coming up
I recently joined the science fiction romance brigade (sfr brigade), and it was one of my best decisions this far - I entered an exciting world filled with people interested in the same things I am. I threw out a general question if anyone would be interested in visiting my blog, and received a number of wonderful answers. I'm still working on the schedule and will put it up when a few more dates fall into place, so keep your eyes open.
Jessica E. Subject will be first out, on January 15th. She is a fascinating scifi romance writer with a long list of published books. She has two new releases coming up. You don't want to miss that one!
Other renowned scifi romance authors coming up during winter and spring are: Misa Buckley, Diane Burton, Larraine Willias, Heidi Ruby Miller, Pippa Jay, JC Cassels, and Greta Van Der Rol. This is a fantastic way to start the year!
Jessica E. Subject will be first out, on January 15th. She is a fascinating scifi romance writer with a long list of published books. She has two new releases coming up. You don't want to miss that one!
Other renowned scifi romance authors coming up during winter and spring are: Misa Buckley, Diane Burton, Larraine Willias, Heidi Ruby Miller, Pippa Jay, JC Cassels, and Greta Van Der Rol. This is a fantastic way to start the year!
