Lance Erlick's Blog, page 19
October 1, 2014
Celebrating New Release with Promotional Pricing
To celebrate today’s release of The Rebel Trap, and to encourage reviews, we are offering to give away 2 signed copies of The Rebel Trap through Goodreads. This giveaway ends October 5th.
In addition, we are offering promotional ebook prices from October 6-17, 2014 for the entire Rebel series on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/Lance-Erlick/e/B00C1PKYSA.
Kirkus Reviews called The Rebel Trap “inventive dystopian sci-fi drama” and a “well-thought-out science fiction world” Voices in sixteen-year-old Annabelle Scott’s head aren’t God or signs she’s going mad—yet. Despite being a military recruit, she rebels against her female-dominated régime by not only refusing to kill Morgan, a handsome boy she’s attracted to, but also helping him escape. Auditory implants and contact cameras allow her commander to watch her 24-7. Morgan hacks the implants to ask for help. Annabelle wants to help him yet needs to find the link between an attempted assassination of her adoptive mom, a corrupt police captain, and the geek institute that holds Morgan’s brother without destroying her family or getting killed.
Until October 5, 2014, enter the book giveaway for The Rebel Trap on Goodreads at
https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/108485-the-rebel-trap, and then add to your shelves at
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22873354-the-rebel-trap
October 6-17, go to Amazon for promotional ebook pricing at
http://www.amazon.com/Lance-Erlick/e/B00C1PKYSA
Thanks and hope you enjoy,
Lance Erlick
Filed under: Rebel Series, Science Fiction, Stories Tagged: dystopian, rebels, sci fi, young adult
August 31, 2014
Labor Day Weekend Promo Sale
Nocturnal Lives is sponsoring a group of science fiction/fantasy authors (including yours truly) offering their books in Kindle for $2.99 or less over the Labor Day Weekend. Come check it out on the Nocturnal Lives website.
Lance
Filed under: Stories Tagged: science fiction?
August 5, 2014
Book Giveaway for The Rebel Trap
To celebrate the October 2014 release of The Rebel Trap, I am giving away through the Goodreads’ Giveaway program 11 signed ARC copies of The Rebel Trap. The new 2nd novel in Rebel series is intended as a standalone story as well:
“inventive dystopian sci-fi drama” “well-thought-out science fiction world” - Kirkus Reviews.
Voices in 16-year-old Annabelle’s head aren’t God or signs she’s going mad—yet. Auditory implants and contact cams allow her military commander from the unit that took her parents to watch her 24-7. Observed constantly, she has to dance between helping an escaped boy she likes, her job to capture him, and the feud between her military commander and the police chief she’s expected to spy on.
Enter the book giveaway for The Rebel Trap on Goodreads at https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sh..., and then add to your shelves at https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2....
Author page: http://www.amazon.com/Lance-Erlick/e/...
Thanks,
Lance Erlick
http://www.LanceErlick.com
July 19, 2014
Just Released: Maiden Voyage
Maiden Voyage, a short story about gender and the future of the human race, but also a science fiction thriller, was released July 17. An early reviewer called it “Intriguing, with an interesting plot.”
The all-female Maiden’s Ark left Earth five years ago. A distress signal says Earth is lost, stranding lunar and asteroid colonists. Then someone sabotages the Ark’s vital fertility lab. Security Chief Nina Rekovic must tread carefully between Returners she sympathizes with, the dictatorial captain who strips her of her duties, and an estranged lover who betrays her.
Available now at Amazon.
Filed under: Science Fiction, Stories Tagged: sci fi, short story, thriller
July 18, 2014
Maiden Voyage
Lance
June 3, 2014
Why Write
I’ve been asked by readers why I write what I do. Many authors get the bug when they read a story and say, “I could do that.” Then they sit down to write and discover it’s not as easy as it looks, at least not to write well.
Like other aspiring writers, I went through the phase of trying to copy the style and ideas of authors I enjoyed. That helped to improve my writing skills, but it didn’t make me a good writer. There’s a spark in good writing that comes from the heart, not from technique. No amount of copying another writer will bring that out.
My first stories were inspired by other stories and events in the world around me, and ranged from thrillers to science fiction, none published. In time I gravitated toward science fiction and “what if” of ideas floating through my head.
The Rebel series grew out of two things. First was my-way-or-highway politics in which there was no middle ground. I wondered what would happen if extremists on both sides got their way. Second was revolutionary fertility research on the verge of allowing anyone to contribute skin cells, have them coaxed into stem cells, and implanted into an egg for fertilization. It’s intended to help infertile couples, but in the hands of extremists, could lead to an all-female society.
These ideas created a new world. Into that world, I considered a male protagonist, but felt a young girl coming to terms with her society would make a more interesting main character. Annabelle was born.
Other stories rattle around inside my head, but I’ll always look at Annabelle as a big inspiration.
Lance Erlick
Tagged: sci fi, science fiction?, young adult
June 2, 2014
Rebels Divided—Comments
While Rebels Divided is a sequel to The Rebel Within, it was written as a standalone novel. In fact, it was written before its prequel as near term science fiction with young adult protagonists.
In a nutshell: The first time Geo (19) sees Annabelle (19), they meet as enemies and she doesn’t kill him. That counts for something. After the Second American Civil War, a nation remains divided. Coming from enemy camps, Geo and Annabelle must come together to rescue her sister and gain justice for his pa’s murder. Complicating this, the Federal governor and Outland warlord conclude a secret deal, pledging Annabelle in marriage to the warlord and putting a bounty on Geo. While trying to survive and achieve their goals, the pair must struggle with growing feelings for each other despite being sworn enemies.
As one Amazon reviewer noted: “This is not a book about space travel or jaw-dropping technology. Rather, it centers on the consequences of what happens when men & women fail to “get along.””
Another Amazon reviewer called it: “Nicely paced SF novel with more than a few twists to keep the reader wondering. Fine SF novel.”
Kirkus Reviews called it “An action-packed love story with even more twists and turns than its prequel.” They went on to say: “Followers of the series will be more than happy to find Annabelle Scott just as feisty and zealous as she was when last they saw her.”
Click here to buy.
I hope you enjoy. If you would like to be notified of promotions on my stories, when new stories are available, and occasional writing related comments, click here to sign up for my newsletter.
Lance Erlick
Tagged: dystopian, sci fi, science fiction?, thriller, young adult
June 1, 2014
$400 in Amazon Giftcards
May 31, 2014
The Rebel Within–Expectations
While developing new stories, this blog has been quiet for a time. Now that we’re working to release a sequel to The Rebel Within and an unrelated short story, we plan a few blog posts to recap the two published stories and provide a sneak preview of the pending new release.
While The Rebel Within has received eight great reviews on Amazon, I’d like to respond to expectations and misconceptions. The story is near term science fiction with a young adult protagonist that explores gender in a potentially new age. It’s a first book in a series that soon will have three novels. As such, one Amazon reviewer referred to it as an “exciting set-up for a potentially interesting dystopian YA series.” After noting that she was looking for more story in this novel, this reviewer went on to say: “As with most YA series, the first book has the task of setting the scene for a story that must span several volumes.” Fair enough. The Rebel Within does have more setup than its two sequels, which are much more action-oriented. I hope you will check them out.
The Rebel Within: Annabelle (16) lives in a world where men are exiled, quarantined or forced to fight to the death to train the military elite. The first boy Annabelle has ever met just escaped prison. As a cop intern, she’s expected to capture him. Instead, she risks everything to help the boy, even while, in order to avoid exile, she’s forced into the elite military that took her parents.
In response to some reader comments:
Yes, there’s violence in The Rebel Within, but only what’s relevant to the storyline: Annabelle is forced to join the military unit that took her parents. One Amazon reviewer said that: “Even though there is fair amount of violence in the book, it should be acceptable reading for teens, and is sure to result in a good discussion in school or library environment.”
No, Annabelle’s military training is not a traditional 2014 American basic training because her society has different values and constraints than ours.
Yes, The Rebel Within is told in present-tense narration, which was a conscious choice. The two sequels are told in past tense, which made more sense for those stories. But my early reviewers believed The Rebel Within worked best in present tense. One Goodreads reviewer notes: “I should not have allowed that dislike to delay my reading this novel. After a few pages, I didn’t care about tense, and after a few more, I didn’t even really notice.”
Yes, in a world without men, there will be … lesbians. It would be one aspect of such a society. No, there is no graphic sex because that’s not relevant to the story line.
Then there were the positive reviews: “Over all, it was really enjoyable, and a thought-provoking read.” (Amazon reviewer)
“This was an exciting, very well-written read which kept my attention right to the end.” (Amazon and Goodreads reviewer)
“Belle herself is an interesting enough protagonist – she has a snarky, sarcastic wit that colors her narration, and it’s clear that she’s no fan of the world that has developed since her birth.” (Amazon and Goodreads reviewer).
I hope you enjoy. If you would like to be notified of promotions on my stories, when new stories are available, and occasional writing related comments, click here to sign up for my newsletter.
Lance Erlick
Tagged: dystopian, sci fi, science fiction?, young adult
March 12, 2014
Rebels Divided—Great Review
“This is not a novel to be missed!” “shows the strength and willpower of young individuals, which is something I find quite lacking in today’s time.” “I loved Geo’s character; he has a heart to match Annabelle” “I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a third book!”
These are excerpts from a great review posted on Girl of 1000 Wonders. Check it out.
Tagged: dystopian, rebels, sci fi, science fiction?, women warriors, young adult
