S.J. Pajonas's Blog, page 44
September 3, 2020
Fall Space Adventures – Promo
Fall is almost here! And Fall means cooler temperatures and time for reading on the couch. If you’re looking for some new science fiction to read, I have a new promotion that I’m participating in with lots of books available! So there are sure to be authors in here you haven’t seen. Check it out!
Check out the Fall Space Adventures Promo
I hope you find something here to read and enjoy!
PS) Sorry for any website instabilities you may come across. I’m still in the process of updating this website! I should be done by mid-September.
The post Fall Space Adventures – Promo appeared first on S. J. Pajonas.
August 31, 2020
September 2020 Goals
A great way to start September is to mostly break my website and have to put it together again! Yay!
What Happened With August’s Goals?
Read CHAOS IN KADOMA WARD and make edits to it. Done!
Write a few extra scenes for CHAOS IN KADOMA WARD. I didn’t write anything of this. I just brainstormed.
Start writing my Flyght novella. I did start this novella and I’m on track to finish it by the middle of September. I was going to write a Vivian/Flyght novella. Instead I’m writing a Skylar novella.
Read over anthology submissions. Done! We made our choices and sent out emails!
Finish with freelance work. Can you believe that I’m still working on this? I did finish off the majority of the work but I still have to make training videos.
Continue the Summer of SFR! This is done!
Schedule posts for my pen name. I only updated the blog over there once this month.
Switch over to the new email newsletter system for my pen name. Done!
Close out my Move Rings every day on my Apple Watch. Done! And now I’m working on closing ALL my rings every day. No photo this month because I broke the backend of my website by updating to WP 5.5 and that means I can’t add an image in this post. Sigh.
Audiobooks, reading, and knitting. There’s been audiobooks and reading, but no knitting.
Goals For September
Start my kids on remote learning and not kill anyone. I’m not looking forward to starting remote learning again. It was super stressful the first time around. I’m sure there’ll be tears, and I will go days without writing. Universe, PLEASE BE KIND!
Finish my Skylar novella. I should be done with this by mid-September.
New covers for the Hikoboshi Series. My cover designer is back from her vacation and she’s working on CHAOS IN KADOMA WARD and FUKUSHA MODEL EIGHT. They should be done by the end of the month and then I can update these books!
Update my website. It appears that even though I was planning on updating this website, I HAVE TO now because WP 5.5 broke my theme. It’s okay. I was planning on using a whole new theme anyway. Be prepared for site weirdness for the next two weeks.
Finish with freelance work. REALLY.
Schedule posts for my pen name. I have identified a few posts I can bring over to my pen name’s website. So I’ll do that after I update this website.
Close out my Move Rings every day on my Apple Watch. I figured out that I can turn on my Stand reminders and then close out ALL my rings every day!
Audiobooks, reading, and knitting. The usual.
Have a great September everyone! Stay home and stay safe!
Viber
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August 28, 2020
The Summer of SFR Is Over! The Blog Is Taking A Break…
Like the title suggests, the Summer of SFR is over. It’s been really great hosting all of these talented authors here on my blog and reading and reviewing SFR all summer long. The books that I read and enjoyed have already been posted to the blog, so I hope you find something in the Book Chat for you!
Unfortunately, there were MANY books that I did not finish or even make it very far into. It appears that I have a preference for science fiction romance — I like space opera action adventure with a strong romance. Many of the books I read that I set aside were very thin on the world-building and heavy on the sex. Not my scene. I need a real beefy world to sink my teeth into. So if I recommended a book in the Book Chat, that’s what I read and enjoyed.
Running the Summer of SFR taught me a few things about this genre that I call home…
The authors I met and talked to were all fantastic human beings. But unfortunately, many of them did not share the posts I made for them like they promised to when they signed up. So, while I think the Featured Author spots were good for MY readers, and you are my first priority, I don’t think they brought me many new readers from the audiences of the other authors. Live and learn.
There is a huge variety of SFR out there! Which is great for readers who want diversity within this genre. I was able to find other authors who write like I do and further cultivate my “tribe.”
I need recommendations from people who understand what I write and love to read. I tried just finding books based on covers and blurbs, but I didn’t have much luck there. I did find books I loved when I asked someone else what I should read. Word-of-mouth recommendations are more important than ever!
I think now and into the future, I will be concentrating more on providing you, my readers, with recommendations and features based on books that I have read personally. Author features will be from people I know and trust. Book Chats will continue to feature books I’ve read and enjoyed. Plus, there will be promotions I’m involved in, my own original writing, and blog posts on topics I’m interested in.
Blog and Website Maintenance
The blog is now on a low-content hiatus until mid-September! Except for one piece of content I have to publish on September 4th and my monthly goals on the 1st, I will not be actively writing here because I will be updating the front and back-end of the website!
I’ll be introducing a new WordPress template, cutting plugins from the backend, updating everything from front to back. It’s a big task, and I expect the website to be a little hinky during the upgrade. If you stop by and things are weird, this is why. I promise things will smooth themselves out eventually. When I start updating regularly again, you can be assured that I’ve worked out about 98% of the kinks. Yes, this also means no Sunday Updates, so you may not get a weekly Friday email from me one week. Don’t panic. It’s expected.
Okay! Onward with the updates and into the school year! I’ll have lots to tell you about when I return.
Viber
The post The Summer of SFR Is Over! The Blog Is Taking A Break… appeared first on S. J. Pajonas.
Featuring PIRATE NEMESIS by Carysa Locke #summerofSFR
Today is the last feature of the Summer of SFR! To conclude my series of author features, I have Carysa Locke here today to tell us about her book, PIRATE NEMESIS! As most of you know, Carysa and I are co-admins of our reader group on Facebook, The Starlight Cafe, and we are also curating an anthology together, due to be out next year.
Tell us a little about yourself, Carysa…
“Carysa Locke has loved writing since she was ten years old scrawling horrible Pern and Star Wars fan fiction into spiral notebooks. Her space pirates series is based on a role-play game her best friend, MaLea Holt created and ran back in the early 2000’s. She loves playing old school RPGs, reading, writing, and in her spare time enjoys jewelry making and sewing.”
Carysa and I were just discussing how we both got inspiration for our series in our reader group. I love that this universe she created blossomed out of a shared world.
I asked Carysa, “What inspired you to write PIRATE NEMESIS?”
Carysa replied…
“I’ve been a fan of comic books and SF my entire life, so naturally I decided to write a series about space pirates with fantastic psychic powers.”
This is something I really love about her series! If you missed my previous Book Chat that featured PIRATE NEMESIS, check it out. I’ve also featured other books by Carysa in my Book Chats, so be sure to search my site to find more.
A smuggler running from her past, Mercy desperately wants answers to her mother’s disappearance. All roads lead her to the one place she can’t return: home.
Killers. Thieves. Pirates. Family.
Mercy has spent her life evading the Pirate Queen who attempted to murder her as a child. Now, living as a smuggler with the outlawed Talent of telepathy, she keeps her head down, takes jobs that keep her moving, and searches for answers about her mother’s disappearance fifteen years ago.
But living outside the law has consequences.
Tricked and captured, Mercy must choose between two rival factions: the terrorists who will do anything to exploit her gifts for themselves, and the pirates she’s been eluding since childhood. Her only ally is the most dangerous killer of them all, and trusting him may be her final mistake.
Check out PIRATE NEMESIS on Amazon, Apple Books, Nook, Kobo, and more via Books2Read…
Via Books2Read
Find This Author Online
Learn more about Carysa Locke on…
Website: http://www.carysalocke.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/carysalocke
Facebook Reader Group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/StarlightCafeSFF/
Check out all my Summer of SFR posts!
Viber
The post Featuring PIRATE NEMESIS by Carysa Locke #summerofSFR appeared first on S. J. Pajonas.
August 26, 2020
Featuring FINDING HEKATE by Kellie Doherty #summerofSFR
Continuing with the Summer of SFR, I have Kellie Doherty here today to tell us about her book, FINDING HEKATE!
Tell us a little about yourself, Kellie…
“I live in Eagle River, Alaska, and have been writing since I was a teenager and penning fanfiction. My newest novel Sunkissed Feathers & Severed Ties won a Rainbow Award in 2019 in the Fantasy, Lesbian category. My work has been featured in numerous journals and anthologies like Image OutWrite, Life (as it) Happens, Flight, and Pathos Literary Magazine.”
Very cool, Kellie!
I asked Kellie, “What inspired you to write FINDING HEKATE?”
Kellie replied…
“Finding Hekate was inspired by a short story I wrote for a college writing group. I liked the characters so much—and so did they!—that I decided to transform the short story into a full novel, that ended up being two novels!”
Sometimes inspiration comes slowly and then really blossoms!
Mia Foley is running away from the attack that changed her life. She’s captain of a new spaceship when the Acedians find her and try blasting her peaceful crew from the black. She must sever her bonds in order to run, again. But she’s grown fond of this crew, particularly Cassidy Gates. Staying with them will jeopardize their safety, and they have much closer fears than the Acedian hunters. Mia’s time is running out. She’s becoming one of them.
Check out FINDING HEKATE on Amazon, Apple Books, Nook, Kobo, and more via Books2Read…
Via Books2Read
Find This Author Online
Learn more about Kellie Doherty on…
Website: http://www.kelliedoherty.com
Check out all my Summer of SFR posts!
Viber
The post Featuring FINDING HEKATE by Kellie Doherty #summerofSFR appeared first on S. J. Pajonas.
August 24, 2020
SUCCUMB TO THE STORM by Riley Onyx #summerofSFR
Continuing with the Summer of SFR, I have Riley Onyx here today to tell us about her book, SUCCUMB TO THE STORM!
Tell us a little about yourself, Riley…
“Where aliens rule the skies, and mates are captured and claimed is where Riley is happiest writing. Her heroes are powerful and her heroines are their match and their romance will ignite your imagination. When not exploring other worlds and civilizations, Riley lives in Fremantle, Australia. One day she plans on growing up and doing something sensible with her life, but today is not that day.”
Doing sensible things with one’s life is overrated anyway, Riley.
I asked Riley, “What inspired you to write SUCCUMB TO THE STORM?”
Riley replied…
“I love alien romances, but I also love elemental beings so I combined them in this series. The elemental aliens are protecting their planet from people who’d destroy their home, but that means people who arrive can never leave…and of course there are aliens looking for mates among the new arrivals. Succumb to the Storm (air) is book 1, and because there are four elements there are four books. “
Sounds like fun!
I crashed on a supposedly uninhabited planet during a routine survey flight. Now I’m stranded. My co-pilot is dead, my radio doesn’t work because of the electrical storm, and I’m being hunted.
When a massive alien, who crackles with energy appears out of the night, saving me from the beasts, I’m grateful for his help, though I wonder how he got here. Did he also crash?
For his protection he demands my surrender.
Do I succumb to the storm?
This is the first book in the Elemental Alien Mates series. For readers who like big aliens and feisty heroines.
Check out SUCCUMB TO THE STORM on Amazon via Books2Read…
Via Books2Read
Find This Author Online
Learn more about Riley Onyx on…
Newsletter: https://emailoctopus.com/lists/f567c012-6a54-11ea-a3d0-06b4694bee2a/forms/subscribe
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RileyOnyxAuthor/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Riley-Onyx/e/B088R3YYCZ
Check out all my Summer of SFR posts!
Viber
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August 23, 2020
Sunday Update – August 23, 2020
The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.
We’re closing in on my blog vacation! For the first two weeks of September, you won’t see much blog content here, as I will finally be updating my website. I have a new theme all picked out and I will be making changes both to the front and back end of the site. One more week to go, and then I’ll warn everyone I’ll be on content vacation while I’m instead working on coding.
It was an easy week here. We, again, did not do much. My youngest daughter took a week of Slime classes online where she made slime every day. She was really happy, especially since I banned slime from the house a few years ago. Lol. My husband looked at me and said, “You are such a nice mommy.” Lol.
Other highlights include… I took the kids to the pool on Thursday, just to spend the day relaxing and swimming. Lulu went to daycare her usual Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. And we’re thinking about getting a Peloton. Yeah.
I’ve been writing! I have 5500 words in a Skylar novella for my anthology. I’m super excited by it. Skylar is a different person than Vivian, definitely more sure of herself and what she wants out of her career. But she’s quick to anger, impulsive, and aggressive. It makes her exterior seem a lot more rough than she really is. She’s my Aries character, and I’m sure we all know an Aries or two. Lol.
Lulu continues to be cute and funny.
I made the Best Vegan Seitan Burgers from It Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken. This is before and after steaming (before on the left, after on right). They turned out pretty delicious! We ate two and I froze the rest.
Food this week was good. Lots of salads and then last night we had Vegan Steaks with mashed potatoes, green beans, grilled squash, and gravy. Yum!
Look at these sunflowers! They are out of control. Over ten feet now!
I enjoyed a Choco Taco at the pool on Thursday.
Reading and some iced coffee!
Fridays are martini nights! We make them with a good gin (here we’ve used Botanist gin) and this fantastic vermouth from Channing Daughters winery. I prefer my martinis on the wetter side, as long as the vermouth is good, with a twist.
And finally, writing! I’ve been writing on my Alphasmart Neo every day. It’s been good to write words again.
Have a great week everyone! Stay healthy and stay safe.
Viber
The post Sunday Update – August 23, 2020 appeared first on S. J. Pajonas.
August 21, 2020
Featuring PLAYING CARDS WITH ALIENS by Erin Raegan #summerofSFR
Continuing with the Summer of SFR, I have Erin Raegan here today to tell us about her book, PLAYING CARDS WITH ALIENS!
Tell us a little about yourself, Erin…
“I’m a wife. A mother of a little boy and three fur babies. I started publishing my own stories two years ago and can’t imagine doing anything else. I’m in love with writing. I’ve been an amazon best seller and self-publish. I move around the country frequently as my husband is in the military and that is what developed my love of science fiction romance. I fell in love with worlds outside of my own more and more with every deployment and new move.”
Congratulations on your best seller status! And I’m sure many deployments mean lots of inspiration!
I asked Erin, “What is PLAYING CARDS WITH ALIENS about?”
Erin replied…
“Playing Cards with Aliens is a story about an alien lord named Kil that crashes on earth. He’s stuck there for a time while they repair the damage and he meets a girl named Theo and her family. Shenanigans ensue as Kil tries to keep what he is a secret from Theo and her human family and town. He knows he can’t stay but his heart makes it more difficult for him the longer he spends with her. He knows he wants to keep her and is torn over his secret and leaving her behind.”
Sounds juicy!
Small town. Small life. Smaller dreams.
I’m content. Happy. It might not make sense to most people but this is the life I chose for myself.
If there’s a small part of me that wants to travel and see the world, I’m okay with appeasing that desire with travel magazines and planning future vacations. I want this life and a life full of adventure. I don’t see why I can’t have both.
I’m just fine with waiting.
But something beyond me has already decided that my contentment with life is about to change.
That change came with three new faces. Three new visitors that have suddenly—before I knew what was happening—taken over mine and my family’s lives. They live with us. They eat with us. They sleep and share a bathroom with us. I don’t remember inviting them. I don’t remember consenting to their invasion in our lives.
I don’t remember much of anything these days.
But they’re here.
He’s here.
And I don’t think I want them to leave.
I don’t want him to leave.
At least until I realize why we stopped asking questions. Why we accept their vague explanations and strange mannerisms.
Why we can’t shake the headaches.
Then I can’t get rid of them fast enough.
I can’t get rid of him fast enough.
Even if it breaks my heart.
Check out PLAYING CARDS WITH ALIENS on Amazon via Books2Read…
Via Books2Read
Find This Author Online
Learn more about Erin Raegan on…
Website: http://www.erinraegan.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ErinRaeganAuthor/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author.erinraegan/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/erin-raegan
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/erinraegan
Subscribe to her Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/dIv6n1
Email: author.erinraegan@gmail.com
Check out all my Summer of SFR posts!
Viber
The post Featuring PLAYING CARDS WITH ALIENS by Erin Raegan #summerofSFR appeared first on S. J. Pajonas.
August 19, 2020
Featuring OVERLOAD FLUX by Carol Van Natta #summerofSFR
Continuing with the Summer of SFR, I have Carol Van Natta here today to tell us about her book, OVERLOAD FLUX!
Tell us a little about yourself, Carol…
Carol Van Natta is a USA TODAY bestselling and award-winning science fiction and fantasy author. Series include the Central Galactic Concordance space opera series that starts with Overload Flux and Minder Rising, and the Ice Age Shifters paranormal romance series that starts with Shifter Mate Magic and Shift of Destiny. She shares her Fort Collins, CO home with a resident mad scientist and just the right number of equally mad cats. If she ever gets to explore the stars, she’s taking them all with her.
Her awards are all well-deserved! And I’ve seen Carol’s cats. They are adorable.
I asked Carol, “What inspired you to write OVERLOAD FLUX?”
Carol replied…
“Overload Flux launches my Central Galactic Concordance space opera romance series, but it didn’t start out as the first story. All my stories start with characters. Early one summer, my muse introduced me to two of them, then told me about the big damn story arc they were part of. I spent the rest of the summer outlining the plot and planning what I *thought* was the first of five or six books. Trouble was, readers would first need to know the universe and civilization to understand what was going on. Since I probably couldn’t talk anyone into reading futuristic encyclopedia entries, I backed up in my timeline, created a new set of characters, and plunged into the deep end. “
Sometimes inspiration comes to us out of order! I’ve read OVERLOAD FLUX and really enjoyed it. Check out my Book Chat about this awesome book here.
When the cure for a deadly disease is stolen, two misfits are all that stands between greed and intergalactic tragedy.
Luka Foxe can’t let anyone know about his secret mental abilities. Debilitated by their influence when faced with violence, the brilliant forensic investigator now only takes assignments involving theft. But when he has to hunt down a hijacked vaccine for a galaxy-wide pandemic, the tragic first clue is his best friend’s brutal murder.
Nightshift guard Mairwen Morganthur knows she must keep a low profile. The product of illegal genetic alteration, she’s a lethal weapon with no social graces. But when she’s tasked to protect a detective with frightening intuition, she finds herself falling for him even though he could expose her.
Racing to recover the cure for a galaxy-wide pandemic, Luka is surprised by his developing feelings for the capable-but-mysterious guard. And Mairwen may have to risk everything by revealing her identity, with deadly mercenaries hot on their tail.
Can the unlikely pair survive an interplanetary conspiracy long enough to save lives and find love?
Check out OVERLOAD FLUX on Amazon, Apple Books, Nook, Kobo, Google Play and more via Books2Read…
Via Books2Read
Find This Author Online
Learn more about Carol Van Natta on…
Website: https://Author.CarolVanNatta.com
Newsletter: https://bit.ly/CVN–news
Facebook: https://facebook.com/CarolVanNattaAuthor
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/CarolVanNattaAuthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carol.vannatta
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/carol-van-natta
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3980825.Carol_Van_Natta
Check out all my Summer of SFR posts!
Viber
The post Featuring OVERLOAD FLUX by Carol Van Natta #summerofSFR appeared first on S. J. Pajonas.
August 18, 2020
Wonderful Worlds of Science Fiction – Promo
If you’re looking for some new science fiction to read, I have a new promotion that I’m participating in, this time with some authors I don’t even know! So there are sure to be books in here you haven’t seen either. All titles in this promotion are $2.99 or less. Check it out!
Check out the Wonderful Worlds of Science Fiction Promo
I hope you find something here to read and enjoy!
Viber
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