Monday, April 29, 2013
New Starbound Lovers blog team member - Tonya Cannariato
Hi all - happy to join the team, and looking forward to some good discussions about my favorite genres: Sci-Fi and Fantasy. Of course, since they are my favorite genres, they're where I gravitated with my first novels. I've published three novels and a short story in the past year through Katarr Kanticles Press, which is about as close to indie as I can get without actually hitting the publishing button myself. The publisher, G.L. Drummond, has been kind enough to become more than a mentor over the past few years as I tested my writing wings, and I've learned more about the ins and outs of indie publishing in that time than I ever imagined might be possible.
I'm now a staunch indie, loving the fact that I have control over cover art, blurbs, pricing, release dates, the editor I work with, and all those other OCD control-freak elements that can give authors premature gray hair. On the other hand, it also means that promotion is entirely up to me. From what I've read, that's largely the case anyway at the bigger publishing houses, so it's not like I'd get much help anyway, but it means that when I get opportunities like these, I'm more than happy to share covers, blurbs, and buy links.
;)
My first novel-length idea was based on a dream I had--and almost immediately became an idea for a trilogy. The underlying question was: Could the Communist countries have stayed in power as long as they did because they subverted the power of their magical beasts? The first one is set in the Russian Federation shortly after the fall of the Soviet Union, so book two explores the Chinese angle, and immediately follows the first one chronologically. Book three will feature North Korea.
It's not all geopolitics, as the stories feature dragons and (in book two) much more of a paranormal romance theme. They're what my college lit professor would designate "low fantasy" in that they're set in a world we recognize, but have elements to them that aren't part of our daily experience. Here are the cover images of the two books that have already been released in the series, Red Slaves.
My second novel-length idea was inspired by sky-is-falling speculation in some news outlets that turning on the Large Hadron Collider would annihilate the Earth. It's written from the perspective of a newly married scientist ... who loses a Higgs boson. My speculation was that since that particle is also called "the God particle" that it might operate as a plug keeping an individual soul in place in a specific reality in the space-time continuum.
I'm working on a novella at the moment, and would like to release the third Red Slaves novel by the end of the year, but I'm also in the middle of classes to earn my MBA in marketing and project management--I figure both skill sets will serve me well as I progress down the road to an indie writing career. When I'm not blogging here, I'm online at my own blog, Twitter, or Facebook.
I Change My Mind About as Often as the Weather
I was thinking about that meme floating around the Interwebz that says, 'Nice winter we're having this spring'. I can apply it to my writing over the course of this month.
It's funny how plans change, huh? This time last month I had just reached my word count goal for March on what I was calling the fifth and final novel in my Legends & Lovers series. It's strange, but now I'm twenty thousand words from finishing a different novel, the first in a new series and the novel I was previously working on . . . well, it's hiding in the dark recesses of my flash drive. It may never see the light of day. Or, for all we know, because I'm so mercurial, it could be finished next month.
On the 26th, I finished my 40,000 word goal for Camp NaNoWriMo. I was completely hijacked by the characters from this novel. It's a paranormal historical. It seems to be a NaNoWriMo thing, because these crazy ideas all pop into my head every time I so much as see the logo for that website. While I was writing my latest release, this weird demon-infested town popped into my brain along with the heroes, who are brothers. They're half-demons, but they kill demons and darned if they don't go and fall in love with human women. In the Old West. Except they're not running around killing demons with six shooters. They have a handy demon friend who can go anywhere in the world in a matter of seconds and bring back anything they desire. In this case, the eldest brother has a huge Bowie knife, the middle brother carries a saber, and the youngest has a crossbow. Okay, I admit, the heroine did save the oldest brother from a demon using a Springfield rifle. I had to throw a historical gun in there somewhere.
If you're feeling spunky enough to try Camp NaNoWriMo, you haven't missed all the fun yet. They're hosting another round in July, and of course, the big event in November. So you still have time to plot out your next novel.
When I'm not blogging here I'm at Have Novel, Will Edit, Facebook, Twitter, and G+.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
MOVING!
One more day and the movers arrive to pack up all my sh--, I mean all my precious stuff. The last few months have been a whirlwind of activity, between organizing hubby's retirement, selling a house, buying a house, moving our youngest son into his own apartment (he decided not to move to Florida with us) and getting ourselves ready to move. In addition to all that I managed to finish up the revisions for my upcoming release DARK STAR DAWNING. I'm pooped.
Here's a sneak peek at DARK STAR DAWNING.
And you can watch the video trailer here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVpyHw7qUUc&feature=youtu.be
EXCERPT:
Here's a sneak peek at DARK STAR DAWNING.
And you can watch the video trailer here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVpyHw7qUUc&feature=youtu.be
EXCERPT:
Behind Reese the door slid closed
shutting out the woman’s pleas and terrified scream. He blocked the guilt by
reminding himself that her suffering might be the salvation of the entire
empire. And if her small, battered body didn’t hold the key, how would he live
with the remorse then?
He sucked in recycled air. He’d
survive it the same way he endured his other sins. Saving the billions of
inhabitants of the empire was worth the cost of his soul. But, his conscience
countered, his soul was his to trade. Her life was not.
Inside his cabin he ripped off
his helmet and flung it aside. It hit the wall with a sharp crack. The
destruction didn’t ease his anger. Nor did he worry about being invaded by the
ash. If even one particle of the ash had escaped the woman, the ship’s
carefully calibrated sensors would have set off an alert. Body tense he lay on
his bunk to rest. He tried to forget the sound of the woman’s scream. Sleep was
a long time coming.
Hours later, the com buzz woke
him from an all too familiar nightmare where his wife and young son reached for
him, their bodies twisting in the agony of Brasu possession and then dissolving
into ash as he watched helplessly. Sweat dampened his chest and stung his eyes.
At least he told himself it was sweat. Only when awake did he have ease from
that torment, that his mind acknowledged his wife’s and son’s suffering was
over, while as long as he lived his anguish over their deaths would continue.
His fingers closed around the seedpod necklace his son had made for him. It
provided no comfort. Unlike in his nightmare, he hadn’t seen their bodies,
hadn’t watched them die. They’d been vaporized when Lyndola was destroyed.
His breath shuddered as his heart
rate settled back to normal.
“Captain?” Asa’s voice came over
the com.
“You have something?” he asked, hoping
Asa would think his voice’s gruffness came from sleep.
“Yes and no. I think you’d better
get down to med-bay.”
"The woman? Is she dead?”
Like acid, anger burned in his veins, but Reese kept his tone even. Raging at
Asa would solve nothing.
The doctor, though not a cruel
man, was a thorough and determined one. Like everyone else he’d lost family and
friends to the Brasu. If it meant the end of the threat, the pain and death of
one innocent wouldn’t cause him to hesitate. Reese’s own guilt was harder to
ignore.
“Just get down here.”
Reese picked up his helmet. The
visor was cracked. He’d get another in the med-bay.
Minutes later, he entered the
med-bay lab and stopped. The woman lay motionless on the exam table. Despite
her slightly swollen nose, split lip and bruises she was an attractive woman. A
tousled mop of fiery red hair surrounded a pale, delicate face. Her brows, a
darker shade of red, arched above tilted eyes. He knew that beneath her closed
lids her eyes were a verdant green.
Her body was prepped for surgery,
the creamy skin down the center of her bare chest discolored by the ugly blue disinfectant.
Fury at the injustice of life
boiled inside him. He knew the only way to flush the ash from a person was to
open the lungs. Many of those infected, especially soldiers, rather than remain
in isolation, chose the risky surgery. Only those physically and mentally
strong survived. This woman was too fragile to live through the grueling
procedure.
Monday, April 22, 2013
Indie Published and Proud of It!
I'm indie published and I have been previously published with small presses. For years I've tried knocking on New York's door. Either my books were too paranormal or not paranormal enough. Well, last year I decided the heck with it and to go the indie route. So far I haven't regretted a moment. It gives me control and if I fail at it, it will be because of me and only me. I plan on getting my rights back on 5 other books I have.
I can publish what ever length I want. I recently published the first in a short story series. I was in charge of the formatting, cover design, editing, marketing and more. It can be super time-consuming, but it is also very rewarding. It also helps that I have a company, Bella Media Management, that specializes in indie publishing.
Here is a short blurb of the first in my Shades Series, Shades of Gray. (Yes, I know it's the same title of the hugely popular erotic novel, but I couldn't for the life of me think of one that was equally appropriate.)
Kennedy Sinclair is given a pair of simple sunglasses. Or so she thinks. Within twenty-four hours, she discovers they are far from simple or normal. The lenses open a door to the dark side of her personality and a serial killer, who turns his focus on her. Can she outwit, outrun a murderer? And if she survives the night, does she have the strength to become the person destiny has created for her
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
As an indie author, I can decide when my book will be published. I don't have to wait a year. I know a number of New York published authors who have only the one book coming out this year.
There are a couple of downsides to indie. I believe there is still a stigma out there about the quality of indie published authors. I'm hoping that will change. There is also another downside, and it's major. Distribition. New York buys placement on Amazon and on other online bookstores along with storefront bookstores across the country. I don't have that ability. Not yet. Rumor is that Amazon is planning to offer advertising for indie authors. We will wait and see.
I have heard alot of traditional publishing houses picking up indie authors once they've gotten their platform together and have gotten a readership. Hugh Howey and his Wool series is a case in point. He has a huge best-seller series on his hands and New York came knocking. My understanding is that he sold his print rights and kept his electronic. I think that was a very smart move on his move.
With Barnes & Noble closing one third of their stores, times are a changing. It's going to get harder and harder for readers to get print books unless they order online and that's really going to hamper mid-list authors.
But there is one thing I know whether it be traditional or indie, sales for a author in today's market comes down two major factors: visibility and a good product. At least this is my opinion...and I'm sticking to it right now. ;)
H.D. Thomson
I can publish what ever length I want. I recently published the first in a short story series. I was in charge of the formatting, cover design, editing, marketing and more. It can be super time-consuming, but it is also very rewarding. It also helps that I have a company, Bella Media Management, that specializes in indie publishing.
Kennedy Sinclair is given a pair of simple sunglasses. Or so she thinks. Within twenty-four hours, she discovers they are far from simple or normal. The lenses open a door to the dark side of her personality and a serial killer, who turns his focus on her. Can she outwit, outrun a murderer? And if she survives the night, does she have the strength to become the person destiny has created for her
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
As an indie author, I can decide when my book will be published. I don't have to wait a year. I know a number of New York published authors who have only the one book coming out this year.
There are a couple of downsides to indie. I believe there is still a stigma out there about the quality of indie published authors. I'm hoping that will change. There is also another downside, and it's major. Distribition. New York buys placement on Amazon and on other online bookstores along with storefront bookstores across the country. I don't have that ability. Not yet. Rumor is that Amazon is planning to offer advertising for indie authors. We will wait and see.
I have heard alot of traditional publishing houses picking up indie authors once they've gotten their platform together and have gotten a readership. Hugh Howey and his Wool series is a case in point. He has a huge best-seller series on his hands and New York came knocking. My understanding is that he sold his print rights and kept his electronic. I think that was a very smart move on his move.
With Barnes & Noble closing one third of their stores, times are a changing. It's going to get harder and harder for readers to get print books unless they order online and that's really going to hamper mid-list authors.
But there is one thing I know whether it be traditional or indie, sales for a author in today's market comes down two major factors: visibility and a good product. At least this is my opinion...and I'm sticking to it right now. ;)
H.D. Thomson
Friday, April 19, 2013
New Release
Continuing the theme this week, I wanted to share my latest release. Although there is a slight romantic thread, the apocalyptic really deals with the things we're willing to do for love.And guess what? Not all of it is good.
The end of our world was the beginning of theirs. A hundred years after the apocalypse, noble intentions will war with savage instinct.
Four groups of survivors.
One planet on the verge of extinction.
The battle for mankind’s future has begun.
Post-Redaction: Humanity's next chapter will be written in blood.
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Just had to share
I just had to share my new covers for the Centauri Series. This was my first scifi series and is still the closest to my heart. It's always a hard choice to change the covers, but I think I chose correctly. I love the new covers. I'd love to know what you think.
CENTAURI DAWN
CENTAURI TWILIGHT
CENTAURI MIDNIGHT
CENTAURI DAWN
CENTAURI TWILIGHT
CENTAURI MIDNIGHT
Monday, April 15, 2013
SNATCHED , by Vijaya Schartz
SNATCHED
by Vijaya Schartz
Published by BWL Ltd
Available in all formats,
everywhere eBooks are sold
KINDLE, NOOK, KOBO, ARE, SONY, SMASHWORDS, DIESEL, APPLE STORE,
Snatched from a post-apocalyptic battlefield
by galactic traders, Zania is sold to a
clandestine ring of fighting Amazons, on a
planet lush with green jungles and teeming
with deadly felines. She resents the
gorgeous and overzealous Viking champion,
Svend, who saves her life but too easily
accepts slavery. Adulated by a woman who
claims to know her, hated by the jealous
Amazon queen who fancies Svend, Zania seeks
escape...
But Svend knows the price of rebellion, and
on this seemingly peaceful planet, ruled and
defended by machines, nothing is what it
seems, not even Zania herself... Among the
rumbles of a volcano threatening to explode,
an insurrection is brewing, and no one is
safe...
REVIEWS:
"A story with
plot twists too numerous to list... Alternate Earths...
One is an ecological disaster. The other is a
paradise... Zania and Svend fight for their lives... spurned lovers...
volcano... Can Zania and Svend find happiness when their world is coming apart ? - Candy - Sensual Reads - Sultry - 4.5
stars
"Brimming with action from the first page, this novel starts fast and never relents. It is ripe with hidden agendas, evil villains, toothy tigers, brave heroes, and cowardly sneaks. Oh! And do not forget, exploding volcanoes. A well-scripted adventure, this dystopian novel delivers thrills and chills on each new page. The story is populated with a diverse array of characters endowed with personality and pizzazz. Pick it up and prepare to be swept away in an escapade of intense science fiction excitement." - Laurie, Coffee Time Romance - 4 cups
"I loved this book. It is a great Sci-Fi Romance that is action packed from the very beginning... There are mysteries and surprises everywhere in the story that keep you wanting to continue reading to find out what happens... Even if you do not read much Sci-Fi romance, I would recommend this story because it is filled with characters you love and hate... will leave you satisfied in the end." - Felicia Wright - Paranormal romance Reviews
Also read the latest 5-star review on Amazon HERE
EXCERPT:
"All sexual relations have been abolished in
these parts," the synthetic voice
volunteered.
"Abolished?" Zania stifled a nervous chuckle as she kept walking. "It doesn’t make much sense."
"The tendencies that bring sexual passions, or passions of any kind, also breed violence, and all violence has been bred out of the citizens of this Earth. It is the price they pay for lasting peace and safety."
The concept sounded so foreign, Zania started to suspect she had wandered into delirium. She must have lost her mind. "Did you say Earth?"
"That’s what the natives call their planet."
The natives? So her captors were from some other place? From space? Zania slowed down but remembered she had to keep walking in order to get answers.
"This Earth is different from yours. It survived. Your native planet is long gone."
"Gone?" How could a planet be gone? "What do you mean?"
"Gone as in destroyed, reduced to interstellar dust, volatilized."
Zania couldn’t accept that. The idea that Earth as she knew it was no more bothered her beyond belief. "When did that happen? How long have I been unconscious?"
"Your battle happened one thousand, three hundred and thirty one Earth years ago," the voice stated with confidence.
"Abolished?" Zania stifled a nervous chuckle as she kept walking. "It doesn’t make much sense."
"The tendencies that bring sexual passions, or passions of any kind, also breed violence, and all violence has been bred out of the citizens of this Earth. It is the price they pay for lasting peace and safety."
The concept sounded so foreign, Zania started to suspect she had wandered into delirium. She must have lost her mind. "Did you say Earth?"
"That’s what the natives call their planet."
The natives? So her captors were from some other place? From space? Zania slowed down but remembered she had to keep walking in order to get answers.
"This Earth is different from yours. It survived. Your native planet is long gone."
"Gone?" How could a planet be gone? "What do you mean?"
"Gone as in destroyed, reduced to interstellar dust, volatilized."
Zania couldn’t accept that. The idea that Earth as she knew it was no more bothered her beyond belief. "When did that happen? How long have I been unconscious?"
"Your battle happened one thousand, three hundred and thirty one Earth years ago," the voice stated with confidence.
"What?" Zania’s legs turned to mush.
Something in her gut told her it was the
truth. Her father, her brothers, her
cheating boyfriend, all dead... They never
found her body, declared her MIA. "How is
that possible?"
"You were selected and preserved for our specific purpose."
"You were selected and preserved for our specific purpose."
"What purpose?" Zania couldn’t stand not being in control of her own destiny. "Who made that decision for me?"
"We did."
That We again. The corridor ended into a sharp turn. The sound of many voices filtered into the hallway. "What’s this place?"
"The time has come to perform your duty."
Before Zania could protest, she emerged into a brightly lit arena, with people in the bleachers, cheering and yelling her name. They all wore gray robes and hid their faces under a hood, like ghosts. "Why do they all wear gray?"
"Color is not allowed on their Earth. Color breeds passions."
"But I wear blue, and the mat is red."
"This is clandestine entertainment We provide for them. They hide their faces for fear of being recognized."
Stepping on the soft red mat, Zania raised her gaze to the highest levels of the arena and noticed a gigantic projection of herself on the ceiling.
The deep blue veils suited her well, enhancing her dazzling blue eyes and apricot complexion, and revealing much of her body. With the long flowing hair and the eye makeup of an Egyptian queen, Zania hardly recognized herself. She looked more beautiful than she remembered. Of course, she’d never been the pampering type.
The cheering suddenly stopped and Zania realized she no longer stood alone on the mat of the arena. There, in the bright light, walked a tall muscular man, young, his long blond hair framing a tan face with icy gray eyes... The visage of Adonis on Hercules’ body.
Her gaze roamed over the regular lines of his jaw, the full, sensual lips, dimpled chin, down the expanse of his hairless pectorals, and stopped on the leather cod piece embossed with Tor’s hammer. That’s all he wore.
So, he was a Viking. Zania could easily imagine him swinging a sword or a battle axe like his ancestors. He certainly had the biceps for it. His bare thighs bulged with muscles, yet his face held an almost feminine beauty. She couldn’t help a shiver of appreciation for this perfect male specimen.
"Are you Adonis himself?" If he were, Zania would have to prostrate herself.
"No, Zania. My name is Svend." His amused smile told her he enjoyed her surprise. "Who is Adonis?"
"Never mind." How could he not know the gods of the Pantheon?
The synthetic female voice interrupted her thoughts. "This is the mate We selected for you."
"Mate?" Zania realized only she could hear the voice as Svend didn’t react to the outrageous comment.
"You must join with him here, now, for the pleasure of our illustrious clients." The lack of emotion clashed with the loaded words. "In exchange, you will live another day."
"You don’t say." Mating was out of the question.
"Think before you decide. If you delight the crowd, you may be auctioned off to a prosperous patron, or even earn your freedom."
Freedom... That had been Zania’s battle cry.
"This is blackmail!" As a soldier, she had
no tolerance for such practices. She didn’t
risk her life in combat to end up as an
unwilling porn star. "I’m not mating with
this..." She lacked the words. Viking
prince? Golden god?
Svend smiled and walked to her with debonair confidence. "Shall we give them a good show? How long has it been since you were fully satisfied?" The deep voice caressed and enveloped her.
How long indeed! "Don’t touch me!" How dare this stranger think she’d go along with his parody of seduction. "I can only have sex with a man I love." The man she’d loved had cheated on her while she fought on the front. Of course, she’d had casual sex before, and sacred sex at the temple as well, but she wanted to make a point.
Svend smiled and walked to her with debonair confidence. "Shall we give them a good show? How long has it been since you were fully satisfied?" The deep voice caressed and enveloped her.
How long indeed! "Don’t touch me!" How dare this stranger think she’d go along with his parody of seduction. "I can only have sex with a man I love." The man she’d loved had cheated on her while she fought on the front. Of course, she’d had casual sex before, and sacred sex at the temple as well, but she wanted to make a point.
Happy Reading!
Vijaya
Schartz
Blasters,
Swords, Romance with a Kick
B&N:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/vijaya-schartzMonday, April 8, 2013
Be My Kindle Hero?
From time to time, I like to rewrite a song to fit our writer lifestyles. Today, I have a rendition of Jukebox Hero by Foreigner. Maybe not my best work, but amusing nonetheless and it has a bad@$$ beat, am I right? Dear Foreigner, please don't sue me. All you'll get is whatever's at the bottom of my purse, which includes some change, cookie crumbs, and a comb I found in the Walmart parking lot.
No plug-in in sight
Dead battery on the Nook
Couldn't get a copy
it was a sold out book
Heard the roar in the line
She pictured the scene
Put her head to the wall
Then like a distant dream
She heard one fan beam
About the prose
Just made her day.
Saw text in her eyes
and the very next day
Bought a used lap top from a pawn store.
Didn't know how to write it
but she knew for sure
that keyboard
felt strong in her hands
Didn't take her long and
Just a few key strokes
She had a novel in the works
Just one laptop
And she had to go.
She started writing and never gonna stop.
She gotta keep writin'
Someday she's gonna make it to the top.
And be a Kindle Hero
With stars in her eyes
Be a Kindle Hero
She took one key board, stars in here eyes.
Kindle hero she'll come out tonight.
In a cafe without a name
No plug-in in sight,
She writes another sentences
writing by screenlight.
Like a trip to the stars
to that night in the line
And that one laptop made her whole world change.
Now she's gotta keep writing, she just can't stop.
Gotte keep writing, she's got to be on top.
And be a Kindle Hero got text in her eyes
She's a Kindle Hero got text in her eyes.
Yeah
Kindle Hero got text in her eyes.
With that one laptop, the whole world came alive.
Be on top tonight
She started writing
Ain't never gonna stop.
Gotta keep on writing.
Someday she'd gonna be on top.
When I'm not here, I'm blogging at Have Novel, Will Edit, hanging on Facebook, Twitter, and G+.
No plug-in in sight
Dead battery on the Nook
Couldn't get a copy
it was a sold out book
Heard the roar in the line
She pictured the scene
Put her head to the wall
Then like a distant dream
She heard one fan beam
About the prose
Just made her day.
Saw text in her eyes
and the very next day
Bought a used lap top from a pawn store.
Didn't know how to write it
but she knew for sure
that keyboard
felt strong in her hands
Didn't take her long and
Just a few key strokes
She had a novel in the works
Just one laptop
And she had to go.
She started writing and never gonna stop.
She gotta keep writin'
Someday she's gonna make it to the top.
And be a Kindle Hero
With stars in her eyes
Be a Kindle Hero
She took one key board, stars in here eyes.
Kindle hero she'll come out tonight.
In a cafe without a name
No plug-in in sight,
She writes another sentences
writing by screenlight.
Like a trip to the stars
to that night in the line
And that one laptop made her whole world change.
Now she's gotta keep writing, she just can't stop.
Gotte keep writing, she's got to be on top.
And be a Kindle Hero got text in her eyes
She's a Kindle Hero got text in her eyes.
Yeah
Kindle Hero got text in her eyes.
With that one laptop, the whole world came alive.
Be on top tonight
She started writing
Ain't never gonna stop.
Gotta keep on writing.
Someday she'd gonna be on top.
When I'm not here, I'm blogging at Have Novel, Will Edit, hanging on Facebook, Twitter, and G+.
Friday, April 5, 2013
New paperback release - BLACK JAGUAR - Vijaya Schartz
No matter how many books you have published in eBooks, the paper book still holds a certain amount of magic. I just received my first box of BLACK JAGUAR - Chronicles of Kassouk Book 3, and I got chills opening it. The green cover of Black Jaguar is stunning on paper.
Find it on AMAZON or on BARNES&NOBLE in paperback as well as eBook.
Kahuel volunteered to sail away on his brother's Galleon to get away from a roguish past, and prove his worth as a prince. The last things he expects on this virgin land are tragedy, natives, or scheming Mutants.
Talina never saw a foreigner, until destiny brings to her shores baffling strangers who can't read minds... among them a prince, and the Lost Daughter of the prophecy. Her fate is about to change, but the Star People protecting her clan view the outsiders as a threat to their crucial experiment. Can Kahuel, with a few warriors and felines, save Talina and her people from a horrible fate?
Review:
"...spellbinding series with this fast paced story that ensnared me from the very start... I enjoyed watching the interaction of the humans with their feline friends and how they would do anything to protect each other. The visual descriptions of the jungle scenes brought them to life for this reader. I for one can't wait for the next book in the Chronicles of Kassouk series." - 5 stars - Fallen Angel Reviews
Talina never saw a foreigner, until destiny brings to her shores baffling strangers who can't read minds... among them a prince, and the Lost Daughter of the prophecy. Her fate is about to change, but the Star People protecting her clan view the outsiders as a threat to their crucial experiment. Can Kahuel, with a few warriors and felines, save Talina and her people from a horrible fate?
Review:
"...spellbinding series with this fast paced story that ensnared me from the very start... I enjoyed watching the interaction of the humans with their feline friends and how they would do anything to protect each other. The visual descriptions of the jungle scenes brought them to life for this reader. I for one can't wait for the next book in the Chronicles of Kassouk series." - 5 stars - Fallen Angel Reviews
The good news is, More books in this series are coming out in paper soon. Blue Lioness is scheduled for later in April, and Noah's Ark is scheduled for June.
Happy Reading!
Vijaya Schartz
Blasters, Swords, Romance with a Kick
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
My Latest Sci-Fi Reads
As a writer, one lament is the diminished reading time available. All that plotting, editing, story mapping often puts the kibosh on curling-up-in-the-chair-time-with-a-good-book.
Dangit.
But when I do get a chance to read, it's extra awesome. I've been on a bit of a sci-fi kick lately, so I wanna share some of the great books that have made me forget I should be writing.
While Cathy's books are relatively new to the sci-fi genre, I'm already a firm fan of her tight, well-plotted stories that keep my Kindle 'next button' active.
Recently out of rehab,
Sasha James is determined to keep her head down, complete her parole and
never touch amber again. The chip in her neck controls her cravings for
the highly addictive drug, but also tracks her every move. Not that she
goes anywhere other than work and the halfway house she calls home—a
far cry from her luxurious former life as lover of the mining colony's
top drug dealer, Guy Christiansen.
Agent Nathan Sterling has no desire to see Sasha fall back into amber, but his sister has become Guy's latest conquest and the unexpectedly attractive Sasha is the key to getting her back. So in exchange for an introduction, he offers Sasha the one thing she can't refuse—her freedom. From the chip, her parole and even the planet if she wants. Though he would be sorry to see her go…
Torn between her growing attraction to Nathan, fear of Guy and the allure of amber, Sasha accepts. But who will save her if Guy refuses to let her go a second time?
Agent Nathan Sterling has no desire to see Sasha fall back into amber, but his sister has become Guy's latest conquest and the unexpectedly attractive Sasha is the key to getting her back. So in exchange for an introduction, he offers Sasha the one thing she can't refuse—her freedom. From the chip, her parole and even the planet if she wants. Though he would be sorry to see her go…
Torn between her growing attraction to Nathan, fear of Guy and the allure of amber, Sasha accepts. But who will save her if Guy refuses to let her go a second time?
Daynight is an intriguing idea about a dystopian world where everything is reversed from Earth. This kept me up late reading. (2012 Book of the Year Award Finalist-Young Adult Fiction, ForeWord Reviews)
Meet The Second Chance Institute (SCI): Earth's benevolent non-profit by day, Thera's totalitarian regime by night. Their motto: Because Everyone Deserves a Second Chance at Life(TM).
Reality: the SCI subjects Second Chancers to strict controls and
politically motivated science experiments like Cleaving--forced lifetime
union between two people who have sex. Punishment for disobeying SCI
edicts? Immediate Exile or death.
Girl Under Glass has been described as a cross between The Scarlet Letter and A Handmaid's Tale, and that's pretty accurate. Extremely gripping story that will keep me coming back to Ms Pierce's works.
What do you do when
you’re trapped between death and the devil? To protect her young
daughter from a madman and a tyrant, Rachel Pryne must trust an
enemy—one of the alien warriors who conquered Earth.
It is 2032, the Ohnenrai—Earth’s humanoid alien conquerors—orbit the planet, and Terran reproduction is failing. Rachel Pryne, a trained medic, is struggling to protect her seven-year-old daughter, Pearl, from the sexual predation of their penal colony’s leader. Having fathered the girl by rape, he now intends to take her on her eighth birthday, only six weeks away.
Then Rachel finds her unlikely champion—an injured Ohnenrai soldier who appears in her yard one stormy evening. She knows she may be choosing death over the devil in trusting this warrior, but she doesn’t know that her trust, and her DNA, will make her one of the most important and endangered people to ever set foot aboard an Ohnenrai starship.
It is 2032, the Ohnenrai—Earth’s humanoid alien conquerors—orbit the planet, and Terran reproduction is failing. Rachel Pryne, a trained medic, is struggling to protect her seven-year-old daughter, Pearl, from the sexual predation of their penal colony’s leader. Having fathered the girl by rape, he now intends to take her on her eighth birthday, only six weeks away.
Then Rachel finds her unlikely champion—an injured Ohnenrai soldier who appears in her yard one stormy evening. She knows she may be choosing death over the devil in trusting this warrior, but she doesn’t know that her trust, and her DNA, will make her one of the most important and endangered people to ever set foot aboard an Ohnenrai starship.
Rise Of The Siren takes a lot of risks, and for me, they worked. It was one hella cray cray book, but I HAD to keep reading.
Kora hates vampires and swears she'll never make one. Using artificial
cells, she synthesizes pleasant, harmless creatures like mermaids and
gnomes for wealthy clients who want mythical creatures roaming their
grounds and swimming in their private lakes.
When trillionaire Ruby Lazar buys Kora's masterpiece, the Siren, Kora leaps at the opportunity to deliver her marvel in person. She rushes off to Ruby's Gothic castle on the cliffs of Point Dume only to end up imprisoned in a Victorian monkey cage. To save her own life, Kora must transform the Siren into the very creature she loathes.
To make matters worse, Ruby already has a synthetic vampire boy toy named Vaughn who's the most vicious, arrogant, gorgeous thing Kora has ever laid eyes on. She hates every strand of hair on his blood-sucking head but can't stop thinking about him.
But everything about the castle—including Vaughn—is oddly familiar to Kora. She soon learns that in order to truly escape, she must uncover secrets from her own forgotten past. Only by discovering her true identity can she prevent Ruby from destroying her life all over again.
When trillionaire Ruby Lazar buys Kora's masterpiece, the Siren, Kora leaps at the opportunity to deliver her marvel in person. She rushes off to Ruby's Gothic castle on the cliffs of Point Dume only to end up imprisoned in a Victorian monkey cage. To save her own life, Kora must transform the Siren into the very creature she loathes.
To make matters worse, Ruby already has a synthetic vampire boy toy named Vaughn who's the most vicious, arrogant, gorgeous thing Kora has ever laid eyes on. She hates every strand of hair on his blood-sucking head but can't stop thinking about him.
But everything about the castle—including Vaughn—is oddly familiar to Kora. She soon learns that in order to truly escape, she must uncover secrets from her own forgotten past. Only by discovering her true identity can she prevent Ruby from destroying her life all over again.
So take a chance and grab a new sci-fi read. If the above titles are not enough to satiate your sci-fi cravings, check out the authors of this blog for even more titles!
DARK STAR DAWNING
Blurb:
Victoria “Tori” Hart doesn’t know it, but
she’s the key to saving the universe. After a childhood of moving from place to
place, first with her paranoid, restless mother and then in foster homes, Tori has finally found a home
in Hope, Ohio running her antique shop. Then a man who claims she’s the
answer to the plague that’s destroying his world invades her peaceful, if
boring life. Abducted into space and facing death, Tori tries to escape
as she fights against her growing attraction to her kidnapper. But can she
fight her inner obligation to save a people she’s never known?
His search for the Heart of Destiny leads him to Earth and Tori where he discovers that her very body chemistry is the key to defeating the invader. But as they travel through space toward their enemy, Tori somehow manages to heal his damaged heart.
Now Reese is once again faced with losing everything, because to save the universe and all of humanity, he must sacrifice Tori . . .
Here's a peak at the book trailer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVpyHw7qUUc&feature=youtu.be
By the end of this month I'll be relocated to warm, sunny Florida from chilly, gray Ohio. Wish me luck with the move.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)