Wednesday, January 29, 2014
A Valentine's Gift
Hope you have a lovely Valentine's Day with the special someone in your life and don't forget the chocolate.
Elysa Hendricks
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Elysa-Hendricks-Author/137316289643103
Friday, January 24, 2014
Oops, a World-Building No-No
Judging writing unpublished and published novel contests, I see a lot of mistakes. Some of them truly unique, but most of them are quite common. Take for example that staple of the SciFi/Fantasy genre—world-building.
As readers we want and need to fall into the world the characters in a book exist in. As writers it is our obligation to create that world. You know the one, where dragons fly, magic exists and science can do what is now seemingly impossible.
But how much is too much?
Truthfully, the line is in the sand and it moves depending on the tide. When we're writing a series, we scooch the line closer to the water, knowing the tide is low. But when we're starting a new series, we might be inclined to move the line so far inland, it's located two blocks from the shore.
Neither works well.
And that's why many authors are advised to trash the first 2 or 3 chapters because that information dump is interfering with the story telling. I don't care who she is, authors hate to part with the words they've poured into pixels.
But sometimes it is necessary.
No matter how much it hurts.
This point was recently driven home to me by one of my critique partners. I was so obsessed with building the world/time period that I forgot that the, um, story. Of course, I didn't give up all those words. I copied and pasted a few of the better description into the parts that I was keeping.
And the story is the better for it.
Even if I lost 22 pages of text. And I cried. Because I forgot the cardinal rule of world-building, less is sometimes more and more only counts if the story is moving along. Have any of you had to trash chapters scenes or wish the author had done so in a book you've read?
As readers we want and need to fall into the world the characters in a book exist in. As writers it is our obligation to create that world. You know the one, where dragons fly, magic exists and science can do what is now seemingly impossible.
But how much is too much?
Truthfully, the line is in the sand and it moves depending on the tide. When we're writing a series, we scooch the line closer to the water, knowing the tide is low. But when we're starting a new series, we might be inclined to move the line so far inland, it's located two blocks from the shore.
Neither works well.
And that's why many authors are advised to trash the first 2 or 3 chapters because that information dump is interfering with the story telling. I don't care who she is, authors hate to part with the words they've poured into pixels.
But sometimes it is necessary.
No matter how much it hurts.
This point was recently driven home to me by one of my critique partners. I was so obsessed with building the world/time period that I forgot that the, um, story. Of course, I didn't give up all those words. I copied and pasted a few of the better description into the parts that I was keeping.
And the story is the better for it.
Even if I lost 22 pages of text. And I cried. Because I forgot the cardinal rule of world-building, less is sometimes more and more only counts if the story is moving along. Have any of you had to trash chapters scenes or wish the author had done so in a book you've read?
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Do you believe in alien life?
Do you
believe in alien life?
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Do you
believe that there is life on other planets? I do. I simply cannot accept that
this planet, out of the estimated billions of planets in this galaxy that are
habitable is the only one that life formed on. And by habitable I mean for life
as we know it. Not human per se but carbon based. And then if you consider that
there are billions of galaxies just like the Milky Way, with billions more
planets that are habitable how can there not be other life out there?
Believing in
other life is not the same as believing that the other life forms have visited
this planet. Regardless of what my book Centauri Dawn may say, I don’t believe
that aliens have visited Earth. The physics of the matter prohibit it. There
cannot be faster than light travel according to Einstein so 186,000 miles per
second is as fast as anything can travel.
The Alpha Centauri system is closest to the Earth. The
closest actual star to us is Proxima
Centauri, also known as Alpha
Centauri C (because it is the
dimmest star in the Alpha
Centauri system). Proxima
Centauri is about 4.2
light-years from our Sun.
That’s a long time in a space ship. And
what would we use for fuel? I say in my book that there are ion drives in the
space ship. I heard about ion drives on a television show several years ago and
it stuck. But the program also stated that the ion drives would not be able to
travel anywhere near the speed of light. So we could be talking hundreds of
years to get to the closest star.
If and I do say that it’s a big IF, alien
life were landing on earth they would have had to have left their home planet
hundreds of years ago. Why if that’s the case, would they not make themselves
known? Do you think they are like the voyagers on Star Trek? Observe but don’t
interfere? I say to heck with that, let us know you’re really here and not the
imaginings of some crazy person.
Land.
Let us know we aren't alone.
Monday, January 20, 2014
Kick-ass heroine of sci-fi Romance nominated - by Vijaya Schartz
Join the Love Romances Cafe Yahoo group HERE.
Then vote HERE
Available in eBooks everywhere for $1.99:
kindle: http://amzn.com/B00EWTQHAW
nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/vijaya-schartz
ARE: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/storeSearch.html?searchBy=author&qString=Vijaya+Schartz
I write strong women with no apologies, and sometimes, it pays off. Especially in futuristic romance and science fiction. If women can't assert themselves in the future, there is no hope for women anywhere. So my heroines rise up to challenges long reserved to men.
Akira Karyudo is no exception. She is a Samurai Bounty Hunter, kind of old school, but she wields a plasma sword and is not above using a blaster. Whatever the job requires.
Since this is a romance, however, her toughest challenge comes in the form of her fugitive. He is not at all what she expected. Now she is torn between justice and duty. Will she keep her contract or follow her heart?
Find all of Vijaya's futuristic romance and fantasy, in kindle and in paperback:
At Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/vijayaschartz
at B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/vijaya-schartz
Friday, January 17, 2014
New Kitty-Approved Sci-Fi Novel: The Whole Truth
A fun new sci-fi novel by Jody Wallace you need to check out is
This clever book was laugh out loud funny--especially the cat
fights--but also because Wallace has come up with great, believable
world-building in a genre where it can be a challenge to find something
fresh and new. One reviewer said it reminded her of The X-Files with cats. So true!
Cleopatra Giancarlo is different from your average twenty something
career girl. For one thing, she knows when people lie because she can
see the truth in their shadows. For another, she doesn’t use her power
for good. Or evil. After repeated failures to help others, she mostly
just uses it to get deals at Bloomingdale’s. She fears what the
government would do if they discovered her ability, yet she longs to
find out if there are people like her out there. If there’s anything
more she could be.
She gets her wish when two strangers whisk her away from her old life and introduce her to the world of suprasensors. John and Samantha represent an organization called YuriCorp, one of many privately-owned firms that employ supras to increase their profit margin. Any of these firms would be thrilled to have Cleo on staff, and their methods of recruitment aren’t always friendly.
But even in the world of supras, Cleo isn’t safe. Her new boss wants her to go undercover and seek traitors in the company ranks. Her new friends know what she can do and how to work around it. And when someone starts wiping out supras, her new assignment might end up with her in a coma—or worse.
She gets her wish when two strangers whisk her away from her old life and introduce her to the world of suprasensors. John and Samantha represent an organization called YuriCorp, one of many privately-owned firms that employ supras to increase their profit margin. Any of these firms would be thrilled to have Cleo on staff, and their methods of recruitment aren’t always friendly.
But even in the world of supras, Cleo isn’t safe. Her new boss wants her to go undercover and seek traitors in the company ranks. Her new friends know what she can do and how to work around it. And when someone starts wiping out supras, her new assignment might end up with her in a coma—or worse.
If you hop over to my blog today you can leave a comment at the end of the post for a chance to win an e-copy.
If you want a funny, smart, and kitty-approved sci-fi read, The Whole Truth is for you!
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
How Do You Take Your Sci-Fi?
by Kimber Vale
I’m reading a book right now that makes me ponder this
question. It’s a modern day story set on an alternate reality earth because of
some top secret scientific experiments that have made for a select few super humans. Some of them have escaped their life of servitude under the thumb an
evil genius, and are now trying to bring down the big, bad guy before he brings
them down.
It’s interesting, and fun, and totally stokes the flames of
my sci-fi love.
It’s also right here on earth.
 |
| Image courtesy of Victor Habbick / FreeDigitalPhotos.net |
And so, I’ve found myself wondering if people generally have
a strong preference for space chases (the old space opera, as it were) or do they
like alternate realities unfolding here at home? Or, don’t readers care at all?
I am a big fan of sci-fi in general, and a tumultuous tale of
intergalactic adventure and extra-planetary extracurricular activities
definitely gets my motor running. But
downhome loving with a cool sci-fi hook is damn good, I must say. Essentially,
I could go either way if the story is engaging.
How about everyone else? Do you have a preference?
-Kimber Vale
www.kimbervale.com
Thursday, January 9, 2014
Ten New Year's Resolutions That Should Be Banned - by Michele Callahan
 |
| Butterfly - My House |
Except...I find myself repeating the same old things every year. Every stinking year in December, I'm still the caterpillar. Obviously my resolve to keep these so-called "resolutions" isn't what it needs to be. And why? Because they're all the "Shoulds" that we have had pounded into our heads by our mothers, the media, and the infamous "They" that no one can identify.
So, this year I'm going to forbid myself the following ten resolutions and make up some new ones. Some FUN ones. Maybe, if I do that, I'll actually keep to them.
Here goes. Ten Banned Resolutions. (Please join me in hating them all.)
1 - Lose Weight.
2 - Exercise More.
3 - Eat Healthier.
4 - Keep A Cleaner House.
5 - Take My Dog On More Walks.
6 - Never-Ever Lose My Temper With My Kids. (They call this "Hulk Mode")
7 - Cook More Homemade Dinners
8 - Go To Bed Earlier.
9 - Take More Vacation Time.
10 - Dress Up More Often.
Are you laughing yet? I am, and flipping this list "the bird." How about some resolutions I'll actually keep? Any ideas out there? I need some new ones because I just wiped out my list for the last ten New Years'. Boo-Yah!
Happy NEW NEW year.
Michele
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
REFLECTIONS ON A YEAR
At the end of December many people think about making resolutions for the coming new year. I gave that up decades ago, because I realized that no one can predict the future, so why try to force yourself into a mold that changing circumstances may render uncomfortable or impossible. Instead, I like to reflect on the things I've accomplished through out the past year.
2013 was a year of challenges for me. Though these challenges weren't life threatening they were certainly life changing. In January my husband of over 40 years decided to retire. He'd been eagerly anticipating and talking about doing so for several years, but this year he made the move to do so the end of April.
Believing it would take several to months to sell and we'd have time to find a retirement place down in Florida, we put our house up for sale in February. Of course the house sold to the third couple who looked at it. Panic ensued. We rushed down to Florida to house hunt. Fortunately we found the perfect home (or it will be once we renovate it out of the 1980s into the 2010s.)
The next few months were hectic. We packed and moved and unpacked. Cleaned and painted and began renovating our new home (this is an ongoing process) as well as adjusted to being retirees and the much warmer, more humid climate of sunny Florida. Gotta say we're loving it, especially now that the weather back where we came from is in the single digits.
When I start to think I've accomplished nothing during 2013 I remind myself that not only did I move across country, I also published three short stories: CUPID'S APPRENTICE, LUCKY'S LEPRECHAUN, A KITTEN FOR CHRISTMAS as well as three full length novels: TANGO IN PARADISE, MUST LOVE CATS, and DARK STAR DAWNING.
So, I won't be making any New Year's resolution. I'm just going to accept what comes and keep moving forward.
I wish everyone a Very Safe & Happy New Year!
Elysa Hendricks
http://www.elysahendricks.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Elysa-Hendricks-Author/137316289643103
2013 was a year of challenges for me. Though these challenges weren't life threatening they were certainly life changing. In January my husband of over 40 years decided to retire. He'd been eagerly anticipating and talking about doing so for several years, but this year he made the move to do so the end of April.
Believing it would take several to months to sell and we'd have time to find a retirement place down in Florida, we put our house up for sale in February. Of course the house sold to the third couple who looked at it. Panic ensued. We rushed down to Florida to house hunt. Fortunately we found the perfect home (or it will be once we renovate it out of the 1980s into the 2010s.)
The next few months were hectic. We packed and moved and unpacked. Cleaned and painted and began renovating our new home (this is an ongoing process) as well as adjusted to being retirees and the much warmer, more humid climate of sunny Florida. Gotta say we're loving it, especially now that the weather back where we came from is in the single digits.
When I start to think I've accomplished nothing during 2013 I remind myself that not only did I move across country, I also published three short stories: CUPID'S APPRENTICE, LUCKY'S LEPRECHAUN, A KITTEN FOR CHRISTMAS as well as three full length novels: TANGO IN PARADISE, MUST LOVE CATS, and DARK STAR DAWNING.
I wish everyone a Very Safe & Happy New Year!
Elysa Hendricks
http://www.elysahendricks.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Elysa-Hendricks-Author/137316289643103
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