Showing posts with label romantic science fiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label romantic science fiction. Show all posts
Monday, April 9, 2018
Why I love Science Fiction - by Vijaya Schartz
I
would love to write a story where the problems we tackle today are
faraway in the past, where children are safe, where women are equal to
men in every way, where race or species do not matter, where people live
long lives free of diseases, where everyone feels appreciated and
loved, where society takes care of all its members regardless of age or
status, where greed is irrelevant, where power has no meaning.
Keep dreaming. We are not angels.
Keep dreaming. We are not angels.
Even as I envision the far future, I cannot imagine that human nature will evolve that much. Changing the laws for the better, yes. Treating everyone fairly or else, yes. Increasing longevity and good health, yes. So, what's the problem?
Have you noticed that when a refined society falls, it only takes days for it to reverse to bloodshed, savagery and oppression? Take away our power grid, food distribution, and communication systems, and we reverse to bloody savages fighting over the last water bottles and cans of tuna.
I like to think I would be one of the good guys, helping those who cannot help themselves. But I cannot condemn the mother picking up a gun to feed and protect her family, the older brother killing human predators to protect a younger sister. Then eventually, small groups get together around a leader to defend and organize themselves. New towns form, and new nations are born. Eventually they war against each other, then unite again... until a natural or man-made disaster sets them back to the dark ages.
I suspect the future will not be any different. Our very nature is emotional, volatile, ruled by self-preservation. As long as we carry these aggressive genes necessary for survival, we will fight. When we lose these genes, the human race will wither and disappear. So as long as there is a human race, we will fight for survival. The means of destruction and the weapons may change, but the motivations will remain the same.
This is why I enjoy science fiction so much. It's a magnifying glass to experiment with new ideas and build new worlds, and observe the far-reaching consequences of our actions. It's a learning tool to guide us into a better future. It may help us make better decisions.
In the meantime, I just finished some edits on the first book in a new romantic sci-fi series: ANGEL MINE. It's set on Azura, a planet populated by angels, an ideal society at odds with the harsh reality of intergalactic greed and domination... but no society is ever ideal. The heroine is a bad ass bounty hunter, and the hero is an angel... what else?
ANGEL MINE is set for release in May 2018 from BWL Publishing. Here is the blurb:
What
in the frozen hells of Laxxar prompted Fianna to pursue her quarry to
this forbidden blue planet? Well, she needs the credits... badly. But as
if crashing in the jungle wasn't bad enough, none of her high-tech
weapons work. She'll have to go native, after the most wanted felon in
five galaxies. It's not just her job. It's personal.Acielon has never seen an outworlder like this fascinating female, strangely beautiful, and fierce, like the feline predator loping at her side. He always dreamed of exploring the universe, despite the legends... and the interdiction. Is it truly a hellish place of violence, lies and suffering? If it spawned this intriguing creature, it must also be a place of wonders, adventure and excitement.
Fianna's hunter instincts tell her someone is watching. Sheba, her telepathic feline partner, doesn't seem worried... yet, something on Azura isn't quite right.
Hope you will enjoy this new series.
Happy Reading.
Vijaya Schartz, author
Romance with a Kick
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Monday, March 14, 2016
Aliens, Gods, and Romance in Ancient Egypt - by Vijaya Schartz
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| The male gods: Thoth god of wisdom, Horus the defeated rightful king, Set the evil uncle murderer and usurper |
GODS OF EGYPT explodes on the big screen and just blew my mind. Love, passion, hatred, revenge, greed, power hunger, and redemption. It has it all, even humor. I loved the script, the storytelling, and the fresh take on the myth. I like that it respects the legend. I also like the fact that the sun god Ra resides in space, on what looks very much like an alien spaceship. The gods are much taller than humans, and liquid gold flow in their veins. Cool
Don't wait for the DVD. This super-production, reminiscent of the great movies of the fifties with high pagentry and lots of extras, must be seen on the big screen, preferably in 3D. Today, of course, we use digital images and blue screens, and the result is amazing. Morphing gods larger than life and alien ships in orbit are possible, and incredible creatures come alive. We understand why the Egyptians revered their gods when they exhibited such powers.
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| Hathor, goddess of love and Zaya, beauty of the Nile, a simple mortal in love. |
I am a new fan of Nicolaj Coster-Waldau playing Horus. Gerard Butler makes a formidable evil brother Set, and the goddess of love, Hathor is played by the beautiful Elodie Yung. As for the mortal couple, Brenton Thwaites and Courtney Eaton as Kek and Zaya, they have the right amount of innocence, chemistry, faith, courage, and determination.
I like the fact that this movie doesn't focus on the better known story of the dismemberment of Osiris by his brother Set. Instead it features Osiris's son and rightful king, the god Horus. Portrayed as a happy go lucky rich boy who loves parties, Horus has a rocky start when on his coronation day, Set kills his father, beats up Horus and steals his all-seeing eyes, his woman... as well as his kingdom... which Set quickly exploits and enslaves for his own aggrandizement. Blind and dispossessed, Horus falls into depression and despair. It will take the example and encouragement of two of his fiercest worshipers to give him the strength and courage to fight back and free his people.
How relevant to our times is this story? More than you think. Greed and power hunger are still a strong motivation among the elite. Love can still move mountains. A few courageous souls can defy their betters and win great battles against impossible odds. Besides, we still honor the old myths. We only have to look at our dollar bill to see the eye of Horus, the all-seeing eye, atop the Egyptian pyramid. Where do you think this came from?
I strongly encourage you to see this movie. You won't regret it. In the meantime, you can read more about gods and aliens with incredible powers in my CHRONICLES OF KASSOUK series. WHITE TIGER is still free at ARe, and Snow Cheetah just received a 5-star review from Fallen Angel Reviews. "On
top of being an incredible Sci-fi story, this book had many unique
aspects. The biggest of which was one lovable and fun-loving snow
Cheetah called Pangura, a pet, and the soon-to-be Queen Natalia...
This story ensnared me from the
very beginning with the many plot twists, fascinating characters, many
Science fiction themes, and a love story that was truly inspiring. This
was a wonderful addition to the Chronicles of Kassouk series." Fallen
Angel Reviews - 5 stars
Blasters, Swords, Romance with a Kick
http://www.vijayaschartz.com
Amazon - Barnes & Noble - All Romance eBooks - Smashwords - iBooks - Kobo
Monday, February 15, 2016
WHITE TIGER IS FREE AT ARE! YAY!
Start reading the award-winning CHRONICLES OF KASSOUK sci-fi romance series ABSOLUTELY FREE!
WHITE TIGER, Book One, is permafree at ARE in all ebook formats, for all devices. Get it HERE
CHRONICLES OF KASSOUK:
OVERVIEW OF THE SERIES
Noah's Ark, a transport full of human settlers equipped to seed a new planet with life, crashes on the wrong world, a cold orb beyond the confines of the known universe. Seeking refuge in the abandoned alien fortress of Kassouk, the settlers and their motley crew fight for survival, against hostile natives, and advanced galactic races who consider them cheap labor and research material for their genetic experiments.
Stranded with no hope of rescue, deprived of their technology by the ruling aliens, the humans of Kassouk reverse to a medieval farming society with slight differences. Besides horses and swords, they keep large felines as pets and train them for battle. They also proudly adopt big cat names as warrior names, and women often strive as military leaders.
As they fight their alien rulers to keep their freedom and their pride, as well as the right to freely choose their mates… other, more insidious dangers lurk. Generation after generation, as the people of Kassouk evolve and secretly learn from the alien races oppressing them, a few start developing extraordinary abilities…
WHITE TIGER - Book One
On the frozen plains of Kassouk, where a few aliens rule a medieval Human world, Tora, Human warrior trained by tigers, seeks her father’s murderer. But what she finds at the point of her sword confuses her. How dare Dragomir, the handsome Mutant, question her bloodline and her loyalties? And could a new enemy control the savage hordes of the fringe?
Dragomir offers to help, but Humans and Mutants are forbidden to fraternize under penalty of death... Should Tora trust her mind, her instincts, or her heart?
In the vortex of war, treason and intrigue, among blizzards, avalanches and ambushes, Tora sets out to solve the mystery of her father’s death. When she unveils the secret of her birth, she realizes Dragomir is the key, and together, they must save their planet from the invaders and fulfill their destiny... if they can survive dire persecutions from those they mean to protect.
"...an exceptional tale that belongs in a place of honor on keeper shelves everywhere." Johnna Flores - Coffee Time Romance - 5-cups
"...this is one futuristic that you do not want to miss!" Naomi - Fallen Angels Reviews - 5 angels - Recommended Read
"...kept me enthralled from the first page...a thrilling science fiction romance" Marlene Breakfield, Paranormal Romance Reviews
"...unique and extremely well constructed" 4 1/2 stars Tami Brady at Book Ideas.com
"I'm adding this to my 'keeper' shelf and on the 'to be re-read' list." Niniri Theriault for The Road to Romance
"...fast-paced story that draws the reader in and keeps him/her reading... The characters' personalities are believable and well rounded." Gottawrite Network
HERE IS THE REST OF THE SERIES: Available in all formats everywhere, including paperback.
Vijaya Schartz
Blasters, Swords, Romance with a Kick
http://www.vijayaschartz.com
Amazon - Barnes & Noble - All Romance eBooks - Smashwords - iBooks - Kobo
Friday, June 5, 2015
Some SciFi Romance Movie Favs
I like my SFR in book form, but sometimes the movies in the genre can be fun, too. A few of my favorite sci-fi movies with a little romance are:
FLASH GORDON. This movie really captured my attention back in the day when it was released. It was one of my first SFR films and the characters were so deliciously campy and fun, I found myself hooked. The villains, the costumes, the vamps. Awesome. Oh, and then there's the music by QUEEN.
While EDWARD SCISSORHANDS has a more Gothic tone, Edward was fashioned in a lab by a slightly evil scientist. Then there's the eerie cookie cutter neighborhood like something out of A Wrinkle In Time. And the romance between Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder is pure sweetness.
MARS ATTACKS is a wickedly clever and cinematically astounding movie that's just pure insanity. A poignant romance occurs between Sara-Jessica Parker and Pierce Brosnan that transcends their transformation into other Frankensteinian creatures. Natalie Portman and the donut guy (kid from Witness) will have the onerous task of repopulating the planet, so there's that budding romance. Plus, you'll never listen to Slim Whitman the same way again.
No SFR film list would be complete with a Firefly reference. Since we're talking movies, SERENITY is full of fledgling, unrequited, and conjugal romance aplenty. It's unusual to see a healthy married relationship in a movie--much less an SFR--but Wash and Zoe are two peas in a firefly-class pod. Add in the lingering looks between Mal and Inara, and Kaley and Simon, and you get lots of heart-sigh moments.
These are just a few of my go to SFR titles. What are your favorite SFR films?
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Keys to Being a Successful Author
Keys to Being a Successful Author
By S.E. Smith
I recently gave a presentation at the Romancing the
Capital Convention in Ottawa, Canada that helped to re-enforce what it takes to
be a successful author. The Keys to being a Successful Author are a little more
in-depth than what I’ll be posting in this blog, but they are the essential
foundation to being a successful writer. I’ve had many people ask me what I did
to be successful. Hard work, research, learning, some really great stories, and luck some more are
just a few things that helped me be where I am. Most authors would tell you
they are already doing this! But, it also takes a few additional strategies to
become successful. I’m not going to go into great detail, but I will share what
I told those who attended my workshop what I believe are the Keys to being a
Successful Author.
Stories Ideas are unique and should be! I'm not in the business to tell other people how to write their stories, just that if they do make sure they grab the readers attention. You want to make sure that you are writing in a genre that shows your passion for it. It will come through in your writing. You also need to make sure that your characters, good, bad, or ugly, fit the story and balance each other. Finally, if you are writing a series, start out simple. You do not have to build the entire world in the first book. Whatever rules you put in place need to make sense down the road. Build your worlds slowly, let them grow with your characters.
Write a great story that captures your audience's attention. You need to balance your scenes, descriptions, dialogue, and characters to do that. There is a fine line of giving too much or not enough. I recommend listening to your story being read back to you (you can use the speak command in the Tools if you are using Microsoft Word to do this). It will help you pick up flow issues, too much/not enough information, stilted dialogue, and more.
Use trusted Beta Readers to help you. They love to read and they do it very, very well. They will let you know if something doesn't make sense or if you have 'holes' in your story. The key is to trust them, listen to them, and appreciate their experience as a reader.
This is the business end of being a writer. You are the publishing company. Think smart, look at advertisements on TV, in the papers, in magazines, and think 'How can I do that?' You'll begin to immediately identify different companies branding. You need to think of branding yourself and your books! Also, remember that this is an ongoing experiment. Even the big companies don't have all the marketing answers. That is why they are constantly changing their ads.
Think long term when you start writing. Just like you hopefully don't plan to write one book, it will take time to build your reader base. Slow and steady, using organic growth, is the best way to build and retain your reader base. This is the group that falls in love with you, your characters, and your stories.
Use Social Media! Yes, in this day and age, this is the best way to get your books out their. Look at your own list of 'friends'. Now, multiply that list by having ten other people who 'Like' you. They like your books, your stories, your characters and they are talking about it to all their 'friends' who enjoy the same time of books. Slow and steady is a very good thing.
Remember, I didn't go over everything I presented, but just a few of the basics. Look at your set up as an author and compare it to what I have written on this few slides. If you ask me how I have become successful, here it is. Keeping it simple helps to keep it manageable. There are a lot of sub-categories for each of these and I went into more detail, but if you review your own structure you will see the foundation of what it takes to be a successful author. It takes a lot of hard work, research, learning, some really great stories, and just a bit of luck.
Part of my branding is in my book covers, in my name, how I do my business cards, even down to the colors I use.
About
S. E. Smith
S. E. Smith is a multi-listed New
York Times, USA TODAY and #1 International Amazon Bestselling
author who has always been a romantic and a dreamer. A prolific writer, she has
spent years writing, although it has usually been technical papers for college.
Now, she spends her days and weekends writing and her nights dreaming up new
stories. She enjoys camping and traveling when she is not out on a date with
her favorite romantic guy.
Look for Viper's Defiant Mate: Sarafin Warriors Book 2 coming the end of May 2015.
Friday, November 14, 2014
Do You Think You're A Normal Human? by Michele Callahan
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| Timewalker Chronicles, Book 5 |
Imagine…a soldier stands before you.
Tall, dark and handsome, he’s seen thousands of battles. He’s smoking hot,
honorable, scarred, and has dangerous superpowers that you can barely
comprehend.
But this warrior is not from your
neighborhood, or even your country. He’s from another time…and another planet. He followed the enemy through a wormhole to
come to Earth over seven hundred years in his past to try to save humanity.
And he needs your help. Here’s where it
gets tricky. You think you’re a normal human? Well, you’re not. You’re what the
Immortals call a Timewalker…you just don’t know it. And with the knowledge, and
the awakening of your dormant DNA, comes power. Lots of power.
Now what? Do you have what it takes to
save the world and win the heart of this Immortal warrior?
In WHITE
FIRE, Emma Lawson is going to answer those questions the hard way. Keep
your fingers crossed for her, because if she isn’t up to the task, Earth will
fall, and life as we know it is over.
(Now, you can only imagine this scenario
of you believe humans might have unknown superpowers. Well? Do you believe?
What’s your superpower?)
 |
| White Fire, Book 5 Released Nov 9, 2014 |
About
White Fire:
Timewalker Chronicles (Book 5)
Timewalker Chronicles (Book 5)
Ajax,
The Lost King of the Immortals, sacrificed everything but his memories. After
the Time Crux, the loss of his beloved Queen, and a horrifying defeat at the
hands of the Triscani horde in the war on Itara, Ajax’s loyal crew played a
desperate gamble...to go back in time on Earth and try to change things. But
they trusted the wrong man, and Ajax has spent the last seven hundred years
locked in a prison with no key. The battle approaches at long last, yet he
remains weak and tortured, a prisoner to his own dark power. He didn’t simply
lose to the evil Triscani…he became one of them.
The
Triscani spent centuries searching for Emma Lawson's soul. Their evil Hunters
did everything they could to destroy her family's bloodline before she was ever
born. They know who she is, so they hunt her. They know the power she yields,
and they fear her. They know The Lost King will do anything to save her, and
they would use his love to destroy him.
But
Emma is human, not Immortal. She might be dangerously attracted to the newly
freed Ajax, but her first priority is saving Earth from two warring Immortal
races. Ajax believed himself in love with his Queen, but the woman he remembers
no longer exists. This Timewalker will defy destiny, and she's not going
to play by anyone's rules but her own.
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!
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Sci-fi Romance vs. Romantic Sci-fi vs. Sci-fi
What’s the difference?
Some of us might not be able to distinguish between these terms from name
alone. Think of the big ol' box of Crayolas. Do you want the red orange or the
orange red or just plain red or orange? It can be confusing since the first descriptive is not the
predominant color. Red orange is an orange with a hint of red, just as sci-fi
romance is predominantly romance with a dose of sci-fi.
Some people will
dislike that definition, I’m sure, and I’m not short-changing the sci-fi, for
the record--I love the sci-fi. Wanna watch it dripping off the e-pages of my reads. But each book is different—some may only have a sprinkling of sci-fi and
be heavy in the romance (or even graphic sex) department. Some may build an
involved world, thick with tech and alien species, but still, the romance is
the main story, no matter how detailed the backdrop.
Now, in strict sci-fi, the new world and the adventures that
take place are the main story. Might there be romance? Sure, there may be a couple in love. There may
even be a sex scene, but it’s like when Steven King or George Martin has one
shoved in—the love isn’t ever the point of the tale. It’s an aside. A fact of
nature that can’t be excluded, but the relationship between a couple is never
the major plot point.
So, think about what color crayon you use. Or what color you like to buy. While the war
between the red oranges and the orange reds wages on in the form of the recent
SFWA implosion, and the lines between boys and girls clash (like here),
let’s ask ourselves if all of the colors can’t stay in the same box together.
Your color isn’t better than mine, and just because an author is male or female, doesn't mean they write one or the other.
To those strict color Nazis I say this: My plot points may be different
from yours, but that doesn't mean I'm unworthy to stand under the sci-fi umbrella (unless I look good in short-shorts, which I do, but that is beside the point).
Hell, I may even grab your orange red once in a while, peel off its
wrapper, scribble around with it, and dare you to identify it after it's crammed in with all the other colors.
I’ll try to give it back in one piece, but I make no promises. J
Kimber Vale writes sci-fi with love and sex, and has no problem with that. She also writes plain old horror and speculative fiction under another name, despite her lack of a penis.
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
So What’s a Phage Anyway?
I was fortunate enough to participate in the SFR Brigade
second mid summer blog hop where I shared the blurb for my current science
fiction romance work in progress. In it,
a doctor and champion pilot race across a desert planet to prevent a
bioengineered phage from taking the lives of millions while fighting the pull
of their own hearts and an alien federation out to stop them.
When I share my story with others, a question I often get is
what’s a phage and why use that instead of a plague?
I learned the term phage from Star Trek. In the Voyager series, the Vidiians have been fighting a deadly phage that destroyed their genetic coding and cell structures by stealing the body parts of others to replace those they lost. In fact the first episode that introduced the Vidiians was called the Phage.
A phage,
also known bacteriophage, is a virus that infects and replicates within
bacteria by injecting their genome into their cytoplasm.
Factoid: Phages are incredible common organisms and are used as a natural alternative to antibiotics.
The phage integrates with the host DNA, which in certain stages of its life cycle, reproduces itself with every new
cell created. Thus it has the potential to modify the DNA of the host. And this is why I chose a phage, because I
wanted to deal with bioengineering and bioterrorism that played with DNA structures. In a universe with many different types of
beings, reproducing or conquering others by altering their DNA structure might be a reality. And that is what the phage in my WIP is being engineered to do, alter the DNA structure of one species to become another.
What
about you? Have you read books or are
writing books that use medical and biomedical phenomena? Why do you like them? What don’t you like
about them?
Sabrina Garie is on a journey to create the most kick-ass heroine in romance fiction. Her new book Next Move releases on July 5 from Ellora’s Cave.
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