Showing posts with label scifi romance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label scifi romance. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
Stretching the Boundaries
I love the escapism books provide. It's one of the reasons, I don't confine my reading to one particular genre but will pretty much read anything that piques my interest. I believe this also helps me as a writer to learn new techniques that may actually improve my own writing.
Last month, I was invited to participate in a book release party on Facebook for a new erotic SciFi romance series by Lexi Post. While there, I picked up a few books by some of the other authors. A friend of mine was a bit shocked. Since I don't write erotica, why would I pick it up?
True, I don't usually write many love scenes in my books and tend to use more romantic language than the raw kind used in erotica, but there's much to learn from any book that touches you and causes a reaction. Like:
What was done right?
How did the author touch you?
How did the author get you to fall in love with the characters?
How did they motivate the sex on page 3 or five of the book?
All of these things contribute to the fantasy of the book. All of these things indicate the skill of the writer. And while I don't think of these questions as I read, I do replay those memorable moments once I reach the end of the book.
So, I encourage all of you to stretch your reading muscles a bit. After all, SciFi erotica is a sister of SciFi Romance and who knows what's there waiting for you to discover?
Until next time.
Last month, I was invited to participate in a book release party on Facebook for a new erotic SciFi romance series by Lexi Post. While there, I picked up a few books by some of the other authors. A friend of mine was a bit shocked. Since I don't write erotica, why would I pick it up?
True, I don't usually write many love scenes in my books and tend to use more romantic language than the raw kind used in erotica, but there's much to learn from any book that touches you and causes a reaction. Like:
What was done right?
How did the author touch you?
How did the author get you to fall in love with the characters?
How did they motivate the sex on page 3 or five of the book?
All of these things contribute to the fantasy of the book. All of these things indicate the skill of the writer. And while I don't think of these questions as I read, I do replay those memorable moments once I reach the end of the book.
So, I encourage all of you to stretch your reading muscles a bit. After all, SciFi erotica is a sister of SciFi Romance and who knows what's there waiting for you to discover?
Until next time.
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.
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
New Release—Syn-En Pillar World
Admiral Beijing York and his cyborgs are losing the war. With the Founders conquering world after world, desperate measures are called for. Preparing to make the ultimate sacrifice, he and his wife, Nell Stafford, set out on a mission that could turn the tide of battle.
Instead they are captured by the Meek, a race of tremendous power and ability, willing to join their cause. Is this new ally an answered prayer or a deal with the Devil?
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Meeting up with Old Friends
You see, in this series we follow the main couple though all the adventures and toss in a little romance with the secondary characters to boot, so that's good. But I want my hero and heroine to be happy.
Which makes for a pretty boring book:(
Because books are all about the conflict and how that strife is the forge in which are characters are shaped and grow.
Oh boy have I tortured my characters. My human female Nell has become less human, and my cyborg Admiral has become more.
But now, it's war.
And you know what they say, all's fair in love and war.
But I don't want to hurt Bei or Nell. Partly because some of my fans will kill me, but also because they've earned their happily ever after. So I find myself sitting down and saying, no, don't do that. That's mean. Leave them alone. Ah, man. That's just not right.
But that makes a story. One that people will want to read. One that people will cheer and root for the characters to triumph over.
I'll admit it was an unexpected problem to encounter. But I too must overcome my fear of conflict. Especially as we have 3 more books to go before I can truly give them their HEA. Now I just have to find that happy distance so their conflict isn't the kind that is annoying.
Wish me luck!
Monday, January 19, 2015
THE IMPORTANCE OF NEW BOOK COVERS - by Vijaya Schartz
One of my publishers, BOOKS WE LOVE Ltd, surprised me this month. As I went to my amazon author page, I noticed unfamiliar books in the new display at the top. At first, I thought someone had hacked into my Amazon page and posted their books there, until I realized these were my titles... only with brand new fresh covers. Six of them at one time. Here is the new look of the Archangel twin books:
Actually it was time for this change. Most of the old covers dated from 2010. Since eBooks never go out of print, after five years, the market has changed, the cover styles have changed as well. And covers are a very important marketing tools. Most readers will see the title and the cover and decide then and there to click or not to click on the link. Clicking on covers leads to the book page on Amazon, by the way.
As for ALIEN LOCKDOWN, I hardly recognized my book there. Given a chance, I would have told the publisher that the dress style was all wrong for prison guards in the Andromeda Galaxy, the heroine would not wear jewelry, and the hero would never wear sun glasses in a dark, underground penitentiary. But I do love her kick-butt attitude. You be the judge.
As for the ANCIENT ENEMY SERIES, I absolutely love these new covers. You can tell right away that it is a series, that these heroines do kick butts, and the action is "out of this world," as a reviewer once mentioned. Here they are:
My only regret is that the lettering for the titles doesn't work as well with KICKING BOTS as it works for the other titles, ANAZ-VOOHRI and RELICS. You tell me.
HAPPY READING.
Vijaya Schartz
Blasters, Swords, Romance with a Kick
WEBSITE - AMAZON - B&N - SMASHWORDS
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.
Friday, May 17, 2013
There's a New Kid in Town, okay there's 4
Hello lovers of SciFi Romance. In case you missed it, four amazing authors have joined our group blog. Many have already introduced themselves but in case you missed it, they are:
Kimber Vale
Kimber Vale has enjoyed putting pen to paper since she was old enough to hold a writing utensil in her odd-ball, left-handed way. It never slowed her down. From dire poetry inspired by stupid boys in high school, to "student's choice" research papers about Lord Byron's satire and Poe's vampire in "The Fall of the House of Usher," Kimber has always had a passion for the funny, the dark, and the romantic. Combining all three is frequently her goal.
An RN by trade, Kimber has taken a number of years off to raise three little people. She plans to get back to the healing business soon, but is thrilled to finally be writing in earnest. She publishes horror under the name on her driver's license, and erotic romance in her Mrs. Hyde form. Kimber reads and writes erotica of every variety. Her current passion is Male/Male erotic romance, which she pens under the name K. Vale. Kimber will continue to write heterosexual stories in addition to gay erotic romance.
Kimber Vale
Kimber Vale has enjoyed putting pen to paper since she was old enough to hold a writing utensil in her odd-ball, left-handed way. It never slowed her down. From dire poetry inspired by stupid boys in high school, to "student's choice" research papers about Lord Byron's satire and Poe's vampire in "The Fall of the House of Usher," Kimber has always had a passion for the funny, the dark, and the romantic. Combining all three is frequently her goal.
An RN by trade, Kimber has taken a number of years off to raise three little people. She plans to get back to the healing business soon, but is thrilled to finally be writing in earnest. She publishes horror under the name on her driver's license, and erotic romance in her Mrs. Hyde form. Kimber reads and writes erotica of every variety. Her current passion is Male/Male erotic romance, which she pens under the name K. Vale. Kimber will continue to write heterosexual stories in addition to gay erotic romance.
I’m on a journey to create the most kick-ass heroine romance fiction has ever known and the hero who can take her. A believer that big audacious goals spice up life, I rely on coffee, red wine and laughter to make those goals (and my characters) come alive. When not at the computer, I wrangle vegetables and extra helpings of homework into my fashion-loving progeny, kowtow to a fat cat and read, a lot. Since its more fun to travel in packs, come along for the ride.
My writing falls among the fantasy, science fiction, paranormal and romance fiction genres, usually mashed together to see what new things happen. Erotic elements are woven through them. Because its fun, yes, and because I believe how we deal with sex is essential to being human and to be loved.
A voracious reader since she was a toddler, and an ordained spiritualist, Tonya Cannariato has now presided over the marriage of her love of reading and her love of writing. She’s lived a nomadic life, following first her parents in their Foreign Service career through Africa, Europe, and Asia, and then her own nose criss-crossing America as she’s gotten old enough to make those choices for herself. She’s currently based in Milwaukee with her three loves: her husband and two Siberian Huskies. She suspects her Huskies of mystical alchemy with their joyous liberation of her muse and other magical beings for her inspiration. She loves to sleep, to watch her interesting dreams, some of which are now finding new life in written form.
I read and I write fun, and sometimes frightening, sci-fi and paranormal romance with suspense, lots of action, and some pretty steamy love scenes. I'm a sucker for a happy ending. I blog about great books, romance, life in general, and really radical science. I might surprise you with a post about marketing for authors or writing, but don't hold your breath. True love, science, physics, and the big "What If?" are what fascinate me. Too bad I didn't have the math brain for M.I.T....I'd probably be in a parallel universe by now. *sigh* p.s. I'm also the founder of RomCon, the amazing fan convention for women who love romance.
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