Posts Tagged ‘science fiction’

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Drynn

Steve_Vera | February 19th, 2013

I still get nightmares.

Not so much lately, they seem to have mellowed out a bit and found better prey once I hit my thirties, but they’re still around.  Lurking.  Even though I don’t like them much, I can at least appreciate them; anything that can make my heart boom that fast and hard is pure platinum for a writer.  Payment required?  A mere childhood of dashing off the living room floor anytime a scary scene even thought about flashing across the television screen.  Even scary music would have me peeping through splayed fingers.

And that’s what it’s all about, right?  Booming hearts?  Sitting up in your bed when you get to that scene, a little smile tugging at the corners of your mouth, your mind thinking, Oh my God, this is awesome, please don’t die, two hours of sleep is plenty of time… That’s what I live for when I read a book.  Heart-booming.  Somebody once asked me to distill into one word exactly the emotion that I wanted to evoke in my readers when I began writing  DRYNN.  It was hard because there were so many feelings dancing around in my head that I wanted to share, but okay, one word.  I could do that.  Same way I had to have a one-line pitch at a moment’s notice. So, here it is, the one word…ready for it?

Badass.

That’s what I wanted to evoke.  I want somebody to go up to their friend, yank the Kindle out from said friend’s hand, clickity-clack in carinapress.com, command them to put in their password and get the book.  And when it’s done I want that ‘somebody’ to go buy said friend a cafe mocha and talk about it.  Pie-in-the-sky stuff, really.  I once heard the saying, “Shoot for the moon, maybe you’ll fall in the stars,” something like that?  I figured, why not shoot for the Andromeda Galaxy instead of the moon and land someplace on Neptune?  Might as well, right?

I believe I may have done just that.  Neptune City.

Speaking of one-lines, here’s DRYNN’s:  The heroes of two worlds reluctantly join forces to fight the Lord of the Underworld.  Ta-da.

So, genesis #1—harnessing the power of nightmares, pouring that emotion into a basin within my mindscape, modifying it as I see fit (exhilaration, passion, fear, all the things that boom hearts) and forging stories with high tension.

Genesis #2–inspiration.  Every writer has their muse, mine’s music.  Notice the first three letters by the way.  Interesting, huh?  When I hear a song, I see a scene instantly—two cars roaring down the highway, weaving and crashing; a small, anguish-filled shake of the head as tears spill; an electric ripple under the skin summoned by a brush of fingers—I just see it.  And I have to write about it.  I immediately start fleshing things out—who are the players?  Who’s getting chased?  Is it an affair or a first crush?  Is the creature from this world or some other?  And what would lightning wreathed in pale blue flames smell like?

Donald Maass (who’s counsel I hold in high regard) calls these scenes ‘uranium isotopes’.  When I say the movie, AMERICAN HISTORY X, what’s the first scene that comes to mind?  The curb scene, no question about it.  “Hello.  My name is Inigo Montoya…” do I need to finish?    Every great story has them, no matter what vehicle used to tell it–movie, novel, novella, play–pick your ambrosia.  The coolest thing, a thing I am most grateful for, humbled by, a blessing bequeathed,  is that I get these scenes and ideas every day; I actually conjured a whole book (yet to be written but in the noggin) by a single song.  I think of myself as a reservoir, a wellspring of feelings, concepts and bits of dialogue that just…bubble out of me.  Consider yourself invited to drink.

I’d like to share something with you.  While looking for a CD the other day (yes, I still have my black leather zipper-closed CD holders) I stumbled upon my sacred box.  I’ve had it since childhood.  Within it is contained every story I ever wrote as a kid, every paper I ever got an A in, and one of my greatest treasures…

Left hand side, 7th grade, 42 pages on 42 blank restaurant placemats, the first story I ever wrote.  On the right…DRYNN, my first published novel.

I’ve waited my whole life for this.

I hope you think DRYNN’s as badass as I do.

Steve Vera

Twitter: @stevewvera

Facebook: http://goo.gl/iSVY3

Webpage: http://goo.gl/U4Scl

Blog: http://www.vera-talk.blogspot.com/

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Posted in Authors, Books, Carina Press | 6 Comments »

Aliens in sock kilts

JL_Hilton | November 13th, 2012

My in-laws gifted my 8-year-old daughter her own digital camera and her bedroom is now a sound stage, complete with “Quiet I’m filming” sign on the door. She’s made several movies starring her dolls. Most of these independent films revolve around Barbie’s rockstar career and/or Barbie’s trip to the mall. I don’t know how I birthed a mallrat. I’d rather go to the dentist than the mall. I’ve never liked Barbies in my life (those were another gift from her grandparents). Oh, and, in case you hadn’t guessed, I’m not a rockstar, either.

But I do have some strange qualities in common with my offspring. We both loved to spin in circles until we fell over, whirly drunk, when we were 5. At age 6, we would lay upside down on the couch, hanging our heads off of the edge of the seat, and pretend to walk on the ceiling. We still believed in Santa and the Tooth Fairy at age 7, no matter what anyone said.

Then, there’s this.

A few months ago, peanut asked me to edit her latest cinematic masterpiece and share it with her Facebook audience – her dad, the aforementioned grandparents and a few aunts and uncles. I popped the SD card into my laptop and began viewing.

She opened with an overhead crane shot of a naked Ken doll riding a “ferry” (box) and finding a sword and some “clothing” — one of her socks, tied around his lower half. Thus girt in trusty sock kilt, he hied hence to a “town,” (box) where he parked himself in front of Barbie’s “house” (another box) and started begging for money on her porch steps.

“Oh, hello,” said Barbie, in my daughter’s girliest of girly voices, which is pretty dang girly, considering that she’s an 8-year-old girl. Barbie conversed with the scraggly-haired Ken, whose very visible plastic package peeked out from beneath his ill-fitting sock kilt, reminding me of a vagrant I encountered once upon a time in a Los Angeles toy store. One of us had been going “commando” in a pair of Daisy Duke shorts at the time, and it wasn’t me.

I stopped the movie. “No. No. Just. No.” And then, as gently as possible, I instructed her about the ills of talking to strange men who beg for change while half dressed on one’s porch.

“It’s OK, Mom. He ends up being rich.” Yes, she’s seen Disney’s Aladdin. What can I say?

“It doesn’t matter. Barbie doesn’t know that. All she knows is that she’s got a bum in a sock kilt darkening her doorway, singing a Jem song from 1986. If you ever see anyone like that in real life, you call the police. You don’t say hello. We’re not going to finish this video. Please, honey, make a different story.”

Spurned by her studio executive like so many directors before her, my child returned to her room. Meanwhile, I returned to the final edit of my latest novel, Stellarnet Prince. and the following scene:

Belloc tossed shirts into an open case. Duin entered the bedroom and eyed the stack of crates beside the closet. “Do all of these contain clothes?”

“Some have shoes or musical instruments. I haven’t packed the pillows and blankets, yet.”

“When I met you, you were barefoot with one shitty wallump suit.”

“Thanks. My mother made that suit.”

“When you were what, eight rain seasons? The pants hardly covered your knees, and the shirt didn’t close in the front. You, bugloim, were a ragamuffin.”

Duin was right. Less than a year ago, Belloc didn’t understand why J’ni would buy more than one dress. When he left Meglin, everything he had would fit in a single sack. Now, he had a closet full of clothes.

“But J’ni loved me anyway.”

“Yes. Because you are attentive, sensitive and handsome…”

I should also add that in the first book of the series, Stellarnet Rebel, Belloc sat in the heroine’s doorway and played music on a flute. She’d saved his life, and Belloc had no family and no where else to go.

And that’s the kind of weird thing. My daughter doesn’t know anything about my books, other than the fact that I’ve written them, and she won’t be allowed to read them for at least another eight years. But I guess the acorn really doesn’t fall far from the tree. Who knew that an attraction to musical diamonds-in-the-rough on one’s porch was a genetic trait?

I’m still telling her not to talk to strangers… unless they’re hot sapphire-skinned alien strangers who are built like Michael Phelps. Maybe then.

To celebrate the release of Stellarnet Prince, book two in the Stellarnet Series, I’m giving away a r’naw eye pendant designed by Gypsy Moon Art Studio and handmade by me. This is in homage to the giant alligator-like creature who attacks our heroes in chapter two.

To enter the drawing, tell me: If you could have anyone on your front porch, who would it be and what song would they sing to you? I doubt it’s this one.

* * *

J.L. Hilton is the author of the Stellarnet Series published by Carina Press, including Stellarnet Rebel (January 2012) and Stellarnet Prince (November 2012), and a regular contributor to the Contact-Infinite Futures SF/SFR blog. Her artwork is featured in the books Steampunk Style Jewelry and 1000 Steampunk Creations. Visit her at JLHilton.com or follow her on Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads and deviantART.

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Posted in Authors, Books, Carina Press, Contest/Giveaway | 6 Comments »

You tell us: Do you read science fiction?

JL_Hilton | October 1st, 2012

OCT 1, 2012 — I’ve met many women who don’t read science fiction. They might enjoy supernatural, fantasy or historical romance. But anything with aliens, robots, space ships or lasers, don’t bother to beam them up, Scotty.

Reasons for their dislike include a lack of characters to whom they relate, pervasive misogyny in the genre, absence of emotional depth or romance, too much violence, and too many boring descriptions of aliens, machines and technology.

I’m a woman who likes science fiction, sci-fi, SF, or whatever you want to call it. There are women who write great futuristic stories for Carina Press. And I meet women at science fiction events. Yet, even there, I hear a lot of “I only became interested after watching Firefly with my boyfriend.” Or they don’t read the stuff, they just like steampunk cosplay, anime, RPGs or video games.

Maybe I should keep this to myself, since I’m a science fiction author, but I don’t read a lot of science fiction, either. I’m turning into a fan of steampunk, but steampunk is kind of a weird cross-genre thing that can be science fiction-y … or supernatural, fantasy, romance, historical, horror, mystery, Western and just about anything else.

For the purposes of this question, I’m mainly talking about futuristic lasers-pew pew science fiction.

I grew up with Star Wars, Buck Rogers, Battlestar Gallactica, Alien, Terminator and Star Trek. As a kid, I read my dad’s Heinlein books and Omni magazines, though I preferred Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes to his Martian Chronicles, and Michael Moorcock to Isaac Asimov, so I guess I had steampunk/supernatural leanings even then. My doctor is the Ninth Doctor and my favorite TV characters are Jayne Cobb, G’kar and Gul Dukat – all from science fiction shows.

Yet, when I settle down with a book, I tend to chose fantasy, romance, classics or non-fiction. With maybe a dash of supernatural. And I spent most of my life writing non-fiction or fantasy. Which is why I’m still a little surprised that my first published novel, Stellarnet Rebel, is science fiction — as is my second, Stellarnet Prince, coming out next month. And I have a third Stellarnet Something WIP. How did that happen? (I’m being sarcastic, but… no, really, how did that happen?)

I’ve had several female readers say, “I don’t usually like science fiction, but I loved Stellarnet Rebel.”

So, here I am wondering what’s up with that — not with my books, specifically, but the genre in general. I’m addressing women, because I have yet to hear a man say, “I don’t like science fiction.” But, if you’re a man, I’d like to hear from you, too.

You tell us: Do you read science fiction – hard, soft, military, cyberpunk, futuristic, apocalyptic, space opera? If not, what turns you off of the genre? And if you do, what are some of your favorite titles and why?

J.L. Hilton is the author of the Stellarnet Series, a regular blogger for Contact-Infinite Futures, and an artist whose work is featured in the books “Steampunk Style Jewelry” and “1000 Steampunk Creations.”

* I know some people use “science fiction” and “sci-fi” interchangeably, while others make a distinction between the two. I’ve also received conflicting information about the abbreviated “SF” — it’s used in place of “science fiction” and also “speculative fiction,” in different circles. I’ve chosen to just use “science fiction” throughout, but you’re welcome to substitute your favorite term, abbreviation or euphemism as you read.

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Posted in Authors, Carina Press, Random conversation | 28 Comments »

The Speculative Worlds of Carina Press

Diane_Dooley | September 26th, 2012

I’m an author published by Carina Press, but I’ve also been one of their customers since they launched. I’m an eclectic and voracious reader, so I enjoy the wide range of genres that Carina publishes and often find myself tempted, by beautiful covers and intriguing blurbs, to purchase and read a variety of books in genres that I don’t write in. You can call me a happy and satisfied customer.

Most of my purchases, though, are from Carina’s speculative fiction categories and I am continually impressed by the wide variety on offer. Steampunk? Check. Space Opera? Check. Horror? Check. Fantasy? Check. Cyberpunk? Check? Speculative world M/M and F/F? Check. Military Sci Fi? Erotic SF? Time Travel? Superheroes? Check, check, check and check. My joy would be complete if Carina offered a discount purchase program for their authors! (hint, giggle, hint) I do subscribe to the newsletter, though and take advantage of the many special offers and coupons. You can, too, if you haven’t already. Right here.

My own speculative offerings with Carina consist of Blue Galaxy and its recently released sequel, Blue Nebula. They are space opera novellas, set in a dangerous future and populated by damaged people who must do nefarious things if they are to survive evil villains, untrustworthy comrades and even their own family members. The love story between Captain Javan Rhodes and Marisol de la Vega underpins both books, but don’t expect a feel-good romance. Rather, expect twist and turns, lies and betrayals, dark humor, and hard-fought battles for both personal redemption and the survival of Planet Earth. I tend to the darker side of fiction *grin*

If you, like me, are a fan of the speculative worlds of Carina Press, you would probably enjoy the Contact: Infinite Futures blog, in which several Carina Press authors, including myself, blog about a variety of delightfully geeky subjects. You are cordially invited to stop by for a visit.

May I end this blog with a question? Of all the speculative fiction stories you’ve read from Carina Press – which has been your favorite and why?

* * * * *

Diane Dooley writes science fiction, romance and horror – sometimes all in the same story.

You can keep tabs on her website for current and future releases, check out the links to her short stories on her blog or interact with her on Facebook or Twitter. She blogs at Contact: Infinite Futures and is also a regular contributor to The Galaxy Express.

 

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Posted in Authors, Books, Carina Press, Cover Art | 7 Comments »

Catch Me I’m Falling: A Hero’s Playlist

Heather_Long | September 18th, 2012

Sept 18, 2012 – When it comes to writing, I typically prefer to listen to Pandora’s soundtrack radio–soundtracks offer me the wide variety of action songs with sweeping sections and high intensity. They also offer moody, melancholy movements that summon tears to the eyes.  Songs like The Kiss from The Last of the Mohicans soundtrack are wildly distinctive–every time I hear it, I see Daniel Day Lewis racing through the woods, the fight scenes, the passion—it bursts into life in my mind’s eye.

You can’t really beat that.

So when I start a new novel, sometimes I make a playlist for it. These are the songs that bring key sequences to life for me. Some are familiar, some are not. But in no particular order, when I wrote Yesterday’s Heroes, this is what I listened to:

  1. Black Widow Kicks Ass – Ironman 2 Soundtrack
  2. Catch Me Now I’m Falling – The Kinks
  3. Ghost Rider – Henry Rollins
  4. Jimmy Olsen’s Blues – Spin Doctors
  5. Superman’s Song- Crash Test Dummies
  6. Superman – Five for Fighting
  7. Extreme Ways – Moby
  8. Iron Man – Black Sabbath
  9. Don’t Fear the Reaper – Blue Oyster Cult
  10. Hot Blooded – Foreigner
  11. A New Day Yesterday – Jethro Tull (And where we got our name)
  12. Carry on My Wayward Son – Kansas (for all the guys and yes, completely inspired by Supernatural)
  13. Rock of Ages – Def Leopard

And the song that inspired the whole series:

The Terminator theme—the moody piece that bookended the first movie with the opening credits to the moment Sarah Connor drives off into the desert because a storm is coming…

I get chills just thinking about it.

Music doesn’t tell the whole story, but Yesterday’s Heroes is just the beginning…

About Yesterday’s Heroes
Aurora “Rory” Graystone

Codename: Halo

Abilities: superior reflexes, I.Q. and aptitude for calculating probabilities

Mission: find missing teammates

Rory knows she’s being watched, and she’s not about to let the hunter catch her in his trap. She’ll confront her stalker, a man she suspects is involved in the disappearances of other superheroes–if she can ignore the sensual heat that fills her every time he’s near…

Michael Hunter

Codename: Hard Target

Abilities: expert tracker and sniper

Mission: kill Rory Graystone

One of five desperate men sent back in time to save the future, Michael believes eliminating Rory is the key to his mission. But even as he takes aim, a split second of doubt causes him to miss his shot.

Drawn together by passion, and on a collision course with fate, can Rory and Michael work together to change the future? Or have they set in motion the horrific history the time-travelers are trying to prevent?

Heather Long lives in Texas with her family and their menagerie of animals. As a child, Heather skipped picture books and enjoyed the Harlequin romance novels by Penny Jordan and Nora Roberts that her grandmother read to her. Heather believes that laughter is as important to life as breathing and that the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy and Santa Claus are very real. In the meanwhile, she is hard at work on her next novel.

Website / Facebook / Twitter

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Snarky Heroines Forever

Robert_Appleton | August 29th, 2012

Here’s something that might surprise you, given that I’m a straight male sci-fi author in my early thirties: of all the heroines I’ve written, including hot space pirates, buxom models and nubile warrior women, by far and away the most popular with readers is Grace Peters, a snarky deep space prospector approaching retirement age. Grace (from Sparks in Cosmic Dust) is only a supporting character, and doesn’t even have her own POV, but I’ve received more glowing feedback about her than any character I’ve ever written.

“Why is that?” I hear you ask.

Well, I can tell you why I think that is. No big secret really. It’s an author having fun. Throwing caution to the wind. Having a character speak her mind, often, and at others’ expense is a storytelling elixir for me as a reader and a writer. You know the character I’m talking about—most romance stories have at least one—the sassy best friend, the put-upon relative having a bad day, or the snarky heroine who continually puts her foot in it.

She’s someone you cut loose with, and she’s usually the most fun. For me, there’s something instantly humanizing about a character who resorts to irreverent humour or pithy put-downs instead of facing a situation glumly. If there’s an element of world-weariness in there too, well, that’s just my favourite heroine in a nutshell.

One of the best writers of this character type is Sloane Taylor, whose erotic romance heroines are an absolute treat. We collaborated on an erotic sci-fi novel a couple of years back­—Claire de Lune—and I learned a lot from her about blending humour and character to make a scene sparkle. If any of that’s rubbed off onto my Carina books, I’m a happy space camper. Incidentally, two minor characters from CDL have received the full-on snarky heroine treatment in my SF series here at Carina. Grace Peters is one. The other, starring in this week’s release Cyber Sparks, is here to introduce herself (via the blurb):

My name is Allegra Mondebay, and this is the story of my last days on Earth…

Unlike my sparsely populated home, on Earth everything and everyone is plugged in. As a blacklisted model who needs to reboot my career, I can no longer resist the ultimate in virtual-reality networking: the omnipod. At first, altering the sights, sounds and scents around me seems harmless. Then I hear the voice.

Do not adjust your headset. You are in danger…

He says I must help him warn the public about the perils of the omnipod. I think he’s just a hacker—until innocent people start dying, and the police want to hold me responsible. Now, I’m on the run in a stolen shuttle, trying to figure out why he needs me. And if I don’t do as he says, he’ll kill the woman I love.

***

One of the things I wanted to avoid when writing Cyber Sparks was a dystopia. Like many of you, I absolutely love The Hunger Games; and I’m very fond of Philip K. Dick, not to mention cyberpunk in general. But I’m also kind of optimistic about our future. The free sharing of information we currently enjoy (hi, internet) is a big part of that. Corruption at every level is becoming increasingly difficult to hide. One day, when governments are frightened of the people, the future will be in our hands. What will we make of it?

I had the idea for Cyber Sparks during a bus ride home from work, when almost every single passenger was either texting or chatting on a mobile phone or reading an e-reader or surfing the web on an i-phone. Human body language? Zilch. Digital language? Off the scale. It’s a strange paradox, to be at once social and anti-social. Many’s the time I’ve grumbled quietly when a friend has cut off his face to face conversation with me to answer an unimportant phone call or a text or a freaking tweet. You’ve made the effort to go and meet him in person, but noooo, you play second fiddle to LOL and smiley face and inane callers still at home in their pajamas.

Does it irritate you when that happens? Or is it just me?

Allegra’s omnipod lets her do anything, buy anything, be anyone, speak to anyone—but still she feels cut off. Pretty soon, she’ll wish she was cut off.

Enough to make anyone snarky, if you ask me.

***

BUY LINK

Also available in the Cosmic Sparks collection: Alien Velocity, Sparks in Cosmic Dust and Pyro Canyon.

EPIC Award winner Robert Appleton is a multi-published author of science fiction, steampunk and historical fiction. Soccer and kayaking are his favourite outdoor activities. He has travelled far but loves the comfort of reading Victorian adventure books or watching movies at home. His mind is somewhat mercurial. His inspiration is the night sky.

Author website:  http://www.robertappleton.co.uk

Goodreads author page: http://bit.ly/nm9r5G

Twitter ID:  @robertappleton

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Posted in Authors, Books, Carina Press, Uncategorized | 4 Comments »

Countdown for blastoff

Kay Keppler | May 1st, 2012

I’m lousy at math. When I’m at the supermarket, I can do a simple pennies-per-ounce cost evaluation, but that’s about it. An accountant does my taxes, I don’t balance my checkbook, and I don’t do Sudoku. Where’s the fun if there’s no words?

So whatever possessed me to put numbers into Zero Gravity Outcasts, I don’t know. Maybe I thought the math would be simple enough. If there’s 10 warships threatening the peace conference, and 4 leave to fight my heroine, and she disables 2 of those, then how many warships are left?

“I think the numbers are wrong,” came the note from my fabulous editor, Lynne Anderson. “How many warships end up at the peace conference?”

Um, there were 10. Take away 4. Six are left.

“Except on page 15 it says 8. Right?”

Well, yes, it does say 8. I need those odds to be overwhelming! Readers must be worried! I need 8 warships threatening the peace conference!

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Lynne says. “So what happened to the other 2 warships?”

Okay, reasonable question, what did happen to those other 2 warships? Perhaps they needed to have an extrasensory outer-space tune-up and oil change. On their way to the fabulous Macy’s one-day clearance sale. Because people just had to get those fringed, pink leather boots.

“Maybe the heroine disables four warships,” Lynne says cheerfully.

Yeah, the heroine doesn’t have any weapons. Disabling four warships would be tough, even for those superheroine-type people who can make nuclear bombs from paper clips, which my heroine makes no claims to be able to do. Although she’s handy. But nuclear-bombs-from-paper-clips handy, no.

“Actually, you don’t really say exactly how many warships start out threatening the peace conference,” Lynne says. “Maybe there’s just 8 to begin with? And then…”

I could see that my math problems were transferring to Lynne. Not good.

“How about this?” Lynne says. She’s sounding desperate, but I know she’s better at math than I am. I see a solution coming!

“There’s 10 warships threatening the peace conference,” she says. “Four leave to fight the heroine. She disables 2. The other 2—”

“Go back to the peace conference!” we exclaim simultaneously.

The warships probably would have had more fun going to the Macy’s one-day clearance sale than getting shot at in the battle at the peace conference. On the other hand, this way they didn’t have to do any math figuring out what 35 percent more off the last 25 percent markdown was, either. Although those fringed, pink leather boots would have been worth the effort. At any price.

And next time, there’s going to be 10 warships threatening the peace conference, and they’re all going to stay put. Because only a dope messes with outer space math.

(And a final note to readers: this story is true, but I’m sure the numbers are way, way off.)

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Posted in Authors, Books, Carina Press | 3 Comments »

Persistance and the Runner’s Journey

Robert_Appleton | March 27th, 2012

We all know and love the success stories in this industry. The meteoric rises from obscurity. The hit-after-hit careers that inspire generations of writers. The self-publishing phenomena, bucking trends and making millions in seemingly no time at all.

They spur the rest of us on. No matter how realistic we say we are about our publishing goals, in the backs of our minds we know there’s huge success to be had if we work hard enough and luck smiles in the right way at the right time. We all have it in us, right?

–Insert answer here–

But what about the untold number of books that stall at the starting line? We rarely get to hear those publishing stories because they fizzle and fade to nothing with surprising speed, and who wants to admit failure, right? It needn’t be a reflection of the book’s quality, any marketing efforts, or even current reading trends. For whatever reason the book just doesn’t…catch on.

I’ve been there and it’s heartbreaking. It’s incredibly frustrating. You’ve written a book you know is good, that others who’ve read it love—heck, it’s even nominated for awards—but that alchemic reaction, that elusive spark, just doesn’t ignite for long enough. There’s no rhyme or reason for it, it just wasn’t meant to be.

Or was it? Because perseverance wouldn’t exist without setbacks. You can’t do anything about luck, but you can choose not to quit.

Alien Velocity is the new and improved, raring to go, EPIC Award-nominated novella about a long-distance runner’s odyssey on the far side of the galaxy. The hero’s journey, much like the author’s, is about second chances and perseverence, and having faith in one’s own abilities, no matter the odds stacked against him. Carina Press jumped at the chance to publish this unusual SF tale, especially as they’d already acquired my novel set in the same Cosmic Sparks universe, Sparks in Cosmic Dust.

And it feels like Charlie Thorpe-Campbell’s adventure has found its home at long last. He’ll be joined by two more Cosmic Sparks novellas on the way in 2012.

The race is on!

Charlie Thorpe-Campbell is the greatest RAM-runner the world has ever seen–and he knows it. On the verge of retirement from the sport, he is defending his title as champion of the annual orbital race one final time when he’s suddenly hurtling away into deep space.

Charlie’s unscheduled voyage through a wormhole ends with a crash-landing on a most unusual planet, with scores of spacecraft from all corners of the universe in orbit. Seeking help, he heads toward what appears to be civilization, unaware of the horrors waiting for him there…

Once inside the great, orb-covered city, Charlie is thrust into intergalactic competition by a bloodthirsty alien race. When he discovers he can use his unique abilities to save not only himself, but the entire galaxy, will he face up to the challenge–or run from it?

Previously published as Charlie Runs Rings Around the Earth, newly revised by the author.
39,000 words

Robert Appleton is an award-winning author of science fiction, steampunk and historical fiction. He lives in Bolton, England. Soccer and kayaking are his two favorite outdoor activities. Though he’s traveled far, he loves the comfort of reading books or watching movies at home. His mind is somewhat mercurial. His inspiration is the night sky.

Catch him online at his website: www.robertappleton.co.uk
Blog: http://robertbappleton.blogspot.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/robertappleton
Facebook: www.facebook.com/robertbappleton

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Posted in Authors, Behind the Scenes, Books, Carina Press, Writing/Submissions Advice | 3 Comments »

Walking the SF Plank

Robert_Appleton | September 28th, 2011

Remember the execution scene in Return of the Jedi, when Luke and Han are forced to walk the plank over the Sarlacc Pit? Classic pulp sci-fi stuff. I mean there’s no way they can get out of that mess, right? R2?

Well, that scene gave me nightmares as a kid. The appalling odds (shut up, 3PO) of escape. Han’s blindness. The tentacles reaching up, dragging Boba Fett and others in for a gratuitous thousand-year digestion. Um, thanks for that one, George.

Cut to me as a thirty-year-old SF author inching my way along that same plank, about to submit my latest manuscript for publication. In my mind, the odds of doom are equally appalling—I trusted in Sparks in Cosmic Dust as I was writing it, but as soon as I let it go…I could practically hear the Sarlacc’s burp.

Nervous isn’t the word. All those months of outlining, worldbuilding, writing, editing and heeding Angela James’s sage ‘Before You Hit Send’ advice are now Bantha fodder because:

a) the story sucks
b) the title sucks
c) I suck
d) I should have concentrated more on the Romance & eased off on the SF
e) I should have concentrated more on the SF & eased off on the Romance
f) my writing style has gotten more juvenile than an Ewok
g) my writing style has gotten more cryptic than Yoda on peyote
h) Carina’s contemporary romances are selling HUGE
i) Carina’s straight SF (without the romance label) is selling…hey, there aren’t any yet!*

*in late 2010

After twenty published books, you’d think I’d have this confidence thing licked by now. Maybe if I stuck to one genre or conformed more to the mainstream, hitting send might get easier. In a way it has—I have a track record behind me, so if nothing else, I know my writing itself is ready for prime time. But these offbeat stories…man, they lead me out over the Sarlacc every goddamn time.

It’s exhilarating when the acceptance call or email comes in—in the case of Sparks, it was a double acceptance email (with SF novella Alien Velocity, March 2012)—but I’m telling you, any confidence I had while writing this novel, my longest at 87K, evaporated as soon as I’d finished polishing the synopsis. Doubt is an ever-present entity for an author. But so is faith is one’s creative abilities, deep down, the way the Force is for Luke Skywalker. It has to be. As desperate as things seem, he can ultimately find that calm centre telling him everything will work out fine if he believes in his ability to make it so. Sometimes that means taking hits, revising strategies, and growing a thicker skin in the process.

It also means taking chances and following them through no matter what. More than anything else, that’s what Sparks in Cosmic Dust means to me. No half measures. No compromises.

“Do or do not. There is no try.”

As it turned out, the Force was strong with me. Alissa Davis, my steampunk editor at Carina, isn’t keen on straight SF so she passed it on to Deb Nemeth, who loved it. Consequently, I now have two of the best editors I’ve ever worked with, in my two favourite genres.

Eat that, Sarlacc!

The final frontier is shrinking. Interstellar Planetary Administration sanctions are forcing the border colonies of deep space into extinction. Kappa Max is one of the last major cutthroat outposts, home to the lawless and the lonely…

Varinia Wilcox, the star attraction of a lucrative bordello gambling house.
Solomon Bodine, spurned by his lover and looking for distraction.
Clayton Barry, AWOL and a few drinks away from having to live in the gutter.
Lyssa Foaloak, a double-crossing criminal who’ll kill anyone for a few credits.

Four strangers, each with secrets that could cost them their freedom, are desperate to get off-planet. They meet Grace Peters, a cynical ex-doctor with an intriguing offer: a six-month trip to a faraway moon where she claims a stunning fortune awaits.

But this adventure is no easy escape. Danger, passion, secrets and madness await. Can they survive the mission, and each other, to make it out alive?

87,000 words

To celebrate the release of Sparks in Cosmic Dust, I’ve written a five-part look at the book’s development, from initial concept to publication. I’m also giving away one SF title from my back catalogue with each segment, ending with this special Sparks giveaway. The contests are all still live, and the winners will be announced on September 30th on my own blog: http://robertbappleton.blogspot.com

Here’s where you can find the other installments:

Part 1: Concept (Aug 31)—Contact: Infinite Futures Blog
Part 2: Character (Sep 13)—Mercurial Times (my blog)
Part 3: Worldbuilding (Sep 23)—Shawn Kupfer’s Blog
Part 4: The Writing Process (Sep 26)—Cathy Pegau’s Blog

With this final installment, I’m giving away an ebook copy of Sparks in Cosmic Dust. To enter, simply leave a comment on this blog post. Also, anyone who enters all five contests will automatically win an ebook of their choice (except Sparks) from my SF backlist.

Thanks and good luck!

Robert Appleton
www.robertappleton.co.uk
http://twitter.com/robertappleton

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Posted in Authors, Behind the Scenes, Books, Carina Press, Contest/Giveaway | 16 Comments »

Exploring the “Dark Edge of Honor”

Rhianon_Etzweiler | August 17th, 2011

Mike and Sergei, in 'Dark Edge of Honor'Sergei Stolkov is a faithful officer, though his deepest desires go against the Doctrine. A captain with the invading Coalition forces, he believes that self-sacrifice is the most heroic act and his own needs are only valid if they serve the state.

Mike, an operative planted within Cirokko’s rebels, has been ordered to seduce Sergei and pry from him the Coalition’s military secrets. His mission is a success, but as he captures Sergei’s heart, Mike is tempted by his own charade and falls in love.

When the hostile natives of the planet Cirokko make their move, all seems lost. Can Mike and Sergei survive when the Coalition’s internal affairs division takes an interest in what happened in the dusty mountains of Zasidka Pass…?

The premise behind the romance in Dark Edge of Honor isn’t new—falling in love with an enemy soldier is one thing, as a civilian. It’s another entirely as a soldier. Exploring the dynamic of loyalties and ethics between two well-honed professionals takes the reader on an intense roller coaster ride of a journey. It gives the characters common ground and mutual understanding, but it also leaves the door wide open for tension and conflict. Never a dull moment, certainly.

Far from being “just” lovers, Sergei and Mike are seemingly up against impossible odds. Not only does their romance begin as seduction and mutual attraction – the mutual desire has to mature quickly to have any chance of survival against those who’d consider Sergei a traitor and execute Mike as an enemy infiltrator. But both men battle even bigger demons; their background, their lives, their whole past is on the line. Everything that defines them and everything they fought for.

This full-length military science fiction novel began its life in July of 2010 on the internet. Google Docs, to be precise. Rhi and Aleks did tandem writing sessions three to five days a week, churning out between three and five thousand words a session.
Rhi found it difficult to get inside Mike’s head, at first. His character was inspired by a number of various military personnel, none of which were known for their intimately engaging demeanors. She ended up writing a number of stream-of-conscious vignettes, digging around in his past, before things clicked into place. Those pieces are now available as free content on her website.

Aleks kept remembering all the rules of romance writing – and one of them is that the heroes need to have admirable qualities. Neither a spy nor a traitor is really “admirable”. They deceive people, often with disastrous consequences. In a military context, people die. Part of what Aleks wanted to explore was – under which circumstances is treason forgivable. Is love enough? Can suffering pay the debt? What are these things that define us as traitors or heroes?

That, really, is the “dark edge” in the idea of “honor”. Share the journey with Mike and Sergei. Get your copy here.

About the Authors:
Aleksandr Voinov is an emigrant German author living near London. Originally, he studied medieval history with a focus on military history, but he then moved to London, where he works as a financial journalist, dealing daily with the feudal lords of the modern age. His professor would be proud—or horrified—if he knew.
His genres range from horror, science fiction, cyberpunk and fantasy to contemporary, thriller and historical erotic gay novels. In his spare time, he goes weight lifting, explores historical sites or meets other writers. He single-handedly sustains three London bookstores with his ever-changing research projects and interests. His current interests include bonsai, tailored suits, chess competitions, World War II, Afghan history, Roman emperors and Russian oligarchs. He loves traveling, action movies, spy novels and ponders taking up boxing.
Visit Aleksandr’s website at http://www.aleksandrvoinov.com and his blog at aleksandrvoinov.blogspot.com.

Rhianon Etzweiler spent her formative years seeped in military culture, and many of her writing inspirations bear that mark – with a definitive twist. Her main genres are science fiction and fantasy, but she enjoys spicing things up with a speculative mixture that sometimes defies an easy label.
Next to Elizabeth Moon and Meredith Ann Pierce, she still counts Jane’s Defense and Popular Science among her influences. “I read articles about cutting edge technology and science, and wondered what impact it would have on society and culture. How we would change, evolve as a species, as a result.”
Visit Rhianon’s website at http://www.rhianonetzweiler.com for links to her blogs and other content.

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Posted in Authors, Books, Carina Press, Marketing | 2 Comments »

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