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You mean she lied? Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal! SFFS for 1-18

Welcome back and Happy New year!

Today’s snippet is from my science fiction/space opera TRIAD. Here’s the basic story:

After five years of silence, the Arkosian space pirates are back to terrorize the sector where Trezanna Len fights to save her Solarii colony, a small group of Terran descendants settled on the planet Induna. To survive, the Solarii need assistance soon.

Trezanna could ask for help from the neighboring group called Dragonfleet, but its cruel leader Estrella Drake has been on a rampage to annex Solarii space. Estrella would never agree to an alliance with the Solarii. Or would she?

***

So for awhile, she agrees to an alliance. Things seem good. People relax and drink tea. But then….

SNIPPET:

The attack came without warning, without even a hint of danger. Estrella’s DragonFleet warriors appeared fully Veiled already over the base, strafing the compound with brutal rounds of laser fire.

“Battle stations!” Caught in his seat in the command center, Julian McKinley was the first stunned officer to react. “In case anyone hadn’t noticed,” he muttered. He sent the call basewide, then his feet hit the floor for the hangar bay.

Catava Rolon, hair wrapped tight, all business now, met Trezanna Len at the entry to C Wing as Trezanna exited the Commons, yanking on a leather flight jacket over her soft blue blouse.  “Is it Estrella?” she asked as the two of them ran the long way around.

 “Of course. She’s probably had this up her sleeve for some time, just waiting for an opportunity to use it as the Khimeyr’s welcome mat.”

***

Don’t they say women in the military work better together?

Or maybe Miss Estrella Drake just has some serious mental health issues. (I’d vote for this one!)

For more information on TRIAD, see my other blog or Amazon.com.  For more great snippets from sci-fi and fantasy authors from around the world, visit Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday this Saturday and every Saturday!!

Coming soon–a massive fantasy/paranormal giveaway!

Lyndi and THE ELF QUEEN will be part of the Fall into Fantasy contest and Giveaway!  Check out the details at Ash Krafton’s blog here– your chance to win a lot of wonderful books next month.  Stay tuned for more information.  :)

Come share energy with THE ELF GUARDIAN

The ELF GUARDIAN gets a special vortex promo today at the blog home of Erin Danzer…..come check out an excerpt and some awesome real-life pictures of the Montana Vortex.

http://www.erindanzer.com/the-elf-guardian-by-lyndi-alexander/

The Bitterroot Mountains (pictured, right) hold many secrets. Including the existence of elves. :)

Friends are irreplaceable: SFFS for March 23

It’s been awhile since I posted CLAN ELVES news over here, now that I have a site that covers all of Lyndi’s books. But with THE ELF GUARDIAN out, I think the elves site needs some love too! And what better way to show love that to post a snippet for Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday!

  Book Four of the Clan Elves of the Bitterroot series picks up several years after the other three, and involves a climate/earth shift crisis in the Montana mountains:

The strong Earth energies that support the Clan Elves of the Bitterroot have gone awry for unknown reasons, and the powerful forces at work have not gone unnoticed by the outside world.

When a paranormal investigator looking for a story to save her career is told a fantastic tale by the juvenile and disobedient elf prince Elliun, his young albino elf bodyguard Max must try to fix the mistake.

Can Max get  humans, mages, and elves working together in time to save the land before the energies spin out of control? Or is this the end of the elven world in the Bitterroot Mountains?

I’ve posted previous snippets from this book introducing readers to the paranormal investigator, Chiara diLuna, and I think people are still prepared to like her.

Today’s snippet, though, goes back to the close relationship between humans Lane and Crispy, who are friends of the elf queen, as they’re on their way to warn the clan about the investigator’s arrival. Both of them grew up in foster care, and they have some…issues. But this bit tends to define how they feel about each other:

***

“You can do anything—you have the protection of the elves and the magic laptop. You can even kill evil elf usurpers! And you’re just….” Crispy struggled for the right words. “You’ve always taken care of me, Lane. Even when I was at my most lost, you could always find me. Whatever life gives you, you always throw it back in its face. Nothing ever gets to you.” A small smile came to him. “I want to be you when I grow up.”

***

This pair are some of my favorite creations ever, and they’re in every book of the Clan Elves series. I confess Lane actually took over THE ELF MAGE. But how else can you deal with a Kevin-Smith-like computer geek with a passion for Creamy Cupcakes and a tolerance for all flavors of crazy?

Find out more about THE ELF GUARDIAN here or at my other blog, Lyndi Alexander and her Worlds of Fancy . It’s available at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com, Smashwords, Apple iTunes and more!

For more delicious snippets from authors around the world, stop back at Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday and enjoy!

Enter THE ELF GUARDIAN!

It’s almost time for the release of book four in the Clan Elves of the Bitterroot series, and folk here in the great Northwest are pretty excited!

The first three books brought to life the story of Jelani Marsh, a young barista who believed she was mostly a failure in life, having grown up an orphan, losing her parents, dropping out of college, not having much to show for her years. But her encounter with a glass slipper revealed a whole different side to her life she’d never known. After that, she and her friends became involved in a secret world deep in the forests of the Bitterroot Mountains and had many adventures, even fighting in a civil war unseen by the outside world.

THE ELF GUARDIAN tells the story of what happens when that outside world becomes aware of some of the effects of the elven community on the human terrain they share, particularly the Montana Vortex, a fascinating site in Columbia Falls, Montana.

Here’s the book blurb:

Clan Elves of the Bitterroot – Book 4:
The strong Earth energies that support the Clan Elves of the Bitterroot have gone awry for unknown reasons, and the powerful forces at work have not gone unnoticed by the outside world.  When a paranormal investigator looking for a story to save her career is told a fantastic tale by the juvenile and disobedient elf prince Elliun, his young albino elf bodyguard Max must try to fix the mistake.  Can Max get  humans, mages, and elves working together in time to save the land before the energies spin out of control?  Or is this the end of the elven world in the Bitterroot Mountains?

And here’s today’s snippet, which delves a little into the histories of Jelani’s human friends Lane Donatelli and Ron “Crispy” Mendell,  and their interaction with elf mage Daven Talvi:

 

Lane tried to ignore the worm of nausea that slid, wet, through his stomach, at the memory of their thin, bruised foster brother. Crispy had been particularly close with Sammy during those times he’d lived with them, when the court hadn’t sent him back to his abusive mom and her boyfriend for ‘trial’ visits. During the last of those visits, Sammy hadn’t come back; the boyfriend killed him.

And Crispy had gotten revenge for poor Sammy, in his own way.

“Yes,” Daven said, “that hurt from the past is tied to his remorse for what happened that day.”

“He must have been able to sublimate it for awhile, in all this excitement of being free to go outside and all that.”

“Sublimate it? As in hide it away?”

Something in Daven’s tone flagged Lane’s Crazy-o-meter. “Daven, what did you do?”

 

Coming soon from Dragonfly Publishing, Inc. in ebook and paperback!

For more great science fiction and fantasy snippets, check out the rest of this week’s authors here at Science Fiction and Fantasy Saturday and come back every week for more!

SFFS for September 1: It’s not easy being a technomage

This week’s snippet is from book four of the Clan Elves of the Bitterroot series, which I’m writing as we speak. It’s titled THE ELF GUARDIAN and is due out early next year.

The quandary in the beginning of the story is that a defrocked but flashy paranormal investigator named Chiara DeLuna comes to the forest to investigate the Montana Vortex, hoping to make her name tops in the business again. She arrives just as the elves are about to conduct their solstice ritual–collision course ahead!

Lane Donatelli, now a “technomage” of the elf clan, has to do his part in the upcoming ritual, at the same time the clan is trying to fend off this investigator. If he was playing this out in his online game, he’d have no worries, but in real life? What’s a technomage to do?

Snippet:

Lane’s mind wandered, considering the possibility of the wind ‘speaking’ to anyone, a ridiculous thought. Despite the fact he’d been exposed to magic among the elves, and the fact he spent half his waking hours (and some of his sleeping ones, too) engaged in an ephemeral zone of bits and bytes in the online game that was so much less than real, he found it hard to believe that someone could commune with nature to such an extent. He’d seen it; Jelani had the power to heal broken trees and damaged stands of wood and grass. But he still didn’t believe it.
Fighting Yoda-scolding from his head, he tried to concentrate on what he was supposed to be doing. Good thing, too, because just about then, Jelly Bean turned to him and asked, “And what can we expect from the amazing technomage department?”
The sparkle in her eyes showed that she teased him, and for just a moment she looked like his dear friend the barista, before the cares and worries of being a queen settled on her shoulders. He owed her more than just a light moment between good old buddies. As her colleague and advisor, she was counting on him for something magnificent.
And he had nothing.

Boy, is he in trouble now.

Find out more about THE ELF QUEEN, THE ELF CHILD and THE ELF MAGE at the tabs above, or at http://lyndialexander.wordpress.com. You can buy the books at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com and a host of other sources–find them at Dragonfly Publishing, Inc.

Find more great science fiction and fantasy snippets at Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday’s main page. I love this group of authors–what great imaginations!

Approaching the Montana Vortex

As I’ve said before, I’m working on book four of the Clan Elves series, The Elf Guardian, and it focuses heavily on the area near Columbia Falls, Montana, known as the Montana Vortex . So this past week we spent time in the area, scoping out the vortex site itself and the surrounding areas.

We found it very interesting, though we were skeptical when we arrived, having watched an expose on the similar Oregon Vortex the night before on the SyFy channel. When you arrive at first, you see trees that look like this:

Then as you keep going into the layout, into the area where the vortexes come up through the ground, the trees begin to look like this:

The three of us reacted differently to the site. My friend from California said her hands felt warm, and her blood pressure went up as she came in contact with the energy forces. When I stood in the circle of trees, if I closed my eyes, I found myself compelled to lean forward, probably 60 degrees. Here the trees were twisted around, leading up to the sky:

Little Miss, however, was thrilled by the tippy house (which five years ago would have thrown her sensory issues into chaos) and she and Chase tried all the experiments in there:

Walking the labyrinth gave me some new insights and ideas to complicate the story and give it some depth. So I’d call it a successful visit–and we met the owners and told them about the series– another positive exchange. So I’m pleased with the research we got and the new developments. Now to finish the manuscript and get it ready for you, the readers!

The Labyrinth

SFFS for 6-23: Don’t leave out the nerds…

This week’s snippet is from book four of the Clan Elves of the Bitterroot series, which I’m writing as we speak. It’s titled THE ELF GUARDIAN and is due out early next year.

The quandary in the beginning of the story is that a defrocked but flashy paranormal investigator named Chiara DeLuna comes to the forest to investigate the Montana Vortex, hoping to make her name again. She arrives just as the elves are about to conduct their solstice ritual–collision course ahead! But first she finds Lane Donatelli, who’s written a “novel” about his friend Jelani and the elves, considering him an expert. When she goes to pick his brain, he realizes she’s much too close to discovering the truth.

Lane, meanwhile, isn’t too sure what his role as technomage of the clan will have to do with the magical nature of the forces. So The elf mage Daven Talvi tries to explain it in words he’ll understand:

“The energy source is one with the earth, Lane. While it flows everywhere, even here, the strength fluxes, as scientists say, with time and place. The forces of the solstice concentrate the flow around the vortex, allowing us to access it. You’ve felt that power, we all have. You’re right, it’s not something you make happen, it’s something that happens as part of our natural world.”
“So what do you need a computer nerd for?”
Daven grinned. “It is not your technical skills we need, young Jedi.” He winked and Lane bit his tongue before ordering the mage out of his head. “Your heart holds a place for humankind in the balance of the solstice.”

Find out more about THE ELF QUEEN, THE ELF CHILD and THE ELF MAGE at the tabs above, or at http://lyndialexander.wordpress.com .Buy links can be found at at Dragonfly Publishing, Inc.–http://www.dragonflypubs.com/dfp/dfpbooks.html


Like our magical device? :) It’s from the vortex site.

Find more great science fiction and fantasy snippets at Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday’s main page(http://scififansat.blogspot.com/2012/06/sffs-23062012.html ). I love this group of authors–what great imaginations!

(I do not love my internet connection on the road that won’t allow me to post links. Sorry for the inconvenience! %#$#$%)

Don’t mess with a WoW-charactered, slobber-dripping Orc….SFFS for May 19

This snippet is from the third book in the Clan Elves of the Bitterroot series, The Elf Mage, published by Dragonfly Publishing, Inc., (buy links here) available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and all the usual sources.

Here’s the blurb: Daven Talvi made a choice a quarter-century ago to serve the Bitterroot Elf Clan, allowing the Circle of Elders to send him into suspended animation until the queen could be rescued. In doing so, he gave up his mate and his newborn son, sacrificing his own life for that of the clan. It had been a mistake. With the clan now in chaos and the new young queen in hiding, Daven must acknowledge his own errors and take responsibility to set things right. He teams up with Lane Donatelli, a human who has too long used food and computer gaming to feed his own insecurities. Together, they use Lane’s technology with Daven’s innate magical abilities to wage battle against the evil elf mages threatening the clan.

Lane’s specifically used a laptop one of the elves has infused with magic to manifest one of his toon warriors into the real world, the subject of today’s snippet:

The door burst open, but didn’t fly off its hinges, as he would have surely guessed with such a rickety piece of wood. Out came a huge green being, thick-bodied with rippling muscles and a sword in each hammy hand. Black clothing covered most of its body, and its chest covered with chunky leather armor. The thing dripped slobber from an impressive row of sharp teeth, and when it stepped forward, the ground shook. It stopped two elves’ lengths in front of him, leaned its head back and roared, a sound that vibrated the branches overhead and rattled Vez’s bones.
“I am Xiomar the Mighty!” it cried in a bold, deep voice. “I fight to protect the elf prince. Prepare to die!”

Sounds like it would work, right? But Lane just hasn’t quite figured it out yet…

Learn more about the Clan Elves at this site or at Lyndi’s main website.

Check out all the snippets from science fiction and fantasy authors for this Saturday!

Author/artist Desiree Finkbeiner shares the story of ETHOS

Today we welcome sister Hydra author Desiree Finkbeiner!

Thanks for being with us today. First, would you tell us a bit about yourself?

It goes without saying that I love to create. Art, writing and anything crafty. I have 4 rowdy kids, one with Asperger’s Syndrome, which creates a unique challenge for our family. Working from home is vital for a mother with a special needs child, so being an author and artist facilitates that need very well. I have a great hubby, who supports my need to write and create, and also a very supportive network of siblings etc.

What area of the country do you live in, do you have a family, pets, etc. Are you a coffee fiend, or do you have another “addiction” you must have on your desk at all times?

No pets, unfortunately (especially bummed, since I LOVE animals so much). We live in a very tiny little house, in town, NW Arkansas. With the economy being so rough, we are unable to sell our home and upgrade to more space at this time. So all 6 of us are crammed in about 1200 sq ft. One learns to be very willing to sacrifice privacy under such living conditions LOL. So, no room for pets.

I don’t drink coffee, tea or anything addictive like soda or alcohol. We tend to stick to a very organic diet in our home. But the things I crave most are fresh veggies (especially home-grown garden tomatoes, sprinkled with salt and garlic) and French or Italian cuisine. Something I have at my desk regularly, are petite baby dill pickles, Spanish olives or unsweetened 85% dark chocolate (particular the Newtree brand with flaxseed).

What’s your education, if it’s relevant to your writing, and how does that education help you/or do you find that you can write well even without the diploma others might think they must have?

Education is an author’s best friend… especially regarding history, literary arts and marketing. I have a degree in commercial art with an emphasis in business and marketing, which has been valuable for promoting my book. I spend a lot of time continuing my education daily; reading articles, watching educational documentaries or picking someone’s brain.

A diploma isn’t necessarily important (though I have a BA and over 140 credit hours), but most people can’t afford tuition… education can be free if you know where to find good information. I’ve known many folks who were more knowledgeable than people with degrees, who simply read and read and read, thus self-educating. So even if you don’t have the opportunity to go to college, you can still stuff your head full of knowledge. Education is vital to success no matter who you are.

Tell us about your most recent publication?

Ethos is the series I am focusing on most right now. Morning Star, book #1, was released March 28 2012. It’s an urban fantasy/paranormal romance/adventure story that crosses over adult to YA markets. I try to keep my writing clean enough for adults and teens to enjoy without being easily offended.

There is some mild passion in the book as well as some mild violence, but I’m sure you’ve seen and heard much worse on Nickelodeon LOL! The main point of the book is to provoke thoughts of spirituality and moral reflection, to look within ourselves and ask how far we’d go to stand up for what we believe in. I think the issues presented are general enough, that people from all walks of life can find some tidbit of universal truth that speaks to them on a personal level.

I’m a sucker for action, so of course, there are a few good fights and chases… and what would a good fantasy be without a little romance? However, I didn’t want the book to be saturated with it. I tried to find balance between the romantic elements and the rest of the story, so readers from multiple genres could enjoy it.

What inspired you to write this story? What interesting thing did you learn or research to write it that you didn’t know before?

Multiple sources inspired the story, but in short, I knew I just needed to write. So I tried to think of a way that I could appeal to a wide market, while choosing genres and topics of popular interest, but did my best to put my own spin on it so it was unique in its own way. I tried to avoid clichés so my own voice would shine through the work.

How would you best describe your books?

Evenly paced, fairly balanced and character-rich. I hope to create characters and worlds that people can relate to, so the reading experience is more realistic. Being a very spiritual person myself, I can’t help but let that influence bleed into the work.

What is your favorite genre to write? To read?

To write, I prefer fantasy and all of its sub genres. To read, I prefer nonfiction, especially spiritual, political or historical topics. But when I do read fiction, I prefer fantasy.

What do you most like about writing? Least like? When did you first know you wanted to be an author?

I most enjoy the escape it provides, and least like the sore wrists and fingers. I’ve been writing since I was a child, and taking creative writing classes have always been a priority for me all throughout school. But the writing but really bit me when I was twelve, though I didn’t seek publication until I was an adult.

Do you belong to any writing groups? Are there any writing websites you find particularly useful?

I was a member of a local writer’s critique group locally a few years ago, but just became too busy with my family to keep going. There are lots of great places online to share work with other writers and get honest (and sometimes brutal feedback) Authonomy, for one example, and many others. But I don’t really visit them any more since I finally feel like I’ve developed my own style and I’m too busy writing to meet deadlines or marketing my work. I also freelance for several blogs and write content for products in addition to my design and art projects.

Is there any special music you like to listen to while writing? How does it inspire you?

I normally prefer silence, so most of my writing is done late into the night when the rest of the household sleeps.

Tell us a little about your path to publication. How many books have you published? How many books did you write before selling one?

I wrote a lengthy political thriller/urban fantasy called, The Establishment (155,000 words), in 2010. But after 15 rejections and some honest feedback from beta readers, I realized that it just wasn’t what I wanted to be associated with for a debut series. So I tossed it aside to work on character development and plotting for a new series, which ultimately became Ethos. Within about two weeks of sending Ethos out to publishers, I had three offers.

What are you writing now? What’s next for you—will you be making personal appearances anywhere our readers can find you?

I’m finishing up book #2 in the Ethos series, for a fall 2012 release and also working on a YA steampunk fantasy called, The Elevator.

What would you like to tell readers?

Please feel free to follow me on Facebook to stay updated on new work and giveaways etc. I appreciate feedback and suggestions too.

Author Name: Desiree Finkbeiner

Book being spotlighted: Ethos: Morning Star (Book #1 in the Ethos series)

Amazon purchase link: http://www.amazon.com/Morning-Star-Ethos-ebook/dp/B007PSUV2W/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_1

Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/Desiree-Finkbeiner/e/B007PVI2MU/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1

ASIN # B007PSUV2W

Publisher: Hydra Publications (March 28, 2012) www.hydrapublications.com

Author website: www.finkartstudio.com

Author facebook fanpage: www.facebook.com/finkartstudio

Author G+: https://plus.google.com/116389190274070035894

Author twitter: https://twitter.com/finkart

Action Adventure Fantasy Book Trailer #1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlrpPaNqWBo&feature=relmfu

Paranormal Romance Fantasy Book Trailer #2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wRBiwi7MDA&feature=relmfu

Ethos on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13568249-morning-star

Ethos on Shelfari: http://www.shelfari.com/books/28173037/Morning-Star-(Ethos)

Ethos on Library Thing: http://www.librarything.com/work/12535862/85293762

Tourist menu tip for those Missoula-bound: SFFS snippet for May 5, 2012

This snippet is from the third book in the Clan Elves of the Bitterroot series, The Elf Mage, published by Dragonfly Publishing, Inc., (buy links here) available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and all the usual sources.

Here’s the blurb: Daven Talvi made a choice a quarter-century ago to serve the Bitterroot Elf Clan, allowing the Circle of Elders to send him into suspended animation until the queen could be rescued. In doing so, he gave up his mate and his newborn son, sacrificing his own life for that of the clan. It had been a mistake. With the clan now in chaos and the new young queen in hiding, Daven must acknowledge his own errors and take responsibility to set things right. He teams up with Lane Donatelli, a human who has too long used food and computer gaming to feed his own insecurities. Together, they use Lane’s technology with Daven’s innate magical abilities to wage battle against the evil elf mages threatening the clan.

And here’s the snippet:

Lane raised an eyebrow. “You think it’s dangerous if it’s caused by aliens but elf magic is cool? Really?”
Crispy shrugged a little. “I know elves. Aliens are scary. We never invite them for dinner.”
“Not that we know of.”
Crispy stiffened up again, and Lane smacked himself in the forehead. “Damn it, Crisp, I don’t mean that aliens are around here. Well, maybe the people down at the Oxford.”
“They’re not aliens,” Crispy said in an infinitely patient—and much calmer—voice. “They eat brains. They’re zombies.”

Learn more about the Clan Elves at this site or at Lyndi’s main website. To see the Oxford Cafe’s menu–complete with brains and eggs–check it out here.

Check out all the snippets from science fiction and fantasy authors for this Saturday!

The Llathalan Annal series debuts! Meet Rachel Hunter

Today’s guest is the lovely Rachel Hunter, author of Empyreal Fate. We’re so glad to host a sister Hydra Publications author with her big venture. Welcome, Rachel!

First off, I would like to thank you for hosting me on your site today. It is a great pleasure to be here indeed!

Tell us about your new series.

My Llathalan Annal series is of the fantasy genre, and Book One – “Empyreal Fate” – has just been released. “Fate” introduces the land of Llathala and its many civilizations – particularly the races of men and elves – and it delves into their ancient feud and close boundaries. Indeed, the kingdom of man is starving and rapidly growing, yet the proximity of the elven nation, coupled with man’s unwarranted fear, keeps the commoners from straying far. Yet a figure named Darrion defies the decree of old and passes into the Forest Illex, home of the elven kingdom of Androth. And what he finds within may very well change his life forever. But that’s only the beginning… Fate has yet to deal its hand.

Tell us a bit about yourself? What should the reading world know about Rachel?

Ah – but what to tell? I am a reader, writer, and psychology/pre-nursing student at the University of Oklahoma. I am both witty and stubborn, but mostly I’m shy and speculative. I often question the mysteries of this world, and I’m not afraid of the answers. But sometimes I think the answers are afraid of being told. What is Nature’s story? It certainly breathes beauty, and I like to spend as much time with it as I can: hiking, kayaking, scaling mountains, or simply walking. The Muse follows me wherever I go – no matter what natural ventures I take – but sometimes it’s elusive and tries to hide. It is while in this interim of “self-searching” that I often compose my favorite works of art: most of them in thought. But it’s all relative, I suppose. Mostly, I am me. Simply and succinct.

What is your favorite genre to write? To read?

So far, I’ve enjoyed writing fantasy the most. I am currently experimenting with my first steampunk novel, however, which is a blend between sci-fi and fantastical elements, so I can’t quite say I have a favorite. I’m still exploring the various domains.
As far as reading, I truly enjoy a little bit from every genre. I’ve read mostly fantasy and science fiction works thus far, but I’m also quite keen on tucking into a good mystery or historical piece. And poetry has a way with my heart; I enjoy when words flow together as a chorus. It’s like observing a painting within your mind’s eyes and appreciating the pattern of syllables. Little else can compare to verbal majesty.

Tell us a little about your path to publication. How many books have you published? How many books did you write before selling one?

Well, the road to publication has been a long one – as many can attest – and I’m honored to have been accepted by Hydra Publications. It all started with some research, a query letter (with multiple rewrites), and a submission. Then arrived the day when Hydra sent me the acceptance email for my novel – and the offer to send a contract to join the team.
So far, I have a couple of poems published, titled, “Sestina of Elven Regret” and “It All Starts with Creativity.” I also have a short story published through Trestle Press called, “Perfect Nothing”, which elaborates on my near-death experience by the hand of anorexia nervosa. “Empyreal Fate” – published through Hydra Publications – is my most recent publication, and it is only the first in my Llathalan Annal series. So, needless to say, my writing experience is not yet complete. Really, I’ve only begun.

What’s your favorite thing about the book featured here today? Any special memories you have in the creation of it?

I’m quite fond of who I dedicated it to: my father. It meant a lot to me to have him mentioned in my first novel. He’s an enormous inspiration and – to be honest – my best friend.
I also enjoyed the writing process in general. It’s always an experience in itself to plan out the characters and determine the plot. And there’s nothing better than creating new worlds for others to escape to. As a child, books were my respite from reality, and I hope my writing can have the same impact on others.

What would you write if you could write anything you wanted to write?

I’m quite pleased with the genres I’ve already written – and plan to write, actually. I’ll most likely explore even further beyond poetry and speculative fiction, but there’s something about fantasy and sci-fi that grasps my intrigue the most. And there’s so much that I’ve yet to tell in fantasy, for I’ve yet to publish the rest of the Llathalan Annal series.

What do you love most about writing and what do you not like?

Ah – I always love the feeling it conjures when I read myself away into far and vast lands, greeting creatures I never thought possible. And that’s what I like most about writing as well: the opportunity to grant readers that same warmth – that same venture. It is the art of creation that draws me in the most.
What don’t I like? Well, I tend to be OCD, so when I write, I usually lock myself away for hours, feeling like I cannot do anything else but type the words that beg to be written. It can be stressful at times, and sometimes I don’t even know if the sun is shining. *laughs*

Is there any special music you like to listen to while writing? How does it inspire you?

I adore music. It is great for stirring the Muse and expressing unspoken emotions. However, I actually dislike listening to music while I write, for I tend to get distracted by the lyrics and wish to sing along. It sometimes helps to listen to something soft – like Enya – or orchestral pieces without lyrics. But again, I tend to get caught up in the beauty of rhythm that I cannot focus on writing. Therefore, I prefer the quiet when the Muse draws in.

What would you like to tell readers?

Write much, laugh often, and read a lot. Truly. There’s nothing greater for the mind, body, and spirit than a creative and fun-loving day. So why not make it a habit? A life-style? Embrace your creative whims.
And also – when you read, look beyond the mere mortal contrivance of words, and grasp instead the deeper meaning within: the depths of the soul and the meaning of virtue. Listen to the pattern of words – yes… but also take away the ambiguity of life: the divine essence within us all. Read and awaken. Do this with everything your eyes devour.

Contact Information:
Blog: http://www.rachel-m-hunter.blogspot.com
Website: http://www.rachel-m-hunter.yolasite.com
Hydra Publications: http://www.hydrapublications.com/our-authors/rachel-hunter/
Amazon: Empyreal Fate: http://www.amazon.com/Empyreal-Fate-Llathalan-Annal-ebook/dp/B007WWB24W/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1335266725&sr=1-1
(Stay tuned for the print version of “Empyreal Fate” – due for release in 2-4 weeks)
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rachel-Hunter/170131499766376
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/young_author

SFFS Snippet for April 21! How do you get to be a wizard?

This snippet is from the third book in the Clan Elves of the Bitterroot series, The Elf Mage, published by Dragonfly Publishing, Inc., (buy links here) available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and all the usual sources.

Here’s the blurb: Daven Talvi made a choice a quarter-century ago to serve the Bitterroot Elf Clan, allowing the Circle of Elders to send him into suspended animation until the queen could be rescued. In doing so, he gave up his mate and his newborn son, sacrificing his own life for that of the clan. It had been a mistake. With the clan now in chaos and the new young queen in hiding, Daven must acknowledge his own errors and take responsibility to set things right. He teams up with Lane Donatelli, a human who has too long used food and computer gaming to feed his own insecurities. Together, they use Lane’s technology with Daven’s innate magical abilities to wage battle against the evil elf mages threatening the clan.

And here’s the snippet:

Daven said, “Before I went into the mountains, I’ll be the first to admit my priorities were not in a proper order.”
“What’s in the mountains?”
“The santwarja, a training ground for those who wish to become mages.”
What a crock. Lane eyed him from behind the laptop. “Really? You just walk in to Mages R Us, and walk out with your Hogwarts diploma?”

Learn more about the Clan Elves at this site or at Lyndi’s main website.

Check out all the snippets from science fiction and fantasy authors for this Saturday!

All the way from Missoula to Scotland!

I spent some time today across the ocean at the web home of the fabulous Cathie Dunn today, talking about Missoula, Montana, where the clan elves’ stories are set.

These books are YA-compatible, though the early books don’t have teen protagonists, and have received many 5-star reviews on Amazon.com.

Please stop by Cathie’s beautiful website, check out the many posts about wonderful places, and add your two cents’ worth– read an excerpt from Book Two, THE ELF CHILD!

Lane’s new favorite song!

While Lane has long been a Warcraft fan, and is now switching to TOR, you know he’s dabbled with Mass Effect somewhere along the line. So just imagine the strains of this song reverberating through the Cupcake-built walls of the Cave!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5ZcNFZAaWk

How I met my hero


Welcome, Ash Krafton, with the first in her new series about the Demimonde! Don’t forget to enter her contest–take it away, Ash!

by guest author Ash Krafton

I’ve always had a thing for museums. When I was a kid, my mother would take my siblings and me to the Everhart Museum in Scranton, PA. It’s a natural history museum located near Nay Aug Park, once a thriving zoo and mini-amusement park. Those trips to the park and museum are among my strongest childhood memories, when I was too young to pronounce “museum” properly. (I called it a “mu-sam” and, trust me, it wasn’t because I had a region accent. I was just a goofy kid.)
I never outgrew my fondness for museums. Overtime, I developed a distinct preference for archaeology and ancient cultures, encouraged by my high school World Cultures class. Although I really got into Roman and Greek studies, my favorite culture of them all was ancient Egypt.
Up until college, the Everhart was my only regular museum. However, once I started college in Philadelphia…well, you can just imagine how ecstatic I was to discover Philly’s museums and their treasures.
Lucky for me, I also met my husband in college—a fortuitous event in itself. He also enjoys museums and science/tech centers and had been spoiling me rotten ever since. Now, we’re the parents of two middle school-aged kids who practically grew up amongst mummies and sarcophagi and the images of gods and pharaohs.
When I wrote Bleeding Hearts, I couldn’t help but put a piece of my love for Egypt into the story. As I wrote it, I began to create a mythology of my own, penning the words that eventually became the origin of my demivampires.
It wasn’t too hard to decide where I was going to meet my hero, Marek. The scene was inspired by a trip my husband and I took to the Penn Museum’s Egyptian exhibit. In a way, the scene is a reminder of one of our dates (few enough since we became parents) so this excerpt is extra-special to me. This except was also a finalist in the “Magic Moments” 2011 contest hosted by the RWA Heart and Scroll Chapter.
First meets are so important. I couldn’t wish anything but the loveliest for my main character, Sophie. I care about her too much! After all, wouldn’t you do the same for somebody you love?

Thanks for having me, Lyndi! I’d like to remind everyone that the Bleeding Hearts Blog Tour will continue until April 14, 2012. I’m being hosted by a wonderful group of bloggers and authors like our lovely Lyndi Alexander here. Be sure to check out the other stops along the tour for other posts about Bleeding Hearts and be sure to enter the huge end-of-tour prize package!
Good luck to everyone who enters and thanks for celebrating my new book with me!

Find out more about Ash and her tour at the links below:
www.facebook.com/AshKraftonAuthor

www.twitter.com/ashkrafton

www.ashkrafton.com

www.ash-krafton.blogspot.com

www.goodreads.com/ash_krafton

BLEEDING HEARTS: Book One of the Demimonde

Saving the world one damned person at a time—shy advice columnist-turned-oracle must find a way to save her dangerous demivampire lover from the fate that threatens each of his race: evolution and the destruction of his soul.

When advice columnist Sophie meets dark and alluring Marek, she learns life-changing secrets about them both—he’s a demivampire struggling to avoid evolution and she’s an empathic oracle destined to save him. Sophie possesses the rare ability to reduce the spiritual damage that causes a demivamp to Fall, making her the only thing that stands between a DV and evolution. However, as Marek’s dangerous past propels him toward his desperate fate, his enemies make darker plans for him: once vampire, powerful Marek would be second only to the Master himself. The vamps want to cause Marek’s Fall and they intend to use Sophie to do it….


Ash’s excerpt!
In the great hall housing the Egyptian exhibitions, I immediately noted the change in the atmosphere. The room was warm and dry, its climate controlled to mimic the conditions in which the relics had existed in their native land.
The entire room had been designed to resemble an Old Kingdom temple. The main lights were dimmed while strategically-placed spotlights emphasized massive columns and magnificent wall carvings, like sunbeams through temple windows.
I scanned the room. No other tourists. Even better. I meandered, enjoying the rare opportunity to linger.
Craning my neck, I ran my gaze up each of the columns, reading the images, admiring the palm leaves carved at the tops like great stone trees. Eyes toward the ceilings, I turned slowly around, admiring the handiwork of the ancient artists.
What was it like to live in those lands and those times? Could an ancient version of my spirit have been there, stepping barefoot and silently through a sandy temple like this one?
Lost in contemplation, I was completely unprepared for the shock of smacking into someone, bumping him hard enough to lose my balance. I’d have fallen had he not caught my arm. Wide-eyed with consternation, I stammered an apology to the handsome but serious-faced gentleman.
“You are not hurt, I hope?” His voice, deep and smooth, sent shivers marching down my neck, between my shoulders, down my spine.
“I’m okay.” I shook my head, too shy to make direct eye contact, wishing I’d checked my hair and lipstick before coming in. “I’m far too adept at being inept.”
He flashed a grin and I caught a glimpse of nice white teeth. “Temples are places for spiritual reflection. It is forgivable if your vision was turned inward, rather than toward where you were walking.”
His expression softened by amusement, he tilted his head toward the pillars. “Majestic, aren’t they?”
I stole another glance at him—black hair smoothed back into a discrete tail, clear light skin framed by long sideburns, strong jaw culminating in a square, cleft chin. Like the other items in the museum, something about him made me want to look closer, inspect each detail.
A subtle flush warmed my cheeks and ears so I quickly turned back to the heights of the exhibition. Murmuring a sound of agreement, I circled the column, stepping a few feet away so I could see both him and the stone. “Do you visit this museum often?”
Furtive glances allowed me to take in more of his appearance a tiny section at a time. Clothing, dark as his hair. Long blazer, something in between a suit coat and an overcoat. In one hand he carried a bound book and fountain pen, as if he’d been making notes.
Unlike my own, his gaze was calm and steady and entirely on me. Taking a deep breath I permitted the contact of the direct look. My boldness was well-rewarded. His Paul Newman lips brought to mind the sculptured busts on display in the Greco-Roman Quarters and he wore a stern expression that cast a veil of hardness upon his features, enhancing the impression he’d been carved from marble.
Except for his eyes. The Roman busts bore eyes that were blank and white but this man’s eyes were alive with bright green color. Like gemstones, they glittered and drew my gaze.
“No, actually,” he said. “My first time here. Although, I admit, I’m drawn to places like this.” His voice made music of the words—deep bass notes and soothing rhythm.
“Ah!” I said. “A man after my own heart.” His left eyebrow arched so sharply I thought it might disappear into his hairline and I hurriedly continued. “Are you a professor?”
“No, nothing like that. I do studying of my own, it’s not a living. It’s more of a hobby. Personal research, of sorts.”
“I like to study past times for past-times. It’s my preferred form of entertainment.”
“Mmm.” Eyebrow cocked again, he cast a disapproving look at me and swept his hand around the contrived temple. “Would the gods be pleased to know they are reduced to the level of entertainment?”
“I hope so.” I kept my tone light. Considering the seriousness of his expression, I didn’t want to accidentally insult him. “Otherwise, they’d have to be content with staying dead, right?”
His gaze swept over me and I shivered again as if the touch had been tangible, a brush of fingertips against my cheek.
“Well, I’ll leave you to your worship. I mean, your wanderings.” He gave me a conspirator’s wink. “Unless…”
He hesitated, a quiet clearing of throat as he tucked his notebook and pen into an inside pocket. “You wouldn’t mind a companion? Sometimes one sees things differently when seeing through another’s eyes. I always appreciative a new perspective.”
I mulled it over, listening to the rain spattering the windows and distant voices echoing faintly from other rooms. Although I’d looked forward to a quiet afternoon, it might be nice to spend it with someone who seemed to share my interests. He certainly was attractive, in a dark and hard way, and his pleasant voice intrigued me.
I realized I’d become used to living inside a shell. This man made me want to step outside for once.
“I’d like that.” I smiled at his pleased expression. “I’m Sophie, by the way.” I stuck out my hand in introduction, offering my firmest professional handshake.
Instead of shaking my hand, he bent his head over it and pressed polite lips to the backs of my fingers. The quaint gesture would have seemed strange and out of place had we been elsewhere. “I am Marek. Pleased to make your acquaintance.”
Fingers tingling from the unexpected kiss, I fought the urge to curtsy. “Well, Marek. Lead me into the past.”

Gwen Perkins mixes fantasy with romance and reality

Thanks to author Gwen Perkins for being with us today. First, would you tell us a bit about yourself? What area of the country do you live in, do you have a family, pets, etc. Are you a coffee fiend, or do you have another “addiction” you must have on your desk at all times?

Thank you so much for the interview, Lyndi. I’m honored to be featured on your website!

To tell you a little bit about myself, I live in Tacoma, Washington with my partner and our three children. So far as writing addictions go, my sole vice is coffee as one might expect from a Northwesterner. The coffeepot rarely shuts off at the Perkins house! I’m also fond of music while I write and frequently switch musical genres, depending on the scene that I’m writing.

I work in a local museum which is wonderful for ideas—I spend a lot of time listening to people tell stories and unearthing lost tales myself to share them with others. (What a day job for a writer!)

What’s your education, if it’s relevant to your writing, and how does that education help you/or do you find that you can write well even without the diploma others might think they must have?

My educational background is in military history. I hadn’t intended my education to complement my writing, however, I’ve found that it definitely enriches it. This has been particularly true as I work on my second novel which focuses on more martial characters than the first.

Tell us about your most recent publication!

My most recent publication is The Universal Mirror which came out in February of this year. Mirror is a fantasy novel with more than a bit of romance at its heart.

The Universal Mirror is about two friends, Quentin and Asahel, who decide to defy the laws of their country so that they can practice magic on the human body. This quest starts with Quentin and his wife, Catharine. Catharine was stricken with plague as a child and horribly disfigured,to the point where she refuses to believe that anyone can love her. Quentin, who is in love with his wife, wants to heal her because he believes that if he can make her physically beautiful, she will finally accept his feelings for her. This motivation leads to a number of different realizations—and problems—throughout the course of the novel. (I won’t say too much here to avoid spoiling you!)

What inspired you to write this story? What interesting thing did you learn or research to write it that you didn’t know before?

There are a few different things that inspired this story, some based in research, others in personal experience. One of the strongest influences on it has been raising teenage girls (and a younger son). After hearing my middle daughter complain that there were no positive overweight characters in fiction, I realized how much physical beauty plays apart in fantasy novels. I wanted to present characters who were lovable and believable even if they weren’t physically attractive.

I also wanted to create a story in which someone’s negative self-perception didn’t, in fact, mirror the perception of others around them. (This was something that I myself struggled with in my youth.) Quentin genuinely does love Catharine and would if she had no face at all—however,she’s so conditioned to think that attractive men only love a pretty face that she can’t believe it. And, you know,based on the comments made by both my daughters after reading it, I think that my point was made.

So far as other research goes, I spent a lot of time reading about medieval medicine and looking at the small details of medieval life. I wanted the world of Cercia to be real and yet relatable. Grounding it in our own history made that work for me and also enabled me to come up with tiny details to enhance the reader’s immersion in my story.

How would you best describe your books?

They’re fantasy novels with strong romantic overtones and a dash of adventure. I love books that don’t stick to the formula of their genre and I’ve tried to do that with mine. You won’t find all of the traditional fantasy elements in my novels but you will see love and relationships tested, swordfights, and a bit of humor sprinkled throughout.

I also try to keep them at a shorter length like the fantasy novels I was fond of when I was younger. While I love longer epics, there is something to be said for having a short novel that you can relax with for a few hours. Not all of us always have time to spend months on a book!

What is your favorite genre to write? To read?

My favorite genres to write are fantasy, horror, and science fiction (in that order) though I love a strong romantic subplot. As far as reading goes, I’ll read anything if it’s got compelling characters and a good plot. I’m a very character-driven reader and writer and that’s often what pulls me into a series.

What would you write if you could do write anything you wanted to write?

The stories that I’m writing now, to be honest. I love the world and characters that I’ve created. There is so much story that I’ve yet to tell.

What do you love most about writing and what do you not like?

I love being able just to lose myself in my own imagination for awhile, writing about people and places that don’t exist in our world. I also love seeing the effect that my writing has on people and engaging in conversations with readers.

Do you belong to any writing groups? Are there any writing websites you find particularly useful?

There is a writing group on Facebook for fantasy writers that I’m very fond of. I’ve gotten so much feedback and inspiration from the folks on there! I also have a number of close friends who write and while there isn’t a structured group that I work with, per se, I’ve learned a lot from those individuals.

As far as writing websites that I find useful, I often enjoy reading Ralan’s, io9,and blogs by individual writers/reviewers (John Scalzi and Andrew Liptak, for instance).

Is there any special music you like to listen to while writing? How does it inspire you?

It depends on the scene that I’m writing and sometimes, on thecharacters. I find myself varying the music depending on the emotions involved. If I’m going to write a romance scene, I’m more likely to play soft music or a song with heartfelt lyrics that sums up the relationship. For fight scenes, I like heavy drums (Bear McCreary (of Battlestar Galactica fame) compositions are a big inspiration of mine in that regard).

Tell us a little about your path to publication. How many books have you published? How many books did you write before selling one?

The Universal Mirror is both the first book that I’ve written and the first book that I’ve published. I’v ewritten for a number of encyclopedias and academic publications, as well as published the occasional short story, but Mirror was something of an adventure.

How did you find a publisher? How did you receive the Call?

I looked at a number of different publishers. Ultimately, I decided to submit to small presses and focus on those as I wanted a little more freedom in writing my books than I thought that a larger press would allow.

Hydra won out because I felt really confident after exchanging emails with the publisher that they would respect my wishes and be a true partner in the publication of my novel. I’m very glad to report that I was right. I’ve been consulted on every aspect of the book and my wishes and ideas are always respected. While I could be wrong, I don’t feel that a first-time author often has that experience with some of the bigger presses. Also, the group of authors at Hydra is one ofthe warmest, most supportive teams that I’ve ever been a part of. I’ve learned and am still learning so much from them.

What’s your favorite thing about the book featured here today? Any special memories you have in the creation of it?

My favorite thing about my book is the characters. They evoke strong emotions in me even now. I’ll freely admit that there were times when I disliked my main characters even while I loved them but I think that’s a sign that they became very real to me.

One of the most special memories I have of the creation of the book is when I saw the cover art for the first time. Enggar [Adirasa] really captured a moment of Mirror perfectly in his painting. It was awe-inspiring to see that an artist would take the story that I’d written and create something so beautiful from it in return.

What are you writing now? What’s next for you—will you be making personal appearances anywhere our readers can find you?

I’m currently writing the last part of the sequel to The Universal Mirror. This book, entitled The Jealousy Glass, takes place a year later and follows two of the characters to a new land. I’m working on lining up some appearances at conventions over the summer—the best place to find out where I’ll be appearing is to follow me on your social media outlet ofchoice. They’re all listed at the book’s website, http://theuniversalmirror.com.

What would you like to tell readers?

I love to make connections so please don’t be shy about looking me up! I can be reached pretty easily and I do love to “friend” people, so don’t hesitate to drop me a request. If you read the book, feel free to shoot me an email about it. I may take a little bit of time to respond as I work full-time and have a family but I’ll definitely make every effort!

Thanks for being with us today, Gwen, and best wishes!

SFFS post for March 17–Happy St. Paddy’s Day!

Imagine if you were a pretty average young woman, working in a college town, Missoula, Montana, late for work because some cop you dated once had your car towed. Then imagine you find a glass slipper on the sidewalk, and your best friend dares you to try it on. Would you?

Jelani Marsh does.

In the Clan Elves of the Bitterroot series, Jelani undergoes a transformation from a regular young woman to a powerful leader of a woodland people she didn’t even know existed. It’s not an easy road. She faces prejudice, her pride is shredded, her son abducted–she nearly gives up. Finally, she gets her courage together and comes back in book three, THE ELF MAGE, to face those who rejected her:

But Jelani wasn’t the only one who had changed during their time apart. The aging she’d seen in Djana was rampant through the rest of the Elders, their hair gray and matted, clothing in dirty layers on their frail bodies, even their thin fingers curled like claws as they nattered at each another. They were a pitiful bunch. Coming in on her cloud of vitality, Jelani felt superior for the first time. She took a deep breath and stepped inside, her head held high.
The immediate silence that greeted her arrival was a little eerie, as were the stares of the Circle Elders as she entered. They’d left some seats open on the tree trunks they used as chairs, particularly in the back. She would have gladly taken one of those in the before times, when she’d been insecure and timid about her place in the clan. No longer. She marched up front, standing where she could pin each one of them with a glance.

No more Mr. Nice Guy.

Here’s the book trailer for THE ELF QUEEN: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ASCJ8H5wO4

Jelani’s story continues into THE ELF CHILD, THE ELF MAGE (just released), and continuing next year with THE ELF GUARDIAN. Reviews and books are available at the DFP site, at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com and many other bookselling locations, and may be ordered by your local indie bookseller.

For all the background, art, updates and details about the series, see the rest of the Clan Elves of the Bitterroot page, or the author’s page at http://lyndialexander.wordpress.com.

Check out more exciting snippets at the Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday page!

SFFS snippet for March 10– the world of WoW

This is a snippet from my new book The Elf Mage, the third book in the Clan Elves of the Bitterroot series, published by http://www.dragonflypubs.com/dfp/elfmage.html, available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and all the usual sources.

Lane Donatelli, a World of Warcraft addict and child abuse survivor, has a laptop that has been infused with magic by little Max, an albino elf of the Montana clan. Max wants to learn human ways, and finds an online world of elves he never expected….

“Max, right-click on the flagpole! The blue one right by the edge of the cliff.”
Max maneuvered his toon into place, and clicked on the pole, which turned gray, then a minute later, turned to red. “What do I do with it?” he asked.
“Nothing. We just have to keep control of it.” Lane kept typing, involved in a heavy swordfight with an Alliance warrior.
The young elf eyed him. “That does not seem like much of a goal.”
“In about a minute, someone will try to stab you for it—keep an eye out. Buddy, watch out for Max—he’s a noob!”
“Oh. I am a noob? I thought I was a warrior.” Max chewed his lip, staring at the screen as though the creatures circling around on it would jump off the monitor and grab him.
Lane chuckled. “A noob is a newbie–a new player. It’s not something bad. Never mind. Just hold that flag!”

Interested? Find other snippets from the series here and here and here.
Learn more here at this website, or at http://lyndialexander.wordpress.com.

Check out the snippets from science fiction and fantasy authors for this Saturday!

Aliens and conspiracies: Linda Andrews brings them both to her writing

Thanks to author Linda Andrews for being with us today! First, would you tell us a bit about yourself?

My name is Linda Andrews and I write paranormal, fantasy and scifi romance, plus the occasional horror story. Growing up I never wanted to be a writer but one day I was bitten by the writer bug. Of course, I was always one to tell stories. Just ask my mom:-) I live with my husband and three children in Phoenix, Arizona. Currently, I have 4 cats and 1 dog, plus a fish.

Are you a coffee fiend, or do you have another “addiction” you must have on your desk at all times?

I hate coffee, but love tea. Neither is a must have while I’m writing, only water, preferably with lots of ice. My true writer’s addiction is music. I have to have music on.

What’s your education, if it’s relevant to your writing, and how does that education help you?

I have a BS in Biological Sciences (A BS in BS!). Since most of what I’ve written in my professional life is very cut and dried SOPs and technical reports, it is hard for me to add those details that bring a story to life. My critique partners are constantly asking me to add some setting here and there. Of course, when I write the SciFi stuff, the degree comes in real handy. Do you need a degree to write? Nope. If you want to know things and are willing to research a topic, then you should be able to tell a really good story that can stand up to scrutiny.

Tell us about your most recent publication.

Blue Maneuver is an urban scifi novel set in Phoenix. I loved that I combined my science background with my love of conspiracies and pure imagination. Here’s the blurb:

The extraterrestrials have landed and they’re human.
Rae Hemplewhite didn’t believe in aliens until a close encounter with out-of-this-world technology drags her into the extraterrestrial security program. Helping alien refugees adjust to life on Earth is difficult enough, but her first clients have a price on their heads. Plus, her new partner seems torn between the urge to kiss her or kill her.
And that’s the good news.
The bad news: Alliances are forming in deep space. If Rae doesn’t keep her witnesses alive long enough to transfer their top secret information to the right faction of humanity, Earth will become a battlefield.

How would you best describe your books?

Real characters in skewed realities. I like fully fleshed characters but I like to twist what you’d expect to happen or the world that they live in. Rae, my heroine in Blue Maneuver, hates technology and scifi. Who better to give advanced technology and make her a witness security coordinator for aliens on Earth?

What is your favorite genre to write? To read?

Romance is my favorite to read and write, but I get bored fairly easily so I tend to read and write in a variety of genres to keep things fresh and interesting.

What do you most like about writing? Least like?

The hardest part for me is filling up the blank page. That blinking cursor mocks me. I love the editing. It’s where the story can really shine. Plus the cursor hides next to words, making it harder to see.

When did you first know you wanted to be an author?

I’ve been writing since 1997 and published since 2003, but it wasn’t until I attended a writer’s conference in 2006 that I decided I wanted to be known as an author. Science is still in my blood and I don’t know if I’ll ever give up benchwork, but I’ve made peace with my creative side.

Do you belong to any writing groups?

I belong to Romance Writers of America, the local chapter–Valley of the Sun Romance Writers and Indie Romance Writers Ink.

Are there any writing websites you find particularly useful?

There are so many websites devoted to the craft of writing, I couldn’t possible begin to list any of them. But I lots of them bookmarked. My two favorites are about body language and a slang dictionary.

Do you belong to a critique group? What do you find most valuable about the experience?

I used to belong to two critique groups. Both provided valuable insights into improving my story and I would take them all. Not a good thing. My voice became so distorted and I lost track of the story. I ended up dropping out of one group. Critique groups are great things, just make sure you are true to your writer’s voice and story.

How many books have you published? How many books did you write before selling one?

Currently I have 4 publishers and myself. I have 4 short stories available and 12 novels. I wrote one very, very bad book and started two others before selling.

How did you find a publisher?

Writers groups are the best at finding publishers and the skinny on said publishers.

How did you receive the Call?

Actually, I missed the original call. Liz Burton, my editor at Zumaya Publications, sent me an email requesting the full of my book Ghost of a Chance. I never got the email and after 3 months she sent another one which I did get. I walked on air for 3 days afterward and felt even better because she liked the novel so much she followed up.

What’s your favorite thing about the book featured here today? Any special memories you have in the creation of it?

My favorite thing about Blue Maneuver was weaving in the myths of Atlantis and the Lights over Phoenix into the story line. I wrote the book in two and a half months over Christmas and practically every chapter there was a line that made me giggle at the subtext.

What are you writing now?

Right now, I’m supposed to be finishing the last chapter of a Valentine’s Day book scheduled to be released by Zumaya Publications next year. Then I’m off to finish the dark apocalyptic series of novels that started with Redaction.

What’s next for you—will you be making personal appearances anywhere our readers can find you?

I’ll be speaking and signing at my Valley of the Sun chapter meeting in April. One person asked me to speak about bioterrorism, but because so many became scared from the last one, I decided to change things up a bit by talking about how to add realism to your novels using history.