Friday, December 2, 2011

Science Fiction Romance Holiday Feature 2011


Learn what your favorite SFR characters do over the holidays, read some exclusive short stories, and catch excerpts from some awesome books! Oh, and there might be some yummy recipes and fabulous prizes as well.
List of Participants:

Friday, November 25, 2011

What's in a Name?

When I submitted the second book to The Darkness and the Night trilogy, I had the title Blood and Shadow in mind.  However, an editor at Ravenous Romance was taken with a particular scene, one which entailed Karen making love to a galaxy on the Astral plane, and she was intent on naming the book after it.

One wonderful aspect to writing paranormal erotica is the boundless possibilities in which one can create erotic content.  The following scene is one of my more adventurous endeavors.  Is it good enough to merit the naming of a book?  I’ll leave that up to you to decide.

Excerpt: THE DARKNESS AND THE NIGHT 2: COSMIC ORGASM

“Don’t cry, dear,” Mona whispered, her free hand weakly brushing Karen’s face clean.

In an instant, Karen and Mona floated in an Astral void. Karen watched as Mona, now a youthful woman with colorful butterfly wings, fluttered around her.

“On the Astral, all is timeless. There is no death, only existence and lack of existence. On the Astral, memories of me will always exist, and beyond that, my soul will move on to a new and different adventure.”

A colorful, oversized jungle slowly formed around them, and Karen flew beside Mona as they fluttered and soared through the enormous overgrowth. They passed flowers the size of their bodies and trees as tall as skyscrapers. Karen realized that she too was now a butterfly, and she and Mona flew together, soaring and darting through the air.

“Everything is timeless,” Mona said, “but everything is also in a constant state of change. Nothing in this universe is constant.”

Karen watched as Mona flew into a tree, and exploded into a hundred smaller butterflies. The butterflies scattered, and Karen looked around as the scenery began to fade.

Suddenly, Karen found herself in a dark void, unable even to sense her own body. She saw nothing, but she could feel that Mona was nearby.

“I can feel my body fading,” Mona said, her voice echoing through the void. “I’ll be dead soon, but I have one last gift for you.”

Karen felt a foreign sensation pulse through her, despite her inability to pinpoint her body. Suddenly, what appeared to be a distant galaxy came into view, and Karen realized that she was a vast cluster of particles in space. Stars shone all around her, and other galaxies soon became visible. Karen looked in all directions, still unable to see any hint of her earthly body.

A cluster of asteroids flew by, inducing a light tickle across one side of her as they left ripples through space. A small portion of them fell into a vortex that seemed to lead to her center, and as they entered its event horizon, suddenly Karen felt the sweet, orgasmic sensation of deep, passionate sex. She heard an elated cry echo through the cosmos, and then realized that somehow the sound was coming from her.

The swarm of tiny butterflies came into view, and then darted away, spiraling off into the distance. There was a small flash of light as the butterflies disappeared, and then suddenly a galaxy appeared in the distance, in their place, rushing toward Karen.

She thought to brace for the impact, but there was no body to brace as the galaxy moved upon her. She felt the rush of countless sensations flowing through her as it hit, the feel of an entire universe fondling and caressing her, entering and filling her. The ripples through space danced and played against one another, vibrating through her. A deep swell of ecstasy exploded within her, and her pleasured cries sailed into eternity.

THE DARKNESS AND THE NIGHT 2: COSMIC ORGASM is available in paperback and all electronic formats and can be found at all major online retailers.  Click on the Amazon link on the right sidebar for more information.

Happy reading!

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

It’s the Anti-Twilight … Oh, Yes!

With the release of Stephanie Meyer’s newest Twilight film, I thought it might be helpful to remind readers that there is a deliciously dark and dirty alternative.  Originally copyrighted in 1997 as short stories in my 13-Taled Beast collection, then re-written into three full-length novels in 2008 and 2009, The Darkness and the Night trilogy is effectively the anti-Twilight.  For Twilight fans, that might not be a big draw; however, for those who like their vampires scary instead of sparkly, murderous instead of “vegetarian,” and lustful instead of chaste, have I got the series for you….

I haven’t read the Twilight saga, so I’m not going to pass any judgment on Meyer’s writing skills.  Stephen King already covered that, and I’m not one to argue with the King.  I have heard all about the series, however, and it seems to me that one either loves or hates Meyer’s work—with no in-between.  For most die-hard horror fans, reading about vampires with “traditional” family values just doesn’t cut it.  Mind you, I have nothing against anyone’s religious or family values.  I just don’t think they mesh (at all) with stories about monsters spanning from a long history of blood-drinking, village-infesting creatures of the night.  Bram Stoker surely turned in his grave when Meyer’s series got the greenlight.  What’s next, “born again” zombies who moan prayers before eating pig brains?

Conversely, The Darkness and the Night offers readers a contemporary alternative to the coffin-sleeping denizens of lore without attempting to tame the beast.  The storyline is dark and, at times, horrific.  The sex is raw and uncensored.  At times, there is raunchiness and there is gore.  Would Stephen King approve?  He’d likely call it dirty, rotten smut, then qualify that with a unabashed smirk.  I dare not put words into the King’s mouth, however, so instead I leave you with a proposition of my own: While the YA crowd gears up to gawk at vampire sparkles, join the numbers of readers who have turned to the dark side for their vampire fix.  Read The Darkness and the Night and follow the independent heroin Karen on her dark odyssey—from Stockholm victim, to self-realized monster, to suburban vampire mom—and make the comparison yourself.

Happy reading!

Monday, October 17, 2011

Review: B CUBED 1: BORN by Jenna McCormick

Author Jenna McCormick offers a first-person story framed by a narrator’s dream.  The world she describes brings to mind a mesh between Metropolis and Blade Runner, in a time that could be the past or the present, with class struggles between feudal groups.  Borns, or landowners, use Breds, manufactured humans, to work in menial jobs, breaking them down for their parts when they’ve exhausted their usefulness.  Allora, the Overlord’s daughter, is soon to be wed, but that means she will have to give up the job she loves to become her husband’s servant.  After she catches Cormack, a Bred, with an odd journal, she makes a decision that will alter the course of both their lives.

This story is simple but fun.  At less than 120 pages long, it is a short read, feeling much like an extended short story.  I think it could have been developed further, but what the author did develop worked well.  The erotic scenes were all very tasteful, some of them possibly even a little too reserved, and I thought the characters’ chemistry was good.  Those looking for a quick, fun read will enjoy this book.


Learn more about Jenna McCormick's books at her Amazon page.

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Please Welcome Guest Author Anne Kane!

It's the final day of the blog tour, and to finish things off, author Anne Kane discusses reality versus fiction in sci-fi.  Take it away, Anne!


How much of Science Fiction is Fiction?



I write romance, but it’s rarely set in contemporary times. As my tag line proclaims, I write science-fiction and fantasy with a sensual twist.



As I sat here, wondering what I write about for this blog tour, the term Science Fiction rolled around in my head. It sounds like an oxymoron. Science is generally though to be a method of proving natural laws by observation and careful testing. In other words, Science deals with known things that can be measured and quantified. Fiction on the other hand is entirely a product of the author’s imagination and can be as unlikely as the writer wants it to be. How on earth do we reconcile those?



When we combine the two terms, we come up with Science Fiction. The Encyclopedia Britannica defines science fiction as:



Fiction dealing principally with the impact of actual or imagined science on society or individuals, or more generally, literary fantasy including a scientific factor as an essential orienting component.



Just fifty years ago, a man landing on the moon would have been considered science fiction, but we are all familiar with the images of  Neil Armstrong taking that first step onto the surface of the moon. What was fiction has become reality. Personally, I feel that science fiction combines what is known with what I imagine could become reality at some point in the future. Travel to Mars, or Uranus, or another galaxy may not be a fact right now, but some day, I believe it be as common as plane travel is today.



When I write, I try to keep the universes I build believable. I need to create a feeling that this could happen, that this is a reasonable extrapolation of current trends”. In  my Stargazers series, I’ve combined interstellar travel, which I believe will some day be a reality, with a group of women who have special talents. Those talents are based upon a belief in ley lines and other ancient practices that may or may not be based in fact. It doesn’t matter. What matters is that I convince the reader that the concept is plausible.



And therein lays the challenge; to take the fiction that I create and blend it with a scientific basis in order to entertain. If in the process, I can get people to look beyond our earth-based society and dream of a life among the stars, so much the better!





Sci –Fi and Fantasy with a sensual twist!


BLURB:
When Tarik’s brother is captured by the Intergalactic Council, the handsome cyborg realizes he’ll need the help of a Stargazer if a rescue mission is to succeed. Problem is, as the leader of the rebellion he can’t just advertise for a Stargazer willing to flaunt the Intergalactic Council.
But when he kidnaps Krystal, he is completely unprepared for the irresistibly sexy young woman with a gentle soul. Now he’s torn between rescuing his brother and his growing attraction to the talented witch.



EXCERPT:
“Let me see if I have this straight.” Sarcasm dripped from Krystal’s voice. “You launched an unprovoked attack on my parent’s estate, abducted me, left me cooling my heels in a cold cargo bay holding cell for goddess knows how long, had my hands bound behind me with a set of barbaric and extremely uncomfortable restraints, and then had me brought to what is obviously an interrogation chamber.” She paused to sweep a scornful glance around the room, her gaze lingering on a padded rack with leather straps dangling from the various parts. “And now you’d like me to do a favor for you?” She lifted her chin and fixed him with a glacial stare. “Thanks, but I don’t think so. I’d like to go home now.”
He had to give her credit for poise. Her haughty stance and the way she held her head high, chin tilted just so, gave the impression she was used to giving orders -- and having them obeyed.
            He glanced away from her for a moment and gestured at the guards. “Please remove Ms. de Mylar’s restraints and wait outside the door until I summon you. He was gratified to see a faint shadow of alarm cross her face. She knew he wouldn’t give in quite this easy. He gave her a bland smile. “We need to discuss how best to accommodate her request.”
            The shorter of the two guards stepped forward to remove the restraints. Tarik had to think for a moment before he could place him. Brent was a new recruit, a refugee from the Intergalactic Council’s recent annexation of the Utan home worlds.
            Krystal stepped away from the guard and rubbed her wrists. The restraints hadn’t been that tight, but they’d obviously annoyed her.
A loud click signaled the departure of the guards and Tarik leaned back, stretching his long legs out under the table. “Have a seat.” He nodded toward the empty chair across from him.
“No thank you.”
He shrugged. “Suit yourself. This might take a while.”
The witch raised a brow at him. “I can’t imagine why.”
He didn’t say anything for a moment, letting his gaze wander from the sprinkling of freckles on her nose, down her lithe figure to the foot that she tapped impatiently on the floor. Luckily, the table hid his body’s reaction. He didn’t need her to know she could arouse him with just a glance.
“Fine!” She threw herself into the chair, crossing her arms on her chest and glaring at him. “Discuss away.”
Tarik had to suppress the urge to grin. She certainly had the supercilious attitude down pat. He leaned forward, focusing on her emerald green eyes. Bad idea. A man could drown in those eyes. He shifted his attention lower, only to find himself wondering what those lips would taste like.
 


Series: Stargazers
Title: Wanton
ISBN (13): 978-1-60521-179-4
Genres:  Futuristic, Paranormal, Sci-Fi
Themes: Magic and Mayhem
Release Date:  March 13th, 2009
Author: Anne Kane
  
Watch the Book Trailer :  Here

Friday, September 9, 2011

Second Annual Out of This World Blog Tour


Starting next week, the second annual Out of This World Blog tour will feature ten different sci-fi and SFR authors whose recent or upcoming releases take place beyond Earth as we know it.

The lineup:


September 17
Diane Dooley at Amber Norris’ blog

September 18
Gary Starta at Melisse Aires’ blog

September 19
Frances Pauli at Diane Dooley’s blog

September 20
Amber Norris at Greta van der Rol's blog
September 21
Lilly Cain at Anne Kane’s blog

September 22
Greta van der Rol at Frances Pauli’s blog

September 23
Lisa Lane at Gary Starta’s blog

September 24
Melisse Aires at Lilly Cain’s blog


September 25
Anne Kane at Lisa Lane’s blog
http://newsensuality.blogspot.com


Many authors will be giving away prizes to random readers, so stop by each day to check out the discussion and the SWAG.

See you there!