feel free to explore the Flight Deck and check out my books and website.
Then fasten your seatbelts, sip a glass of something sparkling and let's chat awhile!
I hope you'll stop by again for guest authors and spotlights from time to time.
Beloved Enemy joined Starquest and Children of the Mistto continue the DestinyTrilogy and I'm thrilled to announce was shortlisted for the R.N.A. RoNAAwards 2017, awarded 2nd Runner up in the RONE Awards 2017 and was the winner in the SF/Fantasy category of the 'Best Banter Contest'.
This is my post during the blog tour for The Word of the Muse by Bridgette Dutta Portman.
The Word of the Muse, the thrilling conclusion to the Coseema Saga trilogy, is perfect for fans of space opera, portal fantasy, art-based magic, coming-of-age adventures, and novels about mental health, confidence, and finding the hero in ourselves.
This blog tour is organized by Lola's Blog Tours and the tour runs from 8 till 21 May. You can see the tour schedule here.
The Word of the Muse (The Coseema Saga #3) By Bridgette Dutta Portman Genre: Science Fiction/ Fantasy Age category: Young Adult Release Date: 25 April 2023
Blurb: A daring rescue. A villain in pursuit. A battle for the suns themselves.
With Coseema off planet, Olive has bought herself some time—but the clock is ticking. After a risky rescue mission, she and her friends make their way to the center of the rebellion against Emperor Burnash, who is desperate to capture Olive and claim her power for his own. Without her journal, Olive must rely on her newfound courage to elude Burnash and help her friends. But that courage is put to the test as she and Coseema clash in a final showdown—one that will decide the fate of a star system.
The Word of the Muse, the thrilling conclusion to the Coseema Saga trilogy, is perfect for fans of space opera, portal fantasy, art-based magic, coming-of-age adventures, and novels about mental health, confidence, and finding the hero in ourselves.
About the Author:
Bridgette Dutta Portman is an author, playwright, and teaching artist. Dozens of her plays have been produced across the United States and overseas. She holds an MFA in creative writing from Spalding University, as well as a PhD in political science from the University of California, Irvine. She is past president of the Playwrights’ Center of San Francisco and is currently a member of Same Boat Theater Collective, the Pear Playwrights’ Guild, and the Dramatists’ Guild. She recently joined the board of the Pear Theatre in Mountain View, CA. The Twin Stars is her debut novel, and the first of a planned trilogy. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband Deepanshu and their two young children.
Giveaway
There is a tour wide giveaway for the blog tour of Word of the Muse. One winner wins a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift card (winner’s choice).
For insider news and subscriber-only info, subscribe to my occasional Newsletter. I promise not to spam and your in-box will only see an email from me every 3 or 4 months or so - unless of course I have something really Newsworthy to share! I also promise that I never have and never will share your information or email address with anyone or any organisation.http://madmimi.com/signups/196357/join
Welcome to another fantastic stop in our
World-building Showcase blog hop! On this stop, we’re highlighting a story that
isn’t dependent on the Earth for the action, but you can find a full list of
authors and topics on the OWS Cycon website. Let’s dive in!
Welcome Stacy Overby!
Before we
dive in to the nitty gritty, what is Tattoos about?
Tattoos is a military
style space opera and is the first book in the series. The back blurb can answer the rest.
One hushed cry in the middle of the night, and
Eli Thorson's life unravels. A highly trained Black Ops specialist, he's used
to danger, but Eli's path forces him to confront the illusions he's been taught
his whole life-ones that make him question all the good he thought he was
doing. Unable to work for a command that defiles the oaths he swore, he works
to untangle the web of lies and deceit he finds woven throughout his worlds.
The tattooed marks of his profession run more than skin deep. As a specialist,
it is his job to protect the peoples, laws, and all the United Earth Government
stands for, even if it means taking down the entire Black Ops Division to do
it.
Does
language play any role in your world? Does everyone speak the same
language, or is there variety? Did you invent any new slang or terminology
during your world-building process?
I had to create/recycle languages for this
series. With the space opera style, it didn’t make sense to have everyone
speaking the same language. There is Universal, which is a common language, but
there are multiple other languages out there. I’ve used bits of Greek for some
of it and old Norse for other pieces, including some rather interesting insult
exchanges.
What kinds
of climates do your characters experience? Do they see a lot of change or
is it always the same? Has your world always had this kind of climate, or
has it changed over time?
My characters see quite a few climates. They
haven’t played a huge role in the series so far, but they are there. Deserts,
rainforests, and more all have had their parts. As for changes, each world is
unique and has seen changes over time. One world became a desert, while another
has trees that dwarf the Redwood Forests in California.
Is there any
kind of faith system in your world? Did you draw inspiration from any real
cultures, living or dead?
Faith systems haven’t really come up yet in
the series, though they do exist. In Tattoos, Eli’s background is a blend of
Vikings and Greek cultures. Without giving spoilers away, there are some nomadic
cultures I’ve borrowed bits from to create a culture that fits living in more
of an arid/desert like area.
What do
people in your world do for fun? Are there sports, games, music, or other
activities they do in their free time?
This depends on the people you’re referring
to. The main characters in Tattoos are descendants of people here on Earth, so
many of their fun activities are similar to the kinds of things we do now. The
one major thing that’s different is that they sometimes take off flying into
space for a while just for fun. It’s the equivalent of going for a drive now.
For other species and inhabitants of the Black
Ops universe, they have some other interesting past-times I haven’t fully
explored yet.
What kinds
of transportation and other interesting technology do your characters have
access to? Are they ahead, behind, or a mix of different kinds of tech
compared to where we are now?
The characters in Tattoos are ahead of us for
transportation and technology. They have space ships of all kinds. Computers
that are reminiscent of ours but better. Their communication devices are called
links that adhere to the skin and function kind of like a smartphone. And they
have cool weapons, though some of the weapons are older than what we use today,
too. For example, Eli’s preferred weapons are a pair of Sai. His best friend,
Shawn, has a penchant for blowing things up with whatever he can, which is
usually a mix of advanced stuff and stuff similar to what we have now.
Do you have
different races or enhanced humans with their own unique abilities
inhabiting your world?
There are different races in Tattoos along
with humans who have unique abilities. The races aren’t too prominent in
Tattoos but develop more as the series goes. Tattoos focuses on characters,
both human and not exactly human, who have empathic abilities.
Your Process
When you
build a world, what is your process like? Do you do a lot of research
upfront, wing it completely, or something in between?
I am a total pantser. The very first draft of
Tattoos was written during NaNoWriMo 2011. I didn’t research much of anything
at that point. Research has come into play quite a bit since then as I’ve
revised and rewritten things. The next two books in the series and the couple
short stories set in this world have been more of a mix of research and winging
it. I find if I research too much, I end up getting stuck and the story suffers
for it.
How central
is the setting of your story to the story itself? Is it more of an
interesting backdrop, or is it integral to the events of the story?
I would say it’s a little of both for Tattoos.
Mostly, the setting is backdrop. However, there are some key events that happen
where setting mattered quite a bit. Honestly, setting tends to be one of my
weaknesses in that I see it in my head but don’t always do well translating
that onto paper. Hence my eternal gratitude to my editors who prod me into
getting those details out so they can help influence and spur events in the
story.
When helping
the reader get to know the world you built, what techniques do you use? Do
you tend to be upfront about things, or keep the reader in the dark and
feed them only bits at a time?
I do a little bit of both. Again, some of that
is because in early drafts I tend to be a little too sparse on those details.
But, by the time Tattoos hits print, the details are much more solid. I try to
interweave them into the action of the story when I can. It helps avoid long
drawn out explanations of setting that my ADHD does not play well with. And
because it’s easier to get those details in on subsequent revisions that way.
How much of
a role does realism and hard scientific fact play in your world-building?
Do you strive for 100% accuracy, or do you leave room for the fantastical
and unexplainable in your world?
Hard scientific fact is a very minor part of
my world building. I do try to keep the world of Tattoos realistic with itself,
though. I think that leads to a blend of some fantastical and unexplainable
with some science. For example, science has not yet proven a way to have
interplanetary space travel like you often see in space opera, but is a staple
part. This is some of the fantastical. However, I also make sure that weapons
and technology are fallible, make sense within themselves, and are similar
enough to what we know in today’s world to be plausible scientifically.
Do you have
any specialized training or background from your “real life” that has
informed your world-building?
I work in behavioral health as a program director.
I did direct contact counseling with teenagers for nine years before stepping
into my current role last year. As anyone who has ever worked with teenagers
knows, you need to pay attention to details and look to the world around them
to understand what’s going on. I think this skill has helped me learn to look
at world building from an interesting perspective.
How do you
keep all of the details of your world and characters straight? Do you have
a system for deciding on different factors and keeping it all organized,
or does it live more in your head?
Most of it lives in my head. Which makes it
challenging when I have to try to figure out the details of something I can’t
quite remember. I am working now on adding these things to a three ring binder
since I have two more books and several short stories that come after Tattoos.
Consistency in the series is critical to me.
Did you
experience any difficulties while building your world? Any facts that
refused to cooperate or inconsistencies you needed to address while
editing?
I think some of the most challenging things in
world building for Tattoos were that some of the things I needed to have happen
just plain don’t exist to research and I didn’t want to do the exact same
things other authors and worlds have done. So I had to create a space opera
universe of multiple planets and systems but find ways to make it just a little
different from other space operas.
For insider news and subscriber-only info, subscribe to my occasional Newsletter. I promise not to spam and your in-box will only see an email from me every 3 or 4 months or so - unless of course I have something really Newsworthy to share! I also promise that I never have and never will share your information or email address with anyone or any organisation.http://madmimi.com/signups/196357/join
This is my stop during the blog tour for Crossline by Russ Colchamiro. This blog tour is organized by Lola's Blog Tours. The blog tour runs from 18 March till 7 April. See the tour schedule here.
Watch out for my review of this book in May.
Crossline By Russ Colchamiro
Genre: Science Fiction/ Space Opera
Age category: Adult
Blurb: Perfect for fans of Firefly, Flashcience Gordon, Stargate, and Escape from New York... Hotdog pilot Marcus Powell has been selected to test Taurus Enterprises' Crossline prototype craft and its newly developed warp thrusters, which, if successful, will revolutionize space travel as we know it.
But during his jaunt across the stars, Powell is forced into a parallel universe -- including a parallel Earth -- where he finds himself at the center of an epic battle he may have been destined for all along.
Meanwhile, back home, reclusive oil tycoon and Taurus CEO Buddy Rheams Jr. -- who sent Powell on that very mission -- has a mysterious past and a secret agenda, one that could prevent Powell from ever making it back to his wife and little girl. From author Russ Colchamiro, Crossline is a psychedelic, action-packed romp across time, space, and dimension that asks the question: once you cross the line, can you ever really go back? You can find Crossline on Goodreads You can buy Crossline here on Amazon
Excerpt
The warp engines were ready for the first of six return blasts it would take to get him back to Earth, when a blip came across the screen. Powell shifted toward the incoming message, but his short-range sensor interrupted him. Something in the Saturn rings. Video amplification revealed that among a cluster of particles was an odd-shaped fragment, with sharper, more reflective edges than he would expect. But he supposed that after debris crashed around over millions if not billions of years, who knew what was really out there? He looked again. Probably nothing of consequence. Just some lagging hallucination from the multiple warps.
As suspected. Just ice particles swirling around the planet. Billions of frozen blue ice particles floating in space that—
Powell focused his monitor on the third ring layer. Studying it more carefully, his sensors revealed that the particle cluster wasn’t in the Saturn ring, but among it. The fragment wasn’t ran- dom, a collection of dust, or some anomalous asteroid fragment.
It was another ship. Looking just like Crossline. And headed his way. GUEST POST I love alternate worlds and was intrigued to know how Russ came up with his 'parallel worlds' idea for this book. This is his reply: When I first envisioned CROSSLINE in the late 1990s, it was going to be a comic book mini-series, although I eventually turned it into the novel. My initial idea was a simple space adventure where a pilot is testing out new warp thrusters and, for reasons I won’t explain here, winds up getting forced through a wormhole. So the next natural question became… what’s on the other side? From there the narrative quickly came together, where our hero Marcus Powell ends up on a parallel Earth, one that looks a lot like the one he’s from, but with significant differences. While there he ultimately finds himself caught between two distinct and contradicting ideas. The more time he spends with these ‘other Earthers’ the more he sympathizes with their plight—they’re in a civil war of sorts—and feels compelled to help them, even though it puts his life in danger. Aiding their cause also physically takes him farther and farther from what he also wants—to get back home to his Earth, immediately, where he can be reunited with his wife and daughter. What I found most compelling was a man caught between worlds, unsure in which one he truly belongs. Several other characters find themselves in similar situations, which made CROSSLINE all the more exciting to write. Marcus Powell is the ‘hero’ of the story, but this Universe is rich in characters, most of whom get their own arcs, all challenged to decide what they believe in most, and what they’re willing to do in order preserve those beliefs, or, in some case, change their minds in radical ways. I didn’t intentionally start out to write a parallel Universe novel, but that’s where the story wanted to go. I’m glad it took me there. About the Author:
Russ Colchamiro is the author of the rollicking space adventure, Crossline, the zany SF/F backpacking comedy series Finders Keepers: The Definitive Edition, Genius de Milo, and Astropalooza, and is editor of the new SF anthology Love, Murder & Mayhem, all with Crazy 8 Press. Russ lives in New Jersey with his wife, two ninjas, and crazy dog Simon, who may in fact be an alien himself. Russ has also contributed to several other anthologies, including Tales of the Crimson Keep, Pangaea, Altered States of the Union, Camelot 13, TV Gods 2, They Keep Killing Glenn, Camelot 13, and Brave New Girls. He is now working on the first novel in a new series featuring his hardboiled private eye Angela Hardwicke, and the first of three collaborative novella projects. Russ is repped by The Zack Compnay. For more on and Russ’s books, you can visit www.russcolchamiro.com, follow him on Twitter @AuthorDudeRuss, and ‘like’ his Facebook author page www.facebook.com/RussColchamiroAuthor. You can find and contact Russ Colchamiro here: - Website - Facebook - Twitter - Goodreads - Amazon Giveaway There is a tour wide giveaway for the blog tour of Crossline. These are the prizes you can win: - one physical copy of Crossline by Russ Colchamiro (US Only) - three e-copies of Crossline by Russ Colchamiro (INT) For a chance to win, enter the rafflecopter below:
For insider news and subscriber-only info, subscribe to my occasional Newsletter. I promise not to spam and your in-box will only see an email from me every 3 or 4 months or so - unless of course I have something really Newsworthy to share! I also promise that I never have and never will share your information or email address with anyone or any organisation.http://madmimi.com/signups/196357/join
The Hunters of Infinity have been protecting the Daharian galaxy for
years, but there has never been a female Hunter—until now.
In a seedy bar in the shadowy corners of Daharia, Jessop comes to the
rescue of young Hunter Kohl O’Hanlon. Impressed by her remarkable
sword-wielding skills, the Hunters invite her to their training
facility, the Glass Blade, though not all are pleased with the
intrusion. But they soon discover that Jessop learned to fight from
the rogue leader of the Shadow City of Aranthol—and escaped. Now
they want to use her intimate knowledge of their enemy to destroy
him. As Jessop grows closer to this elite brotherhood, their leader
succumbs to a mysterious ailment, and Kohl learns that Jessop is
hiding dark secrets, raising suspicions about the enigmatic woman who
saved his life. Has the Hunters’ security been breached—or do
they have a traitor in their ranks?
Ryan Wieser completed her B.A. in Sociology and Socio-Legal Studies
before going on to complete her MSc. in Experimental Psychology.
Having been raised in Africa and educated across multiple countries,
Ryan has a passion for travel and an interest in diverse cultures.
She currently resides in Wyoming with her husband, where she is
writing her next book.
Today is the cover reveal for Crash Land on Kurai by SJ Pajonas. This cover reveal is organized by Lola's Blog Tours.
Crash Land on Kurai (Hikoboshi #1)
By SJ Pajonas
Genre: Science Fiction, Action Adventure, Space Opera
Age category: Adult
Release Date: 18 July, 2017
Blurb:
Yumi Minamoto has the shortest fuse on the ship. She’s just whipped a bully and been confined to quarters, but she’s not staying there. A disgracedjournalist trying to clear her name, her job is to document the mission to the Hikoboshi system, and she’s determined to get it right, despite all the trouble she causes. But when unknown vessels fire on their ship, and Yumi's life pod crash lands on a dying moon, she's separated from her family and friends, and her mission falls to pieces. Now she must navigate the unfamiliar and deadly terrain, deal with a society she doesn’t understand, and try to stay alive until rescue comes… if it ever does.
Crash Land on Kurai is the first book in the Hikoboshi Series, an action adventure, space opera series that explores the worlds settled by the Japanese who fled Earth a century ago. Culture, history, technology, and swords clash in a fast-paced future society on the brink of war.You can find Crash Land on Kurai on Goodreads
Read the first four chapters of Crash Land on Kurai! Get your sample here from Instafreebie
About the Author:
Stephanie (S. J.) is a writer, knitter, amateur astrologer, Capricorn, and Japanophile. She loves foxes, owls, sushi, yoga pants, Evernote, and
black tea. When she’s not writing, she’s thinking about writing or spending time outside, unless it’s winter. She hates winter. Someday she’ll own a house in both hemispheres so she can avoid the season entirely. She’s a mom to two great kids and lives with her husband and family outside NYC. They have no pets. Yet. When it comes to her work, expect the unexpected. She doesn’t write anything typical. Find her online at http://www.spajonas.com.
Genre: Science Fiction, Space Opera, Young Adult, Teen, Genetic Engineering Science Fiction, Military Science Fiction, Dystopian Science Fiction Publisher: Romance Lives Forever Books Cover Designer: The Author's Secret
Release Date: May 1, 2016
Two enemy warriors: one human, one immortal. Different in belief, alike in spirit, marooned together on an alien world.
Imprisoned and in isolation over a year without food or water, the immortal Pietas survives. Though broken in body, his intellect and will are intact, thanks to Six, the special ops warrior who captured him, but kept him sane. The warrior had no hand in his deprivation and, like Pietas, was betrayed by his own kind. When Pietas is abandoned on an alien world with nothing but his honor--and Six--he must find and rejoin other immortal exiles. After centuries of war, Pietas detests humans and kills them on sight, but he is too damaged to continue on his own. Though he despises needing help, he allows Six to nurture and restore him to full strength, and then accompany him. As they cross the planet together on foot, the immortal begins to wonder if he has found his first human friend, or if Six is loyal only because Pietas could keep the others from tearing him to shreds. This human will either be his closest living friend, or the one whose betrayal will trigger all-out vengeance by the most powerful immortal ever born.
Immortal. Warrior. Outcasts. Traitors took everything. Except their honor.
In this scene from Bringer of Chaos, Pietas, leader of a group of immortals called Ultras, addresses the reader directly, and promises to tell his story, if the person dares to know the truth.
You are human. Unworthy. A foreword from Pietas
This book you hold is being presented as fiction, but it did happen. It is as real as the air you breathe. It is not a first-person story, but it does follow my point of view.
I would never have allowed a human to know these things, but a friend persuaded me there can be no vengeance unless those in the wrong know what they did. When one has wronged another, one must face the consequences.
Having been persuaded to tell the story, I now allow it to be placed into your hands. I want you to know the truth. Why? Because other Ultras have hidden the truth. Buried it beneath fables and false retellings, as if you were a child unable to bear harsh reality. Unwilling to face the consequences of what your kind has done.
Above all, I will not lie to you.
When I come for you, I want the satisfaction of seeing your regret for what your ancestors did to my kind. I want to see your fear, and taste your terror.
This is no horror story. It's merely science fiction. Tell yourself it is only fable, if that will help you sleep. By all means, human, do sleep.
Read this, if you dare to know the truth.
~ Pietas
Prologue
In the twenty-seventh century on Earth, genslaves were supreme among all humanity's genetic creations. They fulfilled man's every desire. They recuperated from disease and injury so fast they were all but immortal. Their strength far exceeded man's. Specific, ingrained abilities limited upward and lateral movement among the servant classes, keeping genslaves in jobs with no chance of advancement.
Bred to require little rest, labor-genslaves performed menial and repetitive tasks, with enough intelligence to work, but not enough to aspire beyond their station. Warriors possessed unmeasured strength and massive size. They fought humanity's wars, died so man didn't have to suffer, and were reborn to fight again. The physically weaker classes had more intelligence. Healer-genslaves obtained vast amounts of skill in medicine and designed cures for disease. Artists created beauty. Nurturers and teachers cared for humanity's children. Scientist-genslaves designed additional genslaves, to make man's life even more pleasant. All classes were created with genetic shackles of obedience, making them content to remain subservient.
While humanity relaxed, secure in a position of power, genslave-scientists created a new order of beings with free will. It will be argued through the ages whether the creation arose from faulty programming, or a desire for freedom, but the new creatures were not hampered by genetic restraints.
They took the name Ultra, and did as they pleased. Ultras were brains and brawn. No matter how difficult the problem, Ultras solved it. No matter how horrific or grisly their wounds, Ultras survived. Disease did not touch them. Starvation did not stop them. Even death did not hold them long.
The creation of Ultras changed everything.
When Ultras demanded freedom, humans claimed them soulless, inferior, unworthy, and undeserving of equality. Humans tried to silence them, and when that failed, punished them. The Ultras seized their liberty by force. Emboldened by the Ultras' success, other genslaves rebelled, and began calling themselves Ultras as well. The First Cycle of Wars devastated half the galaxy. In the Terran Crescent and the Colonies of Man, power tilted toward Ultras. They ruled the starways. Ultras tightened restrictions and limited trade, allowing mankind meager freedoms, and no more mercy than man had shown them. Humans served, subservient to their former slaves.
Not all genslaves wanted war. Some concealed their genetic differences and abilities, and lived among humans--as human. The rumor that genslaves hid among them spawned the Human Pure movement. Purges wiped out non-human traits and enhanced sensory perceptions. Humanity weakened itself by outlawing genetic healing or correction. They identified anything and anyone considered unnatural. Anyone different hid it or faced death by fire, from which Ultras could not revive. For the human underground, the weapon of choice became a flamethrower.
Among Ultras, leadership arose that considered humans redeemable. They sought to allow humans more freedom, and give them a voice in their own government. They hoped a kinder relationship would bring an end to galaxy-wide conflict. They hoped peace would halt senseless death and destruction, foster growth, and increase trade.
In 4536 AD, after centuries of war, Ultras and humans met to discuss a truce.
But that is according to legend. Here, you will learn the truth.
Kayelle Allen is a best selling American author. Her unstoppable heroes and heroines include contemporary every day folk, role-playing immortal gamers, futuristic covert agents, and warriors who purr. She writes Science Fiction, Science Fiction Romance, Mainstream Fantasy, Contemporary Romance, Gay Romance, and non-fiction. She likes to attend Science Fiction conventions, and has been a speaker at DragonCon, and Gaylaxicon. She holds an honorary lifetime membership to OutlantaCon, an Atlanta Scifi convention for the gay geek. Kayelle is the founder of the author-mentoring group Marketing for Romance Writers, and manages the successful Romance Lives Forever blog. Kayelle is married, has three grown children, and five grandchildren. She is a US Navy Veteran.
