Guest Blogger Krista Luna's Fated Mates of the Varool

Filtering a lifetime of science fiction through a romance lens.

Hi! I’m Krista Luna. One of my earliest memories is of watching Star Trek and wanting to kiss Mr. Spock. Soon after, I saw the original Star Wars movie and fell in love with the charming scoundrel Han Solo. I’ve been a science fiction fan ever since. While I wait for a hot alien to whisk me away on his spaceship, I write fun and sexy stories full of growly alien warriors and smart, capable women. There’s steamy romance, action and adventure, and plenty of HEAs.

I also read a lot of classical science fiction from the big names in the genre. The series that really resonated for me as a teen and continues to echo to this very day is Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern. They weren’t romance books, per se, but there was action, a strange planet to explore, adorable alien pets, and couples finding love after being forced together by circumstances. My science fiction romance series, the Fated Mates of the Varool, incorporates all of these elements.

The urban fantasy genre has also been an inspiration, such as Ilona Andrews’ Kate Daniels series. I admire strong women, who play a major role in the plot beyond their romantic interests. And I love the traditional alpha male—a warrior and a leader ready to put his life on the line to protect his people. Bossy and arrogant without being an “alphahole,” these are the types of alpha warriors I write.

The reboot of Battlestar Galactica was another big influence on this series. I wanted to explore the idea of two peoples who’ve almost gone to war being forced to learn how to work together to have any hope of a future. So the foundation of the first books in my series is enemies to lovers, where they really have been enemies.

As in BSG, I also wanted my humans to be less than squeaky clean. They’re desperate. They fled Earth a few centuries ago on generational ships that are now broken down. When they finally find a habitable planet, they’re on their last legs. So when the technologically advanced Varool show up, the humans are willing to do almost anything to secure the planet for themselves. The consequences of those actions come to a head for all of humanity and specifically for the heroine, Deirdre, in book one, Possessed by the Alien King.

The foundation of book one is a political marriage to seal a peace treaty between humans and Varool, but things begin to go wrong almost immediately. Deirdre and Storr, the alien king, are shot down. When their shuttle crash lands on the untamed alien planet, they both need to survive to keep the peace treaty intact. I love writing fun, face-paced stories where the action pushes the couple together as they learn about each other’s strength of character and to trust each other.

My favorite science fiction stories always have really strong ties between the main characters. I love the emotions and connections romance allows you to explore, as well as the joy of fated mates finding their HEA. I think we could all use a little more joy.

My fated mate is my enemy. Yet nothing will stop me from claiming her.

DEIRDRE

I made a horrible mistake. Under orders, I created a virus to drive the Varool from humanity’s new planet. It mutated, killing all of the alien women and our men.

Now, the fate of both our species rests on my shoulders—and between my thighs. To ease my guilt and broker peace, I’ll marry one of the fierce alien warriors and bear his children. All while hiding who I really am.

Their brute of a king claims me, his gigantic body inflaming my desire. Storr’s piercing gaze makes me shiver. If he ever finds out the part I played in all of this, crash landing on the planet will be the least of my worries.

STORR

Humans seized the planet I need for my people. As negotiations deteriorated, varoolian women died. I long for retribution. If I ever find the person responsible—

No. I must set aside my fury to secure my people’s future. Survival demands we reproduce with the enemy.

Although I have no plans to be first, a sweet, musky scent ensnares my senses. Deirdre is my fated mate. I must claim her. She is mine.

Yet consummation does not equal trust. As we battle our way across the untamed planet, suspicions mount. All humans are liars, but Deirdre’s lies may end us both.

Possessed by the Alien King is a steamy enemies-to-lovers romance featuring a growly alien hero, a smart heroine, and plenty of adventure with a guaranteed HEA.

It’s available at Amazon, where you can also read the opening chapters by clicking on the “Look Inside.” 

And you can find Possessed by the Alien Guard, my free prequel novella by clicking here.

Thanks so much to Laurie and the other wonderful authors here for letting me join you today. If you like action romance, alpha warriors, strong women, and adorable alien pets, there are four novels available in the series, as well as a free prequel novella. I’m currently finishing book five and can’t wait to share the expansion of this universe!

Fated Mates of the Varool Series 

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Want to follow Krista Luna or read more about her books? You can find the author here:

Website

BookBub

Instagram

Facebook

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Thanks so much for guest blogging with us today, Krista, and sharing your writing journey and details about Possessed by the Alien King and your Fated Mates of the Varool series. It sounds like an amazing series! 

It's always a pleasure to host fellow SFR authors and to share a little about what inspires them and fires their imagination to write science fiction romance books. I hope you'll join us again as a guest blogger here at Spacefreighters Lounge. 

More than a Pet: Guest Blog by Alexis Glynn Latner

I'm beyond enthused to be one of nine authors contributing to the Pets in Space anthology, a wonderful collection of novellas and novelettes. After all, pets + space. What could be more fun than that? But along with the fun comes adventure, aliens, intrigue, excitement and compelling romantic mayhem. We're also very proud that part of the proceeds will be donated to hero-dogs.org who provide trained service dogs and companion animals free of charge for our veterans. For the next several weeks, the Pets in Space authors will be guest blogging to share insights into their stories, pets, experiences and favorite things.

I'm very happy to have fellow Pets in Space author Alexis Glynn Latner here today with a guest blog about the many ways animals enrich our lives.

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Some of the creatures we share our lives with are less than pets–the Boston fern, the green anole lizard that lives on the balcony. Some are more than pets. I’m thinking of service and therapy animals.

A good friend of mine suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in consequence of a terrible car wreck. She has a service dog, and the dog marvelously makes her feel safe. This is how PTSD service dogs help veterans – the genesis of the condition is different (a car wreck versus a roadside bomb), yet the remedy is the same.

Rinnie the service dog did not come to my friend from a charitable or medical organization. Rinnie turned up on the doorstep as a 90-pound stray with heartworms. My friend and her husband took Rinnie in out of kindness. It was only later that Rinnie turned out to have the effect of countering PTSD, and to be temperamentally perfectly suited to be a PTSD dog, as proven by specific training and certification and the service vest to match; and to be a wonderful pet when not on duty. Rinnie is a good pet and almost infinitely more.

The classic just-a-pet might be the goldfish, the house cat, the lap dog, or the horse that eats a lot of horse chow and needs currying and shoeing but which, for one reason or another, never gets ridden. But even the tank of cold-blooded goldfish turns out to be soothing to harried human nerves - as well as a source of entertainment for bored house cats. The lapdog is a priceless companion for the lonely.

Lapdogs – rather incredibly when you contemplate a particularly frivolous one - and all other dogs probably started as failed wolves that hung around human camps and the humans realized that the senses of dogs made them exceptionally good allies in a dangerous world. Our domestic felines started out as wild cats hanging around graneries and were tolerated when they kept the rodent population down. Coincidentally useful allies became just pets.

Horses started as a means of transportation, agriculture, and above all war. Today with prevalence of the internal combustion engine, most horses in the West have more to do with recreation and fondness than usefulness. Miniature horses are particularly nice pets – with less upkeep than fullsized horses, they can pull people (like grandparent and grandchild) in carts. Horses still serve us well. Various kinds of hippotherapy are extremely good for people. Children with coordination issues are helped by riding horseback; people with communication issues are helped by interaction with these remarkably sensitive animals.

You don’t have to be physically or psychologically impaired to benefit from service animals. Twice a year during final exams, therapy dogs (and a cat or two) from an organization called Faithful Paws come to the Rice University Library, where I work. Students, staff and faculty alike love it when they do. Something about petting a friendly dog or holding a fluffy cat puts smiles on stressed-out human faces.

We have a lot to thank our pets for.

Thanks so much for hosting me today.

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SPIKE - Pets in Space Anthology

By Alexis Glynn Latner
Young Roboticist Ten Jaxdown has to deploy, and possibly sacrifice, the swarm of investigative robots that he has invented and cares about more than anything else in the star system. It may be the only hope for those depending on him and his robots to save them. Yet, even as frantic preparations for the unprecedented deep-space rescue mission are set in motion, it could all be threatened by sabotage.
 

Pets in Space Anthology
Release Date: October 11 2016
ISBN: 978-1-942583-40-0

Join the adventure as nine pet loving sci-fi romance authors take you out of this world and pull you into their action-packed stories filled with suspense, laughter, and romance. The alien pets have an agenda that will capture the hearts of those they touch. Follow along as they work side by side to help stop a genetically-engineered creature from destroying the Earth to finding a lost dragon; life is never the same after their pets decide to get involved. Can the animals win the day or will the stars shine just a little less brightly?

New York Times, USA TODAY, Award Winning, and Best selling authors have eight original, never-released stories and one expanded story giving readers nine amazing adventures that will capture your imagination and help a worthy charity. Come join us as we take you on nine amazing adventures that will change the way you look at your pet!

10% of the first month’s profits go to Hero-Dogs.org. Hero Dogs raises and trains service dogs and places them free of charge with US Veterans to improve quality of life and restore independence.

Want to pre-order now? See links under Pets in Space cover on right sidebar  > > >

Health Care of the Future: Guest Blog by A.R. Norris

Please welcome our special guest to Spacefreighters Lounge today, multi-published author A.R. Norris, who on October 11th released END OF ETERNITY, the final novel in the Telomere Trilogy. 

I am so excited to be hanging out at Spacefreighter's Lounge today. Oh, what to geek out about, what to geek out about? Hmm... I know! One of my favorite SF concepts to work on is healthcare and medical.

Diagnosing, treating, monitoring, all of it interests me. Maybe it's because my day job is researching all the cool advancements in the healthcare field. It's really fun to read a report or research study on a new technology or approach and then sit back and imagine what it will become in 50 or 100 years.

Most of these little tidbits I put into my blog on posts I call Science Update. It's an inconsistent post series, depending on what I find that's interesting. Now, in The Telomere Trilogy one of the main characters is a doctor, and gave me a great opportunity to include more of my ideas in my writing than usual.

Some of my favorites included in the story?

Portable Imaging Unit

This neato gadget fits in a med bag when the medical team is in the field. It folds out into a wand, ran over the injured part of the body and reads like a 3D CT scan.

Body Tome

This is a stationary chamber is similar to the MRI machine, but not only does it screen and diagnose the problem, it can do autonomous robotic surgery repair what's broken or torn. As it scans, a smaller 3D holographic form of the person materializes and highlights their injury points and recommends treatment or surgery.

Regeneration Treatment Chamber

For those things that are not broken, torn or otherwise obliterated, there's the regeneration chamber. The injured person lies in a tank of liquid medication that reacts to electric currents and special lighting to heal the wounds, bruises and infections.

Those are some of the big technologies, but there's also smaller things like  gel pads that when activated will stem blood flow and antiseptic spray with nano treating technology to sterilize and then prep wound edges for surgery by dissolving the damaged edges.

"Okay, breath A. R., breath." Sorry all, my geekfest ran away from me a little. Let me just include a short excerpt and call it a day. Of course, one commenter will win the first book in the trilogy, Revelations of Tomorrow. And if anyone wants to like my Facebook Fan Page (link below), they can enter an opportunity to win the whole trilogy.

Excerpt:

"Get him on the bed." She pulled the bed scanner from the ceiling and ran it across him from head to toe, then moved to his miniature image on the screen, on the bedrail's patient network system. "Severe lung damage, at least one tear... here." She made a mark. "Several broken bones along the rib and hip bones. Dislocated shoulder and serious bruising, well, all over."

She pushed the scanner up into its ceiling carriage. Gripping the small image, she turned it, eyeing his damages from all angles. She entered her treatment plan and sequence. "Get him in as soon as possible--"

He stirred and woke with a start. Trying to sit up, he cursed and rolled. She grabbed his upper body to prevent him from falling and his steely green eyes focused and glared.

"Telomere bitch." It was an injured whisper, but said with such venom Brenda flinched. "Don't touch me. I won't have you touching me."

"Too bad, Mr. Rafferty." Brenda pushed him down again, firm but careful of his injuries. "I can't let you die on my table."

She pulled out a sedative patch and rubbed it to activate the cells.

"I see him in you... Howell's blood through and through." He squinted at her. "Where is she? Where is the woman who let my baby girl die while she pined for that monster?"

"I'm right here, Rafferty." Noah stepped into view and braced the patient rail. "We'll talk once Dr. Bonney has done her job."

"I won't talk to you. I'll kill you is what I'll do." He winced and grasped his side but still pushed up. "I've waited forty years!"

Brenda pressed the patch to his neck and he dropped instantly. She glanced at her mother, recognized the masked expression. No, not her mother right now. Her captain right now. Over this last mission, she learned to respect that and after quick orders to her medics, began working.

"I'll let you know when he's done," Brenda said to her.

Purchase Links: All Romance, Amazon,  B&N, and Books on Board

Where to Find Me: Facebook, Blog, Website

Thanks so much, A.R., for making Spacefreighters Lounge one of your blog tour stops. 

Please leave a comment below for a chance to win the first Telomere Trilogy novel, REVELATIONS OF TOMORROW. And if you want a shot at the whole trilogy, you can "like" A. R.'s Facebook fan page at the link above.

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Pippa's Journal - 7/1/12

Happy 1st July! Um, yes, I know the 4th is the US celebration of Independence. I was due to post then but Laurie generously offered a swap as I have news! Of course we don't celebrate the 4th of July in the UK, but I'd like to wish all my US friends and fellow authors a very happy Independence Day for Wednesday. Today I have a special announcement and reason of my own to celebrate...

Success
On the 1st July I learned that Keir has made it as a finalist in the Readers Favorite Contest Awards. Woo hoo! This is my first literary contest. It means Keir will at least score an Honorable Mention when the winners are announced in September. Maybe more. You can check it out here under the Romance - Fantasy/Scifi category waaaay down the page after the non-fiction categories. And my publisher posted the news on their blog too here. As someone who has never done contests of any kind and with Keir being my debut novel, I'm stunned and proud to see my title reach the top five for its category. :D

Action!
In the past month, I've learned two things. Actually, I've learned a lot more than that, but these are two that I'd like to pass on to authors, aspiring and published.  One, blog hops are a great way to get your name out and gain followers. Since the start of the year, I've taken part in four (one of which I organized), and one blogging event where several authors posted over a day on one blog. In all cases I've gained new followers on my blog, and often new followers on Twitter and my Facebook page. For two of them, I didn't even have a book out. Of course, most people visiting are interested in the prizes on offer. I'll freely admit to that myself. But I think it follows that same principle of having to show your toddler a new food ten times or more to persuade them to eat it. I notice books more if I've seen their cover or title a time or three on Twitter. They stick. If I'm seeing good reviews, or a recommendation by a friend, or an interesting blurb, I'm more likely to pick that book up. People coming to the blog have commented on the cover or expressed an interest in the excerpts and blurb, something that always gives me a warm feeling. How many of them will buy it, I don't know, but getting potential readers to even look at your book can be a struggle, especially if you're a new, unknown author without any PR support to back up your promotion. So I'm grateful for the people who stop by, and who like the cover and the blurb. Maybe they'll come back. Maybe they'll tell a friend or two. :)

Two, requests to reviewers need to be researched and as skillfully constructed as queries and submissions. I'm not the kind of person who sends out form letters - ever! I've received them once or twice, and it drives me insane. From what I've seen on Twitter, it also drives other reviewers, publishers, agents and authors crazy. Don't do it! Research your reviewer as carefully as you would anyone else you'd submit to. Check out what they liked and didn't like in your genre. That way you can get an idea if your book would be accepted and/or receive a favourable review. And don't mass email a load with the same letter. Most reviewers have a review policy of some description on their blog. Read it. Read it again. Make sure your query fits what they're asking for. Some will want a huge amount of detail beyond the basic 'title, genre, author, word count, format' etc. Many have a backlog that may mean them taking up to a year (a figure quoted by one of the reviewers on my list) to get to your review. Treat them with respect. You really don't want to annoy reviewers...do you?

I've sent requests to eight reviewers in the last month. (BTW, my publisher submitted to 32 on my behalf, and out of those I've so far received one review. That's fairly average, FYI). Out of those I've received three acceptances and one post as a featured author (but no guarantee of a review there). One author interview also resulted in me being offered a review. Keir had a handful of independent reviews at the time of release, which was encouraging, but I intend to carry on submitting requests for more. Every review will raise my book's profile a fraction. And frankly there's nothing that encourages me with the sequel more than hearing people enjoyed the first book. :)

I'm currently a featured author over at Laurie's Thoughts and Reviews (not, I hasten to add, my Spacefreighters co-blogger Laurie Green) with an ebook copy of Keir up for grabs, open until the 21st July. You can also find out about my near-death experience and my childhood ambition to be a Jedi Knight.

Discoveries
Blog Hops - if you like the idea of taking part in blog hops (you DO need a blog to take part, but you don't need to be an author, published or otherwise) or you're interested in knowing when some are on and want a chance at some cool prizes, you can sign up to Carrie Ann Ryan's Blog Hop page here on Facebook. Carrie Ann hosts them regularly, and I'm pleased to have taken part in three so far this year, with a fourth at the end of August.
If you're into dragons and dragon-related artwork, I found this page on Facebook - Dragons of the Fantasy World.

Happenings
On Thursday I have a guest post and giveaway with Diane Dooley for her latest release Mako's Bounty on my blog here. She'll be discussing Birth Control of the Future! Entries for the EPIC Ebook Awards also opened on the 1st June and close on the 15th July. Following Keir's success as a finalist, I'll be entering it there too.

Ping Pong
Donna - can't wait to read what you and Heather came up with over your time together. And I hope you and Laurie enjoy the Conference. Go Firebirds!

JC Cassels on Big Damn Heroes

We'd like to welcome guest blogger, JC Cassels to Spacefreighters Lounge to talk about one of her favorite subjects, Big Damn Heroes.

Thank you for hosting me today.

I appreciate the opportunity to talk with your readers about one of my favorite topics: the Big Damn Hero.

We all love the larger-than-life heroes, especially in sci-fi. The term comes from an episode of Joss Whedon’s short-lived Firefly television series. I have to admit that Whedon presented the Big Damn Hero better than anyone.

I’ve always been fascinated by the Big Damn Hero, especially as portrayed by Errol Flynn in his swashbuckling adventures. When I was in high school, I first started writing seriously with intent to publish. Errol Flynn’s autobiography, MY WICKED, WICKED WAYS had just been re-released and it was all the rage among my friends. The actor’s real-life story was so fascinating, filled with action and adventure, even fighting in the Spanish Civil War, that I was inspired to create a hero who was both holofeature hero and real-life hero. Blade Devon was born. Possessed of a devil’s charm and an adventurer’s spirit, he was the quintessential swashbuckling hero in the Flynn mold.

Since then, Blade has evolved into something more than just a pale copy of Errol Flynn or Douglas Fairbanks. He’s wicked for sure. He’s mad, bad, and dangerous to know. Most of all, he’s fun for this writer to play with.

When I think of the term Big Damn Hero, I think of none other than Blade Devon, who at 6’2” with his shaggy blond hair, blue eyes, chiseled features, dimples, and lean, muscular build is guaranteed to make any damsel in distress swoon in delight. I hope when others read SOVRAN’S PAWN, they are as taken with him as I am. I freely admit that I am his number one fan.

SOVRAN'S PAWN

United by extortion, divided by duty, someone wants them both dead. They want each other. The catch is, nothing is what it seems, including them.

BO BARRON is the pawn in two Sovrans’ struggle for power. As the Chief of Barron Clan she commands the Black Wing, a strategic asset crucial to the balance of power in a Commonwealth in contention. That’s the reason she was falsely convicted of treason and sentenced to be executed. Instead of letting her meekly go to her death, Bo’s people risk all-out war by breaking her out and smuggling her into hiding. It’s what they do. They’re pirates at heart.

But if she can’t be killed, she can be manipulated. How? By kidnapping her father. If Bo wants him back she has to take on a false name and steal the schematics for a phase weapon being auctioned off to the Sub-socia at a Five Point tournament.

BLADE DEVON knows all about false names. He has more than his share. As Darien Roarke, he’s a well-known Five-Point player. If Blade is willing to use his alter ego to retrieve those schematics, the Inner Circle is willing to overlook the fact that he’s technically a deserter.

A botched assassination under the guise of a bar brawl leaves Bo blind and Blade wondering if there isn’t more to this job than he was led to believe. Never able to resist playing the hero, Blade tends her injuries and delves deeper into the intrigue only to find this mission isn’t about a weapon at all.

The catch is, no one and nothing are what they seem…

Guest Blogger Pippa Jay: A Newbie's Guide to Surviving First Edits

I'd like to welcome guest blogger Pippa Jay, who will soon be a new author with Keir, a SFR coming from Lyrical Press. Today, Pippa shares some valuable insights into surviving a first round of edits, always a humbling experience in the path to becoming published.

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A Newbie’s Guide to Surviving That First Ever Set of Edits

1. Whatever happens, DON’T PANIC! Take a deep breath. Look them over. If necessary, walk away. Have a coffee/tea/beverage of your choice. When you’re ready, go back and look through them again.Read through carefully. If it’s too daunting, start with a few of the simpler fixes. Ridding yourself of a few pages of tracking changes with nothing more than a few odd errors in punctuation, word choice, grammar etc. can make it seem less overwhelming.

2. Your editor is NOT your enemy. On the contrary, they could be your greatest ally. If you’re struggling with the changes/rewrites, they will often brainstorm or offer further suggestions and encouragement. Or if you’ve made a big change and you aren’t sure if you’ve gone too far/far enough, get their advice. Don’t be afraid to ask them for help. And if you don’t think you’re going to make the deadline, let them know as soon as possible.

3. Don’t let the suggested changes get you down. They are generally exactly that - suggestions. What your editor feels will really improve your work and make it more marketable. They have the advantage of coming in fresh to your work and can spot any plot holes, inconsistencies or errors that could have been missed by beta readers. But writing is very subjective, so discuss any issues you have with your editor.

4. Do not rant at your editor. It’s rude, unprofessional and could earn you the reputation of being a difficult author that no one will want to work with. They are just doing their job. If you feel the need to let off steam, do so to your BFF, crit partner, spouse etc. Don’t blow your writing career on the first book.

5. Don’t be afraid to argue your point. If you really feel that strongly about something, or you feel it’s essential, then say so. Your editor and publisher are experts in their field, but only you really know your characters and your story. One comment that came out in my edits was that it seemed odd my female MC had had so few relationships in her lifetime. My answer - she’s just not that kind of girl!

6. But do be prepared to compromise. With this being my first experience of the whole process, I’ve probably accepted a lot more of the changes than I would in future (although hopefully I’ve also learned to make fewer mistakes too!). Try to be objective when looking at the changes and don’t take them as a personal attack.

7. Stay offline. Unless you’re talking things over about your MS or doing some research. It’s just too much of a distraction.

8. You will feel better at the end. It’s a cathartic experience, but afterward I felt the story was much stronger. To be honest, even after all the work I put into my MS there were still things that niggled me about it when I submitted it. I don’t feel that now. My editor may have kicked my behind from one end of my book to the other, but I appreciate the effort she put into it and the support she gave me throughout.

9. Don’t think that’s the end! Chances are that you will spend at least a couple of weeks batting the MS between you and your editor until the copy edits are done and you’re both happy.

If anyone has anything else to add, please do so in the comments. Some of these are things I wish I’d been told before my first set of edits arrived, and others are from things I’ve heard in the publishing world that should or shouldn’t be done. If you thought getting your book contracted was the end of it, you’ve a shock coming. Just remember to breathe. J

Outcast. Cursed. Dying. Is Keir beyond redemption?


For Keirlan de Corizi--the legendary 'Blue Demon' of Adalucien--death seems the only escape from a world where his discolored skin marks him as an oddity and condemns him to life as a pariah. But salvation comes in an unexpected guise: Tarquin Secker, a young woman who can travel the stars with a wave of her hand.


But Quin has secrets of her own. She's spent eternity searching through space and time with a strange band of companions at her back. Defying her friends' counsel, Quin risks her apparent immortality to save Keir. She offers him sanctuary and a new life on her home world, Lyagnius.


When Keir mistakenly unleashes his dormant alien powers and earns instant exile from Quin's home world, will she risk everything to stand by him again?

A stay-at-home mum of three who spent twelve years working as an Analytical Chemist in a Metal and Minerals laboratory, Pippa Jay bases her stories on a lifetime addiction to science-fiction books and films. Somewhere along the line a touch of romance crept into her work and refused to leave. She spends the odd free moments between torturing her characters trying to learn guitar, indulging in freestyle street dance and drinking high-caffeine coffee. Although happily settled in historical Colchester in the UK with her husband of 18 years, she continues to roam the rest of the Universe in her head. Keir is her first full-length novel, a science-fiction romance being released 7th May 2012 through Lyrical Press Inc. 

NO LIMITS with Guest Author Jenna McCormick

Spacefreighters Lounge is very happy to host guest blogger Jenna McCormick today for the last stop on her NO LIMITS Blog Tour. NO LIMITS is an exciting new SFR/erotica novel published by Kensington and available in print and digital formats.

Congratulations on your exciting new release, Jenna, and welcome to Spacefreighters Lounge!

A Win for All of Us
Jenna McCormick

Thanks so much to Laurie Green for hosting me! I’m a big believer in teamwork. Though I’m an introvert by nature, I believe success depends not just on the hard work of one person but having a great network of people who can pump you up when you’re about to drop and cheer you on when you succeed.

When I first sold No Limits, to Kensington last February, my thoughts went something like, holy Terellian Tuesday, Batman! They bought my freaking nano (National Novel writing month) book! And then I had to get right down to work rewriting that book, because it was, after all a nano book. Characters dissolved into the veil, and other’s changed in all but name. And when I finally had thirty seconds to think about something other than gutting the book, I thought, this is wicked awesome for the sci fi romance community.

Having another SFR novel out there is bigger than having just my book published. It’s a well-executed strike in favor of SFR readers worldwide who are looking for a new book to read. It’s hope for that struggling SFR writer who sees the announcement that my futuristic erotic romance was bought by Kensington and pushes through the doubt to finish her own novel. And it’s even a bridge to maybe induct a few more readers who wouldn’t necessarily pick up an SFR, but maybe, just maybe, enjoys the heck out of it and then starts looking for more like it. Which leads to more sales of SFR books already out there, which leads to more contracts offered to SFR writers and on and on it goes.

Okay, so I’m an idealistic sap, but those were my thoughts. I’m excited— no ecstatic—when I hear about another SFR sale, no matter who the publisher because it truly is a win for us all. It’s why I’m going all out for this blog tour and pushing this book like an Intergalactic Pimp. So I can sell another and so I can read a bunch more. Spread the word, SFR is the wave of the future and we should celebrate every victory together!

No Limits
Jenna McCormick
Now Available for Kindle, Nook, and wherever books are sold.

All Genevieve Luzon wants is to be loved by one man, a seemingly impossible task in New-New York City at the start of the twenty second century. Sure, she can buy sex as easily as order a pizza on a Friday night, but finding a forever kind of love among her self-centered peers is no easy feat for the unemployed off-world vacation coordinator. When an old friend offers her the position of secret shopper to test out the male prostitutes, Gen can’t think of a good reason to refuse. Hell, if she can’t find Mr. Right, she might as well try on a sampler of Mr. Right Nows.

Yet the perks of her new position don’t compare to the strange attraction she has, not for one of the prostitutes, but a candle that seems to warm places of her she never knew existed. When a man appears out of the flame, Gen is sure she's found the one. Rhys is an empath, made a slave by the Illustra Corporation and he’s everything Gen could ever want. Except available. Because Rhys is on a mission. One that might claim his life. He must try to free his people, consequences be damned. Now, Gen must choose between turning her back on the only man she’s ever loved and the monumental task he has set for himself. Should she risk her life fighting a war hidden from polite society against those who wish to control us all?

Is love really worth fighting for?

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Surviving the Ice Age

I'd like to welcome author A. R. Norris as our guest blogger today on Spacefreighters Lounge.  A.R. just released her SFR novel, Duty and Devotion, on June 15th from Desert Breeze Publishing.

It's coming. You know it. I know it. Everybody knows it. Will humans be ready? Today I want to outline my thoughts on the Ice Age planning. It won't be quick, thank goodness. But, the key is seeing the signs. *sigh* The old adage of "hindsight is 20/20" takes on a very depressing twist.

Of course, at what point do you shift from warning to planning to implementing? And who's doing this now? *Deep breath* Okay, okay. Enough drilling you. You probably don't know these answers any better than I do.

The ice age, when it officially is declared, will last at least twenty thousand years, minimum. It will creep up on us. The weather will become weird, with each year more extreme and recovering less than the last. Deserts will start to reforest, Amazon will change into a desert and those countries north and south of the equator will began to transform into permafrost wastelands.

Two or three generations later our descendants will look around and go, "Hey...uh oh."

How much will the ice age cover the Earth? Well, the ice age 850 million years ago (and lasted a couple hundred thousand years) was glaciated to the equator. Yup, full blown ice planet.

Now, I'd like to keep a positive mind (shhh...quiet) and believe the best in humanity (SHHHH). Our ingenuity, perseverance, and...okay, face it, the need to self preservation will drive us into survival mode. So, what do we need to do?

First, cover the basic human requirements: food, shelter, water, warmth/heat. Okay not too bad. Already there is science being developed to regenerate food: through cloning, algea based growth, and hydroponic vegetation techniques. And there are viable architectural drawings already created by futurists for civilization domes...just waiting for good incentives and approved permits. Having icicles growing on your local politician's bum should rush those along easily enough. It'll be tight and we'll have to factor in the thickening ice sheets, so we don't end up buried. As for water...we can just develop a water system that processes all the ice outside. Easy peasy!

Shelter and energy will answer the warmth/heat part of survival. Now what?

*Groan* Oh yeah, social infrastructure. Every city needs to run smoothly. That means things like energy, transportation, communication, waste processing, financial, manufacturing/business, and cultural.
All right, we also have well established alternative energy techniques such as solar panels and exploratory techniques, such as capturing movement energy (where floors are built with energy capturing technology). Transportation, same thing, we have energy efficient transportation systems and vehicles. Waste will be a little more difficult, but I think with the right vehicle and processing system we can overcome that with a little effort and a huge decomposition campaign. With the whole green movement in the last few decades we should have that down like rock stars.

The biggest issue I see humans facing is the financial, business and cultural aspects of a new Earth. Financially we'll break, completely. Those who are poor will get poorer and those who are richer will get richer. That's the way of human nature, unfortunately. Hopefully, society will immerge from this without ruining the safety of their shelter and infrastructure...and throw us into some kind of dystopian and/or utilitarian society.

Thankfully, sisters Nettie and Rinny from Duty and Devotion were not around when the ice age first hit...or during the rough transition period. In fact, humans have thrived and seeded out to populate the Solar System. Earth as become the equivalent of Washington D.C., but on a solar system level.

Unfortunately for them, humans have populated the System enough to begin fighting over territory with the neighboring outer government. Now, the two are heading to war. Their father, a corporate dignitary wouldn't have it any other way. Due to the fact that the story is set in space, I didn't get a chance to explore the Earth society, but the excerpt does give us Nettie's departure from the planet.

Excerpt

The discussion died away and after a small pause, Nettie again looked out the window. Windmore City's dome began its simulation of sunrise in the distance, cascading yellow to burnt orange from the base of the dome up. The temperature dropped to a crisp and cool midfifty to complete the program. The tall glass buildings, in reflection of the dome, turned from blackish silver to various hues of red, pink, and orange.

Hard to believe, just beyond the protection of the dome was frozen land. Earth, a barren ice ball for over five hundred years, stayed in a state of constant blizzard. The domes recreated the old surface, but it wasn't real. No one could even be quite sure of its accuracy.

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Hope you liked the excerpt. If you want to learn more about me, stop by my blog: Adventures of a Sci-Fi Writer or email me at ambernorris2000@yahoo.com

Duty and Devotion is available at Desert Breeze, All Romance Books, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Sony, Kobo, and the Apple iBookstore.

Image sources:
Ice Age Planet Image source: http://www.uclick.com/widgets/ew/080530/ew080530a.html
City Dome Image http://viralideas.net/1609/houston-dome-project-a-controversial-concept/