Release Day Eve: Lost Serenity #scifi #adventure

Happy Release Day Eve to Lost Serenity! And boy, I never thought we'd get here. It's been a long, dry, hard haul since the release of the last main book in the series - Keir's Fall back in 2017 - with the last side story - A Merry-traxian Christmas - officially released 2019.

And now the latest story comes out tomorrow, with the main book three due in edits in June and hopefully releasing later this year. So I won't be keeping you hanging for long. Because, oh yes, Lost Serenity ends with a cliff-hanger!

Now, while I didn't struggle with a title on this one, since I had a discarded one to reuse, this story brought up the issue of trigger warnings.

Now, I have certain things that I will not read and that get an author put on my DNR (Do Not Read) list instantly if there's some graphic content I haven't been warned about. And maybe that's not always the author's fault, because we can't think of everything. Plus trigger warnings vary for people, I get that. With Lost Serenity, one of the main themes in the story is something that would not cause me acute distress if I read it in another book - well, not entirely true as it would depend how invested I am in the character and how it affects them - but I am well aware that what upsets one person may be the thing that devastates another.

When I raised the discussion in an author group, there were mixed responses which didn't help me decide one way or the other. I know specific things that upset some of my author friends and have caused them to leave or never become invested in a franchise. Others think trigger warnings are unnecessary and/or overkill, and never/rarely use them. I have three books where I've warned about explicit, violent, and/or gory content because...well, they are actually things that would bother me or, as a mum, concern me if my kids were to read them (that said, two of them have read my zombie stories). But putting one on this particular story might be big spoilers. What to do?!

There was controversy on Twitter (isn't there always?!) back in January where an author not only publicly refused to put trigger warnings on their work but specifically set out an essay in their Author's Note about why they would never, and telling readers not to be a Karen. Well, I decided that's just not me. So Lost Serenity has a trigger warning and spoilers be damned...

How could a moment's anger destroy so much happiness?

It is a question that will haunt him. When an old enemy comes to Kasha-Asor to kidnap their daughter, armed with a weapon that could end everything, Keir is forced to leave an injured Quin on Lyagnius. But his quest for a cure and their missing daughter will come at a terrible cost.

Book #2.5 of the Redemption series. Releases 20th March, 2021 (pre-order available now)

Trigger warning: the loss of a child.

In the meantime, I'd be interested to know why and what trigger warnings you've put on books, or why you don't.

Critter Update

My furred and feathered friends are all doing well, though I think they'd like it to be sunnier, warmer, and dryer, much like myself. Astrid is looking particularly fed up.

Writing Update

I'm still trying to iron out some issues with a paranormal short that will be part of my holiday collection. One day I might finish the Easter one and be able to publish the set. One day... Book three of my Redemption series will go to my editor in June, come what may.

It's #RogueOne Release Week! #StarWars

There's only one thing on my mind this week, and it's the release of Rogue One at my local cinema in just two days. Woo hoo! Me and my two boys will be seeing it in 3D - eldest is unfortunately missing out as she has a prior date at a music concert. Shame. I could have gone to a one minute past midnight showing on the day, but I'd feel bad about seeing it before my two boys.

Wil Wheaton was lucky enough to get invited to the Rogue One premier, and here's what he had to say...

The last time I loved a Star Wars movie as much as I loved #RogueOne, it was 1977.

— Wil Wheaton (@wilw) December 11, 2016

Does this make me happy? Hell, yeah! I was too young to see the very first Star Wars shown at the cinema (before it ever got renamed as A New Hope), but I still remember the magic of seeing it on TV for the first time a few Christmases later. It changed my life. I went from writing fantasy to scifi, and to a lifelong crush on Luke Skywalker, and to dreams of being a Jedi and flying an X-wing. It sparked my first scifi trilogy (never finished and never to be published, but it was the start). While I'm not expecting to discover a new fictional boyfriend (or girlfriend), after The Force Awakens and hearing Gareth Edwards enthusiasm for Star Wars at the Rogue One panel at Star Wars Celebration Europe, I am expecting to get all the same feels. I think it'll be darker, I'm not convinced there'll be a romance--though probably some sparks--but I am expecting the same Star Wars awesomeness of the originals.

So while you wait for my non-spoiler report next week (when Spacefreighters Lounge will be Going Rogue!), here's Wil Wheaton's non-spoiler take on the premier HERE. (And I haven't read it because I want to go in as innocent as I possibly can.)

Still my favourite teaser!

Happenings
It's also the start of the SFR Brigade Holiday Showcase on Thursday, and I finally completed my first Christmas SFR to give away as part of the event. Woot! The short features my main couple - Keir and Quin from the time travel series Redemption - so if you haven't read the two current books of the series, you might find it a little hard to follow and somewhat spoilerific. Sorry! Of course, you could always buy the two main novels first...

Visit the event HERE from the 15th onwards.

On Friday, my post at Romancing the Genres is all about the inspirations that finally helped me to write my Christmas SFR HERE. After next week I'll be taking time off the internet to spend time with my family but I'll still have two posts going live here rounding up 2016 and looking forward to 2017 before my official return after the 4th of January.

Status Update
The Christmas short is finished and ready to download from the 15th. I'm making more notes on Keir's Shadow, strengthening the secondary romance in the story. I'm hoping to do some reading over the Christmas holidays - long overdue!

Chook Update
My girls are not happy about the cold weather but all is well with them.

See ya after Rogue One!

A Merry #ScifiRom Christmas #amwriting

It might still be November (just!) but I've already been preparing for Christmas - lots of school events to attend, pressies to buy before the rush, and all my social media to set on automatic while I take time off to spend with my family. And that last gave me an idea.

Every year I bemoan my inability to write holiday themed scifi romances. My mind has a real issue with the whole idea of Christmas in Space especially. So far I've published one Halloween paranormal romance short, while my winter SFR WIP has become more of an SF mystery with a mere trace of romantic elements, and my Easter spoof SFR remains unfinished.

A Paranormal Romance Short

Goodreads | Webpage

Available at... 

Amazon | B&N | iBooks

ARe | Smashwords | Kobo

So this year, when the SFR Brigade Showcase announced a special holiday edition with a giveaway, I finally decided I was just gonna have to do something Christmassy whether muse liked it or not. And so, last week, I began writing a Christmas short story for Keir and Quin (she's an early 21st century girl, so she's at least familiar with the concept of Christmas even if Keir isn't, lol). What do you think of the cover? I'm trying for an old fashioned Christmas card look.

It'll be a free short to be given away during the SFR Brigade Holiday Showcase on the 15th-19th of December. And you won't even have to do anything to get it (although if you haven't read book one and two of my Redemption series then: 1. You might not have a clue what's happening and who anyone is and, 2. If you haven't read book two, then potential spoilers, since there'll be a couple of characters you won't have met in book one. (Sorry!)

To be honest, I'm mostly excited about the fact that I actually want to write after a long period of not even missing it, so this is a good sign. I'm already 3K in, so I'm thinking this might hit the 4-5K mark (so it won't be my shortest piece). It'll be a downloadable pdf for the event, and I'll even throw in my recipe for blue star cookies (which make an excellent Christmas treat or even a decoration for your tree). In case you need the sales links for the two main books (and to help pay for my cosplay addiction Christmas dinner next round of edits), here they are:

A Science Fiction Romance Novel

Goodreads | Webpage

Available from...

iBooks | Nook | Kobo

Amazon | ARe | Smashwords

Print available from...

CreateSpace | B&N | Amazon

The Book Depository

A Science Fiction Romance Novel
Goodreads | Webpage
Available from...
Amazon | ARe
B&N | Kobo | iBooks
Smashwords
Print
Amazon | B&N
The Book Depository

Happenings

Spent all your book budget on Christmas presents? Pick over 100 FREE science fiction and fantasy books (including several scifi romances) on the 3-4th of December from multiple online retailers. Click HERE.

The SFR Brigade Holiday Showcase starts 15th of December, and so far there are about 17 authors all set to dazzle you with their posts and give you some early Christmas presents. Don't miss out!

Status Update
I'm writing again! As I mentioned above, I'll be preparing a Christmas themed short for Keir and Quin from my time travel romance series, Redemption. I'm still poking at Keir's Shadow which is promised for next year. I'll also be winding down my social media ready for the Christmas break.

Chook Update
My girls are not really enjoying the weather, but at least their new coop has more shelter. Here's a couple of pictures. Pitch has undergone quite a transformation with her winter plumage, going from black with small white speckles to big white splotches. Maybe she thought the snowflake pattern would give her better camouflage for winter, lol.

Fizzgig

Pitch