Time's just flying over here. Busy. Busy. Busy.
While I'm busy, why don't you go read a book? My buddy, Pippa Jay, has a new one out today from Breathless Press. Go grab WHEN DARK FALLS and spend the weekend reading about decopunk superheroes.
Showing posts with label Pippa Jay. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pippa Jay. Show all posts
Friday, November 21, 2014
Where did the week go?
I swear, it was Monday only a few days ago! What happened?
Time's just flying over here. Busy. Busy. Busy.
While I'm busy, why don't you go read a book? My buddy, Pippa Jay, has a new one out today from Breathless Press. Go grab WHEN DARK FALLS and spend the weekend reading about decopunk superheroes.
Time's just flying over here. Busy. Busy. Busy.
While I'm busy, why don't you go read a book? My buddy, Pippa Jay, has a new one out today from Breathless Press. Go grab WHEN DARK FALLS and spend the weekend reading about decopunk superheroes.
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
HALLOW'S EVE by Pippa Jay - cover reveal
Coming 8th October, Hallow’s Eve will be available in all digital formats from Amazon, B&N, Smashwords, All Romance eBooks, and most digital online retailers.
Excerpt
The thud and chink of beer bottles and glasses on the bar announced Dan’s return.“So?”
Hal shook his head. “Not tonight.”
“Oh, c’mon, man. Just one beer.”
Hal dropped his gaze to the glass he was still drying with a vehemence it didn’t deserve, avoiding his friend’s pleading stare. “Thanks, but I’m not in the mood.”
Dan made an exasperated sound. “Look, I know it’s nearly a year—”
Pain lanced into his chest. “Stop.” He looked up.
A frown creasing his tanned face, Dan glared back, but he shut up.
Hal sucked in a breath. He didn’t want to fight with Dan over this. The guy had stopped Hal’s life completely falling apart after last Halloween. “I know what you’re trying to do,” he murmured, and relief flickered in Dan’s brown eyes. “But I’m not ready to let it go.”
“I’m not saying you should, man. But how about getting back into some social interaction? You can’t spend the rest of your life as a recluse.”
“I won’t.” Hal smiled. Dan had no idea.
“Then come out for a beer.”
“Another time.”
“Tomorrow then. I know you’ve got the Halloween shift off.”
Hal put down the glass he’d abused. “I’m busy.”
“Oh, yeah? Doing what? Trick or treating?” Dan scoffed. “What is it with you and Halloween? You never struck me as religious enough to find it offensive, but you don’t go out and have any fun either. So how come you always take the night off?”
Hal looked around the bar at all the tawdry holiday decorations, and debated how to answer. Maybe Dan thought he was a closet Christian or something. The truth would shock the hell out of him. Especially with what Hal had planned this year. “My...family don’t see it as something to joke about.”
“Oh. Strict Catholic or something?”
“Something like that.” Hal smiled at the thought of his parents taking Holy Communion. But let Dan interpret it any way he liked.
Giveaway
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Tuesday, September 9, 2014
How To Date a Zombie - a guest post by Pippa Jay
Welcome to Peaceville, population 2067 and rising...from the grave...
Luke Chester has had enough. He’s the school geek, the girls laugh at him, he’s lost his dead-end job at the pizza place, and in the midst of the world’s messiest divorce his parents don’t even know he exists. An overdose of his mom’s tranquilizers and a stomach full of whiskey should solve all his problems...
But they don’t. Instead, Luke finds himself booted out of the afterlife for not dying a natural death, with nowhere to go but back to his recently vacated corpse and reality. How the hell is he going to pass for one of the living without someone trying to blow his brains out for being one of the undead?
And it just gets worse. He’s got to fight his own desperate craving to consume the living, evade the weird supernatural hunter who’s having a field day with the new undeads rising, and there’s this creepy black shadow following him around. Add to that the distraction of female fellow undead Annabelle burning to avenge her own murder, and clearly there’s no rest for the wicked. Jeez, all he wanted to do was R.I.P.
HOW TO DATE A ZOMBIE
1. Lose your sense of smell. A new zombie won't have developed that familiar rotting odour, but it'll come, especially in warmer climes. Outside venues or during the winter might be best. Or maybe if you love incense or lots of those scented candles, it'll work out just fine. Perhaps carry one of those little travel spray perfumes for extra safety.2. Be prepared to do most of the talking. If you love to chat, a zombie could be your perfect date. He/she should just be able to manage a groan in the right places to show they're listening.
3. They will love you for your brains, not your beauty. Maybe be prepared to carry some spares so your own aren't on the menu. This could truly be a meeting of minds (or possibly an eating of minds if things go wrong).
4. Be good at sewing, and carry needle and thread at all times. With the tendency for bits to drop off, skills at needlework and a strong stomach are required. Perhaps being in the medical, forensic or mortuary business may be worthwhile, and provide better repair materials than domestic needlework.
5. Be prepared for your new romance to end in pieces. Sadly, zombies don't have much staying power (except in their pursuit of food), and will likely come apart as the romance progresses. This is not a long term relationship. Time to move on.
Sign up to my no-spam newsletter to get
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snippets and stories coming soon! http://pippajay.blogspot.co.uk/p/newsletter-signup.html
.jpg)
After spending
twelve years working as an Analytical Chemist in a Metals and Minerals
laboratory, Pippa Jay is now a stay-at-home mum who writes scifi and the
supernatural. Somewhere along the way a touch of romance crept into her work
and refused to leave. In between torturing her plethora of characters, she
spends the odd free moment playing guitar very badly, punishing herself with
freestyle street dance, and studying the Dark Side of the Force. Although
happily settled in the historical town of Colchester in the UK with her husband
of 21 years and three little monsters, she continues to roam the rest of the
Universe in her head.
Pippa Jay is a
dedicated member of the Science Fiction Romance Brigade, blogging at Spacefreighters Lounge, Adventures in Scifi, and Romancing the Genres. Her works
include a YA science fiction novel—Gethyon—published
through BURST (Champagne Books), a scifi romance novella—Tethered—published by Breathless Press, three
self-published short stories (Terms & Conditions Apply, The Bones of the Sea, and Reboot), and she’s one of eight authors included in a
science fiction romance anthology—Tales from the SFR Brigade. She’s also a double SFR Galaxy
Award winner, been a finalist in the Heart of Denver RWA Aspen Gold Contest (3rd place), and the GCC RWA Silken Sands
Star Awards (2nd place).
You can stalk
her at her website http://pippajay.co.uk, or at her
blog http://pippajay.blogspot.co.uk, but without
doubt her favorite place to hang around and chat is on Twitter as @pippajaygreen.
Website
– http://www.pippajay.co.uk
Adventures
in Scifi - http://www.pippajay.blogspot.co.uk
Spacefreighters
Lounge - http://www.spacefreighters.blogspot.com
Romancing
the Genres - http://www.romancingthegenres.blogspot.co.uk/
SFR
Brigade - http://www.sfrcontests.blogspot.co.uk/
Twitter
- https://twitter.com/pippajaygreen
Pinterest
- http://www.pinterest.com/pippajaygreen/
Amazon page - http://www.amazon.com/Pippa-Jay/e/B0080QVWEE/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1406376408&sr=8-1
Monday, August 11, 2014
TETHERED by Pippa Jay
She can kill with a kiss. But can
assassin Tyree also heal one man’s grief, and bring peace to a galaxy
threatened by war?
For Tyree of the Su, being an assassin isn’t simply something she was trained for. It’s the sole reason for her existence. A genetically enhanced clone—one of many in Refuge—she’s about to learn her secluded lifestyle, and that of all her kind, is under threat by a race capable of neutralizing their special talents to leave them defenseless.
For Zander D’joren, being a diplomat has not only cost him his appearance, but also the love of his life. Scarred, grieving, he must nonetheless continue in his role as co-delegate to the fearsome Tier-vane or risk a conflict that could only end one way.
Now both of them need to keep each other alive and maintain a perilous deception long enough to renegotiate the treaty with the Tier-vane, or throw their people into a war that could wipe out Terrans and Inc-Su alike. But there’s more at stake than humanity, whether true or modified. Can the love growing between them save them both? Or merely hasten their destruction?
For Tyree of the Su, being an assassin isn’t simply something she was trained for. It’s the sole reason for her existence. A genetically enhanced clone—one of many in Refuge—she’s about to learn her secluded lifestyle, and that of all her kind, is under threat by a race capable of neutralizing their special talents to leave them defenseless.
For Zander D’joren, being a diplomat has not only cost him his appearance, but also the love of his life. Scarred, grieving, he must nonetheless continue in his role as co-delegate to the fearsome Tier-vane or risk a conflict that could only end one way.
Now both of them need to keep each other alive and maintain a perilous deception long enough to renegotiate the treaty with the Tier-vane, or throw their people into a war that could wipe out Terrans and Inc-Su alike. But there’s more at stake than humanity, whether true or modified. Can the love growing between them save them both? Or merely hasten their destruction?
Breathless Press - (and for the whole of August,
Breathless Press is offering 50% off to celebrate their 5th
birthday!) Smashwords – Bookstrand – All Romance ebooks - Amazon US – Amazon UK – Add it to your Goodreads TBR here
Sign up to my no-spam newsletter to get
updated on the latest releases, giveaways and special offers. Exclusive
snippets and stories coming soon!
~*~
Five Heroines who inspired TETHERED
1. Leeloo. The ultimate warrior. The
perfect being. The Fifth Element.
Watching Leeloo kick Mangalore butt puts paid to the whole 'fight like a girl'
putdown. And yet underneath she's still fragile. Still wants to be loved.
Something Tyree eventually has to admit to.
2. Aeryn Sun. Bred and trained to be a warrior, Peacekeeper Aeryn in Farscape had no other function. But John Crichton and the mixed crew of rebels on-board Moya challenge her perceptions, concepts and core values. From obedient Peacekeeper drone to honorable, battling supermum, Aeryn takes it all in her stride.
3. River Tam (Firefly/Serenity). Another already talented young girl, River had her mind and genetics messed with to produce the ultimate weapon. Despite her frequent brushes with insanity, she always pulls through to save the day.
4. Dejah Thoris. A Princess of Mars, scientist and warrior, John Carter is the perfect match. He soon recognises her as no mere damsel in distress, though she's that too, and wisely steps out of the way when she steps up to fight her own battles. Spirited, smart, but all woman.
5. Mystique. Yes, I have a villain on my list! But however much a bad ass Mystique might be, she's that way for a reason. Like my heroine Tyree, she considers herself an outcast from the human race, and a figure to be feared. But she's also smart, capable and quick. Mystique can shapeshift into anyone, while Tyree merely turns incorporeal. Mystique always struck me as a character who revelled in her differences while secretly yearning to be accepted, something that has maybe bled into Tyree's character. Whatever, Mystique is a force to be reckoned with, and a beautiful one at that (yes, even with the scales and being blue. I have odd preferences in my definition of beauty).
So which of my five feisty female role models do you admire the most?
2. Aeryn Sun. Bred and trained to be a warrior, Peacekeeper Aeryn in Farscape had no other function. But John Crichton and the mixed crew of rebels on-board Moya challenge her perceptions, concepts and core values. From obedient Peacekeeper drone to honorable, battling supermum, Aeryn takes it all in her stride.
3. River Tam (Firefly/Serenity). Another already talented young girl, River had her mind and genetics messed with to produce the ultimate weapon. Despite her frequent brushes with insanity, she always pulls through to save the day.
4. Dejah Thoris. A Princess of Mars, scientist and warrior, John Carter is the perfect match. He soon recognises her as no mere damsel in distress, though she's that too, and wisely steps out of the way when she steps up to fight her own battles. Spirited, smart, but all woman.
5. Mystique. Yes, I have a villain on my list! But however much a bad ass Mystique might be, she's that way for a reason. Like my heroine Tyree, she considers herself an outcast from the human race, and a figure to be feared. But she's also smart, capable and quick. Mystique can shapeshift into anyone, while Tyree merely turns incorporeal. Mystique always struck me as a character who revelled in her differences while secretly yearning to be accepted, something that has maybe bled into Tyree's character. Whatever, Mystique is a force to be reckoned with, and a beautiful one at that (yes, even with the scales and being blue. I have odd preferences in my definition of beauty).
So which of my five feisty female role models do you admire the most?
~*~
.jpg)
After spending
twelve years working as an Analytical Chemist in a Metals and Minerals
laboratory, Pippa Jay is now a stay-at-home mum who writes scifi and the
supernatural. Somewhere along the way a touch of romance crept into her work
and refused to leave. In between torturing her plethora of characters, she
spends the odd free moment playing guitar very badly, punishing herself with
freestyle street dance, and studying the Dark Side of the Force. Although
happily settled in the historical town of Colchester in the UK with her husband
of 21 years and three little monsters, she continues to roam the rest of the
Universe in her head.
Pippa Jay is a
dedicated member of the Science Fiction Romance Brigade, blogging at Spacefreighters Lounge, Adventures in Scifi, and Romancing the Genres. Her works
include a YA science fiction novel—Gethyon—published
through BURST (Champagne Books), three self-published short stories (Terms & Conditions Apply, The Bones of the Sea, and Reboot), and she’s one of eight authors included in a
science fiction romance anthology—Tales from the SFR Brigade. She’s also a double SFR Galaxy
Award winner, been a finalist in the Heart of Denver RWA Aspen Gold Contest (3rd place), and the GCC RWA Silken Sands
Star Awards (2nd place).
You can stalk
her at her website http://pippajay.co.uk, or at her
blog http://pippajay.blogspot.co.uk, but without
doubt her favorite place to hang around and chat is on Twitter as
@pippajaygreen.
Friday, June 13, 2014
Cover Reveal - TETHERED by Pippa Jay
She can kill with a kiss. But can
assassin Tyree also heal one man's grief, and bring peace to a galaxy
threatened by war?
For Tyree of the Su, being an assassin isn’t simply something she was trained for. It's the sole reason for her existence. A genetically enhanced clone—one of many in Refuge—she's about to learn her secluded lifestyle, and that of all her kind, is under threat by a race capable of neutralizing their special talents to leave them defenseless.
For Zander D'joren, being a diplomat has not only cost him his appearance, but also the love of his life. Scarred, grieving, he must nonetheless continue in his role as co-delegate to the fearsome Tier-vane or risk a conflict that could only end one way.
Now both of them need to keep each other alive and maintain a perilous deception long enough to renegotiate the treaty with the Tier-vane, or throw their people into a war that could wipe out Terrans and Inc-Su alike. But there's more at stake than humanity, whether true or modified. Can the love growing between them save them both? Or merely hasten their destruction?
A science fiction romance novella,
coming from Breathless Press 25th July.
Add it to your Goodreads shelf HERE.
Sign up to my no-spam newsletter HERE
to get early sneak peeks at covers, and news of the latest releases, giveaways
and contest.
Excerpt:
A
thrill of excitement shivered down her spine as she backed away a few steps
with Zander following. He shrugged off his formal outer robes, and for the first
time she could appreciate the broad expanse of his chest, the close-fitting
fabric stretched over well-defined muscles. It appeared he hadn't allowed his
physique to slacken, despite leaving the Galactic Commission.
"Are
you ready?" she asked.
Zander
spread his hands in an open gesture to say that he was.
So why is he just standing
there like a defunct Manikin instead of poised to fight?
Tyree
took her combat position and Zander matched her, just as the Manikin had done.
She'd never fought a human in combat practice before. This should be
interesting.
She
sprang forward and aimed two rapid punches at his face. Zander evaded both with
a speed and grace totally out of proportion to his bulk. Her third he blocked
with little effort, and she stepped back to reassess her strategy. But only for
an instant.
A
quick step forward and she lashed upward with her foot, snapping his head back.
Zander staggered but didn't fall. Her second kick failed as he grabbed her
ankle and jerked her off balance. She twisted as she dropped and caught him
hard in the knee. Zander collapsed. Both rolled aside, and then jumped up to
face each other again.
Not bad.
Tyree
bit back a laugh as they exchanged blows, each faster than the last. Zander
blocked or evaded most, but not all. His skill almost matched hers, yet his
defenses were just a fraction too slow. Each move she made tested his reach,
his reflexes and his stamina until she could sense him struggling a little.
Time for the kill.
She
floored him with a kick to the chest, the full weight of her augmented density
behind it, but as she moved in to finish the fight he dove into her. Tyree
landed on her back hard enough to drive the breath from her lungs.
Zander
had her pinned to the ground. She bucked but couldn't shift him. The triumphant
smile on his face sent rage blazing through her gut. With hardly a whisper, she
Misted out and went through him.
Golden warmth filled her for a second before she pulled free. Zander pushed to
his feet and spun to meet her, but she cranked up her molecular density and
punched him hard in the chest. He collapsed, gasping and coughing. In one fluid
movement she sat astride him at full density, and the air whumphed out of his lungs. She pinioned his arms with her hands,
her face hovering mere centimeters above his.
As
her breathing slowed to normal, a huge grin split her face. She'd made a vow to
herself to jump him, and she'd done it. Perhaps it was childish, but it warmed
her heart.
"Your...reputation...is
well deserved," he gasped.
"You're
not so bad yourself," she complimented him. He'd fought well, but perhaps
not quite with the determination—and certainly not the desperation—of most
opponents she'd faced. "For a human."
"Thank
you. Perhaps we could try this again tomorrow?"
Tyree
laughed. As much as he could irritate the hell out of her, he was equally
amusing. "If you want to spend most of your morning on the floor..."
He
gazed up at her with that easy smile, making no effort to struggle. Most
humans, without the influence of her pheromones and the distraction of her
naked body writhing above theirs, would not have been so trusting. So
compliant. She found herself staring at his mouth. What would it be like to
kiss him, without the use of her talents? Would it be as satisfying? As
sensual? The warmth of him, the firmness of his body beneath hers, sent heat
spiraling through her abdomen.
"Perhaps
you could let me up now?" His words jerked her from such musings. What the
hell was she thinking?
Bio:
After spending
twelve years working as an Analytical Chemist in a Metals and Minerals
laboratory, Pippa Jay is now a stay-at-home mum who writes scifi and the supernatural.
Somewhere along the way a touch of romance crept into her work and refused to
leave. In between torturing her plethora of characters, she spends the odd free
moment playing guitar very badly, punishing herself with freestyle street
dance, and studying the Dark Side of the Force. Although happily settled in the
historical town of Colchester in the UK with her husband of 21 years and three
little monsters, she continues to roam the rest of the Universe in her head.
Pippa Jay is a
dedicated member of the Science Fiction Romance Brigade, blogging at
Spacefreighters Lounge, Adventures in Scifi, and Romancing the Genres. Her
works include a YA science fiction novel—Gethyon—published through BURST
(Champagne Books), two self-published short stories (Terms & Conditions
Apply and The Bones of the Sea), and she's one
of eight authors included in a science fiction romance anthology—Tales from the
SFR Brigade. She's also a double SFR Galaxy Award winner, been a finalist in
the Heart of Denver RWA Aspen Gold Contest (3rd place), and the GCC RWA Silken Sands
Star Awards (2nd place).
You can stalk
her at her website http://pippajay.co.uk, or at her
blog http://pippajay.blogspot.co.uk, but without
doubt her favorite place to hang around and chat is on Twitter as
@pippajaygreen.
Monday, March 24, 2014
REBOOT Cover Reveal
“Welcome to immortality in
utopia!”
From the moment Damien signed up for a perfect life with ReGen Inc., he didn’t
ask any questions. He didn’t want or need to know. But after he’s rebooted this
time, there are gaps in his memory he can’t ignore, and people he no longer
recognizes are accusing him of betrayal. When someone dies, he’s determined to
go looking for answers…but sometimes it really is better to forget.
Excerpt
Someone pounded on his door. Damien
jerked out of bed, heart hammering. Had ReGen realized their mistake? Were they
coming to wipe the rest of his memories?
Reality swept over him as the last
of the fog of sleep faded. He wasn’t a hermit. People often came to visit,
though they weren’t usually so loud about it.
He pushed off the bed, a slight
stiffness making his movements awkward. He clipped the doorframe on his way out
and cursed at the spike of pain in his shoulder. Clumsy! The last thing he
wanted to do was damage this new body so soon after a reboot.
“Hold on!” he yelled at the unknown
visitor hell-bent on punching a hole through his front door.
He was still clothed from last
night, but he paused in front of his mirror to drag his fingers through the
tufts of his dark hair. “Yes, all right. I’m coming!” He tugged his shirt
straight. “Open.”
A dark-haired woman stumbled
through the door and fell against him. “Damien!”
His arms circled her by instinct,
but the impact sent him staggering back a step or two. “Whoa!”
She gazed up at him, her hazel eyes
red-rimmed as if from crying, and her pretty face screwed into wrinkles. “I was
so worried. When you didn’t come over last night…”
“Last night? Come where?” Her body
pressed into his was causing all kinds of interesting reactions, but confusion
overrode them. “Who are you?”
“Who?” Her eyes widened, and she
jerked out of his embrace. “What’s wrong with you?”
Fear swamped him again, a cold that
chilled him to the bone. “Diagnostics says I’m fine.”
“Diagnostics?” She backed away, as
if he’d morphed into the worst kind of monster, then grabbed his right hand.
Damien flinched as she rubbed her thumb hard over the back of his hand. Over
the place where his scar had been. “Oh…” She dropped his hand, her head still
bowed. “Oh, Damien.”
“What?”
Her gaze knifed through him,
accusing. “You’ve been rebooted.”
A stay-at-home mum of three who spent twelve
years working as an Analytical Chemist in a Metals 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. In between torturing her plethora of characters, she spends
the odd free moments 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 20 years, she continues to roam the
rest of the Universe in her head.
Pippa Jay is a dedicated member of the SFR Brigade, a community of science
fiction romance authors and publishing professionals committed to writing and
promoting the very best in the genre.
Friday, December 20, 2013
Write What You Don’t Know - a guest post by Pippa Jay
I’ve always been an advocate of ‘write what you know’. A pretty mean feat when I write science fiction. No, I haven’t been abducted by aliens and no, I’m not one of the Doctor’s companions (sadly!). So how can I justify the ‘write what you know’ in my stories when I can’t possibly know what it’s like to travel through time and space (aside from watching Doctor Who since the age of three)?
Extrapolation. No, that’s not a timey wimey Doctor Who-ism (they come later). Yes, I have absolutely NO idea what it’s like to set foot on an alien planet for the first time. BUT, I have been to other countries and been faced with surroundings and cultures not my own. So I take my memories of that, of how I felt to be somewhere quite alien to what I’m familiar with, and I expand it. Build on it. How did it sound/smell/taste? What did I notice first? How did it differ from what I’m used to and why? What does it feel like to hear everyone around you talking a foreign language nothing like your own? To be aware that certain gestures and behaviours considered the norm back home might be taken as offensive, insulting or confrontational here? The disorientation, feeling out of place, and nervous of making a mistake, but also fascinated by the differences. It doesn’t take a huge leap to imagine how an alien planet might strike a new arrival.
Then space travel. If you’ve ever flown in an aeroplane, you know that feeling of acceleration at take-off, that sense of your stomach falling through your feet when the airplane does one of those sudden drops in altitude. Maybe you’ve flown through a storm in one and felt the craft being buffeted. Or maybe you’re one of those insane people who enjoys rollercoasters. *shudders* Add that to research on youtube and the NASA website about the shuttle flights, and you can write a realistic piece on blasting into space.
Practically any experience in your life can be used to create something outside the realm of real human experience. That’s why so many writers say they get their inspiration from absolutely everything in life. The smallest thing can spark an idea or be used as the basis for building an entire fantasy.
So why is the title of this piece ‘write what you don’t know’? Haven’t I just contradicted that title with my post?
No. See, I’ve just been learning recently that you CAN write what you don’t know, thanks to the internet. A wonderful thing called RESEARCH. You can pretty much find anything you need to know on the web, or find someone to ask. In this case, I’ve chosen a setting in contemporary US that I will probably never get to see for real as the location for my supernatural story. Google maps have let me wander around the town I wanted to set the story in. Friends met and made on Facebook and Twitter have been willing to put up with the dozens of dumb questions I’ve asked to get the details right. It’s a gamble. Whether I would convince someone who actually lives there that I really know the place, only time will tell. I hope so. In the meantime, the research is a load of fun, and a great way to learn new stuff!
And while you wait for that one, you can check out some of my published adventures and see if you think I’ve pulled it off. :P
Blurb:
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 2012 Readers Favorite Award Finalist, 2013 Aspen Gold RWA Contest Finalist, and 2012 SFR Galaxy Award Winner.
Available in print and all digital formats:
Bio:
A stay-at-home mum of three who spent twelve years working as an Analytical Chemist in a Metals 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. In between torturing her plethora of characters, she spends the odd free moments 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 20 years, she continues to roam the rest of the Universe in her head.
Pippa Jay is a dedicated member of the SFR Brigade, a community of science fiction romance authors and publishing professionals committed to writing and promoting the very best in the genre.
Stalk me:
Website – http://www.pippajay.co.uk
Blogs –
Adventures in Scifi - http://www.pippajay.blogspot.co.uk
Spacefreighters Lounge - http://www.spacefreighters.blogspot.com
Romancing the Genres - http://www.romancingthegenres.blogspot.co.uk/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/pippajaygreen
Pinterest - http://www.pinterest.com/pippajaygreen/
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Addicted To Writing Contests - a Guest Post by Pippa Jay
Also, how do you go about finding legitimate contests anyway? I didn't have a clue. The bewildering world of publishing already had my head in a spin, and I'd had help and advice along the way as it was. But once I had my first contract under my belt for my debut novel, a friend pointed me toward the Readers Favorite Contest Award. It wasn't cheap, but it was legitimate and there were some nice promotional bonuses for the winners. It's open to most genres, formats and lengths - manuscripts, published and unpublished books, ebooks, audio books, comic books, poetry books and short stories in 100 genres. No publication date requirement and no word count restriction, with English language entries accepted worldwide. And what could you win? Well, each of the one hundred categories offers four award levels, plus a finalist level. You get a certificate, medal, digital award seals and a roll of shiny award stickers to add to your print books. You're invited to an awards ceremony with media coverage, get your book displayed at the largest book fair in the States, a review, and widespread promotion of your book via press and social media. You can check out the details on their website here. I figured it was worth a shot as it had been recommended to me by someone I trusted. My debut novel Keir got a five star review in the first round, although it only finished as a finalist overall. I had my first shiny!
After that, I went hunting for more contests to enter. It's an area where you have to be cautious. I've always gone on personal recommendations from fellow authors, or stuck to contests run by the various chapters of the RWA (Romance Writers of America). Entering costs money, and I won't say it's a must-do for authors - you certainly shouldn't feel that your work is any the less worthy for a lack of shiny stickers or a certificate. But I have to say it's been a good confidence boost for me, and I'm sure it doesn't hurt on the promotional and marketing side either. So here's a few guidelines for how to enter contests, and at the end I've include two lists of places to find contests, plus a list of my own personal recommendations.
Guidelines -
1. Always check out the people running the contest to make sure it isn't a scam. Where possible, go for contests recommended to you by people you know and/or trust, and that they've done themselves, or that perhaps you've seen favourite or fellow authors taking part in. Ask around.
2. Check that your publisher allows you to enter contests, and what kind. You may need to ask permission! It may even state in your contract that you're not permitted to enter contests.
3. Read the entry requirements CAREFULLY! Most will simply delete your entry if you don't follow their guidelines to the letter, and won't refund your entry fee into the bargain. As an author (whether aspiring or published), you should be used to following guidelines by agents and publishers, and a contest entry should not be treated any less respectfully. Check they accept your genre, whether you must be published, unpublished or uncontracted, whether there are word count restrictions and/or fixed categories. Check what format they require, and remember to enter early if you have to send off print copies of your work. Yes, even for unpublished stuff - some will ask for hard copy even for those. One thing to watch for is copyright dates - often there will be a date restrictions, so make sure yours is within the limit.
4. Make sure you receive a receipt for your payment and acknowledgement that your entry has been received. If not, follow it up. I had one site that required you to register to enter, but then wouldn't let me log back in to check so I had to chase up with emails to be sure they'd received my entry!
5. Keep your eyes open, perhaps even set up Google alerts. Not all contests will notify finalists and/or winners. Set your calendar to remind you of when various contest rounds end, although there may not always be a firm date published (for example the EPIC currently says finalists will be notified in early October) and sometimes deadlines for entry and results are extended without warning or notification.
6. Don't be downhearted if you don't win. The judges will be a subjective as your readers and as publishers and agents. People like different things, and not winning does not mean your book is bad!
Lists of suggested contests -
Book Awards for Self-Published Authors (this is also contests open to small press and/or traditionally published authors too, but the focus is primarily on self-published) -
RWA Chapter Events and Contests (this is obviously for romance subgenres, but is open to published/unpublished and/or self published authors) -
My personal experience and recommendations -
The Heart of Denver RWA Aspen Gold contest (they also have the Molly for unpublished authors)
The GCC Silken Sands Self-Published Star Award - romance, short stories and novellas that are self-published.
The Rebecca - Land of Enchantment Romance Authors (LERA) - for unpublished works
EPIC eBooks Awards - open to all digitally published works
Readers Favorite Book Reviews and Award Contest - open to all
The Kindle Book Review's Best Indie Book Awards
Good luck!
BIO:
A stay-at-home mum of three who spent twelve years working as an Analytical Chemist in a Metals 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. In between torturing her plethora of characters, she spends the odd free moments 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 20 years, she continues to roam the rest of the Universe in her head.
Pippa Jay is a dedicated member of the SFR Brigade, a community of science fiction romance authors and publishing professionals committed to writing and promoting the very best in the genre. Her works have won her the SFR Galaxy Award and RomCom Award, and made her a Readers Favorite finalist, Aspen Gold finalist, GCC Silken Sands Star Award finalist, and a Kindle Book Review Best Indie Book Awards semi-finalist.
Website - http://www.pippajay.co.uk
Blogs - http://www.pippajay.blogspot.
http://www.spacefreighters.
http://www.romancingthegenres.
Twitter - https://twitter.com/
Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/#!/
Google+ - https://plus.google.com/u/0/
SFR Brigade - http://www.sfrcontests.
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