SFR Brigade Summer Cafe - Weird Science Serves Up The Dish On Superpowers

Welcome to the SFR Brigade Summer Cafe! 

For those who aren't familiar with the SFR Brigade it is the home of some of the best science fiction romance authors on the planet. If you love your sci-fi to have more than stone faced machines shooting weird aliens you'll want to check out the SFR Brigade Library. The books are all wonderful, and because you're already here, you can enter to win some of the titles during the Summer Cafe Giveaway.

Sound fun? Great! Than let's get going. I was asked to blog about weird science because I write about superheroes and they are about as weird as science comes.

No, I take that back, all science is weird.

Science is really frikkin weird. Especially if you don't understand it. Even if you study science for decades of your life there's new, cool things being discovered every day.

Science is actually a little bit magical.

How do lights work? Well... electricity, right? We all know the basic answer, but hand a person a pile of sand and some copper wires and ask them to build a light bulb and they'll think your nuts. Most people don't think they do science, not outside the classroom. In actuality most of us do at least one form of science every day: COOKING.

Cooking is the perfect alchemy of magic and science. It's where faith and chemistry collide. Getting that souffle to rise. Keeping the cheesecake from morning. Make the perfect chocolate chip cookies... these are all the fine arts of science. You could spend a lifetime mastering these skills, or you could cheat and use the replicator from Star Trek.

What do you think? Are you old school cook-it-from-scratch or are you ready for your tech to cook you breakfast? Leave your answer in the comments and one lucky winner will be picked to receive a copy of any ebook title I have. If you have all my books the winner may pick a title by another SFR Brigade author. The winner will be picked Friday afternoon Alaska time.

Be sure to stop by the other blogs for chances to meet new authors and win more fabulous prizes!

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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?

Breathless Press -  (and for the whole of August, Breathless Press is offering 50% off to celebrate their 5^th 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?

~*~

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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 (3^rd place), and the GCC RWA Silken Sands Star Awards (2^nd 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.

Love, Lust, and Lipstick Stains Read of the Week!

Guess which book Love, Lust, and Lipstick Stains Reviews fell in love with this week? That's right! Heroes and Villains Book 2 - EVEN VILLAINS GO TO THE MOVIES!

Angela Smith has superpowers—nothing that will ever make her comic-book famous—but her ability to psychically sense and manipulate the emotions of people around her has drawn unwanted government attention. Forced to choose between her quiet life as a teacher under constant surveillance or the life of a rogue, she chooses the latter. She plans to hide out in sunny Los Angeles where being a blue-eyed blonde won’t make anyone bat a false eyelash.

Silver screen star by day, superhero by night, Arktos is a triple-threat. He can fly, freeze anything, and see glimpses of the future, all of which he needs to keep the city of Los Angeles safe, but which does nothing for his social life. When a frightening vision of an explosion leads him to rescue a damsel in distress, he finds himself trading Shakespearean insults with a rogue.

Angela knows just how dangerous well-intentioned superheroes can be: one tried to kill her family when she was young. Arktos knows he should hand the rogue over to Company justice; it’s not safe for someone like her to be in the middle of a fight.

But they can’t seem to stay apart. And together, they just might be able to melt all the obstacles standing between true love for a hero and a villain.

Choosing between good and evil has never been this much fun.

Breathless Press | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | Smashwords | Bookstrand | ARe | GoodReads

¸.·´¯`·.´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º>

And Night Owl Romance Reviews has been seduced by TALES FROM THE SFR BRIGADE. Check out this glowing review of the free anthology! 

If you haven't picked up TALES FROM THE SFR BRIGADE yet I suggest you go download it now. You deserve a good book, and it's free! 

SFR Brigade and the Brenda Novak Auction for Diabetes Research

Space boots and collectibles and novels, oh my! Memorabilia, movies and more. Check out the SFR Brigade category in the Brenda Novak Online Auction for Diabetes Research! And help support a good cause!

This is your one chance to get a print copy of the TALES FROM THE SFR BRIGADE anthology. A print copy with author swag including signed bookplates, bookmarks, and more. 

You can't buy the anthology in print, it's ebook only except for the author copies. And there can be only one winner. So get your bid in on this highly collectible book. 

REBOOT Cover Reveal

REBOOT by Pippa Jay

“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.”

About Pippa

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.

Goodreads ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Pinterest ~ Google + 

Tales From The SFR Brigade

Several of you have asked when TALES FROM THE SFR BRIGADE will be available from Amazon. The answer is, "Soon."



Our main problem with Amazon is that the anthology was free, and Amazon does not like free books. They have to start at 99cents and price match. So, before we could do anything, all the authors and editors had to agree what would happen if copies of the anthology sold in the week or two between being free, and being on sale for 99cents.


Decisions have been made. The anthology is going to go on Amazon soon, but it's going to be snuck on there very quietly, and then promoted after the price drop. The important thing for you to know is that, yes, TALES FROM THE SFR BRIGADE is coming to Amazon soon.

Why aren't more science fiction books written by women?

As it turns out, it might be because fewer women are writing science fiction. At least from the publisher's perspective. In fact, fewer women are writing in general.

Julie Crisp, the editorial director of Tor UK, wrote an article addressing the accusation that publishers are responsible for the obvious sexism on the shelves. It's eye opening.

Only 32% of submissions are from women. Right there we have a 1:3 ratio caused by the authors, not the publishers. Of those submissions, an overwhelming number were in YA/UF/Paranormal Romance. Not horror. Not sci-fi. Not epic fantasy.

Women aren't writing those genres. Or, if they are, they aren't sending their manuscripts to Tor.

Why aren't women writing in those genres? That's a very good question.

I have a very skewed perspective because 1) I'm a woman writing science fiction, 2) I belong to the SFR Brigade which is largely women writing science fiction, and 3) most my friends are like me regardless of their relationship to the SFR Brigade and they too write science fiction.

But I'll throw in my two cents...

First off, Big 6 publishers tend to be a little scary, especially their slush piles, and the general feeling of authors on the internet is that they are a desperate measure of last resort. Especially since some slush piles require an exclusive and can take a year or more to respond (Tor UK is open to sim-subs and has about a 12 week turn around - hint hint). That means the Tor slush pile is probably not the best test subject if you want to look across the industry. It does explain why so few female authors get picked out of the slush pile.

Second, there's an urban legend running around that says publishers won't buy books from women because books by women don't sell and it becomes this circular monster of cause and effect. I've never seen this substantiated. I've never had a publisher say this is true. But the rumor is out there and I think it does scare some people away. They have an idea, maybe they've even written the book, but they won't try to publish because they're convinced they'll be rejected.

Third, a couple of times I've run into people who say they think it would be hard to write sci-fi. There's a fear that you need to be an astrophysicist to write good science fiction. That's like saying you need to be two to write a picture book. Sci-fi is for the dreamers. The best sci-fi books are about ordinary people who choose to do extraordinary things... in space! You don't need space marines, or galactic empires, or a peacekeeping fleet to write sci-fi. Don't be scared of sci-fi. It's a big genre and you can get away with anything if you're sneaky enough.

Fourth, science fiction is not the darling of the genre world right now. Ignoring the SFWA nonsense it's easy to look at the publishing industry and see YA is selling well. Lots of agents rep YA. Lots of YA hits the bestseller list. Lots of YA authors are very visible on the social media sites. A few years ago everyone was writing vampires. A few years from now everyone will be writing spaceships. Because I have a plan.

We're all going to write more science fiction. It can be YA science fiction. It can have vampires in spaceships. It can have strong, beautiful women rescuing the men they love. It can have tentacles. Science fiction is a big genre where everyone can play there doing whatever they want. There can be magic in sci-fi. M'LADY WITCH is sci-fi and there's a unicorn on the cover. ACORNA is about a unicorn in space. All those dragon novels set on Pern? Science Fiction. They had spaceships AND dragons.

And then, everyone is going to read more science fiction. We can make science fiction work for everybody at any age. If you don't believe me, send me an email telling me what kind of books you like and I'll find a sci-fi title you'll love. 

Are you ready for this?

The Plan

Write More Science Fiction.

Read More Science Fiction.

Repeat.

Sci-fi: you're going to love it. 

Blog Hop Winners!

Thank you to everyone who participated in the second annual SFR Brigade Midsummer Blog Hop!

The winner of the 30-minute skype session/a chance to name a character and a copy of EVEN VILLAINS FALL IN LOVE is:  Elizabeth Hyatt aka @Bookattic

The winner of EVEN VILLAINS FALL IN LOVE is: Jo Carol Jones who tweeted about the giveaway.

Ladies, please send me an email to let me know what format you'd like your book in - liana.brooks1 at gmail. 


The blog hop grand prize winners are:

First prize of a $150 gift card and a 30+ ebook bundle - Debra Guyette


Second prize of a $50 gift card - Lucinda Copeland


The four third prize winners of a $25 gift card - Jbst, Ashley Tucker
Ashfa Anwer and Corrine Alexander ­

SFR Midsummer Blog Hop

A year ago I released FEY LIGHTS into the world as an ARC during the first ever SFR Brigade Midsummer Blog Hop. Coming full circle today with another SFR short story due out shortly (PRIME SENSATIONS in the Tales From the SFR Brigade anthology) I can't help but reminisce over what a crazy year it's been! Lots of highs, and some horrible lows, but mostly what I've seen is a steady growth. New fans are finding my books. New editors are picking up my books (love you, Paula!). And new books are coming soon (Heroes and Villains Book 2 anyone?).

Really, that's the heart and soul of sci-fi and science fiction romance. The willingness to dive into the unknown and not back down when the going gets tough. To run into the heart of the ion storm without fear knowing that the ones you love will never let you fail. Every perfect story has it's ups and downs. Every perfect love has rough patches, doubts, and fears. Happily Ever After doesn't come to the ones who let the fears win, it comes to the ones who fight for what they believe in no matter what.

In honor of that love and fighting spirit I'm giving away FEY LIGHTS again for free until July 1st. You can download it from smashwords with coupon code LU93A. Grab a copy and share the coupon with your friends. The more the merrier! And if you win the grand prize e-reader with FEY LIGHTS already loaded give me a shout, I'll send you a copy of EVEN VILLAINS FALL IN LOVE.

Happy blog hop everyone!
 Liana

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You know you want some prizes from me! First prize is either a 30 minute skype sessions to talk plotting and publishing OR you get to name a character in Heroes and Villains Book 3. You'll also get a copy of Heroes and Villains Book 1: EVEN VILLAINS FALL IN LOVE.

Second prize is a copy of EVEN VILLAINS FALL IN LOVE -or- a comparable Brigade title if you already have all my books. If you have all the Brigade books (we love you!) or you don't have an e-reader I'll send you a gift certificate for Sock Dreams, my favorite place to sock shop.

For the blog hop Grand Prize you will need to enter via the rafflecopter below so we can contact you. The prizes this year are amazing, and I know you'll love these books, so don't forget to comment!

1st Prize - $150 Amazon or B&N gift card (winner's choice) and an ebook bundle (currently Ghost in the Machine, Bayne, Recast Book
1:Wither, Recast Book 2:Clash, Alien Adoration, Switched, Reckless
Rescue, Wreck of the Nebula Dream, Keir, Terms & Conditions Apply, The
Key, Marya, The Iron Admiral, Sasha’s Calling, Trouble at the Hotel
Baba Ghanoush, Winter in Paradise, Once Upon a Time in Space, the
Telomere trilogy, Winter Fusion, Blue Nebula, Demential, Wytchfire,
Maven, Fires of Justice, Interface, Girl under Glass, and Breakout.
Bonus books – Ghost Planet, The Iron Admiral: Conspiracy and
Deception, and Games of Command.)

2nd Prize - $50 Amazon or B&N gift card (winner's choice)

3rd Prizes - four $25 Amazon or B&N gift cards (given to separate winners and their choice)

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And to get your hands on even more prizes, you can hop to the other blogs listed below and see what they have on offer for you. Good luck!


 

Summer Hours!

Can you believe that summer is finally here? I thought winter would never end! But it's here and the beaches are beautiful! Really, really, amazingly beautiful. Which is why I'm on vacation this month instead of blogging...

... you know I would have smuggled you in my luggage if I could. Honest. If I thought you would fit I would have taken all of you with me. We could have rented a bus or something.

No worries though. There will be random blog posts popping up through the month of June plus the big SFR Brigade blog hop the 21st through the 25th of June. I have some fun prizes planned for my blog (who wants to be a superhero, y'all?) and the Brigade has some *amazing* things for you. Plan on making an appearance!

 1st Prize - $150 Amazon or B&N gift card (winner's choice) and an ebook bundle (currently Alien Adoration, Dementional, Wytchfire, Ghost Planet, The Iron Admiral, Games of Command, Keir and Terms & Conditions Apply)

2nd Prize - $50 Amazon or B&N gift card (winner's choice)

3rd Prizes - two $25 Amazon or B&N gift cards (given to separate winners and their choice)

Cover Reveal!

 

From the Brigade Website:

The anthology features nine stories from nine different authors in a variety of styles and settings including space opera, near future, apocalyptic, Earth-based and alien romance. (You may even discover some favorite characters from Science Fiction Romance in the line-up. *wink*)

The price of the anthology? Free!

Our plan is to conquer the universe reach a wide audience with this stellar story sampling--especially all the Science Fiction Romance fans out there who don't yet realize they are SFR fans! (Resistance is futile.)

We're shooting for a midsummer launch of the Tales from the SFR Brigade Anthology.

Are you excited yet? I'm excited! Isn't that cover fabulous? Okay, sure, my characters aren't blond but that's irrelevant! Look at the shiny cover with my name on it! Look at all those awesome authors I'm named with!

And it's going to be FREE! So you can dip your toes in the waters of sci-fi romance without risking a single penny.

Be excited! Be very, very excited! Resistance is futile.

Sunburst Press

SCI-FI ROMANCE E-PUBLISHER LAUNCHES

SFR Brigade member and author Misa Buckley has launched an e-publisher specializing in science fiction romance. SUNBURST PRESS opened its doors on May 1st, 2013 with a submission call for Close Encounter stories, as well as general submissions.

Sunburst has four imprints:
•    SUNBURST: single-title science fiction romance novels of 60,000 – 100,000 words.
•    FLARE: novellas of 15,000 – 60,000 words.
•    ECLIPSE: dark science fiction romance with no happily-ever-afters/happy-for-nows required.
•    CORONA: erotic sci fi romance with hot sex scenes (including BDSM) and multiple partners.

All stories should include well-rounded characters and plenty of action. Open door sex scenes are preferable, but not mandatory, and should be part of a growing or an established relationship. SUNBURST includes novels with LGBT characters across all imprints.

The science fiction sub-genres Sunburst is looking for includes Apocalyptic, Cyberpunk, Dystopian, Future Earth (Apocalyptic, Dystopian or other), Space Opera, Space Western and Time Travel. Fantasy elements can be included if there is a scientific reason for them.

How to Submit:
Submissions are by email only.

In the body of your email, please include your book’s blurb, genre and word count, as well as a short bio of yourself, including any previous publications. Please attach your work – emails with novels pasted in the body will be deleted.

Attachments should include a synopsis up to three pages and the entire manuscript. Please label your attachments as TITLE-SURNAME-MS and TITLE-SURNAME-SYNOPSIS.

All attachments need to be .doc or .rtf. Format must be Times New Roman set to 12-point, 1.5 line spacing with no return between paragraphs and one inch margins.

When you are ready to submit, please email: submissions@sunburstpress.com ensuring that the subject of your email reads as QUERY: TITLE–SURNAME

Please allow 4-8 weeks for a reply. If you do not receive any reply by that time, please feel free to email for a status update.

Big Announcement!!!

I'm very happy to announce that I have a short story coming out this year in Tales from the SFR Brigade, Volume I anthology. Authors and stories in alphabetical order by story title... (Drum roll, please!)

“Allure” by Amy Laurens

“Envy’s Revenge” by Berinn Rae

“Imprint” by Pippa Jay

“MISSION: Nam Selan” by Linnea Sinclair

“Nobody’s Present” by Marcella Burnard

“Sensations” by Liana Brooks

“The Stranger” by Kyndra Hatch

“Thief’s Ransom” by Jaleta Clegg

“Whisky and Starshine” by Erica Hayes

How excited am I to be included in this anthology? I'm over the moon! Linnea Sinclair is one of my all time favorite authors, and one of the reasons I dared to even write SFR. Leaving my Traditional sci-fi background where heated looks were the end of relationships and embracing the romance as it were. 

If you like sci-fi at all you are going to love these stories. Space ships, epic battles, heart-breaking romance, and Happily Ever After are all on the agenda. I can't wait for you to read this!

Should I Aplogize For Thinking About Sex?

The Nebula Award Finalists have been announced. I found the comments illuminating...

Maddog writes: "Sure is a huge slant towards women and the non white male. If we don’t start counteracting all the relentless one sided articles soon. Then SF is going to look a lot like the Romance Genre. And the funny thing is there wasn’t even a fight.
Thats my Counterpoint Mirror to todays Half Truths(its the other half that will complete you)"

David Greybeard writes: "I was about to comment on that myself. It’s a very girly list for the most part. But looking back a few years, the Nebula’s been that way for quite some time.
Not much of interest here for my reading tastes. I read 346 books last year and my tastes are quite wide and roaming, but I do tend to stick to male authors.
That said, I’ll pick up a copy of the Mary Robinette Kowal’s series. As I’ve heard great things about it by folks I trust."

Carl V writes: "The Mary Robinette Kowal books are good, and an easy series to judge, in my opinion, on whether or not a person will connect with it. If you enjoy the period drama of stories like Jane Austen then these are a no-brainer. If that is not your thing I strongly suspect that these won’t appeal to you."

Yup, that's what us poor, deprived, vagina-owning cattle write about every single day, period romance. That's it. The full scope of our mental capabilities is thinking about men in kilts because we all know women only ever think about sex. All day. Every day. I walk down the street and it's all I can do to stop myself from ripping the clothes off of every male I see. If I see a kilt there's just no stopping me. I must have sex with men who wear kilts. It's in my genetic code. I'm only a woman after all.

And I know guys understand this. I know it must be horrible for the males who venture out in broad daylight with bodyguards who see women seconds away from raping them at every turn.I'm sorry guys. I would never want to intimidate my male readers so I hereby pledge to keep my filthy, female, nymphomaniac ways confined to hot lovin' with my legally wedded husband.

My minute by minute obsession with sex has led me to write several books about men in kilts and the women who rip their clothes off them in period romance settings. You'll notice all my books advertised off to the left, complete with the mandatory rippling pectorals. Please feel free to buy (or take since several are free) those books and enjoy...


... um...

Wait. I'm looking at these covers and - people! - there are no kilts! Ohmigosh! How could this happen? Did I grow penis in my sleep those are sci-fi and fantasy books!

Hold on. I've got to go to the little ladies room and check to make sure I'm still a lady.

... crisis averted. I am still the proud owner of a vagina. And, apparently, a brain that writes MAN FICTION!!!! Everyone gasp with me now. One, two, three... GASP!!!!

Sexless, gory, violent Man Fiction.

Well, okay not exactly sexless. I'm a woman after all. I like sex. That just comes with the territory.

Do you think I should apologize?

I mean, I get it. Most adults are not in a sexual relationship and never have been. It is unlikely that anyone over the age of 18 will ever be in a meaningful, long-term relationship with another human being. Especially if they are not together with someone they trust for a long period of time as you might find in combat situations or when populating a new planet.

Sex in science fiction is completely unrealistic, I see that now. Only women like sex and SF should be the bastion of male strength and freedom from their vagina-weilding oppressors. Just like ancient Rome. (NSFW)

Yup. Got it.

o.0

Dear Ancestors, if I have to explain the irony of this to anyone I may just give up on the human race entirely. 

Love is a human emotion. Anger, hate, fear, hope, joy... all of these are what make us what we are. Trying to cut any of these emotions out of a genre weakens not only the book, but the genre itself. No on, least of all an avid fan of a genre, should demand that romance by removed from the storytelling.

I can understand if graphic erotica isn't your thing, it isn't mine either. I know that not every book can have the Happily Ever After that's the hallmark of the romance genre. I want the bloody conflicts, tactical geniuses, and tense battles of science fiction as much as anyone. But I want those characters in the book to be as human as we are.

They must have weaknesses. They must have fears. They must have friendships. They must have dreams. They must, however briefly, have love. For a human without love is the saddest thing in all the universe.

If you are interested in reading Science Fiction Romance and don't know where to start in this subgenre I highly recommend considering the works of Louis McMastr Bujold, Linnea Sinclair, or any of the fine authors listed in the SFR Brigade Library.

I haven't read all of the books nominated for the Nebula Award but I did read THRONE OF THE CRESCENT MOON, it's fantasy but a new twist on the old tropes and I think many of you would enjoy it.

As always, I want to point out that most of this post is satire, and I apologize if you find this offensive. Frankly, I'm over this nonsense. I don't care who writes the books as long as the book is good. I hope you feel the same way. If not, the little red X at the top right of your screen will make this whole horrible nightmare go away.

Good News!

Over the weekend I received an email about a story I'd forgotten I'd sent out (as you do). I have a short story coming out in an anthology later this year! Woo hoo!

When I know the title and the release date of the anthology I'll give you all that information. Right now, let's kick back and celebrate my first acceptance of the year! *confetti*

Terrathief

... is done!

Coming in at 12k and finishing it at 11:20pm when I promised Pippa Jay I would email it by midnight, it's done!

TERRATHIEF is the first about Lana, who is a prisoner of war after a failed raid on a weapons compound, and Kaleb di Vera, the soldier who she loved and who left her behind. Their enemies, the Iloni Imperator and his fleet, have claimed victory and sovereignty over the outer planets for three years, but Kaleb has a plan to end the war once and for all. A plan that includes rescuing Lana from prison, and convincing her that he wasn't the one that betrayed her.

WARNING: This short story includes explosions, a hot soldier who never gives up, a snarky ex-pirate who likes to hold a grudge, and a sensual dinner that will make you melt.

Frosty Author

It's freezing here! Literally, there-is-frozen-water-outside freezing and not just Liana-is-cold freezing. This is the universally agreed upon kind of cold! And I'm stuck in it! I want to crawl under my blankets and hibernate until spring. You wouldn't mind, would you?

Oh...

You would?

Can I at least have another blanket?

*takes all the blankets*

Did I mention I have a new WIP? That's right, I have a new military SFR series called the Apex Wars that I'm working on. The first story is tentatively titled TERRATHIEF and is intended for the SFR Brigade anthology coming out next year. ... I know. "Intended" is about the same as "We're engaged to be engaged."

Let's say the release of TERRATHIEF will be sometime in 2013. Is that better?

Now, I want to hear your guesses, what do you think TERRATHIEF and the Apex Wars will be about?

Winner of DEGREES OF WRONG

The winner of DEGREES OF WRONG is Amanda Gordon!

Amanda, I'll send you an email tonight with all the details.

FEY LIGHTS...

The eARCs of FEY LIGHTS have been sent to everyone who signed up for one during the blog hop. If you were expecting one and you don't have it in your in-box please check your spam folder, and then check to make sure that you left me an email address and format preference during the blog hop. Several people commented but failed to leave their email address.

These ARCs are what I use to make sure the formatting is correct. I only have the Kindle and Nook apps on my phone, and I'll sit down next week to read through and make sure everything in FEY LIGHTS is formatted correctly. If you see something wonky (or heaven forfend a typo! I have nightmares about misplaced commas...) please email me so that I can fix the problem before FEY LIGHTS is given an ISBN and released for sale in July.

If you don't want to bother with an email, I'll make sure to check this comment thread for feedback on the story, the formatting, and the cover (do we like it - I'm still torn).

Thank you so much for participating in the SFR Brigade Midsummer Blog Hop! I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
-Liana

Midsummer Magic - Part of the SFR Brigade Midsummer Blog Hop

There's something a little magic about Midsummer, isn't there? The sultry air, the song of the crickets, the stars twinkling above you. Midsummer nights are made for falling in love while you walk in the moonlight with that special someone.

I've always wanted to attend a masked ball on midsummer's eve, no doubt inspired by watching Shakespeare's BEATRICE AND BENEDICT ... er... I mean MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING one too many times as a child. Which is funny since a midsummer post should lead naturally to thoughts of The Bard's MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, but I like Beatrice and Benedict better. There's a bit of magic in their romance.

And what is magic if not science that we don't understand?

One of the best parts of science-fiction romance is that we get to explore the shadowy region separating magic from science. Love, in every form, is magical. No matter how much we study love, or try to reduce it to its chemical parts, love defies scientific understanding. The expression of devotion between a couple who are truly in love is something science can't define. Something that can't be recreated in a lab (except between the scientists perhaps, but that's another story).

My new story, FEY LIGHTS, goes even further into the dark jungle dividing magic and science to explore two civilizations divided by the loss of technology. Jeani is a genetically modified human from a technologically advanced civilization who crash lands onto a human world that has lost their technological advancements. On that world strange lights that we might call comets or auroras are called Fey Lights, and are considered a gateway to the fairy realm. When Jeani's rescuer finds her under the Fey Lights... well... you'll see! Let's just say that fairy magic isn't the only thing lighting up the night sky.

Blog Hop Prizes

1 Scarf and Fairy Scarf Ornament from Artease Wearable Art - open to US residents only

2 SFR Prize packs - open internationally - The winners will receive two SFR books of novella length or longer and a recommended reading list of ten books selected just for them based on their reading interests. This prize will include emails from Liana and is perfect for someone new to SFR who doesn't know where to start and SFR fans who are looking for something new to read.

50 Advanced Reader Copies of FEY LIGHTS to the first fifty people who comment on the blog with their email and preferred e-reader format. A copy of FEY LIGHTS will be included with the other prize packs as well. *note* Don't be intimidated by the number of comments, about half of those are mine. There are still ARCs available!



a Rafflecopter giveaway


*Note* Buying EVEN VILLAINS FALL IN LOVE this weekend counts twice because it also an SFR Brigade book.

Now... go enjoy the rest of the hop!

On Friday 22nd June (Pacific Time) the SFR Brigade will be holding its first ever Blog Hop to celebrate Midsummer. 36 fabulous science fiction romance authors will be telling you mystical or scientific stories related to the event, and they'll each be giving away a prize - books, gift cards, swag bags...and lots more!

Plus there's TWO GRAND PRIZES!

1st Prize - a Kindle Touch or Nook Touch
2nd Prize -a library of science fiction romance titles from over 20 authors (these will be mostly ebooks with one print anthology), and an Anabanana Gift Card.

All you need to do to enter is pop along to the blogs listed below and comment on as many as you want (only ONE comment per site will count as an entry). Each time you comment at a stop, you'll earn one entry into the grand prize - so the more sites you visit, the greater your chances of winning. The winners will be drawn at random on the 24th June and announced on this site. The list of participating authors can be found below this post. Spread the news!