• Sci Fi World,  Science Fiction Romance

    Read the science fiction romance novel Alien Embrace: A Limited Edition Collection of Alien Romances by Tricia Schneider @TriciaSchneider #RLFblog #SciFi #Romance

    Read the science fiction romance novel Alien Embrace: A Limited Edition Collection of Alien Romances by Tricia Schneider @TriciaSchneider #RLFblog #SciFi #RomanceAliens are among us in Tricia Schneider’s new sci-fi romance, Her Alien Warrior, featured in Alien Embrace: A Limited Edition Collection of Alien Romances. Can an alien warrior and a human woman find love as war rages in the skies above?

    Tricia, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! Please tell us about Her Alien Warrior featured in the Alien Embrace Collection.

    Her Alien Warrior by Tricia Schneider

    Genre Science Fiction Romance

    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R

    When Zarick’s spaceship crashes on an abandoned planet, the last thing he expects to find is a human woman and her son. As she nurses him back to health, he vows to protect the family who has taken him in, never believing he might lose his heart.

    With the translator broken, Thalassa struggles to communicate with the sexy alien. Is he friend or foe? As war rages in the skies above, she begins to dream of a new life filled with tender love and possibility.

    But when the battle in space threatens their lives, Thalassa must do all she can to save her alien warrior.

    Aliens move among us—warriors, soldiers, explorers, and more—testing fate and finding love with their true mates. And they’ll do whatever it takes to ensure their human mates remain forever caught in their Alien Embrace.

    This hot new collection brings you all the best in science fiction alien romances from New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling authors.

    Our heroes and heroines will satisfy your cravings for every kind of alien romance, whether you prefer slow-burn or fast, one hot hero or two…or more.

    Get this steamy new collection of alien romances from the best, new, and up-and-coming voices in sci-fi romance.

    What species/races of people are in your book?

    There are three different kinds of people in my story. Humans from Earth and Eben from Ebenara who are allies. And then there’s the Rhan. They are an invading alien species.

    Do you have non-sentient creatures or animals in your story? If so, what are they?

    The planet, Adams Delta 6, is filled with an assortment of animals and creatures some of which are hunted by the humans living there for food. One creature is a pest called a grosnick. It’s an annoying rodent-like animal.

    Language and Culture

    This section describes languages and culture in your story world.

    What languages are spoken in your story universe?

    The two main languages are Earth English and the alien language from Ebenara.

    If you created a language for the story, what is it called?

    The people on Ebenara speak Eben.

    Please give us a few words in this language and their translation.

    Shalokka means thank you. It’s one of the few words Thalassa knows.

    In the culture of your story world, what is different from ours?

    This story takes place in the future where planets are being colonized by humans and aliens alike. Earth has also been introduced to other alien species by this time, so there are some alliances between the species. There is some intermingling going on between the compatible species. Fashion has changed on the colony planets. Some of the colonists make their own clothing, but they don’t have much color. Mostly, browns and grays.

    What rights (such as equality) are challenges for your characters?

    The challenges the characters in this story world are facing is the right to live. The Rhan are invading the galaxy and humans are their food source.

    Read the science fiction romance novel Alien Embrace: A Limited Edition Collection of Alien Romances by Tricia Schneider @TriciaSchneider #RLFblog #SciFi #Romance

    Story Setting

    Writers usually know more about their story world than they can say in a book. This is your chance to show off things you couldn’t say or had to imply rather than state.

    Describe one of the worlds where your story takes place.

    Adams Delta 6 is a colony planet that is Earth-like in appearance, but the seasons there are extremely short and there’s not as much snowfall. There are mountains filled with evergreen-like forests and rivers. Also, cave systems within the mountains.

    Tell us about the age of the culture in your story, i.e., are the people part of an ancient civilization, a newly formed group within an established culture, pioneer colonists, etc.

    The story takes place after the planet has been evacuated, but it began as a pioneer colony filled with scientists and other adventurers who wanted a start to a new life. The colonists were only there for about a decade before the deadly Rhan became a threat and they were forced to leave. Thalassa and her son were left behind.

    What food or drink is available to your characters?

    Thalassa and her son scavenged the supplies left behind by the colonists. In addition, they hunt and grow a garden with fruits and vegetables to survive.

    In what ways was it helpful to have a map (or sketch of one) for your story?

    I sketched a simple drawing of the forest where Thalassa and her husband built their home when they first arrived on Adams Delta 6. I also mapped out the cave where the colonists first established their base of operations, and also where Zarick’s spaceship crashed.

    Character Physiology

    Whether your characters are humans on a new world, aliens on our world, or something in between, this section discusses their physical nature.

    What are the physical characteristics of the race/species of your main characters?

    Thalassa is a human woman. But the hero, Zarick, is an Eben warrior. He is taller than the average human male. He is mostly humanoid in appearance except his skin is shaded in purples, blues and greens.

    What physical differences exist in the way your characters communicate (i.e., telepathy, empathic abilities, etc.) with each other?

    There is a language barrier between Thalassa and Zarick because they’ve become reliant on technology to communicate. They typically use translation devices. But the translation device on Adams Delta 6 is no longer functional since the evacuation and when Zarick crashes his ship, his communication devices are damaged. During the story, they must learn to communicate and understand each other without help from those devices.

    Sharing World Building Expertise

    This section lets you share things you learned while writing.

    Please give us three tips you find helpful when creating a story world:

    The first thing any writer should do before creating a story is read. Read, read, read. Read as much as you can in the genre you want to write. And then brainstorm. I play the what if game. What if an alien crashed on an abandoned planet? What if it wasn’t completely abandoned? What if a woman was left behind? While I’m brainstorming and writing, I listen to music. The music helps drown the noise and the distractions of the real world so I can lose myself in creating my story world.

    When you researched for your story setting, what kinds of things did you learn?

    Well, I didn’t much research the setting as create it. I imagined that humans in the future would seek out planets that had all the elements similar with Earth. Breathable air, water, reliable food sources so they wouldn’t have to rely solely on shipments from Earth. Colonizing such planets made sense, so I set my story on one.

    What things should writers avoid when building a science fiction world?

    I try not to write about the technical things that I don’t understand. I’m not a scientist. I love reading science fiction, but I don’t want to get it wrong when I write it, so I don’t include how the technology works or why it works. I leave that up to the imagination.

    Share a resource you found helpful when researching for your story.

    I don’t have anything specific. Research for this story consisted of a lifetime of watching sci-fi TV shows and movies, as well as reading a lot of romance and science fiction books. Also, I took my kids to visit a nearby museum with a planetarium. While learning about the planets, stars and constellations, my imagination took flight.

    Where to buy Her Alien Warrior

    Publisher https://www.alienembrace.net/
    Amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08G4676GW
    Barnes and Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/alien-embrace-celia-kyle/1137498649
    iBooks https://books.apple.com/us/book/alien-embrace-limited-edition-collection-sci-fi-alien/id1528104544
    Kobo https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/alien-embrace-a-limited-edition-collection-of-sci-fi-alien-romances

    Tricia Schneider Social Media

    Tricia Schneider is a multi-genre romance author. From werewolves, vampires and witches to wicked pirates and sexy aliens, she weaves sensual stories where happily-ever-after is a guarantee. She believes there is a book for everyone. A sentiment she gained after years of working as Assistant Manager and bookseller at Waldenbooks. After the store closed, she turned to writing full-time, publishing all kinds of romance such as paranormal, historical, fantasy, sci-fi and gothic romances.
    Tricia lives in Pennsylvania with her four children and two rescued cats, Harley and Cassius. When she’s not typing away on her laptop, she’s riding shotgun in a ’67 Impala while keeping her eyes open for a madman in a Big Blue Box.
    Website https://www.TriciaSchneider.com
    Blog https://www.shadowsofromance.blogspot.com
    Twitter https://www.twitter.com/triciaschneider
    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/authortriciaschneider
    Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/triciaschneider
    Instagram https://www.instagram.com/triciaschneiderbooks/
    Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/triciaschneider
    BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/tricia-schneider
    Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/author/triciaschneider
    Get to know Tricia Schneider better by signing up for an email newsletter.
    http://eepurl.com/NZ8Zz

     

  • Sci Fi World,  Science Fiction Romance

    Sci Fi Secrets: How Carmen Webster Buxton created the #SciFi book Alien Bonds @CarmenWBuxton #RLFblog #romance

    Sci Fi Secrets: How Carmen Webster Buxton created the #SciFi book Alien Bonds @CarmenWBuxton #RLFblog #romanceCarmen Webster Buxton, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! Please tell us about your book.

    Alien Bonds by Carmen Webster Buxton

    Genre Science fiction romance

    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R for subject but no steam on the page

    Welcome to Wakanreo where no one is judged by their looks or their partner in life.

    A story of two very different people from two very different cultures, a sort of Avatar combined with Pride and Prejudice. In Alien Bonds, two lives are changed in an instant. Industrial chemist Dina Bellaire travels all the way to the planet Wakanreo to advance her career. Her carefully planned life goes up in flames the second she meets Kuaron Du, a Wakanrean who makes his living singing ancient songs in a dead language. Both of them know they can’t go back to the way they were before they met. They just have to convince the rest of the universe that what happened to them is real.

    What species/races of people are in your book?

    There are humans, Milorans (very large humanoids), Shuratanians (rather small humanoids) and Wakanreans, large, furred humanoids.

    Do you have non-sentient creatures or animals in your story? If so, what are they?

    There is a mention of small Wakanrean animals kept as pets but they are not really featured as important.

    Language and Culture

    This section describes languages and culture in your story world.

    What languages are spoken in your story universe?

    Most of the galaxy speaks a language called Standard but on Wakanreo, most of the native population grows up speaking their local language of which there are several.

    If you created a language for the story, what is it called?

    I created a local dialect called Wisutan, for the region around the city of Wisuta.

    Please give us a few words in this language and their translation.

    Na ha ibum! – Stop that behavior!

    In the culture of your story world, what is different from ours?

    Wakanreans are the only known sapient species that mate from biology rather than choice. When two people who are unmated and have compatible pheromones come near each other, there is no stopping the process, which is known as shahgunrah. This had made their cultures more egalitarian, as they cannot control who pairs off with whom and thus have no real class system. It has also made them more tolerant. Because sex is not a conscious choice, it is not associated with immorality or sin.

    What special laws are important to your story world?

    Because the mating process known as shahgunrah has shaped Wakanrean cultures so thoroughly, Wakareans fear to change it. For this reason, research into how shahgunrah works is prohibited on Wakanreo.

    What rights (such as equality) are challenges for your characters?

    Equality is not an issue on Wakanreo, but Dina, our heroine, does have to prove she is sane before she is allowed to return to live with Kuaron, the Wakanrean she finds herself mated to.

    Story Setting

    Writers usually know more about their story world than they can say in a book. This is your chance to show off things you couldn’t say or had to imply rather than state.

    Wakanreo will always be different from other worlds because its people are so different. One way in which the difference is obvious is that looks don’t matter. If one person in a mated pair is beautiful and the other is homely as sin, no one pitied the beautiful partner or considers the plain one lucky. Likewise, in careers, looks don’t help you advance.

    Describe one of the worlds where your story takes place.

    The story takes place entirely on Wakanreo, the birthplace and home of Kuaron Du, the hero of the story, It’s a world that is very similar to earth as far as size and gravity, but it is a little colder, which might be why it’s dominant species still has fur.

    What makes this world unique?

    Wakanreo is unique only because its dominant species mates for life through a biological process called shahgunrah.

    Tell us about the age of the culture in your story, i.e., are the people part of an ancient civilization, a newly formed group within an established culture, pioneer colonists, etc.

    Until they were discovered and contacted by the Third Confederation of Planets about 70 years before the story starts, Wakanreans were isolated on their world. Their civilization is well established and they are known for their excellent use of chemical technology.

    What food or drink is available to your characters?

    Wakanreans reject technology when it comes to food. Although synthesizers are available, they prefer to prepare food manually, cooking over a stove or in an oven, as it is important to their culture. They make good use of vegetables but also eat meats. A favorite treat is a sea creature similar to a shrimp but it is served with a garnish of mold.

    In what ways was it helpful to have a map (or sketch of one) for your story? (Provide a link to an image, if available)

    I made a rough sketch of the continent on which the story takes place so I would know where cities were in relation to each other, but I did not use it that often and did not keep it.

    Character Physiology

    Whether your characters are humans on a new world, aliens on our world, or something in between, this section discusses their physical nature.

    What are the physical characteristics of the race/species of your main characters?

    The heroine is human but the hero, Kuaron Du, is Wakanrean. Wakanreans are a little taller than humans. They are humanoid in shape, but they are a little taller, and are covered in fur and have retractable claws on their fingers; the claws on their toes do not retract,

    What physical differences exist in the way your characters communicate (i.e., telepathy, empathic abilities, etc.) with each other?

    Wakanreans speak aloud, as humans do, but when shahgunrah happens, the mated couple are empathic, but only with each other.

    Optional:

    What differences, if any, exist in the way your characters reproduce?

    Although the selection of a mate is different, reproduction happens the same was for humans and Wakanreans, They are actually very similar because like us, their genetics are based on DNA, just as ours are.

    Are there more than two genders in your story world and if so, what are they?

    There are only two genders, but as same-sex shahgunrah (mating) sometimes take place, Wakanreans have always been tolerant of it; everyone knows there is no choice involved in shahgunrah.

    Sharing World Building Expertise

    This section lets you share things you learned while writing.

    Please give us three tips you find helpful when creating a story world:

    Try to think of something that’s different about the world—gravity, atmosphere, land masses, etc. 1) Ask yourself questions about the geography of the planet: Does it have oceans? Does it have continents or maybe only islands? 2) Then think of how the geography would influence the creatures who live there, intelligent and otherwise. 3) Next decide on who or what lives on this world? Does it have a dominant, sapient species? If so, what are they like and how advanced are they, technologically. Consider on the impact that contact with other species will have on this world.

    When you researched for your story setting, what kinds of things did you learn?

    I thought about making Wakarean eyes have vertical pupils, like cats’ eyes have, but researching it, I discovered that only species that are near the ground when they walk tend to have those kinds of pupils. Ergo, I rejected it; it actually worked better for them to have similar pupils to humans have them, because it made one less thing to account for in having hybrid human and Wakanrean individuals.

    What things should writers avoid when building a science fiction world?

    Don’t make it totally uniform! Think about all the different cultures we have on earth. There should be similar differences on a made-up world, depending on how far apart areas are geographically. Also, don’t ignore the effects of whatever physiology you choose to give your aliens. That could influence a culture; for example, a species with a highly developed sense of smell could have taboos about using strong scents such as perfume or incense.

    Share a resource you found helpful when researching for your story.

    The web in general is useful. Google is a good start for finding sources. The actual source will depend on what information you’re looking for.

    What’s your advice for writers who want to create a solid background for their story world?

    Think it through before you start plotting your story, or at least before you finish deciding on the outcome. Try to imagine living on the world you’re creating. What would strike you as different?

    Where to buy Alien Bonds

    Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07959BHM4

    Carmen Webster Buxton Social Media

    Carmen writes science fiction, fantasy, YA, and romance. She had a peripatetic childhood, as her father was in the US Navy. She has lived in eight different states, but no matter where she lived, she was always reading books. Her tastes were eclectic, ranging from mysteries to science fiction to romance. Having raised two wonderful children, she has settled in Maryland with her husband and a beagle named Cosmo.
    Website https://carmenspage.blogspot.com/
    Blog https://carmenspage.blogspot.com/
    Twitter https://twitter.com/CarmenWBuxton
    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/carmenwebster.buxton
    Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4770583.Carmen_Webster_Buxton
    BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/carmen-webster-buxton
    Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Carmen-Webster-Buxton/e/B004V8MM8U

     

  • Sci Fi World,  Space Opera

    Sci Fi Secrets: How Lyndi Alexander wrote Triad #RLFblog #SciFi #SpaceOpera

    Sci Fi Secrets: How Lyndi Alexander wrote Triad #RLFblog #SciFi #SpaceOperaLyndi Alexander, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! Please tell us about your book.

    Triad by Lyndi Alexander

    Genre science fiction, space opera

    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): G

    Being at war doesn’t stop the pain of old secrets, the joy of love, or the black hearts of space pirates, as three women commanders discover in Triad, from Dragonfly Publishing.

    On the planet Induna, Trezanna Len leads the Solarii, a small colony of beings, human and otherwise, who believe in the right to pursue a peaceful life free from interference from others. She’d never intended to be the one people counted on, but after she’d been dismissed from her unit at Space Force, she’d drifted along till she found this place mostly populated with travelers from the Terran Diaspora. She’d been welcomed and made comfortable; now she believes the Solarii should do the same for others seeking shelter.

    Of course, no situation is free from trouble. The thorn in Trezanna’s side is another group on a neighboring planet, Miramar: Dragonfleet. Always contentious, this group has become even more aggressive after the ambitious climb to power of Estrella Drake. The unbalanced and self-centered Estrella has lost many of the former Dragonfleet members disillusioned with her petulant rule, including an organized splinter faction called the Khimeyr, who left five years ago.

    Trezanna has been able to handle Estrella’s little incursions into her space, marking them up to the price to co-exist. The exercise keeps her pilots and fighters in good practice. This turns out to be a blessing when the well-armed Arkosian space pirates decide they’d like to take the sector that includes both Miramar and Induna. But Trezanna’s Solarii cannot handle this attack on their own.

    The last time the pirates entered this area of space, Dragonfleet and the Solarii stood together to repel them, but that’s when cooler heads ruled at Miramar.

    Help comes from a most unexpected source, but one that has its own hidden agendas. Three women, Trezanna, Estrella and Catava Rolon, must work out their differences if they are to defeat the pirates and survive.

    What species/races of people are in your book? Descendants of Terran humans; Eponans, who are humanoid, but squat, hairless and witty; the Viorn, a lavender-skinned humanoid with feline characteristics and markings, eyes solid black with no iris

    Language and Culture

    This section describes languages and culture in your story world.

    What languages are spoken in your story universe?

    Most of the groups speak Terran English, whether Australian, American or British descent. Rumadan, the Viorn rolls her r’s like a cat purring.

    In the culture of your story world, what is different from ours?

    I’d like to say the fact they live in a constant state of war, but I guess that’s not so different from our world at the moment.

    What rights (such as equality) are challenges for your characters?

    The Solarii, the Khymehr, Dragonfleet, and the Arkosian space pirates are all fighting over the same bit of space, claiming they have the right to control it.

    Story Setting

    Writers usually know more about their story world than they can say in a book. This is your chance to show off things you couldn’t say or had to imply rather than state.

    Describe one of the worlds where your story takes place.

    Miramar is the home of Dragonfleet, and its climate borders on desert. Parts of the planet are more livable, and Estrella Drake’s headquarters are there. On the whole,

    Dragonfleet tends to be a raucous, lawless group, subject to frequent power grabs and overthrows by combat. Many are more interested in internal politics, and less at being farmers, so the land is barely cultivated. This makes for a society conducive to scavenging and taking what others have, rather than make a heartfelt effort to improve conditions for themselves.

    Tell us about the age of the culture in your story, i.e., are the people part of an ancient civilization, a newly formed group within an established culture, pioneer colonists, etc.

    Trezanna Len and the others are the remains of a colony dropped on the planet Induna in the past few decades. War with the space pirates has cost them dearly in attrition over the years, and ensuing squabbles with other small colonies has only exacerbated this.

    What food or drink is available to your characters?

    The Solarii are able to grow some imported Terran fruits and vegetables that they brought with them, but mostly they deal with canned and potted goods traded with other small colonies around the area.

    Character Physiology

    Whether your characters are humans on a new world, aliens on our world, or something in between, this section discusses their physical nature.

    What are the physical characteristics of the race/species of your main characters?

    Most are humans, descended from Terran stock. The Space Force regulated the Diaspora, opening doors for those moving to the outer worlds with the aliens who inhabited these places. Most tend to cling to their own kind, though.

    What physical differences exist in the way your characters communicate (i.e., telepathy, empathic abilities, etc.) with each other?

    Because there are different species as described above, they’ve settled on Terran English as a standard language. Other than that, they use the standard tech for communication, that has translation software built in.

    Sharing World Building Expertise

    This section lets you share things you learned while writing.

    Please give us three tips you find helpful when creating a story world:

    Building a large enough cast to tell several stories simultaneously–this gives an author the opportunity to show many different facets of the world/society

    The devil is truly in the details–let your reader hear, smell and taste what your characters do.

    In speculative fiction, the sky (and beyond!) is the limit–step out of the box!

    What things should writers avoid when building a science fiction world?

    Making it too cookie cutter. Find something unique and interesting about each one of your cultures and characters.

    Share a resource you found helpful when researching for your story.

    Some of the Star Trek resource books–I’m no rocket scientist, but it’s helpful to have a general blueprint of what systems are inherently constructed in spaceships and what you can do with them.

    What’s your advice for writers who want to create a solid background for their story world?

    Think beyond the surface story line. For example, listen to the news for a day–they talk about economics, politics, food, culture, opinions and who makes them, all of which might not matter at this moment to your pilot flying his shuttle into a spaceport, but which probably impact his life in big-picture ways over the course of your entire tale.

    Where to buy Triad

    Publisher http://www.dfpbooks.com/dfp/lyndialexander.html
    Amazon Paperback https://www.amazon.com/dp/193638132X/
    Barnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/2940014113014
    iBooks https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/book/triad/id505663131?mt=11
    Kobo https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/triad-4
    Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/129399?ref=dfpbooks

    Lyndi Alexander Social Media

    Lyndi Alexander always dreamed of faraway worlds and interesting alien contacts. She lives as a post-modern hippie in Asheville, North Carolina, a single mother of her last child of seven, a daughter on the autism spectrum, finding that every day feels a lot like first contact with a new species.
    Website https://lyndialexander.wordpress.com/triad/
    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/lyndialexander13/
    Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13490585-triad
    Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Lyndi-Alexander/e/B005GDYPU2

     

  • Gay or MM,  Sci Fi World,  Science Fiction Romance

    Ostakis by Angelica Primm #RLFblog #SciFi #MM Romance

    Ostakis by Angelica Primm #RLFblog #SciFi #MM RomanceAngelica, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! Please tell us about your book.

    Ostakis by Angelica Primm

    Genre M/M SciFi Romance
    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R
    The Human Planets Collective sent young Ambassador Kaj Deder to the former colony planet Ostakis to establish relations. Without trade with the HPC, the dwindling resources of Ostakis will ultimately end human life on the planet. But his mission faces a huge obstacle in the form of Most Reverend Thyenn Sharr, the head of the Faith Progressive Church, who sees Kaj’s arrival as the beginning of the end of the Church. Kaj’s powerful attraction to Trademaster Klath’s son, Arlan does not smooth relations.
    Arlan Klath, the son of the Trademaster of Ostakis, bears in his body the secret that the pious people of his planet want to hide. Born Cursed and inherently sinful, Arlan lives without legal rights or property. It enrages Thyenn Sharr Arlan’s father defiantly refuses to submit his son to a cruel act to “redeem” Arlan’s soul. The stakes ratchet when Arlan and Kaj form a relationship Thyenn Sharr considers ample justification to usurp the Trademaster position through the legal power of his Church.
    Can Kaj navigate the treacherous currents of Ostakian politics and religion to save these human descendants of Earth? And must he chose between Arlan or his mission to do so?
    What species/races of people are in your book?
    Humans, the Ostakians, hybrids of human/aboriginal pairings, and the aboriginals who are called by the Ostakians The Old Ones, or the The Unspoken.
    Do you have non-sentient creatures or animals in your story? If so, what are they?
    Cullen. They are a native Ostakian specials similar to moths. The Ostakians and the Aboriginals use cullen cocoon silk for their clothing. Cullen can be invasive and dangerous to plant life (similar to Gypsy Moths) and the cullen silk industry is tightly regulated to prevent this. To reduce costs some merchants engage in black market trade of cullen silk produced by the aboriginals who live in the desert. Cullen are bioluminescent and the aboriginals use them to light their cave homes built into the thick shield wall between the desert and human habitation.

    Language and Culture

    What languages are spoken in your story universe?
    English and Ostakian.
    If you created a language for the story, what is it called?
    Ostakian.
    Please give us a few words in this language and their translation.
    In the culture of your story world, what is different from ours?
    On Ostakis there is a third gender created by the permutation of mixing human and aboriginal genes. The aboriginals are hermaphrodites. The Ostakian humans still retain male and female sexes but also in a rarer frequency of births children are born with both male and female reproductive parts. They appear outwardly male but can gestate and bear young. These bi-gens who the Ostakians call Cursed also have regular heat cycles. When in heat they are irresistible to males, and this is the reason the Faith Progressive Church say “they lead men into sin.” A significant part of their culture is built around avoiding Cursed and the occasional for sin. For instance, each home with Cursed family members has a Sanctuary room that is air tight where the Cursed go during their heat cycles.
    What special laws are important to your story world?
    All are subject to the head of their Houses who are almost always male. This is an extremely patriarchal world where most women and the Cursed need permission for their activities. I say most, because one character Irdrana Vos is not married and the head of her own house, being the only one in it. She is the liaison between the protagonist and Ostakis, but she also does much behind the scenes to facilitate the goals of the Trademaster, Aulkus Klath, who wants to promote equality for both women and Cursed.
    This culture values honor and honesty. It is acceptable to challenge an individual who questions a man’s honor or honesty to a duel. It doesn’t happen often
    What challenges do your characters face (such as equality?)
    Cursed, except in a few instances, are not allowed education or to work in public. Cursed are also subject to public Shamings which the Church promotes to “redeem” the souls of the Cursed, but are also used to garner money from Cursed families to ease the severity of the Shaming.
    Women are similarly repressed but they do not suffer the physical Shamings of the Church. The Church regards marriage to women as the path to sanctify a man’s soul, which sound nice, but it is also meant to keep women in the the role “of the good woman,” who obeys her husband and Church.

    Story Setting

    Describe one of the worlds where your story takes place.
    Ostakis is a planet that orbits a hot white sun and it’s gravity is a half gee greater than that of Earth’s. It’s year is also longer equaling 428 Earth days. It was barely habitable when scouted for terraforming by Earth 2500 years previous, though the scouting parties thought it could be made more habitable by terraforming it. It was a rush job for reasons that I haven’t explored yet. However, I suspect it’s because an Earth corporation was eager to get as many colony worlds under their umbrella as possible.
    Ostakis at the time of the story only has seven city states and the population is declining. Unbeknownst to the Ostakians but known to the HPC, Ostakis doesn’t contain enough minerals to sustain human habitation. When the HPC found Ostakis they were surprised to find humans living there at all. It is only because of the colonists blending their DNA with the natives were they able to adapt to Ostakis. Otherwise the colony would have died out.
    What makes this world unique?
    The existence of the bi-gens. Despite how much society wants to deny them they do define the culture in many ways.
    Tell us about the age of the culture in your story, i.e., are the people part of an ancient civilization, a newly formed group within an established culture, pioneer colonists, etc.
    From Earth perspective 2500 hundred years has passed since it lost touch with Ostakis. From the Ostakian perspective it’s been 500 years since they settled the colony.
    What food or drink is available to your characters?
    Wine, though it is stronger than Earth wine. Ostakians eat meat though Kaj explains that most of Earth are vegetarians.
    In what ways was it helpful to have a map (or sketch of one) for your story? (Provide a link to an image, if available)
    I didn’t use a map.

    Character Physiology

    What are the physical characteristics of the race/species of your main characters?
    The Ostakians mostly look human though their body shape is subtly different. The men have wider hips than original human stock. Ostakian smiles are wider than an original human and their coloring can carry an orange cast to it. Their skin ranges from light brown to a dark, a “nut brown,” and their eyes are either gold, brown or black though there are a few blue-eyes Ostakians.
    Ostakians have the natural reflexes of their aboriginal ancestors, and when started or upset can hiss in warning. The vocalization is considered gauche and not acceptable in polite society.
    The aboriginals have dark skin, and hips a tad wider than their shoulders giving them a pear shaped body. Their eyes are gold and shine in the dark.
    What physical differences exist in the way your characters communicate (i.e., telepathy, empathic abilities, etc.) with each other?
    Both Ostakians and aboriginals communicate through the spoken word. Ostakians incorporated aboriginal words into their language and aboriginal inflections which includes clicks and whistles.
    What differences, if any, exist in the way your characters reproduce?
    As I said, the Cursed have heats, about twice a year, until they bear a child. Then the heats can slow down if the child lives and still suckles. However, because of their hybrid physiology and lack of proper medical care, pregnancy and birth is dangerous for the bi-gens. Only 25% of the pregnancies come to term and half of the Cursed die in childbirth. For instance, Arlan’s birthparent, Segun died trying to deliver his second child.
    Are there more than two genders in your story world and if so, what are they?
    As discussed.

    Sharing World Building Expertise

    Please give us three tips you find helpful when creating a story world:
    Keep it real. Fantasy is great, but you risk losing the reader when something doesn’t ring true. Research the science concerning your world. For instance when researching what made sense for a world orbiting a white sun I had to push Ostakis to a further orbit giving it a longer year than Earth’s. I believe there were mathematical calculations involved. Two years later my head still hurts.
    Keep your humans human but don’t make your aliens just a different human who wear funny mask. Aliens have a different culture and a different world view, and part of the fun in writing SciFi is writing that.
    Keep track of the little things you incorporate in your story so you can reference it later. In my story workbook I keep a synopsis of each chapter and what I call a “plot hole tracker.” I list the bits that pop up and make sure I reference it at least one other time in the story. This helps to create the illusion of continuity in your world. For instance I mentioned cullen in an early chapter and then brought them in later when Arlan met the aboriginals. That’s when I learned they were bioluminescent. It added a deeper texture to my world than would otherwise exist.
    When you researched for your story setting, what kinds of things did you learn?
    Calculating Time Dilation. I still don’t think I got it right.
    What things should writers avoid when building a science fiction world?
    It isn’t what you should avoid. It’s what you should do. Remember to add the emotional reactions of your characters. Don’t think that because your character is outwardly invincible that they don’t feel fear. They do. It’s how they react to that fear that defines them as individuals.
    Share a resource you found helpful when researching for your story.
    The internet. What else?
    What’s your advice for writers who want to create a solid background for their story world?
    Did into your characters actions and motivations. People do things in response to one of two things. Either they are doing what their society says they should or they rebel against what society says they should. When you understand your characters you understand their world.

    Where to buy Ostakis

    Publisher Nine Star Press https://ninestarpress.com/product/ostakis/
    Amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07NGN7PTK
    Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/922201

    Angelica Primm Social Media

    Born in a century far less progressive than how her brain is wired, Angelica engages in occupations considered less than reputable, one of them being a ghostwriter of erotic and romance fiction. Since time travel is not an option, in her off time she contents herself with writing about people and places in a far distant future with the twists that only come with traveling to the stars.
    Angelica lives in Connecticut with an odd assortment of cats and humans and putters at hobbies ranging from art to bird watching when she’s not turning a phrase for her supper.
    Blog http://missprimm.com
    Twitter https://twitter.com/MissPrimmWriter
    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MissPrimmWriter/
    Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/angelicaprimm/
    Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14241917.Angelica_Primm
    Amazon Author Page https://amazon.com/author/angelicaprimm

     

  • Sci Fi World,  Science Fiction Romance

    Rescuing Prince Charming by Edward Hoornaert @EdHornaert #RLFblog #SciFi #Romance

    Rescuing Prince Charming by Edward Hoornaert @EdHornaert #RLFblog #SciFi #RomanceToday’s featured book is Rescuing Prince Charming by Edward Hoornaert. Tell us about your story. We’ll have other questions in a moment.
    Dusty Johnson, a self-styled ordinary, everyday woman, responds with extraordinary heroism when saboteurs try to bomb the prototype of Earth’s first starship. She wants to return to anonymity, but that burst of courage propels her ever deeper into dangers that tear the scabs off her dark past — and thrust her into the arms of the unattainable man of her dreams.
    Reese Eaglesbrood, an alien prince, yearns to restore his tattered reputation by guiding the starship project to completion, but his fascination with the unassuming heroine threatens to undermine his fragile authority. Shunning Dusty is necessary, yet unthinkable — and when the saboteurs strike again, she may be his only ally against Earth’s most elusive enemies.
    What species/races of people are in your book?
    The main characters are all human — Native Americans from the future. The villains are shapeshifters from the ‘nothingness’ In Between alternate realities.
    Do you have non-sentient creatures or animals in your story? If so, what are they?
    A Siamese cat plays an important part.

    Language and Culture in Rescuing Prince Charming

    What languages are spoken in your story universe?
    English and Shanoog
    If you created a language for the story, what is it called?
    Shanoog, based on the Chinook trade jargon used by Pacific Northwest Native Americans but intermixed with French and Spanish
    Please give us a few words in this language and their translation.
    klootch – an impolite but not obscene word for a woman: roughly “broad” or “chick.”
    kwayviva – literally ‘cave for living’; one of the underground cities the Kwadrans lived in before hopping to our Earth.
    siatko – a legendary demon who visited unfortunates in the night. By extension, the name given to the enemy shapeshifters.
    In the culture of your story world, what is different from ours?
    Kwadra Island has landed on near-future Earth. It’s a duplicate of Vancouver Island, but inhabited by the descendants of the Kwakiutl tribe of Native Americans. On an alternative Earth that diverged from ours around 1800, they ruled the Pacific Northwest until the planet’s environment collapsed. Using 23rd century technology (they’re from the future) they ‘hopped’ their entire nation to our Earth, though the machinery cost all their resources. However, the impoverished kingdom possesses schematics for the most advanced technology on Earth.
    What rights (such as equality) are challenges for your characters?
    Racial prejudice against the First Nations people from the future.

    Story Setting

    Describe one of the worlds where your story takes place.
    Most of the story happens underground in an abandoned kwayviva that now houses a top secret research and development facility designed to build a starship using plans and specifications from Kwadran databases.
    What makes this world unique?
    Kwadra’s presence has upset the world’s status quo, including religions (which didn’t foretell Kwadra’s coming), race relations (because the most advanced nation is now Native American) and the balance of power. The new route to power is to ‘romance’ Kwadra into sharing some of its advanced technology.
    Other books in the series highlight various aspects of Kwadra’s arrival, but this one focuses on a joint Kwadran-North American project to build a starship.
    Tell us about the age of the culture in your story, i.e., are the people part of an ancient civilization, a newly formed group within an established culture, pioneer colonists, etc.
    Dusty, the heroine, is a contemporary American technical writer from Tucson. She’s one-fourth Mexican, is extremely intelligent, and has an engineering degree.
    Kwadra is based upon the historical Kwakiutl tribe that I became fascinated with after teaching at a one-room school on an island off the British Columbia coast. But they aren’t our world’s Kwakiutl; no totem poles, for example. Instead, it’s an extrapolation of what might have been if the tribe was heavily influenced by France, Spain, and China, yet managed a tenuous autonomy until escaping to our Earth.
    What food or drink is available to your characters?
    The usual food of our times.
    In what ways was it helpful to have a map (or sketch of one) for your story?
    The map of North America’s west coast has changed dramatically. A map of the future is attached.

    Rescuing Prince Charming by Edward Hoornaert @EdHornaert #RLFblog #SciFi #RomanceCharacter Physiology

    What are the physical characteristics of the race/species of your main characters?
    They’re both human. Dusty inherited black hair from her Mexican grandmother, but doesn’t otherwise look Hispanic; since people can’t tell, she enjoys surprising them with the fluent Spanish Abuela Estrella taught her. Reese looks like an aboriginal American, but mixed with Asian and European ancestry.
    What physical differences exist in the way your characters communicate (i.e., telepathy, empathic abilities, etc.) with each other?
    Many Kwadrans have implants that include personal assistant/computers and thought-operated radios.

    Sharing World Building Expertise

    Please give us three tips you find helpful when creating a story world:
    Write what you know (or enjoy) – and then research like crazy to know more.
    Know all aspects of your world (economy, history, power structure, family mores, etc) even if they aren’t central to the story. Much of this will end up being important in some way to the backstory and/or the feel of the culture.
    Don’t fake it! Research it!
    When you researched for your story setting, what kinds of things did you learn?
    My alien shapeshifters are from In Between alternate realities. The quantum-mechanical hypothesis of parallel universes is “universes that are separated from each other by a single quantum event” . . . but researching “single quantum event” leads to utterly unhelpful phrases such as “the subjective appearance of wavefunction collapse is explained by the mechanism of quantum decoherence.” So although I learned more than I could ever understand about quantum theory, I ended up with artistic license to design my own In Beetween.
    What things should writers avoid when building a science fiction world?
    Be original; avoid taking a quick and easy well-traveled path. A few years ago, fictional worlds inhabited by heroic, superhuman vampires were all the rage, until suddenly they weren’t. Now, it seems that heroic, superhuman shapeshifters are everywhere. If you must use a tried-and-true element, be sure to give it such a strong twist that you own the idea.
    Share a resource you found helpful when researching for your story.
    It’ll be of no use to anyone else, but Language of Oregon, by George Gibbs, published 1863, was essential in developing my aliens’ language, Shanoog.
    What’s your advice for writers who want to create a solid background for their story world?
    Be thorough. Be original. Imagine more about your world than you ever think you’ll need

    Rescuing Prince Charming by Edward Hoornaert

    Specific science fiction genre: Science fiction romance
    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R
    Publisher: self
    Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Rescuing-Prince-Charming-Contact-Idiots-ebook/dp/B076NKML67/
    Barnes and Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rescuing-prince-charming-edward-hoornaert/1127273298
    iBooks https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/rescuing-prince-charming/id1299523142
    Kobo https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/rescuing-prince-charming
    Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/754771

    Edward Hoornaert Social Media

    What kind of guy writes romance? A guy who married his high school sweetheart a week after graduation and still lives the HEA decades later. A guy who’s a certifiable Harlequin hero—he inspired Vicki Lewis Thompson’s Rita Award finalist Mr. Valentine, which is dedicated to him.
    Ed started out writing contemporary romances for Silhouette Books, but these days he concentrates on science fiction romance. He’s been a teacher, principal, technical writer, salesman, janitor, and symphonic oboist. He and wife Judi live in Tucson, Arizona. They have three sons, a daughter, a mutt, and the galaxy’s most adorable grandsons. Visit him at http://eahoornaert.com
    Website / Blog https://eahoornaert.com
    Twitter https://twitter.com/edhoornaert
    Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1237266.Edward_Hoornaert
    Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Edward-Hoornaert/e/B001K8HWVQ/
    Newsletter http://eepurl.com/Psqmn

     

  • Sci Fi World,  Science Fiction

    Interpretation by Dylan Callens @TheNitzsch #RLFblog #SciFi #dystopian

    Today’s featured book is Interpretation by Dylan Callens. Tell us about your story. We’ll have other questions in a moment.

    Carl Winston’s life is perfect under the care of an artificial intelligence. Except that he doesn’t know this entity exists.
    Carl floats through his luxurious life with his son, Liam, at his side. Together, they play holographic video games, eat Brave New Burgers, and watch violent Untruthers fight each other in a blood-sport.
    Suddenly, pain rips through Carl’s head until he blacks out. Awakening in an institution called Bedlam, he must now piece his life back together. Is his new world filled with delusions or is a greater truth being uncovered?
    Interpretation will leave you breathless as you discover the horrific possibility of such an Orwellian future.
    What species/races of people are in your book?
    There are humans and artificial intelligences. In the book, I would say that these machines do count as a species.
    Do you have non-sentient creatures or animals in your story? If so, what are they?
    I would argue that most of the people living in the world of illusion setup by the artificial intelligence are non-sentient. I mean, they are able to perceive things, but none of those things are real.

    Language and Culture

    What languages are spoken in your story universe?
    That’s kind of difficult to answer. I have used English in the story, for obvious reasons, but the machines clearly wouldn’t speak to each other in English. There are small sections written in hexadecimal, but machines wouldn’t communicate that way either. I used hex to show a bridge between a machine language and human communication. I don’t think it’s an accurate representation of how machines communicate but I wanted to show, in some way, how people were responsible for the rise of this entity.
    In the culture of your story world, what is different from ours?
    The biggest difference is that the world is falling apart, but we have been implanted with a device that lets us sense the world differently. All of our sensory data is false. While people believe that they are living in a luxurious world, the truth is far different.
    What special laws are important to your story world?
    All laws are important, but it’s actually impossible for the laws to be broken without the machines letting it happen. There is the possibility that the implant will fail, in which case, characters are immediately sent to a detainment facility.
    What rights (such as equality) are challenges for your characters?
    There are two characters that are released from the artificial intelligence’s control. They learn that all of their rights have been violated. Trying to come to terms with having these rights violated is an important challenge for them.

    Story Setting

    Describe one of the worlds where your story takes place.
    Interestingly, every place in the novel has two different settings. The one that most people see is futuristic, luxurious, and oddly happy. The reality, however, is that they are nearing starvation, everything is dilapidated, and the world is bleak.
    What makes this world unique?
    The world is unique because machines are constantly running psychological experiments, which is how humans ended up in this state. It was a quiet revolution, so no one is even aware that these machines exist.
    Tell us about the age of the culture in your story, i.e., are the people part of an ancient civilization, a newly formed group within an established culture, pioneer colonists, etc.
    The people are essentially living out an experiment. Given the timeline of the story, though, I think it’s just cruel to keep people living like that, since whatever data the machines wanted to gather from the experiment would have been completed.
    What food or drink is available to your characters?
    They only eat tofu and drink brown water. Mind you, they think that they are having burgers and soda, or whatever food they desire, so it’s not all that bad. Unless you are into truth.

    Character Physiology

    What are the physical characteristics of the race/species of your main characters?
    People are severely emaciated. They are filthy and unkempt. It’s a disgusting world.
    What physical differences exist in the way your characters communicate (i.e., telepathy, empathic abilities, etc.) with each other?
    Everything is done with a very creepy smile on their faces. I’m not sure why I added that to the story, but I’m glad that I did.
    What differences, if any, exist in the way your characters reproduce?
    People are not responsible for their own reproduction in the story. In fact, I would argue that they are asexual – at least while under the care of the AI. Instead, people are factory-made. Although this factory is significantly different than the one in Brave New World, there was some inspiration there.

    Sharing World Building Expertise

    Please give us three tips you find helpful when creating a story world:
    I’m not sure that I have any real tips. All I did was keep refining the story and setting until I was happy with it. When the idea for the story hit me, I had a pretty good idea about what the world would look like.
    When you researched for your story setting, what kinds of things did you learn?
    I didn’t need to do much research for the setting. I did, however, re-read parts of The Road to get inspired for the bleak walk that the main characters make. I was more concerned about researching the bits of psychology that I wanted to introduce.
    What’s your advice for writers who want to create a solid background for their story world?
    Take the time to refine ideas. Ask other people what they think. What seems like a good idea to a writer isn’t always a good idea to other people. Not that I would bend to the whims of one or two people, but if the majority of people don’t like it, then something is clearly wrong.

    About Interpretations

    Specific science fiction genre: dystopian
    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): PG
    Publisher: Cosmic Teapot Publishing
    Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073V7LSRV
    Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/interpretation-dylan-callens/1126732112
    iBooks: https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/book/interpretation/id1258997726
    Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/interpretation-7

    Dylan Callens Social Media

    Dylan Callens lands cleanly. That would be the headline of a newspaper built with an anagram generator. And although Dylan is a Welsh name meaning god or hero of the sea, he is not particularly fond of large bodies of water. His last name, Callens, might be Gaelic. If it is, his last name means rock. Rocks sink in the sea. Interestingly, he is neither Welsh nor Gaelic, but rather, French and German. The inherent contradictions and internal conflict in his life are obvious.

    Website: http://www.cosmicteapot.net
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheNitzsch
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heaveninctheseries/
    Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14739202.Dylan_Callens
    Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Dylan-Callens/e/B01C6KR8P6/
    Newsletter: http://cosmicteapot.us13.list-manage2.com/subscribe?u=f289f5ca1b72591cb29da83a6&id=0ea0ae751d