2009 PRISM Awards...

The Fantasy, Futuristic and Paranormal chapter of RWA is pleased to announce the final placements in the 2009 Prism Contest.

Dark Paranormal:

First Place: Mona Lisa Craving by Sunny

Second Place: Immortals: The Redeeming by Jennifer Ashley

Third Place: Hotter After Midnight by Cynthia Eden

Light Paranormal:

First Place: Wicked Game by Jeri Smith-Ready

Second Place:La Vida Vampire by Nancy Haddock

Third Place: The Trouble with Moonlight by Donna MacMeans

Erotica:

First Place: Siren Singing by Isabo Kelly

Second Place:Carnal Desires by Crystal Jordan

Third Place: A Mermaid's Kiss by Joey W. Hill

Fantasy:

First Place: The Dragon Master by Allyson James

Second Place:Dragonborn by Jade Lee

Third Place: King of Sword & Sky by C.L. Wilson

Novella:

First Place: "Dark Nest" by Leanna Renee Hieber

Second Place: "Kung Fu Shoes!" by Jade Lee in These Boots were Made forStomping

Third Place: "The Spacetime Pool" by Catherine Asaro in Analog Science Factand Fiction magazine

Futuristic:

First Place: Shades of Dark by Linnea Sinclair

Second Place:Fallen by Claire Delacroix

Third Place: Moonstruck by Susan Grant

Time Travel:

First Place: Twist by Colby Hodge

Second Place:A Sexy Time of It by Cara Summers

Third Place: Madman's Dance by Jana G. Oliver

Young Adult:

First Place: Sleepless by Terri Clark

Second Place:CHOSEN: A House of Night Novel by P.C. Cast

Third Place: Cave of Terror by Amber Dawn Bell

Best First Book:

La Vida Vampire by Nancy Haddock

Best of the Best:

The Dragon Master by Jennifer Ashley w/a Allyson James

Congratulations to all who placed, and a big thank you to all who entered,all who judged, and to the FF&P board for making it all possible.

Jennette Heikes & Theresa Kovian,

FF&P Prism Contest Coordinators

******

And congratulations to all of my friends who won, and who have been such an encouragement for my writing. Thank you. I hope that I can get to know the rest of you soon. You did well.

Frances

Writing Science Fiction Romance

Real Love in a Real Future

Review: HOPE’S FOLLY by Linnea Sinclair

Publisher: Bantam

ISBN-10: 0553592181

ISBN-13: 978-0553592184

Science Fiction Romance

February 24, 2009

Hold on to your hats. Fasten your seatbelts. If you love Science Fiction Romance or action-adventure Space Opera, Linnea Sinclair’s newest addition to the Dock 5 Universe has been released! Hurry to your local bookstore, Amazon, Barn & Noble, Borders, or your best friend’s house and grab it. You are in for a non-stop, roller coaster, fun ride. Click on the title links below for my reviews of the prior books in the series to get a feel for the Dock 5 Universe. HOPE’S FOLLY is a “stand alone” but a quick background update will enhance your reading experience.

The first book in the Dock 5 series was the 2006 RITA Award winning GABRIEL'S GHOST, in which we meet Captain Chasidah (Chaz) Bergren, Gabriel (Sully) Sullivan, and Imperial Fleet Admiral, Philip Guthrie. Philip is Chaz’s ex-husband and a real tight-a$$ed, by-the-book, kinda guy, except…

In SHADES OF DARK, the second in the Dock 5 series, the Empire has fallen to pieces, and Chaz and Sully rescue Philip immediately after he sees all of his senior officers murdered. He is forced to reassess everything that he has ever believed. He finally understands Chaz and Sully’s deep love, and can only wish them the best. In the last conflict of SHADES, Philip’s leg is shattered and he almost loses his life to “once more” save Chas, Sully and the rebel Alliance. Perhaps he isn’t quite the up-tight, by-the-book guy that I first thought…

When HOPE’S FOLLY begins, Philip has lost everything and is on the run from the imperial bad guys. He is now a rebel Admiral without a fleet. Only partially recovered, with a still healing leg, he is traveling to take command of Hope’s Folly, a decommissioned imperial cruiser/orange hauling freighter, named after the resident cat, Captain Folly! What can Philip say? The price was right, and rebels (i.e. beggars) can’t be choosy. He knows there is going to be trouble when assassins try to kill him before he ever leaves the Kirro Space Station. He knows there is going to be trouble when the gorgeous woman aiding him turns out to be the daughter of his best friend, mentor, and one of his murdered officers. He remembered Rya Bennton as the green-pea flinging brat, Rya the Rebel, whom he first taught to shoot a gun. Now she’s a statuesque beauty and security expert who gets really turned on by big guns. “Can I fondle it?” That had to be one of the funniest lines that I have read in years.

After trials, tribulations, and foiled assassination/kidnap attempts, Phil assumes command of his new flagship…err, well, sort of. Nothing is going according to plan. They are running against a deadline (the imperial bad guys are coming and killing people along the way), and everything keeps suspiciously breaking down…and smelling of oranges. Philip’s got a cat in his bed when what he really wants is his security officer. He can’t trust anyone; there’s a spy onboard; and he can’t afford distractions. He’s already screwed up one marriage, is too old for Rya, and he’s too busy to love or be loved. He has a job to do…but (sigh), she certainly is incredible. Her father would kill him if he knew what he was thinking!

Rya Bennton has had the best security training that the Empire has to offer…but they killed her father and she wants payback. She has come to Kirro Station to join the Alliance, and protects a distinguished “older/crippled” gentleman from an assassination attempt before she realizes that: 1) he isn’t “that” much older; 2) she knows him; and 3) he is the “always and forever dream hero” of her childhood.” He might not be interested in her, but she can keep him safe and be the best security officer he ever had. Besides, he has that really big gun.

Linnea does an especially good job of balancing the story from Philip’s and Rya’s Points of View. Philip and Rya are intelligent, principled, dedicated people, with terrific senses of humor. They are a perfect match for each other, and I thought their problems realistic. It’s wonderful to watch characters grow as individuals as their respect for each other develops. By the end of the book you know that what they have found will last. I particularly enjoyed Philip’s growth from being a “company man” to being a maverick doing whatever it takes, molding a totally dissimilar group of people into a team able outsmart the best that the Empire can throw at them. I liked seeing Rya learn to trust her instincts, and do what she knows to be right. I liked seeing her finally realize that she is attractive and loveable.

HOPE’S FOLLY is much lighter in tone than either GABRIEL’S GHOST, or SHADES OF DARK. Even though the majority of the book takes place in a shipyard, the layers of tension only escalate with each malfunction. There’s no doubt that they have a saboteur onboard. I couldn’t tell who it was and was waiting for the other shoe to drop. I kept asking myself, “Are there more than one?” Besides being a Science Fiction Romance, HOPE’S FOLLY is an excellent thriller. The stakes are raised on every page, so that I now have band-aids on my knuckles.

One additional thing that I would like to pass on to Romance fans: HOPE’S FOLLY is character driven with an excellent suspense plot. In addition to superb characterization, Linnea is a master of World Building. Many Romance readers are afraid of Science Fiction because they fear technology. Let me allay you fears. Her techno-babble is so expert and natural that you won’t even be aware of it. It’s rather like your cell phone or TV remote. So go with the flow, and enjoy.

Happy Reading,

Frances

Writing Science Fiction Romance

Real Love in a Real Future

This and That, and a Lot of Fun

Things have been busy around my house. Spring has been springing...off and on...since the first of January. Daffodils, hyacinths and forsythia are blooming, and the weeds are sprouting. One day it’s in the 70s and another it’s in the 20s. One thing that you can count on in the Deep South is that the weather will be totally unpredictable three out of the four seasons. Summer is guaranteed hot, but we’re not there yet, thank goodness. We have four more months of off and on good weather. *G*

Most of my time, recently, has been spent working on THE HUSBAND, my work in progress, and reading and writing a review of Linnea Sinclair’s HOPE’S FOLLY, which will be released Tuesday. Wow is it good! That review will be up as quickly as possible. It all hasn’t left me much time for blogging. I want to alert you to a few items which you might find of interest.

KimberAn, of The Star Captain’s Daughter, has posted her Young Adult Science Fiction Romance novel, THE STAR CAPTAIN’S DAUGHTER is online to be read or downloaded for free. This is a book of her heart and an engaging coming of age story. Growing up is so hard to do. Check out the opening chapter at Tia Nevitt’s Fantasy Debut.

Jess, of Jess Granger’s Butterfly Blog, is continuing to post her outrageous, interactive ETHEL THE SPACE PIRATE. Due to other writing obligations, in the future, she will be posting new episodes every other week. You never know what is going to be happening to Ethel, because Jess lets her readers vote on possible future courses of action. It is out of the frying pan into the fire in each episode, and always a hoot. Go back and read all the episodes from the beginning. It’s worth it to come away with a grin on your face. While you are at it, don’t forget to vote on the peril into which Ethel will be thrown in the coming episode. It’s your choice. Kudos for a gutsy writer for tackling so many possible scenarios!

For sheer fun, and hang on to your seat laughter, drop in at

Heather's The Galaxy Express:

Cosmic Idol: The Star Wars Edition
Cosmic Idol II: The Wrath of the Star Trek Edition
Cosmic Idol III: The Final Conflict

I dare you to keep a straight face on any of these. :-)

Happy Reading,

Frances

Writing Science Fiction Romance

Real Love in a Real Future

Be Careful What You Ask for...

You just might get it.

For the past year or so I have been praying for critique partners. Not just any critique partners, but partners who would understand my brand of Science Fiction Romance, and who would challenge me to write at a higher level. Well, my prayers have been answered... with some unexpected results.

Recently, Linnea Sinclair offered to set up a file for patrons of her Intergalactic Bar and Grill to use to critique each other. That's a good thing. Considering the number of her patrons who are: 1) writers; 2) techno-geeks; and 3) really know their Science Fiction and Romance, it's a really, really good thing. And did I say, that although they won't hesitate to hold your feet to the fire, they are a very nice group.

Since fools rush in where angels fear to tread, I quickly uploaded the prologue of my WIP, The Husband. I was soon facing some very penetrating questions. Oh my gosh, I had to seriously think to answer them. I have known for some time that The Husband will be controversial. Better to confront some of the questions now, so that I can hopefully deal with the hypothetical fan at some point in the future.

Next, I got a detailed critique from one partner, and another is on the way. Eeeek! She used Mark-up and Track Changes in MS Word. Bill Gates, I don't know nuth'in 'bout no Track Changes and Mark-up! For the past few days I have been studying the Help section of MS Word trying to learn everything that I can about that aspect of Word.

Let me tell you, writing is tough, especially when you have to learn Mark-up and Track changes. But you and I need to do it anyway. And if you're serious about your writing, you need critique partners too.

Gotta run, the Supreme Pasha Zackery has served notice that he wants to go star gazing, and he wants to go NOW! :-D

Happy Writing,

Frances
Writing Science Fiction Romance
Real Love in a Real Future

Review: SHADES OF DARK by Linnea Sinclair

Publisher: Bantam (July 29, 2008)
ISBN-10: 0553589652
ISBN-13: 978-0553589658

Shades of Dark is the sequel to Gabriel’s Ghost, the winner of the 2006 RITA Award for best Paranormal Romance. If you haven’t read GG first, please read it before proceeding. It will greatly increase your enjoyment of SD. Linnea feels very strongly about this. Need I say more? Since SD is a recent release, I’ll try to stay out of spoiler territory. I know, it’s hard, but I’ll try. I’ll just say that it is Sully’s BIG secret from GG which determines the course of SD. It’s all one story.

Shades of Dark picks up Chasidah (Chaz) Bergren’s and Gabriel (Sully) Sullivan’s story three months after they destroy the first jukor lab on Marker Shipyards, only to find that there is yet another jukor lab. They’re hunting this lab as their relationship deepens and Sully’s abilities increase... much to the horror of his uber-ethical self. Another problem is that the bad guys know they exist; and Chaz and Sully are now being hunted as terrorists. Added to that, someone is betraying them. When the betrayers are revealed, the reader will be furious. Personally, I thought that Sully was ‘way’ too nice to them. But then, I never claimed to be nice.
Meanwhile, back in the galaxy, politics has gotten a lot nastier. The Empire is unraveling, and vultures are gathering. Chaz’s brother Thad has been arrested, and is being used as bait to catch Chaz and Sully. Throw in Chaz’s ex-husband, who only wants what’s best for her, and a Stolorth Prince, who... only God knows what he wants!

Jukors are still being born; and women are still dying, and lions, and tigers, and... oh my! Loyalties are being tested, and spies are everywhere. Chaz and Sully have no one to trust but each other. However, when Sully is involved in something beyond his control, he shuts Chaz out. When a final betrayal and a tragic misunderstanding of natures and cultures lead to death, Chaz and Sully’s trust is tested to the limit, a limit which only love and forgiveness are able overcome.

Shades of Dark is a much darker story than Gabriel’s Ghost. This is entirely appropriate, considering the circumstances. There is a lot of ambiguity here. It has non-stop action and seamless Science Fiction world building. Above all it is an emotional story of profound love and respect growing through, and overcoming terrible trials. The tension level is not for the faint of heart, but the rewards are worth it. The ending leaves plenty of room for more to come for Phillip Guthrie, in Hope’s Folly, coming in spring 2009. Yippee! And if Bantam is smart, much, much more for Chaz and Sully in another book. My fertile imagination sees all sorts of possibilities for more adventures for Chaz and Sully. Oh wow! After all, there is still a galactic Alliance to save, and Sully’s inheritance, and Sully’s abilities, and... Write to Bantam, and tell them we want the rest of Chaz and Sully’s story! The URL is http://www.bantamdell.com/.

Happy reading,

Frances

Writing Science Fiction Romance

Real Love in a Real Future

Review: GABRIEL'S GHOST by Linnea Sinclair

Publisher: Bantam (October 25, 2005)
ISBN-10: 0553587978
ISBN-13: 978-0553587975


I make no secret that Linnea Sinclair is one of my favorite authors, both as a Science Fiction Romance writer and as a person. I think that she is an excellent writer; and she is unfailingly generous with her time in mentoring of aspiring authors. Therefore, since she expressed her strong preference that Shades of Dark, the sequel to Gabriel’s Ghost, not be reviewed without the reviewer having first read GG, I went back and reread GG. It has been almost four years since I first read it, and I have to say that the 2006 RITA Award winning book was even better the second time around. I am reviewing GG first, and will soon review SD.

GG takes place at a time in the future when the galaxy is heavily populated by at least three sentient species: Humans, Takas, and Stolorths. And, the Humans... even if they do control the Galactic Empire, are the newcomers to the neighborhood! Commerce and greed are alive throughout the galaxy. Religion, both tolerant and bigoted, thrives. Family squabbles are the same as it ever - nasty. And politics is - down and dirty!

Captain Chasidah (Chaz) Bergren, has just been court-martialed and sentenced to an ‘inescapable’ prison planet for life... and she has no idea why. She kills a guard who’s trying to rape her, meets an old flame who is supposed to be dead (Sully), helps Sully eliminate a jukor (read - hideous, evil, vicious, killing monster), and initiates her escape. And, that’s all before page twenty! To say that this book’s action is fast-moving is an understatement. It is out of the frying pan into the fire, all the way.

As much as I like the action, it is the characters who really win my heart. Chasidah is smart, principled, and her mother wore combat boots. There’s not a single time that I thought TSTL. She’s utterly professional, yet also all woman. Gabriel (Sully) Sullivan, is charming, smart, ethical to a fault, and loves Chaz with ‘all that he is.’ But, boy, does he have a BIG secret! And the rest of Sully’s crew? You’d want to take most of them home to Mamma, even if they are blue, gilled and ripped... or, tall and a little fuzzy.

Chaz, Sully, and the crew set off to rid the Empire of the lab breeding said ‘hideous, evil, vicious, killing monsters,’ and to find out who is behind it all. In the process, Chaz finds true love, and also why she has been a pawn of galactic politics. Also Sully begins to find the acceptance and love for which he has searched his whole life... because of said BIG secret. This book engages from page one, on multiple levels, and never lets the reader go.

Trust is a major theme in GG, and Chaz and Sully learn a lot about love and trust through the course of their trials. GG is the first in a series; therefore, the ending, although extremely satisfying as a courtship Romance, is left open ended, as is all real life. They find and destroy the jukor breeding lab, only to discover that there is another. Uh-oh!

Also, Chaz and Sully have more to discover about themselves and their relationship. Linnea has left room for more battles against evil, and more room to explore a maturing love in SD. I am so glad to see this, because I think that a maturing relationship is much more interesting than a courtship, and is too often neglected. Thank you, Linnea.

Happy reading,

Frances

Writing Science Fiction Romance
Real Love in a Real Future

Has Frances Been Writing?

When one has access to the Net, one is online blogging, researching, or answering e-mails etc. Before you know it, the day is gone and you have not written a single thing in your WIP. Bummer!

Ah, but having been forcibly Netless for the last three weeks, how did use my time? Well, I read, and I wrote, and I judged a contest. I'm leaving out those pesky little items like laundry, and cleaning house, that you're really not interested in.

First: I reread Linnea Sinclair's Gabriel's Ghost, and then read Shades of Dark. I also reread Lois McMaster Bujold's Cordelia's Honor. All of these were worthy reads and I will be posting my reviews of them over the next several weeks. Just in case you wonder, I will only be reviewing books that I like. Books don't have to be perfect, but I refuse to open a can of worms by saying what I really think about something that I DON'T like! I may be crazy, but I don't think that I am a total fool. Those of you who know differently... just be quiet!

Second: I worked on my Science Fiction Romance WIP, The Husband. I have been spending entirely too little time on this. The forced time away from the Net made me realize this, and it will be corrected. I also began writing an Adult/Children's book about the Supreme Poodle Pasha Zackery. I did receive his permission (this is authorized after all), but only so long as I also included his harem girl, MaxieCat in it. He also insists upon royalties... but, Mygosh! I haven't even finished it, much less gotten an agent yet. Ah, the perils of educating children!

Third: As I told you in my I have jumped into the pool. post, I volunteered to judge a writing contest for the RWA Futuristic Fantasy and Paranormal Chapter. It was a fabulous (if somewhat difficult) learning experience, and worth of its own post. Just give me time and I'll get them all out there.

Happy writing,

Frances

Writing Science Fiction Romance
Real Love in a Real Future

Science Fiction Romance Week...

I sometimes feel like the odd man out in the regular Romance community because; besides the fact that I enjoy historicals, paranormals, and contemporaries, I also like Science Fiction Romance. It's what I write it after all.

I am particularly fond of: Linnea Sinclair, Lois McMaster Bujold, Susan Grant, C.J. Barry, Elizabeth Lowell, Jayne Ann Krentz, and Linda Howard, all of whom have written great SFR. I truly admire the imagination and intellect of all of these authors. There are others such as Catherine Asaro, whom I am only now getting to know. They just write such great plots and characters!

If there are any of you who also like this up-and-coming genre, the Spacefreighter's Lounge is having a Science Fiction Romance Week. I am a little late to the party because of the blasted computer, but it's still going on. Go join the fun, and find out what is happening in the future of Science Fiction Romance. :-)

The Spacefreighters’ Lounge.

Happy reading,

Frances

Writing Science Fiction Romance
Real Love in a Real Future

Trouble in River City...

Linnea Sinclair just doesn't understand what she's done. She has allowed her kitty, Miss Doozy to pimp her next Science Fiction Romance, Shades of Dark, coming out this Summer. It's the sequel to her RITA Award winning Gabriel's Ghost. But no. She has shamelessly used her child for self-promotion. Follow this link and see if I'm not telling the truth.

http://www.bluemountain.com/view.pd?i=190647464&m=5109&rr=y&source=bma999

You know, it wouldn't be so bad if Miss Doozy was a real dog... But... oh, no, that isn't the politically correct term. She's actually a very sexy kitty. But this is where the problem lies. You see, my son, the Supreme Pasha Zackery (above, when he was six months old) sleeps across my shoulders when I'm working. Being the intelligent Poodle that he is, he immediately took notice of the sexy Miss Doozy with the object of adding her to his harem. Ten pounds of testosterone can be such a trial to a mother. He just will not take no for an answer. He sees no problem with an inter-species romance and can't understand why Linnea or Miss Doozy would not be thrilled with his overture. Now he's asking me to let him to pimp my book. I told him, "It isn't finished yet!" Take a look and tell me, do you think he would make a good spokesman? If a cat does it, shouldn't he?

Frances

Trying to Write Science Fiction Romance

Real Love in a Real Future

Stormaphobia

Sheesh, yesterday was something. The storm that came through blew the power to he!! and gone. We only got partial power back late last night. I still only have just enough juice to power this dinosaur computer. The rest of the house, including the fridge is O-U-T. Luckily, there is some oatmeal in the kitchen cabinet and the stove is gas. Wow! I can eat this morning. "In all things give thanks." At least I won't be getting any fatter today. Gee, I hope they get the rest of the power fixed today. The last I heard, there were at least 100,000 people in the area without. Our whole town was, so there is a whole choir of us belly aching.

I had been writing on my manuscript early yesterday, and had not been paying attention to anything except my character's trials and tribulations in the distant future, when, I thought, "Gee, ya know, it's getting a little dark out there." Duh! So I hauled my butt out of the bed (my office) and ran around closing windows; but, before I finished, the rain and wind hit. I had not gotten to the bathroom window, and before I could run there, the room was soaked (pull out that old handy dandy mop), and if the wind had not blown the door closed, so would have been the hallway with its oak floors.

I found out later that the winds were over 100 mph. It was raining so hard that I could not see the fifty feet across my driveway. Total white out. It only lasted about twenty minutes, but it was worse than anything that Katrina threw at us. When you live in the middle of a wood full of very tall trees, the worst thing that you can hear is the groaning screams of trees being killed. I lost two of my old giants. Thank God that their tops missed the house when they came down. Several years ago, one tried to eat the house. I am still making repairs from that. I guess that I don't have to tell you that I am Stormaphobic.

Looking on the brightside, the two trees that came down were old and damaged from prior tornadoes and ice storms. They needed to go. With them down, the magnolias that I had planted near them now have more sunlight and should grow great guns. As Linnea Sinclair says, "When life hands you lemons, find the person who got the vodka."

It looks like Monday is going to be a busy clean-up day, and the day after, and the day after...

Who's got the Vodka?
Frances

Writing Science Fiction Romance
Real Love in a Real Future