Author Spotlight - Excerpt from Blue Lioness

BLURB FOR BLUE LIONESS:

In the face of Human slavery, Back Sword Captain Ariela of Kassouk must do the unthinkable. Rebel against the Mutant regime. But she cannot do it alone.

Ariela suspects the king’s death is no accident. And the tyrant who usurped the throne looks guilty as hell. As leader of the Human rebellion against the Mutant rulers, Ariela is desperate for help, and Lord Starro, the handsome Crown Prince of the Star Children, offers the technology the Human faction lacks. But can Ariela trust a spoiled, arrogant foreign prince who never fought a battle, and thinks he is destined to rule the universe? Is she trading one tyrant for another? No matter how kind, handsome, or fascinating, Starro has frightening mental abilities. And this alliance is not safe, especially for Ariela’s heart.

EXCERPT: different from the one on the publisher's website.

Starro closed his eyes and the golden light caressed the regular planes of his face. "Still no sign of pursuit."

Ariela wrenched her gaze from his athletic body, a hint of shame warming her cheeks. She scrutinized their surroundings. "Assassins use stealth. We must keep our eyes open."

"I don't need my eyes to know there are none close to us." His neutral tone barely covered a subtle impatience.

"What exactly can you do that Humans cannot?" The question had been on Ariela's mind for a while. "If you explain it to me, I won't have to bruise your precious ego at every turn."

"You speak straight as an assassin's arrow." Starro gave a short, nervous laugh. "But it wouldn't be wise to tell our secrets to a foreigner. All foreigners are potential enemies."

Ariela couldn't help the flare of anger in her voice. "I thought we were allies against Lord Kohl and his blasted Mutant freaks!"
He flinched. Did her swearing bother him? Too bad.

His expression turned serious. "We are allies. So, I guess I should tell you." He straightened his long, muscled legs. The loose silk trousers tucked into white boots showed signs of dust, and the trek had scuffed the fine material. "We Star Children do not take these gifts lightly, and keeping them secret insures our advantage when conflicts arise. We pride ourselves in resolving most disputes without bloodshed."

"Blood is shed all the time." Ariela scoffed. "You can't avoid spilling blood, especially in an all out war."

"Yet, our gifts allowed us this luxury... thus far." He sighed. "I fear this is the end of a peaceful era. The specter of war is upon us."
"So what are these mysterious gifts?" The words came out sharper than Ariela intended.

He flashed an uneasy smile then stared at the ground.

Ariela resented his stubborn silence. "What if I give you my word as a warrior never to tell a soul? Will you trust me then?"

"I do trust you, Beloved mine." His warm voice in her mind again. "But even the best of us can be made to talk."

Ariela sighed, finally accepting that he could speak in her mind. "I guess you found that out in Kohl's dungeon."

He lifted his piercing gaze, and his jovial smile returned. "All right. I owe you the truth. We inherited our gifts from a now extinct race called the Estrell."

Find the book on the Desert Breeze Publishing site, or for your specific eBook reader, wherever eBooks are sold.

Vijaya Schartz
Award-winning Romantic Science Fiction with a kick
http://www.vijayaschartz.com

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Author Spotlight Week -Vijaya Schartz shares her passion for Science Fiction

After a period of being fascinated by the classics, then by Mystery novels as a reader, I discovered science fiction and fell in love. So many possibilities... It became a passion. What if?

Yet, as I was reading more and more science fiction, one element was always missing. Sometimes the stories ended on a depressing note, and there was nothing to deter from the somber themes. Even when the hero won in the end, he was usually alone.

For superheroes of comic books, victory was always bittersweet, as they had to protect their anonymity. I found that disturbingly unfair. Of course if they could just get the girl and be happy, it would be the end of their career. Can't imagine Superman kissing his wife and a bunch of snotty kids goodbye before jumping out the window to go save the planet from a nefarious intergalactic villain...

Later, when I discovered traditional Romance, I found it a little too mild and lacking in action and external conflict. I yearned for a grander scope to the stories, not just two people's happiness. I did however appreciate the guarantee of some kind of happily ever after at the end. It made me feel safe and fuzzy.

Then, when I decided to write for publication, what came naturally to me was science fiction. But I still yearned for a romantic thread.

Some of my friends say I come from another world, that I am a time traveler from the future who forgot who she was. I don't know about that, but it would explain a lot. LOL. I believe I have a solid imagination. But is it really imagination?

Thanks to my extensive travels and contacts with many earthly cultures, I can also discern which elements of a culture are purely Human (if any really are), which are dictated by survival, and which are ingrained from a young age, learned through experience, or forced upon an individual to fit specific cultural standards.

This discerning skill now allows me to write believable futuristic worlds and characters, even if their looks, their circumstances or origins would be unlikely in our world. It's a matter of justifying the differences to suspend the reader's ingrained beliefs.

So now, I write romantic science fiction with a kick, where I get the best of two worlds, with a guaranteed satisfying ending through the love story. So many science fiction novels tend to be dark and depressing. Not mine. My action-packed stories and kick-butt heroines lend themselves to many romantic conflicts, and I found that science-fiction is a perfect stage for it.

Find out more about my books at: http://www.vijayaschartz.com

Author Spotlight - Q&A with Vijaya Schartz

Born in France, award-winning author Vijaya Schartz never conformed to anything and could never refuse a challenge. She likes action and exotic settings, in life and on the page. She traveled the world and claims she comes from the future. Her books collected many five star reviews and literary awards. She makes you believe you actually lived these extraordinary adventures among her characters. Her stories have been compared to Indiana Jones with sizzling romance. So, go ahead, dare to experience the magic, and she will keep you entranced, turning the pages until the last line. Find more at http://www.vijayaschartz.com


STEPH: I don't much about Blue Lioness. What's it about?

VIJAYA: It's about Ariela, a female Human warrior, a Black Sword Captain in the medieval Citadel of Kassouk. After the suspicious death of her king, she organizes a revolt against the abusive new regime of the Mutants (Half Human half Godd), but she needs help as her people have been deliberately barred from technological developments.

She hopes to find a powerful ally in the person of the very wise and handsome crown prince of the Star Children, Starro, who claims to have the technology to defeat the Mutants. But Ariela soon realizes the extent of the powers of Starro's people, and despite her attraction to him, she fears she might have traded one tyrant for another.

STEPH: Where did you find the inspiration for it?

VIJAYA: This story came organically from the previous books in the series. First I want to say that each book is a complete story and can be enjoyed even if you didn't read the other books. Each romantic story involves a different couple, and the books are separated by decades, sometimes over a century. But if you are like me, you'll want to read the books in the right order, to see how the society progresses.

At the end of Book One, WHITE TIGER, the Mutants saved the Human race and started a fair government. In Book Two, RED LEOPARD and Book Three, BLACK JAGUAR, the civilizations and cultures evolve over the centuries, through conflicts, explorations, alien visitations, new knowledge. I also introduced in these books the seeds of corruption, and offered a glimpse of what might come next.

In my mind I subtitled Book Four, BLUE LIONESS, The Fall of the Mutants. Every culture flows and ebbs, and the people of Kassouk are no exception. This book marks the end of an era on that particular planet. Things will never be the same again.

STEPH: How long did it take you to write?

VIJAYA: Right now I write Two novels and one novella a year. Although it took me three years to write my very first novel, after fifteen or so, the pace accelerates. And writing a series is easier, because you do not have to create a brand new world for each novel. You already have a complete history of your world as a foundation.

STEPH: How important is setting to the novel?

VIJAYA: I like to make the setting an integral part of the novel. In other words, the story I write could only happen in that particular setting, at that particular time. It's not specific to this series. Even when I write contemporary novels for other publishers, I make sure the setting is a very important part of the story. In Kassouk in particular, there is a recurring theme of large cats. The people of that culture keep large cats as pets and also train them to fight in battle. Most Human warriors choose feline names. All the titles in the series are names of Human warriors, sometimes the hero, sometimes the heroine.

STEPH: Did you have to do a lot of research for the novel?

VIJAYA: I did a lot of research at the beginning of this series, and for the subsequent books. As a history lover, I want my medieval Human society to be believable, then I incorporate the elements unique to my world, like the fascination with large felines. This society, although medieval, lives in the far future, on a planet where a Human vessel crashed centuries ago.

STEPH: Will there be anymore books in the Chronicles of Kassouk?


VIJAYA: Funny you ask. BLUE LIONESS marks the end of an era in the world of Kassouk, but as I was writing it, I realized that what happened before, the story of how the Human settlers happened to be stranded on that particular planet needed to be told. There is also the matter of how the large cats became part of the landscape, and how even then, the conflicts with alien races abunded.

VIJAYA: So the prequel to the series, NOAH'S ARK (the name of the vessel they all came on), is in the works, and will be released in April of 2012. You can get a glimpse on my website at: www.vijayaschartz.com

But before that happens, I also have a sci-fi romance novella coming out this October from Desert Breeze Publishing in the BOREALIS III anthology, titled BLACK DRAGON.

STEPH: What do you want people to take away from the novel?

VIJAYA: We all read for different reasons. Although this is science fiction and romance, an escape by definition, I like to think that my readers learn something in the process. Some may gain understanding and tolerance for vastly different cultures, others may realize that no one is perfect and it's all right. They will find in my books that standing up against tyranie and injustice is difficult, but true heroes are willing to do it and sacrifice a lot in the process... It's true on the page and in real life. Our soldiers do it every day.

STEPH: Are you a plotter or a panster?

VIJAYA: Like most writers, I started as a pantser, then I became a plotter. Now I do both, depending on the book, the mood, the inspiration. There are many ways to write a book, and varying the techniques keeps it fresh and exciting for the writer and for the reader.

STEPH: What's your writing space like?

Vijay's Writing Space


VIJAYA: My desk is cluttered. Bits of papers with notes on them, a print of my last chapter full of red marks. Sometimes a kitten or two playing with my computer mouse or jumping at the monitor. Red pens, post it notes, notepads, daytimer, glasses, paperweights, a picture of me jumping from a plane, a pot of green tea, bits of dark chocolate in a white rammekin.

Pictures of my characters hang on the walls with posters of my book covers. Promotion material semi-ready to be shipped in boxes on the free standing table behind me. The entire back wall of shelves is bulging under the weight of research and fiction books. Excuse the dust. I'm not exactly the domestic type.

STEPH: Tell us a little about the state you live in.

VIJAYA: I live in sunny Arizona and I love it. After traveling the world and living in exotic places like India and Hawaii, I am partial to the heat. The only thing I miss in Arizona is the ocean. There is much to discover in Arizona, though, from the Grand Canyon to the Anasazi ruins, and the rich western history... many things to inspire a writer.

Find out more at: http://www.vijayaschartz.com

Thanks you so much, Steph, for having me.

Author Spotlight week -Excerpt from Black Jaguar

THE BLURB:
Kahuel of Yalta, nicknamed Black Jaguar like his emerald-eyed feline, volunteered to sail away on his brother's Galleon go get away from his roguish past, and prove his worth as a blood prince. When a typhoon hits, and he realizes the powerful Mutant who commandeered the expedition has ulterior motives, his world is turned upside down.

Talina of the Chosen has never seen a foreigner, until destiny brings to her shores a group of baffling strangers who cannot read minds… among them a prince, and the Lost Daughter of the prophecy. She knows her fate is about to change, but the Star People protecting her clan view the outsiders as a threat to their crucial experiment.

Can Black Jaguar, with his few warriors and felines, simple weapons and Human ingenuity, save Talina and her people from a horrible fate? Against impossible odds, can he prevail upon a highly advanced enemy?

EXCERPT:

When the tall, dark man emerged from the thick vegetation, so close, Talina thought her heart would stop. He paused and stared at her with deep emerald eyes.

Sitting on her favorite stump, Talina stiffened and averted her gaze to the waterfall beyond him. "I called you here, Black Jaguar."

"You speak our language?" His eyes rounded in surprise. He looked pleased. A light touch on his mind told her he was pleased to see her... and more. "How do you know my name?"

"That's what your people call you, isn't it?" She didn't dare meet his striking green gaze.

"Indeed." He strode closer, the scabbard on his hip clicking against high leather boots. He wore short blades on his belt as well... forbidden blades. Up close, he smelled of sea spray.

Talina jumped off her stump and took a step back, keeping the stump safely between them. "I saw your people bring you the boar they killed."

Black Jaguar grinned, revealing strong white teeth. "It's a great way to start the day, knowing that we won't starve."

"Killing land animals for food is cruel and cowardly." Talina detected no shame in his mind. He was proud of what he was, and that scared her. "They have no defense against your metal blades."

"Believe me, the boar had a fighting chance." Black Jaguar chuckled. "Have you seen his tusks?"

Talina shuddered. How could anyone be so mean? "You should be ashamed of yourselves."

"We have to eat, and meat is best for a warrior's strength." He straightened his spine, exulting pride. "We Zerkers are warriors."

"Warriors?" Talina understood the word, but the implications were too odious to comprehend.

"It's easier to fight on a full stomach." Black Jaguar exuded a lusty happiness.

"Fight? Fight what? Fight whom?" All Talina believed to be good in this world would be trampled by a people who glorified fighting.

Black Jaguar froze and frowned at her. "Why are you looking at me as if I'd killed your best friend?"

"That boar was a friend." Talina choked on the words. "All the animals in this jungle are my friends." Anger clouded her mind. "Your people are truly evil, like my brother said, like the Star People said."

"The Star People?" His eyes narrowed as if he struggled to understand. But of course, he didn't. He couldn't read her mind.

Talina steeled herself. "I didn't want to believe them, but now I see why they want you and your people dead. You do not deserve to live."

Black Jaguar's dark face hardened and his jaw clenched. "Only the Great Engineer decides who lives and who dies."

Author Interview with Vijaya Schartz - talking about the Chronciles of Kassouk

We're here today with Vijaya Schartz, author of the Chronciles of Kassouk series. Book 2 in the series, Red Leopard will be avail in April! Now, onto the questions


STEPH: You must be thrilled about your upcoming release "Red Leopard" with Desert Breeze. Can you set the scene for us and give us a tease of what to expect?

VIJAYA: In charge of the fortress of Kassouk in the King's absence, what is Terek to do when a Goddian spacecraft lands in his medieval backyard, and the striking woman leading the galactic party insists on colonization? Galya, the Goddian Princess commanding the geological vessel, is bent on finding a crystal with unusual hyper-conductor properties. And the futile resistance of the local population isn’t going to stop her. Not even that defiant tribal chief nicknamed Red Leopard, like the infernal feline that follows him everywhere.

Terek and his band of swordsmen and felines must defend their people’s freedom, no matter the cost. But with this unexpected arrival, an old prophecy surfaces, taking new meaning and carrying a new threat... When political intrigues, greed, murder and betrayal tip the scales, whom can Galya really trust? Her fellow Goddians? the Mutants bred to serve her race? or her primitive Human enemy?




STEPH - Where do you get the inspiration for stories? Dreams?

VIJAYA: I get inspiration from dreams, of course, but also from ancient history, political events, newscasts, and people around me. In this case, my cats. So much so that I dedicated this upcoming book to my feline friends. In a world where large cats live alongside people as pets, and people take pride in borrowing traits from the animals they love, it helps to have a knowledge of feline behavior. I've lived with cats all my adult life and consider myself a cat expert. I also have a page just for cat lovers on my website. STEPH: I love cats. My cat, Bart, taught me a lot of things and I miss him very much. (I got him in 1991 as a 6 week old kitty. He passed in 2006)



STEPH - Where did the inspiration come from for "White Tiger? Red Leopard?"

VIJAYA: The idea for the first book in the Chronicles of Kassouk, WHITE TIGER, came about a long time ago. After spending some time in the snow, I was inspired to write about a frozen world. Of course the idea evolved. New Earth and the world of Kassouk are the consequence of the crash of a Human research vessel called Noah's Ark, on the frozen planet. People and animals struggled for survival. The people lost their technology. At the time of the series, they are in a medieval stage of civilization. Over the centuries, Galactic races intervened, were worshiped as gods, or softened the weather, but all refused to share their technology with a primitive Human culture. STEPH: Very creative!

STEPH - Do you have a favorite Sci Fi show or movie that resonates with you?

2010 QUASAR Award Winner from EPIC


VIJAYA: I'm a Sci-Fi fan. I believe Star Trek and Star Wars started it all and are priceless classics. Now I cheer for Caprica, the prequel to Battlestar Galactica. I'm interested in the ideas of Flash Forward. I'm eagerly awaiting the new season of The Visitors. Anaz-voohri, my last book with my previous publisher in 2007, was called a mix of X-files and Battlestar Galactica with sizzling romance, and I'm proud of it. Gail Delaney was my editor at the time. STEPH: How uncanny was that. I love Star Trek, Star Wars, and Battlestar Galactica. I didn't know about Caprica, but I'm going to try to catch up - see if it's on ITunes.

STEPH - Do you have a book trailer you'd like to share?

VIJAYA: Anaz-voohri's book trailer won a Cameo Award. I don't have trailers for my most recent books. I've been too busy writing. Here is the link:
http://www.veoh.com/videos/v316500c33gbMKj



STEPH - Your cover won the Eppie for best SciFi cover and then the QUASAR award for best cover over all from EPIC. Did you have much input into the cover?

VIJAYA: I gave my suggestions for the cover and detailed descriptions on the author input form. Some authors might find it tedious, but I was amazed when I saw the cover for the first time. The citadel of Kassouk in the background is exactly what I visualized, with the snow-covered mountains in the far back and the large moon. The tiger's head with blue eyes represents the heroine. Her nickname is White Tiger and she has blue eyes. She learned to fight from tigers. The talented Jenifer Ranieri did a fantastic job of portraying my world on the cover, and I am grateful. I was thrilled when the cover won the Ariana in Sci-Fi Romance category. Then it won the 2010 QUASAR at EPICon. for the best ebook cover of 2009! Jenifer said it was like receiving her own Academy Award (since it was the same weekend) except that it was a plaque, not a golden Oscar. I'm so happy she is designing my covers for this series. The second book in the Chronicles of Kassouk has a similar cover, with a Red Leopard instead of a White Tiger. The third book, scheduled for November 2010 is titled Black Jaguar. You can imagine what that will look like (the jaguar has emerald eyes).

STEPH: What's the last movie you saw?

VIJAYA: I recently saw Avatar, and I'm still reeling from it. Did you expect anything different? Although I thought they could have done a better job of exploring the humanity and the depth of the characters, the special effects were absolutely incredible. At the movies you can actually see floating boulders, giant blue aliens with tails riding dragons spinning down at vertiginous speeds, and all the stuff of sci-fi and fantasy in action. I'm very visual, and when I write, I imagine my story unfolding on a big screen. There is a movie in my head. I hope it translates on the page.

Next, I want to see The Hurt Locker. I also write Girls with Guns for another publisher, and I need an update on current warfare. Movies are a source of research and inspiration as well as entertainment. My creative mind never stops. Everything is fodder for stories. Everything that makes me feel (good or bad) is good for the muse.

You can find more on my website at: http://www.vijayaschartz.com and if you click on CONTEST on the left, you could win a pdf copy of RED LEOPARD. The drawing is April 1, 2010, when the book is released. Good luck.

I wish everyone a wonderful spring season.
Thank you so much, Stephanie, for the interview.
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