Author Spotlight - Vijaya Schartz's Favorite Authors

Being a writer can be a curse when it comes to favorite authors. Although I love to read, sometimes I can't help it when my editing cap comes on and I feel compelled to edit in my head a bit of sloppy writing. I hate when that happens, and I have no tolerance for it, because it takes me out of the story and spoils my reading pleasure.

So I'm very picky when it comes to favorite authors. Before I became a professional writer, I liked Anne McCaffrey and Marion Zimmer Bradley, Richard Bach, Diana Gabaldon (Outlander series), Bernard Cornwell (Excalibur) all pioneers of their time. I still love them. To me they are the true classics of the late last century.



But nowadays my favorite authors are exploring the new frontiers of space. My absolute favorite author at this time is NYT best selling author and Rita AwardWinner LINNEA SINCLAIR, author of Finders Keepers, Games of Command, Hope's Folly, Rebels and Lovers, Shades of Dark, Gabriel's Ghost, An Accidental Goddess, and many more wonderful romantic stories taking place in spaceships, space stations, and on incredibly interesting planets, with colorful villains and courageous heroes and heroines. I read and re-read them all and can't wait for the next one to come out.


I recently discovered A.R. NORRIS, a new and upcoming author in the sci-fi romance genre. Her last novel, DUTY AND DEVOTION, is centered on two sisters engaged in a galactic war and falling in love with equally courageous heroes, despite the physical and emotional turmoil. That book kept me enthralled. A.R. Norris also wrote a story in one of the excellent BOREALIS anthologies from Desert Breeze. I'm eagerly waiting to see what this promising author will write next.

I also enjoyed the Phoenix Rebellion series by Gail Delaney, of course, and the Future Imperfect series by P.I. Barrington, gritty books, with action and heroism in harsh circumstances, where good always prevails in the end after a bitter battle.

Once in a while I enjoy a historical novel, Vikings, medieval fantasy, I love the middle ages, as attested in my Chronicles of Kassouk series, where Medieval Humans meet intergalactic cultures... and win.


And if you like Regencies with a steampunk flair, you'll love Stephanie Burkhart's Victorian Scoundrel.

Now, if you are crazy about a particular sci-fi romance author, let me know, so I can check them out. Since I got my kindle, I am unstoppable.

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

Author Spotlight - Excerpt from Duty and Devotion

Enjoy this excerpt from Duty and Devotion:


The transport ship was packed. Nettie felt like she was going to suffocate, or go crazy from all the noise, sweat, and bodies. The bunkhouse on Callisto had been noisy, but she could always escape from it. Here, she was stuck. She shoved her way through to the restroom and cursed when she spotted the line.

"Your mom knows you talk like that, Ice Princess?" James asked in humor from behind her.

"Who do you think taught me?" she replied, but felt the guilt of the lie. "Oh, shut up, Northman."

He punched her arm and then leaned in. "You're extra grouchy. You wanted on this trip, remember?"

Nettie shrugged. "Yeah, I just forgot how packed these rides could be. I can't wait for our turn at patrol."

He laughed, a full rich sound that warmed her body. Taking her upper arm, he guided her through the paddock and up a flight of stairs. After a few turns they entered a small, empty conference room. In the corner was a private restroom.

"You're a saint, Northman. Just a saint." She rushed into it.

Afterwards, she headed to the door. He stood in her way.

"Come on, Northman." She gently nudged him, finding his body taut. Peering keenly into his bright green eyes, she felt a stirring. "What are you about now?"

He brushed his hand along her cheek, leaving a tingling trail along her skin. Her body spiked with need. Her vision blurred, her heart raced, and her legs weakened.

"What do you want me to be about?"

I can't do this. Nettie panicked as the attraction piled on with all her other tumultuous emotions. "Hey, Northman. I'm a mess right now. It's not a good idea." She ended on a whisper.

He nodded and grasped her shoulder. "You've had it a little rough."

James pulled her toward him and when she thought he'd kiss, he hugged instead. This, she sighed and leaned into him. He rubbed her back with one hand and held onto her with the other. After a moment, she pushed away and smiled shyly. "You're full of surprises, Saint Northman." When he smiled, she slipped by and they headed towards the main room again.

"I won't always be a saint, Ice Princess. There will be a time, soon, when a hug won't be enough... for either of us."




If you want to learn more about me, stop by my blog: Adventures of a Sci-Fi Writer

Purchase Links: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Sony, Kobo, Desert Breeze Website, All Romance Books

Book Trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZ5T_uDQru8

Author Spotlight - AR Norris talks about her favorite authors

Author HG Wells

I have a lots of favorite authors, and all for different reasons. It's so hard to choose Isaac Asimov and H.G. Wells were awesome and triggered my love of possibility and obsession of the future. (And it is an obsession.) Edgar Allan Poe, Stephen King, and Dean Koontz got me excited about speculative fiction and a love for the "sense of other". Jane Austen really touched my romantic side.

The richness and visual they wrote out on paper filled my lower class world with action and adventure. I didn't need anything other than a secondhand book to lose myself in. Edgar Allan Poe was the first time I remember crying over a story and understanding what it meant to write with feeling and emotion. Stephen King was the first time I remember having to sleep with the lamp on after I grew out of being afraid of the dark. And Dean Koontz introduced me to real characters caught up in amazing situations. Jane Austen was the first writer to make me sigh and hope to be swooned by a boy.

When I decided to become a writer, these authors taught me an even more important lesson. All of them were dedicated to their craft. They submerged themselves in their genre and researched every aspect. As an example, Isaac was so focused on his imaginary world he could write in a bare white room and still churn out a wonderful, colorful story that explored future concepts and the consequences of today's actions. Edgar Allan Poe was so dedicated he focused only on writing, at the cost of financial stability.

****

Steph: You know I LOVED HG Wells. I haven't read him per se, but we all know how his stories inspired the muse. I just wanted to let you know that I get as giddy as you when I think about him.
Smiles

Author Spotlight - AR Norris talks about her favorite movie

Oh my goodness, Steph! You're killing me. How can I choose just one? Just one! *Deep breath*

All right. I have to say, if I were tied up, the evil interrogator, Mistress Stephanie, taking pliers to my fingers to break them. The air thick with the recent shock treatment...oh, wait, sorry. I veered off into my daydream.

I'm back. *Eyes Steph suspiciously*

Off the top of my head, my favorite movie is Stand by Me. I love Richard Dreyfuss' voice as the narrator. The friendship between the boys was endearing. They each had their faults and loved each other anyways. Stephen King had a way with words that the screenwriter translated well into the movie version. It's one of the only book to movie scenarios I've seen that actually keeps the intent and purpose of the book in a satisfying way.

Most of all, the movie inspires and reminds me of the summer adventures and those friends before hitting high school. Every time I watch it I get a good dose of nostalgia.

Author Spotlight - AR Norris talks about her love for Sci-Fi Romance

Why I write SFR. It's a two part answer that has morphed over the generations. The equation is easy: SF + R = SFR.

First the SF part. That one is pretty easy to answer. I write science fiction because that is where my creativity automatically goes. If I think of a woman going on a hero's journey, it's in space. If I think of a man trying to find his father, he finds him on an alien planet. I wake up in the morning from a dream and my husband listens to the galactic adventure I went on through the night.

The second part, romance, is a little more winding. I wanted to write and read stories that had the characters and story at the front and the science as the backdrop, by which the world is enhanced. Unfortunately, by the late 80s and early 90s SF had really boxed itself in. The stories available in bookstores were science heavy with the characters and story as a backdrop. Most of the pages were filled with expounding theories and physics and blah, blah, blah. I didn't care! I wanted the characters to use the dang technology without explaining it to the tenth degree. But then I found the hidden secret.

Science fiction writers, ones who really cared about the human element of the story, were publishing in romance. "Those little sneaky sneaks!" Romance really saved SF, just like they saved paranormal and fantasy. It was easy to fold into the romance world. I mean, who doesn't want a HEA?

Author Spotlight - Q&A with Author AR Norris

STEPH: I don't know much about Duty and Devotion. Can you tell me a little more about it?

AR: Duty and Devotion is a science fiction romance set in the distant future and follows two sisters raised in the safety of Earth's domes after they are drafted into war. Older sister Nettie heads off to space pilot training for war. There she discovers her true strength and also that love sometimes is hidden in a friendship and grows slowly. Younger sister Rinny goes to Mars for surface combat training and learns to try new experiences and stretch who she is beyond expectations. She learns that knowing who you are and who you love means nothing if you’re not willing to fight for it…even to the death.

Here's the book trailer I did for it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZ5T_uDQru8

STEPH: How long did it take to write?

AR: Oh boy, that's a tricky one. I've been working on some version of this story for decades. I guess, though, you could say my serious work to prepare it for publication submission took a little over a year...maybe a year and a half.

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

AR: Geez, did I! With all books it takes research to be accurate. But I'll say, SF buffs can be super critical...and they're usually super smart about science and technology. They'll catch a formula or engineering mistake in a second and then you've lost all credibility.

STEPH: Where did the inspiration for the story come from?

AR: It was inspired by a dream. Though, looking back there were a couple triggers. First, my stepfather was in the Vietnam War and really had post war troubles that affected our family. Also, the Gulf War was happening at the same time (early 1990s). Those probably had something to do with the dream.

STEPH: If your story was going to be made into a movie, who would you cast as the leads?

AR: Argh! I can never think of actors. Okay, okay...let's see...Nettie would maybe be Kristy Swanson (from the original Buffy movie). Rinny would be Monica Bellucci (Persephone in The Matrix Reloaded). James Northman...well, he can never be anything other than my husband. (LOL! Sorry, no acting abilities but he's a great storyteller.) Daniel Gubvre would be Jack Shepherd (Lost).

STEPH: What is the theme of the novel?

AR: The major themes of the book are keeping family bonds and finding romantic love during the chaos of war.

STEPH: What do you want readers to take away from the novel when they finish it?

AR: If they have a sibling I want them to call and say, "I love you..." Ha ha! Just kidding. Well, you know every authors dream is to have the reader turn the last page and be bummed the story is already over...and think about what's going to happen the characters after.

STEPH: Do you have an ebook reader? If so, which one?

AR: ((Hugs Kindle)) Have I mentioned before how much I love my husband? He bought me the Kindle 3G for Christmas last year. I love, love, love it.


STEPH: What's the last movie you saw?

AR: Prince of Persia. It was very good...oh, now that I think of it, maybe Jake Gyllenhaal should be Danny. He was very...fit in the movie. Yes, yes. I'm changing my answer in question 5 above.

STEPH: Any words of wisdom for aspiring writers?

AR: Be open to learning. There's so much to the craft and it's a constant medium. Take pride out of the equation and be open to criticism and comments from reliable people (not friends and family, they'll never be fully honest with you...they love you too much).

Buy Link for Duty & Devotion: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-174/AR-Norris-Duty-and/Detail.bok

Author Introduction - Meet AR Norris

STEPH: Amber, welcome to Desert Breeze. Tell us a little about yourself. Where did you grow up?

AMBER: This is exciting! Thank you Steph. A little about myself…I live in the Northern California Bay Area with my husband, 4 kids, 2 dogs, and cat. Surrounding us are dozens of family members, vineyards, and Valley Mountains. Funny, I think my soul needs to be near mountains because I spent my childhood mostly in Colorado with the Rocky Mountains saying hello every morning from the West.

STEPH: Who were some of your favorite authors growing up?

AMBER: Oh boy! I loved to read from the first Dr. Seuss story so have a lot of favorites. Every week (sometimes twice) I’d run down to the second hand store and pick up an old, torn book. I do have my most influential author, H.G. Wells. He introduced me to the world of SF with the Time Machine. It blew my mind. After that I was picking up books from the likes of Robert Heinlin, Isaac Asimov. I then spread into horror and more speculative with authors like Stephen King.

STEPH: What genre do you write?

AMBER: My novels are SFR but my short stories usually end up being speculative fiction.

STEPH: You have an upcoming release with Desert Breeze. Can you tell us when, the title, and let us know what it's about?

AMBER: My debut novel, Duty and Devotion, will be released June 2011 through Desert Breeze.

Sisters Nettie and Rinny Matterville head off to war, discovering true love can be found even in a time of conflict. Nettie learns true love isn’t always obvious; sometimes it’s right in front of your face. Rinny learns that love at first site can and does happen, but the real challenge is keeping it.

STEPH; Do you have an ebook reader? If so, which one?

AMBER: I just barely decided which one I want, so it's on my Christmas list. I have a huge ebook library through PDF format.

STEPH: Do you have any other books that are available?

AMBER: No other novels, but you can find my published short stories and free reads at my blog. I do have a trilogy coming out with Desert Breeze starting October 2011 through Spring 2012, titled The Telomere Trilogy.

STEPH: Can you tell us a little about the state you live in?

AMBER: Oh, could I! I'll try to keep it short. I live in the wonderful, diverse state of California. State budgets and political craziness aside, it's perfect. Specifically I live in the Northern California Bay Area of Napa. Right now it's harvest season in the Wine Country so many mornings the Valley has smelled like wine. For vacations, we love to hit up the rocky Northern Coastline. The wind gets so wild, you're never sure if California is trying to blow you out to sea or just showing off her might.

STEPH: Just for fun: pick your favorite: Monet, Picasso, or Renoir?

AMBER: I will respectively have to chose none of them. My favorite artist is Salvador Dali. He is the most amazing Surrealist I've ever come across.

STEPH: Are you doing NaNoWriMo this year? Have you done it in the past?

AMBER: This is my first year participating. I'll be using the goal to finish the first draft of the second book in the Telomere Trilogy, Echoes of Regret.

STEPH: Where can we find you on the web?

AMBER: I'd love for you all to drop by my blog, Adventures of a Sci-Fi Writer at: http://sci-fiadventures.blogspot.com/

Thank you so much for letting me come and hang out today, Steph.

STEPH: Thanks for popping in.
Smiles