Monday, August 31, 2020

Let's prepare for Pass or Pages!


Can you believe it's already SEPTEMBER?  Autumn is almost here!

Our last Pass or Pages Query Contest for 2020 will be accepting applications in one month.  Yay!

Are you hoping to submit your query and first page?

No, we haven't revealed the genre yet, but if you're hopeful that your WiP will qualify, why not submit your First 50/100/250 for critique?  We started this last year and then took a break.  But let's start again and see if any of you are ready for eyeballs on the beginning of your manuscript.

We are accepting entries this week!  Category – Anything.

If you want to submit your First 50/100/250 for critique [no more than the first page], here's the entrance requirements: (1) send us no more than one page, (2) it must be your first page, and (3) you must have commented on at least two posts on the OA blog in the past year.  Send us an email formatted as follows:

[Subject:] First Page Critique – [insert category and genre, for example Adult Romance or YA Fantasy or whatever]

The following 50/100/250 [however much you sent] words are my own work and I give OA permission to post it on the OA blog for the life of the blog.

I commented on OA posts on DATE and DATE as [your online ID].

My submission:

[Copy/paste your submission here.]

Entry period opens now and closes at the end of the day on Friday September 4, 2020. All entries will receive a confirmation email from us by Sunday September 6, 2020 that acknowledges receipt of your entry and, if you've complied with all requirements, lets you know what date it will be included on the blog for critique. If you do NOT receive a confirming email by Monday September 7, 2020, send us a DM on Twitter and we'll give you alternative instructions for sending us your entry.

We look forward to seeing your work!



Friday, August 28, 2020

#QueryFriday

 


It's time for #QueryFriday! Enter for a chance to win a query critique by yours truly! Here's how to participate:

1. Comment on this post and at least one other post from this week by SUNDAY 08/30 at 12 pm EST.

2. Leave your email address in the comment or have it available on your Blogger profile. (If I can't find you, I can't get in touch with you!)

The winner will be chosen via random draw and will be announced in the comment section of this post on Sunday.

See this post for additional rules. Good luck!

-Amren

Thursday, August 27, 2020

Dear O'Abby: How Do I Write Thoughts?

Dear O'Abby,

I have a technical question I hope you can help me with.

When I'm writing a character's thoughts, do I need to write them like this?

She's a fox, thought Ted, before chastising himself, Shouldn't be objectifying her like that, dude.

One of my CPs said this is the correct way to present thoughts, but it looks weird when I have so many itallics scattered across the page.

What is correct?

Sincerely, Thoughtless

Dear Thoughtless,

I agree with you.  It does look weird if you have a lot of italics on a single page.  Personally, I don't tend to write thoughts in italics for just this reason.  But like so much of writing, there isn't actually a hard and fast rule.  The main thing to be aware of is to use italics sparingly as they do really stand out on a page.

My suggestions would be to use them to draw attention to things that you believe are important.  Not every thought is important, but some need some additional emphasis because they're imparting something key to the plot or revealing something special about a character.  In that case, italicize.

If you're writing in a more distant third person POV, you would use italics to show that a specific character had this thought.  Think of it like the narrator just dipped into the character's head and took a peek at what they were thinking.  It's not 100% necessary to use italics in this scenario, but it is something you see often.

When writing in third person and a character is talking to themselves, italics can be used to show this.  Often the thoughts are interspersed with action that can show the conflict the character is dealing with.  This is effective because there is a distinct contrast between the action that is not in italics and the inner monologue which is.

Another place you might use italics in thought is where a character is remembering something that was said in the past.  Again, you wouldn't do it for every memory, but if the words spoken were important, then they should be in italics.

Basically, using italics is a way to draw attention to something or emphasize something significant.  If you italicize all thoughts, you're giving every passing whim equal significance and this leaves you with nothing to use when you need to really hammer something home.

But don't sweat it too much.  There really are no hard and fast rules here, so if you think something deserves to be in italics, go for it.

X O'Abby

Wednesday, August 26, 2020

Operation Awesome #20Questions in #2020 of #NewBook Debut Author Laura Stegman

Operation Awesome #20Questions in #2020 of #NewBook Debut Author posted by @JLenniDorner of @OpAwesome6


Summer of L.U.C.K. by Laura Stegman


1- How has your summer of 2020 been filled with luck, good or bad?

My summer has been filled with "dream-come-true"-type luck, which at this point in a pandemic is saying a lot, right? Summer of L.U.C.K., my middle grade debut, is being published next month by INtense Publications. After an almost twenty-year journey, it’s impossible to express just how lucky I feel.

2- Would you please, in 160 characters or less, give a #WriteTip ?

Avoid speech tags. Adding "said" before "Justin" only weakens this:
"Seriously?" Justin, who loved baseball more than ice cream, slapped Sandy a high five.

3- What is the best piece of writing advice you've received?

The best piece of writing advice I've received came from a writer who Tweeted, "There is no age limit to my dreams. Write on." In other words, keep going. Keep at it. Inspiring!

4- In your opinion, why do so many people struggle with self-acceptance?

I'm not sure I can answer that in a general way, but I can relate it to my debut novel, Summer of L.U.C.K., which is about three kids who find their way to self-acceptance with the help of a ghost who haunts a magical carnival. Darby, one of the main characters, stutters, and her low self-esteem is fostered by her mother's constant criticism. Without giving away too much, by the end of the story, Darby learns how to accept herself just as she is.

5- Would you share a picture with us of your book in a fun summer setting?

Sure, you can call this "Summer of L.U.C.K. Takes a Virtual Visit to the Beach."
Operation Awesome #20Questions in #2020 of #NewBook Debut Author Laura Stegman ~Summer of L.U.C.K. Takes a Virtual Visit to the Beach


6- What was the most fun thing you did this summer?

Had there been no pandemic, I would have spent July 4 in perfect seats at an LA Dodgers game on a beautiful Los Angeles evening watching great baseball followed by even greater fireworks! Alas… But, my husband and I are making good times where we can. We started taking daily walks and discovered a knockout view at the top of a nearby hill. It's a breathlessly beautiful moment we enjoy just about every day. Check it out HERE: https://instagram.com/p/CD_00CDA13E/

7- What's your Twitter handle, and do you have two or three writer friends on there to shout-out to for #WriterWednesday ?

@LauraStegman; besides writing, I Tweet most often about baseball; @KariVeenstra_; author, The Rescuer; I love her monthly newsletter, and we're INtense Publications "sisters"; @DenaPawling; as a critique partner for my current WIP, she has helped enormously with her insight and eye for detail (and of course she is no stranger to Operation Awesome readers!); @CherylSchuerma2, author, A Boy Called Preacher; another INtense Publications "sister" who's been super helpful with support and advice on the way to my launch date.

8- Do you have a favorite #bookstagram image or account/ profile?

I like https://instagram.com/caitsbooks/, especially her bookstore-level-full bookshelves. Plus, she featured me along with a bunch of other 2020 debut authors in a #PassTheBookChallenge video on TikTok. It was my first (and likely only) chance at being an internet sensation. Take a look HERE: https://tiktok.com/@caitsbooks/video/6839783132007271685

9- What most motivates you to read a new book?

Happy endings. But by "happy endings," I don't mean that everything has to turn out okay. I'm just partial to stories that have uplifting resolutions. The hero [SPOILER] dies at the end of Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities, for example, but his noble action saves an innocent woman. I love that kind of thing.

10- It's our tenth anniversary! How far has your writing come in the past ten years and where do you see your writing career ten years from now?

How far? About a million miles. Ten years ago, I was halfway through Summer of L.U.C.K.'s almost twenty-year journey. Around that time, I worked with a development editor, which was invaluable. Then, four or five years back, I discovered the online writing community and found wonderful opportunities to have my work evaluated and mentored. Finally, I connected with critique partners and Beta readers. And I queried widely, with many agent requests and more agent rejections. Eventually all this feedback helped me bring Summer of L.U.C.K. up to standards that attracted a publisher. Looking ahead ten years from now, I hope I'll have written and published a collection of books beyond the three that are contracted by INtense Publications. Happy anniversary, by the way! Ten years is an outstanding accomplishment.

11- What is your favorite book by someone else, what's the author's Twitter handle, and what do you love most about that book? #FridayReads book recommendation time!

I have too many favorite books to identify just one, but I'll name my most recent favorite:
Author name: Jess Redman @Jess__Red
Title: The Miraculous
Love because: this uplifting story, about a how a kid re-learns to believe in miracles after a tragedy in his family, ticks all the boxes for the kind of books I love. Plus, it's just so well written that I blazed through it in like two days.


12- What emotions do you hope your book will evoke for the reader?

Kids who read Summer of L.U.C.K. will likely relate in some way to the challenges faced by Darby, Justin, and Naz, my three main characters. I'm hoping readers are entertained by the experiences at summer camp and caught up in the excitement of the adventures in the story's magical carnival. If I had to use one word for the book's most important emotion, it would be hope.

13- What kind of impact do you hope your book will have?

I'd be thrilled if Summer of L.U.C.K. means as much to its readers as my favorite middle grade books meant to me. I hope kids will learn that whatever they're struggling with, others kids struggle too, and they are not alone.

14- What is the best writing tool, program, or reference book you've ever bought?

A yellow legal pad. Seriously! Many of Summer of L.U.C.K.'s first few versions were written by hand. I mean, it wasn't that computers didn't exist (I'm not that old). Eventually I realized I could be just as creative on a computer, and I switched.


15- In what ways are the main characters in your book diverse? diversebooks.org #WeNeedDiverseBooks

Summer of L.U.C.K.'s most diverse character is Naz, the youngest of the three main characters, who was born in Morocco. He speaks French and Arabic, but English comes harder for him, as does the idea that he's so far away from home at an American summer camp.

16- Who is your favorite book review blogger?

I've started following some kids on Instagram who review books, and they're great fun to read, but I have no particular favorite book blogger.

17- What was the deciding factor in your publication route?

After a friend of mine got her middle grade novel published by querying a small press directly, I decided to do the same, and it was the best publishing-related decision I'd ever made. Not only did INtense Publications give me an enthusiastic "YES," but they also signed me to a three-book deal. Summer of L.U.C.K.'s first sequel comes out next year.

18- Which author, past or present, do you feel most resembles your work?

Among the comps I used when I was querying were You Go First by Erin Entrada Kelly and Sticks and Stones by Abby Cooper, so let's just say that I ASPIRE to have my work resemble theirs. Summer of L.U.C.K. was inspired by The Diamond in the Window by Jane Langton, my favorite childhood middle grade book.


19- Would you please ask our audience a question to answer in the comments?

Gladly! How many references to The Parent Trap (the original movie with Hayley Mills) can you find in the text of Summer of L.U.C.K.?

20- Anything else you would care to share about your book and yourself?

Yes, thank you! Summer of L.U.C.K., my middle grade debut novel, releases September 15, 2020, from INtense Publications and is available wherever books are sold.


If you PRE-ORDER in hardcover or paperback before 9/15/20 from Children's Book World, you'll receive an exclusive Summer of L.U.C.K. bookmark PLUS an autographed copy when the book is shipped in September! (E-book Pre-Order available here: https://intensepublications.com/shop/ols/products/the-summer-of-luck.) It's also available on Amazon, B&N, IndieBound, Bookshop, etc.

ABOUT SUMMER OF L.U.C.K.


Stuttering Darby is never perfect enough for her mother. Justin's been silent since his dad died. Naz is struggling to learn English. But after they meet at summer camp, mysterious calliope music from an abandoned warehouse grants them power to communicate without words. When they sneak inside, the dark, empty space bursts into a magical carnival. They're greeted by the ghost of Leroy Usher, who asks for their help convincing his family to restore the carnival to its former glory. In return, he promises to teach the kids how to find their voices.

As Darby, Justin, and Naz are swept off on a series of midnight adventures via Mr. Usher's carnival rides, they discover they're capable of more than they ever imagined. With each challenge, their confidence in communicating – and in themselves – grows. Meanwhile, they scheme to persuade the Usher family to revive the carnival. But when Darby’s bunkmates trick her into starring in the camp talent show, her budding confidence falters. Can she risk being less than perfect by performing in the show and speaking up to Mr. Usher's resistant son? If not, she'll put the carnival in danger and sabotage her most important quest: to believe in herself, stutter and all.

ABOUT LAURA SEGAL STEGMAN


Laura Segal Stegman is a Los Angeles-based arts publicist and author whose middle grade debut novel, Summer of L.U.C.K., will be published in September 2020 by INtense Publications, followed by a sequel in 2021. Her non-fiction credits include collaboration on the travel book Only in New York, and her feature stories have appeared in Los Angeles Times and Westways Magazine, among others.

Web site: http://LauraStegman.com
Twitter: @LauraStegman
Instagram: https://instagram.com/laura_stegman/
Facebook: https://facebook.com/LauraSegalStegmanAuthor/
Summer of L.U.C.K. on Goodreads: https://goodreads.com/book/show/54211718-summer-of-l-u-c-k
Thanks very much for including me on Operation Awesome, one of my favorite sites!

Summer of L.U.C.K. by Laura Stegman

Tuesday, August 25, 2020

Q: What Are You Reading? A: Young Adult Fantasy

 

So you want to write Young Adult Fantasy? It’s time to read some! But what stories are considered Fantasy? According to StoryGrid, Fantasy should have the reader suspend disbelief when encountering an imaginative world has a protagonist negotiating a core event or controlling idea, particularly with combining fantasy with other genres like thriller or horror. Check StoryGrid for more information.

 

What stories are considered young adult? Some resources are available about the differences between adult fiction and young adult fiction. Check them out here, here, and here.

 

Some examples of Young Adult Fantasy are An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir, Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo, Sabriel by Garth Nix, and We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal. Check out a list of more Young Adult Fantasy titles here, here, and here. Personally, I love everything by Sabaa Tahir and Leigh Bardugo.

 

Upcoming Young Adult Fantasy titles can be found here, here, and here.

 

Check out OA’s recent blog posts on how you can support #WeNeedDiverseBooks

Authors and Videos of Support #WeNeedDiverseBooks 

Support Black Lives Matter

 

This blog post is part of a series called Q: What Are You Reading? by Suzanna Anderson on Operation Awesome. Please note that this book list is not comprehensive. This list is a starting point, an introduction to Young Adult Fantasy titles. Suzanna reads a book and usually finds at least ten more books to read. Use this list as inspiration to check out titles at your local library, support your local bookstores with purchases, or wherever you get your books. Please do read, share, and write reviews (if you want to). Comment below what you’ve read and what you’re excited to read next!

 

What are you reading?

Monday, August 24, 2020

Final August horror

 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Woolsey_Fire_-_tree_ridge_in_flames_20181119-PB-008.jpg

It's still HOT here in CA, and way too much of the state is on fire.  So today we're talking about our final list of horror stories.

The Changeling by Victor LaValle
The Turn of the Screw by Henry James
The Ruins by Scott Smith
The Picture of Dorian Gray By Oscar Wilde
The Yellow Wallpaper By Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Psycho By Robert Bloch
In Cold Blood By Truman Capote
The Ruins By Scott Smith
The Amityville Horror, by Jay Anson

From this list, I've read only The Yellow Wallpaper.  Do you have any comments about a story on this list?  Or any other horror stories I didn't include in this series that you read and liked?  Please let us know in the comments!



Friday, August 21, 2020

Flash Fiction Friday Contest 50 #flashfiction

It's our 50th Flash Fiction Friday

[GIF: Pokemon cheering]

In honor of this historic event, the word count limit for this Flash Fiction piece is only going to be 50 words! Write about a celebration, but be sure to keep it short!

Prompt: Celebration
Length: Up to 50 words
Deadline: Sunday, August 23, 2020, 2am Central Standard Time

Leave your entry in the comments, please. As always, the winner will get a badge and bragging rights!

Thursday, August 20, 2020

Dear O'Abby: Characterization

There is no Dear O'Abby question this week, but The White Rose took the time to comment on the post about writer's block last week, and she has some really valid points, so today's post is about characterization and how to use it to drive your story.

Another writer's block tactic for me is to review the very extensive characterizations I write for the protagonist, antagonist, and supporting characters of my stories. Quite often plot points, both major and minor, come out of these characterizations, as well as traits and odd tid-bits that make the characters more interesting and quirky, and act the way they do throughout the story. These traits can spur a new (and often exciting) direction for them and the story.

I've been a member of several writing critique groups for several years and it never fails to surprise me how many new writers don't spend the time getting to know their characters by writing comprehensive characterizations before they start writing! They need to do the work! Most have a story structure or outline they follow, but the "bones" are not enough. The "flesh" of the story comes from the characters' actions/reactions to what happens in the story, as well as the character of their natures that act as a stimulant/catalyst for what happens. - The White Rose

I don't think I can underestimate how important characterization is to your writing.  No matter what the story is you are telling, it is filtered through the characters who are experiencing it.  And often, when we get stuck somewhere in a story, it's because the character is doing something that isn't right for them.

Each character has to have something they want and something they need.  These should not be the same thing.  Conflict, which is so crucial to a story, arises when what the character wants is different to what she needs. And when one character's wants and needs oppose another character's.  As each character fights through the story to get what they want, other characters will get in their way because they too are fighting for what they want.  These wants and needs should be set up early in the book as these are what compel the characters to move through the story, interact and finally resolve whatever the central conflict might be.

Every decision your characters make will come from these wants and needs and the more in opposition they are, the more tension you will create.

While I don't think it's entirely necessary to write long, detailed biographies of each character before you start writing (but hey, I'm not an outliner either so do whatever works for you), I do think it's absolutely critical you know your characters well.  Even if you never put any of it on the page, your characters need to have a past that has informed who they are at the time the story takes place, a set of beliefs that define them.  This will drive the ways in which they react to the different plot elements you put in place to thwart them.

When you find yourself stuck at any point, go back to the last place your characters had to make a major decision or action and check that the way they responded fits with the personality and backstory you have created for that character.  Does it go against their moral code?  Is it beyond the physical capabilities you have outlined for that character?  While people do extraordinary things, particularly in times of distress, how they respond is almost always in line with their personalities and one of the fastest ways to break your story is for your character to do something that isn't.

Hope this was helpful!

X O'Abby




Wednesday, August 19, 2020

Operation Awesome #20Questions in #2020 of #NewBook Debut Author L.P. Peace

Operation Awesome #20Questions in #2020 of #NewBook Debut Author posted by @JLenniDorner of @OpAwesome6


The Mercenary's Dawn (Renegades Book 1) by L.P. Peace


1- This interview was scheduled when you only had one book out. But yesterday, August 18, you put out the next book in the series. Way to go! How many books are you planning for Renegades?

My plan is that Renegades will be a five-book series and will launch other series set in the same world. I intend to explore this universe for a while. There may be other books in Renegades later on, but at the moment, it's set at 5 books.


2- Would you please, in 160 characters or less, give a #WriteTip ?

Finish the book. Ignore the mistakes. That's what editing's for.

3- What is the best piece of writing advice you've received?

Finish the book. Ignore the mistakes. That's what editing's for. Lol. Honestly, taking that advice was the best thing I ever did. I learned more about writing through finishing, then editing the book than anything else.

4- Of the many movies with aliens, which alien is your favorite?

The Predator from the second Predator movie (though the first is my favourite Predator movie). When he picked up the cop and found she was pregnant and didn't hurt her, I was like, 'Aww, he's not so bad!!!' XD


5- Would you share a picture with us of your book with a cat?

This is Harley looking utterly disinterested in my book! 😂
Operation Awesome #20Questions in #2020 of #NewBook Debut Author L.P. Peace #cat


6- What were your thoughts on the "Storm Area 51, They Can't Stop All of Us" last year?

It was amazing! I watched that for a while, seeing the Naruto running in the background. But what I really loved was law enforcement's reaction to it. All the cops talking to the people and laughing along with it. No nonsense, no threats. Just letting them have fun.

7- What's your Twitter handle, and do you have two or three writer friends on there to shout-out to for #WriterWednesday ?

You can find me on Twitter @lucy_peace . If Sci-Fi Romance is your thing or you think it might be, then I recommend @TiffanyRobertsF , a husband and wife writing duo who write my favourite SFR, hands down. @BlazingOptimist a friend from uni, Tia Owen, who has a great writing blog and @regineabel another of my favourite SFR writers. At the moment she's promoting an anthology, Pets in Space. It's out for a limited time and a portion of the first month's profits goes to http://Hero-Dogs.org. This non-profit charity supports veterans and first responders in the US (Gratuitous charity plug here!).


8- Do you have a favorite #bookstagram image or account/ profile?

Ooh, good question! I don't have one yet.

9- What most motivates you to read a new book?

A good cover. In self-publishing, there's a lot of great covers, but a small percentage of poorly photoshopped ones. I won't hate on homemade, because I know a few of these ladies make their own and they're amazing. A well-crafted blurb will attract my attention, but more than that, compelling characters and a good plot. If you have the first two and not the latter two, I'm not interested. I need to care about the characters, and they should be going through something. Particularly for romance. There should be something that threatens to stop them being together, because ultimately, that's the point of the book, that they overcome difficulties to be together. I personally prefer when those difficulties are external. I love seeing two people fight side-by-side to be together.

10- It's our tenth anniversary! How far has your writing come in the past ten years and where do you see your writing career ten years from now?

Ten years ago, I was writing scripts, having decided to try that when I was struggling to write books. I made a bit a headway but wasn't happy. In 2016 I came back to novel writing. I plan to publish a new book every two months, all going well, so in ten years I plan to have a lot of books self-published. I also plan to write books in fantasy and contemporary fantasy and submit them to agents and publishers.

11- What is your favorite book by someone else, what's the author's Twitter handle, and what do you love most about that book? #FridayReads book recommendation time!

Author name: Tiffany Roberts @TiffanyRobertsF
Title: Infinite City books
Love because: The stories are set on an alien planet, where the whole planet, surface and underground, is a city. There's an array of alien races, the tension is palpable, the stories are incredibly well written. I've read every one, and I can't tell the difference between the scenes Robert writes, and the scenes Tiffany writes. The worldbuilding is phenomenal, the threat always feels real, the action scenes are heart-stopping, and the endings feel earned. Start with Silent Lucidity and enjoy.


12- What emotions do you hope your book will evoke for the reader?

Satisfaction. Catharsis. I try to write books that take readers on an emotional ride, with the intent that the end will leave them feeling satisfied. I love happy ever afters, romance, of any subgenre, is all about them. I think catharsis is a much better way to leave a reader, it means they've experienced something that affected them.

13- What kind of impact do you hope your book will have?

For me, books have always been about escaping. The world, especially at the moment, can be a challenging place sometimes. If I can offer a few hours of escapism, that makes me feel like I've achieved something.

14- What is the best writing tool, program, or reference book you've ever bought?

There is a book formatting program called Vellum which allows me to format my own books for both ebooks and print. It's a fantastic tool and is so intuitive. It means I don't have to hire someone to format my novels, I have complete control over how the interior looks, and it also means if something is wrong with the book after publishing, I can fix it myself, I don't have to rely on someone being able to fit me in.

15- In what ways are the main characters in your book diverse? diversebooks.org #WeNeedDiverseBooks

The first four books of my series, the heroines are white. That wasn't a conscious choice, and I recognise it falls under unconscious bias. At the same time, I didn't choose the races of any of my heroines, I write the character that presents themselves to me. Going back and changing the race of any of those four characters would have a massive effect on their personality. Whether people want to recognise it or not, the race you are and where you grow up, effects your experiences in life, so changing the ethnicity of anyone of them would change their story and that would impact the story I'm telling.
Of the 30-odd books I have planned in this universe, I would say half of the heroines are women of ethnicity. I come from a diverse family and I want to see that represented in my work. Future heroines will be Black, Mediterranean, Asian, Polynesian, Arabic, etc. We come from a beautifully diverse planet, with an array of cultures, beliefs and practices. I want to see them in my stories.
My first heroine has albinism. I've read books where albino heroines are almost treated as a fetish. The issues they face due to the condition they live with are ignored. I guess their skin conditions don't factor into how those writers see the characters, but I don't believe you should choose a condition like that because you think it looks good and then ignore the massive impact it has on an albino person's life.
My heroine suffers severe sunburn, worries about cancer and has had growths removed. She's conscious of her skin, and it plays a role in what she can do in life. So it's not just racial diversity we need to see. I plan to write heroines who are neurodivergent, such as autistic. I have a black heroine planned who has Vitiligo a condition that causes white patches of skin. I want to see heroines who have grown up poverty-stricken, as well as those who grew up wealthy. Abusive pasts and surrounded by love.
I don't view 'diversity' as a watchword. I think diversity is something we live with but don't recognise a lot of the time. I think if more people just looked around them, spoke to people, they'd realise how different we all are and the beauty in those differences.

16- Who is your favorite book review blogger?

It's not a book review blogger, (I don't really read any) but author Veronica Scott @vscotttheauthor has a word press where she compiles new releases in SFR weekly. Also, Author SJ Pajones runs SFR Station, @SFRstation , which is a search resource for SFR books. I can browse both for hours looking for new books to read.

17- What was the deciding factor in your publication route?

Except for time travel romance, no one really publishes sci-fi romance. I'd been thinking about self-publishing for a while when I stumbled across the genre and fell in love. The two were the perfect match. It allowed me a level of control over my writing that you just don't get with publishing companies. I have stories outside of SFR that I plan to write, for them, I will attempt the agent/publisher route, but even if I got offered a contract for my SFR books, I wouldn't take it. I love the control. I love formatting my books, I love commissioning my cover designer, Sam and working with her to see the covers come to life. I love interacting with the people who love this genre as much as I do, whether they're my fans, or have no idea who I am (As is mostly the case this early in) and I love the other writers. They're an amazing bunch of women who are self-motivated in a genre overlooked by the mainstream. There was a call for these books, so these women, who are also fans, took the wheel and created this subgenre so that they could give those who can't or don't want to write, the books they wanted. They blow me away.

18- Which author, past or present, do you feel most resembles your work?

When I came into this genre, the first thing I did was read voraciously. I consumed the stories, not just because I'm a fan, but because I wanted to break the stories down. In any genre, you have to know the tropes. When I came across Tiffany Roberts work, it was unlike any of the other books I'd read to date. Tiffany and Robert write sci-fi romance with a heavy dose of action-adventure, I loved that, and it's those books that shaped the world I wanted to create and the stories I wanted to tell. I don't know if my work resembles theirs, I hope not, because while I love those books and adopted a stronger take on action-adventure because of them, I hope my books are like MY books. But they're definitely Tiffany Roberts inspired.

19- Would you please ask our audience a question to answer in the comments?

Hmm, going back to the bookstagram question, who does your audience think I should check out? I like SFR and fantasy romance, obviously; as well as Sci-Fi and Fantasy. Who are good Bookstagrammars in those genres? What about book bloggers? What am I missing out on?

20- Anything else you would care to share about your book and yourself?

Blurb


A Mercenary looking for a future. An escaped slave fleeing from the past. Their love will reshape worlds.

When Alethia is kidnapped while trying to free slaves, it seems her deepest nightmares are coming true. Her 'rescue' by Thanesh, leader of the Protectorate, a group of hardened mercenaries, is short-lived when the past catches up to the mysterious alien leader, revealing things about both of them which will change their future forever.

Thanesh and Alethia must now fight side-by-side or face the horrifying consequences.

You can sample my world with this FREE novella. You do NOT need to sign up to my newsletter to download The Captain's Promise. https://dl.bookfunnel.com/ghu7t6d6ig

Bio


Lucy is an all-round nerd with a life-long love of mythology, fantasy and science-fiction, throw in a happily-ever-after and she's a happy customer. When she's not reading or writing about alien males and the human women who love them, she's spending time with her husband Jonathan and their three cats Harley, Quinn and Tom in their Derbyshire home.
Lucy writes Science-fiction romance, with a dose of adventure. Her material contains steamy scenes and is for adults only.

http://lucypeace.com
https://facebook.com/groups/lppeacereadersgroup/
https://facebook.com/LucyPeaceauthor/
https://instagram.com/lucy_peace_author/
Twitter @lucy_peace

The Mercenary's Dawn - http://books2read.com/u/mBGgWN
The Smuggler's Radiant http://books2read.com/u/4AKdno
The books are also free to read to subscribers of Kindle Unlimited.


The Mercenary's Dawn (Renegades Book 1) by L.P. Peace

Tuesday, August 18, 2020

Q: What Are You Reading? A: Adult Fantasy

 

So you want to write Adult Fantasy? It’s time to read some! But what stories are considered Fantasy? According to StoryGrid, Fantasy should have the reader suspend disbelief when encountering an imaginative world has a protagonist negotiating a core event or controlling idea, particularly with combining fantasy with other genres like thriller or horror. Check StoryGrid for more information

 

Some examples of Adult Fantasy are A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin, The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss, The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin, The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang, and American Gods by Neil Gaiman. Check out a list of more Adult Fantasy titles here, here, here, and here. I have personally read Martin, Morgenstern, and Gaiman, with Jemisin and Kuang on my reserve list at the library.

 

Upcoming Fantasy titles can be found here, here, and here

 

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Authors and Videos of Support #WeNeedDiverseBooks 

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This blog post is part of a series called Q: What Are You Reading? by Suzanna Anderson on Operation Awesome. Please note that this book list is not comprehensive. This list is a starting point, an introduction to Adult Fantasy titles. Suzanna reads a book and usually finds at least ten more books to read. Use this list as inspiration to check out titles at your local library, support your local bookstores with purchases, or wherever you get your books. Please do read, share, and write reviews (if you want to). Comment below what you’ve read and what you’re excited to read next!

 

What are you reading?