SFR Book Reviews by Jessica E. Subject

I recently had the chance to read two fabulous SFR books, both of which I bought myself. The first is Alien Tango by fellow SFR Brigade member Gini Koch. The other, Across the Universe is a YA SFR by Beth Revis.

Alien Tango by Gini Koch

From the back cover:

For Alien Super-Being Exterminator Katherine "Kitty" Katt, anti-alien conspiracies, threats from outer space, and a couple of killer alligators are all in a day's work. But internal alien schemes and some major "relationship" complications are about to bring a new meaning to the phrase "chaos and confusion."

It's been five months since Kitty joined Centaurion Division, working with the aliens from Alpha Centauri. She and Jeff Martini have grown closer as a couple and life looks rosy. But when an experimental spacecraft is unexpectedly returned to the Kennedy Space Center, Kitty and the rest of Alpha Team are called on to investigate and are immediately embroiled in life-or-death situations that scream "political conspiracy."

The team must survive murderous attacks, deal with a mysterious space entity that has seized control of a group of astronauts, and evade a woman who'll do anything to eliminate the competition when she develops an obsessive crush on Kitty's old high school boyfriend. And that's all before the evil masterminds decide Kitty's extermination is vital...

For my review and more information about the book, click here.

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

A love out of time. A spaceship built of secrets and murder.

Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awake on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into a brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.

Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone—one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship—tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn’t do something soon, her parents will be next.

Now, Amy must race to unlock Godspeed’s hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there’s only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.

For my review and more information about the book, click here.

TANGLED IN TIME Gets Five Books from LASR! :-)

Long and Short Romance posted their review of Tangled in Time today and gave it 5 books! Here's a snippet from the review:

"I love original plots, quirky characters and surprises and I enjoyed every minute of Tangled in Time. Do read."


This means that the novella is up for their Best Book of the week. Voting begins tomorrow and ends Sunday evening. If you're online tomorrow and feel like it, please stop here and vote for your favorite!

Hailing On All Frequencies!

I'm posting a little earlier this week as a couple of our members are in a reader's poll that closes midnight, October 10th (see Contest News section for details) and I'd like to give you time to check out the entries.


NEW RELEASES
FROM THE ASHES is an erotic sci-fi romance from new Brigader, Maree Anderson. The book will be coming out with Red Sage Pubishling in December 2010. 









REDEEMING CHARACTERS by Jennifer L. Hart was released in ebook format on October 9 by Passion In Print.  A release in paperback format will follow the first week in December.









D. L. Jackson has a two-story SFR/erotica anthology called BLOWN AWAY featuring Detonate and Happy Trails also to be released by Passion in Print  (release date TBA).

BLOGGING
Jody Wallace has been interviewed by Meankitty over at Scribbling Ninjas. They're talking about Jody's fantasy romance novel, SURVIVAL OF THE FAIREST.

Erica Hayes was a guest blogger over at the SciFiGuy.ca this week. She tackled the topic of Urban Fantasy vs. Paranormal Romance - What's Your Fancy?.

MEMBERS NEWS
Laurie Green placed 2nd in the Toronto Gold/Original Golden Opportunity contest sponsored by Toronto Romance Writers RWA chapter with her SFR THE OUTER PLANETS. Congratulations, Laurie!!!

Lisa Lane has entered her trailer video for PANDORA'S HOPE in the You Gotta Read Videos contest. It's Entry #6 this month. She'd appreciate any members dropping by between October 26th-30th to leave their vote of support.

NEW MEMBERS
Welcome to our newest members:

• Maree Anderson
• Mel Teshco
• Jess Anastasi

CONTEST NEWS
Frances Pauli's SFR short, COMPLICATED CARGO, has made it to round two in the Just One Bite contest. Reading and voting continues until the 14th. Congratulations, go Frances!

Blackraven's Reviews is running a weekly readers' poll from Oct.1st-Oct.8th you can vote for your favourite read. Barbara Elsborg's book TREUBLOOD 5: FIGHT TO REMEMBER is one of Blackraven's Reviews Top Picks for the Week and new Brigader Mel Teshco's book ICE COLD LOVER is also in the list. So go along, take a look and cast your vote by midnight Oct.10th! 

The 2011 Pikes Peak Writers Fiction Contest
The Pikes Peak Writers and Pikes Peak Writers Conference are pleased to sponsor the PPWC's 19th annual contest for unpublished writers.
The contest officially begins September 15, 2010. E-entries only.
Entries must be received by 11:59 PM (MST) November 15, 2010. Winners will be notified in early April 2011.

Contest Categories:
• Short Stories (fiction only; all genres included in same category) Book Length:
• Children’s(for ages 8-12)
• Historical Fiction
• Mainstream
• Mystery/Suspense/Intrigue
• Romance
• Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror
• Young Adult(for ages 12-18)

FINAL ROUND JUDGES

• Children's VIP Judge: Danielle Chiotti (Upstart Crow Literary)   
• Historical Fiction VIP Judge:  Rachelle Gardner (Word Serve Literary Agent)
• Mainstream VIP Judge:  Kathleen Gilligan (Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martins)
• Mystery/Suspense/Intrige VIP Judge: Denise Little (Ethan Ellenberg Agency) 
• Romance VIP Judge: Allison Lyons (Harlequin Intrigue)
• Young Adult VIP Judge: Amy Boggs (Donald Maass Agency)
• Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror VIP Judge: Deb Dixon (President of Belle Books)  
• Short Story VIP Judge: Angela James (Executive Editor, Carina Press) 

For more details download the brochure from this link. 

BOOK REVIEWS, SIGNINGS & GIVE-AWAYS. 
An October Blog Anniversary Party! Kylie Griffin celebrates a year of blogging this month and she's doing it in style with a Give-away-fest. A smorgas-library of free books with every post.
Look what's going on this week...
9th October - Have you read a good sci-fi romance lately? This is a blatant plug to get people to visit the SFRB website and blog! To give-away to a lucky visitor - three of Elizabeth Amber's Lords of Satyr series. To be in the draw complete the sci-fi challenge, it closes October 13th (midnight Aussie EST).
12th October - What are you reading and enjoying? Don't forget to recharge the creative well with a good book. If you leave a comment about a book you've read lately you may win an autographed copy of COLTER'S WOMAN by Maya Banks. Contest closes midnight (Aussie EST) 16th October.
So, put on your party hats, you're all invited to share in the fun! Get on over to her blog!

INDUSTRY NEWS
Editor Debra Dixon (author of Goal, Motivation, Conflict) and BelleBooks are actively looking for submissions in the following genres:

• sci-fi
• fantasy
• urban fantasy
• YA
• romance
• strong general fiction
• women's fiction
• literary fiction

They produce print and e-book releases and are interested in published and unpublished authors.

Hachette Australia (2nd largest publisher in Australia & largest in fiction) and editor Bernadette Foley are also actively looking for manuscripts (agented only). They are looking for submissions in these genres:

• fantasy (Orbit imprint)
• sci-fi (Orbit imprint)
• commercial fiction
• non-fiction

Check their website for details.
INFORMATION OF INTEREST
Steampunk Prosthetics made for an intriguing read over at The Galaxy Express earlier this week. SFRBrigader Sheryl Nantus and her book, WILD CARDS AND IRON HORSES featured in the post.

The Blood-Red Pencil has a great post on Tips for Writing Effective Dialogue. Listed are some practical ways to improve your dialogue.

REMINDER: HOAF news

If you would like your new release, blog news, book reviews, book covers, contest results or other good info posted this coming week send it to me.

Email it to - kyliegriffin@clearmail.com.au

REMINDER: HOAF news!

Send any of the following information to me, Brigaders!

• a new release
• interesting blog post
• contest news - finalist or win?
• a book reviews - either one you've done or one done on your book by someone else?
• a link to a good article or website
• a contest running on your site or blog
• give-aways on your website or blog
• free stories on your website or blog
• a blog tour for your new book
• an upcoming birthday
• attending a convention
• just signed with an agent
• sold a book
• industry news
• heard of an SFR contest our members could enter

Email kyliegriffin (at) clearmail (dot) com (dot) au

Hailing On All Frequencies!

NEW RELEASES

Ella Drake's new book, SILVER BOUND, is due for release November 22nd 2010, from Carina Press.



 

Erica Hayes' new release POSION KISSED is out on September 28th, 2010 from St.Martin's Press.

Barbara Elsborg has THE SMALL PRINT, a paranormal romance with a SF twist, coming out from Ellora's Cave on October 1st.

Julia Rachel Barrett's ONE FOUR ALL, has just been released with Siren Bookstrand on September 23rd.

Julia Rachel Barrett also has four other SFR books out in the Daughters of Peresphone series- EXILE (Bk 1), RETURN (Bk 2), were released in one volume in July, by Resplendence Publishing.


REBORN (Bk 3) & DEMON (Bk 4) have been release as one volume in September by Resplendence Publishing.








BLOGGING
Coming up this week on Amber Norris' blog - Adventures of a Sci-Fi Writer - she'll be having a couple author guests. Jennifer Hartz and Tami Dee will be on to talk about their approach to developing a series and to showcase their new releases.
 
Jennifer Hartz, author of the new Future Savior series will be kicking the week off on Monday. She'll be talking about how she got started writing, her approach to writing a series, and give a little about her first release, Future Savior series Book One: Conception.

Tami Dee, author of the Mists of Time Viking series, will be up on Wednesday to talk about her approach to writing a series and give a little bit about her newest release in the series, Mists of Time Viking Series Book Three: Beyond a Viking Horizon.
 
Then, on Friday, Amber will be closing the week up with a summary of the approaches, her plan of action for the new SFR series she's developing, and post some questions received throughout the week for Jennifer, Tami, or herself to answer.
It should be a fun week. She's hoping some Brigaders will stop by and say hi to Tami & Jennifer.

And look what's coming up on Kylie Griffin's blog!

28th Sept. - Erica Hayes is back! She returns to discuss her brand spanking new release, POISON KISSED (Book 3 in the Shadowfae Chronicles). We learn more about the book and her characters as well as what inspired her to write in the urban fantasy genre. There's a give-away for one lucky visitor, so drop in and say hi.

October Blog Anniversary Party! Kylie celebrates a year of blogging on October 6th and all next month she's celebrating with a Give-away-fest. A smorgas-library of free books with every post. Some of the highlights next month include - guest author Mel Teshco, a book review of Kelly Gay's A BETTER PART OF DARKNESS (2010 RITA double nominee) & Katherine Allred's CLOSE ENCOUNTERS, a post on Sci-Fi Romance, What are you reading & enjoying?, Business Cards and More RWOz Conference photos. So, put on your party hats, you're all invited to share in the fun! 

BOOK REVIEWS, SIGNINGS & GIVE-AWAYS. 
D. L. Jackson received a Five Tea Cup Review for SLIPPING THE PAST from HEA Reviews. 

Verona St.James was interviewed on Lisa Pietsch's blog under her E.D. Walker pseudonym. Here's the link.
INFORMATION OF INTEREST
Heather Massey from The Galaxy Express has posted a huge list of SF/SFR Friendly Review Sites on her blog. Check it out!

Whispers Publishing is expanding their market and has now opened up to all genres, not just erotica/romance. Thanks to Brigader Gail Koger for this information!

From Brigader Verona St.James, a bit of light-hearted silliness - a make your own Avatar dress-up game. Check out this link.

Hailing On All Frequencies!

NEW RELEASES

Vijaya Schartz has just received her new cover for BLACK JAGUAR (Chronicles of Kassouk Book 3). The book's scheduled to be released on Nov.1st, 2010 from Desert Breeze Publishing.

Ella Drake's new book, SILVER BOUND, is due for release Nov.22nd 2010 from Carina Press.










 
E.D.Walker aka Verona St.James has a new release, THE BEAUTY'S BEAST (paranormal historical), from Noble Romance.
 

Sandra Sookoo's book DAMAGED CARGO was release from Purple Swords Publications on 15th September.

Erica Hayes' new release POSION KISSED comes out on September 28th, 2010 from St.Martin's Press.

BLOGGING

Drop on over to read Verona St. James's latest Summer of SFR review on OLD MAN'S WAR written by John Scalzi. 

New Zealand is a beautiful destination for travellers. Kylie Griffin has some more photos from her trip and a sneak peek at her latest work in progress this week on her blog.

MEMBERS NEWS

Robert Appleton has just signed TWO book contracts!

THE MIRACULOUS LADY LAW, a steampunk mystery novella with a dash of romance with Carina Press (release date Jan.2011), and CLAIRE DE LUNE, an erotic SFR mystery novel co-written with Sloane Taylor coming out with Amber Quill Press in e-book (Nov.2010) and print (Dec.2010). Keep your eye out for these books!

Marva Dasef's suspense novella, MISSING ASSUMED DEAD, is scheduled for a July 2011 release with MuseItUp Publishing.

CONTEST NEWS

Susan Macatee's time travel romance, ERIN'S REBEL, is a finalist in the paranormal category in the Ancient City Romance Authors 2010 Heart of Exellence Reader's Choice Award. Winners will be announced late September.

Donna S. Frelick has won the TARA Contest Paranormal category with her SFR manuscript, UNCHAINED MEMORY!!! And has been duly presented with a SFRB BUFFY Award for her achievement. Congratulations, Donna!

Donna S. Frelick strikes again!  After her win in the TARA, she's now a finalist in the Indiana Golden Opportunity Contest.  She's definitely running at warp 10.  Congrats and best wishes for the finals, Donna.

Gail Koger's SFR novel, THE WARLORD'S COMEUPPANCE has been nominated for a New Cove Cover Award for the Most Eye-Catching Cover. Support Gail and SFR by voting using this link. THE WARLORD'S COMEUPPANCE is #9 on the list. The poll closes at midnight on Sept.28th.

The Ruby Slippered Sisterhood is celebrating its first birthday on Sept.21st. To celebrate they're running a competition - Make It Golden Contest, with the grand prize being your entry fee into the 2011 RWA® Golden Heart contest.

There is no entry fee and the contest is limited to first 100 entries.
Contest opens 12:01 am EST September 21st and closes 11:59 pm EST September 21st.
For more details, click on this link.

Thanks to Sharon Lynn Fisher for notifying us about this contest!  

BOOK REVIEWS, SIGNINGS & GIVEAWAYS

Pauline B.Jones has received a thrilling review for her book, OUT OF TIME, over at the Long & Short of It blog-site. It's a fantastic review, a definite keeper!

Here's a quote from the review - "Out Of Time has Oscar nomination written all throughout its very well written and adventurous pages. I can see this being turned into a movie because it is so fleshed out; details are so vivid and the dialogue matched true to the characters that they seem to jump off of the pages." Congratulations, Pauline!

Marva Dasef has THE HUNTER, a dark paranormal flash, in the free reads section of MuseItUp Publishing. You can find the Now Available section.

INFORMATION OF INTEREST
Need a guide on how to write a synopsis? There's a free give-away on author, Gracie O'Neil's website called How To Write a Synopsis Without Turning Homicidal. The pdf document is a step by step, examples-constructed-and-deconstructed guide on how to write a high concept, back cover blurb, 1pg, 2pg, 4pg & 8pg synopsis. A VERY useful resource for any writer to have. I've followed Gracie's posts for over a year now and find them to be insightful, incredibly helpful, and easy-to-follow.

The RWA Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal Chapter have a helpful post about 7 Ways Scenes & Sequels Will Improve Your Writing.

Two good posts from The Blood-Red Pencil this week. The first is called Stretch Your Body to Revive Your Writer Mind - an article about some easy-to-do Yoga exercises to relieve the stress of sitting at your desk writing. The second is entitled The First Page - and talks about hooking your reader from the first page of your novel.

Thanks to Brigader Marva Dasef who sent in the following information about MuseItUp Publishing. MIU has just opened their bookstore. They're a Canadian e-book publisher and Lea Schizas is looking for submissions from all over the world. You can find out more about this new company clicking on this link.