What If...We’re due for comet bombardment?
Category: Writing and Poetry

In a study from Car­diff Cen­tre for As­tro­bi­ol­o­gy in Car­diff, U.K., our solar system is heading toward a denser area of the galaxy which may mean higher chances for comet bombardment. Their studies indicate that these bombardments occur every 35 to 40 million years and may be responsible for the extinction of several forms of life over the eons. But they also indicate that these bombardments from space may have spread life throughout the galaxy. You can read more here.

So...what if our little planet has seeded life on other planets? And what if the same sort of phenomena has occurred on these other planets and spread their 'life creating substances' throughout the galaxy? I can see a wealth of SF stories rising from this. What about you?

4:18 AM - 2 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

What If...Earth had a storm that lasted months?
Category: Writing and Poetry

Astronomers have been tracking an immense thunderstorm on Saturn that's already lasted for 5 months. I suppose that means that we can't complain, too much, when we have a storm that lasts a few hours, does it?  The Saturnian storm can be seen as the small splotch on the lower portion of the planet in these enhanced photos. 

But as writers, speculative fiction writers at that, we can extrapolate how such a storm would affect us here on Earth. What it would mean in terms in ecological damage or even economical damage is the stuff of dramatic fiction, don't you think?

How would you use it in a story?

2:43 AM - 2 Comments - 1 Kudos - Add Comment

Review - CALL OF THE HIHLAND MOON

CALL OF THE HIGHLAND MOON
by Kendra Leigh Castle
ISBN: 13 978-1-4022-1158-4
Sourcebooks
373 pages
$6.99

I had the opportunity to review Ms Castle's book, CALL OF THE HIGHLAND MOON. What a pleasure to read! Just about everyone loves a good shapeshifter (me included :D) and Gideon MacInnes is a wonderful, sexy werewolf shapeshifter. He doesn't want to be the alpha of his clan, not yet, so he takes a vacation and ends up in the U.S.  But, on the eve of his return to Scotland, he's savagely attacked by other werewolves. Barely surviving, he manages to make his way, following a sweet alluring scent, to the rear door of Carly Silver's bookstore. Carly, with a tender heart for all things four-legged, takes the injured animal home intending to adopt him as her own. If he lives. She isn't prepared to wake up beside a devastatingly handsome, and entirely naked man, the next morning.

At this point, one thinks one is going to read the same old, same old shapeshifter romance where the hero knows he's met his one true mate and fights his attraction to a mate who really isn't suitable. But there are enough twists and turns and big bad villains to make this story a real nail biter at times. Gideon is a remarkable hero with just enough sweetness of personality to make him as adorable as he is sexy. Carly is just as distinct with an overall inner strength that combats the standard female gentility of most heroines. And the villain? I won't reveal his identity but suffice it to say he's fairly typically villain-crazy with delusions of grandeur but his strings are pulled by at least two other individuals, one who dies and one who lives  and who will be, I suspect, a prominent figure in future books.

All in all, I highly recommend CALL OF THE HIGHLAND MOON. I'm sure you'll enjoy it as much as I did.

3:32 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Two-fer Thursday

Good morning, everyone. I hope you did something cool for Earth Day yesterday. My employer was giving out bare root plants to anyone who wanted one so...I sashayed over to the office to get a lovely little Rose of Sharon. Then I found out that they had a whole slew of plants left over (no one wanted them?!) so I finagled a Forsythia and a Lilac to add to my collection :-) I've always been a bit of an environmentalist, preferring to plant a tree to taking it down. It's always baffled me why people prefer to have sterilized lots with no trees but my dh pointed out that no trees equals no leaves to rake in the fall. For my part, I'd rather see all my trees stay unless they become diseased and create a hazard to houses or passers-by. And generally if one has to come out, it'll be replaced. I think my husband believes I'm related to Mother Nature and would prefer to live in a forest. He might be right about the forest part, LOL

The two-fer part of the title of this post is because I really didn't have a subject for today. I did want to speak about Earth Day but didn't have a whole lot to say. And I did promise, earlier this week, to give a brief review of Cheryl Brooks' book, SLAVE, the first in The Cat Star Chronicles.

Way back when, I used to do book reviews for the Writer's Club at AOL (loved doing it though occasionally I'd get the heavy duty SF tome that had pages and pages of convoluted sentences and twenty dollar words designed to impress the reader with how brilliant the author was). I much prefer easy-to-read, fast-paced books with a high entertainment value. SLAVE fits my demands easily. So on with the review...

THE CAT STAR CHRONICLES: SLAVE
by Cheryl Brooks
Sourcebooks Casablanca
ISBN: 13-978-1-4022-1192-8
$5.99 US/8.99 Canada
314 pages

Told in first person, SLAVE is the story of Jacinth's journey to find and liberate her kidnapped sister from a life of slavery. When she discovers that Ranata is on a planet  where women are bound in sexual servitude to men, she realizes that she must have a man she can trust to help her find and free Ranata. She finds that man, bound in chains himself, in a slave market. Though she violently opposes slavery, she purchases the man only to free him almost immediately when he announces that it's his duty to attempt escape. She really doesn't have time to deal with issues of keeping a reluctant slave and she can't use a man in chains in her quest to find her sister. No, he has to appear to be 'in charge' and she has to appear to be the 'slave' without risking actually becoming one. That's why she needs a man she can trust.

To her surprise, Cat follows her back to her ship; he has no where to go, he's still in chains and he feels a debt of gratitude to her for his freedom. That's not why he stays, however, his attraction for Jacinth, and hers for him, is apparent from the beginning. And his being an alien with distinctly feline characteristics makes him a very interesting character. Who doesn't love a guy who can purr?

Their journey to the planet Statzeel, where her sister is supposedly located, takes place in what seems a single day. And therein lies my single fault with the story and that's due no doubt to my SF background). Jacinth has spent 6 years trying to find her sister, visiting a score of planets as she follows Ranata's trail. A journey from one star system to another in a single day just doesn't seem...reasonable to me. HOWEVER, this is a fault that I easily overlooked as the story progressed because the world building, in general, was so fresh and vibrant. And Cat was so darned...well, Cat!

SLAVE is a wonderful blend of humor (Jacinth's habit of using slang taken from ancient Earth and Cat's blank confusion when she uses it is marvelous), passion and adventure. There's a touch of eroticism but while it's a sexy read, it isn't what I call an erotic romance...which is fine since I don't believe that it's intended to be erotic. SLAVE is a great way to spend your down time, which is my way of saying...buy a copy. I think you'll like it.

2:51 AM - 2 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

What If...Biofuels Harm the Environment?

Yeah, I know, I haven't posted a blog here in some time (I've been working anywhere from 1-4 hours of OT every day for some time now) But I had a little down time before I had to get to work and this subject really spoke to me. I've been in favor of less Earth impact since my teens (we only have the one planet, after all) and try not to do more damage than necessary. At first, I thought, hey, biofuel -- what a great concept! But then I started hearing alternative thoughts and theories. Now, I'm not so sure.

I've been seeing stories about biofuel and its impact on the world's food production. According to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization, world grain stocks have fallen to a 25 year low of 5 million tons, which is claimed to be barely enough rations for eight to 12 weeks. This year the U.S. will divert 18 percent of its grain output for ethanol production to break dependency on oil imports.

It's interesting because I've heard reports that biofuel, particularly those produced from grains, don't reduce dependence on foreign oil and can actually be more harmful to the environment than the fossil fuels they would replace.

Scientists have questioned the sustainability of biofuels, warning that by increasing deforestation for crops, the energy source may be contributing to global warming.

John Beddington, England's current chief scientific adviser, has expressed skepticism about biofuels. At a speech in Westminster, he said demand for biofuels from the U.S. had delivered a "major shock" to world agriculture, which was raising food prices globally. "There are real problems with the unsustainability of biofuels." He added that cutting down rain forests to grow these crops was "profoundly stupid".

But even worse is that I've heard that turning plants such as corn, soybeans and sunflowers into fuel uses more energy than the resulting ethanol or biodiesel generates. For example, corn requires 29 percent more fossil energy to raise, harvest and convert than the fuel produced from it.

So maybe biofuel isn't the way to go. We definitely don't want to cut down rain forests or contribute to the starvation in third world countries. And if the production of biofuel exceeds its cost-benefit ratio, what's the point?

2:34 AM - 2 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Star Light, Star Bright…Interstellar Interviews

Star Light, Star Bright…Interstellar Interviews
These guests are no strangers to romantic plights,
But they are some of the hottest talent to stop by our site!
Join us for monthly interviews with paranormal, fantasy and sci-fi
stars at www.star-crossedromance.blogspot.com!

We’ll be kicking things off March 21st with NY Times and USA Today
Bestselling Author Angela Knight! One lucky visitor will win a
signed copy of her latest anthology, SHIFTER (including novellas by
Lora Leigh, Virginia Kantra and Alyssa Day)!

6:04 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Watch What You Drink

I hope everyone had a great St. Patrick’s Day, ate lots of corned beef and cabbage and enjoyed some green beer yesterday. I know I did…well, except for the green beer. I’m not much of a drinker though I enjoy the occasional glass of wine or fancy mixed drink. Mostly I drink coffee (generally a flavored coffee), tea or water. Once in a while, I’ll have a pop and because I’m diabetic, it’s usually a diet soda.

After seeing the url my darling daughter sent me, I’ve decided that diet soda is too dangerous. Too downright scary.

With all the pollutants in our air, the chemical additives to prolong the shelf life in our food, or pesticides on our produce, you have to wonder why any of us are still alive. Then you hear of reports that products imported from China are poisoning our pets, our children (lead based paint on toys) or have unknown substances (a recent case of heparin imported from China)…and your anxiety factor raises up another notch.

I’m not an alarmist by nature but the results of an unofficial test on aspartame (a popular artificial sweetener is enough to strike fear into the most stalwart heart. I remember when this product first appeared on the market, we were warned not to let our children use it because it could cause brain damage. The reports were largely ignored. I mean, heck, aspartame is supposed to be a ’natural’ artificial sweetener. How could something like that be bad for you?

Then I was sent to this url. I urge everyone to read it, to look at the photos. Go all the way to the end. Then make up your own mind.

As for me, water will remain my beverage of choice (I drink filtered water) With all the other factors I have so little control over, this is one where I can at least say – No more.

http://www.myaspartameexperiment.com/index.php

-- Lynda

2:08 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Win a copy of Linda Wisdom’s ’50 Ways to Hex Your Lover’
Category: Writing and Poetry

Good morning, everyone!

I hope the weather in your part of the world is warm and balmy. Here in Michigan, it’s still a bit blustery, cold and snowy even though Spring is in just 7 days but that’s Michigan. Sigh.

I just wanted to let you know that my friend, Linda Wisdom, just released her newest book ..50 Ways to Hex Your Lover’ on March 1. I was so eager to get it that, ahem, I bought two.

But I’m going to put that spare book to good use and offer it to one of you lucky people.

All you have to do is join my newsletter (you can do it right from my front page here) and send me an email at lyndak.scott@gmail.com with the subject line of ’50 Ways to Hex Your Lover’ before March 17 (Happy St. Patrick’s Day!), I’ll put your name into a box.

Then my fluffy buddy, Wookie, (you remember her? She’s the feline in charge of all drawings and contests) will select the winner.

Remember, you have to be a member of my newsletter group and I need your emails by March 17 to put you in the drawing for this fabulous book, so don’t delay.

Thanks and have a great week!

Lynda

6:56 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Bringing Pirates to Life

Folks, I've taken this class and it's wonderful (any class of Cindy's is!). If you're thinking about writing a pirate novel, you don't want to miss this one. -- Lynda

---------------------------------------------------------------------
PERMISSION GRANTED TO FORWARD

Bringing Pirates to Life
Have you always been intrigued by pirates?  Peter Blood in Captain
Blood, Long John Silver in Treasure Island, and Captain Jack Sparrow in
Pirates of the Caribbean all conjure up images of buried treasure, black
schooners, wooden legs, eye patches, vibrant parrots, walking the plank,
and swashbuckling swordsmen.  Are these accurate portrayals of pirates?
 Some are, some aren't.  This workshop will explore the differences
between the reality and mythology of piracy, and how writers can create
believable characters that fit within historical parameters.  You will
look at why individuals became pirates, who's who on a pirate ship, the
rules of governing pirates, and other aspects of maritime life.

Cindy Vallar, a retired librarian, began researching pirates in college
while working on The Rebel and the Spy, a historical novel about Jean
Laffite and the Battle of New Orleans.  She is the Editor of Pirates and
Privateers, a monthly column on the history of maritime piracy.  In
addition, she belongs to the Historical Novel Society, the Texas
Coalition of Authors, the Laffite Society, the National Maritime
Historical Society, and the Red River Branch of Clan Cameron.  She is
the author of The Scottish Thistle, her debut historical novel about
Scotland's Rising of 1745 and Odin's Stone, a romantic short story of
how the Lord of the Isles settled the medieval feud between the
MacKinnons and MacLeans on the Isle of Skye.
For more information about the instructor, please visit:
www.cindyvallar.com

This 4-week long online writing workshop is conducted using a private
listserve. It's easy to participate; if you know how to send e-mail,
you've mastered all of the necessary technical skills. The class costs
$15 for RWA members, $20 for others and begins on Tuesday, April 1,
2008.  The deadline to register is March 31st. To enroll in this class,
send a check or money order (in U.S. dollars) made payable to STAR
Writers Workshops to the STAR Workshop Coordinator, Jennifer Lorang, at
20 Mohawk Drive, Lisle, NY  13797 USA (include your name, e-mail
address, phone number, workshop choices, and RWA number, if applicable).
You may also register via Paypal by sending the payment to
starpay@gmail.com no later than March 31st. If using Paypal, please send
your information (name, e-mail address, phone number, workshop choices,
and RWA number, if applicable) to the coordinator at rav37ven@aol.com.
You will be automatically enrolled in the class during the last week of
March. For more information about the Southern Tier Authors of Romance
(STAR), or to see the list of other upcoming 2008 workshops, please
visit: http://members.aol.com/starrwa/workshop.html.
--
Cindy Vallar
Associate Editor, Solander Magazine
HF Author, Piracy Historian, Freelance Editor, Book Reviewer, Workshop
Presenter
E-mail: cindy@cindyvallar.com or cindyv@copper.net
Web site: Thistles & Pirates, http://www.cindyvallar.com

6:19 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Guest Linda Wisdom

Good morning everyone!This week we've got my friend, a lovely lady and a fantastic writer, guesting with us. Her book, 50 WAYS TO HEX YOUR LOVER, is a fun and exciting read you won't want to miss.

Linda Wisdom is a born and bred Californian. She sold her first two novels to Silhouette Romance on her wedding anniversary in 1979. Since then she has sold more than seventy novels and one novella to six different publishers. Her books have appeared on various romance and mass market bestseller lists and nominated for a number of Romantic Times awards and Romance Writers of America Rita Award.

She lives with her husband, a spoiled rotten Chihuahua/Yorkie, an equally spoiled parrot and a tortoise.

When Linda first moved to her town there were three romance writers living in the town. At this time, there is just Linda. So far, the police have not suspected her of any wrongdoing.

______________________________________________________________________________
What do you do when a witch named Jazz pops up and says "have I got a story for you?"

Easy, you write it.

About 2 ½ years ago Jazz showed up and told me she was one of 13 witches expelled from the Witches Academy in 1313 because one of them cast an illegal spell and no one would own up to being the wrongdoer and no one else turned them in. Punishment was they were banished to the outside world for 100 years and as long as they behaved they would be returned to the academy after the 100 years. Which is why 700 years later they're still in the outside world.

I started thinking, what would a banished witch be like? What would she get mixed up in? After that, it all just sort of rolled over me.

Jazz would believe in dressing cute witch and sometimes goth witch along with scary witch when needed, she'd drive a hot car and nothing like a 1956 T-Bird convertible to add to the cute factor. Even if cranky Irma is there. Seems she's haunted the car since 1956 (an interesting story behind that) and while Jazz would like nothing more than to have the ghost gone from the car, and you'd think since she's a curse eliminator she should be able to do it. But nope, for all Irma claims she wants out of the car, she's not budging no matter how much magick is thrown at her.

But there's still got to be more than witch and ghost, so hmm, what next? A guy. We need a hot sexy guy, so let's go for vampire. And make him Jazz's on and off lover. Nikolai Gregorivich, now Nick Gregory, former enforcer for the Vampire Protectorate and determined to keep Jazz from getting into trouble by having her tossed into mortal jail. No wonder there's times she'd prefer tossing witchflame at him rather than kiss. Still, he's a really good kisser.

Jazz lives in a Victorian house in Santa Monica with friend and web designer for the undead, Krebs, near enough to the boardwalk she can satisfy her need for cotton candy, funnel cake and Ferris wheel rides and work as a curse eliminator by day and driver for All Creatures Car Service by night.

Life couldn't be better for her. Then Nick shows up in her life after several decades apart and he's looking to take down a serial killer of vampires. Except he needs Jazz's magickal help.

Along the way Jazz shows a television executive it's not nice to mess with a witch's payment, deals with her toothy magickal bunny slippers, Fluff and Puff, who are convinced anything in the house is theirs, even when it's not and try to stay out of trouble since the Witches Council tends to add time on to a misbehaving witch's time of banishment.

You'd think that would be enough, wouldn't you? But it's not when olive-green Dweezil, her boss, does his best to make Jazz's life miserable. A Barbie-like elf named Mindy is more than she appears. Totally gross creature Tyge Foulshadow has the hots for her and we're talking major euww there! A sheriff's detective who may know there's creatures in town, we're talking LA here!, but that doesn't mean he wants to believe in them.

And then there's Nick. Nick, who needs more than some sweet talking to get Jazz to agree to help him bring down the big bad from their past.

Jazz is soooo not ready for this, but hey, she's over 700 year old, her power has been growing over the centuries and well, it does mean spending time with Nick as long as he doesn't try to have her thrown in jail.

So that's Jazz. A witch with snark and attitude. A witch who loves roller coasters and Ferris wheels. A witch who will be there for you and if you betray her, well, duck. Otherwise, you could end up looking like a Fourth of July Roman candle.

Now do you see why I listened when Jazz spoke? And let me tell you, that witch didn't shut up! She had so much to say that I ended up writing a second book set a few months later.

I can't remember the last time I had so much fun writing a book. The road was bumpy at times, but also very fast. There were times I was frustrated, but I had precious friends and family who refused to let me stop. And out of that process was Jazz and the other witches who will have stories of their own.

Because I listened to a snarky witch a book that I consider the book of my heart is on the shelves, I hope you'll pick up a copy of 50 Ways to Hex Your Lover and you'll enjoy reading it. And if you do enjoy it, please blackmail friends and family to pick it up too. Jazz would appreciate it.

Linda


50 Ways To Hex Your Lover is available now in bookstores or online at Amazon

4 Cups from Coffee Time Romance
4 Stars from Romantic Times

3:17 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment