Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Liza interviews Kristen Taber and her Arenden series

 Today we have the shy, but fabulous Kristen Taber and her Arenden series. She's also agreed to be interviewed. 

Space Rep: Oh no! You're going to sacrifice her to the Space Breaking News?

Liza: Were you not listening? I said she was shy. I'd never expose a shy person to Breaking Space News. It could traumatize her for life.

Space Rep: Thank goodness. Is there a prize?

Liza: Eleven of them.

Space Rep: What?  Eleven chances to win. Tell me more.

Liza: Kristen is giving away a $25 Amazon gift card to one lucky commenter and ten audio books to ten additional commenters.

Space Rep: I'm going to be commenting all over the place.

Liza: Well, first let's ask Kristen some of my strange interview questions.

Space Rep: They are strange.

Liza: Kristen, thanks for coming. What part of your book took you most out of your comfort zone?

Kristen: The “publishing it” part. I’m ridiculously shy, as in the “cross the road to avoid acquaintances” definition of shy, so releasing my books meant I’d have to do a lot of things that make a shy person uncomfortable—reading in public, book panels, signings with strangers, answering interview questions, putting my books (essentially me) on public display for scrutiny. It’s helped me grow, but it’s definitely not the most pleasant growth track.

Liza: I'm not shy, but I don't like most of those tasks either. What part of your book was the hardest to write?

Kristen: Any time I have to write a death scene, I cry. I still cry when I edit those scenes, and when I read them. I cried when I listened to the audio files as I worked with my voice artist. I can’t help it. I get attached to my characters. When I have to kill of someone I love, I definitely go through a mourning process.

Liza: I went into mourning for two months after I killed off a secondary character. I finally went back and wrote an ending with him living. I was tired of mourning. Speaking of secondary characters has one ever threatened to take over your book? 

Kristen: Most definitely. In the third book of my Ærenden series (The Zeiihbu Master), the first Spellmaster, Zeyed, has a lot of backstory that influences the characters. The problem is that he’s been dead about a thousand years, so having him hijack the story to talk about his experiences doesn’t really work. I had to promise to write a series of short stories at a later time to get him to shut up; he’s a persistent ghost, that’s for certain. But it’s a good idea, so I didn’t mind so much.

Liza: Describe your hero in five words.

Kristen: My hero, Nick, is best described as brave, selfless, compassionate, loyal, and intelligent.

Liza: And your heroine?

Kristen: Meaghan, my heroine, is inquisitive, intelligent, caring, strong, and stubborn.

What's your favorite line in the story?

Kristen: Faillen, the Zeiihbu leader’s son, says about his wife in The Zeiihbu Master, “She always told me she loved me for my stubbornness, even when I was wrong. But she loved me more when I realized I was wrong.” It’s such a great line for me because it’s so true of long-term marriages—the way couples can be bluntly honest with each other, while still laughing over their own flaws and having the highest respect for each other at the same time.

Liza:What event occurred in your life that has influenced your novels?

Kristen: While at work five years ago, one side of my body went numb. I called the doctor and he told me to rush to the emergency room. He felt I was having a stroke. Six hours and an MRI later, the doctors had found two brain aneurysms. I went in for surgery a month later (stents, coils, fun times). A month after that, my doctor found swollen lymph nodes in my throat and sent me for an ultrasound. My diagnosis: Thyroid cancer. I spent the next two months terrified because I couldn’t have the surgery to remove it so close to my brain surgery. Let me tell you, in two months’ time, you can reanalyze a large amount of your life. I survived, of course, but because of the worst three months of my life, I decided to start writing again. Life is way too short to not do what you love.

Liza: Wow, that was one scary time. Totally agree with living the moment. So let's get silly. If you met an alien from outer space, how would you explain what you (as an author) actually do.

Kristen: I entertain the people of earth with stories that I craft after visiting foreign worlds in my head, meeting the people there, and retelling their plights. So tell me, how was your childhood?

Liza: I was raised by feral cats. It was pretty awful. Wait, you were asking aliens. Nevermind, let's get back to you. How is your life different from Stephen King’s?

Kristen: I actually grew up down the road from Stephen King in Bangor, Maine, so I can tell you exactly how my life differs. For starters, he has an awesome wrought iron gate surrounding his mansion that I don’t have. It’s adorned with gargoyles. It’s one of the coolest (and scariest) things I’ve ever seen. I used to walk down the sidewalk and run my hand along their twisted little faces, imagining what it would be like if they came to life at my fingertips. In hindsight, they probably would have bitten my hand off, but what does a kid know? A friend of mine accidentally rear ended Mr. King in high school and he was kind enough to let her go without even asking for information. He told her he could afford the damage. I definitely couldn’t have done that! I also don’t walk around town with a toothpick between my teeth and a plaid, flannel shirt on my back, like he did often when I was a kid. Flannel shirts, yes (hey, LL Bean is popular in Maine, what can I say), but a toothpick, no. Oh and then there’s the whole idolized by people around the world, ten million dollar royalty checks, one of the top sold authors of all time thing…that’s definitely not me either.


Liza: Tell us the stupidest thing you’ve ever done. (Do not say asking for this interview.)


Kristen: I decided to get over my fear of heights by taking a trapeze class. Yup, that’s right; I thought it wise to eliminate a terrifying phobia by climbing a two-story ladder, holding on to a thin pole, and swinging through the air with only a net beneath me. It went about as well as you can probably imagine, with tears, screams of “please make it stop” and only two trips up that shaking ladder instead of the five the class required. At least I can say I tried, though I guarantee I’ll never make that mistake again! Kristen – 0; Phobia – 1. Game, set, match.

Liza: Next time try hang-gliding off a New Zealand Mountain, with a cute instructor attached to your back. Now that's fun!

So let's check out your gorgeous covers for the Aerenden series:
 Book One: The Child Returns

Seventeen-year-old Meaghan has no idea her perfect life has been a lie — until she witnesses her parents’ brutal murders at the hands of red-eyed creatures.

After nearly sharing their fate, she escapes with her best friend, Nick, who tells her the creatures are called Mardróch. They come from another world, and so does she. Now that the Mardróch have found her, she must return to her homeland of Ærenden or face death.

Left with little choice, she follows Nick into a strange world both similar to Earth and drastically different. Vines have the ability to attack. Monkeys freeze their victims with a glare. Men create bombs from thin air. Even Meaghan’s newly discovered empath power turns into a danger she cannot control.

But control becomes the least of her worries once the Mardróch begin targeting her. When Nick confesses he knows the reason they want her, she learns the truth behind the kingdom's fifteen-year civil war — a long-buried secret that could cost Meaghan her life.

 Book Two: The Gildonae Alliance

Several months after Meaghan’s return to Ærenden, the kingdom’s war has taken a turn for the worse. The Mardróch army hunts the new King and Queen, destroying villages in its wake. And Meaghan and Nick, training for battle in their remote section of wilderness, are far from safe. Danger hides in shadows and behind innocent faces. Allies become foes. Each day is a fight to survive. But in the end, only one threat matters. And it’s a threat they never see coming.


Book Three: The Zeiihbu Master

Separated and on opposite sides of the kingdom, Nick and Meaghan face different pursuits which could change the balance of power in Ærenden forever.

While Nick trains the villagers to be soldiers, Meaghan and a small rescue party venture into Zeiihbu to find Faillen's young son, before Garon can use the boy's power to destroy those still fighting against his rule.

Everyone knows Meaghan could be on a suicide mission, but when Nick stumbles upon a secret concealed in one of the southern villages, he realizes that Garon might not be Meaghan's greatest foe. The enemy most likely to kill her is someone who has also promised to keep her safe.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~


THE CHILD RETURNS:


Excerpt
Meg,” her father spoke again and her eyes filled with tears. His voice was no more than a whisper. “Trust Nick. He’ll keep you safe.”

She nodded, and then shook as her father gathered his last breath. The footsteps reached the top of the stairs. Her father shuddered into stillness, but she had no time to mourn before Nick grabbed her hand and yanked her out the front door.

Cold air bit her face. Black clouds gathered overhead, shadowing the day in darkness. A gust of wind whipped leaves across the yard, building small funnel clouds, but she ignored them. She focused on the back of Nick’s head, then on her car when she realized they would need it to escape. They had nearly reached the driveway before she remembered she did not have her keys. She skidded to a stop. Turning back toward the house, she caught her breath when she saw their pursuers exiting the front door.

There were three of them, each taller than the last. Dark brown cloaks covered them from head to foot and they all carried heavy wood clubs stained with blood. They moved with an unnatural speed and disjointed grace, as if they floated instead of touching the ground. A putrid, rotting scent emanated from them in waves. It rolled Meaghan’s stomach, pitching her breakfast mid-way up her throat before she controlled the reaction. Nick grabbed her arm and pulled her toward her parents’ SUV.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:


Kristen spent her childhood at the feet of an Irish
storytelling grandfather, learning to blend fact with fiction and imagination with reality. She lived within the realm of the tales that captivated her, breathing life into characters and crafting stories even before she could read. Those stories have since turned into over a hundred poems, several short tales, and five manuscripts in both the Young Adult and Adult genres. Currently, Kristen is completing the five-part Ærenden series from her home office in the suburbs of Washington D.C.



Facebook: www.facebook.com/kristentaberauthor

Twitter: www.twitter.com/kristentaber

Google +: plus.google.com/+KristenTaber

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/kristentaber/


Buy Links for Book 1

Amazon  




Buy Links for Book 2







Saturday, April 26, 2014

When a human dies.


I believe without doubt that our soul, the essence of who we are, our consciousness, is not permanently attached to our body, and when we die, it leaves the body.

The reason I have no doubt about this is because when I was young, I had an out of body experience. It scared the crap out of me, so I never let that happen again. But it firmly convinced me that I am not my body. It is merely the container I reside.

However, today I discovered some interesting facts about what happens to my body once I leave it.

Basically, the body has a self destruct button that creates really strange chemicals to break down the body and make it edible to bugs and good nutrients for the soil. 


If you want the intelligent Scientific America view, click here.  It's a short and cute video.

For my dubious interpretation, read on...

Once the body takes it's last breath, oxygen stops feeding the cells. This triggers the destruct sequence. For a few minutes after death, the cells continue to live but now they create carbon dioxide, which is acidic and ruptures sacks inside the cells, releasing enzymes which digest the cells from inside out. This attracts bacteria & fungi that helps liquefy the body.

Now things start seriously breaking down as over 400 weird gases & chemicals forms in the nutrient soup. Some of the chemicals created are Freon, Benzene, Sulfur, & Carbon Tetracloride.  At this point what's left is great maggot and beetle food.

Once they finish, all that's left is bone, and in the right environment, it dissolves as well. But not always, which is why I spent one hot summer digging up baby Apatosauras bones.  (That's a brontosaurus) in a dry creek bed in Montana.

And there have been occasions when even skin has been found on dinosaurs. So clearly, the self destruct process doesn't work all the time, but it's much better than the stuff we make. After my PC dies, it just sits there mocking me forever. Laughing because I will self-destruct long before it does.


At this point Liza wanders off in search of curry flavored popcorn, mumbling no will read this anyway, since no one wants to know what happens when they die.

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Unseasonal Wary by David Englund


Today, I have David J. Englund entering my Multiverse to discuss his book Unseasonal War.

Space Rep: Does he come bearing gifts?

Liza: Yes. He's giving a free digital copy of Unseasonal War at each stop.

Space Rep: Cool.

Liza: Let's discover more about the book.


Unseasonal War
by David Englund

~~~~~~~~~~~~~




Clark Jackson’s travels, for the first time, put him in touch with an intriguing species remarkably human-like. He becomes instantly fascinated with the Fronents and envious of their advanced technology. Striving to befriend them and learn more, his uncontrolled enthusiasm forsakes the use of appropriate caution and suspicion. Could their cold reception be a byproduct of their war with a vile species in this corner of the universe, or something else?

The magnificent splendor of an unexplored galaxy, new species to encounter and the adrenalin rush of space battle feed Clark’s awestruck hunger for exploration and adventure. Unfortunately, the more he learns the more he questions; including the wisdom of his entangled involvement in their war.

Meanwhile, back home in Des Moines, Iowa, Clark attempts to maintain an inconspicuous lifestyle to avoid attracting the attention of a certain relentless federal agency. His girlfriend’s own secret, however, could unravel it all.

**Even though the book is the second book in the series, it IS standalone


~~~~~~~~~~~~~


The entire bridge quaked with greater and greater intensity.  Standing upright became increasingly difficult with each passing moment, even with the help of safety bars.  A ship of this size was not meant to traverse a planet’s atmosphere.

“There she is!”  A cadet pointed at a screen.

The enemy ship itself still wasn’t visible.  However, flames burst up out of nowhere, surrounding a small blank area on the screen.  Something was definitely breaking the atmosphere of the planet.

“Now!  Pull out.  Full speed ahead.”

The shaking quickly diminished.  Two seconds later, the bridge was perfectly level and moving forward smoothly again.

“Now!  Target those flames.  Fire aft lasers.  All engines stop.”

Clark concentrated on the view screens.  Lasers connected twice as two explosions erupted amidst the flames.  Crew members cheered.  Captain Trind quickly put a stop to the celebration as he continued to stare at the screens and rattle off commands.  The enemy vessel followed suit and broke out of the atmosphere back into orbit.  It came out firing.  Lasers once again impacted the ship in several locations.

“Fire!  Keep firing!  Target the smoke!  We can see exactly where she is now.  Hit her!”

The camera view displayed her approach.  The smoking ship passed directly overhead, both ships trading fire, both taking hits.  Clark could feel the deck tremble every time they were assaulted.

“All ahead one-half.  Follow that smoke trail.  Fire forward lasers.”

The entire ship jumped three feet as an explosion emanated from below decks, causing those standing to lose their footing.  A few seconds passed.  Several crew members shook their heads and struggled to stand.  It took a few more seconds to regain composure.  Clark felt the ship slow down.

“Sir . . . the engine room . . . the engine room is gone.  Completely.”



David Englund is a storyteller (science fiction author) and teaches economics at North Dakota State University.  His first two titles, Upsetting the Tides and UNSEASONAL WAR are available on Amazon.  Camouflaged Encounters is due out in late 2014 and the fourth and fifth books are in progress.


 http://amazon.com/dp/B00F4MHDWM

http://davidjenglund.blogspot.com

https://www.facebook.com/david.englund.104


Liza: Well the value of the prize just rose in value. This sounds like a fabulous book.

Space Rep: So to win the book I need to comment on all his blog stops.

Liza: That's a great strategy. So here are all the stops in your attempt to snare this book for free.



Sunday, April 20, 2014

Grab some popcorn and watch a 45 minute video of the Amazing Creatures of the Deep Ocean Floor.




What am I thinking? Who has time to watch 45 minutes of strange, bizarre creatures of the deep, while eating curry flavored buttered popcorn.

Oh...that would be me.
Well, I had fun.

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Paisley Brown discusses Aliens on Earth for Sexy Suitors From Space Blog Tour


Aliens on Earth ~ Where they might be...
by Paisley Brown

It was a picture of a glass igloo from the Kakslautannen Arctic Resort in Finland that inspired my new release, Sexy Suitors from Space. With the resort being that far north (above the Arctic Circle), I imagined aliens easily adapting to society up there without drawing any attention to their landing or integration.

And there are other places on Earth where that could happen. Or maybe it already has...

1. Hydrothermal vents in the ocean floor
Although the depths of the oceans are too cold for many organisms (that we know of) to exist, these geothermal vents located near the bottom of volcanoes allow hot magma to heat up the ocean to over 700°F. When scientists explored the vents around the Galapagos Islands, they found organisms they’d never seen before. Who’s to say there isn’t alien life down there, extraterrestrials that thrive in hot water and high levels of sulfur?

2. Dry Valleys in Antarctica
The largest ice-free region in Antarctica, the Dry Valleys is an anomaly. Instead of a thick layer of ice, the valleys contain mostly dirt and rocks. But, a few frozen lakes give way to small streams during the astral summer. Many compare the atmosphere here to that of Mars. If these valleys are already home to organisms who enjoy the extremes in climate, who knows if there aren’t aliens there who also enjoy the freezing cold?

3. Valley of the Moon in Brazil
First of all, the oldest rock formation on Earth can be found here. The large rocks that contain quartz have craters in them which form interesting formations for water to travel around, and for beings to hide. It’s something you really have to see through pictures. Though miners exploited the area long ago, it would be an excellent place for aliens to live today.

4. Stone Forrest in Kunming, China
This first wonder of the world exists in a consistently warm climate. (Great for aliens who cannot handle the extremes.) Stones stick out from the ground resembling a forest. The strange and steep landscape creates all kinds of labyrinths.

5. Cave of Crystals in Mexico
One word – Superman. Yes, in a remote part of Mexico, there is the Cave of Crystals which resembles the Fortress of Solitude. The largest crystals in the world are found in a place with extreme conditions. At a constant temperature of 136°F and high humidity levels, this is a dangerous environment for any person without proper equipment. But maybe there are aliens who can handle this environment.


Now that my muse is running wild, I’d like to know what places on Earth you think extraterrestrials might exist.


To incite you imagination, here's my current book:

Sexy Suitors from Space
By Paisley Brown
ISBN: 978-0-9919320-6-1

A vacation to the far North...

Heather is gifted a week away at a resort in the Arctic Circle by her grandmother, a chance to finally move on after finding her fiancé in bed with another woman.

With two Nordic hunks to keep her company...

The two sexy studs make it easy to get over her failed relationship. That is, until they tell her their secret.

Are the two men really extraterrestrials or just a fantasy created by her lonely soul?

Caution: Includes alien probing, anal sex, and a hot MFM ménage.



Available From:
Amazon US / UK / Canada / Australia


PG-Excerpt
Some vacation. Nothing but snow for miles. I might as well have been visiting the North Pole with all the layers of clothing I had on. And, somehow, the cold wind still managed to find the small amount of face I didn’t have covered, stinging the skin around my eyes.

“Are we almost there?” I could barely see five feet in front of me, only the mountain of a man directly ahead. If he slowed down for one second, I’d grab his coat with one hand and cover the rest of my face with my free arm. But if I didn’t keep up, I’d get lost in the blizzard. “Seriously, is the place I’m staying anywhere nearby?” Every other hotel I’d stayed at had the check-in desk within the building. Apparently not this one.
The man didn’t respond, kept walking, guiding me, hopefully, to the glass igloo where my grandmother held a timeshare.

“Get away for a few days, Heather,” she’d said, handing me the plane ticket to Finland and shoving me out the door. “You’ll have a lot of fun and forget about your scum of a cheating fiancé. It’s been a year since you kicked him out. Time to move on. Show off your new curves.”

Sure, curves that I’d gained from spending a week eating nothing but ice cream. Not only had I gained ten pounds, but I’d started crying Ben & Jerry’s. It still hadn’t helped my pain. I’d loved Todd and wanted to spend the rest of my life with him. Unfortunately, my love hadn’t been returned. But, a trip wouldn’t make me forget what I’d walked in on two days before Christmas.

I’d tried to return the tickets. “Snow and cold really aren’t my thing, Grandma.” Give me a tropical beach somewhere with tanned, muscled men, and I’d at least try to get over Todd.

Refusing to take them back, she’d only patted my hands. “You’ll be surprised how much fun it is in Lapland. I would go, but I’m getting too old to enjoy the...amenities. It’s your turn now.” She winked and shut the door behind her.

And there I was, trekking through the knee-deep snow north of the Arctic Circle, dreading the blanket of white 



I’m happily married with a naughty imagination. Sometimes all it takes is a whispered word or a sexy picture to inspire my next tale. My erotica stories may be contemporary, sci-fi, or paranormal, but all of them will leave you wet and panting for more. I also write science fiction romance as Jessica E. Subject.


Sexy Suitors from Space tour Giveaway
Enter to WIN a $25 Amazon.com gift certificate!





Monday, April 14, 2014

Liza Tries to keep HUMANs alive.

I don't have a lot of time to spend on keeping the human race alive...I've got novels to write...but today I have two simple bits of advice that should improve your chances of survival.

1. DO eat dark chocolate.
The anti-oxidents & fiber ferments in your stomach and creates Anti-inflammatory microbes. In addition it improves your vascular function, lowers your blood pressure, and increases your insulin sensitivity.

(Semi-sweet chocolate IS dark chocolate with sugar added.)

2. DON'T USE ANTIBIOTIC SOAPS

First of all: THEY DON'T WORK any better than soap & water.
Secondly: The main ingredient is VERY HARMFUL TO HUMANS.

Space Rep: Hold on! If that was true, the FDA would put a stop to it. Since they haven't --QED it's not harmful. Liza's wrong.

Liza: The FDA has known the dangers of Triclosan for more than two decades, and have put through orders that would stop its use several times over the last two decades.

Yet, for some reason. These orders never get implemented. They mysteriously wander off to someones desk or perhaps a paper shredder, so the dangerous substance continues to be sold as a healthy product that will keep us from getting sick.

Space Rep: What does it really do?

Liza: It screws with our metabolic system, increases our likelihood of food allergies and mucks with our brain development. 

Space Rep: Wow, that's a big price just to prevent a cold.

Liza: It won't prevent a cold either. Turns out it is NO MORE EFFECTIVE than soap and water. So if you want to prevent the spread of disease, wash your hands with soap. This stuff is poison to your body.

Space Rep: Oh, I see now. Aliens must have taken control of the FDA.

Liza: Something has, and if we have any real journalists left, I wish someone would determine exactly where the process stops in the FDA and investigate that office to determine if they are taking bribes, have children held captive, or have received clear orders from above to paper shred it. Our FDA cannot do their job if external forces are allowed to manipulate the process, which appears to have happened multiple times here.

All the while, well meaning moms rub the poison on their children, wipe their counters down with it, even mop floors with it, believing in the words "Anti-bacterial" without checking the label. 

It's also found it's way into lipstick too. You don't really want to die for a pretty smile do you?

Space Rep: Let me think about it....Uh....Nope.

Liza: Good, then avoid the product Triclosan. 

Space Rep: How will I remember it?

Liza: Here's a memory aid; TRY CLOsing us down ANd we'll bribe someone else.

Space Rep: So it's hopeless. We're just going to keep have weaker and weaker babies until we go extinct? 

Liza: We each have a choice. We can greatly reduce the use of this product by refusing to buy any products with TRI CLOS AN on the label.  And if you choose to use it and have young boys in your home, go back and read my blog on how fragile our males are.  Do you really wish to actively end the Human Race? I know we are seriously flawed, but some of us are really nice.

The serious Scientific America article on Triclosan & the FDA is here.

The serious Scientific America article on Chocolate is here.

I apologize for not being funny, but this topic defies humor, I fear.

Friday, April 11, 2014

T.T. Escurel presents The House of Chalice

Today, we have T.T. Escurel and her book The House of Chalice.

Space Rep: Sounds like you have a house, not a book.

Liza: Funny. Do you want to know about the gift TT is giving?

Space Rep: Yes, please.


Liza: One randomly chosen commenter will receive a $20 Amazon gift card, an autographed copy of AURONIA, and an autographed copy of THE HOUSE OF CHALICE. 

Space Rep: Cool. What do I have to do?

Liza: Just follow the Rafflecopter at the bottom of the blog. Now let's find out about this book.




Vartan is lost. His fiancé has just run off with his mortal enemy and now his mother, the Queen of the House of Rose, has disappeared. Venturing into a land with no magic, no army and no fiancé, will he be able to survive?

Lia is in trouble. Clashpeak has a new king who requires a bride, one who has eyes for the young baker’s daughter. During a violent coup, Lia seizes her chance to escape. With every soldier in the kingdom looking for her, nowhere is safe.

An ancient curse lingers in the air, still working its magic. Madness has seized the blood of the royals of the House of Chalice. A battle for power, the likes of nothing Auronia has ever seen, is about to begin…

Enjoy an excerpt:

Cries of alarm race through the camp as the order to fight goes out. Serena approaches, leading her snow-white mare. She is decked out in leather battle gear with a white fur mantle. A silver dagger hangs from one hip with a swirling purple jewel in the hilt. On the other hip, a rapier.

“You aren’t seriously considering riding to war, Serena,” I growl.

“You couldn’t stop me if you wanted to, Vartan,” she counters, mounting up. “This is my army. I will ride with my men.”

“This is no army, as you stated earlier. These are simple farmers going up against trained soldiers. Without magic, there is little chance we will survive this,” I say, stepping up on my horse.

“My love,” she says, moving her mare to stand beside me, “That is precisely why I must ride with you.” She runs her hand down the fur at her shoulders. “When you ride with me, magic rides with you.”

I frown. “I don’t understand.”

“Feel,” she says, grabbing my hand and running it down the soft fur. I feel a buzz, but I am not really sure if it is from the fur or from the girl. “It is the pelt of an ancient fox, laced with magic older and more powerful than even that of the fairies.”

“Where did you find it?” I ask.

“I killed the fox,” she says, urging her horse forward.



About the Author:
Science Fiction/Fantasy writer in Southern California where the sun shines, the waves roll in and the roads become a backdrop for an apocalypse movie every time the word "precipitation" is mentioned.

Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?

I grew up on a sailboat. That did something odd to my imagination, I think. There is a certain type of surreal serenity that comes with living aboard a boat. That undercurrent seems to run through all my books, even though most of my characters have far more conventional backgrounds. Growing up on a boat helped teach me a stable world evolves not from your environment as much as from your perspective. My books are full of strange worlds and even stranger people, but all my main characters seem to have that grip on reality despite being dropped in the heart of chaos.

Blog: http://ttescurel.wordpress.com
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/T.T.-Escurel/e/B00EAHPJKK
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/t.t.-escurel/id741251013?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D4
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/t.-t.-escurel
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/ttescurel


Be sure to enter to win the fabulous gifts

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Liza O'Connor interviews Pippa Jay, author of REBOOT

Today, I am interviewing Pippa Jay who has just released her new book: REBOOT
Here's the fabulous cover:

Let's begin my interview. 
For some reason Space Rep has turned the lights down. Something about light sensitivity, put it doesn't matter, as long as you are reading this on a PC.
1)         Are you alien or human? 
Human
a) If you’re human, why are you on earth instead of outer space?
 Outer space? Are you kidding? They scrapped the program decades ago. I’m lucky to be living in the dome.

2)         What do you dream about at night?
 Electric sheep. AKA none of your business.

3)         Why do aliens keep visiting Earth? Are we really that interesting?
 Why do you keep talking about aliens? Did ReGen mess up your memory reload?

4)         Do you believe in Multiverses?
 If I did, will you transfer me to one with less BS?
Liza: Hold on. You’re not Pippa Jay! You’re Damien, her main character from Reboot. I want to interview Pippa Jay. You are way too difficult for me to deal with. Space Rep!
Space Rep: Do you want some tea? It’s not hot yet.
Liza: Well, I am. You were supposed to transport over Pippa Jay. This is NOT Pippa. This is her main character from REBOOT.
Space Rep: He seems interesting.
Liza: And surly. And while I completely understand his surliness, it makes him difficult to interview, and he’s pissing me off. Now go get me Pippa Jay. She is a delight to interview.
Space Rep: Okay…hold on. What do you mean you understand his surliness? Do you have a copy of REBOOT that you've failed to share.
Liza: In fact I do. And before you ask, you are not reading it until you give me Pippa! And turn the lights on so I can see.
Space Rep: Deal. One REBOOT for one Pippa Jay.
Liza: Why do I have this feeling I just got conned.
Space Rep: Transport complete. Lights up. I'll be in my corner reading.

Liza: Pippa Jay, Thank God you’ve arrived. *Hugs her*
Pippa: It’s a pleasure to be here, but you can let me go now. Did something happen?
Liza: Yes, I was traumatized by Damien.
Pippa: My Damien?

Liza: Yes.
Pippa: I’m sorry. He’s having a tough time during this reboot. Something doesn’t feel right. Memories are missing.
Liza: I understand. However, I was set for a nice interview with you, so his surliness upset me.
Pippa: Well, not to worry. I’m here now, and I promise not to be surly.
 Liza: Great. Back to the questions.

5)         Who’s your favorite sci-fi writer?
Jaine Fenn
a) Why it isn’t me?
You haven’t published any scifi yet? I promise I’ll be first on the list to read it when you do.

6)         Do you think humor has a place in Sci Fi?  What about romance?
 As a long term fan of Douglas Adams, yes to the first. As a writer of SFR, hell yes to the second!

7)         Describe your worst week ever.
 How long have you got!? Um, most recent has to be just after Christmas when we were broke and the washing machine and the boiler both died. That was also just the start of a pretty crappy couple of months.
Totally get that. While money cannot actually make you happy, the lack of it can make you stressed and miserable.

8)         Describe your best day ever.
To date, receiving a contract on one piece the same day as receiving a contract offer for another. Double whammy!
 Two contracts in one day. Only other authors will get how great a feeling that is. And well deserved in your case.

9) Is there anything you don’t like about being a writer?
 The fact that my muse never switches off. Some days I’d just like to chill. Doesn’t happen.
 Since the opposite is writer’s block, I hope your muse never shuts up.
  
10) How does your family feel about your writing and you being an author?
 They oscillate between thinking it’s cool and being bored when I won’t shut up about it. :P
 I know exactly what you mean. When I try to share amusing things my characters do, my friends roll their eyes. They act as if my characters aren't real. That hurts my feelings.

11) What part of your book took you most out of your comfort zone?
 The swearing. I don’t have a foul mouth by nature, but I don’t let that hold me back if I think the character or their situation requires a few choice expletives. I cringe when I type them though.

12) What part of your book was the hardest to write?
 Writing the dialogue between the two clones. I found myself calling them Thing One and Thing Two which made it hard to focus on the seriousness of their discussion.

13) If your main character had been allowed to write the novel rather than you, how would the story have been different?
I think it would be pretty obvious to anyone who reads it. I can’t imagine my character would have chosen the ending as it stands. #evilauthor
 I’ve got to steal the book back from Space Rep at once and read this!

14) How would you describe your relationship with your muse?  Have you ever needed intervention?
We were seeking a divorce back in November over her obsession with zombies. But eventually I had to admit she was right and now what she says goes.
 I agree. There’s no point in arguing with the muse. 

15) If you had to live on a deserted island with one author, who would it be?
 I’d pick Liana Brooks. She knows all about prepping for disasters, and she’s a marine biologist so she could probably tell me what isn’t safe to eat in the sea. She might not even kill me for getting us stranded...if I run fast enough.

Liza: Well, that concludes the interview.
Pippa: Really? I expected Breaking Space News to swoop in and twist my words into outrageous misinterpretations.
Space Rep: I blocked them given Liza’s sensitive nature today. They sometimes say mean things about her too.
Liza: Thanks Space Rep. How’s the book?
Space Rep: Really, really good. Let me read you the first part:

Online. Active. Integration complete.
The words printed across his inner vision, green on black. Confusion raged at the back of his mind, coupled with a rising nausea, but a cool, calm part of his brain registered understanding. His last self must’ve been damaged or died. He’d just been rebooted.
“Can you hear me?”
That wasn’t in his head. It came from outside, a masculine voice.
He swallowed, not sure he could frame the words with his throat dry and his tongue a heavy weight in his mouth. He gulped again. “Yes.” His own voice sounded alien to his ears. Rasping. A growl of a sound.
“Good. I’m going to remove the eye shield, and I want you to open your eyes as soon as you’re ready.”
“Okay.”
Pressure lifted from his face, and a crimson glow replaced the darkness.
“Whenever you’re ready,” the speaker prompted.
Damien opened one eye but shut it just as quickly when light stabbed into his retinas.
“Just relax and keep trying,” his companion urged.
Several blinks later, Damien could squint into the light. The man who’d spoken was a dark, blurred shape hanging over him.
“Good.” The man shifted away.
Still struggling to keep his eyes fully open, Damien stared up at the ceiling. It gleamed with a pale luminescence that stretched as far as he could see. The whole room was white, and an antiseptic smell filled his nostrils.
Other sensations crowded in. Something warm and soft enfolded his body, supporting every part of him. The heaviness in his limbs kept him from moving. Instead, he focused on his improving eyesight, and the sound of his own steady breathing. He’d been through this process thirteen times now, a small part of his mind assured him. Nothing to worry about. Perfectly normal.
But something wasn’t. Something nagged at him, a thought he couldn’t pin down. Why was he here?
Reboot. My last self must’ve been damaged or died, and I’ve been resurrected in my newest clone.
But I don’t remember that…
What was it they’d taught him about reboots?
Don’t panic when things seem to be missing. Pick a relaxing image and use it as a focus until you feel calm. Everything will come back.
He reached for his most comforting memories…and found nothing. His chest clenched. He knew something was missing, but what? What else had he lost?




A stay-at-home mum of three who spent twelve years working as an Analytical Chemist in a Metals and Minerals laboratory, Pippa Jay bases her stories on a lifetime addiction to science-fiction books and films. Somewhere along the line a touch of romance crept into her work and refused to leave. In between torturing her plethora of characters, she spends the odd free moments trying to learn guitar, indulging in freestyle street dance and drinking high-caffeine coffee. Although happily settled in historical Colchester in the UK with her husband of 20 years, she continues to roam the rest of the Universe in her head.

Pippa Jay is a dedicated member of the SFR Brigade, a community of science fiction romance authors and publishing professionals committed to writing and promoting the very best in the genre.
Blogs –
Adventures in Scifi - http://www.pippajay.blogspot.co.uk
Spacefreighters Lounge - http://www.spacefreighters.blogspot.com
Pinterest - http://www.pinterest.com/pippajaygreen/