Entries Tagged 'Alien' ↓
February 7th, 2010 — 3.5 Stars, 4 Stars, A-C, ARC, Alien, Erotica, Great Britain, Kidnapping, Kings, Princes, Sheiks, Chiefs, Knight, Magic Users, Paranormal, Politician, Queen or Princess, Space, Stowaway, Warrior
If you're a LRP virgin, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. It's free and easy! See you tomorrow! ~Keira.
Today I am reviewing Knight’s Fork by Rowena Cherry. This is my first ARC (advance review copy; official book release is September 30, 2008) and I eagerly read the whole novel in two days! Knight’s Fork is just one novel in the futuristic set series about the Great Djinn race. Knight’s Fork contains all the right stuff from a stowaway princess to a knight’s quest and the threat of death licking at their heels. This book and series would be great for any lover of alien paranormal romance or paranormal romance in general.
Watch out for the ‘Dj’ names! There’s quite a few to remember and follow! The romance novel is filled to overflowing with political intrigue and the key players are trying to play everybody else all at the same time to get their way. The main characters have to watch out for who their enemies are and who their allies are.
Cherry titles her novels after chess moves, and yes the characters do play chess and the move in question is used several times throughout the novel. Knight’s Fork in particular is about a choice between two evils – you’re going to lose something and the decision becomes which loss is acceptable?
This choice is ‘Rhett’s, a Saurian Knight, and it is between power and a female. Saurian is another alien race, but don’t let this fool you about this white knight. Back to the point - how can power or a female be a bad choice whichever you choose? A grab for power will set other leaders in a tizzy and the female is another male’s mate that’s how!
The rival male is King of another alien race, the Volnoth, and taking Electra could start a war on par with the ancient Greek war over Helen of Troy. It’s too bad for ‘Rhett that he’s tempted by Electra and not by the power offered. Far more tempting is that she wants him… for his sperm. What’s a knight to do?
This novel and series isn’t for the fainthearted that likes their romances to be mild and sweet. Urban colloquialisms for sex and emissions abound, the Great Djinn even regularly swear by Carnality! However for those who crave the contemporary slang and straightforward nature to the approach of sex Knight’s Fork is deliciously racy and erotic. The whole novel revolves around sex!
You could compare Cherry’s novel to Laurell K. Hamilton’s Meredith Gentry series about fairies because the Princess Electra seeks to get pregnant just like Meredith does. Or you could compare the novel to the Twilight Saga with ‘Rhett being a virgin, sworn to a vow of chastity, similar to Edward’s chase behavior. Whatever parallels you draw, Cherry spins a great story.
Rating: 3.5-4 Stars
Originally posted 2008-09-11 05:56:00. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Online Stores
January 22nd, 2010 — A-C, Alien, Guest Blogger, Science Fiction
by Cheryl Brooks guest blogger and author of Fugitive (The Cat Star Chronicles #5)
Hello! My name is Cheryl Brooks, author of the Cat Star Chronicles series of sci-fi romance. I’ve been asked many times what made me choose a feline gene to give my Zetithian heroes their sexual prowess, but the truth is, though I may have given them feline features and the ability to purr, I based the Zetithian male genitalia on that of a horse.
Let’s face it, when you start talking about a guy who is well-endowed, the horse analogy is one that usually comes up. After all, I’ve never heard a man boast of being hung like a cat (have you?) and if you’ve ever seen an aroused stallion, (and having had one here on my farm for a while, I can speak from experience) you will understand why men would prefer the equine as opposed to the feline comparison. The size has been scaled down to human proportions, but the scalloped edge on the corona came straight from the horse’s... well, you get the idea.
I wanted a hero who had it all; a quiet nature, one that could be as sweet as a pussycat, but at the same time was all male and could be a bit of an animal when it came to sex. The pointed ears and slanted eyebrows originally came from Mr. Spock
(one of my favorite characters of all time), and the feline eyes naturally followed that, with the purring not far behind.
The ability to move his equipment in any direction is also more horse-like than cat-like, but the orgasmic and euphoric nature of Zetithian body fluids came about as a result of something I’d once read about the prostaglandins present in human semen causing a sense of well-being in the female. I embellished on this a bit—okay, so it was more than just a bit!—and came up with semen (or snard as the Zetithians call it) that induces euphoria, plus a lubricating fluid that chemically triggers orgasms.
Since cats have multiple births, this led to the next step in Zetithian biology, which was that the offspring would be born in litters of three. I felt that since their world had been destroyed and there were so few of them left, the ability to reproduce at a higher than normal rate was essential to ensure their survival as a species. That being the case, I gave the Zetithians semen that acts like a fertility drug, thus causing the females of any compatible species to have triplets.
In my current release, The Cat Star Chronicles: Fugitive, I made use of another feline trait, that of stealth and concealment. Few animals are better at stalking their prey than cats, and these abilities are very handy for a man on the run. Manx can not only disappear into the jungle to elude his captors, but he can also provide for himself with the ability to catch small animals and birds by hand. His keen eyes make him an excellent archer as well as a crack-shot with a pulse pistol.
As for what made me choose to write about cat-like aliens as opposed to werewolves, I can only say that as one who, at last count, has six cats living in and around her house, I’m surrounded by them. I wouldn’t necessarily call myself a cat lover—most of them have adopted me as opposed to the other way around—but few things are more soothing to the soul than having a purring cat in your lap. I took the purring in a different direction with my aliens in that, for a Zetithian, purring is their primary means of enticing females. I believe that a guy who could purr would have an advantage over most men, but what about you? If you could create your ultimate male, what animal characteristics would he have?
FUGITIVE BY CHERYL BROOKS—IN STORES JANUARY 2010
When a Zetithian fugitive meets a beautiful Earth woman, their passion may cost them both their lives...
Manx is a Zetithian fugitive with a feline gene that gives him remarkable sexual powers. He has been in hiding in the remote jungles of Barada Seven ever since being marked for extermination by the violent Nedwuts.
Artist Drusilla arrives on Barada Seven, enticed only by the promise of finding a nature paradise there. But she discovers a wildlife she wasn’t expecting when she encounters Manx. Reckless with desire for the beautiful Earth woman, Manx risks his life to win her as his mate.
It’s only a matter of time until the Nedwuts find them, but it will take all of Manx and Drusilla’s passion, skill, and ingenuity to survive.
Buy: Fugitive (The Cat Star Chronicles #5)
About the Author
Cheryl Brooks is an Intensive Care Unit nurse by night and a romance writer by day. Previous books in The Cat Star Chronicles series include Slave
, Warrior
, Rogue
and Outcast
. Hero, book six, will be in stores August 2010. She is a member of the RWA and lives with her husband and sons in Bloomfield, Indiana. For more information, please visit http://cherylbrooksonline.com/
Giveaway: 2 copies of Fugitive are up for grabs. That means 2 winners! Open to US and Canadian readers only (sorry international readers, you can still comment though). To enter leave a comment answering Cheryl's question. 1 entry per relevant comment; multiple entries allowed. Ends: January 29, 2010. Good luck!
Online Stores
January 21st, 2010 — A-C, Alien, Another Planet/Dimension, Book Intro, Enemies, Guest Blogger, Interracial, Jewish, Kidnapping, Science Fiction, Space
by Julia Rachel Barrett, guest blogger and author of Captured.
I am a scrappy, fiery redhead and my heroines, poor things, generally end up redheads too. Mari Damon, in my new work of Science Fiction, Captured, gets kidnapped by an interstellar trapper because he notices her red hair shining in the sun. Like she says in the book – I’ll paraphrase – If I’d known you were coming by, I’d have worn a hat!
The story of Mari and Ekkatt flowed out of me – I had a blast writing it. Not only is the book an extremely sexy read, I touch on subjects like the Stockholm Syndrome, where victims begin to identify with their kidnappers, collective guilt and its repercussions, and religious intolerance and bigotry. Writing the book touched me in unexpected ways – like me, Mari is Jewish and her situation is fraught with guilt – she suffers from survivor guilt because she has managed to survive while the other women she arrived with were were auctioned off, and worse, she has fallen in love with her captor. She feels as if she’s betraying herself and her own people. Her captor, Ekkatt, on the other hand, is wracked with guilt over what he’s done. No, he’s never killed or even injured a human and his species is vegetarian, but in his job as a trapper, he’s sent many women like Mari to the meat market, having been taught by his own religious authorities that humans are nothing more than beasts, that they have no soul. From our perspective, it would be comparable to a tribe in the Amazon hunting and eating a monkey. When Mari inadvertently awakens from stasis during the voyage and Ekkatt has his first chance to actually speak with a human female, he experiences an epiphany…his entire life has been a lie and he is guilty of condoning murder. From that moment on, keeping Mari alive becomes his primary goal. Only her forgiveness can heal him.
Mari never expects to find herself caged in a cargo hold on a spaceship. She learns from her captors she's headed to the meat market. When they try to return her to stasis, she resists. The male in charge, Ekkatt, allows her to remain awake. Mari realizes her survival depends upon connecting with Ekkatt. She must make him see her as a sentient being or she will end up dinner.
Ekkatt has never spoken to any human. Humans are beasts. They are valued for one thing, the money they bring at auction. The Attun are vegetarians, but other species prize human flesh and Ekkatt makes good money trapping. Then the female with red hair awakens. She speaks to him and forces him to admit she has a name. Mari throws Ekkatt's entire life into question, the biggest question...can he watch her sold to the highest bidder?
Excerpt:
Mari heard him utter something in a guttural voice to his companion, right before he strode her way on his long, powerful legs. His strides ate up the distance between them. Unconsciously, Mari backed away from the door of her cage. In her current state, naked and vulnerable, if this thing wanted to rip her limb from limb, gut her, and eat her alive, he could.
He stopped in front of her and stared into her face. Legs shaking, Mari ordered herself to meet his eyes. She watched his nostrils flare, as if he could smell her fear. How could he not? She could smell it herself. Being naked made it worse. But, what was she supposed to do? Attempt to cover herself with her hands? That would be an exercise in futility. His eyes roamed over her perusing her from head to toe. He grunted something. Even though the language sounded alien to her it was impossible to miss the dismissive tone in his gravelly voice.
He stood in front of her with his arms crossed and his eyes challenging. He was obviously waiting for her to cower and cringe. Mari didn’t know where she was or what the hell was going on, but she remembered something she’d once read: the antidote to fear is courage. She realized she had no choice but to stare right back, step forward, cross her arms mocking his posture, and say loud enough for his companion to hear, “Fuck you, asshole.”
The fucker laughed. His laugh sounded human. Mari recognized it instantly. She didn’t know if he laughed at her words or at her chutzpah, but the fucker laughed.
“That is good,” he said in heavily accented English. The words sounded slow on his tongue. “You have courage, female.”
Mari watched him shift his weight. He seemed impatient. “You should not be awake,” he stated in his very thick accent.
Mari shrugged.
The man swept a sheathed hand toward all the other women lying on the floor of their cages. “You should not be awake,” he repeated.
Mari ignored his statement. Instead she pointed at his uniform. “I want my clothes.”
The man grimaced.
“You speak my language. You understand what I’m saying. I want my clothes.” One thing at a time.
“You have no need. You are a beast. An animal.” He enunciated clearly for her sake. “An animal has no need of clothing.”
“If I’m an animal, then why do you bother to speak with me? I want my clothes.”
He laughed again. “You are like a trained pet. Pets have no need of garments. Our buyers must be able to see the merchandise with imperfections and all.”
____________________
Thanks for hosting me! Enjoy! Julia
To buy Captured, click here.
To visit Julia’s Website...Facebook.
Giveaway: Julia is offering an e-book copy of CARA, her now out-of-print romantic suspense from Cerridwen Press, as a prize. Open to all blog readers and visitors with valid email addresses! 
Enter by leaving a comment or asking Julia a question. One entry per relevant comment; multiple entries allowed. Ends January 28, 2010.
Online Stores
January 18th, 2010 — 3 Stars, Alien, Another Planet/Dimension, Book Review, Contemporary, Erotica, Interracial, J-L, Kidnapping, Magic Users, Mistaken Identity, Paranormal, Politician, Secret Agent, Space, United States of America, Virgin Heroine
Have you ever read your name in a romance book? How about with different spelling? I rarely do as my name is fairly unique. Listening to my name as a protagonist in Destiny's Jewel was definitely a bit of naughty fun.
Rebecca Rogers, who narrated Maestro's Butterfly, narrates Destiny's Jewel and does another amazing job! Five out of five for steamy!
I recently went on a road trip to meet with some friends and Destiny's Jewel was my trip companion. Who needs the radio? Seriously! Listen to some erotica instead - it's sure to keep you awake and get your blood pumping.
Kyra L'orrac has been entrusted to guard a royal treasure, a giant sapphire known as the Stone of Destiny. It is her first big assignment under the Royal Special Forces (RSF). She is protecting it from the incoming vizier and magician Ellard J'aron, who seeks it for personal gain and power.
For Ellard it is imperative that he retrieved the star sapphire and its two sister jewels, an emerald and ruby respectively. If he fails to bring the trio home to Dolnair he faces execution and his family the ultimate disgrace. As if Ellard's troubles aren't enough he is under a very strict time limit and the pretty girl who holds the first of the jewels inspires passions he should not-nay can not-indulge, even if he wants too... desperately.
Rating: 3 Stars
Buy the Audio Version Here!
Side note: I marked this book as interracial because of one partner being magical and one partner being non-magical.
Originally posted 2009-04-05 05:01:20. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Online Stores
December 29th, 2009 — 3.5 Stars, Alien, Another Planet/Dimension, Enemies, Interracial, Movie Reviews, Science, Science Fiction, Soldier, Survival
Avatar is very enjoyable and a visual feast. I highly recommend seeing it in 3D. I saw it in 3D by mistake. My friend and I thought we were going to the 2D showing. As a measuring stick, my friend hates 3D films and thought it was the best 3D film they ever saw. It's not hard on the eyes, and they don't over do it. (At least it doesn't look/feel that way.) It probably helped too that we saw it with good 3D glasses provided by the theater instead of cheapo ones.
The point behind the film is alien interaction. When the story starts we find out that the Na'vi are hostile. They seemingly attack for no reason and use deadly poisons. By the end of the film you’re rooting for the Na'vi, because the true hostile aliens are the humans.
It's an interesting SFR movie. Avatars are genetically engineered bodies that mix human and Na'vi DNA. These bodies are empty. No souls in them. Humans like Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), leave their human bodies behind and enter into the Avatar assuming control. Every time they’re unplugged or fall asleep they wake up back in their own body.
There’s definitely a feel of Fern Gully
to this movie. The Na'vi are trying to save their home from destruction. The ignorant humans are trying to cut down the forest and mine out the ore. The story follows Jake Sully as he learns to love the forest, the Na'vi, and Neytiri (Zoe Saldana).
One of the most rewarding moments to my little romantic heart was when Neytiri sees and holds Jake Sully in his human form while trying to keep him alive. I waited for it the entire movie and was exceedingly happy when it happened.
Avatar is visual eye candy. Everything is exceedingly beautiful. I loved the Na'vi and the phosphorescent plant and animal life. The floating mountains were never explained or if they were I missed it. If for nothing else you need to watch this film for the CGI.
3.5 Stars
Buy: Avatar [Theatrical Release]
Online Stores
December 5th, 2009 — Alien, Demon, Dragon, Fey / Fae, Ghost, Lycanthrope, Magic Users, Merman/Mermaid, Necromancer, Paranormal, Super Hero, Supernatural, Vampire, Werewolf
Truth or another whiny complaint from males about our reading material? Does paranormal romance hopelessly increase our expectations in a man? Let’s examine the paranormal hero to find out:
- He isn’t human. The paranormal hero is vampire, lycanthrope, demon, shapeshifter, angel, or other. Can a normal man get that irresistible dangerous edge? Yes, and he needn't even have a romantic suspense hero occupation. Role play and grab that Halloween cop uniform! Practice your growl. We love it when men growl their excitement!
- He has otherworldly powers. The paranormal hero is powerful in many aspects from his body to his personality, from his wealth to his influence and even to the impossible. Just because the paranormal hero can enter our minds, doesn't mean a real man can't guess what's in ours. Hint: A glass of wine, and a backrub will give any man superhuman powers.
- He’s ridiculously good looking. It’s our fantasy! Besides have you never heard of a gym? You expect us to be perfectly coiffed, made up with shaved legs, I think a few hours in a gym is not asking too much. Quit complaining and give me twenty! Or two hundred as twenty a six pack does not make.
- He’s an out of this world lover. The paranormal hero is a skilled lover. He’s sex walking and a giver of multiple orgasms. Nervous? Don’t worry. Real men can be phenomenal lovers too. It’s all about the E^E equation: Experimentation ^ Experience = Amazing in Bed.
- He’s too perfect. Not all the time! If the paranormal hero didn’t screw up sometime he wouldn’t be so perfect now would he? Flaws create the perfect character. Real men have flaws too.
Conclusion: Paranormal men sparkle. Real men can sparkle too.
Photo Credits: http://weheartit.com/
Online Stores
November 18th, 2009 — 5 Stars, Alien, Enemies, Erotica, Foster/Orphan, Guest Reviews, Mystery, P-R, Rape/Abuse, Scarred Hero, Secret Agent, Supernatural, Suspense/Thriller, United States of America, Vampire
By Susan S., guest reviewer
Today is a Double Dose of Devyn Day! Back to back reviews!
Embracing Midnight is Devyn at her best. A sinful, sizzling “fast-paced” page turner!
Come…, as I invite you to walk along the darker side of romance. Prepare yourself for the “ultimate” good vs. evil novel.
This novel, solidified for me, the reason why Devyn ranks among my top two favorite authors. Having read most of her books, this is her best novel to date. I can envision its conversion into a movie.
Embracing Midnight will appeal to any and all of the following: erotic romance readers, readers who enjoy romantic suspense, mystery, paranormal, sci-fi, thrillers, and for those readers who enjoyed the movies The Net
and Men in Black
.
I simply could not, read this book fast enough. My review should simply read (flip, flip, flip). What first appealed to me were the double entendres, and hot sexual innuendos between the hero (Iollan Drake) and the heroine (Callie Whitten).
Callie is a 30 year old blond who’s working for the bureau as an undercover agent. Her cover is working as a waitress at a Goth club. The military taught her how to crack and hack any system in the world. An ability that she’ll have to implement soon enough.
In enters a “mega-hot” 194 year old, motorcycle riding Irish vampire into her life. Who knows just how to please a woman, he’s sex-on-a stick. Together, they’ll learn how easily friends can become enemies, and discover how sworn enemies can change into our best allies.
Drake will uncover her darkest sexual secret, and fulfill her secretly guarded fantasy. His use of the endearment “love” towards Callie was touching. Iollan quickly became my favorite character, with his vulnerability, transformation, and ultimate revenge and redemption. When he reveals the full scope of his powers as the novel approaches its end, you will be left utterly speechless.
The least likeable character was Callie’s bastard ex-lover Roger Reinke.
Favorite scene- When Callie assists Drake in a hot shower.
Embracing Midnight’s fundamental theme was to stand up for injustice and cruelty, by fighting for what “you” believe is right.
There isn’t a rating high enough for this novel, so I’ll have to settle for the 5 star rating, when in actuality in my heart it deserved a 10.
Warning--This plot includes one m, f, m, m scene. Yes, I counted those m’s correctly! There was also a rape scene that lent to the real nature of one of the characters. (Chilling and unexpected revelation)
Rating: 5 Stars
Buy: Embracing Midnight
Aphrodisia, Kensington Publishing Corp., Copyright 2008
Paperback, 304 Pages.
ISBN-13# 978-0-7582-1654-0
ISBN-10# 0-7582-1654-8
Online Stores
November 7th, 2009 — 3 Stars, A-C, Alien, Another Planet/Dimension, Book Review, Cursed Lead, Dragon, Highlander, Paranormal, Queen or Princess, Succubus, Survival, United States of America, Werewolf
Dark Highland Fire is about two distinctly polar opposites getting together and overcoming obstacles that should under normal circumstances lay them low. Rowan is a fiery demi-goddess akin to the vampire as she needs blood to survive. However her blood-taking is about life not death so at most she is a cousin of the vampire. Her actual species is called Dyaad and they are descendants of the Goddess Morgaine.
Rowan is full of sass, sharp tongued, and has a streak of violence in her. Her version of her tribe’s magic is geared toward destruction. This is important to remember as for why this is the case is revealed at the end of the novel. There’s one thing that irritated me about Rowan, the heroine of Dark Highland Fire. She claims to not need anyone but the novel starts out with her brother, Bastian, saving her by transporting them to Earth’s dimension and then again, same method, to the Scottish Highlands.
Bastian is a perfect character that at the author’s will be applied like deus ex machina to any situation to get other characters to safety. He’s used this way more than the two times mentioned so far. Overall he’s a good brother to his sisters and I hope will be the focus of another book in this set of Highland novels even though he's not a MacInnes Werewolf. (Speaking of the MacInnes werewolves cameo appearances of Carly and Gideon abound in this book!)
Gabriel is a lackadaisical werewolf. He’s third in line and happy to stay there – no plots to overthrow his brother or father. When Bastian spies him, the cool Dyaad Drakkyn decides to leave his injured sister in Gabriel’s hands. Gabriel questions this decision and is said to have a streak of stubbornness inside him to rival Rowan – which he was going to need. Successfully he manages to get Rowan to do the things he wishes for instance drink his blood to heal, stay put in his apartment for safety purposes. He hasn’t quite figured out that as the next Dyana of her people, Rowan is more than capable of holding her own (at least when she doesn’t let fear paralyze her and smother out her flame.)
Lucien is a Dragon, heir to the throne and has fallen in lust at first sight with Rowan. His father backs his decision to go after the little fire princess and claim her as his own. Dragons apparently don’t understand the words no and not interested. He’s the reason Rowan is on the run and afraid. Though honestly from the daemon creatures mentioned throughout the novel with powerful magic sound more scary. I guess their weak and overly ripe bodies are the reason they inspire more disgust than fear though that’s there too in most cases.
If you’re familiar with the first novel in the series then you know that werewolves mate for life and this ritualistic act is like a marriage. Rowan and Gabriel initiate and finalize this unwittingly during some steamy sex scenes. Once created it is impossible to break though Lucien is going to try his best to do so – Rowan is his and the wolf will pay. Find out if Rowan and Gabriel make it in this fast paced multidimensional novel!
Rating: 3 Stars.
Originally posted 2008-11-10 14:09:27. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Online Stores
August 15th, 2009 — About, Alien, Demon, Dragon, Fey / Fae, Ghost, Lycanthrope, Magic Users, Merman/Mermaid, Necromancer, Paranormal, Succubus, Super Hero, Supernatural, Vampire, Werewolf
This post is in response to a little nugget that I read in Heather’s article at the Galaxy Express entitled Does Science Fiction Romance Need More Alpha Heroes? The specific section that caught my eye was this:
In response to the My Paranormal Malaise post at Dear Author, Lisa Paitz Spindler asked:
"Why is it the paranormal character is so often the hero and not the heroine?"
Yeah, what's up with that?
I can tell you exactly what is up with that as I am a fan of paranormal romance and fiction. So here it goes… six reasons why the paranormal character is always the hero!
- We like our heroes mysterious. What is more mysterious than a mythological creature, be he vampire or lycanthrope or other?
- Strong powerful hero + average heroine = swoon. When an extraordinary specimen of the male gender sits up and takes notice of a rather ordinary female it is easier to place ourselves in the heroine’s shoes. That’s not because we think of ourselves as unworthy, this formula just makes it more accessible for readers. This scenario also tends to fill the tenderness and protectiveness side of the fantasy.
- Strong powerful hero + kickass heroine = hell yeah. When number two’s formula just doesn’t cut it there are the novels about strong heroes and stronger heroines. In this scenario the reader and heroine tend to dominate over the situation. The hero must work around the heroine to get in her good graces and who hasn’t imagine upon at least one occasion a strong sexy male groveling at your feet?
- Angel, Spike, Jean-Claude, Asher, Edward Cullen, Jasper Cullen, Eric Northman, and Bill Compton. Do I really need to go on with this point? I think this pretty much brings it home. Otherworldly men are downright sexy! Especially vampires!
- The desires of the paranormal fit better on a hero. The act of drinking blood is considered highly sexual in vampire romances. It’s become part of the erotic fantasy. Sometimes the heroine likes to pretend to be helpless and the hero’s act of feeding gives her a thrilling rush. Besides, I think I pretty much covered how icky it can be to read a heroine drinking blood.
- Redemption always looks better on a man. Many paranormal stories involve the preternatural lead repenting his past acts dictated by his nature, circumstances, and misinformed beliefs due to change. This makes him now a brooding hero and occasionally puts the heroine in the middle of the path toward his salvation or as his savior.
So there you go—six reasons paranormal stories always feature preternatural heroes.
Online Stores
June 2nd, 2009 — A-C, Alien, Another Planet/Dimension, Author Interviews, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Space
Everybody say hi and welcome Cheryl Brooks, author of the Cat Star Chronicles, to Love Romance Passion. Grab a cup of something hot and let's get down to business. Below is the interview:
Thank you so much Cheryl for sitting down to chat! How did you come up with the idea for the Cat Star Chronicles?
I'd been writing contemporary romances that utilized the boy-next-door theme and had also written a number of stories that were requested by friends, but my original intention when I began writing-about thirty years ago, now!-was to write a science fiction romance. Then I read an erotic sci-fi novel about a woman who had to pose as a slave to a dominant male, and because I've never been a fan of dominant alpha males, I thought it would be much more fun if the man was the slave instead of the woman! So I wrote a story about a tough, independent space trader named Jacinth in need of a man she can trust with her life to aid her in the quest to rescue her kidnapped sister. Toward that end she buys an alien slave, whom she dubs Cat, hoping to gain his loyalty by offering him freedom in exchange for his assistance. Part of the appeal of this hero was that, being a slave, he had nothing but his strength, intelligence, and sensual nature to offer a woman. It was my intention that he be the last of his kind, but to continue this as a series, I created a scenario where six Zetithian men were captured at the end of the war that destroyed their world and sold into slavery and each book in the series tells the story of how one of them found love.
Should readers start from the beginning of the series or do you feel that they can jump in any time?
I think any series works best by reading them in order, however, I've tried very hard to make each of my books able to stand alone, and, according to several reviews, I've succeeded.
What is your favorite book so far in the series? How many in total will there be?
It's difficult to choose because though all of my heroes are irresistible Zetithians, they all have very different personalities, as do my heroines. I let my imagination run wild in Slave, but Warrior was fun because most of the secondary characters were animals with whom the heroine could communicate telepathically-and they all had plenty of pithy comments to make about humans! In Rogue, my piano-teacher heroine had two stunning Zetithian brothers to choose from and some really fun aliens as the supporting characters. Outcast, being about a man who has lost all desire for women, is more of a tear-jerker than the others, and it is also the first to be written in third person which gave me a chance to get inside the hero's head for a change, something that I enjoyed very much. I've had a blast writing the last two books, Fugitive and Hero, too, so I really can't pick one favorite.
As it now stands, there will be six in the series, and possibly a seventh.
How did Sourcebooks first hear of your book?
I first heard of Sourcebooks when the Romance Writer's Report listed them as a newly approved publisher. They were accepting both paranormal and erotic romances, so I submitted the manuscript for my erotic sci-fi novel, and promptly forgot about it until the editor called saying she wanted to read the rest of it. She loved it, but it was too short, so I added a few new scenes and the manuscript was then accepted.
What do you think is the biggest appeal of fantasy / sci-fi romance?
For me, the appeal is that it places few limits on my imagination, and I think that probably holds true for the readers, as well, because there are endless opportunities for surprises.
I know you're a nurse; how does that work when it comes to writing on schedule? What is your writing routine?
I work three twelve-hour night shifts a week, which varies from week to week, so there is no schedule! I'm just like anyone else: I have free time, but what I do with it is write, rather than watch television. After Slave came out, I was encouraged to try to write four books a year-and this year, there are three-but found that I simply couldn't do it and remain sane. As long as the nursing job is the one paying the bills, the books will have to be limited to two a year.
Most of my writing is done in the evening, with blogging and emails, etc, done during the day.
What was the hardest part of writing your series?
Remembering the small details about different alien species from book to book and just where in the galaxy each planet is located. I probably need to keep a notebook of characters and species and draw a map, but I haven't done it yet, so I have to keep copies of my books close by!
In your own words, what is love?
A deep, emotional, enduring attachment that makes you consider that person's wishes ahead of your own.
What is your favorite aspect of writing?
The creative outlet it provides. I'd go crazy without it!
What makes a great written bedroom scene?
One that makes you tingle all over and want to read it again and again! The specific components can vary, but if it doesn't involve the heart and soul, it's just sex.
How do you decide character names? Who's your favorite male and female lead so far?
My male characters have all had a connection to the "cat" theme. There was Cat in Slave, Leo in Warrior, and Tychar in Rogue, which is an alteration of the word tiger. Outcast has Lynx, and Fugitive has Manx, which are both types of cats. Trag (Hero) is short for Tragonathon, which is a combination of a friend's name and the words tiger and dragon.
My heroine's names are sometimes suggested by their occupation or their personality, or it can just be a name I happen to like. For the more alien names, I experiment. Sometimes I'll take a traditional human name and change the vowels. Other times I strike random letters on the keyboard and then go back and play around with it until it sounds right. I may change the spelling several times while I'm writing before I'm happy with it.
My favorite hero will always be Cat (Slave), because he was the one who started it all, and Bonnie (Outcast) is my favorite heroine because she had the patience and kindness to turn Lynx's life around, which I'm not sure I could have done.
Is there anything else you'd like to share with us?
I love hearing from readers!
My email address is: cheryl.brooks52@yahoo.com
Website: cherylbrooksonline.com
I also blog on Casablanca Authors, Wickedly Romantic, and Cheryl Brooks Erotic Blogspot.
Buy: Outcast (The Cat Star Chronicles, Book 4)
Online Stores
