Fat Tuesday Celebrations And Good Things

Happy Fat Tuesday! It's a day for eating those fruit-filled paczkis, drinking too much and other fun stuff before the somberness of Ash Wednesday. If you celebrate, hope you are having a fabulous day!

I took yesterday off for a total Me day. I think after the last few months, I deserved it. I took myself to the movies at the gorgeous AMC River East theater, with the uber-plush seats and the art deco interior. Saw the early showing of Woman In Black and I had the whole theater to my lonesome. It was perfect and the movie was seriously intriguing and creepy. I'm doing a review soon. Then I attended a couple of informative lectures at my alma mater, DePaul University. I learned how to give a good elevator pitch and the key ingredients for maintaining a positive outlook as you transition your career. I am trying to find something in the non-profit sector, although really, my entire life has been non-profit. LOL

The superbly brilliant Craig Edwards over at Let's Get Out Of Here posted a truly wonderful review for my erotic werewolf thriller, Maxie Briscoe: Werewolf. Thank you, Craig, you rock!

He even posted the review at Amazon for me. I could seriously kiss him. Until he posted his review there, the only review posted was for another book entirely. I have been trying to get it taken down, but no one seems to respond to emails and requests. Arrgh! Honestly, what is going on. I think I'm going to have to do some more digging around to figure out how to get that false review gone.

My good friend Sloane Taylor had a recent new release with Love Notes. A fiery, erotic tale set in Venice during Carnival. American Clancy is on her dream trip to Venice, thoroughly enjoying all the magic the city has to offer. She never imagined the masked stranger who saved from an accidental dunking in the Grand Canal would also prove to be a dream lover. Hmm, mysterious strangers, Venice and Carnival, I'm there! Love Notesis available now from Musa Publishing.










Friend to the Imaginarium, KC Kendricks also has a new release. Her newest sensation is Eye of the Beholder, a M/M erotic tale set in New York City about two young men, one new to the city, the other a jaded local rediscovering the joy of his hometown once more.

And finally, next week on February 28, will be the Catch Fire blog tour for Alex J. Cavanaugh's new release, CassaFire, the sequel to his brilliant space opera tale CassaStar.

Have a great Fat Tuesday. I am going to gorge on some delicious paczkis from the local bakery here. Yummm... :)

Author M Pax Is Taking Over

Thank you to Melissa for letting me borrow her Imaginarium today. I was thinking about doing a post on great science fiction love stories, but couldn't think of one besides Han and Leia. Wow, that needs fixing, huh? Anyway, while researching on the webs, I stumbled across this scientific romance thing and found it interesting enough to share.

Science fiction as a term for the genre of scientifically-oriented fantastic fiction, was made popular in 1929 by Hugo Gernsback publisher of the first science fiction magazine, Amazing Stories. The Hugo awards are named for Hugo Gernsback, by the way.

Before the genre was called what it is, the genre was called scientific romance. H.G. Wells claimed this is what he wrote. Popular in the mid 1800’s, Wells and Verne are the most well-known examples. The Enlightenment Era of scientific discovery led to the creation of adventurous tales in fantastic settings using scientific devices and discoveries.

Many of these stories also fall into the “imperialist adventures” category. Some of my favorites are Journey to the Center of the Earth [Verne], Erewhon by Samuel Butler, The Time Machine by HG Wells, and She by Henry Haggard. Edgar Rice Burroughs and Sir Arthur Doyle were also prominent writers in this genre.

What changed for the genre was the end of Imperialism. Then came film. The scientific romances were popular at the movies for awhile, Tarzan and The Lost World being the genre’s swan songs. Then debuted Metropolis in 1927, dubbed the first “true” science fiction film, introducing the public to futurism and the dystopian tale. The term scientific romance hasn’t been used since.

Do you have a favorite scientific romance? Did you know about how the Hugo got named? Did you learn something new? I did. Thanks for making me do some research on the webs, Melissa. :)

 

M. Pax blogs at Wistful Nebulae and at MPax-TheWebsite. She spends her summers as a star guide at Pine Mountain Observatory and has a slight obsession with Jane Austen. Author of Semper Audacia and the free reads Plantgirl, Translations and Small Graces. Coming in 2012: The Backworlds, Stopover at theBackworlds' Edge, The Tumbas and The Augmentation of Hetty Locklear.

Thank you, M! This was an absolutely fascinating post. I had no idea there was such a term as scientific romance. I love Wells and Verne. M, you rock as a teacher so feel free to take the reins here any time you want.

Sex In Outer Space...And My Valentine Winner

Catchy title, isn't it? Well, actually, that's the theme for my post over at the awesomely brilliant Stephen Tremp's Breakthrough Blog. We're doing a switcheroo, he took over the Imaginarium yesterday and I'm invading Breakthrough today. And yes, my topic really is Sex In Outer Space. Top that!

And now for my Valentine winner. This was a hard one to do as I just loved the comments, so I entered everyone in my famous Atomic Randomizer 10,000. My super-cool,ultra high-tech gadget of the century has chosen... Craig Edwards!

Yay!! Cue Kermit the Frog cheers.

Thank you all for playing. Craig, email me melbwriters@gmail.com with Valentine in the subject line and let me know your choice of story.

Author Stephen Tremp

Thank you Melissa for hosting me today as part of my Grand OPENING Tour! I'm looking forward to yours and your followers comments as this is an exciting topic that so many people are talking about:

"This porridge is too hot," Goldilocks exclaimed.

So she tasted the porridge from the second bowl.

"This porridge is too cold."

So she tasted the last bowl of porridge.

"Ahhh, this porridge is just right!" she said happily.

And she ate it all up.

"Goldilocks and the 3 Bears" children's story

The Goldilocks Zone: A region of space where stellar and other conditions favor life. It’s the habitable zone that’s “not too much” or “not too little” that would otherwise make conditions impossible for life. Rather, it is the zone that is “just right,” where liquid oceans and a thick atmosphere exist. Our good ol’ planet earth lies in just a Goldilocks zone, where life can not only exist, but flourish. Just take a look at our nearest neighbors who orbit outside our Goldilocks Zone. Venus (too much) is a scorched wasteland and Mars (too little) is a frozen desert. No life there at the moment.

Note: The Goldilocks Zone is being defined and fine-tuned as we discover life in extreme conditions, such as near boiling hot springs, temperatures below -60C, caves without light, water with high sulfuric acid content, and deep sea volcanic vents hot enough to melt lead. And we do not know if and how life can exist under other conditions somewhere else in the universe. Translation: Scientists are discovering life can thrive in unexpected places.

Also: The Goldilocks Zone can be misconstrued to limit our understanding for the requirements for life as the only ones for life. There may very well be other life forms that are based on silicon. And other chemical reactions may thrive in entirely different Goldilocks Zones.

BTW: The Kepler telescope (more on this amazing NASA mission in a future post) has identified 2,326 candidate planets and 139 are potentially habitable ones.

Example: On February 2, 2012, a large, rocky planet orbiting a distant star in a "Goldilocks" zone -- not too hot and not too cold for liquid water -- is also classified as a "super Earth."

The planet orbits closely to its parent, a dwarf star that is part of a triple star system, and receives 90 percent of the sunlight Earth receives. But since most of that light is in the infrared part of the spectrum, the planet absorbs more of its energy, in the end equaling the amount of energy Earth soaks up.

According to the article in the Orange County Register, “it's close enough that a futuristic, nuclear-powered space probe could reach it in perhaps 200 years. Then the equivalent of a "smart, Droid cell phone" could start beaming back pictures. In two or three human lifetimes, the information could come back from your hardy little cell phone," he said.

Question: Do you believe there is something or someone else out there in the universe? Or are we Earthlings as goo as it gets?

“A scientific breakthrough of such magnitude it could radically alter the future of humanity—for better or worse—is in the wrong hands”

Stephen Tremp, author of the BREAKTHROUGH series, has a B.A. in information systems and an MBA degree in global management. Stephen has a background in information systems, management, and finance and draws from this varied and complex experiential knowledge to write one-of-a-kind thrillers.

His novels are enhanced by current events at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) and other scientific research facilities around the world. These potential advances have the ability to change the way we perceive our universe and our place in it!

Stephen Tremp is author of the recently released suspense thriller OPENING, the second book in the BREAKTHROUGH series. You can visit Stephen at Breakthrough Blogs for $1.99. Opening is available for download at:

Amazon for $1.99
Smashwords for $1.99

Image Credits: Goldilocks Zone and Goldilocks


Wow! What kickass killer post! Thank you so much Stephen. You can come back here any time you want. And Opening has just moved to the top of my Must Have list.

It's The Big V Day

It's that time of year, Valentine's Day. Time for chocolate, sparkly things and delightful naughty goodness. In honor of the day, some very cool stuff is going on around here and at my publisher, Amber Quill Press' blog. We are having one hellahuge Par-tay!! There are lots of scintillating excerpts to read and contest fun galore as well as anecdotes, recipes and other tons of delicious sinful fun. Go on and check it out. You just may find a new author or twelve to read.

Now for my fun here. I'll let one of you pick the story of your choice, either Nathan's Angel or Byzantine Provocateur. Just tell me your coolest Valentine story ever. It does not have to be a love story, no siree. I mean I know people who think Valentine's Day is the worst. Your V Day tale could be scary, a break up revenge tale, heck, even an alien invasion. Leave it in the comments so we all can enjoy. I'll post the winner here by midnight PST.

My own entanglements with the Big V have been less than stellar so my feelings generally run along the same sentiments as ol' Willie here. It goes back to childhood when my mom would make me write out these horrid little cards for my classmates, most of whom I couldn't stand. And I knew they were under the same parental coersion, otherwise, I'd have no card from them, either. LOL

Lest you think I am a complete Love hum bug, there has been the odd, sweet Valentine's Day over the years. Like 02 when my roommate's nephew brought me a pink carnation beause he thought I was having a bad day. Or the unexpected coffee with a friendly Aussie who took shelter from the bitter February chill when I was working the early shift at the travel store.

So let's get on with the fun, shall we? I think a pomegranate martini is in order to lift my spirits. ;) And this little gem from my favorite comic of all time, Calvin and Hobbes by the wonderful Bill Watterson.

Origins Blogfest

I'm posting this a bit early because my internet service is out right now and sporadic when I do get it, so please bear with me. I can't wait to get around the fest, but will have to at a slower pace. I am so very sorry for this! You all rock and I thank you so much for visiting me today.

Anyway, it's time for the awesome Origins Blogfest Presented by D.L. Hammonds and co-sponsored byAlex J. Cavanaugh, Matthew MacNish and Katie Mills. Yay!!Now you get to find out just how this maniac crazy dream of being a writer came to me. It's all thanks to a British author and a third grade teacher.

Let's hop into Ye Olde Wayback Machine and part the foggy mists of Time. The year is 1981 and I have just discovered the wonderful world of Narnia. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis is perhaps the single most influential book on my writing career. I love the total escape into another world and all the fantastical creatures therein.

As I lost myself in Narnia, Calormene, Archenland and the other realms in the tales, I found myself dreaming up my own continuing adventures there. I also started thinking about creating my own kingdoms. It wasn't long before I wanted to show my stuff to my teacher, Mrs. Hall. She introduced me to Mr. Lewis after all. But, she was not the support I thought she'd be.

While Mrs. Hall certainly did not discourage me, she didn't encourage me, either. It was more of a polite "That's nice, dear" vague dismissal along with a "don't you realize how hard it is to be a writer?" I was heartbroken. Another teacher, who wasn't even mine, Mrs. Martello, saw me crying. I showed her my story and she asked me what was wrong. I blubbered out my tale, then she took my story and read it. Afterward,she said the magic words "Don't cry. I think this is a beautiful story. You can be a writer just like C.S. Lewis if you want to. Don't ever let anyone tell you different."

She was my favorite teacher from then on. To this day she is still teaching and encouraging kids. Mrs. Martello, you rock! It's thanks to her and a world called Narnia that I am writing today.

Click here to visit another awesome Origins participant.

Author Spotlight: Xavier Axelson

It's a killer Friday, Imaginarians. I have the privilege of having the brilliantly talented author, Xavier Axelson in the house today. What a cool cat he is, writing psychological horror and erotica. I just started reading him and I am hooked like a diabetic at a candy convention.

Tell us about the inspiration behind your latest release, Lily.

Lily is based on a true story about a young girl who was dragged off her swing set by a coyote and into the woods. In Southern California, we are encroaching on the coyote’s habitat, which has led the animals to wander into our yards and get into trouble. Obviously, I’ve changed the coyote into a wolf and have attempted to explore the horrors a parent must go through when something horrific like this happens.


What started you down the path of writing? Any particular favorite authors you'd love to share?

I’ve always been a writer, I grew up in a house where my love of reading was always encouraged, so I think that had something to do with my pursuit of writing. I love to read and there are so many authors I enjoy. Right now, I love vintage British Fiction published in the 40’s and 50’s.

What was the biggest surprise for you on the business end of being published?

The biggest surprise was discovering no one really cares about your work as much as you do, and that means I have to be vigilant when it comes to my promotion, advertising, etc.

I read that you like to cook, what are some of your other passions and pursuits?

I do love to cook and eat! I also love nature; the desert, the beach and road trips. I’m also an art lover and am fascinated with all kinds of design; fashion, architecture and curiosities.

What was the best writing advice you received and would gladly give to a room full of aspiring authors?

There is a book called, Making a Literary Life by Carolyn See and every word in it is worthy of speaking to a room full of writers; aspiring and otherwise. When I led a writers group of mostly college students I would tell them, “be generous with your readers, don’t rush it, don’t fake it and ignore what other people are doing. Just do you.”

I think that is some pretty increible advice. I'm going to have to get this book. Thank you so much Xavier, for stopping by. You can find out more about Xavier and his incredible stories by going to his website, following him on Facebook, his Twitter page or visiting him at his Examiner page.

Here's a look at Lily, Xavier's latest. It's a wrenching story that I could not put down.

Buy Link

Book Trailer

Blurb

When Pryor's daughter Lily is taken by a wolf, Pryor is convinced she has turned into the creature he sees lurking in his woods. He swears she promises to return to him. But is it his despair and desperation making him see things or is there something more lurking in the shadows of the forest? When he meets Ned, a silversmith who helps him with a plan to bring his daughter back into his life, he begins to live again. But can his newfound love help ease the horror that may be waiting? What if the ultimate horror isn’t when Lily was taken but it’s when Lily returns and he realizes his nightmare has only just begun...

Excerpt

I am Lily's father, my name is Pryor. It was a year ago last Father's Day when she was taken from me. I still believe being Lily's father is the most important thing in this world.

Unfortunately, my daughter dwells in another world.
* * * * *
I glanced at the necklace. Ned's pressed close to me, but the necklace I hoped would bring Lily back to me felt closer. Ned was soft in his sleep; not the bull of a man he was when he's awake. I loved him soft and I loved him hard. It was his hardness that grounded me, that brought me in from the darkness. The necklace caught the light of the fading moon and I wondered where Lily was tonight.

The old clock on the nightstand hummed quietly; its vintage florescent glow a pale mockery of the necklace that lay beside it and yet I heard the clock, it won in that department. Time always does.

Ned moved against me, I could feel his arms pull me close, felt the bulge of his muscles, his arms thick and powerful. He had never loved a man before me. I had only loved Lily. Once she changed, I had little left to love; in fact, I was certain love had disappeared from my life all together.

The clock still hummed, never quiet; it's old and made noise as if time itself wanted us all to know that it was passing and with each minute Lily fell farther and farther into the darkness. The tears came then and at the same time Ned's cock pushed more firmly against my back. He grumbled, pulled me even tighter so that I could truly feel his penis--not hard, not entirely soft--on the edge of wanting. A tear fell and I gasped a little. Seeing the necklace; hearing the clock, feeling Ned's cock, his muscles, I fell away into him and closed my eyes.

"Why aren't you sleeping?"

"I was," I replied softly.

"No you weren't," his voice was sleepy; distant and yet he knew things, he knew I was awake, thinking about my lost daughter.

"It's Father's Day," I answered, skipping over my lie. "Do you think she will come?" I felt him nod and nodded in return against my pillow. Another tear fell.