Author Berinn Rae and genre fiction go way back, and she's
channeled her interests into a science fiction romance saga called the Colliding Worlds Trilogy. This trilogy
falls under the alien invasion category (see my post about it here). In these stories, planet Earth is
in the crossfire of two galactic adversaries. Click here
for descriptions and free excerpts of the first two books, COLLISION and
IMPLOSION.
I invited Berinn Rae aboard so we could pick her brain about
comic books, her writing style, and tattooed aliens. A giveaway follows the
interview, so read on!
The Galaxy Express: Finish this sentence:
My name is Berinn Rae and I like to…
Berinn Rae: Write, read, fly, and get into shenanigans (in no particular
order).
TGE: Your bio states that
in the past you had “…the small town’s largest (and only) comic book
collection…” What are your top three favorite comic books series?
BR: Tough question! I’ve always been more of a Marvel Girl (as
opposed to DC or Indie, although I love ALL comics), so my collection tilts
toward the Marvel Universe (and yes, Stan Lee is my superhero). Off the top of my mind, I’d go with The Uncanny X-Men, G.I. Joe, and Conan the Barbarian. All three have
plenty of action, tortured heroes, and strong storylines.
TGE: What was the
inspiration for the Colliding Worlds
trilogy?
Since all my stories focus on strong women, it seemed
natural to have each book focus on a heroine from one of the three races
(human, Sephian, Draeken) and how she fits into the war. And so the Colliding Worlds trilogy was born.
COLLISION came out in July 2012, IMPLOSION released March 11, and EXPLOSION
comes out Summer 2013.
In COLLISION, Sienna Wolfe knows it’s going to be an
interesting day when a man with golden skin and
strange tattoos crashes in her backyard… and ends up tied to her
bedposts. She likes her life just the way it is – simple, easy, relaxed. But
when the gorgeous new alien in her life asks for her help in an inter-galactic
war on a collision course with earth, she can’t say no… but she’ll soon wish
she had.
TGE: Is there an
overarching story arc or does each book stand alone?
BR: Both. Each story stars one extraordinary woman from a
different race, but the overarching theme (earth’s survival in the face of an
inter-galactic war) continues through all three stories. The overarching theme
is strong enough that it would be easier to read the books in order.
TGE: Please tag COLLISION
using five words.
BR: aliens, abduction, war, military, soulmates (yeah, I cheated
and combined two words into one.)
TGE: You’ve written a few
paranormal romances. Did anything in particular attract you to science fiction
romance?
BR: Ever since I learned to read, I’ve been absolutely hooked on
science fiction. That’s the genre I’ve always wanted to write, but it’s also
one of the hardest genres to write because of the world building aspect. And
Sci-Fi readers are a smart and tough crowd—they expect sh*t to make sense.
As for the romance part, the older I get, the more mushy I get,
so I like to see stories with a HEA (Happily Ever After), or at least a HFN
(Happily For Now). I find that the two genres (Sci-Fi and romance) fit together
like Ender and video games.
TGE: What types of
heroines can readers expect from these stories?
BR: Every heroine in my novels have one thing in common: kickassitude. Some may have special
powers, others seem completely Plain Jane, but they all have that spirit and
internal strength to see things through to the end. For example, COLLISION’s
heroine, Sienna Wolfe, is your run-of-the-mill human who just so happens to get
yanked down a rabbit hole of craziness, with only her faith and willpower to
not only stay alive but to find the time to hook up with a sexy alien.
TGE: How would you
describe the heat level in COLLISION?
BR: Sexy. I don’t close the spaceship door, so to speak, which
means the reader gets to see everything going on. And there are a few steamy
scenes to enjoy in Collision.
TGE: Where can readers
find you?
BR: Stop by my website (www.BerinnRae.com)
for the latest information on upcoming releases, including excerpts and
freebies. You can also find me on Facebook and Twitter (@BerinnRae).
TGE: Can you give us a
sneak peek at the plot of the next two books?
BR: In IMPLOSION, the humans and Sephians have reached a truce
and combine forces to pursue the Draeken threat. Our heroine is Nalea, a
Sephian warrior who exists only to kill Draeken. During a bloody battle, she
finds herself captured by Roden Zyll, a Draeken commander known for his vicious
brutality and good looks. Roden ignites a forbidden passion, and she despises
him for it. Though a future together is both impossible and unwanted, she fears
he has no intention of letting her go.
In EXPLOSION, a deadly toxin is released across earth,
truces are broken, and all aliens are quickly blamed and ordered to be
executed. Our heroine is Talla Kolhm, a Draeken warrior-woman who’s been beaten
down but never broken. With the help of Jax Jerrick, a human soldier with his
own share of scars, she escapes. While battling their simmering passion, Talla
and Jax join the resistance committed to finding an antidote. Talla will do
anything for her people’s survival, even sacrifice herself and her heart, which
may be the only way to save us all…
Thanks for having me, Heather!
***
Mrs. Rae, thanks for your time, and for your art.
Giveaway time!
Berinn Rae has generously provided a digital copy of COLLISION. Winner’s choice PDF, ePub, or .mobi. The deadline to enter is midnight PST on Saturday, March 16, 2013.
Berinn Rae has generously provided a digital copy of COLLISION. Winner’s choice PDF, ePub, or .mobi. The deadline to enter is midnight PST on Saturday, March 16, 2013.
Entering is easy: simply leave a comment. Tell us about your favorite alien invasion story!
Joyfully yours,
Heather