It’s that time again—a new month brings new science fiction romance releases and other goodies. Authors have been busy so there’s a lot to report. I’m getting kind of attached to this format for link roundups, so I’ll strive to do one at the beginning of each month rather than randomly.
Chef's laid out a full tray of assorted surprises to sip and nosh as we hear the news, so load up!
New Releases
Catherine Asaro’s newest release is DIAMOND STAR, out this month from Baen. This is so cool because I adore the film STREETS OF FIRE, and Asaro’s book sounds like that, only set in the future.
You can read a recent interview with the author over at The Nebula Awards (thanks to SFSignal for the link). She goes into more depth about DIAMOND STAR in another interview here. And according to her Web site, Ms. Asaro will also be a guest at Balticon in Hunt Valley, Maryland from May 22-25, 2009.
Wen Spencer’s ENDLESS BLUE is now out in paperback! This book has gotten great word of mouth and is definitely on my TBR list. Click on the link for an excerpt. 
Nathalie Gray’s AGENT PROVOCATEUR is also out this month and involves “a lot of blowing stuff up.” Sounds like my cup of tea.
Here’s the blurb:
He was trained to infiltrate the enemy and kill it from the inside, a breathing weapon, a super soldier with genetic enhancements that branded him a freak. He doesn’t care. He needs no one. But when he meets another like him, a woman as beautiful as she’s dangerous, a strange thing happens to him—he starts to hope.
Deals
“NYT bestselling author Katie MacAlister’s STEAMED, the first book in a new romantic steampunk adventure series, to Laura Cifelli of NAL, for publication in February 2010, by Michelle Grajkowski of the 3 Seas Literary Agency. – Publisher’s Lunch 4/27/2009.” (Thanks to Karen Fox.)
Craft
If you’re an aspiring author launching from ground zero, Jeremiah Tolbert presents Getting Started Writing Science Fiction.
HOPE'S FOLLY author Linnea Sinclair is offering a workshop on characterization hosted at RWA Online. Here’s the down low:
Characterization: Making Strengths and Weaknesses Work For You (or No More Mary Sues!)
Dates: August 17 - 30, 2009
Registration Opens: August 3, 2009
Registration Deadline: August 16, 2009
Fee: $15 Non-Chapter members. RWAOL Chapter #136 members; free. Linnea’s workshop
That’s a fabulous price if I do say so myself. For more information, join the author’s Yahoo group a.k.a. The Intergalactic Bar & Grille.
Debut author Jess Granger (BEYOND THE RAIN, August 2009) reflects on the challenges of blending SF and romance in one very hilarious blog post, Mars vs. Venus. She whips out her microscope to examine worldbuilding in It’s All in the Details. And wouldn’t you know it? The Universe, It’s Complicated.
Contest & Freebies
On Monday, May 4, Jess Granger will guest blog at Something Wicked. Click here to swing by for an opportunity to win a one-of-a-kind galley of her forthcoming science fiction romance BEYOND THE RAIN!! And when you win it, don’t forget to read the Acknowledgments page. It’s a real tearjerker. Well, it was for me! (Thanks again for the galley, Jess!)
During summer 2009, Sara Reinke will be offering a number of free ebooks and e-novellas including her SF thriller TETHERS.
Fun Stuff
This is the type of thing that makes the blog worth doing even a hundred more times than it already is: Check out this page and search for the swell logo! I’m humbled by the gesture.
And finally, one of the hottest bits of news I’ve heard recently is that Gillian Anderson (THE X-FILES) is “reportedly in talks” to play The Rani, “a renegade Time Lady” in the fifth series of DOCTOR WHO!
Science fiction romance doesn’t get any better than that.
Joyfully yours,
Heather