It's a new month and we have a lot to cover. Let's get to it!
New releases
Isabo Kelly’s THE PROMISE OF KIERNA'RHOAN (Samhain Publishing) has just made its debut in paperback! Here’s the story blurb:
Trust will either destroy them…or save them both.
Kira Farseaker led a sheltered, privileged life—until her discovery of a cruel secret plunged her into an underworld of danger. Now she vows to use her money and position to save an alien species, the Shifters, from government-sanctioned extermination.
A secret planet, a Farseaker legacy known as Kierna’Rhoan, could offer at least some of the evolving Shifters the sanctuary they need to survive. To get them there safely will be the most dangerous mission Kira has ever attempted—a task that isn’t made any easier by her attraction to the dark, hungry eyes of a suspected spy.
Officer David Cario’s assignment to a Shifter extermination squadron is just the break he needs to learn why his sister was executed. Earning the trust of his commander’s ex-wife, suspected terrorist Kira Farseaker, is easier said than done, especially when crossing into her world brings him face to face with truths he isn’t prepared to discover.
Swept up in a growing whirlpool of corruption and treachery, Kira and David find themselves locked in a struggle between duty and a growing passion that could destroy everything they’ve worked for. Or save both their lives.
You can read an excerpt of THE PROMISE OF KIERNA’RHOAN here. The author has also written Christmas on Eldora Station, a holiday-themed science fiction romance short story in the December 2009 issue of RT Book Reviews.
Author Jennifer Leeland’s latest release is a sci-fi erotic romance novella, which will be out Tuesday, November 3, from Loose Id LLC. Here’s the lowdown:
She’s followed him through the remote corners of space.
One of the few survivors of a sickness that claimed her colony, Rhea Tucker blames one man for the death of her family. For two years, she has stalked Conner Mitchum, learning everything she can looking for an opportunity to kill him. To trap him, she becomes a sexual submissive, changes her identity and gets a luxurious suite on The Star of Pleasure.
He is searching for the most elusive murderers in the galaxy.
Undercover and searching for a group of killers, Conner is close to his end goal. But a female submissive catches him off guard and he’s forced to save her life as assassins attack him. They plunge into space with enemies at their heels. To protect Rhea, Conner completes his planet’s mating ritual which marks them both and creates a bond he never intended to survive long enough to enjoy.
Now for other news:
Science fiction romance in the pipeline
Ella Drake’s SF erotic romance Firestorm On E'Terra debuts from Liquid Silver Publishing in December 2009. It will be part of an anthology titled HEARTS AFIRE: December.
*Bestselling* author (yes, you read that right!) Jess Granger reports that “Book Two for the Realms Beyond series is in the works. BEYOND THE SHADOWS will be in bookstores May 4, 2010.” Here’s more about the story:
A man of deception. A woman of justice. Can their fragile trust be strong enough to prevent a war?
Commander Yara knows perfect leadership requires perfect control and discipline. She has spent years living without the distraction of caring for anything—or anyone. It’s a sacrifice she’s willing to make. Yara has honed herself into the perfect heir to the Azralen throne, but a bloody coup could destroy everything she’s worked so hard for. She must return home to prevent war. Unfortunately the only ship available belongs to an Earthlen trader with no regard for authority—especially hers.
Cyn is a rebel, driven to protect those suffering at the hands of the Elite leaders of Azra. Using his alias to manipulate the lovely but icy commander onto his ship, he has to keep her from Azra long enough to ignite the revolution. But when he awakens a vibrant and feeling woman beneath that icy exterior, he gets more than he bargained for—love. He must find a way to convince Yara to join him, before they get caught in a web of deception that could tear their world apart.
Nancy J. Cohen announced on her web site that she’s contracted with The Wild Rose Press for SILVER SERENADE, a science fiction romance.
Here’s an exclusive peek at the story courtesy of the author:
A beautiful assassin and a desperate fugitive join forces to stop an
interstellar war.
Ace pilot Jace Vernon is forced to flee his home world after being
framed for murder. He seeks a witness in his defense who's a known
terrorist, but S.I.N. agent Silver Malloy gets in his way. The
platinum-haired beauty counters his every move in the quest to clear his
name. As he makes it his mission to break her, he doesn't count on the
personal consequences of his success.
Silver refuses to abort her deadly mission even if it means killing the
one man Jace needs alive to prove his innocence. Her resolve wavers when
Jace's charms melt the barriers around her heart. Can she help him win
his case, even if it means betraying her family and ruining her career?
Thanks to author Karen Fox, I discovered the announcement of a recent sale for another forthcoming SFR:
Marcella Burnard's debut ENEMY WITHIN, a futuristic romance about a tough-as-nails female starship captain and the notorious space pirate who commandeers her ship, set amid an escalating intergalactic cold war, to Leis Pederson at Berkley, in a two-book deal, by Emmanuelle Alspaugh at Judith Ehrlich Literary Management (World). - Publisher's Lunch 9/11/2009
Here’s an excerpt of ENEMY WITHIN from the author’s Web site. She also has an interesting post on what she learned about writing and the industry that helped her sell ENEMY WITHIN, which is her fifth manuscript.
(Here’s a link to Judith Ehrlich Literary Management, Emmanuelle Alspaugh’s bio (scroll down), and the submission guidelines. Want to know more? Meet Agent Emmanuelle Alspaugh. I mention all of this because, you know, just in case you have a science fiction romance manuscript seeking a home.)
Katherine Allred recently unveiled the cover of the next book in her "Alien Affairs" series. Check it out.
Skiffy Rommer news
Spacefreighters’ Lounge reports that Sharon Lynn Fisher is a finalist “…in the RWA FF&P On the Far Side Contest (Paranormal category)” for her new novel ECHO 8. Congratulations, Sharon!
Laurie Green’s SFR manuscript P2PC has finaled in the Oklahoma RWA Finally a Bride Contest. Fingers crossed, Laurie!
On steampunk
Will I be able to conduct a link roundup without mentioning steampunk romance? Absolutely…not!
Wicked cool site: STEAMPUNKOPEDIA2: Steampunk research center.
* New to steampunk? Cherie Priest has a Steampunk FAQ.
* At Tor.com, GD Falksen presents Steampunk 101.
* Katie MacAlister provides a brief overview of the genre as well as some background about her forthcoming steampunk romance STEAMED. To read a (non-first chapter) excerpt of STEAMED, click here and scroll down.
* Yummy for my tummy! Steampunk cakes (Thanks to Jody Wallace for the link.)
Secret promotional resource
If you’re ready to promote your science fiction romance, keep libraries in mind. It’s like a secret ingredient!
Author interviews
Interview with cover artist Kanaxa—The Artist Behind the Beautiful Covers.
Here’s a recent interview with Linnea Sinclair (REBELS AND LOVERS) at Star-Crossed Romance.
Hot stuff
We can never have too many sexy scientists, eh? Chart: Sci-fi's sexy scientists ranked by hotness/plausibility (thanks to SFSignal for the link).
And finally, thanks to Nicola O. of Alpha Heroes, who included The Galaxy Express in one of her recent Thursday Thirteen posts. She describes TGE as delivering “The scoop on the hot Science Fiction Romance subgenre.”
And it just keeps gettin’ hotter…!
Joyfully yours,
Heather
