There's nothing more exciting than witnessing the
various ways science fiction romance grows and expands. Thanks to the power of
self-publishing and a can-do spirit, several members of the SFR Brigade (a consortium of
authors dedicated to promoting SFR) have produced a free sci-fi romance
anthology called TALES FROM
THE SFR BRIGADE.
Wanting to know more about the effort that went into
this project, I tapped Developmental Editor Paula Dooley for an
interview. And away we go!
The
Galaxy Express: Tell us about what inspired the creation of TALES FROM THE SFR BRIGADE.
Who are the players?
Paula Dooley: The SFR Brigade members were
brainstorming ways to expand the reach of the Science Fiction Romance genre at our
Facebook discussion group. J.C. Cassels
suggested a promotional anthology. I thought it was a great idea. Laurie Green,
founder of the SFR Brigade, thought so, too. And so the idea was born.
Being that it was J.C.’s idea, she was named
Editor-in-Chief, responsible for keeping everything on track and publishing the
finished product. I volunteered for developmental and line editing duties.
Laurie was dubbed Editor-at-Large, which involved handling submissions, cover
art, and promotions.
TGE:
What kind of stories can readers expect from this anthology?
PD: Readers can expect a variety of lengths, heat
level, action quotient, tones, and settings. A couple of the stories have sex
scenes, so it’s definitely a read for adults. They can also expect to meet
strong, active heroines. Whether it’s making a difficult decision or saving the
universe, the heroines in the anthology are a dynamic bunch; more than a match
for the men who love them.
TGE:
Are the stories linked by any particular themes?
PD: As the submissions came in, we expected a theme
to sort of present itself. What we found instead was a wonderful variety of
stories. So that became the theme: the many different flavors of Science
Fiction Romance. Perfect for an anthology!
TGE:
Describe the editorial process for this anthology.
PD: Carina Press has a very thorough editorial
process, so I used the same method with the anthology stories that my Carina
editors use with me. First, after reading the story several times, I sent an
editorial letter outlining the areas I felt needed work, with the specific
edits attached. This was the developmental stage.
Once both the author and I were satisfied with the
story, we moved on to line edits. Each story went through one or two passes of
line edits. Then it was on to our wonderful crew of volunteer copy editors, and
a final polishing pass.
TGE:
Say I'm a reader who only reads paranormal romance and romantic suspense. Why
should I care about TALES FROM THE SFR BRIGADE?
PD: It’s a chance to try a new-to-them genre, one
that has many things in common with paranormal and romantic suspense: excellent
world building, adventure, falling in love in faraway (and often dangerous)
places, lots of action, and, of course, emotionally satisfying endings. The
anthology is FREE to encourage readers new to Science Fiction Romance to give
the genre a chance.
TGE:
You're an author of science fiction romance--BLUE GALAXY and MAKO'S BOUNTY, to
name a couple. Given your experience with this anthology, do you see yourself
doing freelance editing in the future?
PD: I really enjoyed editing the anthology. It
wasn’t easy, but I learned a tremendous amount and have gained even more
respect for editors in general. I found that it exercised a different part of
my brain than writing does and, also, when I returned to my own work after the
editing gig, I found I’d greatly improved at self-editing. I’d love to continue
to work on my editing skills by taking on an occasional project.
TGE:
Where can readers find TALES FROM THE SFR BRIGADE?
PD: The anthology is currently available on Smashwords,
with other venues in process. The best place to go is the website,
where download links, information about the authors, reviews, and news can be
found.
TGE:
Is there anything else readers should know about TALES FROM THE SFR BRIGADE?
PD: Readers should download it for FREE today. They
just might discover their newest favorite author and fall in love with the
infinite possibilities of Science Fiction Romance.
***
Experience love and adventure among the stars in TALES FROM THE
SFR BRIGADE, a free digital anthology of eight Science Fiction Romance stories.
* A space captain discovers the cyborg she loves just might be her greatest enemy.
* A mind-wiped prostitute risks all when she recruits a dangerous stranger to help her escape a terrible fate.
* A prisoner-of-war confronts the comrade who loved her, then left her for dead.
* A space-obsessed physics teacher is kidnapped by a far-too-charming alien.
* An apocalypse survivor battles the biomech-enhanced hunter who seeks to capture her.
* A young artist must choose between her comfortable life on Earth or a war-torn space colony with her beloved.
* A daring thief is on the run from the alien law man who is determined to bring her to justice.
* A widowed rebel leader tries to save the last remnants of humanity, one stranger at a time.
From Earth to the furthest reaches of the galaxy, explore the worlds of Science Fiction Romance with stories from Linnea Sinclair, Marcella Burnard, Erica Hayes, Liana Brooks, Pippa Jay, Berinn Rae, Amy Laurens, and Kyndra Hatch.