Elisabeth “E.M.” Hamill is a nurse by day, unabashed geek, chocoholic, sci-fi and fantasy novelist by nights, weekends, and wherever she can steal quality time with her laptop.
She lives with her family in the wilds of eastern suburban Kansas, where they fend off flying monkey attacks and prep for the zombie apocalypse.
How long on average, does it take you to write a book?
(more…)
James and his husband live in beautiful British Columbia, Canada. Part-time office drone, part-time storyteller, full-time sci-fi and fantasy enthusiast (and some spooky ghost tales), James couldn’t find enough stories involving guys like him and his hubby are: big men with big hearts, full of big ideas!
Taking matters into his own hand, James seeks to share high adventure, low-angst stories where the heroes are solid blokes who take centre stage. Come join the adventure and explore bold new worlds full of authentic characters, gripping scenes, lush imagination, and a touch of mushy stuff – there’s a whole galaxy waiting for you to discover!
Here, he speaks about his latest release, “Sparks in the Dark” and more!
When did you know you wanted to write, and when did you discover that you were good at it?
I’ve been writing stories ever since I was a teenager, but it’s only within the past year or so that I’ve made the leap into sharing my work with others. It took a long time for me to build the confidence I needed to make public what was otherwise intensely private, but after some encouragement from my co-workers (all who enjoyed how I wrote the office newsletter), I thought I’d give publishing a story a go, if only to see where it took me.
I can’t say if I’m any good at writing – I think I’m pretty decent and am always looking to improve, but I do enjoy the process of writing stories immensely. Everything from creating characters that resonate with me, to finding adventures for them to experience, to building the world that they inhabit. It’s a mental holiday for me to just step into my character’s shoes and see their world through their eyes, to figure out their reactions, to say what they would say.
How would you describe your writing style/genre?
As of this moment, the writing style I am most comfortable with is the one that I most enjoy reading – the first-person perspective, where we really get to experience the character’s world, as they do. I find it more intimate, and more realistic, to see events unfold before the character’s eyes, and experience their reaction. For me, it makes the characters easier to relate to and connect with, as we’re able to share their thoughts and feelings in real-time. In the future, I might experiment with different writing styles, but for now, telling a story as though it were a diary of the character is just the ticket for me.
I also try and write stories as though I were watching a movie, setting the scenes and providing details like I was sitting back with a bowl of popcorn, watching my characters in a feature film. I love excitement and adventure, and so I make sure my writing contains a lot of big-screen, high-octane action – Michael Bay eat your heart out.
What was your first published work? Tell me a little about it.
Allure of Oartheca, my first published work, was as much an experiment as it was a book. I had never written a full-length novel start-to-finish before, and to be honest, I wasn’t very hopeful that it would be well-received, as the story has some rather unique characters in it, ones that are not everyone’s cup of tea – anthropomorphic space-bears are not an easy sell! But it was the story I wanted to write, and I figured what’s the worst that can happen? I love the end result, I learned a lot, and other folks got the chance to explore a universe unlike any they’ve ever seen before.
Turns out Allure wasn’t just a story on its own, it was the opening instalment of a feature-length saga, with a plethora of ideas spilling out in every direction on where to go and what to do. The sequel, Barons of Oartheca, continues the saga, and I am currently writing the third instalment, Captains of Oartheca.
Have you ever taken a trip to research a story? Tell me about it.
I planned a three-day excursion to the British Museum in London, all so that I could get a better understanding of life in England during the Napoleonic Wars – specifically, what everyday people wore, the tools they worked with and the day-to-day life they experienced, just so I could hone the realism of my story. I really needed to understand the life of the common person, as well as a soldier on the front-lines, all for a story I was (and still am) formulating that takes place in that era and location. Oddly, the thing I learned the most pertained to be their dental hygiene – if you ever want to give yourself nightmares, study pre-20th century dentistry. Yikes.
What is your writing Kryptonite?
Writing historical-based fiction is definitely my Achilles heel, to say the least. Avoiding time-anachronisms, either in language, actions/reactions, social situations and technology, is no easy feat. There’s so many chances to slip-up that the whole creative process becomes frustrating and defeats the purpose of why I write to begin with: enjoyment. It’s a bit of a heartache, because there’s lots of stories I want to get out there that take place in our history, but the risk of messing up is just so high. Readers are smart, and they’ll catch you out on a time-mistake faster than you can blink, so it will take a lot more reading of Jane Austin, Walter Scott and the like before I feel even remotely comfortable in giving the world of the nineteenth-century a go. Shame, because the story I have for it is really cool – it involves mind-controlling immortal aliens of all things!
If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
Start now and stop worrying! I am very critical of myself, and for the longest time, I thought that I’d never be at the level necessary to consider publishing a novel. That was until I read about four pages of a very popular series that first started out as fan-fiction but now has been made into movies, and discovered a dozen or so grammar mistakes. I figured that if something of this, uh, ‘quality’ can be considered literature, then I have nothing to worry about.
That’s not to say that I don’t need practice and improvement (far, far from it), but that perfection is an illusion, and it’s sometimes the effort that matters, more than the result. Oh, and I would tell my younger self to experience more things – writing about something that you know nothing about first-hand is a fool’s errand, so go out and live a little more, experience more, and feel more, even if it means you get a couple of bruises along the way.
Book Blurb:
Space: Where discovery and danger are two sides of the same coin.
Meet Albert ‘Buzz’ Buchanan, a retired space marine now freelancing as a gun for hire, who finds himself accepting a deal too good to turn down, even if it’s too good to be true.
Meet Thomas Cutter, a star-ship engineer who’s a lot more than what he first seems. He seeks knowledge and adventure, and the offer to team-up with the sexy space marine is just what Cutter’s been waiting for.
As our two heroes set out, they encounter more than they bargained for: a discovery of a lifetime, but only if they can escape with their lives. Will the galaxy reward them for their bravery, or will they fall victim to the great unknown?
Join Buzz and Cutter in their very first episode as they journey across the galaxy, finding high adventure and untold dangers in the darkness of space … along with discovering a friendship that promises so much more.
Warnings: Sexual situations
Non-Exclusive Excerpt:
I see him, standing in the line-up to get into one of the numerous Bow Ties clubs—The Bull & Tackle, a low-key, pub-like establishment well known as the hunting grounds for men on the prowl for other men, without all the noise of a dance bar. I myself was headed to QuaTzar—the prime-time, holo-powered disco-nasium that attracts the partygoers of the galaxy, but after catching a glimpse of the hefty hulk of a man waiting in line for the pub, I changed my mind.
Broad shoulders that narrow to a solid waist, heavily muscled frame, tall and with a buzzed blond haircut so short he’s nearly bald. He’s not a ripped Adonis—there’s some heft and bulk to him that suggests he’s not afraid of a good meal, sorta like I am. Even though his firm backside is turned to me, I can tell this one’s going to be a looker.
He’s dressed in tight tan breeches, tucked into heavy workman’s spacer-boots, and he wears a khaki tank top that shows off his impressively built arm muscles. His dark leather belt has a pistol holder strapped to one side, though it’s currently empty (all weapons are checked at the security airlock to the station). Fair-skinned, but with a rich tan, like he’s been in the sun a lot.
He’s standing fifth in line from the entrance, which is twenty men deep. I gotta catch his attention somehow, so I walk to the front of the line, making my way to the automaton bouncer guarding the entrance. I ask the machine how long the wait will be, and after I get the answer, I turn, my eyes finding and locking on Mr. Number Five.
Ah, he is a looker! Strong, classically masculine features—wide jaw, firm squared chin, proud, straight nose. Wears a short blond beard, kept neatly trimmed, but not stylised. Mouth looks like it was built just for kissing. Incredible eyes too—blue like mine, but more on the green side, like stormy waters. Older than I appear to be, but not by a lot—there’s some wisdom in his handsome face as much as there is quiet strength.
I can’t help but give a low smile in appreciation at such a fine example of a man in the prime of his life, and my trick’s done its job—Mr. Five catches me sneaking a look at him, and gives me that deep stare that clearly shows he likes what he sees too. As I walk past him, I give him a quick nod of my head in greeting, and he’s fast to respond.
‘How long did the ‘bot say the wait was?’ he asks, his rumbly voice causing a delightful shiver in me.
‘Thirty minutes or so,’ I reply, sounding blasé. ‘Too much of a wait for me.’
‘Same,’ Mr. Five says. There’s a short pause as he inspects the line, then looks back at me, the corner of his lips curling. ‘You wanna find another club with me?’
I pretend to ponder the question for a believable amount of time. ‘Sounds good, you got something in mind?’
He steps out of the line, closer to me. Man, he’s tall, a good twenty centimetres on me, but we’ve got the same muscled build, so it’s not a case of David versus Goliath here. As his eyes wander over me, I can tell that he appreciates what he’s seeing, and I find I’m giving him the same grin he’s giving me.
‘Kinda hungry,’ he answers, his tone low and inviting. ‘We could go somewhere quiet, get a little something to eat.’
‘Got me a suite in the upper-levels,’ I say, casually. ‘Can always order room service.’
A split second is all the time it takes for him to answer. ‘Sounds perfect. Lead the way. Name’s Buzz, what’s yours?’
‘Cutter,’ I answer.
His smile broadens. ‘Good to meetcha, Cutter.’ He extends one of his meaty hands, covered by a fingerless gunman’s glove, and I shake it, firmly,
‘Likewise, Buzz,’ I reply, genuinely, and flash him an appreciative smile. I extend my hand, showing him the way towards the lifts to the upper levels.
Ten minutes later, we’re up in my suite, and I’ve already got his shirt
Buy Links:
UBL: https://books2read.com/u/3LVGJ5
Liminal Fiction (LimFic.com) Link: https://www.limfic.com/book/sparks-in-the-dark/
Giveaway:
Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b60e8d47261/?
Author Bio:
James and his husband live in beautiful British Columbia, Canada. Part-time office drone, part-time storyteller, full-time sci-fi and fantasy enthusiast (and some spooky ghost tales), James couldn’t find enough stories involving guys like him and his hubby are: big men with big hearts, full of big ideas!
Taking matters into his own hand, James seeks to share high adventure, low-angst stories where the heroes are solid blokes who take centre stage. Come join the adventure and explore bold new worlds full of authentic characters, gripping scenes, lush imagination and a touch of mushy stuff – there’s a whole galaxy waiting for you to discover!
Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21531168.James_Siewert
Author Liminal Fiction (LimFic.com): https://www.limfic.com/mbm-book-author/james-siewert/
Author Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/James-Siewert/e/B095T25ZSB/
Sneak Peak at Clarity’s Flash Fiction Goodness
This year marks our ninth annual flash fiction contest at QueerSciFi.com and our eight annual anthology, Clarity.
I thought it would be fun to share a few of the more intriguing story intros to give you a taste of what you’re in for when you read this book!
So enjoy:
(more…)
Sci-Fi and Horror/Urban Fantasy Mashup
Mashing up genres into a cohesive story can be a lot of fun for writers, but also an enormous challenge. Not everyone is Ridley Scott, who can take the idea of a haunted house in space and make it work. There is a balance you have to find. When you set out to craft a story like this, you have to keep in mind your end game. Will everyone die a horrible death? Will there be a happily ever after? Will only one person come out on the other end (along with their cat)? Those are some big questions you have to answer for horror/urban fantasy, but that’s not all. You have to factor in the science fiction aspect. Will the story take place in space? Will the characters be on an alien world? Will they be in a space station? Is the story set in the future? What about technology? Will the world be dark and dystopian or something more like our world but set farther in the future? There is a lot to sort through and figure out.
Which, if I’m honest, can be great fun. These are the questions that get me excited when I’m telling a story, because, mostly these are questions I really want answered as a reader (not all at once, but by the time I’m finished reading the story).
When I set out to write Volaria, I wanted to do three things: the story had to be set in the future; I wanted there to be vampires, witches and werewolves, and I wanted the story located partially in a thriving city on the moon (which would involve space travel… another must).
Reflections on Writing Horror
by E.F. Schraeder
Horror is a wonderfully broad genre with a scope that ranges from subtle and quiet scares to all imaginable extremes inflicted on the body, from gritty realism to every imaginable alternate world possibility. For someone starting to write a new horror project that kind of variation could be daunting. How much gore is too much? Are you going to emphasize one element like a monster; do you plan to focus on internal terror or on something happening in the external world? And if you’re sitting at the computer working on a first draft, how do you decide?
BUILD A BETTER WORLD, OR NOT…
By Steven L. Shrewsbury
“What world did you use in your new fantasy novel KILLER OF GIANTS?”
Well, this one.
That’s my usual smarty-pants answer to such a question. I follow it up with saying that in the book it is set in a pre-flood world, an antediluvian realm where many elements are different than our current world or ones glimpsed in ancient history. The world then was dissimilar before the flood story (seen in many cultures), from religious texts or reliefs in many places. “Gods”, demons, and their half-breed offspring freely walked the Earth (this one) alongside many bizarre creatures, be they all from nightmares or a glimpse of reality.
(more…)
Today we’re joined by Lee Hunt the author of Knight in Retrograde, the third release in The Dynamicist Trilogy. For info about the trilogy, it is described as, “The Dynamicist Trilogy examines the difficulties of change in a fantasy setting. This challenge manifests itself through a rigorous magic system where thermodynamic cost is accounted for, and an inventor killing god. Most realistically, the challenge of creating a better world is illustrated by the many mistakes and miss-steps of the well-meaning and intelligent characters. The power and importance of memory, love and hope are ever present.”
Q. How would you describe your writing style/genre?
(more…)
After I finished writing The Cassidy Chronicles I thought I was finished writing about Aiyana and Kendra.
I started with their wedding, broke it up, got them married, sent them on adventures, put them in peril, and finally ended things with them on top and ready to change the world.
I was ready to start on The Next Book.
It’s not as easy as it sounds; at least, not for me.
First I had to think of a problem.
Fine. Impending famine due to a breakdown in infrastructure.
Yawn. Boring!
Impending famine due to breakdown in infrastructure because the Lunar colonies keep demanding all the rare metals needed to keep the machinery working.
Better…
I’d like to take this time to give special thanks to our Patreon Sponsors who are at the Level 3 reward level and above!
– Ryan Benson.
– Jane Nightshade.
– Rebecca Rowland.
– James Aitchison.
– Robin Ginther-Venneri.
– Burial Books.
– Craig of Write my paper.
– Celltrackingapps.
