Back in the day when “space, the final frontier” was still a long way off, history birthed many adventurous souls around the globe: Lewis & Clark, Sacagawea, Isabella Bishop, Gudridur Thorbjarnardottir, Sir John Franklin, Amelia Earhart, Mary Kingsley, etc.
Each of their journeys was unique, but these brave men and women shared a common ability to chart new territory, discover exotic civilizations, and expand horizons. The stakes were high and the risks higher, but an indomitable spirit drove them all.
“HC SVNT DRACONES”
You might know that saying better as, “Here there be dragons.”
Science fiction romance is one uncharted literary territory, replete with its own mysterious lands and creatures, but one intrepid explorer has been forging ahead to map it with a determination rivaling any of her explorer counterparts.
I’m talking, of course, about author Linnea Sinclair.Linnea Sinclair is a former news reporter and retired private detective who pens smashingly fun science fiction romance. But if that weren’t enough, she works tirelessly to promote the genre through interviews, workshops for writers, blogs, and conferences. And if that weren’t enough, she runs the Intergalactic Bar & Grille, hosting a never-ending party for her zany genteel group of fans.
In 2006, Linnea Sinclair won the esteemed RITA award for her book GABRIEL’S GHOST, as well as too many other accolades to count. Her work blends action, adventure, hard SF, romance and mystery. This week I’ll be showcasing this acclaimed author and her contributions to the science fiction romance genre.Stay tuned for a contest later this week at The Galaxy Express. I’m giving away a copy of SHADES OF DARK, the sequel to Ms. Sinclair’s hugely popular GABRIEL’s GHOST. Here’s a snippet about the story from her Web site:
For two fugitive lovers, space has no haven,no mercy, no light—only...
SHADES OF DARK
Before her court-martial, Captain Chasidah “Chaz” Bergren was the pride of the Sixth Fleet. Now she’s a fugitive from the “justice” of a corrupt Empire. Along with her lover, the former monk, mercenary, and telepath Gabriel Ross Sullivan, Chaz hoped to leave the past light-years behind—until the news of her brother Thad’s arrest and upcoming execution for treason. It’s a ploy by Sully’s cousin Hayden Burke to force them out of hiding and it works.
With a killer targeting human females and a renegade gen lab breeding jukor war machines, Chaz and Sully already had their hands full of treachery, betrayal—not to mention each other. Throw in Chaz’s Imperial ex-husband, Admiral Philip Guthrie, and a Kyi-Ragkiril mentor out to seduce Sully and not just loyalties but lives are at stake. For when Sully makes a fateful choice changing their relationship forever, Chaz must also choose—between what duty demands and what her heart tells her she must do.
Dragons or not, that’s a story worth exploring!
Now here’s a challenge for all of my Skiffy Rommer passengers: Imagine you’re accompanying Linnea Sinclair on her mission to raise visibility for science fiction romance. What are ways we can reach out to new readers and put SFR on the map once and for all?
Joyfully yours,
Heather
30 comments:
Scantily clad buff men in alien paint walking around with The Galaxy Express on their chests (painted of course by us, you know hands on is the only way to go).
Creating a SciFi Romance online workshop and doing a viral advertising campaign around the net and RWA groups.
I really like the first option.
ROFLMAO! The paint stays in the picture!
I agree about the workshop, though. It'd be great to see more of those. Not that I'm volunteering anyone, of course. It's a time drain, I'm sure.
I'd love to participate in a campaign that's as mysterious as the "All Your Base Are Belong To Us" phenomenon. Something intriguing/fun without being annoying. Will have to ponder.
Want to know a funny thing? I'm a huge Linnea Sinclair fan (I've got the sweatshirt, for crying out loud!) but I've never explored the Intergalactic Bar & Grille! And after all those shipments of the the Good Stuff to my Cyber-Launch Parties too! (Kimber hangs head in shame.)
To answer your question...hmm...must contemplate...
Start an SFR Blogosphere Booklist. Start the list here and send it to Alien Romance and so on. At each stop, authors and readers add their favorites, then copy the list and post it on their own blogs. 'Round and 'round it goes!
I have other ideas too, but I'm so sleepy I think I'd get snarky.
Well, woot! I've been compared to Sacagewea. That definitely is a first. ;-)
There are lots of other authors who've challenged the black hole of SFR along with me, and many yet to come (I hope). Jayne Ann Krentz, Susan Grant, CJ Barry, Colby Hodge...and from the other side of the black hole, Catherine Asaro, Jacqueline Lichtenberg, the Lee/Miller Liaden books, Bujold... the list goes on.
I'd love to do an online SF Workshop. I do a lot of workshops but on the more general aspects of writing because the draw is larger. I have done world building workshops, on line and in person. That's probably the closest I've come.
But specifically SFR? What would you all want covered?
BTW HOPE'S FOLLY is due to my editor this weekend. I'm at 70,000 words. Need at least 100,000. So if I'm not exactly checking in every hour...you know why.
Anyone wanna help me write a book? ;-)
Heather, thanks again, you be a peach! ~Linnea
HUGE fan of Linnea's books. Loved SHADES. Heard she's number 5 in Australia. Would like to see her be number one in the US.
I've got about 40,000 words you can have, Linnea. ;)
Yay! Good to see you featured here, Linnea! Of course, Joe beat me to it.
Nooo problem, Linnea. Glad to help!
I assume you only need the Third Act. Here goes-
Having stranded themselves in an old mining facility, the Hero and Heroine find themselves overcome with passion and not a super-turbo contraceptive in sight. Afterwards, they're rescued by their faithful android assistant, She-Three-Wee-Oh. Following a horrific escape through a replicating minefield pursued by cloned zombies, the Hero and Heroine discover they're expecting triplets. Being a Beta, the Hero is not undone. He quickly downloads the Mary Poppins program into the android and the new family warp away into the sunset, careful to avoid going too fast for fear of Time Warp, and live happily ever after, exploring space while discouraging their offspring from studying the Jedi Arts. Of course, they fail because kids always want to be what their parents don't want them to be. They mature into Jedi Knights and rescue Obi-Wan from...
Okay, I may be chasing Tribble Trails now. I'll stop.
Your bulletin on myspace drew my attention. But I really like Natalie idea of scantily clad buff men in alien paint.
Kimber An, one can only do so much. The Bar & Grille has so many things going on but it really is a great place to connect with other readers. And the stuff everyone knows--mind boggling, to say the least.
And Kimber An, are you sure you don't want to consider writing SFR with a comedic or satiric slant? Because dang, girl, you're good! You write these throwaway pieces in comment sections all over the blogosphere, but they're too good to be thrown away. I am especially in awe of the "super turbo contraceptive"! Seriously, think about that.
Linnea, thanks so much for stopping by! See what I mean, folks? She's under deadline and she still makes the time for this l'il blog. Unreal.
At the risk of sounding oppositional, Linnea--don't sell yourself short. Yes, the SFR genre is full of authors fighting the good fight (and I've got the master list to prove it!), but your efforts at promoting have been above and beyond.
Btw, SFSignal linked to this post. *Waves* Thanks John DeNardo!
Regarding workshops, I'd guess that many of our resident authors-to-be would be interested in learning about the challenges of writing in a niche market as well as technical stuff. Like starship engines/drives/weathering the vanes ;). Technical aspects that SFR authors shouldn't overlook. And that readers like me want to learn more about so we can appreciate the passages.
Joe & Lisa, thanks so much for visiting and commenting! Hope to "see" you here again.
Hey, Pauline! Yes, I heard that too about her climbing the lists down under ;)(or is that term politically incorrect? Natalie?).
Hi, Brit, and welcome to The Galaxy Express! Good point; I think Natalie's idea trumps all!
Chiming in to say that I'm also a big fan and can't wait to see what else you've got up your sleeve.
As for promoting SFR, I think we need a big blockbuster movie. That'll do it.
Heather, I've written tons of it, but I'm not going to waste time polishing it up when no one's buying it. At the same time, it's a lot more fun to share it than shove it under the bed.
From now on, I'm polishing up stories for submission which fit neatly into a selling genre/subgenre somewhere. Maybe after I'm an established moneymaker, I'll have the freedom to put out the fun stuff.
Well, MANIC KNIGHT's the last one, that is. It gets launched into Queryland in six days. Know anyone who wants to buy a Science Fiction-based Time Travel Young Adult Interracial Romance? (sigh) Didn't think so. "I'm a freakin' Martian!"
Ella, I'd love to see an SFR movie as well. Ironic how sometimes it takes a film or television show to boost a book genre.
Kimber An, the odds of course are against it but I just wanted to let you know I was struck by your entertaining bon mots.
Thanks, Heather. Much appreciated.
;)
I wish hollywood would make one of Linnea's books into a movie. It would certainly kick Bird Flu Horror's tush!
If you look at Lara Croft's success, movies with heroines who kick butt do well. But they don't seem to look to women authors for inspiration and plots. Even the romance novels they DO pick, well, they get some pretty mixed results.
(((Kimber An sends a subliminal message to Steven Spielberg and hopes George Lucus doesn't get it by mistake.))) "GAMES OF COMMAND, GAMES OF COMMAND, GAMES OF..."
Oh yeah, that would be my first choice, too! Yes, Games of Command. Games of Command.
One thing I particularly like about Linnea's books, she sets up high adventure and then DELIVERS it in spades.
Some books have all the elements, but they just don't pull it together for the big pay off.
I do my best by touting the genre on my blog whenever I can and there's also the Shelfari group Heather and I started.
I'd love to see an online SFR workshop. I've personally struggled with what heat level to include and how to balance the love story with the SF elements. Specifically, on how to intertwine the two.
GAMES OF COMMAND for sure, Mr. Spielburg... I don't know, I've been ODing on LOTR this last week... Peter Jackson might do a pretty good job too. Natalie and KimberAn, you crack me up. Linnea and Heather, thank you both for all the work that you do promoting Science Fiction Romance. I can only hope, and keep on working to add something worthy to the group. Best of luck to all of you.
>Even the romance novels they DO pick, well, they get some pretty mixed results.
Pauline, I think this is true of genre projects as well. Hollywood insiders, the ones who pull the strings, aren't the same as the people who would really know how to make romance or SF/F films the best they can be. I think it's starting to change, but I agree that it seems to be hit or miss.
Maybe with the success of SEX IN THE CITY Hollywood will be willing to experiment with other romance-flavored films. Starting with SFR, of course.
(((Heather sends a subliminal laugh to Kimber An)))
Lisa has been touting SFR for a long time now (tip of the hat to you!). I like your ideas for a workshop.
I was also wondering, Linnea, if you get a chance to read this, about the possibility of using your HEA Cafe spot as a workshop. I'm not suggesting all SFR all the time, but it'd be a way to use existing resources without having to reinvent the wheel. ???
Frances, you're welcome! It's always fun to see you here. Commenting at blogs such as this one goes a long way toward spreading the word.
Nah we're fine with anything really, Aussies are pretty easy going, unless you have a bunch of scantily clad males with green paint on their chests, then we tend to have elevated heart rates and large amounts of drool....
hee hee! Thanks, Natalie!
I think one easy step to promote SFR is to actually shelve Linnea's (and other SFR author's) books in the romance section of bookstores. I think simple exposure like that to other romance readers is a great start. The newer cover art for Linnea's books are also an improvement in sending the message that her stories appeal to romance readers as well as sci fi readers. I'd love to see booksellers shelve books like these in multiple sections--shelve a few copies in sci fi and a few copies in romance. Would that be so difficult?
Wow, christine, I couldn't disagree more on moving Linnea more solidly into the romance section. If all your efforts go into one genre/ghetto or another, you can't cross-promote. All you get is that bunch of readers that's already predisposed to be friendly toward one genre or another. I don't care for the new covers--they as much as say "men need not look here."
Yeah, shelving her in both sections would be the best, but I have heard it from multiple sources that there's just no way that's happening--for Linnea or pretty much for anybody else. And, you know, as an aspiring writer who hopes to one day soon scratch out a few inches of shelf space anywhere in the bookstore that I can, I also understand intellectually that double-shelving one author takes up room that could go to some other midlist author. I also get that romance has more readers than science fiction. But still, if you just pick one genre and run with it, I don't see how you can pick up readers outside of that genre.
Maybe the answer lies outside of the bookstore. The bookstore has its limitations and they make sense. Amazon and BN.com, though, have no such limitations. And maybe there's a way to harness the internet to reach readers from both genres. I'm sure blogs like this can't hurt. Maybe if there were a website devoted to nothing but SFR, like SFSignal.com or Tor.com but specific to this subgenre (and more than just a group blog--something that seemed to belong to no single author), then people might become more aware of the existence of this niche.
-o-
You know, I've noticed that whenever Lisa and I have gone to see Linnea at some multi-author event, always involving other romance authors, Linnea is *always* the biggest draw there. She always has her stalker entourage while the other authors look on wistfully. I have a theory on why this is so--it's based on some assumptions and could be totally off base, but it sounds good to me. Let me know what you think:
I think that, while romance has more readers than science fiction does, it seems to me (from inside the SF genre and from outside the romance one) that obsessive, evangelical fanaticism is more of an SF trait than a romance one. Like there may be more romance readers, but they read a lot of different books in their genre and don't zero in on a particular author that they just lurve all over. Am I wrong in this?
I mean, think of Trekkies/Trekkers, Browncoats, Star Wars fans, and so forth. People outside of science fiction know about these groups. But I don't know of a similar cultural phenomenon within romance. Am I correct in concluding that fanaticism is something Linnea's SF fans bring to the table, and that this is why she seems to have more fans at the events I've been to?
If this holds any water, turning away from science fiction fans cuts off people who would likely be Linnea's most vocal promoters.
Joe, I agree about the shelving issue. It's a tough one. I wish they'd shelve Linnea in both places, but here in Cyberspace we have no such restrictions and I think we can and are taking advantage of that.
As for why Linnea draws the crowds, I think it's because she balances Science Fiction with Romance so well. Science Fiction is all about exploring the Fantastic Unknown while Romance is about exploring the Same Fantastic Known over and over and over again. Well, a lot of Science Fiction readers are romantics too, but their love of the Fantastic Unknown makes them gag on regular Romance novels after a while. I mean, good grief, I love Twinkies too, but I spew after the second one. So when we find authors who can fill the need for the Fantastic Unknown as well as Romance, we tend to cling.
Hi Joe.
I didn't mean to imply that Linnea or other SFR authors abandon their SF fans or their space in the SF section of the bookstore. My intent was to suggest that SFR novels be shelved in both sections--although rereading the first sentence in my comment above, I was not more careful with my words. My original comment was in direct response to Heather's query for suggestions on how to better promote SFR. I figure what better way to reach out to the R part of the SFR by shelving SFR novels in the R section of the bookstore as well as in the SF section. It just seemed like a logical way to tap into another market, if you will.
I understand and agree with your explanation as to why cross genre novels are not typically shelved in multiple sections of the bookstore, but I have actually seen it done in my local Borders. One example is J.D. Robb's In Death series novels that I've seen simultaneously shelved in both the mystery/suspense section and the romance section. Likewise, I have also found Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse series novels in both the fantasy section and the romance section. I realize that this type of shelving is not done frequently, if at all, at most bookstores. In an ideal world, it would be great for SFR novels to be shelved in both sections--which is what I wanted to convey.
As far as the new cover art, I'm not so sure why "they as much as say 'men need not look here.' " I won't argue the accuracy in that statement as I think you're absolutely correct in assessing how most men probably react to those covers. Why do you think that is? Don't men like love and sex? Or do they just like it in real life and not in SF fiction? I'm sincerely curious, by the way, and not trying to be confrontational. Anyway, my thoughts on the cover art actually brings me back full circle to the purpose of this blog post (I think).: How to better promote science fiction romance. In my opinion, Linnea's new cover art sends an exceptionally clear message that the novels are science fiction with romance. Is that not the publisher's intent?
I don't think you're being confrontational, Christine. I don't mean to be either. :)
I don't think I'm the best person to speak to the attitudes of typical guys, because I don't consider myself to be a man who fits those gender stereotypes well. On the other hand, I don't typically read romance novels, so I guess I have that much in common with most of my gender. My reaction to the new covers is knee-jerk, so I don't know how effectively I can verbalize the reasons behind it.
I don't know that I can do justice to my own thoughts, let alone those of other men.
Without presuming to speak for all men, but just for myself, I guess I have a possibly inaccurate sense that in a "typical" romance novel, the romance is what it's about to the exclusion of other things. In fact, I do recall hearing it specifically laid out by some romance writers at the Mount Dora library festival that Linnea presented at. I forget what the percentage was--something like 70% of the story had to revolve around the romance elements for certain publishers, more for others. Now, I don't want to reduce my reading to pure escapism, but among the things I value about science fiction is the ability it gives me to experience things that are outside of what I can experience in reality. I have experienced love. Interstellar war, not so much. I think I want to see characters behaving humanly--though possibly like the *best* that humanity can rise to--under extraordinary circumstances. Love is a part of that--it's the human part. So characters falling in love form a welcome addition to a story, but I don't want the love story to be the main focus. Love, fear, political squabbles, difficult choices, conflict, temptation--all these are the things that make the characters real and human to me. I want them there. But I want center stage--or so close to center stage that I can hardly tell the difference--to be taken by what makes this particular story of humanity compelling to me. The rising above. Tracking down the killer. Discovering and fighting a parasitic alien species. Saving Earth. Averting a genocide. Bringing whales back to the twenty-fourth century.
I want to see people who are believably human facing extraordinary odds.
For 70% of the story to be about the romance is just too much for me, I think. I don't perceive Linnea's books to be 70% romance. If you ask me what Games of Command is about, I'll talk about the fragile alliance between the Triad and the UC, the corruption within the Triad's . . . crap, the name of the branch that was after Jace is escaping me right now . . . and the alien parasites. Set against all that is the love story between Tasha and Kel-Paten. But I don't feel like that's all I got. I don't feel like the science fictiony stuff was just a backdrop. It feels like a real story of believable people who fall in love in the midst of chaos. Not like 70% romance.
Now compare the two covers:
Old One
New One
The old one features a boy and a girl, apparently comrades. I can put the pieces together--chances are good they end up together. You don't need to hit me over the head with it. But they're not having sex right now, they're carrying guns. So I know that stuff happens here besides the love story. I can't see his pecs--good! The technology is front and center--the funky glowing cyborg suit, the out of this world firearms, and the alien setting. And hey, there's a cat on the cover! (I know, it's a furzel, but I'm describing what I'd see as someone who hasn't read this book.) I see a book that is clearly science fiction, clearly action-oriented, and even the cat suggests to me that these characters' lives are more complex than just sex and action. As a work of art, this artwork is all sharply detailed, too. Nothing obscured or misty. In every spot I look, there are details for me to soak in. A richly detailed cover for a richly detailed story.
Now I look at the new one. Most of the image is hazy, as if I'm seeing it through a gauze. I get the impression of science fiction more than the details. That tells me that the details aren't as important. The dominant image, even though it's not in the foreground, is of the lovers. I don't see a cyborg, I don't see soldiers. They're naked, for one thing. For another, they don't have arms! You need arms to do stuff, but these people don't appear to do anything--they're just there so that I can clearly see that I'm going to get some steam here. Then compare the SF iconography. In the other one, I had guns. Here I have some random space ships in front of some hazy planets. So, we went from action to, um . . . transportation?! Okay, spaceships tell me something. They tell me the setting. I know this book has an SF setting. But the guns told me more--they told me what kind of a story it was. An action story in an SF setting with a boy and a girl, who might fall in love. Now I've got a sex story that's set in space. The title hints at action, but the art does not. And then there's the color scheme. The old one is blues, blacks, and purples. That says science fiction to me. This one is . . . gold? Even the black of space is gold. I'm not sure what the message I'm supposed to take away from that is, but once again I get a very different sense of the book.
But that's just my reaction.
:o)
"Now I've got a sex story that's set in space."
I've said it before and I'll say it again, 'Hot Nookie in Outer Space is Not Enough for Science Fiction Romance!' I've had a terrible time finding SFR lately which is not. Seems to me almost like it's been crammed into the Paranormal Romance mold, alpha males, couples in the midst of The Deed on cover, recycled plots, everything except the blood-sucking dead guys. (sigh) Would be nice if the industry would just let SFR be what it is.
I'm with you on that one, Kimber an. I want a story, an adventure and a thrill ride. I love romance, but I want it to be romantic and not just, let's see how many ways and places they can do it.
That's why I love Linnea's books. They actually have a STORY. She pushes the plot hard and then delivers a kick butt finish.
Some of the books I've read, they create good characters and have the pieces of the high adventure SF plot, but wimp out at the end.
I hate that.
I'm coming late to this because I've had limited Internet access for the past few weeks. So, I'm tossing a bunch into one post.
Yes, Yes, Yes Some sort of dedicated SFR workshop would be a wonderful thing. I'd love it myself since that's what I'm trying to write, but even more then that as pres of a multi-genre writer's group in the past four or five years I've seen half a dozen people come through my group with genre blurring work, fantasy/romance/mystery, SF/romance that don't really have a grip in what one or the other of the halves of that equation need to work. Most of these people were not SF/Fantasy readers to start out and only had an understanding of those genre's gleaned from pop culture. I think a workshop/website/resource (Like this blog!!!) that has input from people who know, love and understand the nuts and bolts of both SF/Fantasy and Romance would really make waves. It seems the interest is out there but the potential writers are still getting up to speed.
Kimber An - I don't read much YA and I'm not a huge time travel fan, but I'd pick-up a book with that sort of blurb, just because it's so new and different if nothing else.
I agree with Joe about the covers, but I think they are offputting to female SF readers too. I picked up Finders Keepers because of the cover. I wouldn't have done that with the new version, for about the same reasons Joe gave.
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