Thursday, September 15, 2022

Blurring the Lines Between Science Fiction and Paranormal Romance by Cassandra Chandler


BLURRING THE LINES BETWEEN

SCIENCE FICTION AND

PARANORMAL ROMANCE

Guest post by Cassandra Chandler

The line between Science Fiction and Fantasy is often a blurry one. As someone who writes Science Fiction, Paranormal, and Urban Fantasy Romance, I’ve been having a lot of fun exploring this in my Cygnian 7 series. While these books are absolutely Sci-fi Romance, they contain aspects of the Paranormal as well. The Cygnians have soulmates that they seek throughout their life—the single sentient who holds the other half of their soul. Until the soulmates meet, they always feel as if something is missing.

When I sat down to write their books, I knew that the Cygnians were facing an extinction-level threat from an imbalance in their population. I had an idea for the science behind why so many more males have been born than females over the past few centuries, but I had no idea about the mechanism for how soulmates worked in these sentients or how Cygnian soulmates were being born on Earth.

In the Cygnian 7 series, I get to delve into the origins of the soulmates’ spiritual journeys, going so far as to showing you what the Cygnian afterlife is like in the third novel, Lar: A Scifi Alien Warriors Romance, and introducing you to their goddess. It’s been fascinating to discover more about the Cygnians and their soulmates as I write their stories, and so much fun to explore the boundaries between what should be explained through Science Fiction and what needs to be left in the Paranormal realm of the unknowable. It’s also a great way to mess with my characters. 

In Dorn: A Scifi Alien Warriors Romance, Amy isn’t even sure she believes in souls, let alone soulmates. The pull she feels toward Dorn is irresistible, but since she’s someone who needs to have rational, scientific explanations, she balks at giving in to their connection (plus, she thinks he abducted her, and is not okay with that, no matter how gorgeous he is). It was so fun to explore that aspect of her character and watch how it manifested in her reactions toward Dorn—and how he tried to handle it.

The Cygnians and I, as well as my readers, have so much more to learn about this aspect of their existence, and it’s going to tie in with much bigger storylines going forward. I’m thrilled to continue their adventure and see where these new stories take us.


ENJOY AN EXCERPT FROM DORN:

He smirked as he focused on the electric arcs of pleasure firing along his spine plates, knowing that, as his soulmate, she had to be feeling something similar. If what the other warriors in his prism had told him was true, focusing on the sensation would amplify what she was experiencing, adding his pleasure to her own. She gasped, brown eyes widening and lush lips parting. Her cheeks and neck flushed and her heart accelerated, his dual, discordant beats quickening in an attempt to match hers.

She shook her head and said, “Stop that.”

“Stop what?” He took another step forward and this time she didn’t retreat.

“Stop putting your alien pheromone whammy on me.”

“‘Alien pheromone whammy?’ I have no idea what that is.”

“Bullshit,” she said. “If you didn’t know what I’m talking about, you wouldn’t look so smug.”

His grin broadened. Nothing slipped past his soulmate.

“How did you know I can’t swim?” he asked.

“Lucky guess. You’re deflecting.”

“Deflecting. That’s an interesting word.” He nodded, overplaying his pondering. “It implies warding something off. Turning away an attack.” He stepped closer again, till he could almost feel her heat. Leaning in a bit, he said, “Are we sparring, Amy?”

Her eyes narrowed further. 


DORN

A SCIFI ALIEN WARRIORS ROMANCE

BY CASSANDRA CHANDLER

Amy Myers has dedicated herself to learning everything she needs to become a field agent and protect people. Martial arts, weapons training, strategy, whatever it takes. She will achieve her objective, despite her family’s objections. Discovering that her entire planet needs to be protected from hostile aliens after she’s nearly killed during an abduction attempt changes her plans—especially when the giant blue alien who took her from Earth claims her as his soulmate.

Before he even met Amy, Dorn nearly lost his newly found soulmate in a brutal attack by the Tau Centauran Assembly. When he touched her broken body, he realized she was his. Their bond should draw her to him like the pull of a gravity well, but she’s convinced that he and his fellow Cygnian Warriors have abducted her and her sisters and were behind the attack that nearly cost her life.

Dorn knows the true enemy hasn’t stopped his deadly pursuit of the Myers sisters. The malevolent shape-shifting alien chasing them is still out there, and he will do whatever is necessary to obtain his new target—Amy. Can Dorn convince Amy that they are meant to be together or will he lose her forever?

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ABOUT CASSANDRA CHANDLER:

USA Today Bestselling author Cassandra Chandler uses her vivid imagination to make the world more interesting, spawning the ideas she turns into her enthralling Science Fiction Romances and darkly evocative Paranormal and Urban Fantasy Romances. Fast-paced and funny, lighthearted or dark, her stories will introduce you to characters you’ll fall in love with and worlds you long to explore.

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5 comments:

Nancy Gideon said...

I love it when authors blend//bend traditional genres. I've been introduced to reading categories I never would have explored this way, Sci/Fi being one of them (I have to thank Diane Burton for that!). And finding that in a new (to me) series . . . all the better!

Jessica E. Subject said...

It's great to have you back here, Cassandra! I, too, enjoy blending the subgenres a bit. When we're writing about an alien species, anything is possible. All the best with your new release! And come visit again any time!

Maureen said...

Congrats on your new release!

Diane Burton said...

I love your blending of sf and the paranormal. I also enjoy the soulmates concept. Thanks so much for sharing your story with us.

Cassandra Chandler said...

Thank you so much for having me here and for your insightful and welcoming comments <3