Shifter ~ One Who, or That Which, Shifts or Changes

 

SHIFTER

One who, or that which, shifts or changes

Post by author Jessica E. Subject

When I was young, there were very few examples of shifters in mainstream media, the most common being werewolves and vampires. Some were aliens, too, but all were rarely portrayed as the love interest. Most of the time they were the antagonist, reigning terror on small towns and big cities alike.

Over time, paranormal creatures and aliens became the sidekick, the co-worker or friend, and eventually the love interest. With that progression, the range of common shifters increased until any living thing could turn out to be a shifter. Even inanimate object if alien shifters who can transform into anything are included.

My first shifter romance included an alien shifter in the short story, ALIEN LOVER. Now I have multiple animal/human shifters in my series, SHIFTER TOWERS. This series includes tigers, bunnies, bears, mink, jaguars, dragonflies, pika, and leopard cats, with my upcoming release starring a fox shifter. 

Tell me, what's your favorite type of shifter to read about? What type of shifter have you not seen but would love to read about?

FOX TRAPPED by Jessica E. Subject

releases February 18, 2024

Fresh out of a messy breakup, omega fox shifter, Foxx, needs a job. His ex/former business partner has spread many lies about him around town and to his former clients, so he heads to Saramto in desperation. He doesn’t expect his smartphone to send him into the wrong building of Shifter Towers for his interview at a coding school, to get stuck in an elevator with a hulky bear shifter, or for his heat to start in the middle of it all.

In between clients, personal trainer, and alpha bear shifter, Slade, heads up to his lawyer’s office to sign the paperwork for the house he just bought. He’s hoping this next life stage will get his parents to ease up on their constant pleading for him to settle down. He has no need for a mate. So, he doesn’t expect to come face-to-face with the fox shifter who his bear claims is his fated mate, or to be trapped in an elevator with the young man during the beginning of his heat.

Fox Trapped is the seventh book in Jessica E. Subject’s sweet with knotty heat Shifter Towers series. Fox Trapped is a MM MPreg Shifter Romance that features a fox shifter trying to start over after the end of his marriage to a despicable non-shifter, a bear shifter not looking to settle down no matter how many times his parents encourage him to, multiple tech snaffus, and fate stepping in to bring these two together. If you like fated mates, elevator coitus, instant pregnancy, and the sweetest alpha ever, Fox Trapped is the book for you. While each book in the Shifter Towers series is set in the same world, they can each be read as standalones.

AMAZON US (Kindle Unlimited) | Universal Buy Link

You can find the entire Shifter Towers series on my website.

FOX TRAPPED is also part of the Multi-Author MM MPreg Shifter Romance series, LOVE SYNC MATES. You can find the entire Love Sync Mates series on Amazon, and all are included in Kindle Unlimited.

Weird Stuff Sent into Space by L. A. Kelley

Weird Stuff Sent into Space

January is traditionally a month for out with the old and in with the new. Clean the closets, toss that old Tupperware container in the back of the refrigerator that appears to have a science experiment growing inside. You’re not alone. Even government agencies have to deal with an overload of junk, some harder to get rid of than that Tupperware container. One agency with a big problem is NASA.

Space is vast and at the same time crowded with garbage. Humans have been sending items into orbit for half a century and some of it stays there. Currently there are nearly 7,700 satellites within a few hundred miles of the Earth. That number could grow to several hundred thousand by 2027. A lot of trash is already on the Moon right, including nearly 100 bags of human waste. Junk in orbit includes spent spacecraft, rocket boosters, and stuff lost by astronauts including a glove, a wrench, and a toothbrush.

But that’s not the weirdest stuff shot into space.

Light saber

The force was with them. In 2007, the lightsaber prop belonging to Luke Skywalker was taken on a mission to the International Space Station. Star Wars fans gave it a solemn escort to an airport in California, and from there, it went to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The lightsaber spent two weeks in orbit, and was later returned to Industrial Light and Magic.

Moon tree seeds

What’s that growing in my backyard? During the Apollo 14 NASA mission to the moon in 1971, astronauts packed hundreds of tree seeds in their personal kits. Upon returning to Earth, the seeds were germinated by the Forest Service and planted throughout the U.S. in 1976 to celebrate the country’s bicentennial. Unfortunately, the location of the trees was lost and, except for a few, no one knows for sure where they were planted.

Man hole cover

Duck. Between May 28 and Oct. 7, 1957, the U.S. military carried out Operation Plumbbob, a series of nuclear tests in the Nevada desert. Two of the nuclear detonations, were carried out underground, to test if nuclear fallout could be contained. The first was on July 26, 1957. An atomic bomb detonated at the bottom of a 500-foot-deep hole, covered by a 4-inch-thick iron cover, launching it into space. Scientist expected that the cover would land back on Earth, but it didn’t.

 Andy Warhol’s penis

I'll bet that got your attention. The artist Andy Warhol doodled a sketch of a penis that may or may not have ended up on the moon. It was one of six on a tiny ceramic tile dubbed the Moon Museum. Sculptor Forrest Myers petitioned NASA to place the tile on the Moon. His request was denied, but he supposedly contacted scientists from Bell Laboratories, who secretly attached the tile to the Apollo 12 lunar lander. Since the lander sits on the Moon, this story can’t be confirmed, but the first astronauts who return may be getting an unexpected eyeful.

Sperm

Speaking of penises…One NASA mission included a sample of bull sperm. The result was the tiny cells moved faster than usual. Phosphorylation, the process of regulating cellular cycles and growth stopped in sea urchin sperm. Rat’s testes shrank along with their sperm count. Cockroaches, on the other hand, were unaffected by spaceflight or exposure to radiation.

Klingon Night at the Opera

Revenge is a dish best served along a side of aria. In 2010 the producers of “u” (the opera's title) sent a message by radio telescope to the Klingon home star, Arcturus, to invite them to attend the opening night performance in the Netherlands. In the Klingon tongue, “u” means universe and it was the first opera performed entirely in Klingon. The 90-minute production tells the story of Kahless the Unforgettable. After betrayal by his brother and witnessing his father’s murder, Kahless fights to regain his honor by traveling into the underworld. He wages epic battles, reunites with his true love, Lukar, and eventually faces his bitter enemy, the tyrant Molor.

P. S. The Klingons did not RSVP.

An Ad for Doritos

Would aliens like junk food? The makers of Doritos thought so. In 2008, for six hours the EISCAT European space station on the Norwegian island of Svalbard sent an advertisement for Doritos with a radar array, normally used to study the Earth’s upper atmosphere. The ad went to Ursa Major which contains a possible habitable zone. EISCAT received an undisclosed donation for the use of their facilities. There’s no report on whether aliens preferred Nacho Cheese, Cool Ranch, or Flaming Hot.

L. A. Kelley writes scify & fantasy with humor, romance, and a touch of sass. She prefers to keep her feet on the ground.

 

The RRRRRRRRs Have It! My Revved up 2024 To Do List . . .by Nancy Gideon

(Brought to you by the letter “R” . . . ) 

Time to Rrrrrrrring in the New Year with Rrrrrrrresolutions. In 2024, the RRRRRRRRs have it on my “To Do” list (Not to be confused with Argh! This isn’t going to be a “Talk Like a Pirate” post!). Here’s my plan to rrrrrrrrev up my writing career . . .

1. Reverted Romances! Recently, I’ve had a nice chunk of my Nancy Gideon and Dana Ransom backlist contractually returned to me. Some of these go back to the late ‘80s/early ‘90s! I can’t wait to get back into them to bring them up to date.
2. Reissue Backlist Titles! That goodly stack of contemporary, historical, and paranormal titles back in my possession need to be refreshed, reformatted, and re-covered before going back out to new (and previous!) readers.
3. Revitalize Social Media Platforms! I admit, though I LOVE to promote, I’m not saavy in all the latest venues for reaching readers (Thank goodness for my Virtual Asst!). Time to do homework . . .
4. Rebuilding my reader list! Do newsletters and Facebook alone do the trick? What are some great places I’m missing?
5. Jacks Ryan and Reacher! Just throwing these names out there as GREAT inspirations for heroes. Brains and brawn in varying yummy portions.
6. Reviews! Need to collect some new ones. Any takers?
7. Relax! Though I did take a fabulous trip to New Orleans with my assistant in Oct/Nov that was more work than play. This girl needs a spa day!
8. Re-imagine! Since I’ve been working on novels since the ‘70s and ‘80s, some of those efforts are still languishing in notebooks and plastic bins. Time to thumb through them for hidden gems. I’ve already been surprised more than once by oldies but goodies still written in pencil!

That’s my list, so hold me to it!!

♚♚♚♚♚

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The Rising Trend of Cross-Genre Romance: Mixing SciFi with Paranormal Elements by Keri Kruspe

 

In the ever-evolving world of romance novels, a fascinating trend has been on the rise – the fusion of genres. Authors are breaking boundaries and pushing the limits of imagination by blending two seemingly unrelated genres like science fiction and paranormal romance.

In this article, I’ll delve into the intriguing world of cross-genre romance novels, by exploring the growing popularity of combining science fiction and paranormal elements in romance. I’ll also give you examples that showcase the creative brilliance of this trend.

Exploring the Appeal

I’ve gotta admit, once I discovered authors mixing two of my favorite subgenres of romance was why I decided to write in the subgenre myself. Having grown up with a never-ending barrage of horror and science fiction, I gleefully discovered romances in my early twenties. At that time, paranormal (not to mention science fiction) romance was a long way off. Growing up with Kathleen Woodiwiss and Jude Deveraux, I happily spent my reading time with those historical/contemporary love stories.

            Then came along the works of Christine Feehan and Sherrilyn Kenyon. The allure of their kind of romance is undeniable to me. Here was a unique opportunity to explore uncharted territory, as a reader as well as a writer. I think it gave other authors a chance to craft stories that challenge conventions and breathe new life into tired tropes. As a reader, I was drawn to the excitement of combining two romance with a paranormal flare that created an escapist experience that I find both thrilling and emotionally satisfying.

            Nowadays, the synergy of science fiction, with its futuristic technology and cosmic adventures, merges seamlessly with the paranormal mysticism, magic, and supernatural beings. The end result is a tapestry woven with threads of wonder, suspense, and as well as the satisfying “Happy Ever After” love. It takes the age-old theme of love and places it in settings where anything is possible. Love transcends time, space, and even reality itself, making stories that are as boundless as the imagination.

The Blending of SciFi and Paranormal

To understand the appeal of cross-genre romance, let’s look at what the key characteristics of both genres. Science fiction offers futuristic settings, advanced technology, and space exploration, where love stories can unfold against the backdrop of interstellar adventures. While Paranormal romance, on the other hand, introduces us to vampires, werewolves, witches, and other supernatural entities. These stories delve into the mystical, the magical, and the extraordinary, with love often blooming in the most unexpected places.

            Once put together, ah… that’s when the magic happens. The advanced technology of science fiction provides logical explanations for paranormal occurrences and creates a harmonious blend that captivates readers. The fusion of these genres allows a richer and more complex narrative, where love transcends not only time and space but also the boundaries of reality.

            A couple examples of these novels that masterfully mixes these genres include works like “Blood Urge – Paranormal SciFi Alien Romance” by Pearl Tate. This series combines futuristic space travel with a love story involving fated mates with an alien race.

 

Another example is “Sevan: Paranormal Shifter Fated Mate Galactic SciFi” by Mandy M Roth, where a paranormal alien lion-shifter falls for a human woman.

Evolution of the Genre

The journey of cross-genre romance has been a remarkable one, tracing its origins from experimental stories to a well-established sub-genre in the modern literary landscape. The ever-changing reader preferences have definitely played a significant role in the genre's evolution. Those of us who are vicarious readers seek new and exciting narratives, cross-genre romance has risen to the occasion by offering fresh and captivating stories catering to a diverse audience.

Some notable authors that you might not have thought contributed to the development of this sub-genre includes pioneers like Mary Shelley, who blended science fiction and romance in "Frankenstein," and Anne Rice, whose "The Vampire Chronicles" brought paranormal romance to the forefront.

Rising Stars

I don’t mean to brag (okay, maybe I do), but my latest series, Ancient Alien Descendants is steeped in the paranormal. Each of the five books has a paranormal theme:

The Empath

The Shapeshifter

The Psychic

The Vampire

The Mage

I just love that SciFi romances have an unlimited pool of heroes and heroines that aren’t just alien. They can be aliens and… werewolf/vampire/ghost/wizard/god/merman/orcs/angels or any other type of fantasy creature that’s been dreamed up for thousands of years. The sky (or outer space) is the limit!

What or Who Do You Recommend?

I’m sure I’m not the only one always looking for an exciting new read in these genres. As a matter of fact, I recently went into ChatGPT and asked it whose books were more like mine. I was humbled and gratified it gave me five wonderful authors – three of whom are my absolute favorites and the last two I’ve never heard of (but I immediately went and bought the first books in their series. I can’t wait to read them!):

S.E. Smith (The Alliance)

Nalini Singh (Particularly her Psy-Changeling Series)

Gena Showalter (Alien Huntress Series)

Linnea Sinclair (RITA award winner)

Jessie Mihalik (Consortium Rebellion Series)

In Closing

I really loved venturing deeper into this subgenre of romance. Right now I’m creating a new series, but I haven’t had a chance to play with the idea of what kind of paranormal creatures my alien hunks can duplicate. (Hmm, how would a ghost work… or talking to the dead? Or wait, what about angels/demons….?).

I get shivers just thinking about it. What about you? Do you love to read a combination of SciFi and Paranormal romance? It’s those of us passionate about these types of novels that fuel the genre’s creativity and makes it so extraordinary.

 

But, I’m sure I’m not the only one who loves to share their recommendations. Be sure to leave them in the comment section below!

Welcome to Saramto! Is it your first time?

 

WELCOME TO SARAMTO!

Is it your first time?

post by Author Jessica E. Subject

Welcome to Saramto, the fictional metropolis for my Shifter Towers series! I have written stories in this large city for six published stories, and a seventh releasing in February. It's a city based on several that I've been to and those I've only seen on television or read about. But unlike any of those cities, this one is full of shifters. While there are very few non-shifters that live in this metropolis, most of them live in surrounding cities. Today, I'm going to share some of the key points of interest that are mentioned in all or most of my Shifter Towers stories.

1. SHIFTER TOWERS

At the center of Saramto are three large skyscrapers called Shifter Towers. Each of them are 70 stories tall with hundreds of businesses in each one. All of my stories in the series mention the towers, but five of them have multiple scenes set in at least one tower. There's lots of shopping, eating, and so much more to be done in these Towers! In my upcoming release, FOX TRAPPED, the main characters meet in an elevator in one of the towers.

2. THE LRT (light rail transit)

While this isn't mentioned in as many stories, the first chapter of FOX TRAPPED is set at an LRT station and in one of the trains. The LRT runs east/west through the center of the metropolis, with a stop right behind the Towers, as it is a central business hub. There are other public transit options for other destinations across the city.

3. MAIN STREET

This busy street also runs east/west through the city, but on the other side of the Towers. It's the street that both main characters of FOX TRAPPED live on, one renting a basement room in a house, and the other having bought his first home (a small one) there.

4. THE UNDERGROUND

This is a set of underground roads that only certain shifters have access to. It is accessible by key fob with roads beginning under the Towers and branching out under the city from there. It's original purpose was to help celebrities leave the Towers without being accosted or followed by paparazzi and others. It is only mentioned in the early stories in this series.

5. BREAKER GENERAL HOSPITAL

This is where the babies from the series are born! It's also where some of my other characters end up after various incidents. 

FOX TRAPPED

Shifter Towers #7

by Jessica E. Subject

Fresh out of a messy breakup, omega fox shifter, Foxx, needs a job. His ex/former business partner has spread many lies about him around town and to his former clients, so he heads to Saramto in desperation. He doesn’t expect his smartphone to send him into the wrong building of Shifter Towers for his interview at a coding school, to get stuck in an elevator with a hulky bear shifter, or for his heat to start in the middle of it all.

In between clients, personal trainer, and alpha bear shifter, Slade, heads up to his lawyer’s office to sign the paperwork for the house he just bought. He’s hoping this next life stage will get his parents to ease up on their constant pleading for him to settle down. He has no need for a mate. So, he doesn’t expect to come face-to-face with the fox shifter who his bear claims is his fated mate, or to be trapped in an elevator with the young man during the beginning of his heat.

Fox Trapped is the seventh book in Jessica E. Subject’s sweet with knotty heat Shifter Towers series. Fox Trapped is a MM MPreg Shifter Romance that features a fox shifter trying to start over after the end of his marriage to a despicable non-shifter, a bear shifter not looking to settle down no matter how many times his parents encourage him to, multiple tech snaffus, and fate stepping in to bring these two together. If you like fated mates, elevator coitus, instant pregnancy, and the sweetest alpha ever, Fox Trapped is the book for you. While each book in the Shifter Towers series is set in the same world, they can each be read as standalones.

Pre-Order FOX TRAPPED today!

A New Beginning by Diane Burton

 The above picture of Janus (the Roman god) always reminds me of today, New Year's Day. Yesterday, many TV programs featured pictures/stories about 2023. We looked back at the old year. Did we learn anything? Good things that we should repeat and those mistakes that we shouldn't. 

Janus is known as the two-faced god, one looking back and the other looking forward, an old man and a youth. New Year's Day presents an opportunity to begin again.

I'm a firm believer in new beginnings. That I don't have to be mired in the past. That I can change. Many of us have had difficult years, days/months that we'd like to forget--or, at least, put behind us. Today, gives us that opportunity. A time to start over.

I'm not going to lecture about making resolutions or setting goals. Been there, done that in previous New Year's Day posts. Instead, I encourage you to start 2024 with a new attitude. One of encouragement, positivity, and hope.

 

New Years: The Stupidest Holiday by L. A. Kelley

New Years is a stupid celebration 

Even as a child I never saw the point of staying up to midnight to see some dumb disco ball drop and then watch drunken revelers shouting “Happy New Year!” I’m mean, seriously. What’s the big deal? It isn’t even a candy holiday like Halloween, Christmas or Easter. Those were, at least, associated with special once-a-year treats. New Years had bupkis except if you lived in the South and were supposed to eat Hopping John which has absolutely no candy in it. Or drugs, which the name implies.

If you insist on being a reveler on New Years Eve, here are several oddball hangover cures to try on New Years Day. I’m not a drinker, so can’t confirm they work, but they’ll give the sober ones among us a belly laugh at your misery.

Drink pickle juice

It’s supposed to have lots of electrolytes or some junk like that to make the pounding headache go away. Yeah, right.

Rub slices of lemon under your armpits

A Puerto Rican cure, it’s touted to relieve dehydration, but honestly when was the last time you drank anything through your armpits?

Chug a Bull’s-eye

A Bull’s-eye is a concoction made from a raw egg broken into a glass of orange juice. Yum. After a night of heavy drinking I can imagine what your stomach will say to that one. It isn’t pretty. Speaking of not pretty, try a Prairie Oyster.

Prairie Oyster

If you’ve ever lived out West you’ll know a Prairie Oyster isn’t an oyster. Let’s just say, it’s the part of the bull that, well, makes it clear you ain’t gonna be milking this one. This Prairie Oyster is a cocktail and contains one raw egg (What is it with raw eggs?), Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and Tabasco. You probably won’t be sober after drinking this. You’ll probably just wish you were dead.

Activated Charcoal

It’s recommended you take it in pill form or you could stick your head in the fireplace and lick up the ashes. After the night you had, no one will try to stop you.

L. A. Kelley writes scify and fantasy adventures with humor, romance, and touch of sass. She prefers her candy shaken, not stirred.

 

 

Christmas/Holiday Traditions Around the World

Fun things about Christmas/Holiday traditions Around the World. Take for instance, the Land Down Under, because, well, someday I want to visit there, just probably not at Christmas. The English and Irish predominately settled Australia so it stands to reason their traditions reflect those countries. Here's a few of of their Christmas Traditions.
Aussie’s decorate their homes with ferns, palm leaves and evergreens along with blooming flowers of Christmas Bush and Christmas Bell Flower. It’s summer time in December down under, when most of the United States is looking forward to big flakes and blankets of snow for a white Christmas.
Carols by Candlelight is one of the popular events in Australia. People come together under the stars at night to light candles and sing Christmas carols. Seems to me, it’s not far from our own tradition of Christmas carolers. I just can’t imagine Christmas/holiday without snow, that’s why I live in Colorado. Hehe!
Christmas Day is when families and close friends gather from all over Australia for a holiday midday dinner. Some enjoy a traditional British Christmas dinner of roast turkey or ham and rich plum pudding doused in brandy and set on fire before it is brought to the table. Other families head for the backyard barbie to grill their Christmas dinner, maybe shrimp, in the sunshine or go to the beach and enjoy a picnic of cold turkey or ham and a salad. To the delight of children,  Father Christmas  in shorts may appear to greet children at the beach on Christmas/holiday! If you can’t have snow, that’s the way to celebrate Christmas.

Because I am of Swedish descent, let’s take a peek at Christmas Traditions in Sweden where in December the days are quite short, the nights long and the ground is usually snow covered. The Christmas/holiday season begins at church on the first Sunday of Advent, which is the fourth Sunday before Christmas. Children use an Advent calendar to keep track of the first day of December until Christmas, just like some of ours do. Each morning, they open a flap in the calendar's Christmas scene to see the charming picture behind it. This year, I have a Victorian Advent calendar on my computer and enjoy a surprise behind each door daily.
The festivities in Sweden really begin with St. Lucia’s Day, December 13th, a celebration of the patron saint of light. A Christmas market held in the old medieval section of Stockholm is where you can find handmade toys, ornaments, and candy. Sounds fun, doesn’t it? Some people write a special verse to accompany the gift and even seal the package with colorful sealing wax. I have enough trouble with scotch tape and wrapping paper, I can’t imagine what would happen with hot sealing wax. Not a pretty sight, I’m sure. A Christmas tree is selected by the whole family just a day or two before Christmas and decorated, while the delightful aroma of gingerbread cookies in the shape of hearts, stars, or other festive shapes waft through to house. Christmas Eve is when the main feast is eaten. Presents might be brought by Santa (Jultomten) or  by gnomes/elves  named Tomte or Nissar. Many families set out a sheaf of grain on a pole for hungry birds. My hubby and I always put out special treats for the wild birds in our Aspen grove on Christmas.

As for my family, we put up the tree, Christmas decorations inside and out, the weekend after Thanksgiving. Or try to. No it’s not a real tree, only because I’m allergic. <sigh> We watch Christmas movies throughout December and make candy such as Divinity, Fantasy Fudge and Beaver Dams. What are Beaver Dams, you ask. Well, take a package of butterscotch chips, melt them in a double boiler, stir in half-package of crispy Chow Mein Noodles and one half can of cocktail peanuts. Spoon the concoction onto foil in small mounds and let set. They look like beaver dams hence the name. YUMMY.

This year I’m going, to once again, try my hand at gingerbread cookies. Its become a Christmas Tradition of sorts, an make my family cringe. Why you ask?  I haven’t had a lot of luck in previous years getting a good tasting cookie. But last year, thanks to a great recipe, not only did they turn out, but it's become a beloved tradition now. Goes great with hot chocolate and marshmallows. LOL

 

Speaking of things that go good with hot chocolate. A heartwarming holiday tale, fits the bill!  I've got just the one for you  Meringue Snowflake Magic AND it's on sale #99cents.

What Christmas or holiday traditions do and your family observe during the month of December? I look forward to hearing from you. I'd love for you to tell me about your traditions in the comments! 

Stars Align: Some of the Best SciFi Romances of 2023 by Keri Kruspe

 

As the year draws to a close, I was curious to find out what some of the best SciFi romances that came out in 2023 (besides mine, of course!).

To do that, I did what any enterprising writer does these days, I asked ChatGPT. I was happy to get a small comprehensive list from it along with the common threads the genre offers its avid readers. It did state it couldn’t find anything from Amazon to include in the list. Pity. But I suppose we’ll muddle through without it.              

The other thing it outline was how the genre blossomed in 2023. With stories that not only weaved adventures in the vastness of space but included the depths of what the human heart goes through. While some SciFi romances seem to only dive into the erotic, (human meets alien and they immediately get busy in the bedroom…ho hum), others offer readers an escape from the mundane to the extraordinary. This year's selection of sci-fi romance books are not just narratives; they also offer deep emotional human experiences.

Before we dive into the list, let’s check out what these stories have in common.

Commonalities

Strong Female Protagonists: My favorite. No wussies here! Most of these novels feature a strong, complex female lead who is central to the narrative.

World-Building: Rich and detailed world-building is a crucial element. Its why we read these types of stories in the first place. Visualizing what this new galactic civilization looks like is one of the first things I do when I am creating a series. I ask myself, what does the galaxy/planet/civilization/aliens look like? How do they interact with humans? To keep things straight (like species/planets/cities/proper names), I have a “Writer’s Bible” handy for of all my series.

Political and Social Intrigue: The plots must involve political maneuvering or social issues for us to relate to the story. It also adds depth to the romantic adventure.

Romance Amidst Adversity: Those of us who read any type of romance know it’s the adversity in the story (along with Happy Ever After) that brings us back time and again. When these romantic elements are woven into an otherworldly theme, it can help boost the conflict between the protagonists.

Diversity and Inclusivity: You’ve got to admit there’s a plethora of diverse characters along with inclusive themes that reflect a broader spectrum of experiences and identities in this type of romance story. Also, some of the best science fiction themes have foundations in our every day lives (like the Terminator series - to AI or not to AI… that is the question…)

What Books did ChatGPT Come Up With?

ChatGPT told me that the titles it lists have been highly rated and mentioned across several online sources.  Let’s dive in and see what it came up with:

Powell’s Books:

A Day of Fallen Night and To Shape a Dragon’s Breath. Each feature strong female characters, political intrigue and rich world-building. Bookships & Bonedust offers a cozy fantasy with a touch of romance and humor, while Witch King and System Collapse both delve into epic fantasy with hyper-competent protagonists that deal with personal and geopolitical challenges.

Bestviewrevies:

These folks compile customer ratings that fit the criteria. They mention I Married a Naga and Choosing Theo: The Clecanian Series Book 1 among their top rated scifi romance novels. They also include Fated Blades: The Story of Two Women’s Survival Guides and Ensnared: An Alien Romance Trilogy. They cite each of these have strong narratives along with romantic elements.

Ereads.com:

Here they list Touched by an Alien, Shards of Honor, Grim, Claimed, and Born of Night as some of the best science fiction romance books. Unfortunately, it doesn’t specify that the books were from 2023 or not.

Some of My Favorites of 2023

Here’s where I confess I’m an avid reader. As my family can tell you, I’ve been one my whole life, so going back and remembering what I read this last year made me do a little research. While it was hard to choose, I finally came up with five that I really enjoyed.

Here goes!

Xiveri Mates (books 1-3) by Elizabeth Stephens

Possessed by the Alien King (6 books) by Krista Luna

Raider Warlords of the Vandor Series by Tana Stone

The Marauder Series by Athena Storm

The Kalquor Universe Series by Tracy St. John

Now that 2024 is right around the corner, I can’t wait to see what happens in this genre. As for me, I have a novella coming out on Valentines Day (Lok’s Love) as well as book one of a new series (Alien Legacy Brotherhood) coming out in April (just finished the first draft last month).

I’m proud of us who are passionate about the blend of science fiction with romance and love to share what we’ve read where we can. And, since it’s the season of giving, I’m offering you a FREE short story that I’ve included in my newsletter this month. Just click this Bookfunnel link and you’ll get A Spybots Christmas – available until the end of December.

In closing, just know how much I appreciate those of you who’ve read and commented on my articles in 2023. Fair warning… I plan on continuing my observations as we boldly go into 2024!

Until we meet again... I wish you all a joyful and romantic holiday season!

Looking ahead to 2024

 

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2024

Jessica E. Subject

I've mentioned in previous posts that I don't like to make resolutions, but I definitely have goals for the new year. While I finished writing two stories this year, only one of them has been published. Either way, the result is far less than the goals I set for myself. Why? I had a hard time adjusting to changes in my life. Just as I was getting used to my oldest child off at school, my dog (who was very much my shadow) became very ill and we had to have her put down. We knew it was coming, but it was still extremely hard for me. A few months later, we brought another dog into our home. And while she is an absolute joy, and my new shadow, she took a lot of time to adjust to living in a house. The first year of her life was spent in a barn, out in the wild, and then at the local shelter. And that emotional roller coaster of all those changes made it hard for me to focus on writing.

By the later half of this year, I was back in the game, able to focus again. I finished writing 4 United, submitted it, and had it release at the end of September. And last month, I finished and submitted another story, which is likely to release in February. I will share more information on that in my newsletter and on social media soon. 

I'm currently in the process of plotting/writing three stories. Two of them are stories that will be part of my Romance Tales from the Quadrants series, and the other is a story that has been stirring in my head and begging to be written. The third one isn't a romance though. It's a futuristic story about a mother's love for her family, but there is no happy ending. I don't know what I'll do with that story, but my goal is to write all three of them by the end of next year. *fingers crossed*

Do you have any goals for 2024? Or are you still focused on 2023 and getting through the holidays? Yeah, I'm still doing that, too. LOL

Happy Holidays, and Best Wishes to You for the New Year!