Sunday, August 19, 2007

In a Galaxy, Far, Far away...

by Joan Kayse

There lived a tired little nurse....

Oops, wrong page......

There lived an author who wrote wonderful sci fi/futuristic romances. That author is Susan Grant.

We talk so much about the different subgenres in romance; historical (pick a time period), romantic suspense, paranormal, fantasy but not as much about sci-fi/futuristic. And why, I can't imagine. Not when you have authors like Sue who have successfully been writing and publishing wonderful stories about handsome alien heroes and fearless heroines from other worlds for quite a few years.

I first became a fan with "The Star King". Now, who can pass up a title like that? In less time than it took to say "I'll buy that" I was enthralled by the story of Rom and Jas. This new addiction was quickly followed by "The Star Prince" "The Star Princess" and many other titles including "Contact" Sue's 2003 Rita award winning book.

My admiration for her flowed into a typical fan email. The following year at the national RWA conference, I made a point to go meet her and get her latest book. She was so gracious and over the years with a fan email with each new release and my yearly trek to her table at the literacy signing we became friends. She asked about my writing and gave me encouragement and I took her example to heart. In a world filled with regencies and Scots and vampires she had gained a foothold with a unique subgenre. Maybe someday, readers would enjoy my Roman historicals. She was my new role model.

That kind of ties in with Kirsten's previous post. Paying it forward. I know how important her support has been and continues to be. As my career forms and grows I will not forget that.

Now, back to the hot alien guys. :-)

Sue's latest title is "How to Lose an Extraterrestrial in 10 Days" and it is like all of her other stories. An assassin sent from a far off world, REEF must find his humanity amidst the inhumanity done to him. He does so in the arms of a woman with strength enough for both of them. It's hot. It's exciting. It's wonderful.

Sue's busy schedule precluded her being able to join us in person. But she has sent the Bandits a gift and now we offer that to you. A lucky reader will win an autographed copy of ET. Tell us what interests you most about space and the possibility of other worlds. If there's a sexy alien hero there, all the better.

And the winnah is......

For Sabrina Jefferies "School for Heiresses Anthology".... Buffie! For the "At Home in Mossy Creek"..... Sue A! Please send your snail mail addy to carencrane AT gmail DOT com. Congratulations ladies!

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

Interesting question, Joan...I've never really thought about it before. I've never read much sci-fi, but I did go through an Isaac Asimov phase and I loved his intelligent speculation about space and the future of the world. I loved the movie and the book Contact, and way they fused together our notions of religion, space, and life.

Hmmmm, perhaps heavier than you intended your blog to go.

I've always wanted to talk to dragons...how's that? Not really romancy, but that's probably why I love Anne McCaffrey so much!

Christine Wells said...

Joan, I must admit, I've never been a fan of the sci-fi and futuristic genre, mainly because the sci-fi books/TV shows/movies I've seen seem to imagine the future as being unpleasantly clinical. But I love the sound of Susan's books, especially How to Lose an ET in 10 Days! You might just have made me a convert. Wish I was eligible to win the book but I'll have to go out and buy it instead.

Please thank Susan for contributing to the bandit booty. It sounds like you have a great writerly bond.

Caren Crane said...

Joan, I think for me, the attraction is the adventure of it all. Had I lived a few hundred years ago, I confess I would have been a sucker for men who explored the world. These days, I still adore reading about men who explore the little bits of our world that remain relatively unknown.

Men exploring space? Sign me up! And yes, I would indeed settle in a galaxy far, far away if some space explorer made it worth the trouble! *g*

Trish Milburn said...

While I've not been a big sci-fi reader (other than romances), I'm a big fan of sci-fi TV and movies -- Star Wars, Serenity/Firefly, etc. I like the idea that there are other habitable worlds out there, other races, and that someday it'd be possible to travel between those worlds as people travel between cities on Earth now.

Sonja Foust said...

I love sci-fis. You have so much leeway to explore where we're going as a people, and what exciting things the future might hold. I think it's sort of a a way to amplify your philosophy without being too preachy too, since it's in such an unfamiliar setting.

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Hey, if there are hunks involved, alien or otherwise, SIGN AUNTY UP!
LOL!

tetewa said...

Love to read about hunks in space and this sounds like a great read so count me in!

Helen said...

I won an arc about a year ago Close Encounters Of The Sexy Kind by Karen Kelley and I did enjoy it, it was well written and hot but it still didn't pull me in like historicals do. I do enjoy reading a different genre here and there for the different styles of writing and story lines.As of yet I haven't read any of Susan Grant's books but I will keep an eye out for them next time I am shopping.
Have Fun
Helen

Shari C said...

It is all the 'possibilities'... new worlds, new civilizations, and the marvelous ability to travel thru space and explore all this and just think of all the hot and sexy guys in these new worlds. Wow!!!

I am a fan of space travel and future movies, television shows and books. When you think of not that long ago and some of the wonderous things people had and now they are real and used in every day life such as cordless phones, computers, microwaves, etc. The future is definitely becoming reality. Love it!!!

Caren Crane said...

Shari C, that's a great point. I was watching a film from the early 90s recently and the heroine went to search for someone on a computer. She was using an old database system on the dreaded amber screen!

Yes, the early 90s and no internet. It boggles the mind to think what could happen in another hundred years, doesn't it?

Keira Soleore said...

I love old-style sci-fi novels.

Another one of my messages that says, "Oops, Keira fell off the healthy boat (in Seattle) and now looks like this. But she's back!!!"

Keira Soleore said...

Oops, accidentally hit send before finishing the post.

I'm with Kirsten on Assimov. I was a huge Sagan fan for a while. Then there were these fabulous Russian ones. I totally glommed onto the first three Star Wars, the newer ones, not so much, nor the newer sci-fi/fant ones.

I've been waiting for someone to write a good romance/sci-fi/fant. So, Susan your books look like IT.

Joan said...

Finally! I got away from that insistant bioengineered assassin REEF. We've been circling Louisville all day long in his ship until he um, got away :-)

Sorry to have been quiet today. In real life that tired nurse had to work.

Adventures, possibilities, excitement....so much to recommend a futuristic romance title. Sue also writes a strong heroine as evidenced by "Banzai McGuire" and "Scarlet" Tucker in "The Scarlet Empress".

Her vivid writing and natural feel for just those bits of the future...nano computers etc. that make her stories come to life.

A good story is a good story even if it's going from zero gravity to the 3rd Planet on the left.

Tomorrow morning, I will randomly choose the winner of Sue's book.

Suzanne Ferrell said...

Okay, here's my favorite extraterestrial...
.......Han Solo!

Yep, he's from some far away galazy, has that lazy bad-boy grin, and got to love him as he plays space cowboy against Darth Vader. I'd hop on the Millenium Falcon any day with that man!

Joan said...

Oooohhhh Suz! A hearty "you're not kidding" about Han Solo.

In "Star Wars" he was the best hero...totally overshadowed the little guy...what was his name? Luke something?

:-)

Suzanne Ferrell said...

You know in non-romance fiction, often times the story hero isn't the romantic hero.

Star Wars: Hero-Luke Skywalker; Romantic Hero-Han Solo

LOTR: Heros-Frodo and Sam; Romantic Heroes-Aragorn and Faramir (extended versions)

Willow: Hero-Willow; Romantic Hero-the guy Val Kilmer played.

any other examples?

Caren Crane said...

Suzanne, that guy Val Kilmer played was Mad Mardigan!! I loved him in that movie. Okay, I love him in lots of movies. *g* Val is on the hottie list!

Speaking of Han Solo/Harrison Ford, I can't wait for the next Indiana Jones installment. Shia Lebeouf will play his son. Should be great!

danetteb said...

I like sci-fi romance with sexy hunks.It's fun imagining what kind of aliens are out there,like a green bulked up man with fairy features(not Hulklike). *g*

Cherie J said...

I love watching and reading sci-fi/fantasy. It is an escape for me. A chance to escape to other worlds and to learn of other beings all in the comfort of my home.

traveler said...

When I think of the wonderful books that have been written and the great movies about space and space travel it interests me greatly. Always has ever since Rod Serling and his imagination began this time travel which I would love.

anne said...

Sci-fi and the future of man in space has a mystique which appeals to me. I love reading the books which give us an idea of the life that was envisioned and I find it enthralling and a fascinating topic.

ellie said...

Space and the last frontier. I just think there is so much to learn. What a world out there for us to read about and become involved with. Fabulous.

sharon said...

The thought of space and what it means is awesome. I woudl love to explore and learn more about this world. When I read Isaac Asimov and his books they hooked me for life.

jenna said...

When I was growing up my father would read every single science fiction book there was. I picked them up and read them all. This outer world is intriguing and marvellous.

sabrina said...

Sci-fi is such great reading. It is so easy to get involved within that realm. When things really do happen now, inventions and ideas that were merely a fun idea years ago in the books, it shows us what is important and how it really influences our lives.