Browsing Category

Boosting the Signal

Boosting the Signal: In the Course of Diplomacy, by Robert A. Boyd

Robert A. Boyd is a fellow member of the Northwest Writers Association, and if you like your science fiction from non-human points of view, you may well want to check him out. Though for reasons that will be obvious to anyone who’s read Faerie Blood, I did snerk at the mention of Elvis Worshippers!

In the Course of Diplomacy

In The Course Of Diplomacy
by,
C’traBenla, rani D’enta
(Translated via the Ic’nichi Embassy, Geneva)

I am so delighted to speak again with all my dear friends there on earth, especially now that the Contact Crisis seems to be winding down, and relations are improving between d’enchia and earth. Those were some troubling times; times when war seemed all too likely, and distrust and paranoia were rampant on both sides. I don’t think any of us realized before then how traumatic First Contact could be!

Thankfully the Arbiters were able to work through the tensions and forge the beginnings of a lasting peace between our two worlds. The diplomatic effort (which I had a small part in) was fraught with problems, personal conflicts, political tensions, and—it must be said—the gyrations of some of your less stable folks such as the Anti-techs and the Elvis Worshippers. Yet through it all, through the misunderstandings and shortages and broken water mains, we managed to limp on. Our tails dragged at times, surely, but we came through.

I’m sure the Arbiters won’t approve (K’deiTai can be such a spoil-sport at times!), but I want to make an appeal to all you good folks there in the Alliance Of Nations. Diplomacy is a herd effort, and so much goes on in the background which the public never sees, but which can shape the destiny of whole civilizations. Fortunately, now that the crisis is passing, the story is starting to come out in a trilogy of recently published books, translated to human language, which tell the real saga of what went on behind the scenes; although that ‘muck-raking expose’ cheap shot is terribly unfair.

Hey, I’m not perfect. We all have our awkward moments, don’t we? And it doesn’t help that the cultural differences between our two races can be so confusing at times. Why make such a fuss over that fire at the Defense Ministry, I ask you? And why all the fuss over that little misunderstanding which almost led to the embassy being evacuated, or the time I blackmailed the Chancellor…but I suppose I shouldn’t talk about that even now.

The point is, even if I am impulsive and hot-tempered (as some unkind souls would tell you) I have the best intentions in all the Universe. And a lot of what happened wasn’t my fault. Can I be blamed for the entire fleet being put out of commission when I went into labor? I mean, really!

No matter. What I’m trying to say is that the real story of our diplomatic effort with you humans remains largely untold, and this new trilogy will go a long way to improving understanding all around, and thus improving relations between d’enchia and earth. I hope all you good people who cherish peaceful interstellar relations will look into them.

In The Course Of Diplomacy (Part 1)
Diplomacy’s Stepchild: The Dreamsingers’ War (Part 2)
Diplomacy’s End: The d’enchia Incident (Part 3)

You can find them through our human distributor:

The Written Wyrd
http://www.the-written-wyrd.org/index.shtml
http://thewrittenwyrd.livejournal.com/
Or through Amazon.com.
Or at Norwescon and Orycon

Thank you all for your time and interest. Well, I have to go now. I’eiBida will be home soon, and I just know he’ll be upset when I tell him about my latest misadventure!

C’traBenla

Buy the Book: The Written Wyrd | Amazon

Follow the Author On: Livejournal

March 21, 2014 by Angela Korra'ti

Boosting the Signal

Boosting the Signal: First Daughter, by Caitlin Claire Diehl

Caitlin Claire Diehl is a fellow member of the Northwest Independent Writers Association, and it’s through NIWA that I first heard about her novel First Daughter. It’s on my queue to read, and I look forward to getting to know Caitlin and her work better!

First Daughter

You must help me! My mother, the Queen, is ill, bespelled by some sorcery that has left her insensible, removed from the cares of her people, of her only daughter. I am only an apprentice Web Weaver and can do nothing to help her no matter how many nights I pore over the ancient texts. The magic entrapping her is too strong, even for N’era, the only Keeper of the Web left to us, now that my mother is gone.

The need to free her is urgent, not just for me but for our land. Dark Forces stalk our borders and all the Queen Regent, my aunt, wants to do is wave her sword about and look important. I may not be the seer my mother is, but I have glimpsed the Threads that weave the future and I know with all my heart that swords will not defeat our enemy, not this time. Only no one will listen to me, though I am First Daughter to the Queen. My aunt thinks I am too young, too inexperienced to know anything. Sometimes I hate her.

My heart is heavy, grieving for my mother just out of reach, fearful of the danger threatening our land and our people. And I have a secret. Can I tell you? In the dark reaches of the night, in the Great Tapestry that has yet to be woven from the Threads of all our lives, I have glimpsed a golden thread, a young man foreign and strange, that calls to me in a way I have never felt before. Please don’t tell anyone. I have never had time for boys, for what are men but bigger boys?

Without your help, turning the pages of my story, my Threads will never be woven into a Pattern that can save my mother or our people. I will be left here, alone and helpless, poised on the brink of something… some destiny that surges through me and begs to be released in a grand Weaving of such power that nothing ever after will be the same.

Buy the Book: Amazon

Follow the Author On: Facebook

March 14, 2014 by Angela Korra'ti

Boosting the Signal

Boosting the Signal: Journey of the Wanderer, by Shawna Thomas

Authors that write fantasy and SF, with or without a side helping of romance, are a bit thin on the ground at Carina Press. Which is why I’m particularly happy to welcome Shawna Thomas to Boosting the Signal. Take it away, Shawna! Or should I say, Shawna’s villain, Bredych? Anybody besides me hear Tom Hiddleston reading this speech, or what?

Journey of the Wanderer

In Bredych’s Words:

Most stories are told from the hero’s point of view. Mine is no different. I have been known by many names, but you may call me Bredych. Have you ever stopped to consider the broader picture? I have. They say history is told by the victor. Well, then, if that is true, who are the heroes? Those with ideals and noble intentions or simply those who have penned the words recounting the tale of what was done and by whom?

Are the heroes those whose ideals have won the day and anyone who challenged them are considered villains?

I have been cast into the role of antagonist. I have been called evil, manipulative, and greedy. It’s a role I accept for now. Not because I think that my ideals, my goals, are less worthy than those who dare oppose me, but because my enemies’ thoughts about me are irrelevant. It changes nothing.

I have worked tirelessly through the years, meticulously placing every player where I need them. I have built and rebuilt my kingdom from the ashes. Some worship me, some love me, and some hate me, but all fear me. Fear is the great motivator. Fear is necessary. After all my goals are noble. I, too, will unite Anatar under one ruler. I will bring peace to the land. I will drag these backwards peasants into the light kicking and screaming if necessary–for their own good.

And Ilythra? Yes, she pretends to be a hero. She plays at nobility and merely speaks of honor and love. But what does she offer that is of use? War? Death? The killing of the innocent? She seeks to reunite the stones, and she calls it justice. Where is the justice in handing all that power over to Ewen and the Siobani? And once the Siobani have it, what then? Will they use it to better mankind? History proves they will not. They chose to disengage, to retreat into legend rather than dirty their hands in human ways. I know. I was there.

I will reunite the stones. I will bring and end to suffering. Anatar will be united under my rule. In the end, all will see that my way is better, including Ilythra. We bear two of the great stones; the Siobani possess only one. If she will not unite with me, then she will fall with them. This is not something I desire–I do not wish to destroy her–but if she continues to oppose me, then it cannot be avoided. Rulers must make hard decisions and cannot let personal feelings cloud their judgment.

I accept the role of villain because history has yet to be written, and I plan to be the one who writes it.

I invite you to read these chronicles and decide for yourselves.

In Shawna’s Words: Excerpt from the Novel:

Bredych approached the map with reverence. He inhaled the scent of ink mixed with smoke from the poorly ventilated fire. A single lamp haloed the ivory surface, lending the map texture and depth as the flame flickered. Without quite touching the thick parchment, he traced the southern coastline with his finger, up across deserts to mountains and valleys. In a very real way, the map represented a lifetime of work, of careful planning. He followed the vivid lines to the far south, where the clans there still worshiped and feared him, up and to the east to Rugia, where the tribesmen feared and hated him. He shrugged. There was little difference really. It was the fear that drove them. In the end, it didn’t matter if he was offered tribute out of adoration or to appease him.

He moved his finger to the west coast. The villages there were unorganized and ineffective. They would be easy prey for the southern clans. Further north, built on a peninsula, the great city of Edriel stood waiting for him to pluck it. Maybe he’d make his seat of government there. He smiled. It had a rich history, he wondered if the king of Edriel knew that the Siobani had built the city and abandoned it with the rest of Anatar to the humans. He reviewed what he knew of King Jaryn. No, he had vast libraries at his disposal but he doubted the king had yet to crack open one book.

To the right of Edriel, across the plains, Bredych had very carefully placed small wooden figurines on several of the larger kingdoms. He stared at each one in turn, remembering the satisfaction of placing the piece there after the kingdom had come under his command. Each king in those places merely waited for his command. Each had been promised a place in his empire. Depending on how they served him in the coming conflict, he’d keep his promise.

He remembered the day he’d been reading through the Siobani histories and found out that he’d been lied to. The Siobani had kept the greater power for themselves. They didn’t use it, but kept the secret locked away from even him, a stone keeper. The elder race had treated him no better than an outsider, a beggar on the street.

That day he had decided to bring them down. To make them grovel at his feet. He clenched his teeth together. And that day was coming.

He wondered what Ilythra would do if she knew Ewen had a way to defeat him and simply refused to use it.

About the Author: Winner of an RT award for her debut novel, Altered Destiny, Shawna Thomas has been writing since she can remember. She currently lives in California with her husband and seven children. When she’s not writing or editing, she’s playing in the garden, developing new desserts or sitting back with a cup of coffee and a good book.

Buy the Book: Carina Press | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo

Follow the Author On: shawnathomas.com | Blogspot | Twitter | Facebook

March 7, 2014 by Angela Korra'ti

Boosting the Signal

Boosting the Signal: Blades of the Old Empire, by Anna Kashina

Anna Kashina is a fellow former author from Drollerie Press, and I’m pleased to feature her as the second of two posts for my doubleheader Boosting the Signal premiere day! Her newly fantasy novel, Blades of the Old Empire, has just been released by Angry Robot and is her first novel with a major SF/F publisher–and here, she gives us a look at her antagonist Nimos.

Blades of the Old Empire

I am Nimos, a member of the Kaddim Brotherhood. I am gifted with mind magic, which enables me to bend people to my will, pry into their thoughts, and affect their judgment. I taught other Kaddim Brothers the basics of this magic, but no one else is as good as I am.

In the days of the old Shandorian Empire, our brotherhood rose to power and was able to place our leader, the Reincarnate, on the imperial throne. However, our timing had been unfortunate and a group of renegades was able to overthrow us, leading to the bloodshed that is now referred to as the Holy Wars. The empire fell, and our brotherhood was forced to retreat into shadows, gathering enough power to rise again.

And now, our time has come. Once again, we stand strong, and we are in a great position to restore the glory of the Old Empire out of the scattered kingdoms that formed in its place. The Kaddim are formidable warriors, wielding rare and exotic weapons–orbens–that no one is able to resist. The only warriors to match us are the Majat, but they, like everyone else in the kingdoms, are susceptible to our mind powers. Through the anti-magic laws that our brotherhood helped to put into place during the empire days, everyone with a magic gift had been carefully weeded, leaving us with virtually no opposition to our plans.

And then, a problem arose. Prince Kythar, the heir to the throne of Tallan Dar, had somehow escaped the magic control laws. His inborn gift grants him control of the elements and a unique ability to focus, rendering him immune to the Kaddim magic. Worse, as we became aware of the problem and gathered efforts to capture the prince, he was able to pass his immunity to his Diamond Majat bodyguard, Kara. As long as she is by his side, we cannot possibly defeat him.

Kythar’s magic is rare, and fortunately he has no idea yet how to use it to its full power. Time is of essence. We must take care of the prince before he figures it out. But to do that, we first must take care of his bodyguard Kara, and this is a task no Kaddim warriors are able to accomplish. Her weapon skill makes her nearly undefeatable.

Fortunately, I have a plan. If we cannot take care of Kara, all we need to do is pitch her against her Majat Guild, and they will have no problem finishing the job.

A lot of mind control work went into carrying out this plan. And now it is all in motion and nothing could probably stop us.

Mwahahahahaaaaaaa…

Genre: Fantasy

Buy the Book: Angry Robot | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Random House

Follow the Author On: www.annakashina.com (official site and blog) | Facebook | Twitter

February 28, 2014 by Angela Korra'ti

Boosting the Signal

Boosting the Signal: Stronger Than Blood, by Genevieve Griffin

Genevieve Griffin is a local writer friend of mine, about whom I’ve already posted, when I put up my review of her YA werewolf novel. But now I’m delighted to feature her on today’s doubleheader for Boosting the Signal, and to give you a chance to hear about her heroine, B!

Stronger Than Blood

The first real assignment that got dropped in my lap at Gilman High: write an essay about my most important goal.

I didn’t exactly dive into that with enthusiasm. It wasn’t like I had an easy answer, after all, considering my…unique circumstances. On the other hand, maybe it wasn’t simple for the normal kids, either. Lacey confidently dashed off an essay about non-profit work, which figured, but Madison muttered for a while about parental expectations versus what she actually wanted, and then, grumbling, went with the safe version just in case. Emily dithered. Lin went unexpectedly thoughtful, and wouldn’t show anyone a word. And Jake blew off the whole thing as a joke, regaling us all in the middle of lunch with his dreams of becoming a circus clown. The grammar alone was a crime against nature, but at least it was colorful.

Brandon, meanwhile, didn’t do his at all.

When the due date rolled around and Mr. McKay asked for Brandon’s essay, he offered nothing. He just shrugged and reclined in his chair. God only knew how he could recline in those painful, unforgiving things, but he managed it anyway. “I’m not really into the ‘where do you see yourself in five years?’ question,” Brandon drawled. “Unless the answer’s ‘lounging on a beach somewhere.'”

Our teacher sighed. “Brandon…”

“Knock off the points if you want,” he said. “I don’t have it.” Then he shut his eyes, obviously considering the conversation over. There wasn’t much Mr. McKay could do except mark down an “incomplete” and glare.

That left me as the next to turn mine in. And of course I had to go limping up the aisle to deliver it.

I’m sure my wonky health and wonkier social skills would be enough to make everyone wonder about my prospects. Okay, then: the barely functional misfit is going to do what, exactly? Go into gymnastics? Star in the movies? Run for president? I still had no idea, and I felt stupid enough presenting the utterly clichéd, I’m-Gonna-Go-Be-Inspirational! version my brother coached me through.

(“You know it’s total bullshit,” I’d told Grey, after groaning over my own writing. “Me as some kind of motivational speaker? Exhibit A in overcoming obstacles? I’m not exactly Little Miss Plucky, here.” His sardonic reply was that high schools thrive on bullshit. Given the evidence so far, I decided he might have a point.)

But after all that, there I was anyway, handing over my so-called masterwork. I couldn’t exactly beat a hasty retreat afterward, but I did my best. Of course it meant I had to walk past Brandon again. At least he didn’t pull any truly stupid tricks this time, not like tripping me the way he did on my first day.

He did, however, do something almost worse. He smirked up at me and whispered, “So what did you come up with, werewolf girl?”

I stopped cold, went wordless, and stared straight back.

What was there to say, after all? How was I supposed to plan for the future when that was my problem? I wasn’t even human, not really. The things I wanted–having an ordinary, pain-free life. Not needing to lie about myself. Getting out of town and maybe even traveling the world, I don’t know. Even just something simple, like going on a full-moon date without ripping out the guy’s throat mid-movie. Anything–were pretty remote possibilities.

Brandon knew that. He and I were the only werewolves in the room, after all. And I guess he could smirk about it, being luckier than I was, somehow or other. He was the healthy one. He wasn’t waging a constant war against his own body every month, and losing, painfully, with every change.

Then again, his smile was turning oddly self-deprecating. It put me off-balance for reasons that had nothing to do with my aching knees.

For the first time, his question didn’t seem entirely like a tease–because he wasn’t even pretending he had an answer for himself, either.

So. What did you come up with, werewolf girl? I thought in echo as I walked off, oddly nervous now. What are your real goals in life?

Surviving? Healing? Maybe something a little bit more?

I didn’t even dare voice that. I just hunkered down at my desk, hiding under my long, tangled hair. I could tell that Brandon was peering back at me anyway. For now, I ignored it. Maybe there was more going on under the surface with him than I’d thought, but I still wasn’t ready to confide in him about anything.

On the other hand, he’d already started dropping hints to me about other things, too. Like the existence of an entire pack I didn’t know yet. Other werewolves. Other possibilities. And if that was true, maybe somebody out there might understand.

Okay, then, Mr. McKay, I thought, imagining this as my essay–and imagining his face if he ever actually got to read it. Here’s my goal. Meet an entire pack full of dangerous, deadly werewolves, convince them somehow to help me, maybe find a place I finally fit…and if that doesn’t work out, get me, my friends, and my brother out of this unscathed. How does that sound?

Almost as if he’d heard me, Brandon grinned. And Lacey leaned over to whisper, “Don’t worry about him. I think what you said was inspiring.”

I blinked, suddenly disconcerted. “Um. What?”

“Your essay. I read it, remember? That whole part about overcoming obstacles? I could tell you really meant it.”

I gave her a disbelieving look. Brandon laughed outright. And I turned away before either of them could see me blush, which meant I was looking at the calendar on my student planner instead. I touched the wide, white circle of the next full moon, looming all too close, and I chuckled wryly, too.

Yep. I had a goal, maybe even some help…and I had a deadline.

What could possibly go wrong?

Genre: YA Urban Fantasy

Buy the Book: Amazon.com

Follow the Author On: Twitter | Tumblr

February 28, 2014 by Angela Korra'ti

Boosting the Signal

Boosting the Signal updates

I am pleased to report that I’ve already gotten several submissions to go up for the Boosting the Signal feature, and will have people slated for several forthcoming weeks! Watch this space for forthcoming posts as follows:

February 28th – Anna Kashina, a former fellow Drollerie author
March 7th – Shawna Thomas, fellow Carina author
March 14th – Claire Diehl from NIWA, the Northwest Independent Writers Association
March 21st – Bob Boyd, also from NIWA
March 28th – Ruth A. Casie, from Carina

I’ve got some other folks talking to me too and April’s likely to fill up real soon! So stand by for more data as it happens! I’m going to have a nice little variety of books here, and I very much look forward to seeing what else I’ll get to share with you all.

I’ve been asked as well whether there’ll be a banner or badge to use for this project. I don’t have one to use yet, and I’m not a graphic designer, so I’d need to get someone to make a good one for me. If you ARE a graphic designer and would like to volunteer for the job, talk to me! 😉

February 18, 2014 by Angela Korra'ti

Boosting the Signal

Announcing “Boosting the Signal”

I’ve been thinking for a while that I’d like to do something similar to how John Scalzi does his Big Idea column over on the Whatever, and how Mary Robinette Kowal does My Favorite Bit. I know quite a few authors at this point, many of whom need all the help they can get to get the word out about their books. And well hey, I’ve got a blog. So I’m going to start inviting folks to come borrow my blog every so often to, in fact, boost their signals.

What I’ll be putting into these posts:

Author name
The title and genre of their book
Links to where it can be bought
Cover art

And most importantly, here’s where the Boosting the Signal part comes in.

One of the characters in these books will have a goal. Protagonist, antagonist, hero, villain, I don’t care which–if the author has done their job, this character is going to want something. And their only path to achieving that goal is for people to come check out the book. So in the voice of this character, my guests will be telling you what that goal is.

Right now this semi-regular feature will be invitation-only, as I want to first give precedence to folks I know from several of the indie, hybrid, and self-pub circles I’m a part of. I’ll be pinging a few folks in particular to gauge interest. The rest of you, you can expect this to feature several of my fellow Carina authors, current work by the other folks who used to write for Drollerie Press, as well as possible folks from NIWA (the Northwest Independent Writers Association) and other self-pub or small-press folks I know.

I’ll be running these on Fridays when I have ’em. Hopefully this’ll be fun, for me to post and for y’all to read!

February 13, 2014 by Angela Korra'ti

Newer Posts