Where's The Science Fiction?

Where’s the Science Fiction?

by Ellie Garratt

Thank you for hosting me, EJ. Today is the last day of my Passing Time Blog Tour. Where did the time go?

I guess most people looking at my Blog, Goodreads, Facebook or Google+ accounts will be used to seeing my spacewoman avatar. Although I write both science fiction and horror, I’ve always been crazy about science fiction. Star Trek. Battlestar Galactica. NASA. Space Camp. Dr. Who. The list goes on. I love anything to do with space or the unknown. So I’m sure some people have looked at my dark fiction story collection, Passing Time, and wondered what happened to the science fiction stories.

Well they are coming…in time. Taking Time is a collection of previously published and unpublished sci-fi stories, launching July 1st this year. It’s not a collection of alien abduction or time travel tales–it’s so much more. Here’s a teaser from one of the stories, Schrodinger’s Gamble:

“Take a seat, Charles. There are a few things we need to discuss,” the female says with an exasperated tone to her voice.

I stay standing.

Ignoring my failure to sit, she continues. “The thing is safety–your safety. We couldn’t possibly leave you out there to be savaged by The Fleet. Have you any idea of the tactics those friendly-faced terraformers would use to get your ticket? The deceit they would employ to pass themselves off as you? No. And we won’t even start talking about the dictators on Gemini I and II. So for your safety–for everyone’s safety–the draw is pre-determined.”

“Pre-determined?”

“You don’t think we leave it to chance do you? Let a random person or group of people win a planet. Considerable research and thought goes into deciding who is the best candidate for the job. Of course there have been mistakes–the first planet and the isolationists–but on the whole I think we got it right.”

“Job?”

“You don’t get it for nothing, young man,” the taller male answers. I can’t believe what I’m hearing. “But I haven’t got it for nothing. I’ve spent the last seventeen years living on only half my food and water rations. I’d hardly call that nothing.”

I hope my teaser as wetted your appetite. I shall be doing a cover reveal in early June, so watch this space for further details. 

EJ Note: Ellie is also the author of the recently released, Passing Time. I've just started reading, but can already highly recommend it to fans of horror and short fiction. Be sure to scroll to the bottom of the post to enter the tour giveaway! Here are the details:

Nine dark fiction stories that may just give you nightmares.

A man lives to regret Passing Time. A father will do anything to save his son in Expiration Date. An author finds out her worst nightmare is back in The Devil’s Song. A woman gets more than the claim fee when she takes out vampire insurance in Luna Black.

In Dining in Hell, the Death Valley Diner becomes the wrong place to stop.

A serial killer wants to add another file to his collection in The Vegas Screamer. In Eating Mr. Bone, an undertaker could meet an unfortunate end. A con man meets his first ghost in Land of the Free. And will truth finally be set free in The Letter?

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About The Author

A life-long addiction to reading science fiction and horror, meant writing was the logical outlet for Ellie Garratt’s passions. She is a reader, writer, blogger, Trekkie, and would happily die to be an extra in The Walking Dead. Her short stories have been published in anthologies and online. Passing Time is her first eBook collection and contains nine previously published stories. Her science fiction collection Taking Time will be published later in the year.

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IWSG - What Kind Of Writer Are You?

Hey gang! Thanks so much for all of the kind words and messages of support left on my Overcoming Adversity contribution on Monday. I know Nick had to feel uplifted by all of the fabulous entries I read.

I'm actually going to talk about my blog hop piece, Just In Time, for my IWSG post today, but some housecleaning first...

Those Damned Share Buttons Are Gone

NA Lit Chat

As many of you know, I'm an instigator (host) of the #NALitChat conversation every Thursday night, 9 PM EST, on the Twitters (use #NALitChat in your tweets to join in). It's basically a discussion of all things in New Adult literature. If you're intrigued, check out the Chat Blog for details and a calendar of upcoming chat topics.

Speaking of which, this week kicks off our 'Reader Love Month' series of chats. Each chat in February, we'll talk about reading NA (like why you'd want to, and what to expect, and how to find it). We have some awesome guest hosts lined up as well, and will be giving away some NA reads during the chats.

If you've been curious about New Adult, this might be a good place to start.

Blog Tour Update

I've survived to day 3! Actually, it's been a lot of fun so far. I did a guest post on the Books & Things blog on Monday. I talk about the Texas setting in the Moonsongs books, as well as some of the Native American influences on the stories. 

There was more awesomeness that day, but I think I'll talk about that in another post for the sake of space/time...

Day 2 offered some amazing reviews of the Moonsongs books. Seriously, give me a half-bottle of wine and a couple of Prozac (don't do this, I haven't), and I STILL couldn't say nicer things about the stories myself--they're that good. You can check them out HERE (Books & Things) and HERE (Missy's Reads & Reviews), plus there are excerpts. 

Both are incredible blogs to follow for readers who want to discover new books.

If you care to follow along with the tour (there'll be chances to win copies of my books at some of the stops, and you can enter the big giveaway as well), just click the tour banner wherever you see it. (Like up there on the right.)

Insecure Writer's Support Group

Click the pic to join IWSG!

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time.

What Kind of Writer Are You?

I had a brief Twitter exchange with a blog buddy (most of you know LG) last week that got me to thinking: What kind of writer am I?

I'd been working on my Overcoming Adversity story, wanting to do a good job for Nick, and I saw a tweet from LG saying she was doing the same. I basically mentioned how I was a bit nervous about sharing it, because it's not my typical brand of fiction.

For me, Just In Time, is fairly literary--which is perfect for a 500 word restriction, by the way, because I've decided you aren't really obligated to resolve a damned thing in literary fiction--with nary a werwolf or witch to be found.

Yeah, don't ask me how to make a story interesting when you can't fling a tomahawk or have a monster trying to eat someone, but I tried nonetheless...

In the end, I really enjoyed writing it, which was something of a surprise. I got to explore some themes (aging, having a twin, and death) that really fascinate me. The piece also challenged me to find beauty in the struggle, something I think we all fail to do at times.

More than anything, it helped me face a small complex I suffer from. I like to call it the: You're Not Good Enough To Be That Kind Of Writer Syndrome (YNGETBTKOWS ... I have no idea either, but we could probably fit it on a coffee cup.).

I think we all believe, on some level, that we have a storytelling and writing style we're best suited for. And I believe it's mostly true. In fact, discovering what my writing comfort zone really was helped me take the next step in my writing career (being confident enough to publish my work). 

I had to know I was doing something well. Not that I was the best ever, but just that I was capable of writing in a style that was consistently decent.The story and the characters would be the stars, I reasoned. 

Besides, I wasn't the kind of writer capable of spinning golden words, or conjuring mystical imagery. That stuff was for the learned writers, not for folks like me who cut their storytelling teeth on cinema and comic books. YNGETBTKOWS

No, I was meant to be a roller coaster writer. My stories wouldn't be complex or artistic, just a hell of a lot of fun.

But something has occurred to me of late: Maybe I can be more than one type of writer. Maybe I can write stories that have vampires, explosions, and badass tomahawks AND move readers to a deeper emotional place than, "Pleasure! Afraid... Anger!" 

Heck, I might even be able to write a decent story WITHOUT vampires, explosions, and badass tomahawks.

Perhaps I've undercut myself with my YNGETBTKOWS.

So I ask: What kind of writer are you?

~EJW~

I'm Going On Tour! Who's Coming With Me?

Hey gang! Hope this post finds you all better than well. Thanks to everyone who left encouraging words for the authors who've been visiting my blog of late. I know it means a lot to them.

As many of you probably know, I released a new story (Witch's Nocturne) in December. *confetti and hangovers* I've done some blog touring already to celebrate, but mostly on the blogs of people I know well. (You all! Thank you! Thank You! ... just in case I haven't told you so enough.) Now it's time for me to REALLY hit the road, and I hope some you will join me.

Here's where I'm going (and when)

2/4 Books and Things ~ Blood Fugue FREE for Kindle Day!
2/5 Missy's Reads and Reviews
2/6 Jessie's Book Place
2/7 Kaidan's Seduction
2/7 Lost in Books
2/8 Bookhounds
2/11 Far From Reality
2/11 Defiantly Deviant
2/12 Words Create Scenes
2/13 Lovely Reads
2/14 Deal Sharing Aunt
2/15 Free Ebooks Daily ~ Blood Fugue FREE for Kindle Day!
2/15 Candace's Book Blog (My tour organizer ... she rocks!)
2/18 Bookhounds ~ Blood Fugue FREE for Kindle Day!
2/19 Girl With a Laptop and Books
2/20 Love is Not a Triangle
2/21 Buried in Books
2/22 Curling Up With a Good Book
2/25 Paperback Princess
2/26 Book Loving Mom
2/27 Amethyst Daydreams
2/28 The (Mis) Adventures of a Twenty-Something Year Old Girl
3/1 Oh Chrys!
3/1 For the Love of Film and Novels
3/2 JC's Book Haven
3/4 Pages of Forbidden Love
3/4 Crazy Four Books

You'll notice that the fist story in the Moonsongs series, Blood Fugue, will be free on Amazon February 4th, 15th, and 18th. So if you haven't had a chance to read it yet, I'd greatly appreciate you snagging a copy--on me, of course. :-)

ALSO, as my loyal blog-friends, I want to make sure you know about the giveaways I'm doing in conjunction with the tour. 

I've gotten my hands on some fabulous signed books (including Capitol Hell by Jayne J. Jones & Alicia M. Long, Soul Screamers, Vol. 1 by Rachel Vincent, and John Green's mega-hit, The Fault in Our Stars ... pics below). They'll all go to one lucky winner (US only). 

I'll also be giving away 2 $15 gift certs to Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

Lastly, for my international friends only, $20 toward a Book Depository purchase. 

The Rafflecopter is at the bottom of this post, and will go live the first day of the tour. Be sure to come back here and enter, or better still, visit one of the tour stops and enter. (There'll be several ways for you to enter, I believe.)

One final favor to ask: Would you consider sharing my tour banner on your blog (if you do such things)? Clicking it will send your folks to this blog. I'd truly appreciate it, and am always glad to return the favor if you ever have a need. Truly just ask.

Here's the html for the banner:

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">

<a href="http://the-open-vein-ejwesley.blogspot.com/2013/01/im-going-on-tour-whos-coming-with-me.html" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ8hKfldbi5Dpk8zRuhnM8HzpzxDMRPcAhAkwR9Ph0hjjBsIqseoBQOpI7DhLGMIDxy_5B7cM-FYY4K7-3n2lRm1qz7HM_C685cD86fnyRGr3YX-9mZ_z1tPqQSEOfAmuo1rWaG5myJx4/s320/moonsong.png" width="320" /></a></div>

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I think that's it! I've done a mix of interviews, excerpts, etc. for the various tour stops. And most will be reviewing my work *gulp*, so  each stop should be a new brand of fun. 

Hope you'll join me!

~EJW~

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