Monday, November 27, 2017

Sci-Fi or Fantasy? Both by Sylvie Grayson

MUSE MONDAY


Please join me in welcoming Sylvie Grayson as my guest today.

I never thought I would be writing sci fi/ fantasy. I have read quite a bit of it, but started out writing contemporary romantic suspense. I like the challenge of the suspense, and enjoy the relationships that blossom from the stories. But fantasy grabbed me. Thus began the Last War series. I have four books out now and am working on Book Five.

Writing sci fi was a real eye-opener. Suddenly I got to invent my whole world rather than try to fit the story into the one we live in today. It was astonishingly freeing. Now I go back and forth, one contemporary for each fantasy. It keeps me interested, it keeps me fresh. The only drawback is that because it is an invented world, I have to read my copious notes and pore over the maps and lists of words I have created to get up to speed before I begin each new story.

You’ll notice I move between calling it sci fi and then fantasy, or usually sci fi/ fantasy. That’s because my critique group and I can’t decide where these stories fit, so we put them in both!

Here is the blurb and an excerpt for Khandarken Rising, The Last War: Book One.

Back Blurb –

Major Dante Regiment must find a way to protect Beth, as the Emperor is not the only one causing chaos in Khandarken

The Emperor has been defeated. New countries have arisen from the ashes of the old Empire. The citizens swear they will never need to fight again after that long and painful war.

Bethlehem Farmer is helping her brother Abram run Farmer Holdings in south Khandarken after their father died in the final battles. She is looking after the dispossessed, keeping the farm productive and the talc mine working in the hills behind their land. But when Abram takes a trip with Uncle Jade into the northern territory and disappears without a trace, she's left on her own. Suddenly things are not what they seem and no one can be trusted.

Major Dante Regiment is sent by his father, the General of Khandarken, to find out what the situation is at Farmer Holdings. What he sees shakes him to the core and fuels his grim determination to protect Bethlehem at all cost, even with his life.


Excerpt –

Abe left in a fury. Now as he travelled along the Southern Highway, a forest of evergreens flashing past on each side, he felt himself cooling off and rational thought taking over. Madill Advisor might have been Gregoff Farmer’s lawyer, but they could find someone else to do the legal work of enforcing the will and transferring Holdings.

He heard a warning siren and turned his head to see the flashing lights of a Constable patrol truck approaching from behind. He slowed and was pulling his scooter toward the side of the road, when a roar sounded to his right and an aerial scooter came out of the trees. It came fast, heading straight for him. If he didn’t move he’d surely be hit. He gunned the small engine and tried to dodge it. From the corner of his eye, he saw another scooter coming at him from the other side. What was going on? He was going to be mowed down if he didn’t get out of the way of these two maniacs. A shot of alarm urged him on. Aerial scooters had much more capability and speed than his solar vehicle.

He was at top speed now, trying to keep himself on the road with no idea where the Constable patrol truck had disappeared to behind him. A flash of laserfire shot across his bow and he automatically slowed. The next flash hit the scooter, and it stalled for a moment before sputtering back to life. He felt a searing pain in his leg and realized his pants were on fire. Stretching with a gloved hand, he batted at the cloth as his skin singed under the heat, the other hand occupied with keeping the scooter aimed down the road.

The scooter frame jolted under the impact of bullets hitting the fender. He felt a strange sense of destiny. A moment ago he’d thought he could be injured when he saw the first aerial coming at him, but now realized he was under attack and may not even survive the encounter.



6 comments:

  1. Love your books! You forgot to add with a touch of romance to your sci-fi fantasy though :)

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  2. Hi Jacquie,
    You are so right! Every book has a touch of romance in it. That's what makes them so fun to write. :)
    Sylvie

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  3. Hi Brenda,
    Thanks for hosting me on your blog. It's a delight to talk about my books and the motivation that keeps me writing. Have a great day!
    Sylvie

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  4. Wow Sylvie! You have certainly challenged yourself. I admire writers who can invent entire worlds. Bravo! You appear to have serious writing momentum.
    All the best in your creative endeavours.

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    1. Thanks Jodie,
      Very kind of you to drop by. The new world is getting more complex, thus the need for reams of notes about words, names, places, etc. I love it,
      Sylvie

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  5. It was great having you, Sylvie. Anytime!

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