Guest Post: The challenges of a “cloning” a character in science fiction romance
The Adventures of The Everyday Fangirl welcomes USA Today Bestselling author Cara Bristol as a guest blogger to talk about her new book, Hunted by the Cyborg.
Take it away Cara!
The challenges of a “cloning” a character in science fiction romance by Cara Bristol
Until now, I’ve pretty much stuck to human, alien, and cyborg main characters.
Aliens and cyborgs (humans with computer and/or mechanical parts) are versatile characters. Any role a human plays, an alien or a cyborg can play. The alien or cyborg can have a backstory or it can just be.
Clones?
Their existence raises questions. Why was the clone created? Who created the clone? What happened to the original “parent?” Because of this, using a clone as a main character affects the plot of the story.
I knew fans of the Cy-Ops Sci-fi Romance series had high expectations for Hunted by the Cyborg (book 6). This was Carter’s story. The director of Cyber Operations, a secret cyborg force, he’d been a secondary character in the previous five books. He had to have a special heroine.
I chose to make her a clone. The challenge was to give her a backstory that fit the plot, yet make her real, make her as human as any other human. I tried to create a woman who was vulnerable, but also resilient and independent. I didn’t want readers to see her as an “other.”
Beth, who begins life as an unwanted copy, strives to find her uniqueness. Here’s what readers have said about Beth:
“I enjoyed seeing Beth find her true self and live a life that she deserves.”
“Beth is such a strong character, even when she’s knocked down she always keeps trying,”
“Beth was a wonderful character. Innocent in a lot a ways, but also smart, strong and full of life.
“I fell in love with this character. Beth was given a raw deal. But even after all that she had been through she is a strong woman who knows that life needs to be lived to the fullest!”
“Beth also met all my expectations of a leading lady. She was smart, courageous and could match wits with Carter. No damsel in distress here. I loved that about her.”
Excerpt from Hunted by the Cyborg
Carter halted inside the crowded cafeteria. Aym-Sec employees gathered at their usual tables, eating and chatting the way they always did, but his cyber operatives faced away from the forward left corner of the room. They stared at the wall while gulping their chow.
He pivoted in the direction they seemed to be avoiding.
Holy bejeezus!
In the corner, sat a naked Beth, eating breakfast.
Technically not unclothed, she’d donned her Shuttleport Authority travel suit. To an operative with cybervision, the see-through SA unitard provided little more covering than transparent polymer sheeting.
A heated rush of hormones shot straight to his groin as he rushed across the room, tearing off his shirt.
“Put this on.” He didn’t wait for her response but tugged the garment over her head. The image of two perfect dusky-tipped breasts burned into his brain.
“What are you doing? Stop it!” She squirmed like a toddler as he tried to dress her, but he got her head through the neck opening.
“Put your arms through the holes,” he ordered.
“What—why are you doing this?”
“Put it on. I’ll explain in a minute.” What his actual words would be, he didn’t know. She stopped resisting and slipped on the shirt. He grabbed her arm. “Come on, we have to leave.”
Hunted by the Cyborg blurb
Billionaire Carter Aymes, director of Cyber Operations, a covert cyborg force, devotes his wealth and time to saving lives, rescuing hostages and other victims from desperate situations. His ultimate mission is to hunt down and eliminate Lamani, the alien terrorist mastermind, before he conquers the galaxy.
When Carter hires Beth O’Shea, a vulnerable yet courageous woman with connections to his past, their attraction is immediate and strong, but he knows getting involved with her is a bad idea. He’s her boss, and he has way too many classified projects to risk letting someone get close.
Rejected by the progenitors who cloned her, Beth is determined to live a normal human life, beginning by getting an ordinary job with a security firm. But, from the start, she questions the extraordinary secrecy surrounding the organization. She can’t help but wonder about the tall, muscled, larger-than-life director who gave her a chance when she desperately needed one. Could he ever be romantically interested in a woman like her, in a clone?
When Beth is attacked, they both realize how short and tenuous life is, and their mutual attraction becomes too powerful to resist.
As their relationship heats up, so does the urgency to capture Lamani before he can unleash a stealth weapon at a critical planetary Summit meeting. With time running out, Carter discovers that stopping Lamani may require sacrificing Beth’s life.
Will Carter be able to rescue her, or will his new love be the one person he can’t save?
Hunted By The Cyborg is available via Amazon, iTunes, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, & GooglePlay!
About Cara Bristol
USA Today Bestselling Author Cara Bristol writes character driven science fiction romance with humor, heart, and heat. She loves introducing new readers to science fiction romance, and likes to say she writes sci-fi for readers who don’t like sci-fi. She has three science fiction romance series: the action-packed Cy-Ops Sci-fi Romance cyborg series; the dark, intense Breeder series; and the new light and funny Alien Mate series. When she’s not writing (ha ha ha – she’s almost always writing) she enjoys traveling to exotic destinations and chillaxin’ with her favorite reality TV shows. Cara lives in Missouri with her own alpha hero, her husband. You can interact with her via the following:
Cara’s Website: http://carabristol.com/
Reader Newsletter: http://carabristol.com/get-your-free-book/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cara-bristol
Chat with Cara Reader Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1761424733891183/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Cara-Bristol-Romance-178661122147994/
Twitter: @CaraBristol https://twitter.com/CaraBristol
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorcarabristol
What did Ahsoka learn from Anakin?
In celebration of Ahsoka Tano Day, I am republishing one of my earlier articles I wrote for TheCantinaCast blog…
What did Ahsoka learn from Anakin?
I thought now, would be good time to reflect on what Ahsoka learned from Anakin while she was his padawan during The Clone Wars. Perhaps, this can help us understand her character better, as we see her in Star Wars Rebels.
Strategy
Ahsoka learned strategies from Anakin on how to outwit their Separatist adversaries.
Teaching Others
Ahsoka obtained the skillset to teach others how to pass-on the necessary skills in battle and on the frontlines from Anakin and Obi-Wan.
Leave No One Behind
Ahsoka learned from Anakin that every life is important, especially those that are in danger.
How To Survive Despite The Odds
When Ahsoka was kidnapped by the Trandojians for sport, Ahsoka relied on what Anakin taught her, to not only survive in that hostile environment, but to encourage those around her as well.
When It Is OK To Disobey Orders
Ahsoka learned from Anakin that it was alright to disobey an order from the Jedi Council when circumstances warrant it.
So what else do you believe Ahsoka learned from Anakin?
The Character Development of Ahsoka Tano
Ahsoka Tano’s Character Designs over the years credit Lucasfilm Ltd
Ahsoka Tano with Saw Gerrera in Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Ahsoka introduces herself to the crew of The Ghost in Star Wars Rebels season 1 Finale, Fire Across The Galaxy
#AhsokaTanoDay logo from TheWookieeGunner.com credit Johnamarie Macias
The Character Development of Ahsoka Tano by Patty Hammond (aka PattyBones2):
Foods in Star Wars with Significance
Foods in Star Wars with Significance
Consuming food is the basic foundation of life, but within the Star Wars Universe, some of them can have greater significance than just providing substance. Some can either further our understanding of characters, while wome further the plot in some way. A few of the foods that have significance for one reason or another in the Star Wars Saga are…
Jar Jar snagging food from a vendor in The Phantom Menace credit Lucasfilm
Appearance: The Phantom Menace
Significance: When Jar Jar snags a Gorg using his long tongue from a vendor in Mos Espa on Tatooine, he accidentally hits a Dug, with it. The Dug he hits with this delicacy is Sebolba who is Anakin Skywalker’s competitor in the sport of pod racing. The introduction of Sebolba is important in understanding what obstacles Anakin has to face in winning the Podrace, which is necessary for the ship repairs and in gaining his freedom from slavery.
Description: Round mostly round fruit with white stripes that can be found on Lothal and other planets
Appearance: Star Wars Rebels Season 1 Premiere Episode, Spark of Rebellion
Significance: Just before Ezra Bridger met the crew of The Ghost, a merchant selling Jorgan fruit was having a confrontation with Imperial officers. This confrontation led the Imperials to call for this merchant’s arrest for treason. Ezra quickly went to help this merchant by making these Imperials think there was an emergency elsewhere in the city. After these officiers left the area, Ezra helped this merchant pick up the Jorgan Fruit that fell to the ground during the confrontation. However, he takes some of the Jorgan fruit without permision. This scene with the Jorgan fruit, gives us a better understanding of Ezra’s character as quick thinking thief, who is willing to help when he can.
Ration Pack from The Force Awakens Visual Guide credit DK Books/Lucasfilm
Appearance: The Force Awakens
Significance: In The Force Awakens, Imperial rations are used as currency on the planet Jakku for items that are salvaged from crashed ships. When Unkar Plutt offers Rey 60 of these ration portions for BB-8, she refuses to sell the droid. This shows that Rey’s friendship with BB-8 is more important to her than what she was offered.
Ezra defends himself against a Storm Trooper with fruit credit StarWars.com
Appearance: Star Wars Rebels Season 1 Episode, Fighter Flight
Significance: A simple assignment to obtain some of this fruit for Hera turns into an adventure where Zeb and Ezra obtain a Tie Fighter. This Tie Fighter was then used as part of the plan to a rescue Kanan Jarrus from Imperial custody.
Description: A stew made of root leaves found on Dagobah
Appearance: The Empire Strikes Back
Significance: This stew is the ‘Good Food’ that Yoda offers Luke when he first encounters him on Dagobah. This is significant because it is when Luke is eating this repast that he discovers that the crazy creature that offered to help him find the Jedi Master, Yoda, is actually the one he was seeking.
So do you agree with me that these foods have significance within the Star Wars Saga?
Do you have any other examples that I missed?
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Patty Hammond (@pattyBones2) is the Everyday Fangirl from Michigan who has a disguise as a mild mannered data analyst. Patty is very active in the Star Wars community. You can find her posting about Star Wars and much more on her blog EverydayFangirl.com, TheCantinaCast.com, FutureofTheForce.com, TheBeardedTrio.com, and of course on Twitter @Pattybones2.
Baby Groot Is SO Cute!
Baby Groot credit Marvel Studios
Are you you excited about this film as much as I am?
The Superheroines Who Inspire Me – Guest Post
The Adventures of The Everyday Fangirl welcomes author Corrina Lawson as a guest blogger to talk about the Superheroines that inspire her.
Take it away Corrina!
The Superheroines Who Inspire Me by Corrina Lawson
Once upon a time, I dreamed superheroes were real. Of course, they’re not, not in the traditional sense of heroes with colorful costumes and extraordinary powers, but the heroic traits they possess is something I still want to emulate. Naturally, when I began to write paranormal romances, I drew on superhero mythology.
My first superhero, Alec Farley, the hero of Phoenix Rising, may have been born with powers like the X-Men, but he owes far more of his personality to the traits to the ones who inspired me: namely, his optimism, his kindness, and his insistence on always doing the right thing.
So here are the heroines who inspired me, in the order that I encountered them growing up. What strikes me about this list is that it’s full of grown woman for the most part. One would think I would have identified more with teenage characters but this list of ladies appealed to who I wanted to become, rather than who I was.
Batgirl (c) DC Comics
Lindsay Wagner as Jaime Sommers
Lois Lane
I’ve said this before, many times, but Lois Lane is the reason I became a journalist. She was the first female character I encountered who had a job other than teacher or nurse or secretary and it was a really cool job! There has been so much analysis about Lois Lane, everything from she’s not too smart to she gets kidnapped all the time, but the bottom line is she does the same job Superman does, fighting for truth and justice, but she does it without powers. In other words, she’s Superman’s hero.
Princess Projectra wedding panel
Huntress/Helena Wayne Helena Wayne was the daughter of an alternate Earth Batman and Catwoman. Whoa. Who wouldn’t want those parents? Alas, Helena was driven into crimefighting by revenge as her mother was killed after being blackmailed, and then her father later died fighting a villain possessing magical power. This, however, did not change her essentially optimistic personality. She became Huntress to find justice, not to hurt others, and she was a lawyer by day to do the same.
Jean Grey
If you’ve only watched the movies, well, you’re missing out on Jean Grey/Marvel Girl/Phoenix as she’s been consistently underused on the screen. That’s the problem with her comic book self, too, as Jean was never the same after the Dark Phoenix saga in which she gained the ability to devour worlds (and did) but killed herself to save the universe from her own power. What she taught me in the Dark Phoenix saga is that a powerful woman could be an equal in a relationship, even with the leader of the X-Men, (Cyclops), and she could even initiate sex. (“Scott, I wanted to see your eyes.”) Jean, until power consumed her, showed what equality was like when you’re in love.
Oracle and Black Canary from The Birds of Prey
Sharon Carter
Agent 13 was created many years ago but she’d been pushed to the side when I first started reading Captain America comics in the late 1970s. Heck, she was even killed off. But she was brought back in a short run by Mark Waid and has never been sent to the sidelines again. What’s great about Sharon? She’s the proto-typical bad-ass secret agent, she’s the intellectual equal of Steve Rogers, and she’s fiercely independent. When Sharon was impregnated against her will by the Red Skull with (handwaveycomicbookscience) a child/clone to use against her and Steve, Sharon escaped custody and when her enemies were closing in again, she stabbed herself in the gut, taking control and ownership of what was being done to her own body.
Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel
Like Black Canary/Dinah Lance, Carol has been knocking around since the 1970s, though she’s in the Marvel universe. Originally, she was a female version of Captain Mar-vell, but then a newspaper publisher, a member of the Avengers, then depowered, then a member of the X-Men powered by star energy called Binary, then Warbird, then…well, you get the picture. Writers, mostly male, made Carol into whatever they wanted. Then Kelly Sue DeConnick led a revamp of the character, Carol took on the mantle of Captain Marvel, she owned her experience as a pilot and Air Force Colonel, and now she’s a confident leader who can defeat any threat. In other words, she came through the fire better than ever and now she’ll have a movie. Go, Carol.
Jessica Jones
She’s the last addition to my list and it’s by virtue of her Netflix show. I read some issues of the comic Alias that introduced Jessica and they didn’t speak to me. Perhaps it was that Jessica seemed angry all the time but it was never clear why.
But in the show, we know right away why she’s angry and dysfunctional. She was mind-controlled and raped and abused by a telepath, and she’s by turns pissed off and traumatized by it. But to Jessica, the worst thing that can happen, ever, is that someone dies on her watch. She was under compulsion to kill once and she refuses to do it again. Oh, she’s not a saint. She’s profane, an alcoholic, she’s rude, and she often refuses to let anyone help with her pain. But she pushes past that because, dammit, she hates to see people hurt, even people she doesn’t like. Her story is also one of healing for rape survivors and we never get enough of those.
Corrina Lawson as Wonder Woman
Her novels include The Curse of the Brimstone Contract, a romantic steampunk mystery and the Galaxy award-winning and USA Today recognized superhero romance series: Phoenix Institute series: Phoenix Rising, Luminous, Phoenix Legacy, Ghost Phoenix, Ghosts of Christmas Past, and Phoenix Inheritance.
You can learn more about Corrina by visiting her website: corrina-lawson.com, her Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/corrina.lawson or by following her adventures via Twitter: @CorrinaLawson
Veronica Scott Talks Pets In Space and Shares an Excerpt
The Adventures of The Everyday Fangirl welcomes author Veronica Scott about the new anthology, Pets in Space. Take it away Veronica!
Veronica Scott Talks Pets In Space and Shares an Excerpt
Pets In Space
I can’t imagine not having pets, whether I’m living here on Earth or in outer space. So late last year author Pauline Baird Jones and I were talking about how much fun it would be to put together an anthology of science fiction romance stories involving pets and Pets In Space was born! I myself have two rescue cats currently, Jake and Keanu, who supervise my writing from the chair next to the desk, so I made a cat one of my two space pets and created an alien pet to be her sidekick.
We also wanted to have the anthology benefit a pet-related charity so we selected Hero Dogs, Inc., which supplies service dogs to veterans. Susan Grant, one of our authors, is a veteran and most of the authors have relatives who served in the military, so it seemed like an excellent fit for a partner.
Space Pets
The human hero is Owen Embersson and I picked that name for him because I was envisioning a big strong, Viking-like ex-soldier to be the cargo master for my spaceship. So I hope the name would convey those attributes to the reader. I recently did a character interview with ‘Owen’ and here’s how he explained his cat’s name:
“She’s pure white, so I named her Moby, after Moby Dick the whale in that old book from Earth. Not that I’ve read it, too long and antiquated. I figured she’d enjoy eating a whale and she was going into the ocean of space. I don’t know, seemed good at the time.”
The alien pet is named Midorri and I simply invented that when she first appeared in my novel Star Cruise: Outbreak as the pampered pet of a princess. I liked the sound of the name!
We also commissioned an artist, Nyssa Juneau, to do sketches of all the pets in the anthology, so here are Moby and Midorri.
I’ll share a short excerpt from Star Cruise: Stowaway, my story in the anthology, where Owen and Tyrelle, the stowaway are discussing pet names. Tyrelle has been held in the sickbay and the two pets have been visiting her (because they have the run of the ship). Turns out Tyrelle can ‘talk’ to the animals.:
Midorri chirruped and slithered to the floor, going to the portal, where she scratched at the door with two of her six feet.
Owen rose to let her out.
Moby promptly entered, jumping to the bed and rubbing Tyrelle’s face, arching her spine and purring loudly.
“When one leaves, the other arrives. You’re the keeper of the animals?” she asked.
“Moby’s mine. I rescued her from kids in a rough port town as a kitten a few years ago and brought her with me to the Zephyr. Midorri belongs to the entire ship, but she spends a lot of time in the cargo bay, with Moby, hunting vermin.” He sat, trapped in the small chair. “The Zephyr’s not infested or anything, we run a tight ship, but there’s always a few space rats.” I can’t believe I’m talking to this beautiful woman about rats.
She laughed, scratching under Moby’s chin for a moment and staring into the cat’s green eyes. “Yes, this one likes you very much and the name you gifted her. Midorri is not the other one’s name, you know, but she told me she doesn’t mind answering to it.”
“I vaguely remember my grandmother telling me a story or a poem from old Earth, something about cats having three names,” he said, the memory surfacing full blown. Thoughts of his grandmother hadn’t crossed his mind in decades, but now he could picture her, smell the cookies she baked, hear her voice. “The one people called them, the one the cats called themselves and a secret name no one ever uses.”
“I like the idea.” Her cheeks displayed charming dimples as she smiled. “Even I don’t know Midorri’s secret name.”
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Anthology Pets In Space
Join the adventure as nine pet loving sci-fi romance authors take you out of this world and pull you into their action-packed stories filled with suspense, laughter, and romance. The alien pets have an agenda that will capture the hearts of those they touch. Follow along as they work side by side to help stop a genetically-engineered creature from destroying the Earth to finding a lost dragon; life is never the same after their pets decide to get involved. Can the animals win the day or will the stars shine just a little less brightly?
New York Times, USA TODAY, Award Winning, and Best selling authors have eight original, never-released stories and one expanded story giving readers nine amazing adventures that will capture your imagination and help a worthy charity. Come join us as we take you on nine amazing adventures that will change the way you look at your pet!
10% of the first month’s profits go to Hero-Dogs.org. Hero Dogs raises and trains service dogs and places them free of charge with US Veterans to improve quality of life and restore independence.
Star Cruise: Stowaway by Veronica Scott
Cargo Master Owen Embersson is shocked when the Nebula Zephyr’s ship’s cat and her alien sidekick, Midorri, alert him to the presence of a stowaway. He has no idea of the dangerous complications to come – nor does he anticipate falling hard for the woman whose life he now holds in his hands. Life aboard the Nebula Zephyr has just become more interesting – and deadly.
Pets In Space anthology is available 10/11/16 via the following…
- Amazon (TBD)
Author Veronica Scott
Three time winner of the SFR Galaxy Award, as well as a National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award, Veronica is also the proud recipient of a NASA Exceptional Service Medal relating to her former day job, not her romances! She recently was honored to read the part of Star Trek Crew Member in the audiobook production of Harlan Ellison’s “City On the Edge of Forever.”
You can connect with Veronica via…
#AtoZChallenge 2016-Zingers
Welcome to the last day of the A to Z Blog Challenge and a topic related to the letter…
Today’s #AtoZBlogChallenge Topic: Zingers
A Zinger, according to dictionary.com, is when someone says a quick, witty, or pointed remark or retort during the story.
Characters can become associated with these zingers. Below are some examples:
As said by Vash the Stampede in the anime series Trigun:
Vash the Stampede
“This land is made of LOVE AND PEACE!”
As said by Marin Brody in the film Jaws:
Martin Brody
“We’re going to need a bigger boat.”
As said by Dr. Leonard ‘Bones’ McCoy from Star Trek TOS in the episode “The Devil in the Dark“:
Captain Kirk and Bones McCoy
“I’m a doctor, not a bricklayer.”
As said by Phil Coulson in Marvel’s Agents of S.H.E.I.L.D in the episode ‘Skye’:
“Don’t Ever Tell Me There’s No Way”
#AtoZChallenge 2016-Yellow
Welcome to the second to last day of the A to Z Blog Challenge for this year and a topic related to the letter…
Today’s #AtoZBlogChallenge Topic: Yellow
Below are some of the characters who are associated with the color yellow for one reason or another:
Faye Valentine from Cowboy Bebop and her skimpy yellow outfit
Jubilee from the X-Men animated series and her yelllow coat
The Beatles and the Yellow Submarine
Belle from Beauty and the Beast with her yellow ball gown
Monkey D Luffy from One Piece with his yellow Straw Hat
Mrs. Fizzle and the yellow Magic School Bus
Marge Simpson with her yellow skin color
#AtoZChallenge 2016-X The Movie
Welcome to another day of the A to Z Blog Challenge and a topic related to the letter…
Today’s #AtoZBlogChallenge Topic: X The Movie
X The Movie is one of the first anime films I was introduced to. In addition, as a fangirl I was excited that this was created and written by an all-woman writing team, known as CLAMP.
Conflict in Tokyo
This story of X The Movie centers around the conflict between The Dragon of Earth, who wants to wipe out humankind because of the damage people have inflicted on the Earth, and the Dragon of Heaven, who is fighting to protect civilization. It is the character, Kamui Shirō, who is the chosen one and must pick a dragon to fight for in order to end the conflict.
Kamui
