One of my all-time favorite works of science fiction is Ringworld, by Larry Niven.  He creates a colorful cast of characters who set out on an epic journey to explore an anomaly, a ring-shaped, artificially created, giant planet containing an earth-like atmosphere and ecosphere.  The crew includes the giraffy guy…that’s how I like to remember him, and the lucky guy – because in this story, luck is genetic.  Ringworld is my husband’s very favorite work of science fiction.

So last night, hubby was reading my book, Daughters of Persephone, on his Kindle.  Since I’m stuck downstairs with the new puppy, he came down to discuss his thoughts.

“I really like it,” he said, “but I’m feeling an existential conundrum coming on.”

“Oh?” I asked.  “What sort of existential conundrum?”

“Can science fiction and erotic romance exist in the same book?”

“I don’t know,” I replied, “but they coexist in both Captured and Daughters of Persephone .”

“Yes,” he said, “but true science fiction aficionados might go into shock when they come upon an explicit sex scene while fans of erotic romance might not get the science fiction, especially the science fiction references you’ve included.”

“Well, hmmm, but that’s what I’ve written.”

“But is there a market for this?  Is there an audience?”

Good question, hubby!  I don’t have a clue.  I hope so!

Can the two genres meet in the middle?  In Dune, for example, while the romance takes a backseat to the overarching messianic theme, there is love in the book.  In George R.R. Martin’s series, A Game of Thrones, there is sex, not what I would consider erotic sex or romance, but sex nonetheless.

Science fiction romance is not Paranormal, i.e., Vampire Romance, Shifter Romance, Were Romance, Faerie Romance, time travel romance…those fall more in the realm of fantasy and are a sort of pop-culture genre right now. Science fiction is not necessarily post-apocalyptic, although it may contain post-apocalyptic elements, nor is it quite Steam Punk – which does contain elements of science fiction.  I don’t know whether science fiction romance is a separate genre, a sub-genre, a new genre, a finding its way genre…and I have no idea if there is a fan base.  From what I’ve read on the blogs, there isn’t, not really.

Here’s what pops into my head when I imagine a damn good science fiction story containing romance and sex in addition to outstanding science fiction elements – The Terminator.

Any ideas?  Yes?  No?  Regardless, I don’t plan to stop writing ‘em.

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Thursday’s San Francisco Chronicle – The Sporting Green headline – Torres, as in torrid.

I like it – Torrid Torres!  On Wednesday, against the Marlins, he had a Splash Hit.  He now has two.  My other favorite Giants player, Aubrey Huff, also has two.  So…here are my guys – and they have been since the first time I saw them – Andres Torres, Juan Uribe, Aubrey Huff, Travis Ishikawa, and Jonathan Sanchez.  Yeah, sure, everybody likes The Freak, Matt Cain, and Brian Wilson.  Man, that Bumgarner can throw and Buster Posey is amazing -  why the heck wasn’t he brought up sooner???  Hmmmm???  I like every guy on that team, but I love me some Andres Torres!

Yes, there is no contradiction…you can write science fiction/romance and still love baseball.  My guys have always been baseball players.

So…Thank you very much Steph, at Fangs Wands and Fairy Dust, for letting me take over your blog yesterday and many thanks to those of you who stopped by.

Today, Friday, I’m over at Anna’s place.  She’s posted an interview with The Thousand Year Empress, Aja Bokina, a Daughter of Persephone.  Come see what makes her tick and maybe win an e-copy of this fun, sexy, romantic, kick ass science fiction book.  http://s7anna.blogspot.com/

The ladies at Happily Ever After Reviews informed me today that Beauty and the Feast is up for cover of the month.  I’m going against some great covers.  If you feel like voting, here’s the link:  http://hea-reviews.blogspot.com/2010/07/july-book-of-month-and-cover-of-month.html

Off to play with my puppy!  He has that sweet puppy breath and he gives me kisseeeees!

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Yes!  We got a puppy, Jake, a long-coated German shepherd puppy, 8 1/2 weeks, suffering from big puppy syndrome – the poor guy is so big for his age that people expect more of him than he’s capable of delivering!  But he’s sweet, smart and gorgeous!  Of course my cats won’t come near him.  They’re like…Crap!  Not another dog!  We thought we had the house and yard all to ourselves!

Daughters of Persephone is now available for Kindle and over at All Romance Ebooks.  I’m happy.

Stephanie at Fangs Wands and Fairy Dust has a feature on Daughters of Persephone today (Thursday) – I’m the guest blogger.  She’s running a contest – you can win an e-copy of Daughters or one of two hard copies of Captured.  Yum!

http://fangswandsandfairydust.blogspot.com/

That’s all for today – I have  a big puppy sitting on my lap!

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Janna, at Erotic Romance Reader featured a clip yesterday from Daughters of Persephone, Book One Exile.  Yikes!  I wrote that, eh?  Cool!

Here’s her main link in case you can’t get in the back door – http://erotromreader.blogspot.com/

All next week while Janna’s on vacation, you can read guest posts and win books – I’m giving away a copy of Daughters, Mia Watts and Bronwyn Green are also providing prizes.  Make sure to stop by Janna’s place for some goodies!

Wiping the sweat from my brow!  Whew!  Sixteen hours straight of revising Anytime Darlin’ - my cowboy rancher/farm girl romance with Siren.  I had to get it done…we may be getting a new puppy tomorrow.  This was a major re-write and it took me days as this honey-bunny is a full-length romance/suspense.

I just this minute got a review for my very popular romance/suspense, My Everything, from Happily Ever After Reviews:  http://hea-reviews.blogspot.com/2010/07/review-my-everything-by-julia-barrett.html Ben and Grace seem to be characters readers love.  They are lovers reunited after ten long, heart breaking years apart.  Five Tea Cups!

Drop by tomorrow as author, Anny Cook, gives us her take on fantasy.  She writes very hot, very fantastic books – we’re talking major world-building!

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http://hea-reviews.blogspot.com/2010/07/giveaway-spotlight-daughters-of.html

You can win a copy….go!

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My daughter…my sister…my daughter…my sister…

So fingers crossed!  If I owe you a copy, drop me a line at Julia@JuliaRachelBarrett.net

I’m swamped with edits right now and while I have a list of contest winners, I might not have time to check it for a while.  I don’t know exactly when I’ll get my copies, but I’ll try to touch base with you within a few days.

Yes, I’m excited!  Yes, it’s been stressful, to say the least!

Okay babies, back to work.

New blurb:

Blurb – Daughters of Persephone, Book One, Exile

Aja Bokinan, of noble blood, is the Thousand Year Empress who has grown to adulthood in exile. Throughout the Empire, women are banned from public life, have no legal rights, and they  have become little better than property.

In an attempt to kill off the royal line and end all resistance, Aja is kidnapped by a General who intends to inject her with a lethal virus, hoping she will infect her family and Women of the Blood everywhere.

Kyr Aram, is a smuggler and secret Resistance fighter. He must find a way to protect Aja from both the General and a traitor on his own ship who wishes to see her dead.  With the Thousand Year Empress, he gets more than he bargained for.

Blurb – Daughters of Persephone, Book Two, Return

The Lady Ennat, has been sent by her mother to Resistance Commander, Karna Aram.  She is a Blood decoy, her role is to protect her sister Aja, the Thousand Year Empress, and draw the bulk of the Coalition forces away from the Resistance fighters.  Knowing she may not live to see tomorrow, she gives into her growing feelings for Commander Aram.

Karna Aram wanted the woman from the moment she set foot on his supply depot, but nobody touches a Princess of the Blood.  He resists his bone deep desire until Ennat challenges him to pick up a sword and spar with her.  All bets are off.  Karna has a different kind of sword play in mind.

When the Ennat and her sister, Aja, are reunited, they know the Coalition is coming after them.  They must risk all to save their followers, and the men they love.

Buy link: http://www.resplendencepublishing.com/

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Mia and I spent three hours on Rodeo Beach, picking through tiny pebbles, searching for semi-precious stones.  We found, among other things, jade, carnelian, shark teeth, polished beach glass…I don’t know the identity of most of the stones.  Some are quartz.  She took a bag home with her as souvenirs.

Rodeo Beach is my favorite beach in the area, not because it’s all warm and sunny and you can swim.  This is not Los Angeles.  The water is icy, the waves rough, the currents, rip tides and undertow make swimming or surfing dangerous at best.  Besides, the waters off Rodeo Beach are part of the Great White Triangle.  Scary!

Nah, we just had fun, sifting through mounds of pebbles, waiting for that one bright and shining little tiny translucent treasure to pop up out of the blue.

So…why do I enjoy reading Mia’s m/m romances?  The reading experience is a little like finding that one round rose-red carnelian.  Her stories give me the same little jolt of excitement

I’m not an m/m of reader, yet the men in Mia’s romances appeal to me.  They tug at my heart in the same way Ennis Del Mar did in Brokeback Mountain.  I want them for myself.

Mia’s men are not the only treasure.  Mia, herself, is precious.  She’s a joy to be with – read her books!  In fact, read more books in general.  Books are good for you!

News:  Over the next week, I’ll be slaving over edits – because you all want books three and four of Daughters of Persephone to be released on September 8 and believe me, so do I!  I’ll post as often as I can.

I’m still over at Book Lovers Inc. – head on over!  You can win a copy of Daughters of Persephone!

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I have emergency edits and cover requests to finish so that Daughters of Persephone – all volumes – can get released on time – and the great, wonderful, marvelous, hilarious, fun-loving, compassionate, understanding, all round good sport, author Mia Watts has been hanging with me and my honey.

I will post as soon as I have a free moment!

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I’ll be giving away a copy of Daughter’s of Persephone – new release date for volume one is July 21, for volume two, the new release date is September 8.  Stop by Book Lovers Inc. and leave a comment!  Please!

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1.  My Everything, my romance-suspense with Cobblestone, got a five-star review from The Romance Studio:  http://theromancestudio.com/reviews/reviews/myeverythingbarrett.htm

2.  Beauty and the Feast, my contemporary with Resplendence, received a five-teacup review from Happily Ever After:  http://hea-reviews.blogspot.com/2010/07/review-beauty-and-feast-by-julia.html

3.  The release of Daughters of Persephone will probably be delayed…ACK!  DOUBLE ACK!!!  I’ll be working on it all day today…@#$%^&*+=!

4.  Author Mia Watts, my not-so-secret online lover, arrives tomorrow!  Yay!  Pant…pant…pant.

5.  I tried a piece of bacon in Montana.  I liked it.  My daughter told me I can no longer officially call myself a vegetarian.  I’m a lapsed vegetarian.

6.  Siren sent me congrats yesterday on becoming a PAN-Eligible author, thanks to sales from Captured.  I’m in the news over there and if I had time, I’d do a happy dance!   http://www.sirenbookstrand.com/pan/

7.  We get to look at the puppies early next week!!!  The breeder says there may be three long-coated babies, which we want, and one is a really big male.  Give me those really big males any day!  I do love boys and I miss mine!

8.  After reading Read React Review‘s take on Passion, by Lisa Valdez, my husband wants to know – here’s the question of the day – and if you can answer, you might just receive a copy of one of my books…How does one measure a penis?  From root to tip?  Where do you start your measurement?  LOL!  Only hubby-mine could come up with a question like that!

love, a stressed-out julia

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