I thought I’d talk about sex…
I mean, when you’re sick, what the hell else is there to talk about?
Mandi, at Smexy Books, wrote an interesting review of the first two books of Daughters of Persephone, Exile and Return. She liked the sci fi despite the fact that sci fi isn’t really her thing. She thought the story was good. And that’s huge for me, because the book is a futuristic SFR - Science Fiction Romance. I was going for a good, solid science fiction story. She said, and I quote:
“I liked this sci-fi world Julia Rachel Barrett has set up. I don’t read a lot of sci fi and I always get a little nervous that I will have no idea what is going on, but this one is pretty straight forward (with a glossary at the beginning that is helpful!) The idea that women have no rights, yet Aja is so strong and bursting to take full command of her powers is an interesting plot. There are some nice twists that come in regarding her family in both books. There is an evil villain that is set up well and even better, family members who have not so nice motives of their own.”
Thanks for the compliment, Mandi! She also posed a valid criticism, an issue I deal with when writing because of my own preference in romance. Here’s another quote:
“My biggest complaint is the romance. Now I know this is a sci-fi so romance doesn’t have to be prominent – but Ms. Barrett does set us up from the beginning with a romantic plot. What I wanted was there to be more conflict, or build up to the hero and heroine getting together. I have the same complaint in both books- very early on in the story, the heroes and heroines get together and that is that.”
Many, if not most, fans of romance like tension, sexual and/or romantic tension in their romance - and lots of it! I do too, when the tension is written well. I doubt Mandi will go on to read books three and four, Reborn and Red Demon - actually my two favorite books of the series. They are darker stories and there are questions about whether or not our heroes and heroines will get together. As my husband says, when the heroine has sight and can see her true mate coming, there is no question mark. His complaint about the first two books was the same as Mandi’s, but he loved books three and four.
It’s all on me. Sometimes I just like sex, no preamble, no pussyfooting around. Give it to me! Give it to me now! I’ve read too many forced come hither/go away scenes and I’m not a fan. However, Mandi’s criticism is very valid, and timely! I’ve been working on a contemporary filled with sexual tension and humor! Ya’ll made me do it - you told me to write a story about my canoe trip from hell, so watch out, here it comes and man, is it a sexy beast!
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September 24th, 2010 at 8:29 pm
I’m planning on reading the the Daughters of Persephone series and “One Four All” and nothing can deter me! l I can’t wait to hear more about the new projects, I’ll bet the canoe story has plenty of tension! lol
XXOO Kat
September 24th, 2010 at 8:35 pm
LOL! Murderous tension! Thanks, Kat!
September 25th, 2010 at 3:14 am
I’m a give it to me now type of gal too. lol I really can’t wait to see the canoe story, I’ll bet it will be another Julia Barrett winner.
September 25th, 2010 at 4:39 pm
Often the conflict in PNR,R,WR,SFR,RRRRRRRRR is too contrived as if we are conditioned to expect it in a book although 90% of the time we avoid that kind of drama in our real, everyday lives. Then oh it’s suddenly okay that he screwed the entire Dallas Cheerleader squad, he thought I was dead! I love you let’s F#(k!” is the same thing. What matters is that the thing works. It sounds true. It rings true and it feels right. Sincerity makes it work, that is what we respond to in art.
That’s what counts. Like in painting, if it works it works. No one would say Picasso painted in a true to life style but it is true in some sense; not contrived, not put on, it is sincere. The same with a primitive or a medieval triptych, people don’t have flat heads bigger than their bodies but those are the classics of the art world. Who the hell can understand Ulysses but it must be sincere whole courses of study are devoted to it. No matter how its written or painted a sincere work of art, or book is a true one.
September 25th, 2010 at 5:02 pm
Well, Steph, I happen to agree that if there is truth and sincerity behind the words, the story will probably be interesting if nothing else. Plot devices bother me - especially in literary fiction. I expect plot devices in genre fiction and I can only hope they are used appropriately and used well!