Showing posts with label science fiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label science fiction. Show all posts

Saturday, January 12, 2019

Putting the Spotlight On: The Atlantis Grail



With the plethora of young adult dystopian books available today, one might think there's nothing new under the sun. Well, they'd be wrong!

Vera Nazarian
Two-time Nebula Award finalist and 2018 Dragon Award nominee Vera Nazarian has not only busted through the YA barrier, her wildly creative science fiction series, The Atlantis Grail, is still gaining traction in the genre. In fact, the series has been optioned for film!

The story begins with the discovery of a world-killing asteroid and the first contact with the Atlantians, who had migrated to a new world long before modern civilization began. But here, let's share the book description of the first of the series, Qualify:

You have two options. You die, or you Qualify.

The year is 2047. An extinction-level asteroid is hurtling toward Earth, and the descendants of ancient Atlantis have returned from the stars in their silver ships to offer humanity help.

But there's a catch.

They can only take a tiny percent of the Earth’s population back to the colony planet Atlantis. And in order to be chosen, you must be a teen, you must be bright, talented, and athletic, and you must Qualify.

Sixteen-year-old Gwenevere Lark is determined not only to Qualify but to rescue her entire family.
Because there's a loophole.

If you are good enough to Qualify, you are eligible to compete in the brutal games of the Atlantis Grail, which grants all winners the laurels, high tech luxuries, and full privileges of Atlantis Citizenship. And if you are in the Top Ten, then all your wildest wishes are granted… Such as curing your mother’s cancer.

There is only one problem.

Gwen Lark is known as a klutz and a nerd. While she's a hotshot in classics, history, science, and languages, the closest she's come to sports is a backyard pool and a skateboard.

This time she is in over her head, and in for a fight of her life, against impossible odds and world-class competition—including Logan Sangre, the most amazing guy in her school, the one she's been crushing on, and who doesn’t seem to know she exists.

Because every other teen on Earth has the same idea.

You Qualify or you die.

With the first three books in the series already published, the grand finale, Survive is well on its way to completion. Vera's 60,000+ followers on wattpad.com are eagerly devouring draft chapters of Survive as she writes the final book of the series.

While waiting for the last book of The Atlantis Grail series, readers can also enjoy her Cobweb Bride trilogy. Like The Atlantis Grail, the first book is permanently free on Kindle. Vera's lush writing style suits the Renaissance-era fantasy as Death seeks the promised bride.

In addition to these books, Vera has a number of highly recommended science fiction and fantasy novels and novellas available. Stop by her Amazon author page and check out this amazing author's books!



Amazon: Vera Nazarian Author Page 
The Atlantis Grail Official Website 
Perma-free Kindle editions:
     Qualify
     Cobweb Bride 

COMMENTS

Erika M Szabo

2 weeks ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Great to have you on our blog Vera :)
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Erika M Szabo via Google+

2 weeks ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Our guest author today is Vera Nazarian at #OurAuthorGang
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Thank you for sharing! Vera is an amazing author.

Tricia Drammeh shared this via Google+

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Rick Haynes

2 weeks ago  -  Shared publicly
 
All that hard work and now you can reap the rewards. Many congratulations.
 

Eva Pasco

2 weeks ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Best wishes with seeing your vision come to fruition on film!
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That's so exciting. And LOL, no, Vera has no voice in the casting!

Toi Thomas via Google+

2 weeks ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Book in the Spotlight: The Atlantis Grail by Nebula Award finalist, Vera Nazarian. #OurAuthorGang
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Chris Weigand shared this via Google+

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Thank you for sharing!

Ruth de Jauregui via Google+

2 weeks ago  -  Shared publicly
 
The amazing Vera Nazarian​'s YA series The Atlantis Grail is being spotlighted on #OurAuthorGang! And note: Book One is FREE on Kindle!
 
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Eva Miranda via Google+

2 weeks ago  -  Shared publicly
Toi Thomas originally shared this
 
Book in the Spotlight: The Atlantis Grail by Nebula Award finalist, Vera Nazarian. #OurAuthorGang
 
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Stephanie Collins via Google+

2 weeks ago  -  Shared publicly
Erika M Szabo originally shared this
 
Our guest author today is Vera Nazarian at #OurAuthorGang
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Thank you for sharing!!

Monday, November 26, 2018

Women in Science Fiction -- Anne McCaffrey

Ruth de Jauregui
The Harper Hall Trilogy - Kindle Editions
With the seventh anniversary of the passing of science fiction author Anne McCaffrey (April 1, 1926 – November 21, 2011) just last week, I wanted to talk about this amazing author. Her 46-year career in science fiction has led to her books filling science fiction fans' shelves, beginning with the fantastic Pern books.

Anne McCaffrey at Worldcon 2005
Picture taken by Szymon Sokół
McCaffrey, who was born in the US, moved to Ireland with her youngest two children after filing for divorce in 1970. Her 20-year marriage with Horace Wright Johnson had failed. With the change in Irish tax laws to exempt resident artists and her own Irish ancestry, it was a prudent move. While she stayed busy writing, her little family struggled for several years. It was the Pern-based Harper Hall Trilogy that freed her from her financial woes. As Todd, her middle son, wrote in 1996, McCaffrey "first set dragons free on Pern and then was herself freed by her dragons."

McCaffrey's first story "Freedom of the Race" was published in Hugo Gernsback's Science-Fiction Plus magazine in 1952. Her second, "The Lady in the Tower" was published in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction as well as The Year's Greatest Science Fiction anthology.

Several more short stories followed before McCaffrey wrote her first novel Restoree (1967). The stand-alone novel was inspired by her desire to write a strong female character. Todd quoted her as saying "I was so tired of all the weak women screaming in the corner while their boyfriends were beating off the aliens. I wouldn't have been—I'd've been in there swinging with something or kicking them as hard as I could."

The Pern novels, like many of her books, began with a short story. "Weyr Search" was published in Analog Science Fiction and Fact in 1967. It took the 1968 Hugo Award for best novella. The following year the second Pern story "Dragonrider" took the Nebula Award for best novella. These two stories, plus the unpublished "Black Dust Crack Dust" became the first of the Pern novels, Dragonflight (1969). With input from famed science fiction author Andre Norton regarding the white dragon, Dragonquest (1971) followed, then several years later, The White Dragon (1978). The White Dragon was the first science fiction book by a woman to make the New York Times best-seller list. The Harper Hall trilogy was started before the publication of The White Dragon. Dragonsong (1976) and Dragonsinger (1977) were published before McCaffrey finished the Dragonriders trilogy. Then McCaffrey completed the Harper Hall trilogy in 1979 with Dragondrums.

McCaffrey wrote a number of other Pern books, plus several other series and stand-alone books. Among her other popular series were the Brain & Brawn, Crystal Singer, Dinosaur Planet, Doona, Talent and Tower & Hive books. While she did write a few fantasies, she was firmly set in the science fiction genre. Despite the misconceptions of some sci-fi and fantasy fans, her Pern books were definitely not fantasy; the dragons were developed from the native fire lizards by genetic manipulation.

She was honored many times in her long career, including induction into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame in 2006 and receiving the Robert A. Heinlein Award in 2007. The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America named her the 22nd Grand Master in 2005.

Although McCaffrey was scheduled to appear at Dragon*con in 2011, Todd posted on her blog in August about the cancellation. "Mum very specifically asked me to apologize to those who had hoped to see her there, saying: 'Sorry that old age came up and bit me on the a**.' The Directors at Dragon*con have said that she’s to rest and get better so she can come next year.” Sadly, McCaffrey didn't make it to the next Dragon*con; a stroke took her in November.

McCaffrey's last book, Sky Dragons, was co-authored with Todd and published posthumously in 2012.

Amazon: Anne McCaffrey's Author Page

Sarah Nadler

2 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
I've read as many of her books as I can get my hands on! She was my inspiration for becoming an author of sci-fi and fantasy, and I still love re-reading her books occasionally.
 
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Chris Weigand

2 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
I have read a few of her books and loved them. It is nice to see strong female characters.
 
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Joe Bonadonna

2 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Great article, Ruth! I love McCaffrey's brilliant work and she had some influence on my own writing, too.
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Me too! Strong and ornery women run in the family. She makes me want to write strong characters.

Joe Bonadonna via Google+

2 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
#OurAuthorGang today features an article by Ruth de Jauregui on one of my favorite sci-fi authors, AnneMcCaffrey.
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Thank you for sharing!
 
+Ruth de Jauregui -- you're welcome!

Ruth de Jauregui via Google+

2 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
One of my favorite authors -- the incomparable Anne McCaffrey. #OurAuthorGang
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Ruth de Jauregui

2 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Anne McCaffrey was an amazing author -- and a strong woman. Her characters literally guided so many women through their teen and adult years!!
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Toi Thomas

2 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Great post about a great author. Thanks for sharing it.
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Thank you! And upon researching her, I realized that I'm missing some Pern books. How did that happen? SMH

Toi Thomas via Google+

2 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Today, Ruth de Jauregui​ shares the life and work of beloved sci-fi author, Ann McCaffrey. #OurAuthorGang
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Thank you so much for sharing!!

Eva Miranda via Google+

2 months ago  -  Shared publicly
Ruth de Jauregui originally shared this
 
One of my favorite authors -- the incomparable Anne McCaffrey. #OurAuthorGang
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Thank you so much for sharing my post!


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