Guest Post by David Goodberg (And Giveaway!)

South Park: The Best Non-Science-Fiction, Science-Fiction Show  

South Park in actuality, is a science fiction show.  While I recognize the magnitude of this article being posted on a book review website, I feel I have a duty to make this connection as I attempt to plug my science fiction book, Selected Shorts and Other Methods of Time Travel. There is a dangerous absence of science fiction in mainstream media, from movies and TV to even books (let alone humorous science fiction).  While books are the best resource for current science fiction, it is hardly the genre big publishers are investing their marketing dollars in. And before you try and counter-attack, let's remember that the massive influx of fantasy is hardly science fiction. Fantasy is a genre that features impossible environments while science fiction holds promise and possibility (or probability) of exiting. At least, that's the basics (that I believe to be true).  

To another level, I don’t consider drama in a futuristic environment science fiction unless there is a relationship between the story and us (the viewers).  For example, Star Wars is clearly a science-fiction series, but I would classify it more so as a dramatic adventure that takes place in the future because of the lack of science fiction themes versus the dramatic, human element that dominates. While having not read the books, I am existed to hear the buzz surrounding the Hunger Games film(s) since the books have become a huge success.  While I wouldn't consider this to be a full-blown science fiction franchise (based on minimal plot points I’ve read along with reviews). I enjoy the science-fiction elements involved and consider it a significant improvement compared to the pure fantasy content out there.  With that said, we rarely see full-blown science-fiction films. Source Code and Moon brought back the classic style of science-fiction.  Fringe and LOST (depending which season we are talking about) rebounded science-fiction on television as well. And let’s not forget about the continuing popularity of Dr. Who. But what is at fault in these examples is the expanded story.  

And So We Have a Winner (Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep Giveaway)

We had a ton of entries to the contest--thanks to all of you who took the time to enter. For new readers, make sure you check out Jennifer's guest post. 

My favorite answer to her question definitely was Kristin's:

I love reading because it's a great form of escapism. You get transported to new lands and times and meet interesting people who, unfortunately, are not real.

The next question is tougher because there are so many that I adore out there. I love the Morganville Vampire series by Rachel Caine, the Drake Chronicles by Alyxandra Harvey, just about any retold fairytale by Alex Flinn, the Strange Angels series by Lili St. Crow, the Vampire Princess of St. Paul series by Tate Hallaway and Holly Black's Curse Workers series, though I could name many more. And if Estep's second book is as good as the first, I'l have to add that series to my list as well.

I love strong, snarky leads, therefore I love characters like Gwen Frost (Estep), Cassel Sharpe (Black), Shane (Caine), Jace from Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments series and the male leads from Flinn's books.

Congratulations to . . .

Lena M.

who should be recieving an email from me shortly.

Thanks again to everyone who entered. Be sure to stop by next week: we'll be having a guest post and giveaway from David Goodberg for the holidays! 

SIMPLY NERDY BOOK REVIEWS

Blog Tour: Guest Post by Jennifer Estep (And Giveaway!)

As a stop in Jennifer Estep's Blog Tour, not only do we have a fabulous guest post from her today, but also a giveaway! To find out more, read on . . .

Greetings and salutations! First of all, I want to say thanks to Leah for hosting me on the blog today. Thanks so much, Leah!

Kiss of Frost, the second book in my Mythos Academy young adult urban fantasy series, came out on Nov. 29. The books focus on Gwen Frost, a 17-year-old Gypsy girl who has the gift of psy­chom­e­try, or the abil­ity to know an object’s history just by touch­ing it. After a seri­ous freak-out with her magic, Gwen is shipped off to Mythos Acad­emy, a school for the descen­dants of ancient war­riors like Spar­tans, Valkyries, Ama­zons, and more.

So today, Leah asked me to talk a little about my writing process. I have to admit that I’m a total panster when it comes to writing. I don’t do detailed character outlines, storyboards, or anything like that. I just think about my heroine, her magic, and how she can use it to defeat the bad guys. I also think about the overall plot, what the big turning points of the story are, and how those turning points will affect the characters. Then, I sit down and start writing.

I usually try to write at least 2,000 to 3,000 words a day when I’m doing a first draft until I have a draft that’s about 50,000 or 60,000 words or so. Then, I let the story sit for a few weeks before going back to it, reading through, and seeing if the plot, characters, and more hold together. Then, I start on my second draft, which is a slower process as I add in more description, dialogue, and really flesh out the story. Once that’s done, I let that draft sit for a few weeks before going back to it and seeing what else needs to be added. I repeat that same process a couple of times until I have a draft that’s about 90,000 words (for a young adult book), and the book is the best that I can make it. 

As far as writing individual scenes goes, I really like writing fight scenes and having my heroine go toe-to-toe with the bad guys. That’s one of the reasons I decided to make Gwen a warrior – because I knew I could write a lot of fight scenes for a warrior whiz kid like her and all the other students at Mythos Academy.

I also try to have my characters visit new places in each book. For example, in Kiss of Frost, Gwen and everyone else at the academy go to a ski resort for the annual Winter Carnival. Plus, I also like to introduce new characters as a series goes along, both friends and other folks who will become important to Gwen as well as the bad guys that she’ll face down. 

Somehow, it all comes together. It’s just the process that works for me. One of the things I like about writing is that there is no wrong or right way to do it – you just have to figure out what works for you and how to get the words down on the page. So far, I’m having a blast writing the Mythos Academy series, and I hope to be writing about Gwen and her friends for a long time to come.

What about you guys? What do you like about writing and reading? What are some of your favorite young adult books and characters right now?

New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Estep writes the Mythos Acad­emy young adult urban fan­tasy series for Kens­ing­ton. Touch of Frost, the first book in the series, and First Frost, a prequel e-story, are available now. Dark Frost, the third book, will be out in June 2012, while Crimson Frost, the fourth book, is tentatively scheduled to be published in January 2013.

For more information, excerpts, and more, visit Jennifer’s website at http://www.jenniferestep.com/.

Thanks so much for stopping by, Jennifer! Now for the giveaway, I have ONE copy of Touch of Frost, the first novel in the series. To find out more information about it, click here. 

To enter to win, you must fill out the following form. Don't forget to like/follow this blog or comment on this post for extra entries. Only U.S. and Canada, please. Your mailing address and email will not be shared.

The winner will be contacted by me and announced on December 18th, along with my favorite answers to Jennifer's questions above: What about you guys? What do you like about writing and reading? What are some of your favorite young adult books and characters right now? Please don't leave any boxes empty in the form. Starred questions are required for form submission.