What Got Left Out? Classic Misses in SFF Worldbuilding

Jeffe on the Iron Throne

I love this photo of me on the Iron Throne, the much-sought seat in George R.R. Martin’s A Game of Thrones and the ensuing books in the A Song of Ice and Fire series. It’s a testament to GRRM’s meticulous worldbuilding (yes, I’m making it one word in this post because it should be) that people have gone to such lengths to reconstruct pieces of his imaginary world. 

That’s our topic at the SFF Seven this week – Children and the Elderly: what elements tend to get left out of worldbuilding? Come on over to play the game!

First Chance for the LAST DANCE!

Last Dance

Cover Reveal! The first in my new contemporary, sexy romance series will be out on Tuesday, February 28, 2017!
 
Missed Connections #1
 
“This book kept me up all night! Funny, mysterious and oh so sexy!”
M. O’Keefe USA Today Bestselling Author
 
It was five minutes. His hand on the small of her back. His eyes watching like there was no one else in the crowded club. His body a breath away from hers. A kiss full of heat and need and promise.
 
But then the stranger disappears. And Charlotte Emory can’t forget him. Worse, according to the dating Rules she and her four best friends swear by, all she can do is post an ad online. No names, no numbers. Just a missed connection – and the hope he’ll meet her, and see where another dance leads.
 
Except Mr. Mystery has his game, too, and he isn’t playing for only one night. He tempts Charley into a daring exploration of power, lust, and suspense, where even the most innocent requests sound indecent…and the indecent ones make her burn all night.
 
If she plays by the Rules, they’ll never get past teasing each other. But rules were made to be broken…
 

Should Authors Comment on Politics?

This photo didn’t come out in focus – too dark – but I’m sharing it anyway because the moment of this full supermoon rising through clouds in Santa Fe during a penumbral eclipse was absolutely incredible to see. My wonderful friend, Anne Calhoun, was visiting. We climbed up onto the roof and watched the sun set and the moon rise. Neither of us got great photographs. 

Too much magic, maybe,

But you’re not here to listen to me talk about friendship, moonrises and magic. Or maybe you are. If you know me or follow me on social media, you’ll expect this sort of thing. If you clicked on a link because you found the topic interesting, you’re maybe wondering when I’ll get to the point.

Eventually, my new visitor!

Because this week’s subject is Hot Topics & the Author’s Social Media Voice, it seems the perfect time to point out that the these three things – voice, social media, and an author’s response to hot topics – are inextricable. I unpack this over at the SFF Seven

On Professional Jealousy – and Three Ways to Shut It Down

Last weekend I got to visit my lovely writer friend Grace Draven – that’s me enjoying the gorgeous trees in Texas hill country – and this weekend my fantastic writer friend Anne Calhoun came to visit me. As a result, I’ve had about ten days worth of intense writer conversation and am wrung out.

I’m also late with this post to the SFF Seven because of it. Last week I didn’t do one at all, though that was largely because the topic was Flash Fiction and I just don’t much like doing those. Flash fiction can be an interesting form, but my fiction-writing energy goes into my current project and I find working on anything other than that feels tangential at best and counter-productive at worst.

I am, however, blessed by having these friends to talk writing with and my well has been refilled to brimming.

And this week’s topic is about writing relationships: A Cringeworthy Moment of Professional Jealousy & How You Dealt With It. Come on over to hear mine