Sci Fi Friday: Closer to the Jetson Life - Flying Cars!

At last, one of the great inventions from creative science fiction minds is getting ever closer to reality. Who doesn't want a flying car?

Terrafugia announced the TF-X, a flying car that would not need a runway and can fit in a standard-sized garage. Oh, and it's a hybrid. What's not to love?

I remember reading about flying cars in Weekly Reader back in elementary school. They "promised" us flying cars by the year 2000!

I'm still waiting.

This is one of those inventions that could be a true life changer for a lot of people. Say goodbye to two hour commutes. Business trips would become a breeze.

But my guess is that even if this type of machine hits the market, the price will be out of budget for even most upper middle class folks.

A girl can dream...

What about you? Do you long for a flying car? Or is there some other science fiction invention that you're hoping will become a science reality?

Writer Chat Wednesday Welcomes Arizona Author Mark Gardner

I'm happy to welcome author Mark Gardner to Writer Chat Wednesday and to introduce a fellow Arizona author to my readers. I met Mark at S.A.F.E.Con in Prescott Valley, Arizona and we agreed to keep in touch. I recently caught up with Mark and here is a snippet of our conversation.

NW: What genre do you write? 

MG:  New pulp / sci-fi

NW:  What inspired you to start writing? 

MG:  I was working for a large U.S. corporation and I was fired on the day Amazon announced Kindle Direct. I looked into it, and dusted off a manuscript I had toyed with for a few years. Once it was finally done and published, I knew I had been bitten by the writing bug.

NW:  Do you have a career other than being a writer and if so, does that career/job influence your writing or inspire it? 

MG: I don't know that I'd call it a "career," but I work part-time at a national video game retailer and part-time at a local radio station. Since I'm a student of the human condition and human behavior, my daily interactions inspire my writing. In fact, several regular customers at the game store have given feedback on stories in progress. I usually offer these people personalized prerelease copies of my paperbacks.

NW:  Please tell us a little bit about your most recent release. 

MG:  Forlorn Hope is the story of a husband and wife scientist team who are traveling to Yellowstone National Park to see if they can reverse a global ice age. There are those who don't want the couple to learn the secrets of the ice age.

NW:  This sounds like an interesting premise. What inspired you to write this book? 

MG: I had the initial idea from former talk show host and Professor of Economics Dr. Terry J. Lovell. He was discussing anthropomorphic global warming and had referenced the American Revolutionary War and the fact that it happened during a mini-ice age. "The day after Tomorrow" was a popular movie at the same time so I imagined that movie for my descriptions of the landscapes. Finally, A few friends of mine kicked around plot points during the writing process.

NW: My husband is a huge fan of The Day After Tomorrow movie and he loves natural disaster stories, so I'll have to tell him about your book.

           What do you hope people will take away from reading your books? Do you have a message or theme?

MG:  My only theme is that there are great stories to be told. I don't consider myself an author, but a storyteller and I enjoy hearing and telling a great story. I self identify as a Libertarian (not the political party, but the social philosophy)  so a common theme in my writing is the danger of a too-powerful federal government. Also, I've been known to mess with my readers.

NW: Are you self-published, small press or traditionally published? Self-published.

NW:  What influenced your decision to publish in the way that you did? 

MG: I don't have a long story about traditional rejection. My decision to self-publish has to do more with my wanting complete control over my art than any statement about indies versus traditional publishing. I want control over choosing beta readers, editors, cover art and pricing. I also intentionally try to avoid "popular" writing and just do my own thing. I sincerely believe my audience will find me if I put my art out there.

NW:  I can relate to that, Mark. Sounds like we have something in common there in terms of reasons why we self-publish. Are there any authors that inspire you? If so, who? 

MG: My stock answer is Harry Turtledove from a body of work standpoint. I also really dig Chuck Wendig's zany "Art harder, motherf*cker" from an overall attitude towards writing. But, as with anyone influences are a multitude. I've at one point or another tried to channel Steven King, Ben Bova, Janet Evanovich, Kim Stanley Robinson,Jerome Bixby and Ken Grimwood.

NW:  What are you working on now? 

MG: The next publication will be a short story about a family attempting to escape religious persecution. It's about 9,000 words. Expected publication is Fall 2014.

NW: Besides writing novels, are you involved in any other sorts of writing projects and if so, what? 

MG: I do the weekly flash fiction challenge over at Chuck Wendig's site. I'm on my last semester at Northern Arizona University that takes a lot of time I could be writing.

NW:  Okay, time for some silliness. Chocolate or vanilla? 

MG: Vanilla (with Heath chunks.)

NW:   Coffee or tea? 

MG:  Either, with enough sugar to mask the disgusting taste of both beverages.

NW: Favorite sport? 

MG:  I like to go bowling.

NW:  Beach or mountains? 

Mountains.

NW:  What three words describe Mark Gardner? 

MG: Belligerent, sarcastic & narcissistic. (Submitted by my wife.)

If you'd like to learn more about Mark and his work, please check out these links:

Author website: http://article94.wordpress.com

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7752902.Mark_Gardner

And if you'd like to purchase Mark's books, please follow the links below:

Book links:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/forlorn-hope-mark-gardner/1117912540?ean=2940149081004

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HMCPAEA

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id768948900

https://www.createspace.com/4393135

Mark Gardner lives in northern Arizona with his wife, two school-aged children and a pair of spoiled dogs. Mark holds a degree in Computer Systems and Applications and is currently attending Northern Arizona University.

SAFECon 2014 a Huge Success

I had a great time this past Saturday, March 20, 2014 at SAFECon in Prescott Valley, Arizona at the public library. For a smallish town, Prescott Valley turned out a nice crowd for this first annual event. It was a free event geared to teens, but people of all ages showed up. I particularly enjoyed seeing the creativity and hard work that the teens put into their cosplay. SAFECon provided me yet another opportunity to meet and talk story with wonderful tweens, teens and adults as well. I love my job!!

A special shout out to Jamie. She's a mom with a young, budding artist. Jamie's eyes got moist in the corners as she talked about her daughter's art - an obvious pride in her voice. What impressed me was Jamie's devotion to her daughter following her dream and doing what she loves. So often, parents and other adults try to steer their children away from careers in the arts. It's understandable. Living the life of an artist can be one filled with rejection, pain, and poverty! It is (often) not an easy life.

But Jamie is a mother who recognizes the joy that creating art brings to her daughter. And her daughter won second place in the art contest at SAFECon! Congrats!

I also got to chat with reporter and writer Patrick Whitehurst who was kind enough to mention me in his news story that appeared Sunday, 3/20 in the Daily Courier. Here's the whole story:

3/30/2014 6:03:00 AM Sci-fi, Anime, Fantasy, Etc. convention for teens draws fans, authors, artists

Patrick Whitehurst/The Daily Courier Assassins Creed cosplayers Geoff Schoen and Joe Ashton show their skills during Saturday’s SAFECon at the Prescott Valley Public Library. Matt Hinshaw/The Daily Courier Joel Adams slinks by the audience dressed as Slenderman, a malevolent phantasm. Patrick Whitehurst The Daily Courier PRESCOTT VALLEY, Arizona - Darth Vader walks into a room next to Princess Daisy from Mario Brothers. That isn't the opening line of a joke, but a description of Saturday's Sci-Fi, Anime, Fantasy, Etc. Convention (SAFECon) at thePrescott Valley Public Library. Crowds dressed in a variety of costumes, and some participated in a "cosplay" costume competition. The event, geared toward teens in the quad-city area, featured workshops, panel discussions, a martial arts exhibition, art competitions and refreshments. Artist and illustrator Samantha Violette attended to share her anime and comic art with those in attendance. She traveled to the con from her home in Tucson. She produces her art primarily in watercolor and pencils. Her art can also be seen online at www.samanthaashleyviolette.com. As a fan of comics and anime, Violette attends conventions throughout the state. "It's for work, but it's also a hobby of mine too," she said. "I think conventions are great. It's a chance for like-minded people to get together, to make new friends and find common interests." While small compared to other conventions she's attended, Violette said she enjoyed meeting new people at SAFECon. "I was very impressed by how well-organized it was," Violette said. Other attendees for the event included comic book artist Dave Beaty, graphic designer Alec Kozak, and Natalie Wright, author of the popular Akasha Chronicles trilogy that began with the book "Emily's House." Wright chatted with a number of fans during Saturday's SAFECon and made a few new ones along the way. "I like meeting people, so I enjoy talking to everyone. I especially enjoy meeting young people who use their creativity to express themselves," Wright said. "This convention is particularly cool because it's devoted to teens." Wright's novels focus on teens. A complete list of her books can be found at www.nataliewright.net. Follow reporter Patrick Whitehurst on Twitter @pwdcourier

SciFi Friday: From Science Fiction to Science Fact - Prosthetics That Can Feel

Science fiction fans love robots, cyborgs, humans that are part machine and machines that act like humans. While Six Million Dollar Man prosthetics are still the stuff of fiction, scientists inch ever closer toward the dream of prosthetic devices that are adequate replacements for a lost body part.

Silvestro Micera, a neural engineer at the Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna in Italy and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne in Switzerland, led the team that developed a new prosthetic device that they call the "bionic hand." Dennis Aabo Sørensen is the man in the video that tested the hand for the team. This new technology relies on touch sensors that are connected to electrodes that have been surgically embedded in the nerves of the man's upper arm.

While this is a long way from being available to amputees, it's an amazing breakthrough for an amputee to be able to feel again with fingers that he no longer has.

What science fiction invention would you most like to see become science fact?

*Story via Livescience.com.

Sci Fi Friday: Curiosity on Mars Shows us Ourselves

Sometimes it helps to put things in perspective. Like when you start the day by having to squeeze the last bit of toothpaste from the tube, someone drank the last bit of coffee, you snag your panty hose on the way out the door (okay, guys can't relate to this - at least most can't), your car won't start and when you finally get to work, five new projects got slapped onto your desk and buried your "to do" pile for the day. When you've had that kind of a day, it can feel like the world is not your oyster but is in fact the sludgy grime that collects in your garbage disposal.

Which brings me back to perspective. This video puts it into perspective. For all of the drama of our daily lives, we are but specks in the cosmos. Even from Mars, our planet is nothing more than a shimmering dot.

I don't know if this bit of information will help the next time your life feels like sludge. But the video is cool just the same.

Mars Rover Curiosity

Images via Mars Science Laboratory

Celebrate Read an E-Book Week and Deep Discounts on The Akasha Chronicles

Hey, did you know that it's Read an E-Book Week? To show my support of the event, I'm offering DEEP discounts on the e-book versions of my books at Smashwords.com. Click on the link to download all three books of the Akasha Chronicles in the e-book format of your choice (Kindle, Nook, iBooks, etc.). 

Emily's House is FREE! (usually $2.99)

Emily's Trial is $1.50! (usually $2.99)

And Emily's Heart is $2.00 (usually $3.99)

The coupon codes are shown on the book pages.

But hurry. On 3/9/2014 the prices will return to normal retail.

Hop on over to Smashwords and enjoy the great deals authors and publishers are offering for one week only :-) And thank you for your support of this event.

Writer Wednesday: A New Adventure of Music, Magic, and Myth from Gail Giles and Deb Vanasse

No Returns

Book One of the Battleband Saga

A dead rat and a song about blood sacrifice set off an adventure of music, magic, and myth that pits a boy band against the devil. “The first movement in an ambitious song cycle of a tale,” says Kirkus Reviews.

Excerpt

Becca’s mouth gaped. She shut it, fast, as flies circled her head.

Manny swung at the winged frenzy. Flaco leapt up and beat at the dark, buzzing cloud. I flailed at the horror of insects that wriggled against my skin. Shouts turned to screams as the flies swarmed the stadium, thousands and thousands of crawling feet and glistening wings. Flies climbed the walls. The ventilation system choked and sputtered with them.

Then came Fred.

Flaco jumped over his drums and pitched his sticks straight at his head. Fedora skewed and face bulging red, Fred lunged. I braced for flames.

Manny grabbed the microphone stand and swept it along the floor, knocking Fred’s feet out from under him. He landed with a thump.

 “Run for it!” Flaco screamed to Manny and me. He sprinted to the edge of the stage, opened his arms wide, and dove into the crowd. Their arms went up immediately, catching Flaco in a huge cradle.

Fred scrambled to his feet and grabbed for me with his jeweled fingers. I skidded out of reach. The crowd whooped and hollered like it was all part of the show. Someone hoisted Becca toward the stage. Manny shoved her back. “Get out of here,” he bellowed. She looked stunned as a clobbered fish.

The audience passed Flaco from person to person until he pointed to the ground. On his feet, he swept off his headband and bowed. Manny and I launched in imitation of his leap. Manny was down and running like a fullback while I was still bouncing in the air like a volleyball.

Fred scooted off the platform and began shoving his way through the throng. “Down,” I yelled. “Put me down.”

About the book

Pod does card tricks to prove he’s in control. Flaco is rich and loyal beyond words to his abuelo. Manny is desperate to get out of his Bar Mitzvah. Together, what these middle-school misfits want most is for their fledgling band to get noticed. When their made-up song conjures a strange man in Pod’s ancient barn, fame follows so fast it’s scary. As strange things spew from Pod’s guitar, the boys in the band wonder how much of their success comes from talent and how much comes from a dark power they don’t understand. What will they risk for stardom?

A colorful cast, complex emotions, lively wording, rich allusions, evocative imagery, and multiple layers of meaning add appeal for all ages.

“Brilliant and strikingly new!” says Terry Trueman, Printz Honor Author of Stuck in Neutral. “You’ll be hard-pressed to find three greater kids to root for in this fight against the devil.”

Hunchback Assignments author Arthur Slade says, “Turn this book up to eleven! It puts the buzz in Beelzebub and the power in power chords.”

About the authors

Gail Giles is the author of six young adult novels, including What Happened to Cat McBride and Dark Song. Her debut novel, Shattering Glass, was an ALA Best of the Best Book, a Book Sense 76 selection, and a Booklist Top 10 Mystery for Youth selection. Her second, Dead Girls Don’t Write Letters, was an ALA Top 10 Quick pick and a Book Sense 76 selection. She has over 12,000 ratings and is in the top 50 followed on Goodreads.

Deb Vanasse is the author of more than a dozen books for readers of all ages. Her debut novel, A Distant Enemy, was a Junior Literary Guild selection and is featured inBest Books for Young Readers, as was Out of the Wilderness. Two of her books have been selected as “Battle Books.” Follow her at www.debvanasse.com andwww.selfmadewriter.blogspot.com.

Kindle version: http://www.amazon.com/Returns-Battleband-Saga-Gail-Giles-ebook/dp/B00HRLUI98/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1392406968&sr=8-1&keywords=gail+giles+no+returns

Print version: http://www.amazon.com/Returns-The-Battleband-Saga-Volume/dp/1940320046/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1392406968&sr=8-1

You’ll also find No Returns at e-book vendors and through bookstores everywhere.

www.battlebandsaga.com