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Wednesday, June 5, 2019

#IWSG:: Favorite Genre #sfr


Happy Insecure Writers Support Group Day. IWSG is the brainchild of Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh.

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds! Thanks, Alex, for starting this group and keeping it going. 

I'm thrilled to join this month's awesome hosts: Kim Lajevardi, Sylvia Ney, Sarah Foster, Jennifer Hawes, and Madeline Mora-Summonte!

This month's optional question is one I'm happy to answer.

Of all the genres you read and write, which is your favorite to write in and why?

Science Fiction Romance. My first published novel was a sci-fi romance. After being rejected so many times for contemporary romances, I decided to write for fun and, amazingly, Switched was accepted by a niche publisher.

I read and write science fiction because it reinforces my belief in a future. That other sentients live in our universe. That faster-than-light (FTL) speed is/will be possible. That we (humans) will explore other planets, either by traveling through wormholes or developing engines with warp or FTL drive.

Relationships are important to stories. Without characters, the stories would be dry scientific texts. Characters who work together make the story more interesting. Even better, characters who fall in love reinforce my belief that happy ever after is possible. It's a belief in the future of humankind. 

Combining science fiction with a strong relationship (romance) is my favorite genre to write--both for adults and for middle school age children.




When wise-cracking Jessie Wyndom is beamed from her farmhouse in Ann Arbor, MI aboard an Alliance starship, she meets a regular Mr. Spock. Captain Marcus Viator's well-organized life is turned upside down by a free-spirited Terran. Fate brings them together. Treachery tears them apart.



Her father is gone! Taken by the Queen of Compara’s agents. Fifteen-year-old Mara has to rescue him before the Queen tortures and kills him.

Instead of the kind, loving father she’s always known, he’s become demanding, critical, with impossible expectations—not just as Father but also as the only teacher in their frontier outpost. Mara would rather scoop zircan poop than listen to another boring lecture about governments on Central Planets. Give her a starship engine to take apart or, better yet, fly, and she’s happy. Now, he’s gone.
Never mind, they’ve had a rocky road lately.
Never mind, Father promised she could go off planet to Tech Institute next month when she turns fifteen, where she’ll learn to fly starships.
Never mind, she ran away because she’s furious with him because he reneged on that promise. Father is her only parent. She has to save him.

Ebooks:  Amazon ~ Amazon UK ~ Kobo ~ B&N ~ Smashwords

Print:  Amazon

Check out the latest anthology contest.


Guidelines and rules: 
Word count: 3500-5000
Genre: Middle Grade Historical – Adventure/Fantasy
Theme: Voyagers
Submissions accepted: May 1 - September 4, 2019
How to enter: Send your polished, formatted (double-spaced, no footers or headers), previously unpublished story to admin @insecurewriterssupportgroup.com before the deadline passes. Please include your contact details, your social links, and if you are part of the Blogging, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter IWSG group. 

Click here to find others on the Insecure Writers Support Group Blog Hop. Or go to IWSG on Facebook to see who’s blogging today.



83 comments:

  1. Sci-Fi, what a surprise, my Star Trekian friend. And you write it wonderfully. Love both the books you highlighted to the galaxy and beyond and your reason for adoring the genre. Live long and prosper!

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    1. *smiling broadly* Thanks, Nancy. I can always depend on you for support.

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  2. I like sci-fi too but my favorite genre to write in is fantasy. And I agree with you on the importance of having good characters. Happy writing!

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    1. Thanks, Natalie. I can't believe Nancy beat you to the comments. You're usually the 1st. :)

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  3. I enjoyed reading what motivates you to write Science Fiction Romance. "Fate brings them together. Treachery tears them apart." Those words promise a great read. Cheers.
    Lynn La Vita @ Writers Supporting Writers

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    1. Thanks, Lynn. I can't take credit for those 2 sentences. My wonderful editor/publisher came up with them.

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  4. Science fiction is my favorite. I also believe in happily ever after.
    Thanks for co-hosting today!

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    1. You're welcome. It's always fun to read new blogs.

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  5. Isn't it funny when we stop listening to the industry and write what we like? Just for fun. Go figure. I'm a total sap for a good happily ever after.

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    1. Thanks, S.A. "They" say sci-fi romance doesn't sell. But there are people (like me) who crave sfr stories. Yeah, go figure.

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  6. Congratulations on finding a niche publisher and a home for your books. I like Science Fiction and since I have read two of your books, I can say they are the kind of Science Fiction that I like to read.
    Thanks for co-hosting this month.

    Shalom aleichem,
    Pat G @ EverythingMustChange

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    1. Oh, thank you so much, Pat. I'm glad you enjoyed my books.

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  7. Woot! I think of the sci-fi I enjoy, those with romance have to be my favorite. Thanks for co-hosting!

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    1. Thanks, Loni. I do read non-romance sci-fi, but the stories always seem a bit lacking. Action/Adventure is great, but I like reading about relationships, too.

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  8. Sounds like you've hit the sweet spot on writing. Your books sound great. Thanks for co-hosting IWSG this month!
    Mary at Play off the Page

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    1. Thanks, Mary. I like your term sweet spot. Perfect.

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  9. I have never read a science fiction romance. Thanks for co-hosting.

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    1. Give sfr a chance. If not my books *grin* try one of Veronica Scott's or Ed Hoornaert.

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  10. Your answer is so much better than mine! I love sci-fi -- and I love romance in any genre. Thanks for co-hosting!

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    1. Thanks. I don't know about better. I thought your answer was very good.

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  11. I love your reason for reading/writing sci fi--"I read and write science fiction because it reinforces my belief in a future. " You have framed for me why I too like it. What a win!

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  12. I love sci-fi too and it's always more fun when there's a bit of romance :)

    Cheers - Ellen

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    1. Of course, romance, Ellen. I love the interplay between Molly and her husband in your mystery series. Love doesn't end after the honeymoon.

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  13. I was pleasantly surprised to discover the existence of sci-fi romance some years ago. For some reason, I'd never thought such a thing existed. It's such a unique take on the genre.

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    1. It is, Carrie-Anne. I didn't realize it was a genre of its own until fairly recently. Not trying to be sexist, but men like data/facts in their science fiction; women like relationships with the science.

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  14. I know very little about the genre of SFR--interesting! Thanks for co-hosting.

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  15. I love science fiction but I've never tried to write it. I love that you took your traditional romanace writing to a new, unique direction. And I agree - relationships between characters are so important in storytelling, even if characters aren't human. Thanks for co-hosting today!

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    1. Thanks, Lee. Writing for fun (instead of for the market) really shows. If the writer can't have fun, how could the reader?

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  16. Our of all the genres, I can't write science fiction (or horror). I wish I could, but then I remember there are better suited writer for those genres (like you), and I'm okay with that. :)

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    1. Hey, Chrys, thanks. I can't write horror (can't read it either) or historicals. I don't have the voice for the latter.

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  17. I like stories that incorporate romance but also feature other elements. I've never tackled sci-fi, myself, though!

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    1. I just can't leave out a romance (or hint of one to come). Don't feel bad about not tackling sci-fi (or any genre). I don't write historicals or horror.

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  18. Thanks for co-hosting, Diane. You raise an interesting point--I never thought of the common thread linking sci-fi and romance.

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    1. Thanks, Sadira. A romance has to feel "right" for me to incorporate it in my stories.

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  19. I enjoyed hearing why you love the genre - you’re so enthusiastic! :)

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  20. Well, you know I enjoyed your last book, and I think that adventure/romance being set in the future was part of what appealed to me.

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    1. Thank you, Lee. I'm so glad you enjoyed Mara's story.

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  21. Hi, Diane!

    If your blurbs are any indication (and I suspect they are), you've chosen the perfect genre for your writing talent!
    Wishing you all the 'Happily ever afters' you can possibly write ;-) And, thanks for co-hosting!

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    1. Thanks, Diedre. They say practice makes perfect. I'm not sure my blurbs are "perfect" but I'm glad you think so. :)

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  22. I love sci-fi and romance for those very reasons as well. We need hope and love in our worlds and in our tomorrows!

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  23. I think romance and sci-fi speak volumes about the future. :-)

    Anna from elements of emaginette

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  24. I don't read a ton of sci-fi, but maybe I should give sci-fi romance a try!

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  25. Sci-fi romance is fun. I haven't read as many books in this sub-genre as I would like but I enjoyed those I did read.
    I write some sci-fi too, but romance is a hard genre for me to tackle. To date, I have only written one romantic story, a regency

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    1. I love Regencies. I read Georgette Heyer in my 20s. Lately, I've read Regency combined with romantic suspense (Alyssa Alexander's stories, for example).

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  26. Sci-fi is one of the genres I enjoy reading. I haven't read Sci-fi romance, yet.

    Thanks for co-hosting!

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    1. Some readers like hard (or classic) sci-fi. I do, at times. Thanks for stopping by.

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  27. Me too! Love writing science fiction romance.

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  28. Thanks for co-hosting today, Diane. Like you, science fiction gives me a hope in the future, and I do believe our future is to spread throughout the solar system and on to the beyond. I think I would like "Rescuing Mara's Father," especially since I lived in isolated areas and my father was my teacher. All the best to you!

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    1. My pleasure, Louise. Co-hosting introduces me to so many new writers. It's a blast. I hope everyone gives it a try.

      I hope you give Rescuing Mara's Father a try--the Look Inside feature on Amazon will give you a taste of my writing.

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  29. Thanks for co-hosting! I've never read a scifi romance, but would like to read one.

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  30. I believe Haruki Murakami wrote a few romantic Sci-Fi shorts. I didn't think of it that way until now. I'm intrigued. I'll have to check it out. Thank you for co-hosting!

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    1. I've not read Murakami. You intrigued me. I'll have to check it out, too.

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  31. One of my favorite things about science fiction is how it can take an issue that affects our world and illustrate it through a sci-fi lens that really makes you think about it in different ways.

    Thanks for co-hosting!

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    1. That's what I always loved about Gene Roddenberry.

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  32. I like reading sci-fi, but I'm not sure how well I'd write it. I'd be too worried that I'd get the science wrong.

    Thanks for cohosting this month's IWSG post.

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    1. Today's science fiction is tomorrow's inventions. I try to keep my science true and to a minimum. Researching the science is fun but oh-so time-consuming, esp. when I fall into a black hole (of research). lol

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  33. I need to read more sci-fi romance. I love Anne McCaffrey's books growing up.

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    1. Today's sci-fi is different from yesterday's. I, too, love McCaffrey's stories. I think there's more action/adventure today and, usually, heavier romance. But you may be surprised.

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  34. I've never written science fiction. Don't think I have the imagination to do it right. Enjoy reading it. Thanks for co-hosting today.

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    1. You're welcome, Beverly. You write historical fiction that I don't have the voice for. We write what we love.

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  35. I'm trying to remember whether I've ever read a science fiction romance novel...

    Sounds like you're exactly where you should be. Your passion for the genre is obvious.
    Thank you for co-hosting the IWSG this month.

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    1. Thanks, Michelle. Writing what we love makes our stories vibrant. (I hope.)

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  36. Thank you for co hosting IWSG. Yes, without characters the stories would be dry scientific texts.

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    1. My pleasure. Co-hosting is a lot of fun. I get to meet so many new writers.

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    2. I tried to post a comment on your blog, but it wouldn't take. Sorry. Good post.

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  37. Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and for co-hosting this month.
    I hadn't really consider SFR. I've been trying to get a better handle on romance as a writer, but perhaps I just need more SFR in my life.

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    1. lol. Romance seems to come naturally into my stories. You can't force it. I hope you find an SFR you enjoy.

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  38. I am not at all surprised you like SFR! You do it so well! I really enjoyed Rescuing Mara's Father... Thanks for co-hosting this month!

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    1. Thanks so much, Lisa. The secret is I enjoy writing sfr.

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  39. That's a genre I rarely hear about. Cool! Thanks for co-hosting!

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  40. Great answer. The most exciting, cutting-edge stories wouldn't be so without the human touch.

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  41. I grown to enjoy science fiction that puts less emphasis on the science with more attention given to situations and relationships. I want to relate better to what I read or watch rather than be dazzled with geeky tech stuff. I prefer more reality than far-fetched stuff that I feel compelled to question and doubt.


    Arlee Bird
    Tossing It Out



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  42. I like stories that end in happily ever after. After all the conflict, tension and trauma us writers put our characters through, I like to see that in the end they reach the happiness they deserve. Though I read romance, my scifi romance reading is rather low. I read more historical and contemporary, followed my fantasy romance and romantic suspense. Thanks for co-hosting this month!

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  43. What is life - now and in the future, however far and wide - worth without romance? It sounds like you got your favorite genre totally under control. :-) I had to smile about one of your featured stories taking place in Ann Arbor, MI, as we are about to drive through there tomorrow on our travels from the west to the east of the US. Thanks for co-hosting this month, Diane!

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Love getting your comments. BTW, your comment won't show up until you refresh the page. Isn't that a pain? Thanks for stopping by.