#WritingWonders Day 1 — Introduce yourself and tell us a fun fact about your WIP.

My #ClarionWest and #writing friends call me R.S. This time as I restart my career, I'm using that pen name. I write character-driven stories where I discover plot as I narrate situations on the way to a known ending.#Feminist applies. I tilt towards YA and write science fantasy. (Please ask me about that.)

My background is in folklore and mythology, so I know what #fantasy not to write about. I had an early publishing career, then a day job writing computer programs to support me through a burn out. Now, "I'm back!"

I often write on a treadmill, and read my stories aloud thereon to proof them. I'm getting good at dramatic readings and projecting thanks to increased lung capacity. I still wondering if audio recordings of my stories would be a good thing.

Fun fact: My MC's motto is, "If I lose, I'll learn something about myself." Since she fights for what she believes in or to protect others, this often happens.

#writer #writingLife #boostingIsSharing

@Melody_M As an #SF&F author, I've got some opinions about books in the genre!

I am not seeing all the replies, but I know someone recommended On Basilisk Station by #DavidWeber. This starts a fabulous space opera series with the main character a young naval officer named #HonorHarrington. The spin-offs are good, too. Your profile indicates some military background, so you'll appreciate it more. With a name like "Honor," you can bet ethics and principles come up a lot, and how this conflicts with winning or whether your side is good or bad. The subtext highlights the tensions between western cultures in our age, and how modern nations may look the same if you look at their cities—but Germany, the US, UAE, and Saudi Arabia are quite different when you look closer, and so is how they express their might.

For pure fantasy, assuming you're new to the genres, why not find #AnneMcCaffery's Dragon series? The spin-offs are good, if you can't get enough. I like #AndreNorton, but her series are retro and may be harder to find than Anne's, with some not in print.

For #urbanfantasy and books you can buy now, I cannot recommend #PatricaBriggs Mercy Thompson series enough. #Fairies, #Werewolves, and #Vampires coming out to modern society (mostly) and in a way that feels visceral and real. Romance, adventure, and coming of age.

As a #ClarionWest grad, I'd like to recommend two of my cohort to you, not just because I now them, but they're stories are amazing—and they are great human beings.

James S.A. Corey (1/2 a pen name for #DanielAbraham). The #Expanse series is hardcore SF at its #Heinlein best. Peak at Daniel's fantasy book, too! Look for the third name he publishes under, and you'll find great, snarky, urban fantasy. References to #PinkMartini, anyone?

#DianaRowland writes urban fantasy, but with the background of a former police officer (I think she made detective). Start with My Life as a White Trash Zombie for a #zombie coroner. Maybe a conflict of interest there? Start with Mark of the Demon for a #demon summoner who's also a detective, with, again, some conflicts of interest. Adventure, mystery, and romance, too.

If someone asks nicely, I may recommend my book.

#books
#booksuggestions
#mastoread