Interview and giveaway with science-fiction romance writer Aubrie Dionne

Please give a warm welcome to the wonderfully talented Aubrie Dionne.

She's celebrating the release of her newest novel, Tundra 37.

(Isn't that a spectacular cover?!)

I'm happy to have this chance to help promote her books on her blog tour and ask her a few questions.

I know you write both fantasy and sci-fi romance. What does sci-fi allow you to do that fantasy does not?

Wow, what a great question. I've never thought about this before. For me, it's the opposite: fantasy has no boundaries, but science fiction needs to be rooted in real life in some way. It's more challenging for me to write, and for some reason, more fresh. Although, I love fantasy, and when this series and the spin offs are finished, I'm going back to the dragons and the elves!

I absolutely agree. Sci-fi is more challenging to write. Do you feel compelled to follow any of the tropes and stereotypes that are prevalent in science-fiction?

Sometimes I pay homage to them: Like the sandworms in Paradise 21 are a reference to the ones in Dune. The ice world of Tundra 37 is inspired, in part, by the planet Hoth in Star Wars. I try not to copy, but invent my own worlds with hints of the past tropes in them.

Your worlds are definitely unique. Have you gotten any grief over being a sci-fi and romance author? Have you felt any pressure because of your gender in the male dominated sci-fi genre?

I've made sure to advertise my books as soft science-fiction with romantic elements, so I think the hard core sci-fi fans looking for technical explanations stay away! One male reader said something like "If this is the way women think, than that explains a lot of things..." which I thought was hilarious. Maybe it will draw the male readers into romance? Teach them a little something? Hehe.

I like the way you think! Do you think humans will travel to new worlds?

I hope so, but I don't want to be one of them! I'm so afraid of space. I think I've watched too many movies where someone rips their helmet off and their eyes bug out and explode. *shivers* Space travel = not for me.

You have such great adventures in your mind, though! Do you believe modern day humans are ready to meet aliens?

No. I think we'd torture them and have our own prejudices. That's if they didn't kill us first on the spot, or make us slaves. I used to want to be the generation that gets to meet aliens, but after watching too many of those Ancient Alien episodes on the History Channel, I'm not so sure anymore! I actually went to a talk with a man who says he's been abducted several times, and his stories creeped me out!

I feel the same way. Do you think science-fiction literature can affect social change?

I certainly hope so! We need to start thinking about our resources, wildlife preservation, and the world's population. These are reoccurring themes in The New Dawn series, and the reason why everyone has to leave Earth. I tried to make it realistic in some ways but not be too preachy.

Do you think the science-fiction industry is changing?

I'd like to think that sci-fi romance will take off in the next few years with the sequel to Avatar coming out. I think it's a great genre to explore!

I'm a big fan of the genre myself. Finally, what advice do you have for aspiring authors?

You have to be persistent and write a whole truck load of novels to be successful in today's publishing world. It took me four novels to get an agent, and I'm still counting to see how many it will take to make a decent income and turn my writing into a part time job for good.

Thank you, Aubrie! It's been so much fun having you here. Good luck with your books. I know I'll be reading.

Keep on reading. The giveaway information is at the end of the post!

Please check out Aubrie's website and blog. Join me on Monday for a review of Tundra 37!

Aubrie is an author and flutist in New England. Her stories have appeared in Mindflights, Niteblade, Silver Blade, A Fly in Amber, and several print anthologies including Skulls and Crossbones by Minddancer Press, Rise of the Necromancers, by Pill Hill Press, Nightbird Singing in the Dead of Night by Nightbird Publishing, Dragontales and Mertales by Wyvern Publications, A Yuletide Wish by Nightwolf Publications, and Aurora Rising by Aurora Wolf Publications.  Her epic fantasy is published with Wyvern Publications, and several of her ebooks are published with Lyrical Press and Gypsy Shadow Publishing. When she’s not writing, she plays in orchestras and teaches flute at Plymouth State University and a community music school.

Tundra 37

A New Dawn, #2

Author: Aubrie Dionne

Genre: Sci-Fi Romance

Length: 288 pages

ePub ISBN: 978-1-937044-49-7

Print ISBN: 978-1-937044-51-0

http://www.entangledpublishing.com/tundra-37/

Tundra 37 Book Trailer:

http://youtu.be/3XcwFtmeTcM

A New Dawn Novel, Book Two

Gemme is a hi-tech matchmaker who pairs the next generation of Lifers aboard the Expedition, a deep space transport vessel destined for Paradise 18. When the identity of her lifemate pops up on her screen, she’s shocked that he’s the achingly gorgeous and highly sought after Lieutenant Miles Brentwood—a man oblivious to her existence. Believing everyone will think she contrived the match, she erases it from the computer’s memory.

Just as comets pummel the ship and destroy the pairing system forever. With the Expedition disabled, the colonists must crash land on the barren ice world of Tundra 37 where Gemme is reassigned to an exploratory mission, led by Lieutenant Brentwood. Only in the frozen tundra does she understand the shape of his heart and why the computer has entwined their destinies.

A Hero Rising

A New Dawn, #3

Author: Aubrie Dionne

Genre: Sci-Fi Romance

Length: novella

ePub ISBN: 978-1-937044-83-1

http://www.entangledpublishing.com/a-hero-rising/

Prequel to A New Dawn - Book Three

After watching his love leave on a colony ship, James Wilfred must save those left behind from a planetary apocalypse. Their salvation lies in an unfinished ship tucked away in a secret government base, and only James can break in and pilot him and his people to freedom on a nearby space station.

Skye O’Connor’s boyfriend never returns after his gang attempts an assassination of the Governor, and the State Building is destroyed. Worse, crazed moonshiners addicted to the chemical Morpheus have stormed the city, and she must find a safe place for her and her boyfriend’s daughter. When a heroic man saves her, Skye asks to accompany him on his quest to find the last colony ship left on Earth.

As the city falls around them, James and Skye must work together to build a new future, all the while rediscovering their ability to love, before the apocalypse claims them both.

Now for the giveaway!

Aubrie is generously offering one lucky commenter a free copy of A Hero Rising on either the Kindle or Nook. All you have to do is leave your name and email address in the comments section. The giveaway will run until next Friday (March 2nd). The winner will be chosen by Random.org.