Author Post and Giveaway: Vivien Jackson

Today's post is by Vivien Jackson. There is a giveaway of her new book at the end too.

Welcome!

I’m nervous about this. I’m a--oh dear, how to say it?--a romance writer. In love with science fiction. Deep love, big L. We’ve been seeing each other on the sly for a long time, science fiction and I, and when two grown-up genres love each other very much, sometimes they … oh, hell, I wrote a book. A mixed-genre one. Now I have to introduce my family to his and decide who sits on which side of the aisle, and what do we tell the children?

I’m not worried about his family. I love them almost as much as I love him. They’ve let me hang out at all their family reunions (cons), even the few, back when, where I was the only girl in the room. But I never brought a plus-one from romancelandia to a spec-fic shindig before.

Not because I was ashamed of my roots, mind you. Because whatever folks may or may not know about romance fiction, it’s crammed full of some awesome stuff, even some common ground. So, future in-laws, may I introduce a few romance novels I think you might enjoy?

Because, honestly, even though sci fi and romance don’t have much in common materially, they do have this: both genres, when done properly, reveal the human condition. They’re about characters growing, becoming wiser, about forcing us to see our world and all its ugly, blurry issues through a fresh lens. The chief difference, in my opinion is that romances conclude that all that darkness is going to get better, eventually, if we just have a lot of sex love each other.

1. First Grave on the Right, by Darynda Jones. Speaking of urban fantasy, Darynda Jones’s Charley Davidson books might be shelved with romance, but if you dig UF, grab First Grave and hold on for the ride. If you can get through the shower scene right off without burning up from blushes, you’ll do fine. This series is funny, sassy, edgy, dark and light, win-some lose-some. True to UF, it doesn’t skimp on action scenes or general badassery, but it also includes some lovely nuanced characters and plenty of humor. Oh, and Reyes Farrow. Rowr.

2. Must Love Breeches, by Angela Quarles. This is a time-travel romance. It’s witty, sparkling, and beautifully researched. Steampunk fans will enjoy appearances by historical characters, like Ada Lovelace. The tone here is solidly romance, but the research and care given to the 19th century high-tech crowd will earn respect from folks who enjoy early SFF like Verne and more modern alternative histories, like The Difference Engine.

3. Slave to Sensation, by Nalini Singh. Now on its 19th book, Ms. Singh’s Psy/Changeling series started with this one. In a futuristic world where people are broken into three groups—emotionless almost-robot Psys, preternatural shifter Changelings, and regular old clueless humans—this story pokes at the edges of those differences, illuminating the bits of baked-in humanity that could run amuck in a future of science and magic and science-magic. Sexual tension is off the charts, Sasha’s hack of the psy-net is one of best action scenes involving hacking that I’ve read, and Singh is a magnificent storyteller.

4. Breeder, by Cara Bristol. I won’t lie, this book is steamy. That means a lot of hot sex. And yes, people kiss each other. And profess their love. What? It’s a romance. Know what else it is? An alien society where heterosexual relationships are taboo. Where women are purchased for the purpose of procreation. So right off it echoes some of the things that made us wince in The Handmaid’s Tale. But then Breeder goes on to do this weird thing that specifically romance novels do. It takes characters to the darkest of dark pits…and then brings them all the way back out, into hope, to achieve the requisite happily-ever-after. So basically, Breeder brings a whole bunch of issues we deal with out in to the open and makes us look at them. And then it offers us hope, despite. 

p.s. – NPR put out a list of the best 100 romance novels-- --and I was pleased to see several of my picks here make that list. Check it out, if you wish. It contains some real gems. 

Vivien Jackson writes stories with robots, grenades, pixies, and always,  always  down-home salacious kissery. She's an unrepentant fangirl of many fandoms and would love to discuss your favorite ships  here or here or here.

Thank you!

GIVEAWAY
1 copy of Wanted and Wired

1. US only
2. Ends April 4th
3. Enter by telling us about a romance novel you loved

That's all :)

Title: Wanted and Wired

Author: Vivien Jackson

Series: Tether, #1

ISBN: 9781492648161

Pubdate: April 4, 2017

Genre: Science Fiction Romance

A rip-roarin’ new snarky, sexy sci-fi paranormal romance series with the perfect balance of humor, heat, and heart. Now that Texas has seceded and the world is spiraling into chaos, good guys come in unlikely packages and love ignites in the most inconvenient places…

Rogue scientist • technologically enhanced • deliciously attractive

Heron Farad should be dead. But technology has made him the man he is today. Now he heads a crew of uniquely skilled outsiders who fight to salvage what’s left of humanity: art, artifacts, books, ideas—sometimes even people. People like Mari Vallejo.

Gun for hire • Texan rebel • always hits her mark

Mari has been lusting after her mysterious handler for months. But when a by-the-book hit goes horribly sideways, she and Heron land on the universal most wanted list. Someone set them up. Desperate and on the run, they must trust each other to survive, while hiding devastating secrets. As their explosive chemistry heats up, it’s the perfect storm…

VIVIEN JACKSON is still waiting for her Hogwarts letter. In the meantime, she writes, mostly fantastical or futuristic or kissing-related stories. When she isn’t writing, she’s performing a sacred duty nurturing the next generation of Whovian Browncoat Sindarin Jedi gamers, and their little dogs too. With her similarly geeky partner, she lives in Austin, Texas, and watches a lot of football.

Social Networking Links

Website: http://www.vivienjackson.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VivienJacksonWriter/

Twitter: @Vivien_Jackson

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6517244.Vivien_Jackson

To Buy:

http://www.vivienjackson.com/p/books.html