Category / Friday SF and Fantasy

by Shannon Muir

FRIDAY SF & FANTASY – Stellar Fusion

STELLAR FUSION
By E.L. Strife
Scifi/Fantasy

This isn’t the first invasion. This time, they’re taking everything… and everyone.

Earth, still patching itself together from the 300 Years War, is
severely unprepared and outnumbered when the invasion hits. Their only
hope is a small team of soldiers on a suicide mission to infiltrate the
mothership and relay critical defense information home.

The last survivor of the first encounter can’t explain why she knows
what she does. Sergeant Nakio Atana is the Universal Protectors’ elite
assassin and holds within a spark of unimaginable power. But a daring
escape from an enemy ship knocked the first fifteen years of her life
into darkness, leaving her with only inexplicable apathy and technical
knowledge beyond Earth’s evolution.

What she is can change their future.

Sergeant Bennett must guard her with his life.

Together, Atana and Bennett lead the team in hopes her knowledge, and
his crew’s skills, will render them a soft spot in the alien armor.
What they find when they reach the mothership is entirely unexpected.
The truth they uncover will challenge the code they live by and their
concepts of the power within.

PRAISE:

“Stellar Fusion is the work of a new aspiring writer with a penchant
for exploring possibilities of future life for humankind. Good versus
evil, loyalty, truth, integrity, and the power of strength, love, and
hope are all masterfully interwoven into this inaugural novel by E.L.
Strife. With the age-old theme of making the world a better place,
Strife casts her characters in the spotlight as they embrace survival on
the planet. Stellar Fusion offers readers an opportunity to look to the
future and reflect on what is most important to ensure the happiness,
success, and survival of the human race.”
-Amazon Customer

“Great book. Would recommend it to anyone who enjoys fast-paced
sci-fi action with moments that slow to profoundly grab your heart and
draw you into the characters’ lives. Looking forward to reading book 2
when it’s released.”
-Amazon Customer

cLICK BELOw TO Order Your Copy

Amazon → https://amzn.to/2PfzdPQ

 




______________________

TEASER

______________________

EXCERPT

Hour ZeroNO ONE WAS BORN READY FOR IT—for the war on Earth, the war of three hundred years. The stars beyond seemed so distant, unreachable, a dream delayed as Earth fought over politics, cultural differences, and remnants of non-toxic land. After a long-overdue truce, the world united under common laws, electing a silent force of guardians to maintain peace and unity. Their system of justice: ‘an eye for an eye,’ as the saying goes. And it was effective. Until they arrived.
Man’s deadliest disease used to be hatred.
They came in ships blacker than the deepest wormhole to a forgotten galaxy, ships that dripped with blood from starving mouths. Ships that didn’t register on Earth’s scanners until it was far too late.
They took Earthlings from their homes, from their broken families, their suffering planet, and enslaved them, slowly torturing each until they could endure no longer. And then they came back for more.
They leave galaxies swirling in fragments and chaos—the planets molten in rage—rendering countless species extinct.
They do it without remorse.
It has been like this since almost the beginning of time.
Because they were looking for me.
I won’t be born for many long-cycles, but my kind, we surpass time. We live outside the boundaries of dimensions. We are the oldest spark, the strongest and brightest in the dark. And we thrive in the twilight, the shadows between all things.
They are an evil that spreads like blackened veins through the nebulae, siphoning life with a single touch. They feed off of us, drain our sparks without a moment’s hesitation. There will be no warning. There will be no mercy.
I tell you this now. Find those you love and hold on tight for as long as you can. Life is a struggle—a chain of choices and fate. It is too short to let go.
May the stars of my ancestors guide you and protect you.
I know my mother and father will do their best.
But it is not enough. Not without me.
I am Luna.
This is my family.
And this is the Universal War.

 

______________________

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Interview with the Author

What initially got you interested in writing?

 

Since I was a kid, I spent free time coming up with new stories, playing out different scenarios with the people and events going on around me. I never really took a serious interest in it until my husband and I started traveling for his job to some pretty remote areas where there was little to do outside within reasonable driving distance. There’s only so much time a housewife can spend on Pinterest before her vision blurs. So I decided to try out that crazy writer dream. When I realized how many self-publishing services were available and the popularity of indie publishing (no longer feeding the stigma of “artists can’t make money”), I was thrilled. But I’m the type that sees an open door and wants to peek inside.

 

What genres do you write in?

 

I primarily write science fiction, fantasy, romance (holiday and suspense), and one children’s book (planning a few more). I should add that most of my books have a military subgenre or at least a character connected to the military in some way.

 

What drew you to writing these specific genres?

 

I’m a sucker for anything space related. I love Star Trek and Star Wars and reading scifi novels. So that choice came about naturally. I enjoy romance novels that feature imperfect people struggling to better themselves in a judgmental world. Sometimes, I have to write what I only wish I could find to read. I also have a few fantasy novels in the works for publication in the next few years. Those are mostly a fun way to experiment with character stories that don’t fit the typical profiles.

 

How did you break into the field?

 

Stellar Fusion is my first book. I started with science fiction because I had the strongest, most-developed idea in that genre. I stumbled my way through a few different versions while learning the self-pub landscape. But soon after I published the first version, I had a five star review from a customer. So I thought, “Okay, maybe my writing doesn’t suck.” I’m now three books into that series with one romance and one children’s book published, and three more books coming this year, possibly four if I can manage it. I don’t think readers know how much they motivate us with their reviews.

 

What do you want readers to take away from reading your works?

 

There are countless messages in my books, so it would be hard to list them all here. It’s not so much that I’m imposing ideas, merely presenting them for consideration. I want readers to enjoy the action scenes and quieter loving moments, but I also hope they think about the conflicts. I have tons of symbols in my books, though I won’t define them outright.

 

A few messages in my works:

Family doesn’t have to be blood.

Love and understanding can mend most things.

We build more when we let go of our differences.

No one’s life is perfect, even if it looks that way.

Scars are beautiful symbols of strength.

Invisible illnesses hurt too.

 

What do you find most rewarding about writing?

 

When someone reviews one of my books and points out something that really stuck with them, it confirms that what I’m writing has meaning, that I made their life for the better if only for a moment. I write stories that I love, but I publish them for my readers. Knowing what makes readers happy, within my work, helps me (constructively) fine-tune the next books.

 

What do you find most challenging about writing?

 

Developmental self-editing is hard. It’s difficult to know how others will perceive certain events or bits of dialogue. This is why critique partners are so important. Getting multiple perspectives can make a huge difference. What is normal to me may not be normal for others. The most difficult part is finding CPs that will finish the whole book and give quality feedback. Without them, the manuscript can’t move on for further editing. I’m patient with most things. But when it comes to getting my books published, I’m a kid in a candy store, already hyped-up on Twinkies and caramel macchiatos.

 

What advice would you give to people wanting to enter the field?

 

It’s not hard if you set up a plan and stick to it.

Write your book, and then take a class on editing/writing craft. Edit your book. Do this a few times before your search for CPs. And CP before you hire an editor. It will help you cut out unnecessary chunks so you don’t have to pay an editor to tell you the same thing.

 

Have a website and a marketing plan. Readers today want to see you in at least three places online to know you’re legit: Amazon, Goodreads, and a personal website for your books—at a minimum. If you can be on a few social media platforms like Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, do that.

 

Set up a blog.

Build an email subscriber list so you can send Advanced Review Copies of your books as a thank you for being loyal.

Set up a pre-order.

Run ads before, during, and after launch.

Do book review campaigns.

 

The list seems endless. It kind of is. Just try a few things and figure out what works for you. Most of us can’t afford to do everything, so be deliberate in what you choose to put your money toward. Look at reviews for the services and try to aim for your best ROI.

 

I will say this: no marketing platform = no one will know your book even exists. If you’re not getting sales, that’s likely the reason.

 

What type of books do you enjoy reading?

 

I love fast-paced scifi and fantasy that blend science and magic. Cyberpunk, biopunk. and space exploration/battle themes are my favorite. Action, crazy tech, galactic empires, aliens, robots, and comedic characters are some of my most enjoyed elements.

 

I’m also a fan of holiday romance for its cozy and uplifting mood and romantic suspense for the tense mystery and the ever-beating question of whether the lovers will make it together or not.

 

Is there anything else besides writing you think people would find interesting about you?

 

I actually don’t like sitting inside at my computer. I’d much rather be outside hiking, camping, riding ATVs, working on the car, gardening, bodybuilding at the gym, etc. I’m not your typical book lover. I am not librarian material. But I write from my experiences, from places we’ve traveled in our RV, and from the people that I’ve met. I want my stories to feel as real as they can, so I often write from experience.

 

What are the best ways to connect with you, or find out more about your work?

 

You can find more info on my books at: http://elstrife.com or on my Amazon Author Page: amazon.com/author/elysiastrife

I’m also on social media:

Goodreads

Twitter

Pinterest

Facebook

 

Thanks for having me!

Best wishes!

 

Author Bio

Adopted by two educators, Strife developed a deep love for learning
new things. In 2012, she graduated from Oregon State University with two
Bachelor’s Degrees in Public Health and Human Sciences: Interior Design
and Exercise Sport Science. Her past wears fatigues, suits, and fitness
gear, sprinkled with mascara and lace.“I like to question everything, figure out how things work, and do
tasks myself. Experiencing new things is fun but also helps with writing
raw and genuine stories. And I’m always trying to push my comfort
zones.”

Strife likes the rumble of her project car’s 350-ci V8. She enjoys
the rush of snowboarding and riding ATVs on the dunes. But nothing
brings her more solace than camping in the mountains where the stars are
their brightest.

Strife enjoys connecting with readers and welcomes all feedback and questions.

website & Social Links

Website  → www.elstrife.com

Twitter  → http://twitter.com/ElysiaLStrife

Facebook  → http://www.facebook.comauthorelstrife

http://www.pumpupyourbook.com