The Writer Limits Crossover Guest: Jennifer Hartz

Hi all! Today I have a guest. One of my contributor buddies from The Writer Limits (TWL), Jennifer Hartz, for a crossover event TWL is putting on. All the TWL contributors will be flipping and swapping guest posts with each other.

Jennifer is a fabulous writer and I'm super excited to have her on today. She's going to talk about her world building technique for The Future Svaior Series. Go for it, Sister!

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Why in the World Do I Put Biblical Mirroring in My Books?

When I set out to write The Future Savior Series I knew I wanted to incorporate a lot of Biblical mirroring… but why? Here's the best answer I can give you. It comes from someone who recently reviewed Future Savior Book 2: Resurrection:

"I absolutely loved all the scenes that had Biblical parallels. Those scenes especially, really made me want to grab my Bible so that I could read about the real events!!!"

I have a hard time talking to people. Especially people I don't know very well, but as a Christian I know I'm called to talk to people about Christ. How can I do this when the talking thing certainly isn't my cup of tea? The answer - writing!

But now the new question is what kind of writing. I'm not a big fan on non-fiction books… Blah, boring! So I knew a straight, informative non-fiction kind of book was never gonna happen. And regular, normal, contemporary fiction bore me. Why would I want to read about something I could do myself? No, I want to go to a galaxy far, far away or visit a land never before seen! So the answer became quite clear - speculative fiction!

Meshing these two things together - Biblical Mirroring and Speculative Fiction - resulted in The Future Savior Series. I've created a speculative world that Non-Christians and Christians will be interested in checking out and along the way I've sprinkled in some Bible stories. The result will have them reaching for a Bible to compare and contrast. I just got them to open up God's Word!

That was my desire when I put Biblical mirroring in The Future Savior Series, so I was thrilled to see it actually happen like in the review snippet above.

In my follow up posts to The Writer Limits Cross-Over Extravaganza, I'll break down each novel in The Future Savior Series and pinpoint the Bible references. Stay tuned because there could very well be a much anticipated excerpt from the upcoming release of Future Savior 4: Desecration!

Here's where you can find me on the web:

Webpage: http://jenniferhartz.com/

Twitter: @JenniferLHartz

Future Savior on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheFutureSaviorSeries

Jenn on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jennifer.hartz.71

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Now, while she's here today, I'll be over there at her blog so make sure you stop by http://jenniferhartz.com/blog/. I'm talking about immortality people. IMMORTALITY! (You know you're interested.)

Friendship Peak

During my daily dose of research, I stumbled across a Yahoo slideshow highlighting NASA Mars pictures and then BHAM! Gusev Crater popped up. As many of you know, Gusev Crater is where Rinny Matterville from Duty and Devotion trained.

If you look into the distant right you'll see the mountain she and her friends drove to, the one they nicknamed "Friendship Peak"

Here's the link to the slideshow in case you're interested http://news.yahoo.com/photos/the-surface-of-mars-slideshow/future-planetary-rovers-may-own-decisions-photo-123208443.html#crsl=%252Fphotos%252Fthe-surface-of-mars-slideshow%252Fmars-photo-1322584905.html

Excerpt "Friendship Peak":
They reached the crater edge in less than two hours and stopped the vehicle. Climbing into the back, they helped each other into surface suits and started exiting procedures. When they stepped out, Rinny gazed up into the atmosphere and then took in the mountain range. The contrast of the tea-stained sky and the burnt orange range, all in a vivid watercolor tone enraptured Rinny's passion. For a fleeting moment, she wished she were a painter and not a musician. No notes could bring out the emotions the scene caused in her soul. Danny stepped up beside her and Journey.


Rinny turned to them. "You ready, explorers?"

Her voice sounded metallic in the voice transmitters. She couldn't see their faces clearly through the reflective face covers. They double-checked the foot weights and oxygen pressure then headed out. The ground was thick with dust. They had to lift their feet clear or start a dust cloud. They chatted as they worked their way up the crater. A thin layer of dust coated their white suits by the time they reached the top. After clearing off each other's helmets, they took in the Gusev Valley floor all the way out to the Columbia Hills colony.

"It's beautiful," Danny whispered.

"Wow, this is an amazing view." Journey did a full turn and then took hold of Rinny's hand through the bulk of the suit's gloves. "It's like we're the first ones to be here."

Using her free hand, Rinny took Danny's. Standing there, all three holding hands, she felt the connection of friendship. "We've conquered this spot. We'll call it Friendship Peak."

Feeling Accomplished

You know those days where everything just seems to click? Well, that's my today.

Finished the final revision round this morning on my latest SF book. The first in a SF case-mystery series. To let that stew a bit before editing rounds kicks off, I decided to tackle the outlining and story bible of the second book in the series.

That led to a wonderful day of brainstorming plots and subplots, technology frameworks, science facts and doing image searches for world and character development.

Writer's heaven folks, writer's heaven...

*sigh*

It's now reaching evening and I have the starting outline of my story, some visuals of my characters, and an awesome start to my world. Not to mention a really, really groovy antagonist. One so evil and sadistic I'm going to enjoy writing him.

*does hammer dance*

Now I just hope I can lay it down on paper as close to the vision in my head as possible.

Where'd all the pets go?

Cosmic Kitties? Astro Dogs? Where are you?

Stop by The Writer Limits, where I talk about pets in space-based SF (or lack thereof).
http://thewriterlimitsauthors.blogspot.com/2012/07/hairy-characters.html

What's in a lie or two or ten?

I'm visiting Cindy Woolf today on her blog and talking about lies. Stop by if you have a chance.
http://cynthiawoolf.com/blog/weaving-webs-by-a-r-norris/

Drumroll please (midsummer style)

No dancing naked...oh, all right, go ahead if you want to.

Thank you all for stopping by yesterday. The Midsummer Blog Hop was a really fun event and I'm looking forward to doing it again next year. (Wink, wink fellow Brigaders.)

I stopped by all the participating blogs and even though I didn't get a chance to comment on all of them they were great. You Brigaders really know how to bring the interesting and the fun.

I was pleasantly surprised by all the references to Midsummer Night. And there were several that took on the summer theme like me. Of course, there were tons of science in the Hop House which satisfied my geeky thirst.

Okay, okay. Now for the winner of the free ebook "Duty and Devotion":

Pam AKA VanillaOrchids!!

Come on down!...er, well, you know what I mean. I've sent you an email.

Again, thank you all you uber groovy bloggy friends!

Midsummer Blog Hop: Midsummer Mischevious

Welcome to my blog for the SFR Brigade's Midsummer Blog Hop! WHOOT!!

Okay. Down to business. Midsummer. June. Heat.

For me, midsummer always brings back a case of nostalgia. (For my blogging buddies, shoosh. The newcomers don't have to know a fly could send me into a nostalgic mood.)

Quick Pause: See what I did there? I tricked you all! Mwhuahahaha! You were all so sure I'd go all scifi-ish on the topic. But, really, the science of solstice is pretty standard stuff. Plus, the blog hop is for the SFR Brigade. These aren't just wimpy SF geeks who love to swoon. These are a bunch of hardass geeks. There is nothing I can't blog about that they aren't going to blog about in more and better detail. So...there!

Where was I? Oh, yeah...summer nostalgia.

I can't help remembering the summer right after freshman year high school, when I spent the summer at a family friend's and had my first crush that was reciprocated. (The geeky girl got the cute lifeguard that summer...imagine that!) We each knew there wouldn't be declarations of love. Both of us perfectly aware and happy to experience the romance for exactly what it was, a summer romance.

What a summer!

The daily trips to the pool to hang with new friends, which drifted into meals at the local fast food joint and then evenings at either the bowling alley or the youth group's billiard table. (We weren't old enough to frequent the bars or the pool halls where they served alcohol...yet.)

Oh, okay...we all know I can't NOT go SF-y. Even as I'm reminiscing, the SF in me is turning the thought wheel, like a damn hamster.

It's a sickness.

What will be the equivalent of a "summer memory" for galactic teens growing up? In a future, where who only knows what will be happening in the world(s) and where, how will they build those moments?

In my first SFR novel, Duty and Devotion, the sisters get caught up in a war right as they're experiencing this period in their lives. Poor younger sister, Rinny Matterville, has barely even started. Partly because the sheltered life she's led, but war has no shelter. Below is an excerpt of her, and a couple new friends on a Mars excursion. This was before her world, and reality, were torn apart. One of the better times, shall we say.

EXCERPT

Guiding the Mars cruiser out of the exit bay, Rinny marveled again at its beauty. She didn't think she'd ever adjust to real land and open space. It took a few moments to break out of the shadow of the Colombia Hills dome. In the distance, the impressive Gusev Crater edge stood, contrasting with the Mars horizon as a backdrop. Two kilometers out she sped up and enjoyed the control of piloting the land cruiser.

In the rear seat, Danny leaned forward to observe the sky from out the roof viewer. "It's so beautiful here."

Journey leaned over to join him. "Eden Station is a great place, but even their views of space pale in comparison to this."

"Really? I'd love to visit Eden," Rinny smiled at her. "Windmore City seems like living in a fish bowl compared to life here. Can you believe it? Here we are cruising along in free space towards a real mountain region. I feel like we're on an adventure."

Journey laughed and took a bag from behind her seat. "I had a feeling you'd say that, so I got us these."

She took out three big hats, which looked like upside down bowls with deep rims. Rinny wondered when she'd had time to buy three hats. They weren't even sure Danny would be coming. Man, she was quick to plan and more confident in me than I am to myself.

"What are those?" Rinny and Danny asked in unison, glancing at the odd hats with suspicion.

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I guess the season doesn't really matter. It's the experiences, and teenagers will find "the moments to remember" in any conditions. When it comes down to it, it's the interactions, the people, and the places you encounter during that phase in your life that sticks with you.

Okay, now the prizes. Ahhh, I see I've recaptured your attention, didn't I? Admit it, you were about to flip to the next blog on the blog-o-hop. Weren't you?

I forgive you.

My prize is an ebook copy of Duty and Devotion. Now, remember, most blog hop participants are giving away individual prizes, AND there's an overall blog hop grand prize and runner up prize.

What are these grand and runner up prizes, you ask? Wait for it....wait for it...wait for it...Hey! Watch where you're throwing the bricks people! (And they say SF geeks have no aim. Pfft!)

Fine, fine. It's a Kindle for the grand prize. Runner up gets a cool prize to, 20 SFR titles and a gift card. Not too shabby, eh? Winners will be chosen using random.org.

Well, what are you waiting for? Go! Visit those other blogs and leave comments!