Science Fiction Meets Romance – Where to Start?

Unless you’re new here, you’re probably aware that science fiction and romance are my bread and butter. Not only are they what I specialize in, but the two blended together is one of my all-time favorite genres to read. That’s also why for my next book, Breakup Queen, I’ll be doing just that. Sure, it’ll be a fake-dating rockstar romance, but I recently came up with a loose science fiction twist that should crank it up to the next level.

I really think it’s going to heighten the stakes and make the story a lot more nuanced. Whenever you’re writing a new concept, you’ve got to have the stakes high enough that the reader actually cares about the outcome. I know that sounds obvious enough, but it’s something I think a lot of authors accidentally overlook. That’s why I’m reading Cinder by Marissa Meyer to get myself in the mindset for the kind of story I want to build.

So this month, I wanted to share 3 ways I think sci-fi heightens the stakes more than a story without it:

• Life versus Death: While some heartache feels like it could kill you, everyone knows it can’t literally end a life (assuming the absence of a Romeo and Juliet situation, of course). With a science fiction or even dystopian twist, your characters could literally lose their life over the course of the story.
• Bigger world implications: Is there an evil overlord threatening to take over the tri-state area? Well, unless they’re as innocent and harmless as Dr. Doofenshmirtz, your protagonist could have a serious issue on their hands. Bonus points if the story also makes some bigger points about real-society outside of the story.
• Extra Plot Complexity: Suddenly, it’s not quite as simple as telling the guy you loved him the whole time; now you’ve got cyborgs to fight off. That’s a silly example, but I’m sure you get the idea.

Some of the best parts about contemporary science fiction is that while it’s situated in society as we know it, there are twists and new complexities that the reader maybe wouldn’t have expected. At the end of the day, we just want that escape from reality, right?

I know that’s why I’ve written my science fiction books. Whether it’s time travel or dystopian thrillers, there’s always an escapist quality that I’ve seen readers really connect with.

Happy reading and writing!

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Hello Summer, Goodbye Free Time.

As we approach the official-unofficial start to summer, I was just thinking the other day how I used to look forward to this time of year more than any other. I’d be out of school (no more homework – yay), away from the bullies (duh), and could wear whatever I wanted (no dumb private school dress codes at home). Given how amazing this time of year typically is for me, I’m actually going into it this year feeling a bit stressed.

Wait no – that sounds depressing.

I don’t mean this to sound like a total downer, but there are so many different things happening this summer that I didn’t have to juggle back in my school days.

Things like…

• Freelance blogging
• Editing
• Crocheting art for my vendor shows
• Training to teach guitar
• And somehow still carving out time with my boyfriend (yep, that’s new – read this post for more on that)

They’re all good things of course – but I’ve learned that not all stress is something negative. In fact, sometimes the best things in life freak us out for totally normal, human reasons. And that’s totally okay! But these particular things are requiring a fair amount of adjusting, so I better step it up and reorganize if I ever want to make any headway on my next book.

It’s not what you do with your time so much as the habits you form.

If you’re like me and plan on nixing your habit of laying in bed until noon, that’s naturally going to free up a lot of your time. So sometimes the little changes you apply to your life make all the difference. Don’t be afraid to celebrate those! I’m learning to listen to my body. When I’m tired, I sleep. When I feel motivated to work, I work. Simple as that! Of course, sometimes there are hard deadlines that I have to hit, either for clients, or for a scheduled art show. But aside from those caveats, I let me body and mind lead the process.

Productive rest is also something I want to get a lot better about.

You know, doing something restful besides mindlessly scrolling through Instagram for the umpteenth time that day. Watch your favorite movie, cook something yummy, go out with friends. There’s so much more to life than what you can do. Instead, think about what you can be.

“Be a human being, not a human doing.”

My Quantum Energy Healer, Dr. Mark Mincolla

This particular mantra has always been the toughest for me to master. But I’d wager that’s largely due to societal pressures that make us feel worthless unless we’re actively producing something. But you’ve gotta remember that there are so many wonderful things you bring to the world just by being yourself. Don’t forget that.

Hopefully you’ll be able to have a restful and productive summer. If you have any tips for striking that perfect balance, feel free to reach out to me in the comments. I’d love to hear what you’ve managed to accomplish despite feeling burnt out like I often do!

Happy summer, everybody. Let’s roll.

P.S. – Add my books on Goodreads if you’d like. That would be pretty cool 😉

Girl Bossing to the Highest Degree

I’m exhausted just writing this post, but I wanted to check in with you guys before I buckle down for the remainder of the holiday season.

You know those memes about Girl Bossing too close to the sun?

That’s me right now. I’ve literally got a few different paid gigs to juggle, alongside my art business (Custom Crocheted Critters on Instagram if you’re curious). And I’m on the board for my author association (you know, the Association of Rhode Island Authors) coordinating their volunteers for the big expo THIS WEEKEND (December 11th). And on top of that, I’m also mentoring a couple high school seniors interested in the writing and journalism fields. So short answer: that’s a lot. I love all of it, but it’s got me pretty stressed lately.

What I’m doing to mitigate the effects of such a packed schedule is the following:

Me at one of my recent book signings – a nice warm up for next week’s ARIA Author Expo!

• Listening to my body: When I feel tired, I rest. Sounds simple, but it’s way underrated. And rest doesn’t always mean sleep! Sometimes it’s as simple as curling up with a good book instead of working myself to exhaustion.
• Minimizing my carb intake: This is something I’ve definitely spoken about before, and I don’t do it perfectly. But small changes like swapping out a midnight bag of chips for a protein shake are huge.
• Advocating for what I’m worth: Yes, in the freelancing world, there are countless smaller gigs that are fine for beginners who need to pad their resumes. But you know what? I’m now an expert in my field with a resume a mile long. And this is because I spent the last few years post-grad honing my skills. I’ve learned a lot, and now I’m quite literally, worth more. So I charge accordingly.
• Constantly working on myself: This is as simple as tracking my mindsets and fixing them. Not that it’s necessarily easy, but there is so much you can do to enrich your life by taking up journaling. Self-awareness is where it’s at, so start creating the life you want instead of complaining about it all. My faith in Jesus has also been a major part of this. Feel free to reach out anytime if you’d like to know more about that!
• Exercising regularly: Okay, this is one I’m actually still working on, but I typically love going to yoga class weekly. And walking the dog counts, right? Lilly appreciates the chance to sniff around the neighborhood and handle her outdoor business.

These aren’t one-size-fits-all suggestions, but I do believe they can help you live your best life.

Over time, you’ll create new habits – and what better time to do that, than at the end of the year? That’s right – I too keep forgetting that 2021 is virtually over. But that’s kind of perfect, since my book is called Forgetting What I Couldn’t Remember. And no – it’s not about senility. I’m only 24, after all!

It’s actually about the intriguing way that trauma affects how memories are stored, and the way we have to work through that to be our best.

My character, Vera, deals with all of this alongside time travel, old bullies, and new romance. Want to dive in?

Read more about this book (and all my other ones) on my website.

Wherever you find yourself this holiday season, I truly hope you take time for you! There is so much to be grateful for, as long as you take the time to remind yourself.

If you’re still shopping for any readers in your life, may I suggest some books? Mine are somewhere in between sci-fi and romance, with a dash of sass and sparkle.

Have a very Merry Christmas and a lovely holiday season!