Liftoff by Tyrean Martinson

Welcome to Tyrean Martinson. Enjoy her post and follow the rest of her blog tour.

Science Fiction Tropes and Popcorn Movie Influences: Aliens and Humans Mix

In science fiction, some of the interactions between aliens and humans have become tropes. Tropes can be symbolic and helpful for our understanding of plot and character in a fast-paced movie or show. We can use them, bend them, or try to avoid them.

For alien-human interactions, we have the classic tropes of:

·         War of the Worlds type aliens who want to kill/enslave humanity and takeover Earth. There are so many variations on this one it’s hard to name them all, but here are a few: Independence Day, Annihilation, Avengers, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Spectral, Pacific Rim, Starship Troopers, Edge of Tomorrow, Predator.

·         There are the peaceful, more advanced and powerful aliens who want to help humanity. Examples include: Arrival, Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

·         Avatar by James Cameron offers the rare depiction where the humans are the aggressors.

·         Aliens who spy on humanity or pass us by, not considering us worthy “yet” of their attention. Examples of this include: The Hitch-Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, The Cat from Outer space.

·         Aliens and humans struggle to understand one another. Examples: Star Trek, Men in Black, Guardians of the Galaxy, Galaxy Quest, Babylon 5, Farscape, Stargate.

·         And sometimes, aliens and humans fall in love. Examples: Mork from Ork, Starman, John Carter, Superman, The Host, Earth Girls are Easy, and Captain Kirk in nearly every Star Trek television episode.

What kind of alien-human interactions do you like best in science fiction movies and television shows? Have any movies/shows to add?

 

LIFTOFF RELEASE INFORMATION FOR THE BOOK BLOG TOUR

 

 

Title: Liftoff

Subtitle: The Rayatana Series, Book 1

Blurb:

A spaceship in disguise,

An Earth girl searching for a sense of home,

And a Thousand Years’ War between alien races,

All collide on a summer afternoon.

An old movie theater welcomes Amaya in and wraps her up in the smell of popcorn and licorice. But one sunny afternoon during a matinee, the movie screen goes dark. The theater rumbles.

Amaya gets trapped in the middle of an ancient alien conflict. Angry and frightened, Amaya entangles herself in a life-changing cultural misunderstanding with Sol, a young alien who keeps omitting key information, even while they’re on the run from his enemies.

What will it take to survive a battle between alien races involved in an ancient war?

Liftoff is a fast-paced read for fans of Code 8, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Cobra Kai.

 

Release Date: November 10, 2020

Paperback ISBN: ISBN: 978-0-9889933-8-9

Ebook ISBN: ISBN: 978-0-9889933-9-6

Copyright Tyrean Martinson November 2020

Publisher: Wings of Light Publishing, Gig Harbor, WA, USA

Professionally Edited by Chrys Fey

Cover Art and Interior Design by Carrie Butler

LINKS: Kindle           Barnes and Noble                  Kobo               Smashwords                Goodreads

 

About the Author: Tyrean Martinson is an author and teacher from Washington State. As a former fencer and kickboxer, she enjoys writing fight scenes in fast-paced novels and novellas. As a teacher and writing tutor, she loves to get students writing and reading comfortably by any means: talk-to-text, short writing assignments, short stories, novellas, and adventures. She wrote her latest novella, Liftoff, for herself during COVID, but realized it also fits a dream she’s had for a while: to create a short, fast-paced read for teen/YA readers who love popcorn movies, adventure, and sweet romance.

Author Links: Blog     Newsletter       Instagram        Twitter             Facebook

 

How Great Was That?

Wow, the past three days have been great. On Friday, I got Blog Blitzed! Blog Blitz 2.0 is the invention of DL Hammons. If you're not part of this group that every so often sends a whole lot of

commenting love to a fellow blogger, you don't know what you're missing. I was completely surprised and honored and touched and ... you know what I mean. Thank you to all the wonderful visitors, many of whom dropped in on Saturday or Sunday.

I also wanted to thank Tyrean Martinson. A short time ago, I won a first page evaluation for my WIP. She spotted one of my constant misspelled words right away and gave me some great suggestions to draw my reader into that important first scene. It's so great to get fresh new eyes on my writing. Thanks, Tyrean.

One of my local writer friends share this link where the typical Twitter user is described. It only takes a minute to look it over.  Except for the education and income part, I don't fit the typical profile. Too old, too white and too female. But I have my friends there so I think I fit in with them. I avoid the hate attacks that happen, two big ones over the last few weeks. Ouch. It gets really mean on there.

Another great thing this weekend was a bridal shower for my future daughter in law. A little more than two weeks until the wedding. And they're both ready to have kids so call me granny by this time next year, I hope. My son, the oldest of my natural children, is so like me and we've always been very close even during those teen years. I've missed him since he bought his own house. He still constantly raids my bookshelves and makes me resort to all kinds of threats to get my books back. I'm so happy he found a wonderful woman to love and share his life with.

"Sometimes love means letting go when you want to hold on tighter." Melissa Marr

My daughter and I spend a few hours in the pool, not all at once, over the weekend and had lots of time to catch up. Then we went to the shower together and finished Sunday afternoon off with two hours at Barnes and Noble. We came up four books heavier but had fun and an overpriced drink.

As you can see, I had a very upbeat weekend with little writing to show for it. But I had family fun and online bonding with other bloggers and writers. Does it get any better than that?

"The best thing to hold onto in life is each other." Audrey Hepburn

Did anyone out there have a better few days than I did? Where do you fall in the typical Twitter user stats? Ever have your blogger friends humble you with kindness like the Blitz did to me?

Friday Highlights

Wrapping up a great week. I've caught up on a bunch of things and already filled one of my goals for the month. Besides that, I'm all ready except for packing my books for the booksigning tomorrow at Ashcombe's Greenhouse and Gift Shop for tomorrow. Some good things have happened this week, including winning A Jumble of 500+ Writing Prompts by Tyrean Martinson. It's a great buy even if you have to pay for it. I'm going to let all my writing friends know.

Don't forget on Monday the linky list for Theme Reveal Day will open. It's a lot of fun and will get everyone in the mood for A to Z. Check back here Monday for more. I still need a few Dragon Soldiers to help me behind the scenes of A to Z. I'll give you a peek at the cool badge Jeremy designed for me next week. So far only my helpers have seen it.

I'm pleased today to highlight Heather M. Gardner's upcoming release with a cover reveal today and a teaser of a blurb.  

Title: One Good Catch

Author: Heather M. Gardner

Genre: Contemporary Romantic Suspense

Publisher: InkSpell Publishing

Cover Design: Najla Qamber Designs

Release Date: March 13, 2015

Ignoring a recent trauma that is affecting her everyday life, ER Doctor Kate Maguire engages in some high risk activities, but putting herself in these dangerous situations isn’t enough to feed her edginess. She needs something more. When her brother’s high school best friend comes back to town, it’s her chance for a ‘no strings attached’ fling with the man who still headlines in all her best dreams.

Rhys MacGrath’s days of one-night-stands are long over. The pro-football player might be side-lined at rehab for a shoulder injury, but that doesn’t mean he can’t admire and desire the all-grown-up, so-damn-hot, version of the tomboy he once knew. His sudden interest in Kate might be aggravating his best friend, who doesn’t approve, but it’s her indifference that’s driving Rhys crazy.

Everything heats up when Kate’s nosy nature sets her in the line of fire of an arsonist forcing them to deal with more than just the sparks igniting between them.

 Heather M. Gardner's love of books began on the hand-woven rugs of her small town library where her mother worked. There she had a never-ending supply of stories to read at her fingertips. As a teen, her favorite genres to curl up with were romance and mysteries. When she started to create her own stories, they were the perfect fit.

Heather resides in New York with her best friend who is also her husband, plus her talented and handsome son. She is currently owned by four stray cats. Heather's a full-time mom, works part-time from home, a chocolate enthusiast, coffee junkie, cat addict, book hoarder and fluent in sarcasm.

Blog: The Waiting is the Hardest Part

Twitter     Goodreads      Facebook

Need some great writing prompts? Check out Tryean's book. Aren't you intrigued by Heather's blurb and that cool cover? Are you curious to see my badge? Happy Valentine's Day to you all. I hope you have as much fun as I intend to have at the book signing. Maybe I'll sell enough to take my dear husband out to dinner. I promise pictures next week of the signing. 

Love In all Its Forms

I hope you'll visit me today at the Blogging from A to Z site where I'm talking about how easy it is to participate in the challenge if you're part of a group blog. And I'll be begging for more helpers again. Please think about helping.

Also today, Alex Slater, a literary agent, is a guest on the IWSG blog. The guests always have something helpful and interesting to offer.

Thanks for all the great comments on Monday's post when I mentioned how love of one sort or another is a central plot point in most well-known stories. Besides the exciting booksigning I have coming up on Saturday, I'm having a lovely week connecting with some friends. Today I'm having lunch with three wonderful ladies who were my friends through my early years of teaching. They retired years before I left the field and we lost contact for a few years. But I reached out and now the band is getting back together today. I can't wait. We have so much catching up to do but otherwise it will be like we just saw each other yesterday.

"You can't measure the mutual affection of two human beings by the number of words they exchange."  Milan Kundera

I wanted to thank Tyrean Martinson for nominating me for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award. I'm quite humbled to have received this twice since the start of 2015. I'm not sure I deserve it but thanks a bunch. As part of it, I'm supposed to mention three things that have inspired in the past few weeks.

1. My daughter is attending college in Boston. Her situation there has inspired me not to complain about winter for over two week now.
2. My good friend, Ava Quin, signed with an agent last week. Her hard work toward her writing goals has inspired me to keep chasing mine.
3. The loss of our family friend last week has inspired to me to reach out to some friends I haven't spend enough time with lately. Life is too short.

Instead of naming the 15 bloggers to pass this award to, I invite everyone to take the time this week to think of who has inspired you lately. Thanks, again, Tyrean.

"A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out."
Walter Winchell

Writing wise, I'm doing a final galley read through on Keepers of Sulbreth and am half-way through the second round of edits for War Dragon, the follow up book to First Dragon. In other words, really busy.

Have you been inspired by someone this week? Can you think of some good friends you've been out of touch with? Did you sign up for A to Z? Wanna be my helper?

Hobbit Fest

Like so many fantasy fans, I'm really hoping the new Hobbit movies live up to our high expectations. I'm not as excited as I was for the grand adventure of The Lord of the Rings, but it is still going to be great.

Helping us celebrate the movie premiere, M. Pax and Tyrean Martinson are hosting a very interesting blog hop to get us all in the right mind set. Visit either of their blogs to sign up and find more wonderful blogs to share fond thoughts of those lovely little furry footed hobbits, those gentle and courageous heroes.

As part of the blog hop, I must answer a few questions.
1.What is my favorite hobbit characteristic/or the one that resembles me.

The thing I find most lovable about these little people is how they don't think of themselves as heroic or adventuresome, yet they step forward when it's really important. They're everyday heroes, not kings or knights, but farmers and villagers.

2.If I could choose between a scrumptious second breakfast or a perilous unexpected journey which would I take?

Second breakfast sounds pretty good, but because I don't want to tend toward roundness like a hobbit, I better go on the unexpected journey. I do like to travel and see new places.

3. Have I ever left something behind on a journey and then wished I'd brought it over and over again?

I didn't but one of my sons when he was about eight years old forgot to pack all his tee shirts after we laid all his things out the night before we left for a week at the beach. We went into a souvenir store and bought him ten $3 shirts, all with the same picture of a shark on the front. It was pretty funny. We still laugh about it and he claims he loved those shirts.

4. What is my favorite quote from the book I hope will be in the movie?

I don't have a favorite quote but I'm really looking forward to seeing Bilbo trick the trolls. He's so clever.

Remember this is a blog hop so go find some more stories to get you pumped for The Hobbit. What part of the movie are you looking forward to? Every have second breakfast?