Catch Fire! Blog Party - CassaFire Feb 28, 2012



CassaFire is Here!



If you like Science Fiction, then you must have heard of author Alex J. Cavanaugh. He's the blog owner of the site by the same name.  Check out the Ninja Captain's blog at http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/. 

Today is the Catch Fire! Blog Party, celebrating the release of CassaFire by Alex J. Cavanaugh! The goal is to help CassaFire “catch fire” on the best seller charts and achieve the success of the first book, CassaStar.


There’s also a special package of prizes being given away at the author’s blog (copies of CassaFire, CassaStar, tote bag, mug, and bookmarks) as well as book giveaways during his two-week blog tour.  See Alex’s site for details: http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/

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CassaFire by Alex J. Cavanaugh

CassaStar was just the beginning…

The Vindicarn War is a distant memory and Byron’s days of piloting Cosbolt fighters are over. He has kept the promise he made to his fallen mentor and friend - to probe space on an exploration vessel. Shuttle work is dull, but it’s a free and solitary existence. The senior officer is content with his life aboard the Rennather.

The detection of alien ruins sends the exploration ship to the distant planet of Tgren. If their scientists can decipher the language, they can unlock the secrets of this device. Is it a key to the Tgren’s civilization or a weapon of unimaginable power? Tensions mount as their new allies are suspicious of the Cassan’s technology and strange mental abilities.

To complicate matters, the Tgrens are showing signs of mental powers themselves; the strongest of which belongs to a pilot named Athee, a woman whose skills rival Byron’s unique abilities. Forced to train her mind and further develop her flying aptitude, he finds his patience strained. Add a reluctant friendship with a young scientist, and he feels invaded on every level. All Byron wanted was his privacy…

Available today! 
Science fiction - space opera/adventure

Print ISBN 978-0-9827139-4-5, $15.95, 6x9, Trade paperback, 240 pages

EBook ISBN 978-0-9827139-6-9, $4.99, available in all formats

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You can visit the author’s site at http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/ 
OR - Order from these sites:

Barnes and Noble

Amazon

Amazon Kindle

Amazon for Canadians


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CassaFire is the sequel to Cavanaugh’s first book, CassaStar, an Amazon Top Ten Best Seller:

“…calls to mind the youthful focus of Robert Heinlein’s early military sf, as well as the excitement of space opera epitomized by the many Star Wars novels. Fast-paced military action and a youthful protagonist make this a good choice for both young adult and adult fans of space wars.” - Library Journal

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Alex's site has all the details for ordering CassaFire, but watch the trailer below if you want a peek first.


CASSAFIRE TRAILER

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Now go over to Alex's site and join the party!

I've Been Tagged - 11 Questions

I've been tagged by:

Misha Gericke

I'll answer Misha's questions, then I'll offer my own and I'll follow Misha's lead by selecting some of followers from my blog.  Great idea Misha!  (a getting to know you tag)

THE RULES ARE:

I answer 11 questions and make up 11 of my own.  I tag and link to 11 other bloggers.  You who are tagged are asked to do the same on your blog. 


My Answers to Misha:

1. Do you believe in fate?  
Yes, Fate brought me to Canada.

2. How the heck do you write and have a life?
I write whenever I can, in the morning (preferred) or on the road when I'm a passenger.  It keeps me from telling someone how to drive.

3. If you were in a written story, which character trope would you most likely have followed?
The fallen angel.  (I'd follow Wilde's advice about resisting everything except temptation. . . )

4. Sweet or Savory?
How about a bit of both?

5. What's your big dream?
See the Earth from space or from the Moon.

6. Fondest memory?
First meeting the man I'm married to now.  Felt like I had known him before or had been waiting for him.

7. What's your biggest wish? (world peace does not count)
Can I be greedy and have two?  I'd wish for my oldest daughter's health to improve from a chronic condition she has, and to be published, of course.

8. Would you rather have an exciting life and be alone or find the great love of your life and live a relatively normal one?
I did find the love of my life and I'm married to him.

9. Have you ever done something, only to realize a half a second later that you made a mistake?
You mean like closing the door to your car and seeing the keys still in the ignition. . .?


10. Did you try to go back and fix it, or did you follow through?
For the locked in keys, I called a car service, for big faux pas, it would depend on the mistake.

11. Do you edit while writing or after the draft is done?
I find it hard not to edit while writing, but even Dean Koontz admits editing as he goes.  I think it's the perfectionist tendencies some of us have.
 
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MY TAGGED BLOGGERS:

1 - Spunk on a Stick (L. Diane Wolfe)

2 - The Writing Nut (Nutschell)

3 - Seeing Creative (Stina)

4 - Veronica and Thomas - Taking the Artistic World. . .

5 - Sherry E  - The Mama Diaries

6 - J. T. Lewis - Did I Stutter?

7 - The Ramblings of a Peacock  - Michelle

8 - Susan Says  - Susan

9 - Alexia Purdy Blog - Alexia

10 - Claudia Del Balso, Writer - Claudia

11 - Jen's Bookshelf - Jen

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My 11 Questions For Those Tagged Are:
(updated Feb.17/12)

1 - How long have you blogged?

2 - Do you have a pet?

3 - Do you like film noir?

4 - Do you pick male or female protagonists the most when you write?

5 - Which female actor in LOTR would you want to be if offered a part in the movie?

6 - Which male actor in LOTR would you want to be if offered a part in the movie? (this is assuming Makeup and Costume can do miracles. . .)

7 - Where do you write? (which room, or place is most comfortable)
 
8 - What beverage is beside you while you're writing?
 
9 - Do you listen to Music while writing?
 
10 - What is your favorite city?
 
11 - Is there a phone in your writing place?
(In my study where I write, I have a landline.  Do you have any communication device that can disturb you nearby?)
 
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That's it, I tried to make the questions short and sweet and the answers can be too.

Please pass the tag along.  Misha (at My First Book) sent me the details.  Hope you can participate.

Thanks Misha, for the opportunity to highlight a few followers' blogs.

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Any comments?  Hope you'll get a chance to check some of the blogs above.

ORIGINS Blogfest 2012



When did your writing dreams begin?



Tell us for the Origins Blogfest . . . when did you first pick up that pen or sit in front of that keypad and begin to create a story, or a column, a poem, or a book?  (Not for school or because you had to, but because you wanted to write something down that was in your head)

When did I first start writing stories?

After reading Tolkien’s The Hobbit for the first time, I wanted to write like that, to weave a story thread like he did. This book introduced me to the fantasy genre. I breezed through the Lord of the Ring books that followed.  Reading fantasy led to reading science fiction, and there I decided to stay and see what I could create. 

Thanks for dropping by.  Hope you can share one of your writing memories in the comments below.  I'll be sure to answer and check out your blog.
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The Origins Blogfest is brought to you by 4 co-host Bloggers: (you can sign up on these sites)

DL at Cruisin' Altitude
Alex at Alex J. Cavanaugh
Matt at The Quintessentially Questionable Query Experiement
Katie at Creepy Query Girl 


Want to participate?

First, you need to sign up to participate via the handy dandy Linky tool at DL's site or any of the other host blogs above.   The Linky lists, details, and badges are found there. Have fun checking out the list!

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PARIS - City of Light

Eiffel Tower Lights the Evening - DGH 2010

Eiffel Tower (Tour Eiffel)


Paris with all its lights on shows us a city proud to flaunt its beauty. It’s an impressive sight at night, when buildings take on a golden glow and the Eiffel Tower changes colour by the hour.

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Bright Cafe Lights on the Right Bank - by DGH

  Lights in the Side Streets

In the Marais when evening falls, walkers fill the streets looking for a place to eat and a spot to people watch by the Seine River. On the side streets, light spills out from the cafés and bistros onto the sidewalk, while the cosy tables invite us to stop.

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Bateau Parisiennes Tour - Illuminations - by Green Eye

Illumination Tours

Bateau Parisienne is one of several companies that provide tours of the Seine River day and night. Boats are open style or covered, depending on the weather, and provide an excellent view of the buildings in their evening finery. There are also driving tours available if you prefer the land route.

The unique design of the bridges can be seen as you slip quietly beneath. From this level, it’s also easier to see the detail of architectural grotesques and the unique style of the different bridges. I imagine scenes from the past when beaches ran down to the Seine River, and a few of the oldest bridges were new.

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Look Way Up at Notre Dame - by DG Hudson

 
Notre Dame Cathedral


Notre Dame looms over the Seine, its haunting Gothic style highlighted by the evening glow of lights.  Refer to 'Paris - Architecture Smorgasbord (from my 21st Century blog) for more photos and detail on this inspired building.

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Hôtel de Ville

  

Evening shot of Hotel de Ville with Signposts - by DGH



The Hôtel de Ville watches over the plaza in front, its sculptures lit from beneath. This is Paris City Hall. The quiet fountain off the the side bubbles pleasantly as we walk by, heading to our rental apartment. Public events such as fund-raisers are staged in the square at times. On those occasions, the building dons a different dress. (see 'Transformed photo' in sidebar)

http://www.aviewoncities.com/paris/hoteldeville.htm  Hôtel de Ville


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Hôtel-Dieu de Paris

The illuminated photo of this building appears in another recent Paris post, Apartment Rentals and Booked Tours.

Hôtel-Dieu de Paris is the oldest hospital in Paris, and sits next to Notre Dame on the Île de la Cité. It was also the only hospital until the Renaissance. A few of the towers facing the Seine River have retained their medieval style complete with conical roofs.  Below is the day version.

Hotel D'ieu's conical towers at left - by DG Hudson

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C3%B4tel-Dieu_de_Paris  Hotel D'ieu

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Seine River bridges

Always lots to see, on the river or on the bridges.

 

Bridge and Tour boat on the Seine River by DG Hudson

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Samaritain Paris 

This department store in the 1st Arrondisement closed in 2005.  In 2010, the lights still celebrated the store's past.  I liked the current design and the lights.  Who knows how long this version will last?

More info at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Samaritaine.





Samaritaine in the Evening by DGH

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A photographer's dream, that's Paris.  It's the urge to capture the essence of the brightness, the thing that gives the city that overall glow.  And I don't mean electricity.
What is it about lights - the neon that seduces us, marquees that invite us in and special lights that enthrall us at certain times of the year?  In Paris, they keep it going year round and light up the best places.  

Do you know of cities like Paris that enhance themselves in the evening with lights, or other public events so people feel comfortable walking about? 

Please share if you do. 

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