Muse Food – Dinosaurs And The Remains We Display
What happens to the remnants of beings and other living things after they die tells us a lot about the world we live in, the beliefs, the culture, the priorities.
Why do many humans in North America believe it is okay to display human corpses from ancient Egyptian times (i.e. mummies) but it isn’t okay to display the corpse of a celebrity who died last year?
Why do displays of bones from dinosaurs draw crowds yet the fossilized plant life from the same period is rarely even displayed?
How are the remnants of beings and other formerly living things treated in the world you’re writing or reading about? What does that say about that world?
Topics: Muse Food | Comments Off on Muse Food – Dinosaurs And The Remains We Display
Jurassic World Rebirth And Living Up To Hype
Spoiler Alert – This post will talk about Jurassic World Rebirth and it WILL contain spoilers. If you haven’t yet watched this dinosaur-filled movie, you might wish to skip this post.
I LOVE dinosaurs and I’ve enjoyed all of the Jurassic Park/World movies.
Yes, even the second one. (grins)
Jurassic World Rebirth is my least favorite.
It has moments of wonder in it. I loved the saved family, especially the boyfriend and his character arc. I thought the scene with the Titanosaurus was absolutely beautiful.
My big disappointment was with Distortus rex.
Every Jurassic movie has a new ‘terrifying’ dinosaur. This dinosaur is usually bigger and scarier and more deadly than any we’ve seen thus far.
And this is set up to be true in Jurassic World Rebirth.
We first ‘encounter’ Distortus rex in the first scene. We don’t see her but we know she’s huge and deadly.
And I was waiting excitedly the entire movie to finally see her.
When we did see her, toward the end of the movie, she was a let down.
She definitely didn’t live up to the hype.
She was hard to look at. She was so ugly. She had numerous arms but we didn’t really see how that was much of an advantage.
Because her scenes were few. And the fight was over quickly.
We weren’t shown how she was a better predator than the T-Rex, one of our favorites.
She had no endearing aspects or traits, nothing to give us a connection to her.
And I’m not interested in seeing Distortus rex ever again.
If she is the future of Jurassic dinosaurs, I’ll give that beloved franchise a pass.
This is a reminder for myself and writing buddies.
If we build hype, we have to deliver on that hype.
If we tell readers, for example, our hero will do ANYTHING to protect his love interest, we have to show him doing some serious sh*t to safeguard that being.
If we hint that sh*t will hit the fan if anyone found out about their relationship, someone has to find out and sh*t has to hit the fan. Hard.
Live up to the hype.
Topics: Movie Reviews | Comments Off on Jurassic World Rebirth And Living Up To Hype
Cynthia Sax Weekly Update – August 24
The publishing landscape is changing so much and so quickly. I don’t know if you’ll be able to read the Moonbeam Duets when they go live. But I’ve loaded them to booksellers and I’m hoping for the best.
(smiles)
And I continue to work on my fun secret writing project. It gives me joy.
When I started writing, I never imagined anyone else would ever read my stories. I was writing for myself.
It seems…destined that I’m back to writing purely for myself, not knowing if anyone else will ever read my stories.
Have a wonderful week, my friends. (big hugs) Do something purely for yourself. Don’t worry about what others will think about it. Or if it will earn a gazillion dollars. Or make other people happy. Do it for yourself. You’re worth it!
Under Strain
A damaged cyborg warrior is hunted by a peace-loving human female.
***
Strain is severely malfunctioning. The D Model cyborg was the sole survivor after a horrific decision was made by his cruel manufacturers. He hates all humans, and when he attacks one who is under his cyborg leader’s protection, he is reprimanded, stripped of his weapons, and told to watch and not actively participate in the next mission.
That mission takes place on a small remote planet. Its lush terrain should only be inhabited by the cyborgs they were sent to rescue, but Strain senses another presence on the surface. She is watching him, tracking him, hunting him.
A fully operational cyborg would end her lifespan.
Strain wants to claim her. Forever.
Kamyelle is the only one left of her kind. Warriors have killed the other nonviolent human inhabitants of her planet. She survived…barely…by hiding in the trees, observing her enemies, and covering herself with lifeform scan-concealing mud.
When a handsome, gray-skinned, brilliant-blue-eyed male arrives, surrounded by weapon-carrying warriors, she has to save him. Warriors harm and they kill. That is what they do.
She won’t allow them to hurt Strain.
***
Under Strain is a STANDALONE Cyborg SciFi Romance set in a dark, gritty, sometimes-violent universe.
It features a broken warrior, a human female who thinks he’s perfect, and velociraptor-like dinosaurs who view them both as light, tasty snacks.
Buy Now:
Amazon US:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08R322L7S
Amazon UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08R322L7S
Amazon AUS:
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B08R322L7S
Apple Books:
https://books.apple.com/us/book/under-strain/id1545957749
Kobo:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/under-strain
Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/10602
Topics: Cynthia Sax Weekly Update | Comments Off on Cynthia Sax Weekly Update – August 24
Throwback Thursday – Under Strain
I LOVE dinosaurs!
I also love the times in which they lived – the strange plants, the huge insects, the mysteries in the seas, all of it. I view the Earth as it was then as being very similar to an alien plant. Everything was different and fantastical, almost myth-like.
In Under Strain, that alien planet is the human heroine’s home.
Under Strain
A damaged cyborg warrior is hunted by a peace-loving human female.
***
Strain is severely malfunctioning. The D Model cyborg was the sole survivor after a horrific decision was made by his cruel manufacturers. He hates all humans, and when he attacks one who is under his cyborg leader’s protection, he is reprimanded, stripped of his weapons, and told to watch and not actively participate in the next mission.
That mission takes place on a small remote planet. Its lush terrain should only be inhabited by the cyborgs they were sent to rescue, but Strain senses another presence on the surface. She is watching him, tracking him, hunting him.
A fully operational cyborg would end her lifespan.
Strain wants to claim her. Forever.
Kamyelle is the only one left of her kind. Warriors have killed the other nonviolent human inhabitants of her planet. She survived…barely…by hiding in the trees, observing her enemies, and covering herself with lifeform scan-concealing mud.
When a handsome, gray-skinned, brilliant-blue-eyed male arrives, surrounded by weapon-carrying warriors, she has to save him. Warriors harm and they kill. That is what they do.
She won’t allow them to hurt Strain.
***
Under Strain is a STANDALONE Cyborg SciFi Romance set in a dark, gritty, sometimes-violent universe.
It features a broken warrior, a human female who thinks he’s perfect, and velociraptor-like dinosaurs who view them both as light, tasty snacks.
Buy Now:
Amazon US:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08R322L7S
Amazon UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08R322L7S
Amazon AUS:
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B08R322L7S
Apple Books:
https://books.apple.com/us/book/under-strain/id1545957749
Kobo:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/under-strain
Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/10602
Topics: Throwback Thursday | Comments Off on Throwback Thursday – Under Strain
Throwback Thursday – Under Strain
Under Strain features an extremely broken cyborg warrior, a human female who courageously wants to save him from their mutual enemies, and DINOSAURS.
(grins)
Yes, Under Strain is set on a dinosaur planet. And you KNOW the cyborgs want to ride these dinosaurs.
This story is SO much fun.
Under Strain
A damaged cyborg warrior is hunted by a peace-loving human female.
***
Strain is severely malfunctioning. The D Model cyborg was the sole survivor after a horrific decision was made by his cruel manufacturers. He hates all humans, and when he attacks one who is under his cyborg leader’s protection, he is reprimanded, stripped of his weapons, and told to watch and not actively participate in the next mission.
That mission takes place on a small remote planet. Its lush terrain should only be inhabited by the cyborgs they were sent to rescue, but Strain senses another presence on the surface. She is watching him, tracking him, hunting him.
A fully operational cyborg would end her lifespan.
Strain wants to claim her. Forever.
Kamyelle is the only one left of her kind. Warriors have killed the other nonviolent human inhabitants of her planet. She survived…barely…by hiding in the trees, observing her enemies, and covering herself with lifeform scan-concealing mud.
When a handsome, gray-skinned, brilliant-blue-eyed male arrives, surrounded by weapon-carrying warriors, she has to save him. Warriors harm and they kill. That is what they do.
She won’t allow them to hurt Strain.
***
Under Strain is a STANDALONE Cyborg SciFi Romance set in a dark, gritty, sometimes-violent universe.
It features a broken warrior, a human female who thinks he’s perfect, and velociraptor-like dinosaurs who view them both as light, tasty snacks.
Buy Now:
Amazon US:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08R322L7S
Amazon UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08R322L7S
Amazon AUS:
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B08R322L7S
Apple Books:
https://books.apple.com/us/book/under-strain/id1545957749
B&N:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/under-strain-cynthia-sax/1138505613
Kobo:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/under-strain
Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/10602
Topics: Throwback Thursday | Comments Off on Throwback Thursday – Under Strain
Meg 2: The Trench And Expectations
Spoiler Alert – This post will talk about Meg 2: The Trench and will contain spoilers. If you haven’t yet watched this fun fantastical movie, you might wish to skip this post.
The Dear Wonderful Hubby and I recently watched Meg 2: The Trench and we both really enjoyed it. It was fun and action-packed and a bit silly in parts.
But that was great because all that was expected.
Meg 2: The Trench is an example of how to give people what they expect.
We expected huge sharks. We got huge sharks. Plural.
We expected Jason Statham in an action role. We got Jason Statham in an action-packed role.
There were the expected bad jokes and comradery and all of the beloved characters survived.
The visuals were awesome. The antics were over the top.
And there were DINOSAURS. Because the creators knew the viewers who love giant sharks also love dinosaurs.
Meg 2: The Trench was fun and that was exactly what we wanted in a movie.
***
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Strike Zone
A cyborg devoted to duty…and to her.
***
While attending a party, Kesser, the daughter of her planet’s leader, witnesses the abduction of her best friend and her best friend’s mate.
She’s determined to rescue them. Preferably without fracturing the fragile peace agreement her mom has crafted with the abductors’ planet.
The only issue is…she has never participated in a retrieval mission.
Searching for assistance, she approaches the mate’s guard. The male, with his big broad shoulders and deep growly voice, affects her like no other being ever has.
Kesser wants him. She trusts him. And she requires his stealth combat skills.
Desperately.
Strike is no guard. The D Model cyborg has been sent to the sector to discreetly investigate a potential planet-destroying situation.
When a curvy human female with big brown eyes requests his help with a rescue, he doesn’t hesitate to say yes. She’s his genetic match, the one being he was manufactured to protect.
She’s also traveling to the next planet he has to search. He plans to claim his female while he fulfills his responsibilities to his kind.
Neither Strike nor Kesser realizes the dangers facing them are far greater than they imagine. Their enemies are converging, and one failed mission could doom the entire universe.
***
Strike Zone is a standalone, mistaken-identity, Cyborg SciFi Romance set in a dark, gritty, sometimes-violent universe.
It features a cyborg warrior with a finely honed sense of honor, a human support being taking on her first dangerous mission, and an evil that threatens everyone in existence.
Buy Now:
Amazon US:
https://www.amazon.com/Strike-Zone-Romance-Dauntless-Cyborgs-ebook/dp/B0CL5QZBQ8/
Amazon UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Strike-Zone-Romance-Dauntless-Cyborgs-ebook/dp/B0CL5QZBQ8/
Amazon AUS:
https://www.amazon.com.au/Strike-Zone-Romance-Dauntless-Cyborgs-ebook/dp/B0CL5QZBQ8/
Amazon Canada:
https://www.amazon.ca/Strike-Zone-Romance-Dauntless-Cyborgs-ebook/dp/B0CL5QZBQ8/
Apple Books:
https://books.apple.com/us/book/strike-zone/id6469583228
B&N:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/strike-zone-cynthia-sax/1144231998
Kobo:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/strike-zone-13
Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1466811
Topics: Movie Reviews | Comments Off on Meg 2: The Trench And Expectations
Throwback Thursday – Under Strain
Dinosaur planet.
(grins) Yes, Under Strain is set on a dinosaur planet. Those dinosaurs want to eat the heroine and not in a sexy way. They view her as dinner
The cyborgs, on the other hand, want to RIDE the dinosaurs. (laughs) Yeah, they are wild warriors. And they have some big fun in this story.
Under Strain
A damaged cyborg warrior is hunted by a peace-loving human female.
***
Strain is severely malfunctioning. The D Model cyborg was the sole survivor after a horrific decision was made by his cruel manufacturers. He hates all humans, and when he attacks one who is under his cyborg leader’s protection, he is reprimanded, stripped of his weapons, and told to watch and not actively participate in the next mission.
That mission takes place on a small remote planet. Its lush terrain should only be inhabited by the cyborgs they were sent to rescue, but Strain senses another presence on the surface. She is watching him, tracking him, hunting him.
A fully operational cyborg would end her lifespan.
Strain wants to claim her. Forever.
Kamyelle is the only one left of her kind. Warriors have killed the other nonviolent human inhabitants of her planet. She survived…barely…by hiding in the trees, observing her enemies, and covering herself with lifeform scan-concealing mud.
When a handsome, gray-skinned, brilliant-blue-eyed male arrives, surrounded by weapon-carrying warriors, she has to save him. Warriors harm and they kill. That is what they do.
She won’t allow them to hurt Strain.
***
Under Strain is a STANDALONE Cyborg SciFi Romance set in a dark, gritty, sometimes-violent universe.
It features a broken warrior, a human female who thinks he’s perfect, and velociraptor-like dinosaurs who view them both as light, tasty snacks.
Buy Now:
Amazon US:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08R322L7S
Amazon UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08R322L7S
Amazon AUS:
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B08R322L7S
Apple Books:
https://books.apple.com/us/book/under-strain/id1545957749
B&N:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/under-strain-cynthia-sax/1138505613
Kobo:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/under-strain
Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/10602
Topics: Throwback Thursday | Comments Off on Throwback Thursday – Under Strain
65, Dinosaur Planets And Small Casts Of Characters
Spoiler Alert – This post will discuss the movie 65 and might have some (mild) spoilers. You might wish to skip this post if you haven’t yet watched this movie.
The Dear Wonderful Hubby and I recently watched 65. Of course, we watched it. (grins) A SciFi movie set on a dinosaur planet? I’m all in!
It was…okay. I think maybe my expectations of this movie were too high and that messed with my enjoyment of it.
But one of the things it did well was limit the number of characters. Other than some flashbacks and the planet itself being a character, it was solely the two of them. They were alone on the planet.
This focused our attention on them. It increased our probability of caring about them. And it is a trick many Romance Writers use. We get the love interests alone so readers can focus on them and their relationship.
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Strive For Forever
This cyborg seeks to vanquish an ancient entity and save his curvy human female.
Euryale made a terrible mistake. She opened a container she shouldn’t have touched and released one of the oldest lifeforms in existence. That all-powerful entity is now utilizing her as its host body and is slowly draining her energy.
Soon, she’ll die.
Euryale has accepted this fate and is determined to use her remaining moments in the universe to save as many lives as she can.
Her plans do NOT include a smoldering-hot, poetry-wielding cyborg willing to decimate entire planets to save her.
While under the control of the Humanoid Alliance, Strive, a K Model cyborg, disobeyed direct orders and refused to kill on their behalf. If he hadn’t escaped their cruel clutches, his defiance would have led to his death.
The male knowingly risked that fate to save the lifespans of complete strangers.
There is nothing he wouldn’t do to protect Euryale. The curvy human female is his genetic match, the one being he is destined to defend.
And she is in danger.
Strive would break every vow, cross every boundary, risk absolutely everything to keep her from harm.
Including battle a deity no one has ever defeated.
***
Strive For Forever is Cyborg SciFi Romance set in a dark, gritty, sometimes-violent universe.
It features an inspired cyborg, a joke-cracking scientist, and an all-powerful deity with plans of his own.
Buy Now:
Amazon US:
https://www.amazon.com/Strive-Forever-SciFi-Cyborg-Romance-ebook/dp/B0BSMXYHPC
Amazon UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Strive-Forever-SciFi-Cyborg-Romance-ebook/dp/B0BSMXYHPC
Amazon AUS:
https://www.amazon.com.au/Strive-Forever-SciFi-Cyborg-Romance-ebook/dp/B0BSMXYHPC
Apple Books:
https://books.apple.com/us/book/strive-for-forever/id6445480449
B&N:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/strive-for-forever-cynthia-sax/1142963331
Kobo:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/strive-for-forever
Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1322272
Topics: Movie Reviews | Comments Off on 65, Dinosaur Planets And Small Casts Of Characters
Throwback Thursday – Under Strain
One of the absolutely awesome things about reading and writing cyborg romance and alien romance is visiting fascinating new-to-us planets.
Under Strain is set on one of the coolest planets in the universe. It is a habitat for dinosaurs!
Imagine a planet where dinosaurs didn’t go extinct. Then imagine almost-unkillable cyborgs on that planet. (grins) You KNOW they’ll have some fun!
Under Strain
A damaged cyborg warrior is hunted by a peace-loving human female.
***
Strain is severely malfunctioning. The D Model cyborg was the sole survivor after a horrific decision was made by his cruel manufacturers. He hates all humans, and when he attacks one who is under his cyborg leader’s protection, he is reprimanded, stripped of his weapons, and told to watch and not actively participate in the next mission.
That mission takes place on a small remote planet. Its lush terrain should only be inhabited by the cyborgs they were sent to rescue, but Strain senses another presence on the surface. She is watching him, tracking him, hunting him.
A fully operational cyborg would end her lifespan.
Strain wants to claim her. Forever.
Kamyelle is the only one left of her kind. Warriors have killed the other nonviolent human inhabitants of her planet. She survived…barely…by hiding in the trees, observing her enemies, and covering herself with lifeform scan-concealing mud.
When a handsome, gray-skinned, brilliant-blue-eyed male arrives, surrounded by weapon-carrying warriors, she has to save him. Warriors harm and they kill. That is what they do.
She won’t allow them to hurt Strain.
***
Under Strain is a STANDALONE Cyborg SciFi Romance set in a dark, gritty, sometimes-violent universe.
It features a broken warrior, a human female who thinks he’s perfect, and velociraptor-like dinosaurs who view them both as light, tasty snacks.
Buy Now:
Amazon US:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08R322L7S
Amazon UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08R322L7S
Amazon AUS:
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B08R322L7S
Apple Books:
https://books.apple.com/us/book/under-strain/id1545957749
B&N:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/under-strain-cynthia-sax/1138505613
Kobo:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/under-strain
Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/10602
Topics: Throwback Thursday | Comments Off on Throwback Thursday – Under Strain
Gardening And Our Isla Nublar
Growing anything is high risk. An unexpected frost or hail storm can decimate fragile plants like tomatoes.
Every year, I grow more seedlings than we can fit in our vegetable garden. We send the excess to Awesome Mom-in-law and Awesome Father-in-law’s house (and also give them to others). They plant these tomato seedlings in their garden.
The Dear Wonderful Hubby jokes that is our Isla Nublar, our Site B or alternative location. (In Jurassic Park, the Site B island is actually Isla Sorna.) If something goes wrong, if the ‘dinosaurs’ can’t be contained at our house, we can take clippings or thin the tomato plants at his parents’ house.
Subscribe To My Newsletter: http://cynthiasax.com/newsletter/
Strive For Forever
(This description is still VERY rough.)
This cyborg seeks to vanquish an ancient entity and save his curvy human female.
Euryale made a terrible mistake. She opened a container she shouldn’t have touched and released one of the oldest lifeforms in existence. That all-powerful entity is now utilizing her as its host and is slowly draining her energy.
Soon, she’ll die.
Euryale has accepted this fate and is determined to use her remaining moments in the universe to save as many lives as she can.
Her plans do NOT include a smoldering hot, poetry-wielding cyborg willing to decimate entire planets to save her.
While under the control of the Humanoid Alliance, Strive, a K Model cyborg, disobeyed direct orders and refused to kill on their behalf. If he hadn’t escaped their cruel clutches, his defiance would have led to his death.
The male knowingly risked that fate to save the lifespans of complete strangers.
There is nothing he wouldn’t do to protect Euryale. The curvy human female is his genetic match, the one being he is destined to defend.
And she is in danger.
Strive would break every vow, cross every boundary, risk absolutely everything to keep her from harm.
Including battle a deity no one has ever defeated.
Strive For Forever is Cyborg SciFi Romance set in a dark, gritty, sometimes-violent universe.
Pre-order Today:
Amazon US:
https://www.amazon.com/Strive-Forever-SciFi-Cyborg-Romance-ebook/dp/B0BSMXYHPC
Amazon UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Strive-Forever-SciFi-Cyborg-Romance-ebook/dp/B0BSMXYHPC
Amazon AUS:
https://www.amazon.com.au/Strive-Forever-SciFi-Cyborg-Romance-ebook/dp/B0BSMXYHPC
Apple Books:
https://books.apple.com/us/book/strive-for-forever/id6445480449
B&N:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/strive-for-forever-cynthia-sax/1142963331
Kobo:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/strive-for-forever
Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1322272
Topics: Gardening | Comments Off on Gardening And Our Isla Nublar
