Throwback Thursday – Dark Strength
I’m currently writing the first draft of B Free, a story featuring B, a B Model cyborg. B Models are HUGE and B reminds me physically of Balvan, the Refuge’s great green gatekeeper, the hero of Dark Strength.
Balvan is a gentle giant…when he rescues tiny hurt creatures like his beloved puffkers. He’s not so gentle when he’s protecting his mate, Elyce. He happily stomps on her enemies’ heads, relishes hearing their skulls crack under his big boots.
Elyce is a strong female. She has faced some extreme hardships in her past, has impressively survived all that trauma. But we all need safeguarding from time to time and Elyce is no exception. She finds a powerful and loving protector in Balvan.
Dark Strength
The Bigger They Are, The Harder They Fall.
Balvan, the Refuge’s Gatekeeper, is huge, green, and has a reputation for crushing skulls. He’s a modified humanoid, genetically designed to be the ultimate warrior. One of a kind and considered monstrous by many, he never expects to find his mate, the one female meant for him.
Elyce, snatched from her home half a solar cycle ago, has finally escaped her brutal captors. She arrives at the Refuge barely alive. Only a blood transfusion from the largest male she has ever seen will save her life. But it will also bind her to him forever. Staring up, up, up at him, she wonders why she wants to be free. His gentle touch revives yearnings she thought dead. His lips set her skin ablaze. His massive muscles make her feel safe.
That feeling could be an illusion. Elyce’s captors want their slave back and they won’t stop until they have her. To give his mate her freedom, Balvan might be forced to give up everything he has – his role as the Gatekeeper, Elyce’s love, and his life.
Dark Strength is a STANDALONE Alien SciFi Romance set in a dark, gritty, sometimes violent universe.
Buy Now:
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Strength-Refuge-Book-3-ebook/dp/B078SYYWH5/
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dark-Strength-Refuge-Book-3-ebook/dp/B078SYYWH5/
Amazon AUS: https://www.amazon.com.au/Dark-Strength-Refuge-Book-3-ebook/dp/B078SYYWH5/
Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/dark-strength/id1332249866
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dark-strength-cynthia-sax/1127772582
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/dark-strength
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/775942
Topics: Throwback Thursday | Comments Off on Throwback Thursday – Dark Strength
Throwback Thursday – Dark Strength
I have a serious thing for Icy Bob in the TV show, Snowpiercer. (grins) He is definitely a beast hero and also has some wonderful Frankenstein’s Monster vibes. Icy Bob is big and scarred, has been through pain, has done some bad things in his past, and he would make a great Romance hero.
He reminds me a bit of Balvan, the giant green gatekeeper of the Refuge and the hero of Dark Strength. Balvan is fierce. He loves to crush enemy skulls under his big booted feet, enjoys the sounds that makes. But he is also gentle with more innocent beings. He rescues hurt small creatures and nurses them back to health.
It would take a strong female to love a male like that and Elyce is that female. She has been through trauma, is a survivor, and she would protect those she cares about with everything she has.
As a couple, they are magical.
Dark Strength
The Bigger They Are, The Harder They Fall.
Balvan, the Refuge’s Gatekeeper, is huge, green, and has a reputation for crushing skulls. He’s a modified humanoid, genetically designed to be the ultimate warrior. One of a kind and considered monstrous by many, he never expects to find his mate, the one female meant for him.
Elyce, snatched from her home half a solar cycle ago, has finally escaped her brutal captors. She arrives at the Refuge barely alive. Only a blood transfusion from the largest male she has ever seen will save her life. But it will also bind her to him forever. Staring up, up, up at him, she wonders why she wants to be free. His gentle touch revives yearnings she thought dead. His lips set her skin ablaze. His massive muscles make her feel safe.
That feeling could be an illusion. Elyce’s captors want their slave back and they won’t stop until they have her. To give his mate her freedom, Balvan might be forced to give up everything he has – his role as the Gatekeeper, Elyce’s love, and his life.
Dark Strength is a STANDALONE Alien SciFi Romance set in a dark, gritty, sometimes violent universe.
Buy Now:
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Strength-Refuge-Book-3-ebook/dp/B078SYYWH5/
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dark-Strength-Refuge-Book-3-ebook/dp/B078SYYWH5/
Amazon AUS: https://www.amazon.com.au/Dark-Strength-Refuge-Book-3-ebook/dp/B078SYYWH5/
Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/dark-strength/id1332249866
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dark-strength-cynthia-sax/1127772582
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/dark-strength
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/775942
Topics: Throwback Thursday | Comments Off on Throwback Thursday – Dark Strength
Why I Love Tropes And Why All Romance Writers Are Literary Writers
According to Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trope_(literature) ), a literary trope is “the use of figurative language – via word, phrase, or even an image – for artistic effect such as using a figure of speech. The word trope has also come to be used for describing commonly recurring literary and rhetorical devices, motifs or clichés in creative works.”
In Romanceland, tropes often refer to popular story premises. Why are they popular? Because readers love them, ask for them, buy books using them.
Examples of some popular Romance tropes are
– Beauty And The Beast (my personal favorite)
– The Wealthy Boss And His/Her Assistant
– Enemies To Lovers
– Friends To Lovers
– Secret Baby
– Forbidden Romance
– Marriage Of Convenience
– Second Chance At Love
– The Shocking Twist
– Fated To Mate/Love At First Sight
I could list tropes all day. (grins)
In fact, Romance is a trope. In the beginning (when dinosaurs roamed the Earth), books with strong romance storylines and romantic happy ever afters or happy for nows were classified simply as literary works. Romance didn’t have its own category. Readers loved this type of story. Writers wrote more romance novels. Readers bought them. Romance grew to be so popular; it became its own category.
So using tropes is NOT a bad or shameful thing. You MIGHT wish to evaluate whether or not you want to use a particular trope. There are some tropes in Romanceland that I don’t feel comfortable reading or writing. But never apologize for using tropes, especially if you’re a romance writer. Our entire category is one huge trope.
There will be readers who hate the trope you use, as there are readers who hate every story premise. Those are NOT your readers. Suggest other books to them and concentrate on the readers who love your trope.
How do you make trope readers happy?
You bring something fresh to the trope. I’ve read thousands of Beauty and the Beast stories. I never get tired of them because great writers in this trope incorporate something different in each of their stories.
Maybe your Beauty and the Beast story is set in India, the caste system there adding an extra layer to the premise. Or your Beast is a Mafia Boss who was born into the family and longs to go legit. Or your Beauty was once a Beast. She was horribly scarred and underwent extreme cosmetic surgery. There are thousands of ways to make this trope different.
I like to read in my trope so I know I’m bringing something fresh, something different to it. This also ensures that I understand what aspects of the trope appeal to readers. Part of the appeal of the Beauty and the Beast trope, for example, is that two beings who appear very different can find common ground and appreciation for each other.
If you love a trope, can you use it for every story?
Heck yeah. Many of the bestselling writers concentrate on one trope. Nora Roberts, with her books published under that name, is known for the small town trope. Laurann Dohner is one of the masters of Beauty And The Beast. I gobble up every one of her beast-like heroes. Harlequin often publishes a book a month using their bestselling tropes because they know readers will pick up that book based on the trope alone (in the past, they put the trope in the titles – The Billionaire’s Secret Baby, for example).
The trope can become a strong part of your branding, one of the things you’re know for writing. Tropes should definitely be included as keywords on book listings. Readers search for tropes.
Embrace the trope you’re writing. Respect it and its readers. And have fun. I love writing books with tropes as much as I love reading them.
Reading buddies, which tropes do you love? Writing buddies, which tropes do you write?
Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Wild. Free. Hers.
Mayhem has spent his lengthy lifespan obeying the Humanoid Alliance’s rules. Finally free from their cruel control, the cyborg warrior plans to cause chaos. He infiltrates a remote settlement, provokes the savage locals until they want him dead, and allows himself to be captured by the sexiest little Retriever he has ever laid his mechanically-enhanced eyes on.
Imee’s sole mission in life is to keep her family alive. To do this, she must hunt rebels, returning them to the Humanoid Alliance’s evil clutches where they will be executed. She doesn’t allow herself to feel anything for her targets…until she meets a tall, muscular cyborg with wild hair and even wilder eyes.
With his sure hands, laughing lips and erotic holds, Mayhem makes Imee’s body sizzle and her resistance melt. Their love is doomed. She must deliver the warrior to his death or she’ll place her family’s safety at risk. But she can’t resist him.
Imee soon discovers that Mayhem, life, and love are never predictable.
Chasing Mayhem is Book 6 in the Cyborg Sizzle series and is a STANDALONE story.
It is also a BBW Cyborg SciFi Romance.
Buy Now:
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Chasing-Mayhem-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook/dp/B01IRPO9WY#nav-subnav
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Chasing-Mayhem-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook/dp/B01IRPO9WY/
Apple/iBooks/iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/chasing-mayhem/id1136333685
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-chasingmayhem-2077430-340.html
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/chasing-mayhem-cynthia-sax/1124139998
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/chasing-mayhem
Topics: Writing Tips | 3 Comments »
Interview With Siren Allen
I sat down (virtually) with Siren Allen for a short interview. Siren Allen’s most recent release is Her Alien Protector, a Sci-Fi Romance!
Cynthia Sax: What makes Raynor so freakin’ sexy?
Siren Allen: Raynor is handsome. He’s got a body that looks like it was carved from stone. He’s a great warrior and his smile sends chills down his mate’s spine. But, it’s the way he cares for his female that really makes him sexy. He puts her first and will do whatever he has to, even kill, to make sure her and those she love remains safe. Oh, and he looks good with his shirt off… and his pants.
Cynthia Sax: What is your favorite line from Her Alien Protector?
Siren Allen: “Lark, you smell,” he inhaled deeply and then growled. “You smell like something I would like to taste.”
I absolutely love this line. It’s sexy. Raynor has a habit of saying extremely sexy things to his reluctant mate, Lark. His words make her blush. However, the sexier he talks to her, the more comfortable she gets around him and the more comfortable she feels in her own skin. After years of being treated as the ‘ugly sister’, she’s starting to realize that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. By just being himself, he’s helping her accept who she is. This sentence is not only sexy to Lark, it’s also refreshing and uplifting.
Cynthia Sax: Where does Her Alien Protector take place?
Siren Allen: Her Alien Protector takes place on Venus. I have always been obsessed with this planet. It happens to spin in the opposite direction of the other planets in our solar system. Though it’s not the closest planet to the sun, it’s still the hottest. I found the idea of placing a vampire on Venus intriguing. One day on Venus is about 243 Earth days, which meant my vampire would have to endure hellish conditions to be with his mate. Oh and did I mention there’s a harem filled with enhanced concubines? What happens on Venus stays on Venus.
Cynthia Sax: Is Her Alien Protector part of a series and will you be writing more stories in this series?
Siren Allen: The name of this series is, The Beasts From Beyond. You will not only get to meet Raynor, but you’ll also meet his brethren. Though book 1 takes place on Venus, the other stories will be spread out all over the galaxy. Escape pods have a habit of crash landing on unknown worlds. J
Cynthia Sax: Thank you for joining us today, Siren!
Siren Allen’s Website: https://sirenallen.com/beastsfrombeyond/
*****************************************************************************
Falling in love with a prisoner was against the rules.
So why was Lark allowing herself to get close to Raynor? He was domineering, cocky and much too handsome for his own good. Though her mind found him unbearable, her body was ready to endure anything he could deliver. However, inside of him lived a darkness unlike anything she’d ever witnessed. If the rumors were true, that darkness would consume any and everyone in its path. Lark was going to try her best to stay out of his way.
They called him The Destroyer.
Raynor Batiste was many things: a monster, a killer, one of the most feared creatures in the galaxy. He was a beast whose name sent shudders through his enemies. However, a prisoner he was not. He’d only allowed himself to be captured so he could get close to his mate, Lark Valdese.
That task was proving harder than he’d anticipated. Lark is afraid of what lives inside of him, and she should be. Yet, when her planet comes under attack, the evil lurking within him may be the only thing that can save her and her people. He’s willing to protect her planet, but his aid comes at a price, a price only Lark can pay.
Will Beauty give in to the Beast in order to save her world? Or will she learn that the monster inside of him is the reason her planet is being destroyed?
Buy Now:
On Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01G3S6SEY
On Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01G3S6SEY
On Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01G3S6SEY
Topics: Author Interviews | 2 Comments »
Interviewed By Blakely Bennett
I’m being interviewed on Blakely Bennett’s online home!
http://www.blakelybennett.com/blakelys-friday-interview-with-cynthia-sax/
I did this interview in February.
Here is a snippet…
What advice do you have for writer’s just starting out?
The usual advice about reading until your eyeballs explode and writing every day is GOLD. I’d also encourage writers to write balls to the wall, all out, putting everything—your heart, your soul—into your writing. If you don’t cry when you read your writing, your readers likely won’t cry either. If you aren’t adding something different to Romanceland, why would readers buy your stories?
Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Henley, the head of cyber security at Blaine Technologies, is a man no one crosses. He watches employees constantly using his network of cameras and enforces his rules by any means possible. Rumors of his violent past, his scarred hands and huge size have resulted in him being feared by everyone… almost everyone.
Katalina, the new intern, worries about the revelation of her most painful secret much more than she fears her sexy boss’s wrath. She sees the loneliness in his dark eyes, feels the gentleness in his marred fingers, tastes the need in his kisses, and she knows he watches her. His silly rules about not stripping for the cameras and no sex at the office are destined to be broken.
Kat likes to be watched. Henley can’t look away. Will this beauty be able to tame her beastly boss?
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Flashes-Me-Novella-Cynthia-Sax-ebook/dp/B00F2I2GXO
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-flashesofme-1411711-149.html
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/flashes-of-me-cynthia-sax/1117322925
Topics: Guest Post | Comments Off on Interviewed By Blakely Bennett
Fathers (Dads) In Romance
Sunday is Father’s Day in North America so I thought it would be a great excuse to talk about the dads making an appearance in my stories.
If I could only recommend one of my stories to read this Father’s Day, it would be Flashes Of Me. This is a romance first and foremost but the secondary storyline is the relationship between Kat and her beloved father. (If you don’t appreciate your dad now, you will appreciate him after this story.)
Kat idealizes her father. He’s her mentor, her anchor, and she quotes his wisdom often, using his insights to guide her decisions. This exchange between Kat and the hero Henley (‘the stranger’) is telling.
“I left the experience section of the application blank.” I chew on the inside of my cheek. “I helped my father, but I didn’t know if that counted as experience and I didn’t want to lie.” I lied about my last name. I didn’t want to lie about anything else. “My father always tells me business deals are built on trust and trust is built on truth.”
My stranger turns his head and meets my gaze, his forehead furrowed with thought lines. “Your father always tells you that?”
I nod.
There’s a long pause in our conversation, as though he’s giving my father’s words deep consideration. “He’s right,” my mystery man finally concedes, his voice gruff.
I beam at him, liking him even more for agreeing with my father.
I don’t know if Kat would have trusted Henley as much as she does if he had disagreed with her father. This is how strong the connection between Kat and her father is.
In Alien Tryst, Kane’s view of relationships and what a man should be is formed by his father. In this scene, we seen how close his parents are and how his father immediately volunteers to go first, protecting both his wife and his son.
“If your experiment works, Kane, our son.” His mother looked at his father. “Our only child will live.” His parents hugged each other close. Kane couldn’t remember them ever spending more than a day apart.
“I’ll be your next trial,” his father volunteered.
Kane follows his father’s example, putting himself at risk to save Eshe, the alien woman he loves. He also assumes that wherever she goes, he’ll go (or vice versa). He doesn’t expect to be a lone wolf. For him, a relationship means being together.
Sometimes a dad doesn’t have to make an appearance to influence a character. Bee’s dad in Sinful Rewards left her mom when he found out she was pregnant. This abandonment changes their lives forever, purging them into poverty, making her mom a pariah in her small town, and affecting Bee’s view of her self-worth.
Who are your favorite dads in romance?
Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Henley, the head of cyber security at Blaine Technologies, is a man no one crosses. He watches employees constantly using his network of cameras and enforces his rules by any means possible. Rumors of his violent past, his scarred hands and huge size have resulted in him being feared by everyone… almost everyone.
Katalina, the new intern, worries about the revelation of her most painful secret much more than she fears her sexy boss’s wrath. She sees the loneliness in his dark eyes, feels the gentleness in his marred fingers, tastes the need in his kisses, and she knows he watches her. His silly rules about not stripping for the cameras and no sex at the office are destined to be broken.
Kat likes to be watched. Henley can’t look away. Will this beauty be able to tame her beastly boss?
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Flashes-Me-Novella-Cynthia-Sax-ebook/dp/B00F2I2GXO
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-flashesofme-1411711-149.html
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/flashes-of-me-cynthia-sax/1117322925
Topics: Guest Post | Comments Off on Fathers (Dads) In Romance
Another Great Review For Flashes Of Me
Awww… this review made me cry
Lace shares “Cynthia Sax has done it again and with her writing talents anything is possible. The plot is fast-paced, as there is never a dull moment. Flashes of Me is a story that has a woman needing to find her place in this world, as well as a man who needs to know it is possible to love. From start to finish, Flashes of Me was brilliant.”
You can read the full review here
http://www.blackravensreviews.com/?p=13998
Henley, the head of cyber security at Blaine Technologies, is a man no one crosses. He watches employees constantly using his network of cameras and enforces his rules by any means possible. Rumors of his violent past, his scarred hands and huge size have resulted in him being feared by everyone… almost everyone.
Katalina, the new intern, worries about the revelation of her most painful secret much more than she fears her sexy boss’s wrath. She sees the loneliness in his dark eyes, feels the gentleness in his marred fingers, tastes the need in his kisses, and she knows he watches her. His silly rules about not stripping for the cameras and no sex at the office are destined to be broken.
Kat likes to be watched. Henley can’t look away. Will this beauty be able to tame her beastly boss?
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Flashes-Me-Novella-Cynthia-Sax-ebook/dp/B00F2I2GXO
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-flashesofme-1411711-149.html
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/flashes-of-me-cynthia-sax/1117322925
Topics: Reviews | Comments Off on Another Great Review For Flashes Of Me
Interviewed By Barbara Donlon Bradley
Woot!
I’m being interviewed by Barbara Donlon Bradley today! I love interviews. They’re like Cosmo quizzes!
http://barbaradonlonbradley.blogspot.ca/2014/03/welcome-cynthia-sax.html
Here’s a snippet…
Do you have any special talents?
Cynthia Sax: I like to think I can write a little. (grins) I have a terrible memory which doesn’t seem like a talent yet it is. I don’t hold grudges. I’m never sad for long. I can’t remember what I’m supposed to be sad about.
(grins)
Yes, I don’t do serious interviews.
Henley, the head of cyber security at Blaine Technologies, is a man no one crosses. He watches employees constantly using his network of cameras and enforces his rules by any means possible. Rumors of his violent past, his scarred hands and huge size have resulted in him being feared by everyone… almost everyone.
Katalina, the new intern, worries about the revelation of her most painful secret much more than she fears her sexy boss’s wrath. She sees the loneliness in his dark eyes, feels the gentleness in his marred fingers, tastes the need in his kisses, and she knows he watches her. His silly rules about not stripping for the cameras and no sex at the office are destined to be broken.
Kat likes to be watched. Henley can’t look away. Will this beauty be able to tame her beastly boss?
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Flashes-Me-Novella-Cynthia-Sax-ebook/dp/B00F2I2GXO
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-flashesofme-1411711-149.html
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/flashes-of-me-cynthia-sax/1117322925
Topics: Guest Post | Comments Off on Interviewed By Barbara Donlon Bradley
Great New Review For Flashes Of Me
ELF at Night Owl Reviews shares
“I adore the complexity of Kat’s behavior as more and more is revealed even as I am in awe of her comfort with her own body (which she evidently does not hesitate to show to others!) and I will never again be able to look at cubicles in an office without chuckling. I am bemused by the idea of other uses for the underwire in one’s bra and am reminded of the need for compassion everywhere.”
Read the full review here
http://www.nightowlreviews.com/v5/Reviews/ELF-reviews-Flashes-Of-Me-by-Cynthia-Sax
This one of my favorite reviews because ELF mentions the compassion component, something that is really important to me (and I think to everyone in Romanceland).
Henley, the head of cyber security at Blaine Technologies, is a man no one crosses. He watches employees constantly using his network of cameras and enforces his rules by any means possible. Rumors of his violent past, his scarred hands and huge size have resulted in him being feared by everyone… almost everyone.
Katalina, the new intern, worries about the revelation of her most painful secret much more than she fears her sexy boss’s wrath. She sees the loneliness in his dark eyes, feels the gentleness in his marred fingers, tastes the need in his kisses, and she knows he watches her. His silly rules about not stripping for the cameras and no sex at the office are destined to be broken.
Kat likes to be watched. Henley can’t look away. Will this beauty be able to tame her beastly boss?
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Flashes-Me-Novella-Cynthia-Sax-ebook/dp/B00F2I2GXO
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-flashesofme-1411711-149.html
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/flashes-of-me-cynthia-sax/1117322925
Topics: Reviews | Comments Off on Great New Review For Flashes Of Me
Interviewed At Turning The Pages
I’ve been interviewed at Turning The Pages
http://turningthepagesbooks.blogspot.ca/2014/03/march-madness-presents-cynthia-sax-and.html
Here’s a snippet…
What would you say is one of your more interesting writing quirks?
Cynthia Sax: I’m a pantser, a writer who writes without a plot, so I’m always excited about what happens in my own stories. The dear wonderful hubby will return home and I’ll be bouncing around the kitchen, saying “You’ll never guess what my heroine did today!” It is a constant surprise to me.
Henley, the head of cyber security at Blaine Technologies, is a man no one crosses. He watches employees constantly using his network of cameras and enforces his rules by any means possible. Rumors of his violent past, his scarred hands and huge size have resulted in him being feared by everyone… almost everyone.
Katalina, the new intern, worries about the revelation of her most painful secret much more than she fears her sexy boss’s wrath. She sees the loneliness in his dark eyes, feels the gentleness in his marred fingers, tastes the need in his kisses, and she knows he watches her. His silly rules about not stripping for the cameras and no sex at the office are destined to be broken.
Kat likes to be watched. Henley can’t look away. Will this beauty be able to tame her beastly boss?
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Flashes-Me-Novella-Cynthia-Sax-ebook/dp/B00F2I2GXO
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-flashesofme-1411711-149.html
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/flashes-of-me-cynthia-sax/1117322925
Topics: Guest Post | Comments Off on Interviewed At Turning The Pages
