Hathor Legacy by Deborah Bailey (Guest post, excerpt, review and GIVEAWAY)

I am delighted to have a guest post by Deborah A. Bailey, about a subject that always fascinates me since it varies so much from person to person...

What is your writing process?
 by Deborah A. Bailey

When it comes to writing, every author has their own way of getting words on the page. Once you find the way that works for you, there's less struggle. But, of course, the challenge is to find the process that allows you to be productive and to enjoy what you're doing.

I used to be one of those people who ran into blocks and dry spells. But now, as soon as I get an idea, I jot it down. I used to stop working on one project to jump to another, then nothing got completed. Now I keep a file on my computer with notes for future stories. When it's time to start something new, I take out my notes.

Usually a conversation will pop into my mind first, then additional details about the characters will fill in. I might write several scenes before I start the book. None of them may end up in the finished book, but they help me to get a better idea of the characters and the setting.

For me, writing the first draft is the easiest part. I aim for 2000-4,000 words per day, depending on how much time I have available. During that time there's very little editing. I just write. My outline helps to keep me on track. But I have been known to deviate from the plan if the characters lead me in a different direction!

When I'm finished, I let the book sit for about a week or so. Then I give it a read from the beginning. If I've made notes along the way, I check those as well. It's time for re-working and re-writing. I can fix things that really don't work, or expand on things that work better than expected.

Editing is my least favorite part because I'm a recovering perfectionist. I have to force myself to stop the tinkering and get the book done. Once I'm satisfied, I turn it over to my editor and beta readers. At that point, I check my file of notes and start working on ideas for the next book. That way, I never stop writing. I find that if I stop for too long, it's hard to get the momentum back.

I used obsess over writing faster, but now I accept that my book will take as long as it takes. It's more important to enjoy the process.



                                                 


Hathor Legacy: Burn

by Deborah A. Bailey

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BLURB:

On the planet, Hathor, an old threat re-emerges that may destroy the fragile alliance between the Guardians and Novacorp.  When Nadira is called to investigate a rash of fires throughout the city, she discovers the Deshtu, another group with PSI powers who have been purposely kept in the shadows.

Working to uncover the source of the fires, Nadira learns the brutal truth about the origin of the Guardians. The Guardian Elders have plans to make Nadira more powerful, and she may be forced to sever her psychic connection to her lover, Jonathan Keel.

When an unexpected ally gives Jonathan information about the Deshtu that connects them to the fires, he becomes a convenient scapegoat for the opposing factions. Nadira puts her life on the line to solve the crime, while the Elders make their move to remove Jonathan from her life forever.

As time runs out, the Guardians prepare for a clash with Novacorp that could plunge the planet into chaos, and a final betrayal forces Nadira to risk everything to save herself and Hathor.

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EXCERPT


A blast from a stunner shot out, illuminating the darkness. It hit the wall above Nadira's head and sent out a shower of sparks.

Out of the darkness, a woman dressed in grey coveralls ran out of the shadows. In her fist she clutched a long, metal cylinder. The woman raised her arm to strike, as a screeching cry that sounded like the whine of a mining drill escaped her lips.

Nadira reached out and sent an energy blast in the woman's direction, sending her flying. She fell and slid across the floor.

In front of her, on the other side of the warehouse, she saw three figures struggling under the overhead lights. One of them was dressed in security garb. "Lt. Lin!" As she ran towards them, Nadira saw the glint of an oversized, mine-issue stunner, then bright blue light shooting out.

A man leaped towards her. Gripping a smaller stunner that fit in the palm of his hand, he aimed at her head. She sent out a blast that pushed him back. He crumpled on the ground, gasping.

Piercing screams echoed through the area, followed by stunner fire. Lt. Lin stood in the lighted area.

When she spotted Nadira, she rushed towards her. "Nadira! Watch out!"

But before she could get far, two bright blue and white stunner blasts hit her. She swung and managed to get off a shot before she went down.

"No!" She moved towards her, but stopped short as four figures emerged out of the shadows. All she could see was the outlines, and hear the rustle of their coveralls.

"Who are you?" A gruff, male voice demanded.




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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

As a little girl when Deborah A Bailey was watching Star Trek and Twilight Zone, she was writing and drawing her own superheroine comics. When she grew up, she continued to write and followed her love of technology into a career as a computer programmer and developer. But writing was never far away from her heart, so over the years she wrote and published stories set on other worlds and in Earth's future. Ultimately she fulfilled a lifelong dream and completed her first novel in the Hathor Legacy universe, Hathor Legacy: Outcast.

Her short stories have won awards from the Philadelphia Writers’ Conference and her work has been published in US1 Magazine and the Sun. In 2013 she published a short story collection, Electric Dreams: Seven Futuristic Tales. In her "other" life, she's a freelance writer who's published three non-fiction books and countless articles that have appeared in print and online. Visit her blog for writing tips, interviews and updates.

Website

Twitter

Amazon Author page



                                     


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GIVEAWAY




a Rafflecopter giveaway


Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here



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My review:

3.75

Hathor Legacy: Burn by Deborah A. Bailey is the exciting sequel to Hathor Legacy: Outcast and continues the unfolding saga of Nadira, powerful and talented Guardian Sentry, and her lover, Jonathan Keel, son of the CEO of the most profitable mining installation in the system.  Nadira gets drawn into the investigation of mysterious fires plaguing her town and starts uncovering a frightening pattern that involves individuals with lesser degrees of talent who are not actively acknowledged by those who are in power.  There is continued opposition to her relationship with Jonathan, who has secrets of his own to protect and the stakes get higher and higher as they try to carve out a life together which may be an impossible dream.

This intriguing sequel gives a glimpse of more of the inhabitants of Hathor and provides twists on some of the preconceived notions of the hierarchy on the planet.   I enjoy the glimpses of psychic powers provided and the futuristic touches but wish I had a clearer idea of the relationships between the various factions being described.  There are plenty of intriguing secondary characters sprinkled throughout the story who will hopefully be featured in subsequent stories and it is fun to watch as Nadira stretches her wings but one should ideally read the first story in the series to get a grasp of the characters and the events thus far.  I thought the villain was a little too obvious and there was an odd dynamic between several of the factions but this was an entertaining addition to the series and I enjoyed learning a little more about Hathor.

Hathor Legacy: Outcast (guest post, review, GIVEAWAY) Goddess Fish Tours

Virtual Name Before the Masses Tour for Hathor Legacy: Outcast by Deborah A. Bailey, an Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romantic Suspense book


I have the pleasure of having a guest post by the author of Hathor Legacy: Outcast, Deborah A. Bailey

Why I Love Writing Science Fiction

by Deborah A. Bailey

My love for science fiction started when I was a young girl watching Star Trek and the Twilight Zone. Stories about aliens and space exploration always caught my attention. I've also got a rather large comic book collection stashed away, with my favorites being Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman (and just about anyone else with a flashy costume and superpowers). So it wasn't hard for me to imagine my own characters and to put them into stories.

When I started writing my book, "Hathor Legacy: Outcast," I knew it was going to be set somewhere in another solar system. Though I didn't know exactly where! As I worked on it, the history of the planet unfolded and the pieces came together. In my story, the planet has been colonized by settlers from Earth. After many generations, they developed psychic abilities. These powers allow them to read minds and move objects by using energy from their bodies.

With science fiction, the story elements should be probable and not magical. My heroine has psychic powers--which to some people may seem very un-scientific. But then again, is it really? Depending on which studies you read, maybe not. For instance, if you look at the theories about alternate universes, or time travel--there are a lot of things that might sound like fantasy, but are accepted by the scientific community.

In my story, the characters use aircars. Sounds very futuristic, doesn't it? Well, I recently saw a story about an aircar prototype. You can fly it, and drive it home after you land. So science fiction becomes fact rather quickly these days.

Readers can see themselves on a spaceship bound for Mars, or in a future settlement on a faraway planet. They can fall in love, encounter alien visitors, or try to survive in a future dystopia. Sure, a lot of science fiction stories focus on science and technology, but that doesn't mean they can't also be fun, sexy and full of adventure.

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Blurb:

On the planet, Hathor, a powerful group called the Guardians serves as the security force for Novacorp, the corporation that runs Hathor with its ruthless monopoly. Nadira, as one of the most powerful Guardians, is expected to use her intuition and telekinetic powers to keep the capital city safe from thieves and intruders.

Jonathan Keel, son of a mine CEO on the nearby planet, Astarte, is wealthy, privileged and used to getting what he wants. When his father goes missing after a robbery and explosion at the mine, he defies the authorities and heads to Hathor to search for him and for the robbers.

Struggling with their growing desires, and chased by company security, Jon and Nadira find that solving the crime leads them to endure betrayals from the people closest to them, as secrets are revealed that not only link their pasts but also threaten to destroy Jon's family and separate him from Nadira forever.


Excerpt:

The lift doors opened. It was empty. Nadira had expected to see security officers inside.

"We won't get stopped at the boat?" Jonathan asked.

"There's less security at the ferry."

She had a clear view of the lobby through the glass doors. But there was no way to tell what was waiting for them outside the building.

"So we'll hope a boat is there when we get to the dock?" Jonathan didn't try to hide his skepticism.

"They leave regularly. Even if we have to wait, it'll be all right. Trust me."

As the lift set down at the main floor, she continued to scan the lobby for anything that seemed out of place. The tower residents were moving about as usual, and no one gave her and Jonathan a second glance.

But as they approached the glass walled entrance, she saw two officers standing outside, their faces partially covered by shiny black helmets.

"What now?" Jon asked, dropping his arm from her shoulders.

"Don't say anything," she whispered.

The entrance doors slid open, and Nadira walked out first.  Composing herself, she lifted her hand and identified herself to the officers.

"Guardian," one of the officers said. "We were not aware that you had been called."

"Why are you here?" Nadira asked.

The officer held up a clear tablet in front of Jon's face. It glowed blue and flashed as his ID scrolled across the screen. "We received a report that Jonathan Keel was here. The Sentry Leader instructed us to bring him in for questioning." 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 As a little girl when Deborah A Bailey was watching Star Trek and Twilight Zone, she was writing and drawing her own superheroine comics. When she grew up, she continued to write and followed her love of technology into a career as a computer programmer and developer. But writing was never far away from her heart, so over the years she wrote and published stories set on other worlds and in Earth's future. Ultimately she fulfilled a lifelong dream and completed her first novel.

Her short stories have won awards from the Philadelphia Writers’ Conference and her work has been published in US1 Magazine and the Sun. And she recently published a short story collection, Electric Dreams: Seven Futuristic Tales. In her "other" life, she's a freelance writer who's published two non-fiction books and countless articles that have appeared in print and online. Visit her blog for writing tips, interviews and updates.

Website

Twitter

AMAZON LINKS (book is only on Amazon at the moment)


Hathor Legacy: Outcast (e-book)

Hathor Legacy: Outcast (Print)



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GIVEAWAY

Deborah will be awarding a print copy (US ONLY) of Hathor Legacy: Outcast to two randomly drawn commenters during the tour, and a Grand Prize of a $25 Amazon GC will be awarded to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour.  Please enter the rafflecopter and leave a comment about the mental power you would most like to have.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

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My review:
3.5 out of 5 stars
Hathor Legacy: Outcast by Deborah A. Bailey is a science fiction and paranormal story that features a challenging planet named Hathor that centers around an organization called Novacorp.  Society is stratified and divided into those associated with Novacorp, civilians, and the Guardians.  Guardians are descendants of the original settlers of the planet and have a range of extraordinary powers but are themselves constrained by a set of strict regulations.  Jonathan Keel, son of the CEO of the high-producing mine on a nearby planet, is inexorably drawn into a confusing upheaval that may cause a shake-up amongst some of the largest players on Hathor.  His interactions with the Guardian Nadira will cause them both to take a close look at the beliefs they have held for their entire lives and the truths they strive to uncover will change their society forever.

This imaginative story gives a glimpse of a complex and stratified society that involves descendants of humanity who are endowed with extraordinary talents yet must deal with   the persistent issues of greed, power struggles and the conflict between following the heart and one’s sense of duty.  There are intriguing elements to the society but I found myself still confused about what was actually taking place and why.  There are plenty of dangling threads that need to be resolved and quite a few unanswered questions about the motives behind various actions and I had trouble with the way the main characters became so fond of each other.  Hopefully, subsequent stories will flesh out some of the issues as this story established an interesting premise that I would be interested in seeing explored more fully.

 A copy of this title was provided to me in exchange for an honest review