Yes, I'm here on a Tuesday! And all because of Alex Cavanaugh, who is continuing his blog tour for Cassafire, his new novel. Welcome, Alex! It's early, I need more coffee, so I'll turn you over to him.
CassaFire
by Alex J. Cavanaugh
Thank you for
letting me invade your spot today, Talli! I’m nowhere near as cute as you, but
hopefully I can at least amuse…
Women are
complicated creatures. Admit it! You’re complex, multi-faceted, and wrapped in
many layers. (Like parfait, not onions - thank you, Shrek!) You’re so observant
and you possess this “women’s intuition” thing. (Is it like the Sixth Sense? Do
you see dead husbands all the time?) And your emotions range beyond what we can
even imagine. Quite frankly, they are a little frightening.
But hey, I’m
a guy! From my perspective, writing about women is a daunting challenge. One I
entered with reservations. But I had no choice. Fans of CassaStar clamored for
a female character.
(Insert
moment of panic here.)
So, I held
nothing back. Want a strong female character? Fine! I’ll write one so feisty
that even Byron may have met his match…
To say Athee
is strong-willed would be an understatement. She is driven, determined, and
accustomed to getting what she wants. A pilot of exceptional quality, she also
possesses mental abilities that rival Byron’s skills. Even worse, Athee is
determined to figure out what makes the solitary and reclusive Cassan tick.
Obviously,
tension ensues!
Will readers
like Athee? I think they’ll admire her strengths and determination to succeed
in a profession dominated by men. They’ll be moved by her motivation and
efforts to keep those she loves safe. Readers will enjoy the new relationship
aspect she brings to the story when her world and Byron’s collide.
Hopefully
this exercise has given me some insight into the complex female mind.
Now back to
football and hitting things and other manly stuff. (Does hitting one’s Xbox
controller count?)
Visit
the author’s site and leave a comment during his book tour for a chance to win
CassaFire, CassaStar, and a CassaFire tote bag and mug!
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…
You can visit the author’s site at http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/
Book trailer available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qa6VINRGtyE.
Amazon Kindle
Thank you, Alex! I'll be back on Friday. Until then, have a great week.
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…
You can visit the author’s site at http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/
Book trailer available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qa6VINRGtyE.
Thank you, Alex! I'll be back on Friday. Until then, have a great week.
LOL, any reference to Shrek will always make me smile! :D
ReplyDeleteI am genuinely looking forward to reading Alex's books - my reading list is out of control!
We woman are not complex creatures, if we appear to be then it's men that make us that way.
ReplyDeleteLook ing forward to your book arriving, I see you brought the sunshine along with you today Alex.
Yvonne.
Really looking forward to reading this! I'm currently writing from a male perspective - it's more than a little bit challenging!
ReplyDeleteThe world would be a much duller place if we all understood each other :-)
ReplyDeleteI like the way Alex finds us complex. Yes, I like that. (Result!)
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Talli.
CJ x
Kyra, Shrek makes everybody smile!
ReplyDeleteThank, Yvonne.
Christine, just think simple.
Sarah, very true.
Crystal, I do!
Thank you so much, Talli!!
Women ROCK! LOL! But hands off that last bit of chocolate, sister, tis mine!
ReplyDeleteYay for lovely Alex! And Athee! And Talli! Bring her more coffee someone, please! Take care
x
Althee would have to have a strong will to hand out with Byron!
ReplyDeleteMy guy tells me I'm intense, moody, and can never figure me out. Is this what you mean? :)
ReplyDeleteYes, we're complicated and complex because we need to survive in a man's simple world (kidding) by pulling all the strings we can (that one's true).
ReplyDeleteLove the post. Very cute:)
You crack me up Alex! LOVED THIS POST! Made me laugh and I find you adorable so that helps too!
ReplyDeleteYou have the right idea, Alex. Women are spunky these days, not sitting around waiting for something bad to happen and doing nothing about it.
ReplyDeleteMorgan Mandel
http://morganmandel.blogspot.com
LMAO! Thanks for the laugh this morning, I needed it. :) Athee is an amazing character and I'm very happy you created her.
ReplyDeleteAthee sounds like a great character - I love reading about strong-willed, determined women!
ReplyDeleteWomen. Go figure.
ReplyDeleteOne common mistake male writers make when creating strong female characters is making them men in skirts, ie having male characteristics. Strong women are often strong in ways other than men are. They tend to be persistent rather than aggressive. They also tend to be more cautious than men, a trait men mistake for timidity.
ReplyDeleteAs a historical fiction writer, I have to deal with another layer of problems with creating strong female characters. Women had to be even more subtle in the 19th century than the 21st.
Hi Alex! We're not so complex. Just do as we say, and make things simple. (Chances are, however, that it won't be done to our satisfaction but we give you points for trying!)
ReplyDeleteHi Talli - thanks for hosting Alex and giving us a glimpse at his character Athee :-)
Both of you, posting on a Tuesday? Wow.
ReplyDeleteNew follower here following Alex's tour. As for women being complicated it's just all those connectors between the hemispheres of the brain so we switch back and forth more easily. Can be hard to follow.
ReplyDeleteKitty, the chocolate is all yours.
ReplyDeleteEM, exactly!
Marta, I believe it!
Thanks, Jen!
Morgan, Athee doesn't wait - she pushes forward.
Melissa, I am here for your amusement.
Sean, I imagine! And persistent is exactly the word I would use to describe Athee.
Lisa, I'll take points.
Nancy, that's true, and something men can't do.
Great post. Good to be parfait and not onion.
ReplyDeleteAlex, good for you for stepping out of your comfort zone! And I'm so glad you made your female character strong!
ReplyDeleteTension is always great for stories!
ReplyDeleteNice post, Alex.
'And your emotions range beyond what we can even imagine. Quite frankly, they are a little frightening.'
ReplyDelete:)
It's 'cuz we're analog and you're digital.
Shrek reminds me a lot of myself in those movies. A lot.
ReplyDeleteI liked the Athee character--just the right mix of attitude, aptitude, and vulnerability.
ReplyDeleteLee
An A to Z Co-Host
Tossing It Out
Twitter: @AprilA2Z
#atozchallenge
Blogging from A to Z
Women. Always trying to barge in and figure out our solitary and reclusiveness.
ReplyDeleteAlex, you are hilarious. You out to try writing your next female character like you would a male character, after all there is more difference between individuals than there are between genders on average.
ReplyDeleteThat's how the writers of Seinfeld wrote Elaine. And you have to admit she was an interesting character.
Good luck with your book. I loved the trailer.
I love reading strong female characters, and writing them too.
ReplyDelete@Rusty: Dead man walking, mate, dead man walking.
If it wasn't for women's intuition, we wouldn't have the upper hand.
ReplyDeleteIt's great to see your perspective on women. I think I have a lot more trouble with men, for obvious reasons--definitely tempting to have them talk about their FEELINGS, or some equally implausible thing... I haven't braved a male MC because I fear I would over analyse.
ReplyDeleteLiza, she kicks butt.
ReplyDeleteSuze, is that it????
Thanks, Lee!
Angela, I am here for amusement.
Hart, and we don't over-think or over-feel anything.
I love strong female characters who do things I wouldn't try in a million years. I'm looking forward to meeting Athee.
ReplyDeleteWOW Alex, look at all these amazing fans :) Great post...made me laugh. You are a funny one.
ReplyDeleteMan this book is everywhere! I'll have to check it out for sure :)
ReplyDeleteSarah Allen
(my creative writing blog)
I'm looking forward to reading all about Athee and Byron! This would also make a great 'C' post for A to Z! Julie
ReplyDelete*laughs* Great post! I can't wait to read your books, Alex.
ReplyDeleteHahaha, nice post, Alex!
ReplyDeleteI could be Athee :O
ReplyDeleteGreat post and all best with this.
x
Complex shmoplex... give me chocolate and coffee and I'm happy. With-hold coffee and chocolate and I'm not.
ReplyDelete:)
We pretend to be complex...it is expected, deep inside one of the simplest creatures to decipher, ask a salesgirl or better still a solitaire. :)
ReplyDeletePretty embarrassing to admit, I finally ordered my copy of Cassastar...Cassafire hopefully by May when my TBR goes down.
Alex is awesome. I have a Nook and am still waiting for Barnes & Noble to get it up. Grrr.
ReplyDeleteThere lies the trap! Just as soon as you think you have the female mind all figured out...they have you! :)
ReplyDeleteJessica, thank you - I aim to amuse.
ReplyDeleteSarah, I would be honored.
Julie, the hosts are all posting on the main blog during the Challenge and yes, I snagged C!!!
Laura, I will keep that in mind!
Rek, thank you so much!!
Donna, sorry!
DL, no matter what, we're screwed.
Quite frankly, Alex, our emotions scare the hell out of us (womankind) too. As I suspected, Athee sounds like a force to be reckoned with. I think I'll hire a personal trainer to start work with me right away.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this post, Tali and Alex. It entices me even more to read the book.
xoRobyn
Great post! Now I want to meet Athee even more. And yes, the Xbox controller counts.
ReplyDeleteRobyn, good to know it's not just us guys.
ReplyDeleteChristine, hitting it now!
Hah! Loved the Shrek reference. Great post! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Talli and Alex. All of my women characters turn out to be strong in some way. Even Glasses, from THE RIVAL, who outwardly is timid, turns out to perhaps be the strongest female of my cast of characters.
ReplyDeleteMay the sales of both your books, Talli and Alex, soar to the stars! Roland
LOL - loved this post. Athee is great in CassaFire! Good job!
ReplyDeleteI look forward to getting to know more about Athee when I read this series.
ReplyDeleteHa! This is awesome. And yes - we women are totally complicated. *Shakes head* I don't even understand myself half the time!
ReplyDeleteAlex,
ReplyDeleteI like Athee. And yes, woman and man ARE different. But I think every man has something female inside and vice versa.
Anyway I like to play role-playing games and to be honest I always play female characters ...
Thanky you Talli and Alex.
Just started CassaFire and haven't met Athee yet - but we're almost at Tgren so it should be soon! Can't wait :)
ReplyDeleteI love strong women in fiction so I'm looking forward to Athee!
ReplyDeleteYes, much more like a parfait than an onion, though we might make you cry. And I, too, love strong women in fiction, ones who take no crap, especially from men, but who also revel in the differences between men & women, & understand that being female doesn't mean being soft.
ReplyDeleteMedeia, hope you like her!
ReplyDeleteLeigh, I knew it!
Jemi, that's awesome.
Nancy, well put!
I always find it interesting to see a male author write a female character. Sometimes you can't tell the difference at all and sometimes it's blatantly obvious
ReplyDeleteHaving a game controller in hand seems to be a manly thing. At least my grown sons think so.
ReplyDeleteYEs, we are complicated creatures. And yes, you've created a great female character in your sequel. I look forward to finishing the book soon.
ReplyDeleteAlex, I think it's fitting for you to have a female character if you're going to be talking about your book on a Talli's blog. It will help you sell more books!
ReplyDeleteWe ARE complicated! It was an adjustment being married - learning how truly simple my husband's needs were compared to mine! I do love a strong female character. If you put her in a man's world, even better! I can hardly wait to read CassaFire (hurry UP already, Amazon!). I just know that I'm going to love Athee!
ReplyDeleteHey, I know how you created Athee now. You gave her male attributes! Genius!
ReplyDeleteWho said women are complicated?
Denise
Jessica, hope I did it right.
ReplyDeleteSusan, they are correct!
Clarissa, that's good to know! Well, maybe not that you're really complicated.
Jennie, hope it arrives soon!
Denise, I hope I did better than that.
So far I really like Athee. I love her enthusiasm and curiosity more than anything else. I think your foray into the female mind has been successful, Alex :)
ReplyDeleteSo glad you made that a parfait and not an onion! Wait, are you saying we're fat?! Haha, just kidding! Couldn't help myself.
ReplyDeleteShannon at The Warrior Muse, co-host of the 2012 #atozchallenge! Twitter: @AprilA2Z
Anthee sounds really interesting Alex, looking forward to getting to know her!
ReplyDeleteI think men and women are both complicated but in different ways. Where men are simple, women are complex and where women are simple, men are complex.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you bit the bullet and introduced that female character, Alex!
Jai
Good, I'm glad you think we're parfait! LOL. Strong female characters are great. I think men and women believe each other to be a lot more complicated than they really are - it's all about different ways of communicating - but it's nice to explore the other gender's psyche through writing!
ReplyDeleteWe're not really all that complex! Just take a little time and you'll get to know that...
ReplyDeleteGreat post! Now following, Talli, and you're right, Alex, she is adorable. :))
ReplyDeleteNow, as for the food references, I'd rather be considered a multi-layered lasagna. Spicy, tangy w/ a bit of sweetness, warm & gushy, yet strong & well-structured, cheesy (yes, I love silly jokes & I'm a total goof), thin & noodly (well, in my mind, of course) and utterly saucy. (No meat for this slice of lasagna.)
You rock, Alex for creating Athee!
You know what they say about what stands behind every great man...that's right, there stands a great woman. Whether it be their mother, sister, wife, aunt, grandmother, cousin, friend or foe. We keep it real.
Jamie, that's good to know!
ReplyDeleteCandy, that is true!
And women are parfait because they are sweet. Just want to make that clear.
Alex,
ReplyDeleteYou're always the charmer.... and using that "man" excuse...
Females are not that difficult to write. Not really. One just has to get in touch with their sensitivity... and you, my friend, are a sensitive and caring guy. You don't need to be macho man all the time ... LOL.
I love that you gave us a female character with passion, determination, and aggression. Hey, these are the types of girls/women I have encountered in most of my life, especially in the years I modeled. Woman ruled.
Thanks Talli for hosting Alex... It's always fun to visit TWO of my favorite people in the blogosphere in one shot.
A fun post, thanks to both of you! I'm sooo looking forward to meeting Athee - I may even rise from my brocade chaise longue and waft my fan at you :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to reading CassaFire to see how all this translates :)
ReplyDeleteHi, Talli!
I think we can all be complex creatures. I liked hearing Alex's thoughts on the matter. Wishing him well with his book!
ReplyDeleteFrom all I've read about her this month I'm sure I'll adore Athee.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the wine Talli :)
.......dhole
I shall have to get a copy as I'm intrigued about his strong female characters.
ReplyDeleteI've read some male authors who can't pull them off, but then I guess some female authors might not present their male characters so convincingly for men?
That's it, I've got to read this! I'm going back to click on the links now!
ReplyDeleteIn response to your comment "Hopefully this exercise has given me some insight into the complex female mind." May I respond with a simple "Never!" We're far more complex than that! ;-)
ReplyDeleteMichael, but I'll blow my image otherwise!
ReplyDeleteMadeleine, sometimes women writers don't quite get it right...
Heather, thank you!
Rosalind, I didn't think so...
Thanks again, Talli!
Alex is a stud.
ReplyDeleteTalli-- tagged you for a meme if you have time. (= Check it out.
http://jostorm.blogspot.com/2012/03/lucky-sevens.html
It's always interesting to find out how other writers handle tackling the POV of a different gender. The differences between men and women are subtle and can be hard to nail down.
ReplyDeleteJo, thanks!
ReplyDeleteGolden, exactly.