One of the problems with writing Erotic Science Fiction is the fact that many potential readers assume the focus is on the erotic elements rather than the underlying science fiction and general plot. To try and overcome this perception, I’ve started posting excerpts from my books that highlight some of non-erotic elements to show characters and conflicts that hopefully appeal to the more mainstream readers. These excerpts will be shared on Mondays and I’ve created a tag “MarketingMondays” to track the postings.
As the excerpts run, I’ll watch sales numbers and see if they are helping.
I’ve come back to Book One of A New Past with yesterday’s excerpt. I chose the second scene of the book for this excerpt since I believe it captures the sense of adventure the main character has to embrace. It also sets some of the stake for his long-term goals. It’s been nearly a decade since I penned the first version of this opening scene and I still think it does its job to set the stage for the longer story. I had no idea it would grow to a nearly a million words to bring this opening to a solid conclusion!
Here are a few obvious questions and answers for this excerpt. If you have additional question I can answer, please leave a comment on this or the excerpt posting.
- Are you anti-arab based on the villains in this scene? I don’t believe so. I don’t like to think I’m anti-anything, other than anti-ignorance. When I first posted part of this chapter online, a reader took exception to the use of “Social Democrat Party” in the opening scene of the chapter. They felt I was calling US Democrats by that name when the real reference was to the Social Democrat Party of Germany. I shared this link with them and suggested they read more history. Paul’s character is of a similar mind and his attitudes are shown through multiple scenes in the books.
- Why pick Arab or Muslim sympathizers if you aren’t against them? This is a bit more nuanced. I am against people who don’t think for themselves, and Paul shares that attitude. In the modern world, this lack of self-critical examination and thought is typically attributed to three broad groups; religious fundamentalists (Christian and Muslim), science “deniers” of any religion, and celebrity cult-followers who believe whatever their Hollywood hero espouses as being the truth. Unfortunately, all three of these groups are susceptible to being guided and influenced easily. I chose religious fundamentalists of Muslim persuasion for this scene simply because it was something that readers could relate to, unfortunately.
- How could a scientist be allowed to experiment with a fusion reactor in an urban university setting? Okay, that’s a fair question. The paper that inspired Paul’s approach to fusion was advocating for a low-temperature and low-pressure approach. I don’t know if that approach would actually work or not, and can’t find any follow-up papers or research indicating it has been proven, but it became a good plot approach to give Paul something with very high energy output that he could theoretically build in a simple university setting. I also envisioned a world where high-power fusion had not been successful, and where a political environment ensured it never would be pursued.
I hope this excerpt whets your appetite to read about Paul’s journey back in time and his hopes, dreams, and efforts to change his new world. The entire New Past series is available on Amazon, Smashwords, and other epub channels.
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CharlieFoxtrotWriter 