Today I
have an interview with VE Lemp, author of THE OTHERS TRILOGY. This is a very
exciting new science fiction series that will coming out starting this year! Also, be sure to enter the rafflecopter drawing at the end of this post for a chance to win a paperback ARC of THE LIGHT FROM OTHER SUNS.
1.) Can you tell us a
little bit about The Others Trilogy?
What genre is it and what makes it unique?
THE OTHERS trilogy
is science-fiction, set in the near past and contemporary times, with the
action occurring primarily on Earth. The
three books are: THE LIGHT FROM OTHER SUNS, THE DARK OF OTHER SKIES, and THE
ECHO OF OTHER EARTHS. I would categorize
them as science fiction combined with strong elements of adventure and
romance. They explore one of my favorite
“what ifs?” – What if aliens have been studying, and even experimenting on,
humans for a very long time, as well as communicating with a few of us via
dreams? As someone who has experienced
very vivid and unusual dreams, and kept a dream diary for many years, the idea
that dreams could be used for telepathic communication is always intriguing to
me.
In terms of
unique aspects – unlike many alien contact stories, the aliens in my books are
not monsters (although they do some bad things) and their goal is not invasion
and conquest. They simply want to use the Earth as one of their scientific
laboratories – rather like humans studying and experimenting on animals in the
wild. I tie-in a lot of traditional UFO, ET, and related alien lore into the
books, hopefully in a unique way.
Another unique aspect
of the books is the importance of the arts. My protagonist, Karen, is an
artist, something that is as essential to her as breathing. The importance and
value of human creativity expressed through all forms of art, music, theatre,
dance, literature, film, and other similar endeavors is a major theme in the
trilogy.
The books are
also about people, and how they react when they learn the truth – not just
about aliens, but also about what human beings are capable of when money and
power are involved. So there’s definitely an exploration of greed, cruelty,
love, courage, and other human behavior in the books. Things aren’t exactly
black-and-white, as far as the alien and human relationships are concerned.
2) Since it’s almost
Valentine's day, tell me about the romance in the books! What is the
relationship between the two characters like?
My
protagonist is involved in two very different, and equally important, romance
relationships in the book, although there is NO love triangle. (Yes, it’s complicated and… shhhh –
spoilers!)
One
of the romances is a breathless, head-over-heels, love affair. The other one
builds more slowly. They are both real,
but quite different. As someone who thinks there’s value in many different
types of love, I like to play with the concept that one type is not necessarily
better than any other – it all depends on the individuals involved and their
particular life experiences, needs, and desires. I also believe that people can
love more than one person in a lifetime, and that those relationships can be
equally deep, meaningful, and fulfilling.
3) What would be the ideal
Valentine's Day date for the couple in your book?
Well,
as I said, there are two different love relationships. For one of the
relationships: a spur-of-the-moment flight to Paris to visit art museums,
followed by dinner at some obscure but fantastic little café, and then a
romantic interlude in a charming Left Bank hotel suite. For the other: anything they do together!
4) What are your all-time
favorite romantic books or movies?
This
is always a tough question, because as a voracious reader and film fan, I’ve enjoyed
so many wonderful books, and watched a lot of fantastic movies, over the years.
So I’m going to limit myself to some of those books or films that I have read
or watched numerous times:
·
Jane Austen’s books and any film adaptions. I particularly love
the Emma Thompson version of Sense and
Sensibility, the PBS version of
Persuasion, and (of course) the miniseries of Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth. I’m also a fan of Charlotte Bronte’s
JANE EYRE and its many movie adaptions.
·
Disney’s animated version of Beauty
and the Beast. (I have also seen the stage production and I’m looking
forward to the live-action remake!) I love Cocteau’s La Belle et La Bête too.
·
Love, Actually (which my husband and I
watch every December), Casablanca, Sabrina (original version), Wings of Desire (in German), and a film
that is relatively obscure and should not be: I Know Where I’m Going!
·
A 6-book series that I have read many times – Dorothy Dunnett’s LYMOND CHRONICLES, which starts with THE
GAME OF KINGS. Best. Slow-Build.
Romance. Ever. (And one of the best
historical adventure/romance book series ever written).
There
are many more romantic books and films I love, but I think I will stop there,
or this will turn into a blog series instead of a post!
BLURB:
THE LIGHT FROM OTHER
SUNS
Artist Karen
Foster draws while dreaming. Scientists label her a valuable commodity. Aliens
call her their perfect messenger.
Seeking money
for art supplies, Karen is thrilled when charming researcher Alex Wythe
recruits her for a dream study called the Morpheus Project. But the Morpheus
Project is not what it seems, and neither are the detailed technical
illustrations Karen draws in her sleep.
Warned off by
government agent Mark Hallam, Karen refuses to leave the project, even after
her fellow subjects suffer breakdowns. Like the sun, her love for Alex blinds
her.
Karen believes
their love is forever, until a tragic accident blasts both their lives.
Aided by Mark—as
well as a UFO investigator, his psychic daughter, and the dark-eyed strangers
who haunt her dreams—Karen must fight to uncover the truth.
A truth that
includes humans trading lives for profits—and a powerful cabal that will kill
to keep such secrets from the world.
A truth that
unveils the ultimate, terrifying, reality –
We have never been alone.
BIO:
If
there’s one word to describe Vicki it’s “eclectic.” Equally enchanted by
classical music and current chart-toppers, and appreciative of pop culture as
well as high art, Vicki loves good writing in all genres. A lifelong fan of
fantasy and science fiction, Vicki also enjoys a twisty mystery or mind-expanding
literary fiction. Although her focus is on novel-length works, a few of Vicki’s
short stories and poems have appeared in print and online literary magazines.
Coffee, cats, and
chocolate are basic essentials in Vicki’s life. A library director for a performing
and visual arts university, Vicki loves foreign films, but will defend the
merit of television shows like BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, FRINGE, and TWELVE MONKEYS
against all naysayers. She’d be happy to travel the world, if someone would
just provide the ticket.
Vicki is represented
by Frances Black at Literary Counsel, NY, NY. She lives in North Carolina with
her husband and some very spoiled cats.
Great post! I'm finding all of these different dates fascinating and fun. :)
ReplyDelete--Lily
www.lilyblackbooks.com
Thank you! I've been enjoying the variety as well. Except my TBR list is growing.
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