MONDAY MORNING MAILBAG
Question: What made you want to write a science-fiction fantasy romance like Only Bad Options?
Answer: It was a variety of things, but mostly, it was the right story/idea at the right time.
For years – YEARS! – I thought “I don’t like science fiction,” and I wouldn’t even try it. I’m not sure where this opinion/idea even came from. Maybe because I never much cared for science classes in school/college. But every time I was in the bookstore/library, I would skip past the sci-fi section and go straight to fantasy/romance. If it had spaceships and aliens, I wouldn’t read it, but if it had magic weapons and talking animals, well, I would read the whole series and all the spinoffs.
But over the past few years, I’ve gotten more and more info sci-fi books, movies, and TV shows, and I’ve enjoyed things like The Mandalorian and Killjoys. And of course I’ve always loved the original Star Wars trilogy. Plus, I found that a lot of sci-fi stories do have those elements of magic that I love, and I realized that I was missing out on all these great characters/stories/worlds.
In early 2021, I had a tiny break in my writing schedule. I had been thinking about doing an enemies-to-lovers, soul-mates type of story, but none of the worlds/magic systems I was thinking about seemed quite right. Then I thought, “What if I made it a sci-fi world, but with magic?” And that was the first light-bulb moment for me.
But I was still having some trouble with the worldbuilding. One day, I was lying on the couch, resting my neck/shoulders, and thinking about what I could add to my sci-fi world to make it more interesting and unique. And I thought “What if you had all this magic/technology, but the society was sort of old-fashioned and focused on marriages, alliances, and bloodlines, like in a historical romance book?”
I literally sat bolt upright on the couch, like “Yes! That could work!” And that was the second light-bulb moment for me. I’ve always enjoyed taking the elements/tropes/etc. I like most about various genres, mixing them together, and putting my own spin on them. So that’s why Only Bad Options is a mix of science fiction, fantasy, and historical romance.
And I’ll be honest – part of writing Only Bad Options was also a business decision. I thought writing in a new-to-me genre like sci-fi romance might help expand my reader base. #fingerscrossed
I don’t know that I’ll ever like hard/technical sci-fi, just as I don’t like hard/technical books in other genres. I’ve never particularly enjoyed reading tons of details about weapons, vehicles, etc. (like in a Tom Clancy-type book). I also don’t know that I’ll ever like alien stories. But at least now, I’m open to trying those things, and that’s a win in my book. Thank you for reading.
Have you ever changed your mind about liking a genre, book, movie, or TV show after giving it a second chance?
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ABOUT THE PRINT BOOKS:
I will be doing a print version of Only Bad Options, and I will share those links when they go online later this summer. I will also share more information about the audiobook as it becomes available.
ONLY BAD OPTIONS DESCRIPTION:
New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Estep blasts off with an exciting new science-fiction fantasy adventure with a dash of Regency romance. This action-packed space opera features a mix of magic and technology, along with a soul mates and enemies-to-lovers story. Perfect for fans of Star Wars, Bridgerton, and Pride and Prejudice.
A WOMAN WHO SEES EVERYTHING . . .
Few people know the name Vesper Quill. To most folks, I’m just a lowly lab rat who designs brewmakers and other household appliances in the research and development lab at the powerful Kent Corp. But when I point out a design flaw and a safety hazard in the new line of Kent Corp spaceships, everyone knows who I am—and wants to eliminate me.
I might be a seer with a photographic memory, but I don’t see the trouble headed my way until it’s too late. Suddenly, I’m surrounded by enemies and fighting for my life.
I don’t think things can get any worse until I meet Kyrion Caldaren, an arrogant Regal lord who insists that we have a connection, one that could be the death of us both.
A MAN WHO CAN’T FORGET HIS PAST . . .
The name Kyrion Caldaren strikes fear in the hearts of people across the Archipelago Galaxy. As the leader of the Arrows, the Imperium’s elite fighting force, I’m used to being a villain, as well as the personal assassin of Lord Callus Holloway. Even the wealthy Regals who live on the planet of Corios are afraid of me.
But everything changes when I meet Vesper Quill. I might be a powerful psion with telepathic, telekinetic, and other abilities, but Vesper sees far too many of my secrets.
Thanks to an arcane, unwanted quirk of psionic magic, the two of us are forced to work together to unravel a dangerous conspiracy and outwit the dangerous enemies who want to bend us to their will.
