#SciFi Guest Post | Julie E. Czerneda gives a nod of gratitude for the 20 years she’s spent within the world of The Clan Chronicles! This is the FINALE tour!

Posted Saturday, 7 October, 2017 by jorielov , , , , , 10 Comments

Guest Contributor and/or Reviewer of JLAS banner created by Jorie in Canva.

Hallo, Hallo dear hearts!

Today is a special day on Jorie Loves A Story, as I am hosting Ms Czerneda on the final leg of the FINALE tour for a beloved series The Clan Chronicles! When I was approached to feature a guest post this year, I could not even conceptionalise what I wanted her to write about as ‘how do you say ‘goodbye’ to a seriously wicked classic series?’ I haven’t even been able to address my own emotions about the series (as a whole) nor found a way to recognise there is soon a parting of spirit between me and the Clan!

Ergo, I simply said,

I’ll let you pick the Guest Post Topic — I wouldn’t even know where to start to think about a topic to culminate the ending of the Clan Chronicles — I’m so close to the story and the heart of the series, I’ll yield to a topic you’d love to write about and this will be a part of the tour to help celebrate the work you’ve passionately given all of us throughout the epic trilogies which have become so very beloved.

I cannot wait to see what you write!”

And, what you have before you now, is a post I think I might have telepathically inspired into being! Honestly, when I sat for a short spell after firming together this guest feature with the author, I started to muse about what she might potentially talk about – this post, is a full realisation of what I had hoped she might conceive for today’s post!

There is so much to celebrate – the memories of the stories themselves, of how the characters knitted themselves into our soul and curated so many different evocative emotions throughout their journeys to last a lifetime and of course, the community of readers – of whom, each of us in turn found the Clan and found the same breadth of depth Ms Czerneda knits into each of her collective works – she leaves something quite special for a reader to soak inside and discover insight into not only our humanity but the essence of life and the meaning behind why we’re all alive.

I hope you find this post a burst of joyfulness as I did – I am dearly wicked happy to share it with you and to open up the comment threads to celebrate the author & the Clan!

Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.com

To Guard Against the Dark by Julie E CzernedaThe Clan Chronicles is set in a far future where a mutual Trade Pact encourages peaceful commerce among a multitude of alien and Human worlds. The alien Clan, humanoid in appearance, have been living in secrecy and wealth on Human worlds, relying on their innate ability to move through the M’hir and bypass normal space. The Clan bred to increase that power, only to learn its terrible price: females who can’t help but kill prospective mates. Sira di Sarc is the first female of her kind facing that reality. With the help of a Human starship captain, Jason Morgan, himself a talented telepath, Sira must find a morally acceptable solution before it’s too late. But with the Clan exposed, her time is running out. The Stratification trilogy follows Sira’s ancestor, Aryl Sarc, and shows how their power first came to be as well as how the Clan came to live in the Trade Pact. The Trade Pact trilogy is the story of Sira and Morgan, and the trouble facing the Clan. Reunification concludes the series, answering these question at last.

Who are the Clan?
And what will be the fate of all?

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The Unexpected

by Julie E. Czerneda

In my next and final blog post of this tour, I’ll talk about how it feels to end the Clan Chronicles, something I’d planned to do all along and, thus, expected.

Cover Art Credits: Reap the Wild Wind, Riders of the Storm, Rift in the Sky, A Thousand Words for Stranger, Ties of Power and To Trade the Stars is credited to Luis Royo. This Gulf of Time and Stars, The Gate to Futures Past and To Guard Against the Dark is credited to Matthew Stawicki.

In this post?

(Thanks, Jorie, for hosting.)(the honour is mine)

I’d like to share what I could never have seen coming. You guys.

My interactions started, well, smaller than expected. When my first book came out I admit to wild hopes. Might there be…bulging bags of…mail? Yes! One arrived, a giant, bulging canvas bag stamped U.S. Postal Service! The family stood around (I’ve told this before but bear with me, it makes me blush to this day and I’m happy to amuse you too). Could all this be…gulp…for me?

Yes, but no. It contained boxes of my first book. My author copies. Wonderful of itself, don’t get me wrong, but the Offspring would never be quite so excited by my “mail” again.

Shortly thereafter, gifts did began to arrive via my publisher’s office, or at conventions. All appreciated. All unexpected. Thank you.

Photo Credit: Julie E. Czerneda
I didn’t expect, writing SF, to acquire a wealth of stuffed toys. Among the lobsters (yes, plural), krill, and other stuffed creatures came this hand puppet alien, who wears my “I Am Canadian SF” pin. For many years, I also received the thoughtful gift of stamps for my Poppa, who appreciated them more than I can say. Thanks all!
Photo Credit: Julie E. Czerneda

My first fan letter did arrive, in writing, and if it wasn’t tenderly packed away to be safe during the last moves, I’d be able to share it. What matters here, however, is the source. I did not expect a fan letter from the spouse of one of the author GOHs at my very first convention with my book in hand. Who would?

Yet looking back, I should have. This was a person who understood how important it would be for me, a new author, to receive an actual letter, from a real person I’d met, about my first book. Suffice to say, she’s someone supportive to all.

A while later, there came the fan letter (by email) that started: “I’ve never written one of these before…” and bloomed into a remarkable friendship. Calling herself BF, my Biggest Fan, in jest, I turned the tables and called her BF too, for Best of Friends. While I’ve since grown to expect those “never written before” messages to likely mean “hello, we’re going to like one another,” because that’s been the case–BF? Well, she’s one of a kind.

Photo Credit: Julie E. Czerneda
BF’s first creation for me. Yes, this is Copelup, from Ties of Power, who is capable of being curled into a ball for eopari. BF is nothing if not thorough. She made me matching antennae. I’ll wear them at Can*Con next week. Promise.
Photo Credit: Julie E. Czerneda

I hosted a newsgroup on SFF.net for several years, and, yes, didn’t expect how many people, from all over the world, would enjoy hanging out on my virtual deck. We’d fun writing skits that were silly, I’d apply salmon puffs or the Tome of Doom to those who forgot to be, and always supported one another. Did I expect putting them together in the real world would turn out well? Yes. That I did. To have so many of those friendships become life-long and deeply important? Nothing I did, except to provide a place to meet. (Many thanks to Toronto Trek and Ad Astra for including my Newsgroup Pizza Parties in their program—even when I forgot to ask ahead of time.)

Photo Credit: Julie E. Czerneda
The support went both ways, believe me. When I exclaimed—in fun–about a lack of respect from my newsgroup one day, this jar arrived in my hands. Egad, what I done? I never expected they’d be self-organizing. Photo Credit: Julie E. Czerneda

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Photo Credit: Julie E. Czerneda
Every message inside was warm, inspiring, and yes, still bring lumps to my throat. I only read when necessary. Or on Tuesdays. Photo Credit: Julie E. Czerneda

During the twenty years I nipped in and out of the story line that became the Clan Chronicles, something else happened I couldn’t have expected.

People grew up on my SF. Honest. They read it in high school, or sooner. Kept reading it. Met me as adults. Goodness, if I’d known—but you don’t expect it. You live it. And if you’re lucky, such readers do stay with you and your work as it matures too.

And they did.

I’m delighted to say A Thousand Words for Stranger was used—on two separate occasions, that I know—to deliver a marriage proposal. Both were accepted, by the way. Whew! Aryl, from Reap the Wild Wind, is now a living breathing proto-gymnast of a child. How wonderful!

And several authors have told me they no longer fear writing in first person. Oh good.

Speaking of authors, I’m privileged as editor to have bought the first story from dozens—in first person and otherwise—and, though I’ve also rejected most of the authors I know at least once, we’re still friends. (Though I’m told there’s a club. Didn’t expect that.)

I obtained coffee for a groggy fellow want-to-be-writer like me one morning, and certainly didn’t expect I’d happily be doing it twenty years later, both of us and another friend published. It’s something of a trend, I’ve realized.

Sparkly friend lint. People stick!

More politely put? The people important to you then, stay important.

This community, these people, friends I’ve hugged and those (Hi Jorie!)(we dearly need to meet up IRL) I’ve yet to meet in person. Through all the books. In life and love, and loss too. People matter most.

My mother would be pleased I’ve figured all this out, I’m sure. She believed in people. In simple truths. Do your very best. Be honest, to yourself and others. Be kind. Dance whenever possible. Embrace life, give of yourself…

And prepare to be amazed by the unexpected.

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For those who’ve read this far and might be wondering, what about the Clan Chronicles?

What about the books?

I haven’t forgotten.

Here you go.

Someone you may have missed?

Is back!

From To Guard Against the Dark,
out October 10th from DAW Books.
This excerpt is used with permission of the author and publisher.

“I am not offended. Sit with me. Can you—sit?”

Tayno collapsed to the floor with a noisy clatter.

Her lips stretched. “I see you can.” She sat in the stiff chair they’d found for her room. She hadn’t cared for the easi-rest. “Tell me more, please. About the Great Dark and those who touch it. About the—Rugherans.”

How could she be so calm? If inexplicable aliens had stolen people he cared about, he’d be—well, he’d be in a closet, hoping not to be next.

Though a tiny part of him hoped he’d do better than that. Here was a being with the courage he lacked. An example of how to do better.

He began to grasp why Huido valued his friendship with the Human, Morgan.

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Converse via: #againstthedark, #scifi & #sciencefiction

Julie E. Czerneda Photo Credit: Roger Czerneda Photography
Julie E. Czerneda
Photo Credit: Roger Czerneda
Photography (Czerneda Photography)

For twenty years, Canadian author/ former biologist Julie E. Czerneda has shared her curiosity about living things through her science fiction, published by DAW Books, NY. Julie’s also written fantasy, the first installments of her Night’s Edge series (DAW) A Turn of Light and A Play of Shadow, winning consecutive Aurora Awards (Canada’s Hugo) for Best English Novel.

Julie’s edited/co-edited sixteen anthologies of SF/F, two Aurora winners, the latest being SFWA’s 2017 Nebula Award Showcase. Next out will be an anthology of original stories set in her Clan Chronicles series: Tales from Plexis, out in 2018. Her new SF novel, finale to that series, To Guard Against the Dark, lands in stores October 2017. When not jumping between wonderful blogs, Julie’s at work on something very special: her highly anticipated new Esen novel, Search Image (Fall 2018). Visit www.czerneda.com for more.

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I love hearing from readers!

As an author one of the joys is receiving feedback about my stories from readers who love reading Science Fiction or Fantasy; therein I’d love to hear your thoughts about this particular post if you answer these questions in the comment threads below:

  1. What is your favourite trilogy within The Clan Chronicles?
  2. Which secondary or minor character left the biggest impression on you?
  3. How as the series affected you over the years in regards to where it stands amongst your favourite Hard Science Fictions reads?

I look forward to seeing what you’ll be sharing!

*SPECIAL NOTE* Due remember – Jorie is not a part of the giveaway celebrations of the finale tour, *however!* her blog will be a ‘stop’ on the scavenger hunt – as this is the one exception to her rule about not hosting giveaways (per se) as my scavenger hunts encourage readers to re-read all stops along the route of my blog tours.

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Similar to blog tours where I feature book reviews, as I choose to highlight an author via a Guest Post, Q&A, Interview, etc., I do not receive compensation for featuring supplemental content on my blog. I provide the questions for interviews and topics for the guest posts; wherein I receive the responses back from publicists and authors directly. I am naturally curious about the ‘behind-the-scenes’ of stories and the writers who pen them; I have a heap of joy bringing this content to my readers.

Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.comThis Guest Post is happily a part of the FINALE tour for The Clan Chronicles!

Be sure to follow #againstthedark via Twitter to catch the latest updates or Ms Czerneda directly for links & following the latest posts as we celebrate The Clan Chronicles! The blog tour runs through Monday, the 9th – however, I (Jorie) will be celebrating GUARD shortly thereafter, as I am still consuming the the final installment of the series. Ahead of this Guest Post going LIVE I posted my own celebratory post asking for feedback & memories about The Clan – Jorie’s effervescent reaction to the start of the blog tour!

To read my ruminative adventures and insightful takeaways throughout The Clan Chronicles, please read through my archive of reviews for this series! Meanwhile, I this is the second Guest Post I have hosted for Ms Czerneda – here’s the 1st! You can gain a fresh perspective on her Web Shifters series! Likewise, I hosted a beautifully lovely Interview!

My sincere gratitude to both DAW and Ms Czerneda for including me in the final trilogy blog tours and for giving me the immense JOY of discovering The Clan Chronicles as it began Stratification whilst progressing through the Trade Pact & Reunification. My heart is overflowing in thanksgiving for their kindness and the grace of living through the series these past few years – I feel as if I’ve known the Clan far longer than I have! The series has re-defined how I look at Hard Science Fiction and how I crave not only character driven narratives but the intuitiveness of cluing into the heart of how even Aliens live complicated lives inasmuch as their human counterparts! Plus, Space is a unique place to live & work!

Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.com

{SOURCES: Author biography, author photograph of Julie E. Czerneda, Extract from “To Guard Against the Dark” and the series synopsis were all provided by Julie E. Czerneda and used with permission. The book covers for The Clan Chronicles (all 9) were provided by DAW Books and are used with permission. All personal photographs are credited to Ms Julie E. Czerneda and are being used with permission of the author (who provided them for this Guest Post). Post dividers by Fun Stuff for Your Blog via Pure Imagination. Tweets were able to be embedded by the codes provided by Twitter. Blog graphics created by Jorie via Canva: Guest Post Banner and the Comment Box Banner.}

Copyright © Jorie Loves A Story, 2017.

I tweet my bookish life

About jorielov

I am self-educated through local libraries and alternative education opportunities. I am a writer by trade and I cured a ten-year writer’s block by the discovery of Nanowrimo in November 2008. The event changed my life by re-establishing my muse and solidifying my path. Five years later whilst exploring the bookish blogosphere I decided to become a book blogger. I am a champion of wordsmiths who evoke a visceral experience in narrative. I write comprehensive book showcases electing to get into the heart of my reading observations. I dance through genres seeking literary enlightenment and enchantment. Starting in Autumn 2013 I became a blog book tour hostess featuring books and authors. I joined The Classics Club in January 2014 to seek out appreciators of the timeless works of literature whose breadth of scope and voice resonate with us all.

"I write my heart out and own my writing after it has spilt out of the pen." - self quote (Jorie of Jorie Loves A Story)

read more >> | Visit my Story Vault of Book Reviews | Policies & Review Requests | Contact Jorie

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Posted Saturday, 7 October, 2017 by jorielov in Author Guest Post (their topic), Blog Tour Host, Book Spotlight, Science Fiction




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10 responses to “#SciFi Guest Post | Julie E. Czerneda gives a nod of gratitude for the 20 years she’s spent within the world of The Clan Chronicles! This is the FINALE tour!

  1. Elizabeth Farley-Dawson

    I love the idea of the lovely messages in the “Author Respects” jar. :) As for my favorite trilogy of the series, that’s a tough one, since I haven’t yet read Guard. I love novels with heavy character development, and all the characters have their own appeal.

    If I had to choose a favorite triology, I’d have to choose the Trade Pact trilogy, because that’s when we first get introduced to Sira and Morgan. Secondary characters are hard to choose too, but I do like Barac a lot. Huido (of course) and ‘Whix compete for that spot, though. I guess I especially like those characters that I would want to have as friends myself!

    And as for their place on my shelf? Ok, I have one whole bookcase (double-stacked) of SFF. My husband and I move a lot, and sometimes not all our books get unpacked right away. But these do! I’ll admit to donating some other series to friends or the library when they no longer resonate with me, but these I’ve re-read enough times that I probably need new copies soon. I like to pull them off the self to re-read when I’m having a bad day or my brain is just too tired to read something new, and want something that I know has some nice, “feel good” moments. :)

  2. BF

    I knew I’d found my replacement for Dr. Asimov (death has a way of ending new book releases) when I read THOUSAND. You have been, are, a wonderful friend, author, mentor, and thoughtfully happy recipient of my creative streaks. I admit to still getting fangirly when we see each other…after 18(?) years of being Best of Friends. Looking forward to so much more from you, Julie.

  3. What a lovely guest post! Writing, i imagine, is a solitary activity. You sit in a quiet place with as few distractions as possible, and write. So it’s easy to feel isolated. And then, and then you discover the community! People who may not live in your city, may not live in your time zone or even your country. But they are your community and they support you. I love going up to authors at conventions and telling them how important their work has been to me. Sometimes I don’t even wait until the convention, I say it in a book review. Long running series, books we grow up with and grow up with us, I think that is something all of us take for granted.

    to answer one of the questions – my favorite side characters is Huido! and now it is Huido and Tayno!

    • Thanks! I had fun writing it. And it’s one of those oddities of writing–for me at least–that I’ll write better and faster after a break with the community than before. Inspiration. Happy glow. Knowing the work matters. All come into play. (Thought you’d like Tayno.)

    • Ooh you haven’t? Ooh my! You are in for a treat if you ever pick up the books! I highly recommend you start in the PREQUEL trilogy – which is Stratification – you’ll find the whole series on my blog, save the finale novel – which is arriving this coming week! You’ll find how inspiring they are to read by how much I’ve blogged about the series!! I am seriously addicted to the scope of the series but mostly, it’s the heart and soul Ms Czerneda stitches into her characters and the journey they must take to not only seek the truth but to understand the purpose of their lives. It’s one of those incredibly far reaching Hard Sci Fi series you simply cannot put down – it’s that engrossing! Let me know if you ever pick it up or if you decide to ‘try it’ for #RRSciFiMonth!

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