Jorie Loves A Story, is a blog that was inspired into creation due to a reader's love and passion for the written word. She reads bookish industry newsfeeds, keeps a pertinent eye on newly published authors, is readily eager to book travel to independent book shoppes, athenaeum libraries, historical landmarks of literary interest, and book festivals, conventions, or symposiums; absorbs herself into the written word, cherishing each book she comes across that has the ability to transport herself into another time, place, and world. This is her journey, as she uncovers one book at a time that leaves her musefully happy for the discovery.

Read my Introduction Post, to see where I am hoping to take Jorie Loves A Story. To help celebrate the launch of my blog, read my Launch Day post! Read how the Story of Jorie Loves A Story was knit together!

Visit my Guest Features, Interviews & Podcast Archive and learn about my style of betareading. Curious about my approach to reviewing books? Read my thoughts! *Hint!* it's hugged into my reaction of my first Gaiman essay! To gain perspective about how my readerly life changed a bit after my father's stroke, kindly read #StoriesOfJorie - specifically November 2016 + January 2017.

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At this point in time, I am selectively seeking referrals for books to review or contributing content for the blog. I will consider accepting *print and/or audiobooks* in exchange for an honest review on a case-by-case basis. I'd encourage you to take a look at my Bookish Events Calendar for 2018 before conferring with me about your request. My blog is actively booked throughout the year - sometimes up to 90 days in advance. I do work on tight deadlines outside this window, however, this will give you an impression of what is already scheduled.

I do encourage you to contact me, if after reading through my Review Policy, you feel that your book and my style of reviewing would be a good match. I discuss the books I gravitate towards and the ones I will not read. The reason I am highly selective in regards to referrals, is simply because I am sharing my reading life with those of whom enjoy reading: Jorie Loves A Story. I may seek out books to review on my own accord, which interest me, and I would welcome the chance to get to know!

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Category: Soft Science Fiction

Author Interview | Richard Dee on behalf of his series feat. Andorra Pett and her sweet adventures in Space!

Posted Monday, 12 February, 2018 by jorielov 4starSciFi, Andorra Pett and the Oort Cloud Cafe, Cindy Koepp, Richard Dee, Rimrider, The Clan Chronicles 4 Comments

Hallo, Hallo dear hearts!

You know how much I *love!* Speculative Fiction, right!? You might have seen my admiration & wicked sweet joyfulness each time *November!* pops back round wherein I’m gushing about my participation within the realms of our lovely book blogosphere event #RRSciFiMonth!? Or, maybe you’ve seen me threading the stories I’m reading in both Fiction & Non-Fiction with my personal tag of happiness known as #FuellYourSciFi? As the tag explains it all really – I have a hearty appreciation for the genre & the world-building found within it! I’ve been reading Science Fiction with a tendency towards disappearing into worlds lit in the Cosmos (a la Space Opera) since I was seventeen – the year, where I not only discovered the Sci Fi Book Club (those wonderful hardback editions arriving by postal mail) but I started to curate my fascination with specific authors who were drawing my eye and heart into their stories.

In recent years, I’ve happily read EPIC serials within the tomes of Space Opera (ie. The Clan Chronicles) whilst I have also sought out wonderfully quirky stories (such as the untitled series by Cindy Koepp) as much as the odd audiobook which truly not only rooted me straight into the world itself but left me wanting more out of the sequel (Rimrider). I truly move in and out of the genre – seeking reads which not only strike the hearty balance of being character-driven with this realistically spun world by which they live but I love seeing the writers who push the boundaries – of giving us wondrous new portals of joy in which to reside within their Sci Fi escapades!

Thus, when I first learnt about Andorra Pett – I thought she would be a keen character to get to know and I was overjoyed I could host her writer, Mr Dee during the blog tour which celebrates her debut story within a series which has already inked out *four!* installments thus far into her development. Therefore, if like me your hankering for a cleverly plotted series set in Space, maybe you’ll be as overjoyed as I am finding out this lovely is available in *print!* I nearly thought it would be in audiobook – as it has something about it which I think would do well with spoken narrative!

Be sure to add your comments & thoughts for the author below my conversation – I’d be interested to hear what you thought about *Andorra Pett*, the developing series & why you personally love stories set in Space! Brew a cuppa, heat up a scone and settle in for some fun!

Andorra Pett and the Oort Cloud Cafe
by Richard Dee

Meet Andorra Pett; with her trusty sidekick, she’s taken over a derelict café. On a mining station. It just happens to be orbiting Saturn! She’s hoping for a fresh start, away from all the drama of her old life. It’s a chance to relax and start again in a place where nobody knows anything about her or her past.

But the café holds a secret, and secrets have a habit of coming out; whether you want them to or not. And being accident prone doesn’t help. The more you try to pretend that you know what’s going on, the worse it gets. Andorra’s plans for peace and quiet get lost amid the revelations and skulduggery and she soon realises that the fate of the whole station lies in her hapless hands.
In space, you can still trip over your feet; the question is, will you land upright?

Places to find the book:

Add to Riffle

Add to LibraryThing

ISBN: 978-0995458161

Genres: Cosy Mystery, Science Fiction, Space Opera

on 15th June, 2017

Available Formats: Paperback and Ebook

Converse via: #AndorraPett or #RichardDee + #SpaceOpera +#SFF or #SpecFict

Aside from taking the traditional lead-in of a beach cafe to the outer limits of where a cafe could become the center focus out in Space – what initially drew you to writing a character like Andorra and why do you think she’s finding traction with readers?

Dee responds: Initially, Andorra was written as a response to a challenge, to write a sci-fi version of the rom-com, cosy crime sort of novel. As I did so, I realised that there was more to it; now I see Andorra as a symbol for independent people who discover that they can do so much more than they ever thought. And what they perceive to be their weakness can often be their strength. All they need is the chance to show it. Read More

Posted Monday, 12 February, 2018 by jorielov in Blog Tour Host & Reviewer, Rachel's Random Resources, Reader Submitted Author Interview, Science Fiction, Soft Science Fiction, Space Opera, Speculative Fiction

#RRSciFiMonth Book Review | “The Last Day of Captain Lincoln” (a novella debut) by EXO Books

Posted Wednesday, 29 November, 2017 by jorielov EXO Books, The Last Day of Captain Lincoln 0 Comments

Acquired Book by: Last year for #RRSciFiMonth, I had intended to review this story and host the illustrator in an interview, however, due to certain circumstances and a family health crisis, I had to postpone my readings of the story. Although, I attempted to read this story during [2017] the timing never felt right to broach the subject matter within it’s scope, thereby, I pushed forward my plans until this year’s #RRSciFiMonth event in November, 2017.

I received a complimentary copy of “The Last Day of Captain Lincoln” direct from the author/publisher EXO Books in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive compensation for my opinions or thoughts shared herein.

Why I’ve been dearly keen on reading this lovely Sci-Fi Novella:

I was originally approached by Mr EXO to read this novella for the [2016] #RRSciFiMonth event, however, I was unable to complete what I had planned – as I wanted to not only read the story but to interview the illustrator of who had inspired me whilst browsing through the hardback copy prior to reading the narrative. These illustrations were so captivatingly honest and real – they illustrated the depth of emotional conviction whilst giving you a clear insight into what the character being illustrated could have been thinking at the time their portrait was taken. I felt these illustrations were an apt component to the story-line, of digging in even a bit deeper than where the context might take me as they visually were quite stunning to lay thought over on their own!

The main reason I knew in my heart I couldn’t read this story last [November] or even during the #SciFiExperience (which has served as a bookended event to my wanderings during Sci Fi November) – is due to the experiences I had with my Dad during his stroke, surgery and hospitalisation. I wasn’t entirely sure when I could alight inside another person’s ‘last day’ as I had come too close to realising the last ‘day’ of my father’s. Looking back on the past year has been an incredible year of healing and growth – of how the mind heals after the eruptions of stroke and how the man re-emerges back into his life whilst looking ahead to the future. It has been a difficult year for the most part but it has been a blessed year at the same time – it’s the year my Dad recovered from his stroke and I, took on the role of his caregiver.

What first caught my attention though – is how the story seemed to be told – from an introspective angle of insight into Captain Lincoln. I also liked the innovative approach and non-conventional publishing career of the author, of whom, goes simply by ‘EXO Books’ which is in of itself a clever moniker to have as an author/publisher due to the duality of it’s purpose.

As the [2017] #RRSciFiMonth event approached – I knew I wanted to do something quite special connected to reading the story, which is why I co-hosted a chat with Mr EXO on Twitter. You can read the recapture of the conversation as well as find links to to the Storified transcript and the books of rec’s via Riffle on this post. Perhaps, next year – I can converse with the illustrator and bring everything full circle!

The Last Day of Captain Lincoln
by EXO Books
Illustrator/Cover Designer: Kimberly Hazen
Source: Direct from Author, Direct from Publisher

Captain Lincoln's last day is the hardest day of his life.

An old, onetime Captain of the interstellar spaceship USNAS Hope Eternal, Lincoln always knew that this day would come. For just as birthdays are carefully planned, so are deaths. And although he must reckon with his fate, this is not a somber story. It is a tale of love and sacrifice, told in the context of the most advanced civilization ever to exist—a society that has taken to the stars in an effort to save all that is best in humanity.

Follow Lincoln through his internal struggles, his joy in having lived, and his journey to peace.

The End is just the beginning.

Places to find the book:

Borrow from a Public Library

Add to Riffle

Add to LibraryThing

ISBN: 9780997590258

Genres: Science Fiction, Short Story or Novella, Space Opera

Published by EXO Books, LLC

on 20th August, 2016

Format: Hardcover Edition

Pages: 133

Published By: EXO Books

Available Formats: Hardback, Ebook

Genre(s): Speculative | Science Fiction | Futuristic Fiction

Space Opera | Introspective Fiction | Death & Mortality

Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

#FuellYourSciFi

Posted Wednesday, 29 November, 2017 by jorielov in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Bits & Bobbles of Jorie, Blog Tour Host & Reviewer, Death, Sorrow, and Loss, Debut Author, Fly in the Ointment, Hard Science Fiction, Indie Author, Science Fiction, Soft Science Fiction, Space Opera, Speculative Fiction, Vulgarity in Literature

#RRSciFiMonth Chat, No.1 | @joriestory co-hosts with @EXO_Books about #SpaceOpera!

Posted Monday, 27 November, 2017 by jorielov EXO Books, Imyril @imyril, Lisa @EffingRainbow, The Last Day of Captain Lincoln 0 Comments

[ 2017 ]

co-hosting my 1st #RRscifimonth chat:

hallo, hallo Sci Fi November enthusiasts!

this year, I wanted to do something wicked different than i have in the past – which is why, I conceived of the idea to host two #RRSciFiMonth chats! the first of course, was inspired by the novella ‘The Last Day of Captain Lincoln’ which is set in Space – giving me the chance to talk about one of my favourite sub-genres: Space Opera! this is also why you’ve seen me change my Twitter Profile to reflect: JORIE LOVES SPACE OPERA rather than the regular declaration of JORIE LOVES A STORY.

as we discussed how we wanted to co-host the chat, Mr Exo & I devised our own approach – I would start the question-based sections with two enquiries to set the tone of the discussion bent round our main topic whilst Mr Exo would come after me, tying in his questions with giving away books. the format worked well – plus, *behind-the-scenes*, i was DM’ing Mr Exo a few times throughout the chat, whilst monitoring the replies coming to me directly (in order to re-direct them onto the tag #RRSciFiMonth) as I replied to the chatters who had come to participate.

i was honestly thrilled to bits how well the chat took off – from the very start of it, i noticed everyone had settled into sharing their *favourite!* memories of Science Fiction gateways into Space Opera & the worlds within the universe which hug us so close to the heart of what we love about the Speculative worlds we explore across mediums! as you will well see – all of us are not just intrepid explorers of literature, no! we criss-cross through television, motion pictures, literature and all stops betwixt and between – allowing ourselves to be captured by the visionaries who enrich our lives by their visions of Futuristic worlds.

in order to sort out the time zones – i posted a brief Poll via Twitter to gauge which hour would be best for everyone to *meet-up* whilst mindful of my own schedule & the author’s (Mr Exo), which is why I leant on hosting my first #RRSciFiMonth chat on a *Saturday!* without being able to promote the chat as readily as i wanted too – i was wicked thankful for the supportive cheering & rallying by our lovely event co-hosts Lisa @EffingRainbow + Imyril @imyril, of whom i am grateful who enjoy real-time DMs and last minute suggestions! i truly look forward to visiting their blogs more throughout the coming year, whilst finally making my personal rounds to seeing not only their content for this event but all the lovely blogs i missed whilst i was dealing with my illnesses.

before i talk about my *favourite!* moments of the chat, i want to give you a chance to read the lovely transcript Imyril has presented for all of us to ENJOY reading! grab your favourite cuppa of brew & settle in for a wicked sweet chat where we all get our full-on sci-fi geek-on discussing everything & anything inter-related to the topic at hand! plus, a few tangents where we swung OT (off-topic) as well! it wouldn’t quite be a Twitter chat if the chatters didn’t go OT! lol

Posted Monday, 27 November, 2017 by jorielov in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Bits & Bobbles of Jorie, Hard Science Fiction, Indie Author, Science Fiction, Soft Science Fiction, Space Opera, Speculative Fiction, Spontaneous Convos Inspired by Book, Twitterland & Twitterverse Event

Blog Book Tour | A listener’s spin on #podcast review of Xela Culletto’s “Understanding the Stars” (#SFF)

Posted Saturday, 10 June, 2017 by jorielov Self Published, Understanding the Stars, Xela Culletto 2 Comments

Hallo, Hallo dear hearts!

A unique kettle of fish erupted into my audiobook listening adventures – wherein, I could not listen to ‘Understanding the Stars’ – mind you, I tried every which way to Sunday to get the book to play except to say, I was left with a lot of dead air. The lovely narrator I had heard via the sampler was remiss and I was left wondering what the book would reveal to me, as this was one book I was looking forward to listening to see how the author would shape the story around the aliens.

I was short on time to resolve this – as I’ve tweeted recently, this Spring has been ‘a beast!’ for allergies this Season. I haven’t been able to shake the reactions since wayy back in March or end of February; honestly, I don’t even remember when it all began; each week blends into a new one and I still have extreme allergies assaulting me! I dream of RAIN. I pray for a DOWNPOUR. Summer could not start soon enough for me this year in other words! I sort of lost track of where I was with my blog’s schedule as when your feeling more blue than sunshiny, who keeps up with their calendar? Ergo, I caught sight of one blunder a bit too late to make amends – my copy of ‘Understanding the Stars’ is unplayable – and before you say “ask for Help”, been there & done that. Apparently it’s a quirk or a tech issue that has no textbook solution. Aye.

Oy vie. Never one to give up without a bit of ingenuity – my rabbit out of the hat idea was to merge my love of listening to @AudioShelfMe with my second stop on the ‘Understanding the Stars’ tour seemed to be the best route to go! I had discovered this lovely podcast duo (Brad & Britney) courtesy of Jess @ the Audiobookworm who was tagging a heap of us to introduce us to the Audiobook Month (JUNE) Listening Challenge – where we can all play #AudioBingo, meet new bookish friends who love audiobooks as much as we do and get a bit of fun out of our listening endeavours whilst we try to score ‘points’ for securing titles on the board!

I will be revealling which audiobooks I am thinking of listening to for the challenges when I start to reveal the #20BooksOfSummer I have chosen to focus on for another Summer Reading Challenge! Those two posts will run next week – as I am getting a bit of a late start but look forward to seeing where my mad dash of listening and reading shall take me!

Now then, without further adieu, here are my notes whilst listening to Brad and Britney hash out their recap of ‘Understanding the Stars’.

Alexandra Blackwood is minding her own troubled life when she unknowingly gets caught up in an extraterrestrial conflict. Ronan, a human with his own alien-entangled past, has been keeping an eye on her and sets out to help her escape looming abduction, and maybe win her heart.

The podcast started off with Brad impersonating alien-speech with a few seconds of alien music before the overlay of their theme and the introduction of how they hosted their first book tour. I agreed about the synopsis being a smidge short but enough to serve as a taste of what might be included in the story’s arc. Read More

Posted Saturday, 10 June, 2017 by jorielov in Audiobook, Audiobookworm Promotions, Blog Tour Host & Reviewer, Indie Author, Notes of a (Podcast) Listener, Science Fiction, Soft Science Fiction, Space Opera, Speculative Fiction

Author Q&A | Understanding the writing process of Xela Culletto author of “Understanding the Stars” (#SFF)

Posted Wednesday, 7 June, 2017 by jorielov Self Published, Understanding the Stars, Xela Culletto 0 Comments

Good morning, dear hearts!

As you might already realise – I have a wicked fascination with #SFF (Science Fiction & Fantasy) – throughout JUNE, I will be resuming my showcases on behalf of the Speculative realms, as I originally as dipping back into them last November before I alighted into the lovely anthology Gifts of the Magi just as the New Year began to dawn! (see also Review) Due to my readings of those lovely short stories, a few of the authors I had read then will be re-explored this month, as well!

I am also continuing my exploration of World Weaver Press whilst reading two more anthologies (Space Opera + Fantasy) as I move into two novels set around the Jin. I first came to appreciate the lore & legends of Jinni through Ms Wecker’s incredibly layered and intriguing debut novel! (see also Review) There is quite a bit in store this month here on #JLASblog – if you are as wicked happy about finding exciting new worlds to explore in the Speculative realms, stay attuned to my blog and my readerly tweets in the twitterverse! You will happily be discovering the authors who are charming me with their world-building and their fantastical imagination!

To kick off my #SpecFic showcases, I am sharing a conversation I had with a self-published author who similar to me has grown up with a deep appreciation for the realm. As you will see throughout our conversation, I unearth her writing process and what makes her passionate to tell the stories she is penning.

If this is your first visit to my blog, I have been enjoying listening to audiobooks for almost a year, whilst having the pleasure of interviewing the authors & narrators alike. Audiobooks are a gift of joy to me as they allow me to find a new way to connect to stories and to pick up an artistic habit of ‘colouring’ as I listen – the suspension of focusing on the story as I colour allows me to better understanding the content of the stories but also provides a way to decompress from the stress of a blogger’s life!

Alexandra Blackwood is minding her own troubled life when she unknowingly gets caught up in an extraterrestrial conflict. Ronan, a human with his own alien-entangled past, has been keeping an eye on her and sets out to help her escape looming abduction, and maybe win her heart.

Being an avid science fiction reader, what drew your eye to lay down the foundation of an alternative alien space opera story-line? Wherein you centre your action on Earth rather than have the story transition from Earth to Space or even subspace environments?

Culletto responds: I wrote this story with the intention of having it be something that I personally would like to read. While I have read some hardcore sci-fi (Asimov, Sagan, etc.) I’m at a stage of life where I prefer lighter reading, which for me means not having massive amounts of new jargon or world-building–something that is easily accessible and doesn’t require too much memory space in the reader’s brain. That being said, the sequel to “Understanding the Stars” is entitled “Following the Stars” (to be released 2018), so you can probably get an idea of where the plot will be headed next. Read More

Posted Wednesday, 7 June, 2017 by jorielov in Audiobook, Audiobookworm Promotions, Blog Tour Host & Reviewer, Indie Author, Science Fiction, Soft Science Fiction, Space Opera, Speculative Fiction