What Speculative Fiction Shows & Movies Influenced You As A Writer?

Today on Untethered Realms, we're sharing a speculative fiction television show or movie that helped to shape the writers we are today.  What movies or shows influenced you?

Ellie Garratt

Star Trek: The Original Series started my passion for science fiction television shows, movies, and literature. As a young child in the 1970s, I remember begging my parents to watch the show that opened up strange new worlds and alien characters. It was like nothing I'd seen before. The earliest stories I wrote were a kind of fan-fiction, sending Captain Kirk and his crew on yet more adventures. They weren't very good, but they did open me up to the idea that I could write my own stories. More than that, Star Trek made me realise I was different from my female friends, who spent their time playing with Barbie dolls and air stewardess play sets. I didn't want dolls, I wanted a Millennium Falcon and storm troopers. As I look back now, I'm forever grateful to my parents who gave into my begging, though I never did get that Millennium Falcon.

River Fairchild

Among the many decent specfic shows on TV over the years, Star Trek is number one on my list. I love all of the series…well, except for the last one. My favorite, though, is Deep Space 9. It’s so different from the rest of the franchise. The grittiness, the problems, the characters - all converge to grab my imagination and inspire my writing. There are so many non-Federation types on this show, each with their own quirks, flaws, and various agendas. The female characters are strong and unconventional; the struggles are relatable to the viewer. At its core, the theme is about humanity’s survival in an often dangerous environment. This isn’t a nice, clean ship filled with disciplined scientists. It’s a crossroads in space, with cutthroats, thieves, and an ill-mannered assortment of characters guaranteed to win your sympathy as they collide with each other.
And Avery Brooks is certainly easy on the eye…

M. Pax

Although I fell in love with space adventure with Lost in Space at the age of 3 (I remember my parents, older brother, and I gathering in the family room, sitting in certain chairs, and holding the tin foil a certain way to get reception), it was in 5th grade when I saw 2001: A Space Odyssey at the theater that blew me away. The story made my jaw drop and say, "Wow." Then I read the book and kept saying, "Wow." I loved the discovery and mystery. Most of all, I loved how the story made me think and view the universe differently than before.

Christine Rains

Mystery, horror, comedy, and the supernatural. Well, most of the time the villains turned out to be human, but there was always something creepy going on. Scooby-Doo was one of my favorite shows when I was a child. I had a yellow Scooby-Doo lunchbox all through elementary school. I wanted to be the one investigating the haunted houses and monster sightings. So I wrote stories about it. The short tales I wrote as a kid had all the elements of a Scooby-Doo episode including the corny joke at the end. These days, my writing still contains these elements. Except my humor is much drier and there's no joke at the end.

Cherie Reich

Although most of my ideas revolve the realms of fantasy, my first successful story was a paranormal horror tale titled Once upon a December Nightmare. Based off true events that happened to my friends and me and with a paranormal and much more horrifying twist than what happened to us, this novelette also owes a lot to The X-Files. For nine seasons, I faithfully watched The X-Files on Sunday night. I loved delving into the paranormal, supernatural, and the alien as well as watching the great chemistry between Mulder and Scully. I'm a huge fan of the show and own all the seasons and the two movies and some of the books. Most of all, I share Mulder's optimism. I write because I want to believe.


Cathrina Constantine

I wanted to be Jo from Little Women. To cozy up in the attic, writing and putting on plays. As young as 12, I'd write plays, silly plays. My friends and I would have fun acting them out. I don't know if it was due to the death of poor Beth, but I had the tendency to write tragic tales.






Movies have been a big influence in my writing. Especially paranormal, fantasy, sci-fi, and dystopian. I like many genres and could never pick just one as my favorite.



The Harry Potter Series; Marvel Movies, the television show, Supernatural, and the movie, Constantine (0f course) I could go on and on. They light the flame of inspiration.

T.F. Walsh

Werewolf movies... I'm pretty certain I've seen almost everything out there related to the furry beasts. I grew up watching a lot of horror, mainly monster related. My friends and family were subjected to Underworld, An American Werewolf in London, Dog Soldiers, The Howling, Blood and Chocolate, The Monster Squad, Ginger Snaps, and so on. Yep, I can keep going. Anyway, the thing about werewolves is that one could be hiding anywhere, even next door to you, in his or her guise. Whether a person's lycanthropy is beyond their control, or whether they maintain their control, when they change, they are equally frightening. Traditional movies of werewolves were used to inspire fear, but they have since been romanticised in popular culture. I love both of these sides of wolf shifters, and if there's a new paranormal or horror movie, you can bet I'll be there watching it.


Julie Flanders

Source

I've been totally in love with all things vampire ever since I watched Buffy the Vampire Slayer during its original run. I was initially hesitant to watch it because I thought it was just a silly show for teenagers, something I was a long way away from at the time. I got over that quickly though, and Buffy became one of my favorite shows of all time. My favorite season of the show is the second, the poster for which is shown in the above photo. I was blown away by the story of Buffy and Angel's evil alter-ego Angelus, and to this day the season 2 finale is one of the most heartbreaking things I've ever watched. I re-watched the show a few years ago and when I got to that finale I thought, that's the kind of story I want to tell. To me, the writing for that arc is as close to perfect as it gets. While my vampire stories are not at all like the Buffyverse, I did enjoy writing my own evil, sarcastic vampire as an homage to my beloved Angelus. I can't deny that when it comes to fiction, I love the bad boys. :D 

Gwen Gardner

  I didn't know I wanted to be a writer when I was a child. But I was an avid reader and some of that spilled over into television. Books, comic books and cartoons sparked my imagination and made me crave more. Wendy the Good Little Witch, Casper the Friendly Ghost, Scooby Doo. I loved those worlds. What inspired me most to write as an adult was first the Harry Potter books and then the Harry Potter movies. I love them all. The world of possibilities really appeals to me.

Fantastic Speculative Fiction - This is Worth Reading: Girl of Great Price by Milo James Fowler

Can't decide what to read next? Untethered Realms is sharing what we loved reading the first Friday of every month.

In a city run by a powerful mobster, nobody wants to play the hero. Private investigator Charlie Madison just wants to pay the rent.

When a little girl goes missing and no ransom demand is made, Madison takes the case. Time isn't on his side. After 48 hours, it's unlikely an abducted child will be found in one piece. But Madison's a champion of lost causes, and he'll be damned before he gives up on her—even if it means putting his own life on the line.

As the mystery unfolds, Madison learns a bizarre secret that seems too impossible to believe. But it could explain why the girl was kidnapped—and why she might still be alive.

My review:

I enjoy the occasional crime noir tale, but what I love is science fiction. So, when I read a review mentioning this novelette had a cyber-noir, alternate history theme, I was intrigued enough to read Girl of Great Price. I was thoroughly rewarded.

Fowler has taken classic noir and given it a fresh, new setting - a sort of Big Trouble in Little China meets Bladerunner, only without the replicants. His PI Charlie Madison is a tough guy who knows his job and his city. Even though he's down on his luck, he also cares about his city and the people in it, and this makes him a likeable character. I was rooting for him and the girl in question from the beginning.

While this is a short read, moving at a lightning pace, I really felt like I'd lived in the alternate world Fowler has created. I'm always in awe of writers who can convey so much world building in so few words. I've already downloaded its sequel, Immaterial Evidence, which tells you how much I enjoyed this novelette.

I highly recommend Girl of Great Price to  both crime noir and sci-fi fans, and anyone wishing to try something a little different than their usual read. After reading Girl of Great Price, I promise you you'll be reaching for Immaterial Evidence.

Buy links: Amazon / AmazonUK / Barnes & Noble

Author Link: Website

Welcome to our new members!

Untethered Realms is overjoyed to welcome two new members!

T.F. Walsh - writing tales of paranormal love, betrayal, and sacrifice.

T.F. Walsh emigrated from Romania to Australia at the age of eight and now lives in a regional city south of Sydney with her husband. Growing up hearing dark fairytales, she's always had a passion for reading and writing horror, paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and young adult stories. She balances all the dark with light, fluffy stuff like baking and traveling. She writes young adult and adult paranormal and fantasy fiction. Cloaked in Fur, a paranormal romance and suspense story, is her debut novel. Please visit her website. 

Cathrina Constantine - fast-paced and action packed YA stories.

Cathrina Constantine resides in Western New York with her husband, five children, two Labrador Retrievers, and two cats. Author @BlackOpalBooks & @CHBB_Vamptasy. Her current books: WICKEDLY THEY COME, WICKEDLY THEY DREAM, TALLAS, And her newest novel from @CHHB_Vamptasy DON'T FORGET TO BREATHE.

When not with her family or stationed at the computer writing, you will find her walking in the backwoods with her dogs, conjuring up a new tale. Please visit her blog.

Having fun with the Seven Deadly Sins - a Writer's Take

There are lots of writerly blog posts on the Seven Deadly Sins of Writing. (Show Don't Tell, don't overuse adverbs, don't "head-hop POV, etc etc etc). I was inspired by an old post of Lexa Cain's to do a fun writerly twist on that norm...

First. let's get in the mood by looking at Marta Dahlig's amazing digital art. It took me a few beats to actually find out who did these, because SO many bloggers use this image without crediting the artist. Marta sells these and more as cool posters, BTW. Okay, back to the business at hand.

Here are some of my writerly sins...

Lust: I lust after novels that blow my mind, fire up my imagination and make me want to write. Two recent reads that do that for me are The Dress Lodger by Sheri Holman and Alma Katsu's The Taker trilogy. What novels have you lusted after recently?

Envy: I envy any writer who can pump out a full novel every month or two and have it actually be a well-written, clever novel with heart. What writerly aspect of another author do you envy?

Vanity: I'm proud that Dorianna won best Horror Book in the Kindle Hub awards, and that I'm signed to go to three book conventions this year even though they are intimidating. I hope I never get vain about my accomplishments though. What author achievement has you most proud of yourself?

Wrath: I hate books that are sappy, badly-written, predictable, formulaic, boring, and that don't have enough high-stakes. What kind of books or writing do you hate?

Sloth: I'm loathe to admit that sometimes I'd rather laze around and watch Portlandia and Sleepy Hollow than trudge off to the writers' space and work! What is your slothful admission?

Gluttony: Since I'm writing a witch novel, I want to feast on any book that has to do with witches. I even bought a witch datebook and green grimoire. Which books are you feasting on?

Avarice: Sure, getting big money for my books sounds attractive, but I'm even more greedy for devoted readers. What writerly avarice do you hate to admit?

Happenings in the Realm: Huzzizzle February 2015 - #SpecFicChat on Twitter: What Makes Fantasy Believable?

#SpecFicChat

This month's #SpecFicChat is: What makes fantasy believable?
Hosted by: River Fairchild
Where: On Twitter, use the hashtag #SpecFicChat to participate
When: Begins noon EST

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Is it a con fling or something more?

LOOSE CORSET (Dice & Debauchery #1) is hilarious, nerdy, and sexy.

The Geeky Dice & Debauchery Tour is still happening!

Follow from Christine Rains' blog and enter the giveaway for your chance to win Zombie Dice and a unique Christine Rains die.

Tuesday Tea with Mistress Snark

Welcome to the Untethered Realms edition of Mistress Snark's Tuesday Tea. Afternoon tea is a most civilized British invention – an opportunity to snack with impunity. However, in Mistress Snark's parlor, you never know what might be floating in your tea or what those cute little sandwiches are hiding under the bread.

As full disclosure, any guest appearing here must sign the usual waivers regarding food poisoning, bodily harm caused by Jezebel, random attacks by minions, or permanent brain damage resulting from the questions posed.

Today's guest is Angela Brown, Untethered Realms author of Beacon; Neverlove; Frailties of the Bond, and more. It's so nice to have you here today. Would you like some tea? Or perhaps Jezebel's special punch? I don't know what's in it but it could prove detrimental to your health.

Angela: Mistress Snark! I'm so happy to be here again. I think it's again. My brain seems to know I was here before but the details are rather... fuzzy. I'll take Jezebel's special punch. Did I do that the last time I was here? Oh, nevermind that... the special punch sounds risky and I'm up for an adventure.

Mistress: I’m sure an adventure can be arranged for you. *turns to wink at audience* Speaking of fuzzy, you’re beginning to lose your…well, shall we say, cohesiveness? No reason to be startled. Keep sipping your punch, dear. The effect is rather illuminating. In fact, you’re developing a lovely shade of green glow about you. As an author, how might you incorporate your current condition into a storyline?

Angela: *fans self and starts rocking back and forth* I, uh, wow... is it getting hot in here to you? Or is it just me? This - what's - I don't know what's... I feel enlightened. Lightheaded. Wait! That's it! Light! That reminds me of Beacon because, you know, a beacon is a light. Now that I think about it, I believe there's a scene in Beacon where I might have done something like this to the main character, Macie. I feel so... weird. *giggles then hiccups, then giggles again* Can I have another sip of that punch? That's *hiccup* yummy.

Mistress: Jezebel has topped off your punch…and brought you a straw. Your glass may melt if you attempt to pick it up. Don’t worry; slurping is allowed in the parlor. *signals to someone backstage*

Now then. Let’s plan a little trip for you…before your giggles get out of control. Imagine your luminous, enlightened self floating into the town of New Festus in Beacon. What happens next?

Angela: Angela: *slurps very loudly then burps* Oh dear, please excuse me. What does Jezebel put in this? Oh, wait... I feel so... light. Nevermind, I'm getting *burps again then giggles* off topic. New Festus seems quiet and dark. No one is out. It's past sunset curfew. I gaze up to the broken moon and the lunar cloud that hovers close to it, then down. Oh look *points as if really there* I see a tent in that shadowy part behind the school but it's being, uh, is that a devil spawn attacking someone?

Mistress: Devil spawn are certainly fascinating…as are you. *points to the Geiger counter beeping madly* I’m afraid you’ll have to be escorted out of the parlor for the safety of our gentle audience. Go along with the nice people in the hazmat suits. They’ll try to reduce your radioactive splendor in short order. It was a pleasure having you here today, Angela! Perhaps you’ll brave a return visit in the future…after you’ve recovered.

Angela: Mistress Snark, neither weird colorful glows from my body nor the really weird feeling like I'm about to spontaneously combust from the inside out will keep me from coming back for a visit. But yes, yes, after this *burps, giggles, then rips a long belch* dear me, that was terribly un-ladylike. So sorry. But I'll come back after this pa - pa - *burp, hicccup, hiccup, giggles* passes.

Congratulations, Angela! You’ve earned the Tuesday Tea Survivor badge, suitable for your blog or hanging on the bathroom wall. Go ahead and take it with you.

Angela Brown -Born and raised in Little Rock, AR, Angela now calls Central Texas home. She's a lover of Wild Cherry Pepsi and chocolate/chocolate covered delicious-ness. Steampunk, fantasy and paranormal to contemporary - mostly young adult - fill her growing library of books. Mother to a rambunctious darling girl aptly nicknamed Chipmunk, life stays busy. Her favorite quote keeps her moving: "You may never know what results come of your action, but if you do nothing there will be no result." ~ Mahatma Gandhi ~ Website

Mark your calendar! March 17th will see author Catherine Stine sitting in Mistress Snark’s parlor, guzzling one of Jezebel’s famous concoctions.

A Discovery of Russian Witches

When I sat down to write this post I couldn't resist playing with the title of Deborah Harkness' 2011 book, as it fit so perfectly. I felt like I discovered my own special witches when I was coming up with the stories for my latest release Polar Day and its prequel The Turnagain Arm.

I knew I wanted to use a witch as the antagonist in Polar Day but I also knew I wanted the character to be male as opposed to the more popular or traditional female witch. While doing a little research on the history of witchcraft, I learned that when witch hunts swept across Europe during the seventeenth century, a different kind of witch hunt inspired terror in Russia. Unlike the religious-based trials in Europe, the Russian trials were concerned with stopping "witches" who they feared would use magic to inspire revolt against the system of serfdom and aristocracy that ruled the land. The Russians weren't worried about devil worship; they were worried about social agitators. And their primary targets were men.

I couldn't believe how perfectly this real world history fit in with the history of my fictional universe. Aleksei Nechayev, the antagonist in my first novel Polar Night, was Russian, so I had already established a Russian backstory. Once I discovered this history, my new characters came to life and the stories played out from there.

A line of male Russian witches is introduced in my novella The Turnagain Arm through a saloon owner named Vasyl Dzubenko. While he is a witch, he's not the antagonist of that story. Vasyl is a good man who uses his power reluctantly and only to stop evil. Unfortunately his descendant Jamie, the Polar Day witch, is a very different story.

As a history buff, I couldn't have asked for better inspiration for my story than a real life horror such as the Russian witch trials. History never ceases to fascinate me.

Any other history nuts out there?

Polar Day is now available in paperback and on Amazon Kindle. To celebrate my new release, I'm offering The Turnagain Arm free this week, through Friday, 2/13. If you'd like to get to know my witches, get your free download here.

About Polar Day:

The midnight sun bakes Fairbanks, Alaska as residents gather for the annual summer solstice baseball game. Amidst the revelry and raucous shouts of “Play ball,” a spark alights and a jogger bursts into flames. Detective Danny Fitzpatrick, still reeling from his near death at the hands of vampire Aleksei Nechayev, watches in horror as the man burns alive.

Someone is burning Fairbanks and its residents and leaving nothing but smoldering embers behind. As the city sweats under a record-breaking heatwave and unexplained fires claim more victims, Danny and his colleagues struggle to find an arsonist who can conjure fire out of thin air.

To Danny’s horror, the only one who may be able to help him stop the arsonist is his nemesis Nechayev. Will the vampire help in the hunt for a witch?