Beware of Rhea Hawke...

She's on a Quest...
An Unlawful Quest...

Chakra: Heart; emotional release
Viewpoint: Looking inward
Journey: Transformation
Identity: Rebel
Archetype: Warrior
Second Archetype: Wanderer
Triptych: Present





Set your mobi-calendars for more on May 4th, 2014...

On 12 / 04 / 14 Get Rhea Hawke...But Beware...






artwork & design by Costi Gurgu

Nina Munteanu is an ecologist and internationally published author of novels, short stories and essays. She coaches writers and teaches writing at George Brown College and the University of Toronto. For more about Nina’s coaching & workshops visit www.ninamunteanu.me. Visit www.ninamunteanu.ca for more about her writing.

Get Rhea Hawke...

She's on the move...
She's dangerous...

Chakra: Base, ground spirit...
Viewpoint: Looking outward...
Journey: Separation...
Entity: Human...
Identity: Cop...
Archetype: Orphan...
Second Archetype: Warrior...
Triptych: Past (mistakes)



Set your mobi-calenders for more on April 4, 2014.

On 12 / 04 / 14 Get Rhea Hawke ...




artwork & design by Costi Gurgu

Nina Munteanu at When Words Collide

In a few days I’m heading for Calgary to participate in one of Canada’s premiere writing conferences, the 3^rd Annual When Words Collide (WWC-2013): August 9-11, 2013 at the Carriage House Inn (9030 Macleod Trail South, Calgary, AB).

Winner of the 2012 Aurora Award and current nominee for the 2013 Aurora, WWC is a festival for readers, writers, artists and publishers of commercial and literary fiction, including genre, YA, childrens books and poetry. Readers and writers share information, learn, and build a sense of community. The conference features experts representing diverse genres including mystery, science fiction, fantasy, romance, literary, historical, western, film scripts, and poetry.

The interesting nature of the conference is reflected in its diverse and comprehensive Programming: writing, literature, publishing, art (cover/interior); Kaffe klatches; pitch sessions, autograph sessions, readings, Blue-pencil café; parties, and a merchant’s corner. The festival also includes in-programming workshops (I’m doing two of them) and pre-conference workshops.

Featured guests of honor include: Patricia Briggs, Michael Cassutt, David B. Coe, D.B. Jackson, Barbara Fradkin, Shirlee Smith Matheson, and Jamis Paulson.

I will be sitting on several panels, giving a reading from my latest SF book Inner Diverse (of The Splintered Universe Trilogy), participating in an autograph session, Blue-pencil café and giving two writing workshops:

• ·      The Hero’s Journey
• ·      Self-Editing

Nina’s Schedule at WWC-2013:

Friday 6 pm: PANEL—“Listening to Books”

Friday 9 pm: PANEL—“The Issue is the Issue”

Saturday 10 am: PANEL—“The Alien as Metaphor”

Saturday 11 am: PANEL—“Transhumanism”

Saturday 12 pm: PANEL—“Making the Everyday Fantastic”

Saturday 1 pm: READING—Reading from “Inner Diverse”

Saturday 2 pm: PANEL—“What Women Write”

Saturday 7 pm: PANEL—“Editor for Hire”

Saturday 8 pm: AUTOGRAPH SESSION

Sunday 10 am: PANEL—“Pantser, Plotter of Quilter”

Sunday 11 am: WORKSHOP—“The Hero’s Journey”

Sunday 1 pm: WORKSHOP—“Self-Editing”

Sunday 3 pm: BLUE-PENCIL CAFÉ 

I’m looking forward to visiting with old friends and meeting new ones. See you all there!

I will also be joining awesome voice artist Dawn Harvey for readings of Inner Diverse of The Splintered Universe Trilogy on Thursday (August 8) at The SENTRY BOX at 7 pm on and on Friday August 9^th at Chapters (Chinook Centre) at noon.

See you all there!

Nina Munteanu is an ecologist and internationally published author of novels, short stories and essays. She coaches writers and teaches writing at George Brown College and the University of Toronto. For more about Nina’s coaching & workshops visit www.ninamunteanu.me. Visit www.ninamunteanu.ca for more about her writing.

Inner Diverse, Book 2 of The Splintered Universe NOW in Bookstores!

Inner Diverse is now in bookstores!

Inner Diverse by Nina Munteanu released by Starfire

Full cover art for "Inner Diverse" Book 2 of trilogy

Book Two of Nina Munteanu's Splintered Universe Trilogy, "Inner Diverse" was released today by Starfire World Syndicate with cover art done by Costi Gurgu.

In Book Two of this metaphysical space thriller trilogy, detective Rhea Hawke continues her quest for truth and justice in a world that is not what it seems. Rhea's relentless search takes her to the far reaches of the known universe from the treacherous Boiling Seas of the Weeping Mountains of Horus to the blistering deserts of Upsilon 3. Amidst the turmoil of an imminent extra-galactic war, Rhea holds the key even as those she trusts betray her. No one is what they seem in this fast paced second of three books.

“Nina Munteanu is not only a master of metaphor, she is a creator of fantastic worlds and cultures. She combines her biological background with the infinite possibilities of the cosmos and turns an adventure story into a wonderland of alien rabbit holes. When the action starts it goes into hyper-drive, and her protagonist, Rhea Hawke, is a fresh and multi-faceted heroine.   A fascinating and enthralling read.”—   Craig H. Bowlsby, author of Horth in Killing Reach and creator of Commander’s Log.

“Hawke is a maverick in the Wild West tradition, up against the world; and a genetic mystery with lethal powers. As always, Munteanu sticks to science in her storytelling, and clips along a brisk pace.”—Lynda Williams, author of the Okal Rel series. 

"Am supposed to be recording some pick ups today and working on some accents for three of the audiobooks I'm finishing up but instead I get myself sucked into book two of Nina Munteanu's Splintered Universe trilogy!"—Dawn Harvey, voice artist.

Full cover art for "Outer Diverse" Book 1 of trilogy

For more on Costi Gurgu, the impeccable artist of the Splintered Universe Trilogy, see my previous interview with him here on The Alien Next Door.

Here's a short excerpt below on his Triptych design for the trilogy:

SFgirl: you came up with a “Triptych” design for the Splintered Universe Trilogy. What inspired you to come up with it and what do you like about it?

Costi: There is the danger of spoilers in this answer. The fact is that your main character, Rhea, undergoes a certain evolution from a regular human being to… let’s just say something else. And that evolution has three parts, one for each book of the trilogy and it also has a touch of divine. So, the triptych design, so often used for religious paintings, fits like a glove on the entire concept.

Costi was nominated as a finalist the Aurora Prix Award, Canada's top award for works in the genre of the fantastic, in the category of Best Artist for his work on Book 1 of the trilogy, Outer Diverse.

Nina Munteanu is an ecologist and internationally published author of novels, short stories and essays. She coaches writers and teaches writing at George Brown College and the University of Toronto. For more about Nina’s coaching & workshops visit www.ninamunteanu.me. Visit www.ninamunteanu.ca for more about her writing.