Hi everyone! Today I am excited to welcome Blaine Arden back to the blog. She is here to tell us more about her new book Aliens, Smith and Jones, and has brought a copy to give away to one lucky commenter. Please join me in giving her a big welcome!
When I started writing Noah Jones, a couple of years ago, when Aliens, Smith and Jones was still supposed to be a short story, I only knew a couple of things about him. I knew he was an ex-alien transformed into a human, knew he had arrived on Earth in 1648, that he was virtually immortal, preferred to drink water, and looked to be forty-ish.
That was it. That was all I knew about my main character. Well, that, and the fact that, in the story, he would fall in love for the second time since he’d arrived on Earth. I had no idea what Noah looked like before he transformed, had no clue where he’d come from, how he landed on Earth, why he had to transform, and why he hadn’t just gone back home.
Like most writers, I found my answers by asking questions, not just the ones mentioned above, but also more detailed, more specific question. Of course, the longer my list of question, the more detailed my information on Noah, and the less I actually used in the story itself. But that’s not what gathering all that information was about. It was about knowing my character and being able to answer any question I came across while writing Noah’s story.
Noah isn’t the only alien in Aliens, Smith and Jones, though I admit, my research on those others weren’t as extensive. For those, I went with a more lackadaisical approach of picking and choosing. Now, my methods weren’t quite what I describe below, but they were close enough. 🙂
Today, I’m giving away one e-book version of Aliens, Smith and Jonesfor a lucky commenter. Normally, I’d say ‘leave your name and e-mail address, and I’ll pick a winner’, but this time, I’d like to play a little game with you all.
We’re going to design us some aliens! All you need is a dice or two to find out what sort of alien you can come up with. Some of the sections have the option for 2 dice if you’re adventurous and would like to mix and match your answers!
A: Color (1 or 2 dice) – 1 = white, 2 = red, 3 = black, 4 = purple, 5 = green, 6 = transparent
B: Limbs (1 or 2 dice) – 1 = hands/feet, 2 = claws/hoofs, 3 = hoofs/hands, 4 = feet/claws, 5 = wings/hands/feet, 6 = wings/claws/hoofs
C: # of Limbs (1 die) – 1 = 2 limbs, 2 = 4 limbs, 3 = 5 limbs, 4 = 6 limbs, 5 = 7 limbs, 6 = 8 limbs
D: Sort of Creature (1 or 2 dice) – 1 = humanoid, 2 = fish, 3 = fantasy, 4 = cat-/doglike, 5 = reptile, 6 = birdlike
E: Skin (1 or 2 dice) – 1 = scales, 2 = fur, 3 = rock, 4 = leather, 5 = metal, 6 = plastic
F: Size (1 die) – 1 = human, 2 = giant, 3 = fairy, 4 = elephant, 5 = dog/cat, 6 = grass/bug
G: Language (1 die) – 1 = human language, 2 = garbling, 3 = telepathy/mindlink, 4 = sign language, 5 = body language, 6 = snorts/whistles
I’m looking forward to seeing all your aliens in the comments! Each commenter will be entered into the giveaway, so grab some dice and show me your aliens! 🙂
Blaine’s giveaway will run through Friday, July 27th at 11:59 pm EST. Be sure to leave a comment with your alien design to enter!
My alien is red, has feet and claws, 6 limbs, is a fantasy creature, has scales, is the size of an elephant, and speaks through telepathy/mindlink.
Might not fit in the house, but it can probably shield you against rain LOL
Oh fun, my alien is purple (not Barney, please), has hoofs and hands, has 8 limbs (eeek), is cat/dog like, has metal skin, is human sized and speak human. At least mine fits in the house unlike Andrea’s. LOL
Can’t believe you’re happy about an 8 limbed creature fitting into your house LOL
Good post! My alien is purple, with hoof/hands on 5 limbs, metallic fish, elephant sized with snorts/whistles!
Oh my god, do not want to meet that one
I’m curious if that 5th purple limb has a dual purpose. *eyebrow waggle*
ROFL
I like its colour, though 🙂 I’m very partial to purple.
My guy is transparent with six claws on four limbs. He is humanoid with leather skin. He is fairy sized so I can carry him in my purse. But he speaks and understands english so when I tell him too, he grows into a giant and kicks the ass of the person trying to steal my parking space at Starbucks!
LOL Sounds like a creature everyone could use 🙂
Fun question. Color Me short story is one of my very favorites.
My alien is red, wings for hands/feet, 2 limbs, a fantasy creature, furry, size of a dog/cat with telepathic/ mind link ability.
Thanks 🙂 I’m glad you liked that story. And the game, of course.
interesting alien 🙂
My alien is a scaly white reptilian giant who has eight limbs that have claws and hands and talks with sign language.
I guess if one pair of the limbs were wings it could be a kind of dragon?
So… a 6 limbed flying reptile? Mmmm. Interesting 🙂
My alien is black, with wings/hands/feet, 5 limbs, reptile, leather skin, human sized, and communicates with body language.
…
I so want a write a story about that.
I’d like to read what you’d come up with 🙂
Sounds like a fascinating creature.
Thank you all for being such good sports 🙂
I love the aliens you’ve all managed to build! Some a little scary, some very funny!
Since I thought the game up, I should participate myself as well (not for the giveaway… obviously)
So… My alien is a fairy sized, red and black birdlike creature with a skin that’s part metal and part leather. It has 6 limbs with hands and feets, and it garbles.
My alien is a dog-sized purple furry dude (good size to hug) with wings/hands/feet. He responds in garbled tones, but understands English. He also has cute bobbly antennae on his head, and green fringe around his neck and wrists. (Yes, my tastes have been shaped by a lifetime of watching Muppet aliens, it’s obvious.)
What fun! My alien is purple with 4 wings, leather-skinned cat/dog the size of an elephant who uses sign language 🙂
smaccall AT comcast.net
my alien is a black human sized, with wings and hoofs, 5 limbs, fish with fur.. and telepathic,,,and he is nice and sweet!
its hard to be mean if you can read their minds i guess 🙂
chellebee66 at gmail dot com
Well, I have a giant red, winged, birdlike alien with furry skin, 7 limbs, and he speaks the human language. And we get along smashingly. Anyways, thanks for sharing and for the giveaway!!
tiger-chick-1(at)hotmail(dot)com
I have a garbling, transparent, furry, fairy-sized humanoid with five limbs consisting of feet and claws. Sounds like a sweet little monster to keep as a pet, but my fish would be jealous 😛
Thanks for the fun game! And count me in for the giveaway
kit_singer@hotmail.com
Don’t count me in the draw – already bought the book! But this looked fun so I had to try it 🙂
Came out with a transparent purple humanoid with 8 limbs, including wings, claws & hooves and leather skin. Dog/cat size and speaks human language.
I can’t decide if that combination is cute or scary 🙂
My alien is a light purple color, only when he wants to change, has two hands and two feet. Has wings that can come out of his back. Let’s make him 6 feet with a smattering of body hair.
Yvette
yratpatrol@aol.com
Hello Blaine, Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to spend time with Jay’s Blog Fans & share with Us about your new release, “Aliens, Smith and Jones” & the really
Cool Game!!! My Alien would be: 4 = purple & 6 = transparent in Color
4 = feet/claws & 5 = wings/hands/feet in Limbs
2 = 4 limbs in # of Limbs
1 = humanoid & 3 = fantasy in Sort of Creature
1 = scales & 3 = rock in Skin
3 = telepathy/mindlink in Language. That was Fun!!!
I would very much appreciate the opportunity to be considered in your very generous giveaway of one e-book version of “Aliens, Smith and Jones”. Thank You.
Take Care & Stay Naughty,
PaParanormalFan (Renee’ S.)
paranormalromancefan at yahoo dot com