Review
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Story Behind The Book
Welcome to the story of how I came to write a science fiction story--curiously devoid of science (wherein I interview myself!) Me: Well, this is such a weird departure for you, I hardly know where to begin with this interview. Myself: You could start where you usually do. Or not. Me: I could, but I think I'll start with where this came from. Where on earth did you get the idea for this book? Myself: Well, once I finished Out of Time, I started kicking around ideas for the next book. This "kicking" involved watching Stargate Atlantis-- Me: You were researching book ideas by watching television? Myself: Um...yeah. Me: Okay...so how did that work for you? Myself: Well, not so good at first. I started getting ideas for Atlantis and not my book. It got so bad, I decided to write my idea down, just to get it out of my head. It was pretty pointless, since I didn't own the rights to write anything about these characters. Me: And how did that work for you? Myself: Well, one hundred pages later...not at all. But I liked the character I'd created that did belong to me, so I decided to try to migrate her to a story I did have the right to write. I tried different approaches. I even tried to take her out of the science/fantasy world, but she had some special things about her that belonged in a fantasy type world, so I pressed forward and suddenly the story just clicked. Me: Were you able to use much of your 100 pages? Myself: Not as much as I would have liked. (sigh) But just getting a great character was worth it, IMHO. I love everything about this character. She's pretty much everything I'm not. (grin) Me: There's something else...different about this book, right? Myself: (sigh) Yes. It's...long. By the time it is for sale, it might not be as long, but it is longer than any book I've ever written. I didn't mean to do that. It just...happened. Me: It just...happened? It had nothing to do with you typing, oh, too many words? Myself: No, it just happened. I'm too lazy to type too many words. Me: Right. So, moving on, this book, does it contain your signature humor mixed with your signature peril? Myself: Absolutely. My early readers tell me that they are glad about that, too. I had a lot of fun with the setting, with the characters, even with some of the names. Me: How do you have fun with names? Myself: Well, the story is set in another galaxy, so I had to make up all kinds of names. When I could, I had fun with that, but it was also kind of hard. Me: Does your galaxy have its own language? Myself: No. I didn't want to go there. I'm lucky I know MY language, no way I could make up another one. Clearly this isn't a book for hard core science fiction readers, unless they are also able to get a bit whacky and have fun--and are able to do without the science component. Me: Why did you leave the science out of the science fiction? Myself: You just had to ask, didn't you? (sigh) Basically, science is my worst subject. Even ahead of math. Way ahead. I bought a book about world building and right away knew I was in trouble. They wanted me to do math AND science! So, if you want a meticulously researched book, this isn't it. I made it ALL up. It's all fiction. Me: There's a funny story about your character, isn't there? Myself: You know there is. Sara Donovan, my main character can seriously kick butt. Well, one day I was channeling her, trying to get her walk down. I had to go get the mail. Some guys were working on a roof across from the mail box and I guess I was walking like I thought she'd walk and I got whistled at. It was pretty funny. Of course, they were too far away to see how old I was--or they'd probably have fallen off the roof. Me: You channeled Sara a lot, didn't you? Is this typical for you? Myself: I usually get pretty deep in my characters, but this deep has only happened to me twice. The other time was Pig in a Park and I thought that was because the book was first person. But Sara clearly wanted this story told.
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Reviews
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Tahoma"><font face="Tahoma" size="3">"Dang! That's what Sara Donovan would say. What a ride! Pauline Baird Jones has ventured where she's never ventured before, and I'm on pleased, satisfied reader who tagged along with <em>The Key's</em> characters for the ride of a lifetime. Dang! A US Top Gun, a woman, is part of a mission to another galaxy where three factions are looking for the key to the secrets of a lost civilization. Sara is shot down and rescued by a seriously hot alien pilot, with dreads, who's stranded on the same small planet. The rescuere, Fyn, becomes the rescued when Sara's team picks them up--but they both have secrets, secrets that can destroy the love the grows between them and promises to rescue them both. <em>The Key </em>is full of believable military, flying and combat lingo and characters. Sara Donovan never slips out of character. In fact, she never blinks. Oh, and if you happen to be male and read the words 'throw down," run away. If you read the word 'nice," read faster. You won't be sorry. Neither will anyone else who reads <em>The Key. </em><a href="http://www.sharonkgarner.com/">Sharon K. Garner</a>, Author of Sanctuary </font> </font></p> <span style="font-family:Tahoma;"></span><p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Tahoma"><font face="Tahoma" size="3"> <a href="http://www.novelspot.net"></a>"I don't remember how I discovered Pauline Baird Jones' books but I do know that once I did, I made a concentrated effort to get my hands on a copy of each release. The thing is, living in Canada, her books aren't easily available to me and it takes time and effort to find copies. It was well worth it. Pauline is one of those authors who keep getting better and better with each book. Take, "<em>The Key</em>," her newest release; I started reading it on Friday night and had it finished in the early hours of Saturday. I just gulped it down. Then on Sunday, I started over again and savored it over a period of three days. It was even better the second time around. The story is a romantic suspense like all her books, but it's also a science fiction. As far as I'm concerned this is her best book yet. The characters are well developed and likeable. The setting is intresting and the story line very imaginative. In fact, I sincerely hope she's planning on making a series starting Sara and Kiernan. I can't wait to see what happens to them next. I highly recommend this book to everyone; whether you like romance, science-fiction or suspense, you're covered. It's an excellent read and if you're like me, you'll be clamoring for more." Michele Dube</font></font></p>