Thursday, April 14, 2011

7 Reasons Geeky Heroes are More Fun - Guest post with Encrypted Author - Lindsay Buroker

Hello,

I’ve been given the opportunity to guest post and talk about my latest novel, a
science-fantasy romance called Encrypted. Rather than just blabbing about the
story, I thought I’d tell you a bit about the characters, and why they’re fun.

The heroine is a philology professor who takes up cryptography to help her people
survive a war. The hero is an engineer and a military strategist who disobeys
questionable orders and ends up exiled. In short, my main characters are both
geeks. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Why? Geeks are fun to write (and read) about. Not convinced? Let me see if I can sell
it….

7 Reasons Geeky Heroes Are More Fun

1. They come up with unorthodox solutions to problems.

What, you’ve never seen a hero use the laws of thermal expansion to break locks
and escape cells? Hey, there’s a limit to how many times characters can fool guards
into helping them escape by claiming someone in the cell is sick. Do we really think
those guards would care anyway?

2. They fall in love because they share common interests and outlooks on life, not because the other one is model-gorgeous, ridiculously rich, or especially well-endowed.

I hope I’m not alone in believing it’s more fun seeing people connect for logical,
satisfying reasons instead of just “because he’s hot, she’s hot, and the author wants
them to.”

3. They trip, fall, and drop things--sometimes all at once--when they’re trying to be suave (or just in general).

Not only can many readers relate to these klutzy moments, but they provide ample
opportunities for chuckles.

4. They find creative uses for uncreative things.

What, you’ve never knocked an icicle off a building to halt a chemically-crazed wolf
trying to kill your comrade? You need to think outside of the box, my friend.

5. They have more interesting pillow talk.

Geeks are so passionate about their interests that they’ll talk about them anywhere,
whether it’s appropriate or not. Who wants to read “I never knew it could be
so good” for the umpteenth time? More fun to discuss plans for future geekery
together.

6. They had precocious childhoods.

This makes things more entertaining when it’s time for our love interests to get to
know each other by relaying the inevitable tales of youth. Instead of playing with
balls or dolls, our geeky heroes designed tree houses with drawbridges, defended by
steam-powered potato launchers, of course.

7. They excel at solving puzzles.

So, what, you ask? Well, when geeks get kidnapped, it’s so someone can put them
to good use, such as…oh, I don’t know….making them decipher codes and alien
languages while daring creepy monster- and machine-filled tunnels. Compare this
to boring old princes and princesses who only get kidnapped to be held for ransom.
Yawn.

While geeks may not be for everyone, I maintain they’re fun to read about, and I’m
not just biased because I am one (okay, I am). If you have a fondness for brainy
characters, please check out Encrypted.

You can also visit me at my e-publishing blog or at take a peep at Kindle Geeks,
where I write about interesting science fiction, fantasy, and non-fiction ebooks,
always with an eye toward pleasing the geeks!

Thanks for reading!


Blurb for the book:
Professor Tikaya Komitopis isn’t a great beauty, a fearless warrior, or even someone who can walk and
chew chicle at the same time, but her cryptography skills earn her wartime notoriety. When enemy
marines show up at her family’s plantation, she expects the worst. But they’re not there to kill her.
They need her to decode mysterious runes, and they ask for help in the manner typical of a conquering
empire: they kidnap her, threaten her family, and throw her in the brig of their fastest steamship.

Her only ally is a fellow prisoner who charms her with a passion for academics as great as her own.
Together, they must decipher mind-altering alchemical artifacts, deadly poison rockets, and malevolent
technological constructs, all while dodging assassination attempts from a rival power determined the
expedition should fail. As if Tikaya didn’t have troubles enough, her new ally turns out to be exiled fleet
admiral, Federias Starcrest, the man who recommended taking over her nation. To trust him could be
a mistake; to fall in love with him would be a betrayal to her people, her family, and the fiancé she lost
in the war. Those runes cloak more than mysteries, however, and he may be the only one who can help
her unravel them before their secrets destroy the world.

Thank you Lindsay for the post!  I must admit that I do love a geeky hero.  It seems to me that they find a unique way to get out of situations.

The giveaway attached with this blog tour:
Now for the fun part!  The author is giving away a $25.00 gift certificate to one person who leave comments on this blog tour.  You can visit the other pages and leave comments there, in fact, the more you comment, the better your chances are for winning!   Here is the link to take you to the participating blogs: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2011/03/virtual-book-tour-encrypted-by-lindsay.html.    Leave your comment at this blog below at the end of the post.

4 comments:

  1. I totally agree! A geeky hero is fantastic, what makes a fantastic hero/heroine is their "soul" and their mind....if they happen to look great...it's just a plus!

    Thanks for the contest!

    junegirl63(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you for posting this, Lisa!

    You tell 'em, Maria! Geek love. :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Great post- 1 and pillow talk are my faves!
    Brandi from Blkosiner’s Book Blog

    ReplyDelete
  4. Fun guest post! I like geeky heroines/heroes!

    truebookaddictATgmailDOTcom

    ReplyDelete

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