Author Spotlight - Marcha Fox

I am honored to introduce you to Marcha Fox, a wonderful sci-fi writer who knows her stuff! I read her novel, Beyond the Hidden Sky, and really enjoyed it.  She is the author of many novels, but today I'm going to share with you The Terra Debacle:

Thyron is a flora peda telepathis (telepathic walking plant) from the planet Sapphira on an adventure gone terribly wrong. The bad decision of a human girl and her maniacal robot companion has stranded them on Earth, where his botanical cousins face horrible fates such as consumption by herbivores, incineration, and brutal annihilation for use as building material.

Following capture, Thyron is transported to Area 51, where NASA exobiologist, Gabe Greenley, studies his every move, ecstatic with the opportunity to examine an entirely new lifeform. In due course, the scientist makes a ground-breaking discovery, distressed by the fact he can never share it due to his security oaths and research agreement. Eventually, he’s confronted by an even worse ethical dilemma that forces him to make a treasonous and potentially deadly decision.

Will Thyron’s psychic powers be enough to save him? Is Greenley friend or foe? Or does the exobiologist have a few secrets of his own?

Find out in this unique combination of hard science fiction, suspense, and a touch of humor populated with memorable characters in a setting loaded with intrigue. Unexpected plot twists coupled with a unique ending make this an unforgettable tale whether you’re a science fiction fan, botanist, UFO aficionado, or simply enjoy a good story.

Doesn't it sound like a great read? I wanted to give you a little bit more insight on Marcha's mindset. Here is a piece where she share her love of words:

Fun with Words

If you've ever watched the popular TV show, "The Big Bang Theory", you have probably seen one of Sheldon and Amy's episodes of "Fun with Flags." Well, here's an author's variation on that I'll call "Fun with Words."

I do have an ulterior motive, however. An expansive vocabulary opens up a world unseen; one that's inaccessible without the words to express it. I'm one of those crazy people who will occasionally read the dictionary. I swear I'm not making this up. Besides, if I look up a word, I always read several other definitions while I'm in there. My dictionary is within arm's reach whenever I'm on the computer, notwithstanding the availability of a spellchecker. Old habits die hard.

Another book of words that I found charming, as it brought me numerous laughs as well, is "The Superior Person's Book of Words" by Peter Bowler. This book contains many words that have been dropped from the conventional dictionary for lack of use or no longer applicable. However, if you're an Anglophile, you can have a tremendous amount of fun discovering words you didn't know existed, many of which have hilarious definitions.

Bowler's premise is that baffling people with unfamiliar words makes you superior, reinforcing the idea of vocabulary and intelligence being related. Furthermore, it's useful for insulting people in such a way they don't recognize it a slam for what it is and will often even thank you. There's even a name for that:

Charientism n., An elegantly veiled insult.

Words are the tools of my trade. I value them, but also find them entertaining. Here are a few more from Bowler's book:

hebetate v. To grow dull or stupid

rejectamenta n. Things that have been rejected

lucripetous a. Money-hungry

acerebral a. Without a brain

gerontocracy n. Government by old men

virago n. A fierce, bad-tempered woman

You have to admit, if you were in 5th grade and given such words to use in a sentence that it would be tremendous fun. Even as an adult, I'm sure you can think of numerous circumstances where having such words on the tip of your tongue would have come in handy.

Finding humor in words not only makes expanding your own vocabulary a blast, but is a way to encourage youth to do so as well. Even kids in elementary school can have fun in this way, a discovery that could make a difference in their appreciation of language for the rest of their life.

Try it--you'll like it.

I hope you've enjoy this and will learn more about Marcha Fox and her books!

AUTHOR BIO:

MarchaFox is an avid science fiction fan and author with over 20 years’ experience in positions ranging from technical writer to engineer to manager at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in physics, which was but a prelude to her interest in the unexplained mysteries of the cosmos. Inspired by science fiction to pursue a career in a technical field, she hopes to instill the same fascination in young readers, while providing older ones with classic hard science fiction.

Born in Peekskill, New York she has lived in California, Utah and Texas in the course of raising her family, which included fifteen years as a stay-at-home mom before returning to college in her 30s to obtain her degree, a feat accomplished while she still had six children at home. All are now grown with children of their own providing her with 17 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren so far. Never at a loss for something to do, besides writing she’ a professional astrologer who enjoys gardening, her two Bengal cats and a sassy tuxedo, and keeping up with family.

Twitter:@startrailsiv

Facebook:  @marchafoxauthor

Website: https://www.startrailssaga.com