Read the Scintillating Conclusion of The Splintered Universe Trilogy

Nina's much anticipated third book of her Splintered Universe Trilogy is now out!

In Metaverse (Pixl Press), the third and final book of The Splintered Universe Trilogy (Starfire World Syndicate), renegade Galactic Guardian Rhea Hawke travels back to Earth to convince an eccentric mystic to help her defend humanity from an impending Vos attack. Of course, things don't go as planned for Rhea in her unlawful quest. She finds herself trapped in a deception that promises to change her and her two worlds forever.

Metaverse was released in print form March 10th, 2014 and is available on Amazon and other quality bookstores. The Kindle version of Metaverse was released by Pixl Press for download on April 12, 2014.




Cover Art by Aurora-finalist Costi Gurgu

Natural Selection by Nina Munteanu Eligible for Aurora Award

Nina Munteanu's short story collection about evolution Natural Selection is eligible for an Aurora Award.

Described by Canadian editor and author Steve Stanton as a "fine showcase of gritty and powerful short fiction" in which "the author envisions a bleak future of warfare and scarcity as she entertains some interesting ideas from the fringe of science."

The Aurora Award is given by the members of the Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Association to works deemed the best for that year. Publications in 2013 will be awarded this year.  Nominations are open until April 12th for any Canadian wishing to celebrate excellence in Canadian science fiction and fantasy literature.

Find out how to nominate your favourite works in this genre by going to the Prix Aurora Award website or visit them on Facebook.

You can read five of Nina's short stories, which appear in the collection, in various online venues:

The Arc of Time
A Butterfly in Peking
Julia's Gift
Mark of a Genius
Neither Here Nor There

Natural Selection Imaginative SF Written With Flare and a Conscience

A recent review in Amazon.ca called Nina Munteanu's Natural Selection a shining light:


"I've decided I really like the short story collection format. It's like unwrapping a new gift every day! Natural Selection is a collection of imaginative science fiction stories written with flare and a conscience. Munteanu shines a light on human evolution and how the choices we do or don't make today, may impact our planet and future generations. The science is fascinating and so are these nine short stories. The fact that Munteanu is able to explain these complex concepts through her characters in a short-story format is a testament to her skill as a writer."--J.P. McLean, author of The Gift Trilogy

Here is the back jacket description for the book:

This short story collection by acclaimed SF author and ecologist Nina Munteanu explores humanity's co-evolution with our environment and technology. A man uses cyber-eavesdropping to make love. A technocratic government uses gifted people as tools to recast humanity. The ruins of a city serve as battleground between pro-technologists and pro-naturalists. From time-space guardians to cybersex, GMO, and biotech implants, this short story collection is a journey of great scope, imagination and vision. "...a stunning example of good storytelling with an excellent setting and cast of characters."--Tangent Online

Nina Munteanu Self-Editing Workshop and "The Fiction Writer" Applauded

Nina Munteanu and the Fiction Writer

My Self-Editing Workshop and my guidebook The Fiction Writer received a very nice review from fellow writer Ace Jordyn at The Fictorians in a post entitled, “Serendipity is a WeirdMistress”.

When I attended Nina Munteanu’s one-hour presentation on revision at the When Words Collide Conference [in Calgary, August 2013] the pieces to the puzzle fell together and now revising is totally fun!

I was elated to discover that I had many of the skills and resources I needed to revise. What I lacked was structure for the task. Revising, I learned, is a ten-step process. The second step, Dig Deep, is the most exciting for it gives permission to restructure and change things to make the story better. For example, I had been toying with changing the gender of a main character but was unsure. Then, Nina said it was okay. Bingo! When I did it, I discovered that I hadn’t made the original character as strong and unique as I thought – there were trite mannerisms and stereotypical reactions I had subconsciously written. Why should a female wail and a male not? Or did I want either of them wailing? Was that the reaction I wanted? Of course not! Out with the stereotypes, in with more concrete characters and writing. It’s given me a whole new perspective as I examine all my characters.

The other helpful thing about the book is that Nina has a good succinct information on things important to telling a good story such as an overview of the hero’s journey, using the metaphor, getting sensual, the Zen of passionate writing and more. Simply and succinctly written, The FictionWriter: Get Published, Write Now is an excellent resource which has helped me get my writing to the next level. Simply written (I don’t have the patience for long dissertations), it makes its points quickly on essential things such as the hero’s journey, using the metaphor, getting sensual, the Zen of passionate writing and more.

Thanks, Ace, for a wonderful testimonial! Hope to see you again at When Words Collide next year.

I teach a self-editing and revision course online. You can also purchase my short guide to self-editing and revisions for only $2.99 on Amazon.com. The guide consists of several papers I've written for various venues on the subject of self-editing and revisions. You can read one of the articles here. Learn more about the series of 12+ guides for writers called "What Writers Need to Know Series". 

Best Wishes,

Nina

Nina Munteanu's The Journal Writer Reviewed in Romania

The following excerpts are from a review of Nina Munteanu's The Journal Writer: Finding Your Voice was posted on June 10, 2013 by eumiealmeu in Burcurii on Despre sufletul meu (About my soul) in Romania:

“Primul capitol este perfect pentru adolescenți, mai ales pentru cei care pot fi recuperați din activități destructive, prin intermediul scrisului sau pentru cei care au talent spre scris.” 

(“The first chapter is perfect for teenagers, especially for those who may be recovering from the destructive activities in writing or for those who have a talent for writing.”)

Scriitorul de Jurnal este “O carte care adună mai multe detalii de la

fiecare și vă ajută să găsiți noi posibilități de exprimare! Merită luată, pentru că nu e scumpă. Dacă ar fi scumpă, v-aș împrumuta-o eu! Manualul de scriere creativă al aceleiași autoare este interesant 100%!”

The Journal Writer is "A book that gathers details from various resources and helps you to find new ways of expression! It is worthwhile, and not expensive. If it would be, my dear, I'd give it to me! (The creative writing manual by Nina Munteanu (The Fiction Writer) is 100% interesting!”

Plan to Garden and Garden to Plan

"Can I get under the fence?"

When my family and I settled into our new house in Delta, I happily noticed the raspberry bushes in the rectangular garden by the house and dreamed of the berries I could eat with my breakfast cereal. Those bushes that promised bounty soon delivered more frustration than I’d anticipated. The lawn was a little too narrow for my mower to make a single pass between the garden and the fence. And my coveted berries were also coveted by my always ravenous Labrador Retriever, who always beat me to the ripe ones. I hated getting mad at my sweet Labrador for doing what came naturally to her: forage and eat. The whole garden thing was turning into a challenging case of anger management.

I decided to fix the breakfast issue and treat my anger management in one full sweep by transplanting the bushes to the other side of the fence, where the dog couldn’t reach. I recycled some sod from a new garden I created to fill in the  large rectangular plot of dirt left by the raspberry bushes.  It was a cool and seamless move of mutual benefit.

I was no longer mad at my Labrador, I could mow the lawn easily and I enjoyed my breakfasts of raspberries on my cereal. Even the raspberry bushes were happier in their new location.  I am not sure the dog was so happy as she looked at me with forlorn eyes through the fence as I picked the berries.

When I became a Director with Pixl Press Canada not too long ago, I happily noticed this small press’s potential and dreamed of achieving literary excellence in publishing. We had published Nina Munteanu’s writing guidebook The Fiction Writer: Get Published, Write Now! in May 2009.  We felt it was time to update our look to match the new brand so August 2013 finds us planning a new cover for this very popular writing guide. We will be using award-winning artist Anne Moody and Aurora finalist cover designer Costi Gurgu for our brand on this excellent writing series (see the covers for The Journal Writer and Natural Selection, both by Nina Munteanu).

We’ll keep you posted once the new cover is ready.

The Journal Writer Joins The Alien Guidebook Series

Following the success of Nina Munteanu's "The Fiction Writer: Get Published, Write Now!" (Starfire World Syndicate) Nina's guidebook on how to journal and write expressively, "The Journal Writer: Finding Your Voice", was released March 25, 2013 by Pixl Press, an imprint of Starfire.

"The Journal Writer" is a comprehensive guidebook that will help writers choose the best medium, style and platform for their expressive writing. It covers what you need, how to get started and how to keep going, even when you don't feel like it. The book also guides you on issues of safety, using the computer, electronic devices, social media, and the Internet.

The cover design and artwork was done by Costi Gurgu and Anne Moody.

Costi Gurgu is an internationally acclaimed digital artist and designer and Aurora Award finalist who lives in Toronto, Canada. He has illustrated book covers, magazine and newspaper covers and feature editorials for a variety of publications since 1999. Anne Moody is an award-winning artist and scientist living in British Columbia, Canada. She considers herself "a realist, strongly tempted by abstract elements wrapped in story." The art on the cover depicts a scene in Toquart Bay, B.C.

Both "The Fiction Writer" and "The Journal Writer" were picked up by Editura Paralela 45, translated and published in Romania.

You can find "The Fiction Writer" and "The Journal Wrtiter" on Amazon.com, Amazon.ca and other affiliate amazons throughout the world, in addition to other major online booksellers such as Barnes & Noble and Chapters. Keep informed on Nina's books through Nina's Amazon Page.