All my books are enrolled at half-price,
so go check them out!
Starts Sunday (Leap Day)

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/754372

Smashwords Summer/Winter Book Sale!

ALL MY BOOKS ARE HALF-PRICE 

THROUGHOUT JULY, 2016

AT SMASHWORDS

SEE THEM ALL HERE:

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/TermiteWriter

CLICK ON THE BOOKS YOU WANT

AND USE THE COUPON CODE AT CHECK-OUT!

IT'S SO SIMPLE A TERMITE COULD DO IT!

Read an E-Book Week (March 6-12) - Special Prices on Smashwords

I've made all my books 50% off on Smashwords

for the period of March 6-12.

The purchase page will give you a discount coupon to use when paying. 

Imagine getting both volumes of The Termite Queen for only $3.00! 

-- or all seven volumes of The Labors of Ki'shto'ba Huge-Head for only $7.00!

Or if you're not ready to commit to the series, 

get started with v.1 The War of the Stolen Mother for only $1.50.  

See all my books at 

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/TermiteWriter

TermiteWriter Is Being Interviewed on Internet Radio!

Annette Rochelle Aben kindly invited me to be interviewed on her program "Tell Me a Story" on the internet radio channel "The Magic Happens."  The interview will be live at 1:30 pm EDT, or you can access the Archive after the program airs.  Here's the URL for both the live broadcast and the Archive:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/themagichappens/2015/10/23/termite-writer-lorinda-j-taylor-on-tell-me-a-story

There is also a Facebook event running simultaneously.  The URL for this is

https://www.facebook.com/events/102978683396844/ 

Furthermore

I've made the ebooks of both volumes of The Termite Queen and 

v.1 of The Labors of Ki'shto'ba Huge-Head (The War of the Stolen Mother)

only 99 cents

at both Amazon and Smashwords from today through Oct. 25!

So you have no excuse not to get acquainted with my writings!

Here are links for all Amazon outlets for the three books:

The Termite Queen, v.1: http://bookshow.me/B007RFYSWC

The Termite Queen, v.2: http://bookshow.me/B0084NKIR0

The War of the Stolen Mother:  http://bookshow.me/B008PGVGIG

I hope you'll join Annette and me!  I'll try hard not to bore you!

Third Summer Special: The Termite Queen, v.2

ATTENTION!

ALL SUMMER LONG

I'LL BE HAVING WEEKEND 99-CENT SPECIALS ON MY EBOOKS!

WATCH THIS SPACE TO LEARN WHICH TITLE

IS BEING FEATURED THIS WEEK!

 

You missed out on v.1 The Speaking of the Dead

but the regular price is only $2.99

which is quite reasonable.

Volume 2 completes the novel

(this is not a series!)

 

JUNE 6-9
THE TERMITE QUEEN, v.2:
THE WOUND THAT HAS NO HEALING

 

Ki'shto'ba Huge-Head and the Seer
Kwi'ga'ga'tei receive The Speaking
of the Dead in the opening chapter.

PURCHASE FROM AMAZON, AMAZON UK,
SMASHWORDS, BARNES & NOBLE,

AND OTHER ONLINE EBOOKSELLERS
ALSO ON SCRIBD

SYNOPSIS

 

"In The Termite Queen: Volume One: The Speaking of the Dead, the death of a specimen of intelligent giant termite impels a team of scientists to mount a new expedition to the alien planet where the specimen was captured. During the voyage out, the linguistic anthropologist Kaitrin Oliva and the expedition's chief, the entomologist Griffen Gwidian, fall in love and form a union, after which Prf. Gwidian begins to exhibit some troubling changes of mood and behavior. Meanwhile, on the alien planet, civil discord is brewing among the termites; Mo'gri'ta'tu, the Queen's Chamberlain, hatches a plot to murder the Holy Seer Kwi'ga'ga'tei, a plot foiled only by the sudden reappearance of the Flying Monster.

"In Volume Two, the team arrives at the planet to a combative reception, but, aided by Kaitrin's insights into the termites' unique language, the "Star-Beings" and the Shshi are soon communicating and learning to know each other. The Shshi accept Kaitrin as a friend and even come to revere her as the Mother of her people. Meanwhile, Griffen's inexplicable insecurities escalate, while the dastardly Mo'gri'ta'tu continues to foment conspiracies. Ultimately, the two plotlines intersect in an explosive climax, after which the team must return to Earth and try to come to terms with what they have experienced."

 

AUTHOR'S COMMENTS

 

 I got my idea for a species of intelligent termites way back in the 1970s when I first saw the documentary "Mysterious Castles of Clay," about the African fungus-growing, castle-building termite. At the time I was writing heroic fantasy, but I was reading a good deal of science fiction and I was struck by the idea that an intelligent lifeform might evolve from similar insects on another planet. They would retain many of their social insect characteristics while developing a language that humans would be unable to accesss. A specimen of this lifeform would be brought back to Earth and a female linguistic anthropologist would discern that it was intelligent and learn to communicate with it. When I returned to writing in 2000 after a long hiatus, I still had this idea in the back of my mind and I decided to pursue it. The Termite Queen (a 2v. novel) was the result.

 

EXCERPTS FROM REVIEWS OF VOL.2

"The technology is there, but doesn't take center stage. Taylor gives just enough description of this far future world, its technology and history to set the stage; then lets her characters act out the story. It really is the story of people -- humans and off-worlders alike -- engaged in the whole gamut of sophont existence. From the highs of the quest for new knowledge to the depths of jealousy and hatred of what is not understood, Taylor gives us a well and rather tightly woven web of story." --Chris Brown

"Yes, it is a long story, but I found it to be interesting and thought provoking all the way through.
I disagree with other reviewers regarding having the Shshi and Human stories separated -- I felt that they both complemented and contrasted each other -- plus, gave a very satisfactory end to the two book series, with little or no loose ends left dangling.
I also liked the way the next series of books were introduced near the end of this story - can't wait to get into those! [The Labors of Ki'shto'ba Huge-Head]" -- Chris Graham

"Though the author modestly characterizes TQ as literary Sci-Fi, the description doesn't begin to capture the full flavor of Taylor's accomplishment. Rather, in TQ V 1 and 2 the author serves up a tome that crosses genres as easily as her intergalactic cast of characters crosses from real time space travel to temporal quantum space travel and back again. In fact, the complete TQ saga is part traditional love story, part epic adventure tale richly seasoned with mythic and religious overtones, as well as copious references to literary classics (each chapter is introduced by a literary epigraph). That said, it is not incidental that Taylor's epic is set in the thirtieth century (2969--2971). Hardcore Sci-fi aficionados will appreciate that Taylor's literary recipe includes science so convincingly researched and/or fabricated as to concoct a perfectly plausible and believable future." -- JackAUrquhart

Second Summer Special: The Termite Queen

ATTENTION!

ALL SUMMER LONG

I'LL BE HAVING WEEKEND 99-CENT SPECIALS ON MY EBOOKS!

WATCH THIS SPACE TO LEARN WHICH TITLE

IS BEING FEATURED THIS WEEK!

 

So ... you missed out on the 99-cent special on

Monster Is in the Eye of the Beholder.

Shucks!

But the regular price is only $1.99,
so it still won't break your budget!

 

MAY 30-JUNE 2

THE TERMITE QUEEN, v.1:

THE SPEAKING OF THE DEAD

JUNE 6-9
THE TERMITE QUEEN, v.2:
THE WOUND THAT HAS NO HEALING

 

PURCHASE FROM AMAZON, AMAZON UK,
SMASHWORDS, BARNES & NOBLE,

AND OTHER ONLINE EBOOKSELLERS
ALSO ON SCRIBD

SYNOPSIS
 

"In the 30th century, an off-world expedition returns to Earth with a specimen of giant termite whose behavior suggests intelligence. Kaitrin Oliva, a strong-willed and ambitious young linguistic anthropologist, is charged with finding a way to access its unique form of bioelectric communication. However, the insect dies and the team members realize too late that they have unintentionally murdered an intelligent lifeform. A second expedition is mounted with the purpose of making first contact and reparations. Griffen Gwidian, the entomologist heading the expedition, is a complex man with a dark personal secret. He falls in love with Kaitrin and against her better instincts Kaitrin responds. The result is a love story by turns turbulent and funny, passionate, tender, and troubled. Meanwhile, civil discord is brewing on the termite planet. Mo’gri’ta’tu, the Queen’s Chamberlain, resents the power of the Holy Seer Kwi’ga’ga’tei and plots to assassinate her. She has engaged the services of an outland Champion, Ki’shto’ba Huge-Head, to fight this terrifying entity which has descended on them from the skies, murdered one of the fortress’s citizens, and abducted another. This alienates the aging Commander Hi’ta’fu the Unconquered, who is lured by the word-crafty Chamberlain into joining the conspiracy. At the very moment that the murder is about to be committed, the second expedition arrives at the planet … Discover the conclusion of the adventure in "The Termite Queen: Volume Two: The Wound That Has No Healing."

 

AUTHOR'S COMMENT



 I got my idea for a species of intelligent termites way back in the 1970s when I first saw the documentary "Mysterious Castles of Clay," about the African fungus-growing, castle-building termite.  At the time I was writing heroic fantasy, but I was reading a good deal of science fiction and I was struck by the idea that an intelligent lifeform might evolve from similar insects on another planet.  They would retain many of their social insect characteristics while developing a language that humans would be unable to accesss.  A specimen of this lifeform would be brought back to Earth and a female linguistic anthropologist would discern that it was intelligent and learn to communicate with it.  When I returned to writing in 2000 after a long hiatus, I still had this idea in the back of my mind and I decided to pursue it.  The Termite Queen (a 2v. novel) was the result.

 

EXCERPTS FROM REVIEWS OF VOLUME ONE

 

"Author Lorinda Taylor takes the reader 1000 years into the future where planet Earth is radically changed by wars, pollution, revolutions, political upheavals, dark ages, and technology. Despite all, human society remains resilent and progressive. Humans remain human, with all their foibles and insecurities, striving for knowledge and understanding, having an abiding need for love. ... The inquisitive mind will find this an irresistible and intoxicating tale." -- Termite Tim [Timothy Myles, entomologist]

 

"Really great story, characterizations, plot, and brilliant descriptions of how language works. For all of these very positive reasons, I encourage any reader who is not daunted by the length, to jump in and purchase both volumes of Lorinda Taylor's great science fiction tale." -- Marva Dasef

 

"Volume 1 of The Termite Queen has a compelling story. As a lifelong fan of Asimov, I appreciate Lorinda Taylor's focus on one aspect her future rather the sensory overwhelm that is cyberpunk. The science in question is linguistics. The rapidity with which Our Heroine discovers the Big Secret is a bit unrealistic but excusable in lieu of 100 pages of slow and detailed linguistic analysis. The use of substitute sounds was brilliant. The romance plot did not engage me as much as the science, but that's a fault that lies in me, not in Lorinda's stars. The aliens are based on termites, and think like termites, not people. That's good." -- Marcus (Goodreads) 

 

Attention! Summer Specials!

ATTENTION!

 

ALL SUMMER LONG

I'LL BE HAVING WEEKEND 99-CENT SPECIALS ON MY EBOOKS!

WATCH THIS SPACE TO LEARN WHICH TITLE

IS BEING FEATURED THIS WEEK!

 

MAY 23-26

MONSTER IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER (novella)

PURCHASE FROM AMAZON, AMAZON UK, 
SMASHWORDS, BARNES & NOBLE,

AND OTHER ONLINE EBOOKSELLERS
ALSO ON SCRIBD

 

 

SYNOPSIS

"In this dark and edgy first-contact story, a team of anthropologists discovers a species of truly bizarre intelligent lifeforms called the Kal. The team consists of the leader, an experienced, highly respected female Professor of Xenoanthropology and Linguistics; a young female biomedical specialist; and a still younger male, an expert in alien artifacts. Each team member reacts in a different way to the Kal, building toward a disturbing climax and a conclusion with an unsettling twist of perspective."

 

AUTHOR'S COMMENT

This was the first book I wrote after I recommenced writing in the year 2000.  I had just bought my first computer and it made writing so much easier!  I had a very bizarre dream -- something that could have been terrifying, but instead it conveyed an aura of peace and light and provoked only curiosity and wonder.  I jumped out of bed and rushed to the computer and wrote down the dream before I could forget it, and I knew immediately that I had to write a story based on it.  "Monster Is in the Eye of the Beholder" was the result.  It was also the first piece I published when I began self-publishing, because it was short and made a good learning object.

 

 

EXTRACTS FROM REVIEWS

 

"Lorinda J. Taylor's imaginative and entertaining science-fiction novella, Monster Is in the Eye of the Beholder, reminded this reader of Mary Doria Russell's The Sparrow (1996). Both works are first-contact stories that turn on what happens when human beings, acting with best intentions, behave in ways that cause catastrophic damage. Doria Russell and Taylor both explore the nature of good and evil, cultural difference, and prejudice, and both choose to tell their stories, for the most part, in framed flashbacks." -- Jack A. Urquhart

 

"I literally said 'Wow' out loud when I finished this book! Before I started it I had thought it was going to be a bit hard going, but it wasn't at all, it was very readable. I sat down on a Sunday afternoon thinking I would make a start reading the first few pages, but as it turned out I couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting. It's shocking and compelling, and has a moral message, but it's one that feels incidental rather than the story being contrived to bring out the moral point.
I've never read anything quite like this and it's not a story I'm going to forget in a hurry." -- Vanessa-Jane Chapman

 

"Stylistically, the work evokes what I would call "classic SF" writing and pacing. The early works of Ursula K. LeGuin come most prominently to mind--something like The Left Hand of Darkness." -- Athena Brigitte [Katherine Anthony]

 

"The Kal are among the most innovative and unexpected aliens I have ever encountered in sci-fi. None the less, this is not "gadget fiction"; as is generally the case with the best science fiction tales, it's the human side of the story which takes center stage, and that story is both believable and moving.
Get it, and read it -- you won't regret it! (And you won't forget it, either, not for a very long time!)" -- Christian Daddy [Stephen Lawrence]

 



Price Reduction on The Termite Queen!

TUESDAY, MAY 7, THROUGH MONDAY, MAY 13

EACH VOLUME OF THE TERMITE QUEEN WILL BE ONLY 99 CENTS

ON AMAZON KINDLE AND ON SMASHWORDS!

 

Purchase at these links:

Amazon Kindle, v.1

Amazon Kindle, v.2

Smashwords, v.1 (for all e-formats)

Smashwords, v.2 (for all e-formats)

 

I'm hoping that this special price will inspire some new readers to discover The Termite Queen and will give those who have read only v.1 an opportunity to get v.2 at a discount.  Take advantage of this offer while you can, because I doubt it will come again soon! 
And you can buy both volumes at once for the incredibly low price of $1.98!  What else can you buy for $1.98 that will provide you with so many hours of stimulating reading?

 

Here is the description of v.2, which also covers v.1:

 

Volume Two

       In The Termite Queen, v.1, the death of a specimen of intelligent giant termite impels a team of scientists to mount a new expedition to the alien planet where the specimen was captured. During the voyage out, the linguistic anthropologist Kaitrin Oliva and the expedition's chief, the entomologist Griffen Gwidian, fall in love and form a union, after which Prf. Gwidian begins to exhibit some troubling changes of mood and behavior. Meanwhile, on the alien planet, civil discord is brewing among the termites; Mo'gri'ta'tu, the Queen's Chamberlain, hatches a plot to murder the Holy Seer Kwi'ga'ga'tei, a plot foiled only by the sudden reappearance of the Flying Monster.
       In Volume Two, the team arrives at the planet to a combative reception, but, aided by Kaitrin's insights into the termites' unique language, the "Star-Beings" and the Shshi are soon communicating and learning to know each other. The Shshi accept Kaitrin as a friend and even come to revere her as the Mother of her people. Meanwhile, Griffen's inexplicable insecurities escalate, while the dastardly Mo'gri'ta'tu continues to foment conspiracies. Ultimately, the two plotlines intersect in an explosive climax, after which the team must return to Earth and try to come to terms with what they have experienced.

 

Quotations from 5-star reviews:

v.1:  "In the Termite Queen, author Lorinda Taylor takes the reader 1000 years into the future where planet Earth is radically changed by wars, pollution, revolutions, political upheavals, dark ages, and technology. Despite all, human society remains resilent and progressive. Humans remain human, with all their foibles and insecurities, striving for knowledge and understanding, having an abiding need for love.  ...  The inquisitive mind will find this an irresistible and intoxicating tale."

v.2: "Taylor gives just enough description of this far future world, its technology and history to set the stage; then lets her characters act out the story. It really is the story of people -- humans and off-worlders alike -- engaged in the whole gamut of sophont existence. From the highs of the quest for new knowledge to the depths of jealousy and hatred of what is not understood, Taylor gives us a well and rather tightly woven web of story.  ...  Altogether, I'd say that both volumes of Termite Queen constitute a good read and I highly recommend it."