What is an author's voice - by Vijaya Schartz

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Unknowingly, what we usually like about an author is the voice. But voice is not style, or grammar, or the way an author strings the words together. Voice is more personal. It’s the way authors look at the world and how they share their own perspective with the reader.

It’s not just the words they use, but the subtle details they point out for you to notice. It’s the small things they describe that reveal so much about a character. It’s how they set the mood for a scene, the details they choose to describe when they introduce the setting.

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Let’s consider the master. Stephen King mastered the spooky genre, because he knows how to manipulate the reader. There are so many odd things in the haunted house, but he will describe everything as simple and ordinary… except for one tiny little detail, almost insignificant, but very disturbing. It could be a stopped clock, a drop of blood on a rug, a faint smell that doesn’t belong, a weird or unfamiliar sound.

Depending on the particular genre of your novel, these details will vary.

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I remember as a very green writer decades ago, submitting short stories to magazines. One editor who liked my story gave me some feedback that always stayed with me. My protagonist opened a closet to grab a pair of boots, and the editor mentioned I had missed a golden opportunity to define that character for the reader.

The editor wanted to know what else was in the closet. It would tell her what kind of person the protagonist was. Surf boards and roller skates? Warm shawls and sweaters? Tennis racquets? Military uniforms? Work uniforms? Cocktail dresses, Sports teams memorabilia? Was it neat or messy? I never forgot that simple comment and learned so much from it.

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Over the years, I have learned a lot about my writing from editors and readers. Knowing what you write also can help in promoting your work. I'm a positive, happy person, a problem solver, and it reflects in my novels. I write tight and make no apology for it. Straight to the point. And all my books are fast reads.

I was accused once of being too wholesome in my novels. I take it as a compliment, as this was my goal. At the end of my novels, I want the readers to feel good about the resolution, the characters, and about themselves. Justice has been served, the villains have been punished, and the universe is a safer and better place... for now at least.

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My heroes and heroines are not perfect, but they thrive to be better. They are brave, sometimes fierce, willing to face overwhelming odds against a higher power, willing to sacrifice themselves to save innocent victims. I do not kill my protagonists at the end. My novels are upbeat, fast-paced, action-packed, sometimes epic. And if you shed a tear or two, don't worry, it will all be worth it at the end.

Happy Reading!

Vijaya Schartz, award-winning author

Kick-butt Sci-fi Heroines, cats, romantic elements

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Valentine’s Day weekend signing books for the Glendale Chocolate Affaire - by Vijaya Schartz

The shirt says: I write books, what's your superpower?
Glendale, February 14-15 2026 - Chocolate Affaire
find BWL Books here
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I forgot how much fun it is to do an impromptu book signing.

Glendale AZ is always sponsoring special events. One of the most popular is the CHOCOLATE AFFAIRE, a long tradition which started with the local Cerretta Candy Factory, and taking place around Valentine’s Day.

2013 - old covers tell the story. Chocolate on the table, of course.
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Before the pandemic, this event was held in Murphy Park, on the lawn around the old library, with vendors, food trucks, climbing towers, chocolate of course, live music, dancing, late night activities with glittering lights, and local romance writers signing their books for the duration.

2014 Chocolate Affaire Glendale, AZ
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As a member of a local authors group, I had been signing at this event since my first book was published, and I did it for many years. Then the pandemic changed everything. It became a small indoors event, geared for children, with none of the hoopla that attracted so many people, no night activities… and no authors signing their books.

2018 Chocolate Affaire, Glendale AZ
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This year, although it was still indoors and small, a well-known Antiques store (2 Share a unique boutique) decided to take advantage of the special event’s traffic and organize an author signing during these two days, in front of its entrance. The owner happened to be with us when we met with Jude in Arizona in late January, and she asked Dani Petrone and me to be the signing authors. We enthusiastically accepted.

2017 Chocolate Affaire - Glendale AZ
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After rushing to order the new titles, and Jude being wonderful as usual, making sure they would arrive on time, Dani and I filled our long table with our books. Only my latest books, to be sure (I have too many to display them all – It would take more than one table).

January 2026 Meeting with Jude (BWL), Dani Petrone, and John Hovey and his wife

On Saturday, we had a big draw and a little competition, as the window behind us was filled with lovely doggies for adoption (part of the 2 Share rescue program for working K9). Five were adopted that day. Yay!

Saturday, February 14, 2026, ready to go, with chocolate on the table.
The puppies have not arrived yet.
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We stood there, outside, from 10-11am to 5pm both days, talking to people about our books, selling a few, handing out postcards, bookmarks, and answering questions about where the Chocolate Affaire was happening, which was a few blocks away.

My latest book, CHI WARRIOR, was available there.
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Some friends came to visit and chat and buy my latest book. Dani and I were so excited, we totally forgot about lunch and survived the whole day on a single can of Coke. These two days were exhausting, but we were happy with the experience.

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The good news is, it looks like next year the Chocolate Affaire will be back in Murphy Park in all its splendor. Looking forward to the outdoors fun.

Happy Reading

Vijaya Schartz, award-winning author

Kick-butt Sci-fi Heroines, cats, romantic elements

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Cat-whipped, or The Great Christmas Tree Battle - by Vijaya Schartz

Find it at BWL HERE
Find it at your favorite online store HERE

Each holiday season, setting up the tree becomes more challenging. My cat, Pasha, is obsessed with it. After the tree is up, each day, he finds new ways to defeat my safeguards around the table where the tree stands. But I’m not worried about the ornaments I find on the carpet in the morning. No. I’m worried about the fact that he likes to chew on the branches.

Mind you, my tree is small, white, and made of recycled plastic. So, why is he so obsessed with chewing the branches? A while back, I had to get rid of fake spiky plants on my balcony… for the same reason. He liked to chew on them.

Before you judge me about the fake plants, I should mention that I live in Arizona, that all the natural plants on my balcony die each year in the heat, except for one Aloe Vera.

This is how the battle usually starts.

The cat stares at the tree, ready to jump.

I say “No!”

He glances at me then leaps anyway.

But due to my martial arts training, I happen to have quick reflexes. So, I catch the cat in midair and deposit him gently on the couch. The first time I did it, the shocked expression on his little furry face and in his rounded blue eyes was priceless. As if he’d landed in a different time zone, or through a portal to a parallel universe.

I repeated the maneuver a few times, when he wasn’t aware of my close proximity. So now, my cat thinks I have superpowers.

But this practice created a monster. Quickly, it turned into a game. Whenever Pasha wants attention… and he requires lots of it, he dares me, ready to jump on the tree table. When I catch him, he purrs loudly and gives me head bumps, and revels in my embrace.

How am I supposed to resist that? This cat is my weakness. So, he gets kisses and cuddles. Just what he wanted. I am officially cat-whipped.

If you like novels with cats and/or martial arts, with kick-butt heroines and a little romance, check out my novels at your favorite online store.

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HAPPY READING!

Vijaya Schartz, award-winning author

Kick-butt Heroines, Brave Heroes, cats, romance

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What is the CHI? Is there an unseen force pervading the entire universe? - by Vijaya Schartz

 

“Schartz has splendidly blended fact, fiction, and fantasy into an enthralling,

fast-paced story that I could not put down.”

Find it at your favorite retailer HERE

Find all my other books at: amazon - B&N - Smashwords - Kobo

Many sci-fi fantasy novels and movies claim there is a pervasive force animating the entire universe… like the “Force” in StarWars. But these imaginative writers didn’t make it up entirely. It happens to be a widely recognized concept throughout India (Shakti), Japan (Ki), continental Asia (Chi), and the Pacific Islands (Mana). Native tribes of the Americas, Australia, and other cultures believe that through meditation and purification you can get in spiritual contact with ancestors, divine teachers, or with other entities of the universe… or a parallel universe.

Many geniuses throughout history claimed to have been in contact with such entities who taught them mathematics, engineering, wisdom, etc. Leonardo Da Vinci disappeared into a cave to meditate for months at a time. Albert Einstein said he meditated each day and found inspiration in messages from beyond. Indian mathematics genius Srinivasa Ramanujan claimed his insights came from visions of divine inspiration.

Modern physicists are now considering the possibility of a universal pervasive energy, as it offers a logical explanation for many inexplicable phenomena like split cells separated and still resonating as one, even at a great distance (prick one and the other reacts to the pain). It would also explain the positive results of studies involving remote viewing, mind-reading, premonitory dreams and visions, clairvoyance, mind-to-mind communication over great distances, etc.

It can explain how a mother can lift a car to pull her child from under the wheel. Or how someone survives something unsurvivable. In case of supreme emergency, the brain sometimes remembers how to use this universal energy.

The universal symbol of the Chi energy is the Yin-Yang

In my new series, THE PROTECTORS, I call this energy the Chi, which is the recognized term throughout Asia. Most martial artists are familiar with the concept and practice meditation. It takes training and discipline to learn how to gather and focus the Chi. It’s not the hand that breaks the pile of bricks, but the amount of energy generated by the strike. Some masters can strike from across the room, sending their attacker flying, without ever touching him.

The Chi is not good or evil. It is a dynamic natural force. It takes many years of meditation, hard work, and dedication to master this energy, so most of those who know how to use it are monks with pure intentions. Wielding it as a weapon for selfish or evil purposes, however, only reveals the flawed or imperfect nature of the person using it.

Knowledge of the Chi can also be used to heal. Acupuncture is a testament to its efficiency. Nowadays, many westerners practice Tai-Chi and Chi-Kong for good health, especially in old age. These techniques have been proven beneficial by reputable medical studies (Harvard Medical School Guide to Tai-Chi).

In case you were wondering, I have been a Tai-Chi practitioner for many years, and I am now a Tai-Chi instructor in Arizona.

Front and center, Christmas 2022,
with a few of my students from the Glendale Adult Center

I hope you like Anila, my Chi Warrior.

Anila, peaceful warrior woman, trained all her life in the desert, at the monastery of the Celestial Gate, to take the vows of the mighty Protectors. That’s all she’s ever known, all she ever wanted. But a cloud of black wings haunts her nightmares.

When a barbarian horde invades from the north, Bayor Khan seems unstoppable, determined to destroy everything in his path. Rumors of his cruelty make the most powerful princes tremble in their stone fortresses.

Anila is pulled into the inevitable clash as a prophecy unfolds, blurring the lines between good and evil, testing her resolve. Nothing is as it seems… An ancient enemy rises in the shadows, and the falling darkness threatens to engulf Anila and everyone she loves.

EDITORIAL REVIEW by Victoria Chatham

If you like strong female characters, then you will not be disappointed with Anila, the protagonist in Vijaya Schartz's latest book. Anila is in training at a monastery under the watchful gaze of Master Wang. She diligently practices her Tai-Chi routines and perfects her weapons training as her dearest wish is to join the ranks of the mysterious Protectors. However, she cannot escape the promise and prophecy of her destiny and is drawn into conflicts not of her making. In discovering how she overcomes those who would use her, we see her grow into a formidable but fair potential leader.

Schartz has splendidly blended fact, fiction, and fantasy into an enthralling, fast-paced story that I could not put down. Fans of this genre and Schartz in particular will not be disappointed.

Happy Reading.

Vijaya Schartz, award-winning author

Strong Heroines, Brave Heroes, cats

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A kick-butt heroine with a heart of gold - CHI WARRIOR - by Vijaya Schartz

Available in Print on Amazon now

Yay! The paperback is now available on Amazon and the novel will be everywhere in print and eBook on November 1st.

This is the beginning of a new science fiction fantasy series with romantic elements, THE PROTECTORS. It is set on a post-apocalyptic feudal planet devastated by a natural cataclysm. There will be three novels in this series, all standalones, with different protagonists for each book, and a few returning secondary characters.

Here is the blurb for CHI WARRIOR:

Anila, peaceful warrior woman, trained all her life in the desert, at the monastery of the Celestial Gate, to take the vows of the mighty Protectors. That’s all she’s ever known, all she ever wanted. But a cloud of black wings haunts her nightmares.

When a barbarian horde invades from the north, Bayor Khan seems unstoppable, determined to destroy everything in his path. Rumors of his cruelty make the most powerful princes tremble in their stone fortresses.

Anila is pulled into the inevitable clash as a prophecy unfolds, blurring the lines between good and evil, testing her resolve. Nothing is as it seems… An ancient enemy rises in the shadows, and the falling darkness threatens to engulf Anila and everyone she loves.

EDITORIAL REVIEW by Victoria Chatham

If you like strong female characters, then you will not be disappointed with Anila, the protagonist in Vijaya Schartz's latest book. Anila is in training at a monastery under the watchful gaze of Master Wang. She diligently practices her Tai-Chi routines and perfects her weapons training as her dearest wish is to join the ranks of the mysterious Protectors. However, she cannot escape the promise and prophecy of her destiny and is drawn into conflicts not of her making. In discovering how she overcomes those who would use rather than celebrate her, we see her grow into a formidable but fair potential leader.

Schartz has splendidly blended fact, fiction, and fantasy into an enthralling, fast-paced story that I could not put down. Fans of this genre and Schartz in particular will not be disappointed.

Vijaya Schartz, award-winning author

Strong Heroines, Brave Heroes, Romance with a Kick

Find all my other books on my author pages at:

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Finishing the novel calls for a celebration! - by Vijaya Schartz

COVER REVEAL - NOVEMBER 2025 RELEASE
In the meantime, read my other novels
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The story is complete, revised several times, only needs a few tweaks before I send it to the editor, and the new book cover just emerged from the BWL Art Department. That’s an exciting time for an author. This is the time when I pat myself on the shoulder and celebrate finishing my thirty something novel. I lost track. I’ve been writing for a long time, but this feeling of accomplishment never gets old. Ice-cream sundae with all my favorite toppings (including Kalua) is definitely indicated.

I wanted a kick-butt heroine on the cover to illustrate this story, and boy, did I get one. She is ready to conquer her world. Big thank you to Michelle Lee, at the BWL Art Department. She is a magician who performs miracles with graphics.

At this stage of the process, I proudly post and promote the future release with the cover on Social Media, show the art work to all my friends on my phone, watching their reaction. I’m also lining up a few blog posts and interviews, and a few professional reviews, as well as a small launch campaign when the book is released.

Meanwhile, I’m refining the blurb, trying to say just enough for a hook, while not revealing too much. This is what I have so far:

The Protectors trilogy:

Set a few decades after a cataclysm devastated the feudal planet. An elite of mighty warriors protect the Celestial Gate, expecting benevolent Immortals to return from the stars.

CHI WARRIOR:

Anila, spiritual warrior woman, trained all her life in the desert, at the monastery of the Celestial Gate, to take the vows of the mighty Protectors. That’s all she’s ever known, all she ever wanted. But a cloud of black wings haunts her nightmares.

When hordes of barbarians invade from the north, Bayor Khan seems unstoppable, determined to destroy everything in his path. Rumors of his cruelty make the most powerful princes tremble in their stone fortresses.

Anila is pulled into the inevitable clash as a prophecy unfolds, blurring the lines between good and evil. Nothing is as it seems… An ancient enemy rises in the shadows, and the falling darkness threatens to engulf Anila and everyone she loves.

CHI WARRIOR is scheduled for release on November 1st, but you can find my other thirty-five-or-six-or-seven novels with kick-butt heroines and brave heroes at your favorite online retailer: amazon - B&N - Smashwords - Kobo 

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In my mind, I’m already plotting the next books in the Protectors series. Although set in the same world and closely related, the next novels will also be standalones, with a few returning characters, but a new hero and heroine for each story. I love my characters dearly, but I also like to meet new ones. And readers picking up a book in any of my series at random will not feel frustrated for not having read the previous ones… although I hope they’ll want to read them later, as they can be read out of order.

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Vijaya Schartz, award-winning author

Strong Heroines, Brave Heroes, Romance with a Kick

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Are sci-fi authors creating new worlds? Or has every story been written? by Vijaya Schartz

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If every story has been written before, isn’t it the same for the worlds we create in our books? If life is universal, does it develop everywhere in the same pattern? Of course, not. There is also the possibility of worlds and beings so outrageous that they are impossible for us to conceive or imagine. They could even be invisible to us. But then, would they be relatable to the reader?

When we consider Star Trek’s original thinking, it’s about exploration, and the main characters are still human and relatable… like the Vulcans, the Klingons, or the Romulans… even the Borg. Their motivations, although different from ours, are still within our comprehension.

Then, there are entities of pure evil, destructive, without empathy... but although they affect the lives of the crew, they are impossible for us to fathom.

Star Wars main characters are from different worlds, but mostly human as well with human flaws, like the diverse patrons of some outpost bars with weird Jazz music and alien fringe clientele. Even the robots display human feelings.

When Frank Herbert wrote DUNE, he lived in Egypt and took his inspiration from the Tuaregs, a desert tribe of the Sahara. There are so many diverse cultures in this world, that one needn’t go very far to find interesting societies with different sets of rules… especially if you consider the past.

Check out this award-winning universe of mine, Chronicles of Kassouk
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Cultures like the Greeks, the Romans, the ancient Egyptians, the Vikings, the Mongols, the Samurai, the mid-eastern tales of a thousand and one nights, the ancient Silk Road, all can inspire us to create new worlds, slightly similar yet different.

In CHI WARRIOR, Book One of the PROTECTORS trilogy, scheduled for release this November, I created a medieval post-apocalyptic world, where simple communities survived far apart, separated by wide deserts, high mountains, vast steppes, and uncrossable rivers with dangerous rapids.

As for the culture, it would be basic, simple, but lawless, and the strongest leaders would fight for supremacy, oppressing the weak to gain power.

On such a planet, imagine an oasis of harmony, a self-sufficient monastery in the middle of the desert, devoted to the study of martial arts, with fearsome fighters… and some ancient technology left behind by Immortals who came from the stars.

When the fictional world you created is a character in the story, it also must have a past, and this one is no exception. I will not tell you what it is, because it’s an important twist in the book.

CHI WARRIOR is scheduled for release November 2025. Here is the most recent blurb, still subject to change.

Anila, spiritual warrior woman, trained all her life in the desert, at the monastery of the Celestial Gate, to take the vows of the mighty Protectors. That’s all she’s ever known, all she ever wanted. But a black cloud with wings haunts her nightmares.

When a barbarian horde descends from the north, Bayor Khan seems unstoppable, determined to destroy everything in his path. Rumors of his cruelty make the most powerful princes tremble in their stone fortresses.

Anila is pulled into the inevitable clash as a prophecy unfolds, blurring the lines between good and evil. But nothing is as it seems… not even her, or Bayor Khan. An ancient enemy rises in the shadows, and the falling darkness threatens Anila and everyone she loves.

In the meantime, check out my latest epic sci-fi fantasy series, available everywhere online: 

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Happy Reading

Vijaya Schartz, award-winning author

Strong Heroines, Brave Heroes, Epic Adventure

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