News and Press
Publishers Weekly - Review
“Set in a climate change–ravaged 2073, Barner’s entertaining debut sci-fi romance mash-up takes both genres equally seriously. . . It’s a pleasure to watch Alex and Mansoor fall in love with and fight for each other. The result is a unique, exciting, and intelligent novel with a lot of heart.”​ Full Review
Bookstr - Starred Review
“Claire Barner’s dazzling space opera, Moonrising, is a passion project ten years in the making — and it shows. In her imaginative debut, Barner employs rich research to craft a convincing future built on both the issues of today and the science of tomorrow. It’s got everything readers expect in a celestial adventure, including compelling protagonists, blazing romance, political intrigue, and life-or-death stakes on a cosmic scale. If that sounds as enticing to you as it did to me, strap in for a story that’ll take you to the moon and back!”​ Full Review
Forward Reviews - Review
"With each shift in point of view, another machination pushes through to the light, pruned to escalate intrigue and accelerate the story. The hint of romance that winds through accounts of political maneuvering, interpersonal drama, and powerful prejudices rockets the tension even higher.
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The exciting science fiction novel Moonrising is set against the unfamiliar but plausible backdrop of a fraught mission to colonize the Moon." Full Review
Why A Romance And Sci-Fi Genre Mashup Is Poised To Be The Next Big Thing
GirlTalkHQ - Guest Post
"That’s the promise of sci-fi romance. By taking a high-stakes genre like sci-fi and pairing it with an intimate one-on-one genre like romance, we can find stories that are both rich with big ideas and have a lot of heart.
So whether you call it romanti-sci, scimance, or SFR, I think sci-fi romance is poised to be something big. And I can’t wait to see where this exciting genre mashup goes next.​​" Full Article
5 Tips for Writing a Near-Future Romance
Writer's Digest - Guest Post
"Writing a mash-up that takes elements from the sci-fi or dystopian genre and from the romance genre can result in a story with vivid characters and an exploration of big ideas. Near-future romance lets writers explore timely issues without losing the emotional depth that comes from a strong romantic arc. When done well, it results in stories that feel both relevant and deeply personal." Full Article
IndieView - Interview
"I want to write books that have layers. I want them to be enjoyable reads with characters and relationships you get obsessed with, while also being meaty enough for a deep book club discussion." Full Interview
Writing is Hard with Lindsey Byrd - Interview
"I think ultimately this book is uplifting and makes you feel optimistic about the future, which is definitely something we need right now." Spotify Interview | YouTube Interview
Awesome Gang - Interview
"What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Moonrising is a near future romance set on the first Moon colony. I was originally inspired by reading about NASA growing red romaine lettuce on the International Space Station. I’m a vegetable gardener, and I started imagining what it would be like to grow vegetables in space. From there, I created Dr. Alex Cole, a University of Chicago agronomist, who likes plants more than people. She is recruited by NASA to build a greenhouse on the Moon colony."​ Full Interview