It's always a pleasure to welcome a fellow SF romance writer to the Flight Deck. I've just read this book and can thoroughly recommend it as an entertaining and realistic vision of what life for future pioneers, about to embark on a voyage to colonise a new planet might be like. It's not only a great read, but food for thought as well. I think we should all be concerned about global warming and the way we have treated our planet.
I asked Diane to give us some background about how she came to write 'Mission to New Earth'. Enjoy her post, and the excerpt from the book - and don't forget to enter the Rafflecopter contest at the bottom of the page.
Background to Mission to New Earth:
I’ve
often wondered what it would take for space exploration to move faster. Blame
it on Star Wars and Star Trek. Those movies assumed we would go
into space. That we would explore not just our solar system but beyond.
Although
many people do not believe in global warming, I think it’s coming, along with
over population plus the results of all the awful things we’re doing
Mission To New Earth.
not just
to the earth but to the air and water around us. I worry about what we’re
leaving our children and grandchildren. Perhaps we’ll all pitch in and do more
than our part to prevent the catastrophes that play a part in my science
fiction novella,
Like most
writers, I begin with a thought and then ask “what if…” This story was
originally a short story I wrote for a holiday anthology on
The Roses of Prose
blog, titled “Christmas in Space” that I more than tripled in word count.
I’ve been
fascinated by the Mars One project, a commercial venture to put people on Mars.
I found the concept of starting off on a one-way trip to discover a new world
intriguing, if not a little scary. I loved the characters in that short story
so much that I had to find out more about them and their journey. What would
motivate people to leave everything and everyone behind to set off on a one-way
trip? All six of my characters have their reasons, and their secrets. The
question is whether they’ll find a new home in time.
Mission
To New Earth: a novella
By Diane Burton
Genre: science fiction romance
Release date: August 31, 2016
Length: 88 pages (25k words)
Blurb:
Would you go on a one-way trip to explore a new planet?
Would you do it to save humankind?
Earth’s overpopulation and dwindling resources force the
United Earth Space Agency to expedite exploration of new planets for a possible
new home. When new crises ensue—a giant tsunami and the threat of nuclear
winter—the timeline changes. Eight years of training crammed into four. Sara
Grenard and her team prepare for launch, but are they ready for the one-way
trip? Will the Goldilocks planet prove just right for Earth’s inhabitants?
Before time runs out.
Excerpt:
As we followed, Marsh strode across
the corridor to the left. The only private place down there was a lavatory. Not
my favorite destination for a team meeting. But beggars couldn’t be choosers,
as my mom used to say.
“We screwed up again,” Marsh
announced as soon as the five of us joined him. His voice echoed off the hard
surfaces. “In RT, it could kill us.”
“You and your damn RT,” Tom spat
out. “Why can’t you just say real time
like a normal person?”
Marsh shot him a look, one I’d hate
directed at me.
Military background evident, he
stood in the middle of the area near the showers, his feet wide apart, hands
clasped behind his back. The others were more casual. Bill held up a
white-tiled wall across from the showers. Ana and Gloria sat on a fake wood
bench. Meanwhile, I crossed my arms and leaned against a sink. I tried to look
casual even though my nerves were strung tight. We had to be ready for the
launch. Earth was dependent on us.
All of my team, except Tom and
Marsh, wore hang-dog expressions. At forty, Tom was the oldest on the team and
a damn fine pilot. His red face and mutinous expression as he confronted Marsh
belied his usually even-keeled manner.
“You’re exaggerating, Rayburn.”
That was more than angry. Tom was defiant. “You always exaggerate. Worst case
scenario? Is that all you think about?”
I’d never seen Tom so worked up.
Gloria walked over to him and rubbed his shoulder. Usually in stressful times,
her gentle caress calmed him down. Not now.
When he shrugged off her hand, I
caught the hurt in her eyes.
“C’mon, Bill. Back me up on this.”
Bill held out his hands in a
don’t-get-me-involved gesture. He was our engineer, both formal and practical.
He could fix anything from wonky engines to food replicators.
Tom turned to me. “Sara?”
I knew that was coming. I tried to
let my team work things out by themselves. Soon we’d be living in close
confines, not just on the ship but on our Goldilocks planet. If we couldn’t
live in harmony during training, we would be in deep trouble once we reached
our final destination. We’d be in even worse trouble if we couldn’t work out
our differences here. Marsh was right to pick the only place that wasn’t
monitored. We absolutely didn’t want the directors to think we weren’t a
well-functioning team.
They could pull us and put in the
Shadow Team. Our replacements.
“Okay, guys, what did I miss?” With
a forced grin, I raised my right hand. “I swear I wasn’t dreaming about a day
at the beach during the sim.”
About the Author:
Diane Burton combines her love
of mystery, adventure, science fiction and romance into writing romantic
fiction. Besides the science fiction romance
Switched and Outer Rim series,
she is the author of One Red Shoe, a
romantic suspense, and the Alex O’Hara PI mystery series. She is also a
contributor to two anthologies: Portals,
Volume 2 and How I Met My Husband.
Diane and her husband live in West Michigan. They have two children and three
grandchildren.
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GIVEAWAY
Diane offers a chance to win a $10 Amazon Gift Card. Answer
the following question in the comments then check the Rafflecopter for more
chances to win.
Would
you go on a one-way trip to a new planet?
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thank you Diane, it was really interesting reading about you and your book!
Hywela Lyn
For insider news and subscriber-only info, subscribe to my occasional Newsletter. I promise not to spam and your in-box will only see an email from me every 3 months or so - unless of course I have something really Newsworthy to share! http://madmimi.com/signups/196357/join Every new subscriber will get a FREEdownload of my fantasy novella 'Dancing With Fate' (If this doesn't arrive within two days just email me at hywelalyn@btinternet.com)
Cat Kincaid is obsessed with killing the man she believes is responsible for the torture and death of her sister, but when she eventually catches up with him, survival becomes a greater priority than revenge.
