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Welcome to my place in the blogosphere!
feel free to explore the Flight Deck and check out my books and website.
Then fasten your seatbelts, sip a glass of something sparkling and let's chat awhile!
I hope you'll stop by again for guest authors and spotlights from time to time.

Beloved Enemy joined Starquest and Children of the Mist to continue the Destiny Trilogy and I'm thrilled to announce was shortlisted for the R.N.A. RoNA Awards 2017, awarded 2nd Runner up in the RONE Awards 2017 and was the winner in the SF/Fantasy category of the 'Best Banter Contest'.

Showing posts with label Starquest. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Starquest. Show all posts

Wednesday 23 August 2023

Backlist Bonanza - win a $20 Amazon Gift Card


Want to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card?

Starquest, the first in my SF Romance series 'The Destiny Trilogy' Is featured on NN Light's Backlist Bonanza today.

Take a moment to visit, for your chance to win  










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 or 4 months or so - unless of course I have something really Newsworthy to share! I also promise that I never have and never will share your information or email address with anyone or any organisation.
 http://madmimi.com/signups/196357/join

Thursday 1 March 2018

SFR SHOWCASE



Please remember to check out the posts from the other participants at 

Once a month, the Science Fiction Romance Brigade’s showcase enables the brigade’s authors to highlight snippets from new works, WIPs, cover reveals or other fun things.

My fun post for today is a slightly 'tongue in cheek' interview with Narjohol, the antagonist in the first book of the Destiny Trilogy 'Starquest.' Each book is a 'standalone' and complete but features some of the same characters. Narjohol is a slaver  from the planet Salmar, and a not very pleasant alien.
(You can also read another, slightly more serious character interview of the hero in this series at https://anastasiapollack.blogspot.co.uk/2018/03/book-club-friday-interview-with-hero.html?spref=fb )

INTERVIEW WITH NARJOHOL

(The automatic scan of Narjohol’s travel pack recorded: 
A hand held weapon of mass destruction, An electronic whip, A small container of food, most of it still alive, An unusually designed short bladed and very sharp knife, A great deal of money in intergalactic currency,One automatic laser branding iron.)

This is a recording of an interview with the Salmaran Narjohol relayed from Ms Lettus Prey’s personal holcorder.

Please make yourself comfortable Narjohol – it’s all right if I call you Narjohol  is it?
Of course, that is my name, please let’s get on with this.

Er. Okay. Can  you confirm your occupation for us?
  Interstellar slave trader


And where do you live?
   On board my slaveship, mainly.

So where do you come from originally?
My home planet is called Salmar, a good many parsecs from your world,
    Originally a penal planet, my ancestors were overseers.

Have you any family?
 The question is rather frivolous.  Salmaran children are abandoned by their mothers as soon as  they are able to fend for themselves and they never meet again.  There are usually about three in a litter and they go their separate ways. 

So do you ever see your brothers and sisters?
    Of course not.  What would be the point?  Salmarans have no need for companionship, that is  a weakness  you humans have.

I see. Are you married?
  The concept of marriage, is meaningless to a Salmaran.  The females of our species are for pleasure and breeding, there is no necessity for anything permanent .

What happens to the slaves on your ship?
  Most are sold to the highest bidder.  Some of them are special orders, privately commissioned.

For what purpose do you use your own slaves?
Both male and females can be used for pleasure purposes and those who do not find favour in our eyes for such pleasure are used for performing basic and the most menial tasks.

What is your main ambition?
   To make as much profit as possible from the sale of slaves, of course.

That is self evident, if I may say so. Anything else?
   To capture and kill a young Anraatian who has something I want.

May I ask what that is?
    Certainly not. That is between him and myself. 

You seem to have an interest in his female travelling companion as well.
Why wouldn’t I have? She is most attractive – for a human female.

Er...yes. Getting back to your slaves, what species are they?
      No particular species.  Whatever my clients request or that I think may fetch a good price at  auction.  Many of my clients have a liking for Earth women.

Do you have any pets?
   The question is meaningless.  Elaborate please.

Do you keep small animals for companionship?
   As I've told you before, Salmarans have no need for companionship, although I did once  capture a venomous Blachmas monster, and derived great pleasure from watching  it devour small Terran mammals.

That gave you pleasure?
   Immense pleasure

What else do you - enjoy?
      Anything that involves pain or blood - especially blood, I love the sight of it. I especially  enjoy making others suffer.

That seems a strange way of deriving pleasure.  Why do you think you enjoy
      such things?
   What a peculiar question.  Why should I need a reason to enjoy something?

Let me put it another way.  Have you ever suffered such treatment yourself and did you  enjoy it ?
   Yes, I was once whipped to within an inch of my life. The other Salmaran seemed to enjoy  the experience, but not as much as I did when I got my revenge on him.

Did you have a happy childhood?
    The question is irrelevant.  Childhood is a time for learning to survive and prosper. 

Do you have friends?
    Friends>? I am not sure how I’m supposed to interpret that question. I have people who are useful to me whom I will reward as I see fit.

 Do you have affection for these people?
    Affection is a meaningless concept to me.

Have you any children?
     Undoubtedly, there is a need to continuously propagate our race,

 Do you ever see any of your children?
    I wouldn't know where to begin looking, nor would I want to. It is sufficient to know my line continues.

Would you describe yourself as wealthy?
    Yes, but not as wealthy as I intend to become.

What is your favourite food?
      Another irrelevant question. Food is a necessity.  As long as it is fresh that's all that's     important.  If I was to insist on  my 'favourite' food I might end up starving to death!

You're not very forthcoming with your answers, are you?  Is there a reason for this?
  In my line of business you learn to keep certain things to yourself.  It’s habit forming.

What's  it like on board your starship?
Sufficiently comfortable for our needs. Not so comfortable for the slaves, of course, especially when we have had a successful hunting trip.  Would you like to see for yourself, my dear?  She'll be making planetfall in approximately thirty of your minutes.

Eh…well…thank you for the invitation, but actually there is somewhere else I have to be...
The interview seems to have ended abruptly and the recording ceased. Ms Lettice Prey has not been seen since.  If anyone knows of her whereabouts would they please contact their nearest Intergalactic Law Enforcement Unit. Thank you



https://www.amazon.com/Beloved-Enemy-Destiny-Trilogy-Book-ebook/dp/B01BBCBYCS

STARQUEST  * CHILDREN OF THE MIST * BELOVED ENEMY
Purchase all three books (or just one, they stand alone, while sharing some of the same characters)  




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 or 4 months or so - unless of course I have something really Newsworthy to share! http://madmimi.com/signups/196357/join

Saturday 18 November 2017

#Weekend WritingWarriors, Snippet Sunday - Children Of The Mist - Message received?

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warrior and 8 Sentence Sunday, the weekly hop for everyone who loves to read and write! We've got a variety of genres and talented writers just waiting for you to come sample their work.

Writers share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet on Sunday each week. Be sure to visit the other writers - they're listed below:

If you'd to share your own 8-10 sentence snippet, whether published or not, follow the link and sign up. It's a great community to be a part of! 


Thanks again to everyone who voted for my cover in the Authorsdb cover contest - we didn't get a prize but at least it was great to be in the semi-finals. I really love Rae Monet's cover for Beloved Enemy

Although I said last week's snippet would be the last from Children Of The Mist I decided to give you one more sneek peek.

This really is the final excerpt I'll be posting from this book - next week I'll start posting snippets from the third book in the Trilogy 'Beloved Enemy'

 Thanks so much to everyone who has been following this series, and left comments xx



This snippet carries  on directly from last week's snippet which you can read 
HERE



Once again the voices crept into her dreams, and Jess woke in confusion. The dreams brought with them memories of the time she had visited the planet Niflheim. Memories of how its telepathic inhabitants had helped her to reach out into space, to set out on a course that would lead to adventures she had never imagined, and to love, in the last place she expected to find it. 


She remembered 'journeying' in her mind with Gullin, high above the jagged mountains. She recalled hearing 'voices' which were not voices, 'words' which were not words but which she understood, as the Nifls communicated with each other across the void. Then, it had been different. Hers had been a simple request for information, a plea to help her find the starship, Destiny. 

Now, there was a sense of urgency in the thoughts that drifted into her mind, something akin to fear. She was sure her friends were in trouble and were asking for her help.

CHILDREN OF THE MIST: BLURB
Two minds united against a common foe. Two hearts afraid to show their love: Long ago Tamarith fell in love with a man she can never have, and is convinced she will never love another. However, she cannot help but be intrigued by a handsome stranger whose psychic powers exceed even her own.

Vidarh seeks only to find his true purpose in life and to win the regard of his father, who eschews his son’s psychic abilities. Thrown together by a common threat to their planet, then torn apart by an evil greater than any they could have imagined, can Vidarh save the lovely Nifl woman who has captivated him, before it is too late?

Will Tamarith and Vidarh overcome the deadly enemy who threatens to destroy all they know and love? Will they find the happiness they both seek? Or are they fated to live their lives alone?





I thought you might also like to see the video I made for this book.



THE DESTINY TRILOGY


Purchase all three books (or just one, they stand alone, while sharing some of the same characters)  at https://www.amazon.com/gp/bookseries/B01MRY3XXT











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 or 4 months or so - unless of course I have something really Newsworthy to share! http://madmimi.com/signups/196357/join

Friday 1 September 2017

SFR Brigade Showcase


Once a month the Science Fiction Romance Brigade authors showcase snippets from new work, WIPs, cover reveals or other fun things. 
It's been a good year for the third book in The Destiny Trilogy, 'Beloved Enemy'.
First it was sortlisted for the ROMNAs here in the UK, it finalled for the RONE Awards and I was notified today that the excerpt I submitted to the 'Best Banter' contest is also through to the final round. I'm so thrilled as I really enjoyed writing this series and it's great just to be 'in the running' so to speak in these contests.

You can see 'teaser' I made for Beloved Enemy in the sidebar on the right

EXCERPT


They reached the rock their adversaries had used as a shield. With her finger on the trigger button Cat swung round it, prepared to fire if anyone moved. Then she froze. The area was clear. Not the bodies she expected to find, no sign anyone had ever been there at all.

She looked at Kerry. “They were here. They can’t have just vanished.”

He shook his head. “Unless they can teleport—which has been proven to be impossible by mechanical means. It is just possible they may have psionic
capabilities.”

“No point in worrying about them now. Seems they’ve gone, however they did it.” Cat gave a long low whistle and one of the nearby boulders morphed into the tawny form of Shifter.

“What the hell is that?” As if acting on instinct, Kerry reached for his gun and then swore softly when his fingers failed to close upon it. His gaze flicked toward her. He cursed again and stared pointedly at his blaster thrust through her belt.

She ignored his stare and nodded toward the animal. “His name’s Shifter.
He’s…well, I call him a chameleopard, and I’d kill anyone who tried to shoot him.”

Kerry favoured her with a cold look. “Delightful pets you have.”

“It’s only one, and yes, he is quite cute actually. Are you going to be able to walk?”

“It was my chest that was injured, not my legs.”

She ignored his sarcastic tone. Gratitude obviously did not feature among his finer points.

BELOVED ENEMy BLURB

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.

Kerry Marchant, haunted by memories, regret, and self-blame, shields himself from the pain of the past by committing himself totally to the starship, Destiny, of which he is part owner. However, the beautiful, red-haired woman who reminds him of his lost love, and who he suspects is working for a corrupt regime, represents a possible threat not only to the ship, but to his heart.

Marooned on an inhospitable planet, they need to work together to stay alive, fighting not only unknown assailants, but their growing attraction. But how can they learn to trust each other when he has vowed never to get close to a woman again, and she made a solemn pledge to destroy him?


Purchase the Destiny Trilogy individually (Each book is a 'standalone' or as a set from:









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 or 4 months or so - unless of course I have something really Newsworthy to share! http://madmimi.com/signups/196357/join 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 or 4 months or so - unless of course I have something really Newsworthy to share! http://madmimi.com/signups/196357/join

Saturday 26 August 2017

Snippet Sunday - WeWriWar - Children Of the Mist, Snippet 2


Welcome to Weekend Writing Warrior and 8 Sentence Sunday, the weekly hop for everyone who loves to read and write! We've got a variety of genres and talented writers just waiting for you to come sample their work.

Writers share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet on Sunday each week. Be sure to visit the other writers - they're listed below:

If you'd to share your own 8-10 sentence snippet, whether published or not, follow the link and sign up. It's a great community to be a part of! 

For the past few weeks I've been sharing excerpts from Starquest, the first of  Destiny Trilogy. Thank you so much, everyone who's been following and commenting.

Last week I introduced you to Niflheim the home planets of the two telepathic members of the Destiny's crew and where an important part of Starquest takes place. Niflheim is an Earth colony named after the Norse land of mist and cold. Many of the places and inhabitants are also named after characters and places in Norse legends. The descendants of the original settlers developed their powers of telepathy in order to communicate over vast areas having abandoned all technology. Parts of the planet are reasonably temperate and they have evolved a rural lifestyle and an economy based on the bartering of skills and produce.


This snippet carries on from last week's snippet which you can read HERE

The ice-cold mist swirled like a living creature, driven by the wind. Vidarh glanced behind him. The distant mountains were almost hidden, their summits mantled in thick cloud. Somewhere an icecat howled, its mournful cry echoing through the mountains and sending ghostly fingers racing up and down his spine. Ahead lay a dense forest, and beyond it, the place he  sought.

The trail through the trees led ever upward,
and the sure-footed pony snorted and panted with the exertion. The mist blotted out much of the light from Niflheim's two suns. Although a faint eerie glow from the red giant managed to filter through, it did nothing to make the journey easier or the path between the massive trunks clearer.



Two minds united against a common foe. Two hearts afraid to show their love:Long ago Tamarith fell in love with a man she can never have, and is convinced she will never love another. However, she cannot help but be intrigued by a handsome stranger whose psychic powers exceed even her own.

Vidarh seeks only to find his true purpose in life and to win the regard of his father, who eschews his son’s psychic abilities. Thrown together by a common threat to their planet, then torn apart by an evil greater than any they could have imagined, can Vidarh save the lovely Nifl woman who has captivated him, before it is too late?

Will Tamarith and Vidarh overcome the deadly enemy who threatens to destroy all they know and love? Will they find the happiness they both seek? Or are they fated to live their lives alone?

Purchase all three books (or just one, they stand alone, while sharing some of the same characters)  at https://www.amazon.com/gp/bookseries/B01MRY3XXT




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 or 4 months or so - unless of course I have something really Newsworthy to share! http://madmimi.com/signups/196357/join

Saturday 19 August 2017

#WeekendWritingWarriors -Ten Sentence Sunday - An introduction to Earth Colony Niflheim


Welcome to Weekend Writing Warrior and 8 Sentence Sunday, the weekly hop for everyone who loves to read and write! We've got a variety of genres and talented writers just waiting for you to come sample their work.

Writers share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet on Sunday each week. Be sure to visit the other writers - they're listed below:

If you'd to share your own 8-10 sentence snippet, whether published or not, follow the link and sign up. It's a great community to be a part of! 

For the past few weeks I've been sharing excerpts from Starquest, the first of  Destiny Trilogy. Thank you to everyone who's been following and commenting. As I said last week, that was just the beginning of the adventure, although it looked like the end for Jess ... but I won't give any more away *evil cackle*!

Let me now introduce you to Niflheim the home planets of the two telepathic members of the Destiny's crew and where an important part of Starquest takes place. Niflheim is an Earth colony named after the Norse land of mist and cold. Many of the places and inhabitants are also named after characters and places in Norse legends. The descendants of the original settlers developed their powers of telepathy in order to communicate over vast areas having abandoned all technology. Parts of the planet are reasonably temperate and they have evolved a rural lifestyle and an economy based on the bartering of skills and produce.

Author Note: The planet Niflheim was inspired by the sight of the snow swirling like a pink mist over the Welsh Mountains, at sunset. I was writing Starquest at the time and an idea for a planet with pink  snow came into my mind, and the question - how would settlers on a sparsely populated planet communicate with no technology? And so the telepaths of Niflheim were born. Although only a few chapters of Starquest are set on Niflheim, some of the characters seemed to demand their own story, and so 'Children Of The Mist' became the second book in the Destiny Trilogy.  Although several of the characters in Starquest are also in this book it is a complete and separate story, and features Tamarith, a close friend of Jess.

Excerpt from first page:

The message from Gladsheim had been clear—Earth Colony Niflheim was in danger.


The rider shivered and drew his long coat more closely around him. His pony lowered its head against the wind, picking its way over the snow-covered plain. Vidarh knew he was not alone on this journey—he sensed the presence of others, all making their way to Gladsheim from various parts of the world.

Without warning, a mind connected with his, as sweet as the tinkle of tiny bells.

Greetings, Vidarh of the House of Ragnak, this is Tamarith of the House of Yarvi. I have been assigned to guide you to our fair city. You have come a long way to be with us, and we, the inhabitants of Gladsheim, thank you.

Relieved, he swiftly telepathed his response, Greetings Tamarith. I look forward to meeting you and the others soon.

The rest of your journey is not easy, she replied, but we will guide you. When you reach the other side of the mountain we will be waiting to take you to Gladsheim.

Two minds united against a common foe. Two hearts afraid to show their love:Long ago Tamarith fell in love with a man she can never have, and is convinced she will never love another. However, she cannot help but be intrigued by a handsome stranger whose psychic powers exceed even her own.

Vidarh seeks only to find his true purpose in life and to win the regard of his father, who eschews his son’s psychic abilities. Thrown together by a common threat to their planet, then torn apart by an evil greater than any they could have imagined, can Vidarh save the lovely Nifl woman who has captivated him, before it is too late?

Will Tamarith and Vidarh overcome the deadly enemy who threatens to destroy all they know and love? Will they find the happiness they both seek? Or are they fated to live their lives alone?

Purchase all three books (or just one, they stand alone, while sharing some of the same characters)  at https://www.amazon.com/gp/bookseries/B01MRY3XXT





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 or 4 months or so - unless of course I have something really Newsworthy to share! http://madmimi.com/signups/196357/join

Saturday 12 August 2017

Last excerpt from Starquest - is this the end?


Welcome to Weekend Writing Warrior and 8 Sentence Sunday, the weekly hop for everyone who loves to read and write! We've got a variety of genres and talented writers just waiting for you to come sample their work.

Writers share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet on Sunday each week. Be sure to visit the other writers - they're listed Below:

If you'd to share your own 8-10 sentence snippet, whether published or not, follow the link and sign up. It's a great community to be a part of! 
I'm currently sharing excerpts from Starquest, the first of the Destiny Trilogy


(Please don't hate me - things are not always as they seem, and this is actually just the beginning, there is a lot more of this book left, but I'll be starting on book 2 next week!)

Previously: Jess and Kerry have confessed their love to each other and Jess has persuaded the crew of the starship Destiny, to help her overcome the invaders of the planet Phidia.  

When they arrive on the planet, Jess saves Kerry' s life, taking the laser fire aimed at Kerry by the alien invader, Ayandos.

Fast forward a little -  Kerry kills Ayados, and with the battle raging all around him, kneels beside Jess.


(Punctuation edits from published version to comply with sentence count.)
STARQUEST - 10 Sentence Snippet:

A smear of blood glistened on her lips...a stain on perfection and evidence of his own negligence.

“Please...”


He should have prevented this, somehow, he should have prevented it! He ran his fingers through the mass of flame-colored hair, golden highlights gleaming in the Phidian sunshine. He buried his face in its softness and held her close to his heart, hoping that somehow his words might filter through to her subconscious mind, as her life slowly ebbed away. 

“Forgive me, Jess. I love you, I always will...always. I could never tell you how
much.” 

An instinctive sense of danger pierced his grief. He whirled and rolled over his shoulder, just in time to avoid the laser aimed at his back. The blaster he picked up from close to where Jess had fallen made short and bloody work of his would-be assassin, but it seemed even Jess’s last moments were to be denied him. He was compelled to leave her and concentrate on destroying the assailants who came at him from all sides. 



End Note: The Destiny's crew do defeat Ayandos's men, with the help of the Phidians themselves but as I said at the beginning - this is just the start !

Is this really the end for Jess?
How will Kerry cope without her?
Will the Phidians repay the crew for saving them from the invaders?

STARQUEST (The Destiny Trilogy, Vol. 1)


BLURB: When Jestine Darnell is rescued from her sabotaged starship by the crew of the Destiny her only objective is to complete her mission and keep her promise to save a world from slavery. Love is the last thing on her mind. However, she has not counted on losing her heart to Kerry Marchant the ship’s second in command, who makes his distrust of her painfully obvious, despite the chemistry between them. The completion of her mission has consequences that neither of them could have foreseen.

Enter Dahll Tarron, who becomes involved in a long and dangerous quest to find the Destiny. Fates become intertwined, perils shared, culminating in the realization that sometimes love may be so close that there is a danger it will not be recognized until it is too late…




Purchase all three books (or just one, they stand alone, while sharing some of the same characters)  at https://www.amazon.com/gp/bookseries/B01MRY3XXT





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 or 4 months or so - unless of course I have something really Newsworthy to share! http://madmimi.com/signups/196357/join

Saturday 5 August 2017

Weekend Writing Warriors - Starquest - penultimate post - things are looking bad!

WeWriWar
Welcome to Weekend Writing Warrior and 8 Sentence Sunday, the weekly hop for everyone who loves to read and write! We've got a variety of genres and talented writers just waiting for you to come sample their work.

Writers share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet on Sunday each week. Be sure to visit the other writers - they're listed Below:

If you'd to share your own 8-10 sentence snippet, whether published or not, follow the link and sign up. It's a great community to be a part of! 
I'm currently sharing excerpts from Starquest, the first of the Destiny Trilogy

Moving forward a bit - The crew of the Destiny  has landed at the area on the planet Phidia, which has been invaded by the Alien Ayandos. Unfortunately things do not go according to plan and they are confronted by Ayandos as soon as they step on the surface.


Without warning, Ayandos leapt forward in a fluid movement that was almost too fast to comprehend, and caught hold of Jess’s arm, dragging her back to where he’d previously stood.

“Let me go!” Jess lashed out with her free hand, struggling to free herself, but she was no match for the strength of the mutant. Kerry lunged toward the albino, as Jess cried out, the dread in her voice tearing through him like blaster fire.

“Kerry, no—he has a gun!”

Too late, Kerry saw what she had seen and Ragin sensed, a tiny laser concealed in the alien’s palm and aimed at his chest. Jess twisted in Ayandos’s grasp, trying to wrest the small weapon from him, and kicked out. Ayandos staggered a little from the blow, and she pulled herself free and sprang toward Kerry. A beam of almost invisible laser light struck her between the shoulders and she fell at his feet.


STARQUEST (The Destiny Trilogy, Vol. 1)



BLURB: When Jestine Darnell is rescued from her sabotaged starship by the crew of the Destiny her only objective is to complete her mission and keep her promise to save a world from slavery. Love is the last thing on her mind. However, she has not counted on losing her heart to Kerry Marchant the ship’s second in command, who makes his distrust of her painfully obvious, despite the chemistry between them. The completion of her mission has consequences that neither of them could have foreseen.

Enter Dahll Tarron, who becomes involved in a long and dangerous quest to find the Destiny. Fates become intertwined, perils shared, culminating in the realization that sometimes love may be so close that there is a danger it will not be recognized until it is too late…




Purchase all three books (or just one, they stand alone, while sharing some of the same characters)  at https://www.amazon.com/gp/bookseries/B01MRY3XXT





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 or 4 months or so - unless of course I have something really Newsworthy to share! http://madmimi.com/signups/196357/join

Saturday 29 July 2017

WeWriWar:Starquest - things hot up between Kerry and Jess!



Welcome to Weekend Writing Warrior and 8 Sentence Sunday, the weekly hop for everyone who loves to read and write! We've got a variety of genres and talented writers just waiting for you to come sample their work.

Writers share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet on Sunday each week. Be sure to visit the other writers - they're listed Below:

If you'd to share your own 8-10 sentence snippet, whether published or not, follow the link and sign up. It's a great community to be a part of! 
I'm currently sharing excerpts from Starquest, the first of the Destiny Trilogy

This excerpt continues from last weeks' post
Kerry has come to Jess's cabin on board the starship Destiny, having discerned that she is worried about something, and despite the previous coolness between them is keen to clear the air. Finally the emotions they have been trying to keep from each other rise to the surface.
Creative punctuation editing from published version to keep within sentence limitation.

“It seems,” she said, her voice unsteady, “we’ve both been guilty of trying to hide our true feelings—”

“Then...perhaps we’d better make a fresh start." He wrapped his arms around her and she clung to him, finally surrendering to the strange, sweet emotion she had tried to deny. He kissed her, a lingering kiss that sent shock waves through her body, awakening the feelings she had tried to conceal for so long and her lips responded to his with a fierceness that surprised them both.

Several minutes later, with obvious reluctance, he released her, his eyes still not leaving hers. “I only came to make sure you were all right, I should leave now, I have heard of the strictness of the Sisterhood -- I do not wish to risk compromising any sacred vows or beliefs—”

She smiled, touched by his consideration in giving her the chance to back away, while she still could. “I’m a missionary, Kerry, not a nun, the Sisterhood only condemns casual liaisons, not genuine relationships.” She lowered her eyes, “I...I’ve never been in love before, not...not like this, but I know nothing that feels this way could be wrong.” She slipped into his arms once more. He pressed her body close to his, and kissed her again, with a tenderness she would not have imagined him capable of a short while before, and she wondered how she could ever have thought him cold.



STARQUEST (The Destiny Trilogy, Vol. 1)



BLURB: When Jestine Darnell is rescued from her sabotaged starship by the crew of the Destiny her only objective is to complete her mission and keep her promise to save a world from slavery. Love is the last thing on her mind. However, she has not counted on losing her heart to Kerry Marchant the ship’s second in command, who makes his distrust of her painfully obvious, despite the chemistry between them. The completion of her mission has consequences that neither of them could have foreseen.

Enter Dahll Tarron, who becomes involved in a long and dangerous quest to find the Destiny. Fates become intertwined, perils shared, culminating in the realization that sometimes love may be so close that there is a danger it will not be recognized until it is too late…




Purchase all three books (or just one, they stand alone, while sharing some of the same characters)  at https://www.amazon.com/gp/bookseries/B01MRY3XXT




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Saturday 24 June 2017

WeWriWa - Jess's confession.



Welcome to Weekend Writing Warrior and 8 Sentence Sunday, the weekly hop for everyone who loves to read and write! We've got a variety of genres and talented writers just waiting for you to come sample their work.

Writers share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet on Sunday each week. Be sure to visit the other writers - they're listed Below:

If you'd to share your own 8-10 sentence snippet, whether published or not, follow the link and sign up. It's a great community to be a part of! 



I'm currently sharing snippets from Starquest, the first book in the SF Romance series,  Destiny Trilogy.

Jess has been rescued from her crippled ship by the crew of the Destiny but Kerry Marchant, the ship's second in command does not trust her and demands to know the truth.

You can read last week's snippet HERE


Kerry's confrontation with Jess is  overheard by the ship's Commander, Jon Quinlan, and he orders them both to his cabin, where Jess tells her story and explains that she is desperate to help the people of the planet Phidia.


Her voice took on an edge as she went on. “Their main settlement, Mirrahn, has been taken over by invaders from the Omega Quadrant, led by a mutant warlord known as Ayandos. He has tremendous power over his own people as well as the Phidians, it’s something akin to hypnosis, they seem to obey him mindlessly. He plans to bring in more ships and take over the planet.”

She clenched her fists until her knuckles whitened. “He’s ripping up the land to get at her ores and precious stones and has made slaves of her inhabitants. Worse than this, though, he intends to make Phidia the prime medical centre for that part of the galaxy. They’ve made tremendous advances in cloning, nano and transplant surgery, bio-regeneration and preventive medicine among other things, he intends to grow rich on their knowledge.”

“Surely,” Jon put in quietly, “it mightn’t be such a bad thing for the Phidians to share their knowledge with other worlds and civilisations?”

 “They always have, that’s how Ayandos was able to take control so easily. They have never tried to prevent anyone from visiting the planet, and their services are available to anyone who needs them. Now, with Ayandos as dictator, only the wealthiest will be able to afford treatment.” She pushed back her hair and met his gaze. “I’ve known these people a long time – I’ve grown to love them and they trust me. They begged me to fetch help before it’s too late.”



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 or 4 months or so - unless of course I have something really Newsworthy to share! http://madmimi.com/signups/196357/join