Delightful pets you have.....#Book Hook' from Beloved Enemy - #MFRWHooks

I'm posting another excerpt from the third book in the Destiny Trilogy, the award winning 'Beloved Enemy',  which will soon be joining the first two books Starquest and Children of the Mist as an audio book, as well as in eBook and paperback. Each book has a hero and heroine with there own 'happy ever after' but each story features some of the same characters and a link to 

the starship Destiny

EXCERPT (carries on a little further from last week's excerpt)

She waved her weapon in the direction of the rocks, where the firing had come from earlier, while bending to retrieve her supply pack and thermal blanket, still keeping her gaze fixed on him. “We need to make sure whoever was shooting at you and“We need to make sure whoever was shooting at you and your friends is really dead. Move, and remember I’m not letting you out of my sight.”

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.”

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?

Available from:
Amazon US: 
http://www.amazon.com/Beloved-Enemy-Destiny-Trilogy-Book-ebook/dp/B01BBCBYCS

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01BBCBYCS

All three books in the Destiny Trilogy can be found on my Amazon Author Page:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/l/B002BMBXH4

Please don't forget to visit the blogs below for more 'book hooks'.

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

Pheonix Rising Series by Alexandra Christian - Spotlight and #Giveaway

Naked

Phoenix Rising Book 1

by Alexandra Christian

Genre: SF Romance

OUT OF THE STACKS

Librarian Phoebe Addison has lived her entire life within a seventy-five mile
radius of her small Louisiana town, but when she receives a strange medallion from her adventurous, off-world sister, reality tilts toward the bizarre. Everything Phoe thought she knew is…well, wrong. Dead wrong. But bone-numbing fear has no place in this brave new world—nor by the side of the dangerous, exquisite man who saves her life.

…AND INTO THE FIRE

Following the tragic slaughter of his family, operative Macijah “Cage” St.John understands evil in a way no man ever should. He traded happiness for a magnificent and terrible power, and fate isn’t done with him yet. He wasn’t looking for comfort. He didn’t need tenderness. But today he’ll play hero to a damsel in distress, and his quest will deliver him to the uncanny Martian colony of New London—and his heart to the demure Phoebe Addison. The bookish
beauty’s hidden talents and deep abiding love just might save Cage from himself.

Goodreads
* Amazon

NeoGeisha 

Phoenix Rising Book 2

BACK...

Macijah "Cage" St. John' didn't want the spy life anymore. He would

have been thrilled to spend every morning lying in the field behind
Phoe's home in smalltown Louisiana watching the clouds roll by. But
his Miss Addison wanted to spread her wings, literally. So Cage accepted a mission that teamed him up with his lady love. If only he had trusted her.

TO THE FUTURE

Everything about being a spy was a million times more exciting, and scarier,
than the books she'd read in her former life as a librarian. When her  first mission with Cage turned into a colossal clusterf*ck because he withheld information and kept secrets, Phoebe's world narrowed into a long tunnel of betrayal. Captured by space pirates and delivered to a horrible fate, she wished the last words between them had been of love, because she was certain she would never see Cage St. John again.

In NeoGeisha, Alexandra Christian returns to the intriguing, post-apocalyptic world she created in Naked. Cage and Phoe continue to build their relationship, but not without complications. Romantic conflict and fast-paced action keep the pages turning, right down to the satisfying ending. ~ Nancy Northcott, Author of the Light Mage Wars series

NeoGeisha hit all my personal high points: wild adventure, sheet-scorching sex,
killer machines, thousands-to-two odds and a vampire shape-shitfting
James Bond in space. ~Vivien Jackson, Author of Wanted and Wired series

Goodreads
* Amazon

In Absinthia

Phoenix
Rising Book 3

ALL INCLUSIVE VICTORIANA & STEAMPUNK

Interplanetary master spies, Macijah "Cage" St. John and Phoebe Addison
are forced to take vacation time, and she wants to go to Absinthia,
an off-world all inclusive interactive vacay planet set up as
Victorian London, but with all the future comforts. Cage doesn't do
down time, but their boss has other ideas, so begrudgingly, Cage
agrees to go to Absinthia. Within a day of their arrival, they get
embroiled in a Ripper copy cat series of murders complete with
séances, "altered" humans, kidnapping, and affairs of the
heart - their hearts, which will always belong to each other.

Goodreads

* Amazon

Out of Ashes

Phoenix
Rising Book 4

THE LOVE YOU TAKE IS EQUAL TO THE LOVE YOU MAKE

Phoebe Addison and Macijah "Cage" St. John have so much going on
they can barely take a breath. Interplanetary master spies who generally drive their boss crazy, they are now trying to track down the person - is a skin walker a person? - who tried to kill him at their engagement party. Yeah, they were talked into returning to Louisiana so the whole town could show up and gawk at Cage. But they have bigger problems than usual when tracking an assassin. Secrets
that have been buried for too many years are about to be uncovered if Cage and Phoe can survive the people, vampires and "things" that are trying to kill them. And to top if off, Phoe has a secret she's sure will send Cage into a tailspin. But, as with everything they have lived through to be together, their love is the constant that is its own reward.

Goodreads
* Amazon

Alexandra Christian is an author of mostly romance with a speculative slant. Her love of Stephen King and sweet tea has flavored her fiction with
a Southern Gothic sensibility that  reeks of Spanish moss and deep
fried eccentricity. As one-half of the writing team at Little Red Hen

Romance, she’s committed to bringing exciting stories and sapiosexual love monkeys to intelligent readers everywhere. Lexx also likes to keep her fingers in lots of different pies having written everything from sci fi and horror to Sherlock Holmes adventures. 

Her alter-ego, A.C. Thompson, is also the editor of the highly successful Improbable Adventures of Sherlock Holmes series of anthologies from Mocha Memoirs Press. A.C. will also pen several Shadow Council Archives novellas starring everyone’s favorite sidekick, Dr. John Watson, coming soon from Falstaff Books.

A self-proclaimed “Southern Belle from Hell,” Lexx is a native
South Carolinian who lives with an epileptic wiener dog and her
husband, author Tally Johnson. Her long-term aspirations are to one
day be a best-selling authoress and part-time pinup girl. She’s a
member of Romance Writers of America and Broad Universe—an
organization that supports female authors of speculative fiction. 

Website

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Follow the tour HERE
for exclusive excerpts, guest posts and a giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

Just because I decided to save your hide.....#Book Hook' from Beloved Enemy - #MFRWHooks

This is my first foray into 'MFRW 'Book Hooks'

I'm thrilled that the third book in the Destiny Trilogy, the award winning 'Beloved Enemy', will soon be joining the first two books Starquest and Children of the Mist as an audio book, as well as eBook and paperback. Each book has a hero and heroine with there own 'happy ever after' but each story features some of the same characters and a link to the starship Destiny

Here's my 'bookhook' and an excerpt. I hope you enjoy it.

Cat may be a bit frosty at the moment, but she has her reasons, and when she eventually thaws, she shows a whole different side to her!

She gave him her best, withering look. "Fine, and just because I decided to save your hide, don't get any ideas. We don't have to like each other."

(And Happy Valentine's Day for tomorrow, to you too, Cat, LOL!)

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?

EXCERPT

"You landed that well," he said, scrutinising the vehicle.

"Not particularly. I actually crash-landed."

"I was being facetious."

"She took a battering in an electric storm as we came in. It only lasted few minutes, but it was bad enough to wreck the flight controls." Why did she need to explain anything to him anyway? 

"At least the bushes give some cover. I’ll put a force-shield up overnight, for protection, of course, I just didn’t want to drain her power sources." She touched a panel on the ship’s hull, and after a moment, a door slid silently open. Shifter leapt in immediately but Kerry stood back as she climbed into the airlock.

She turned with her gun still trained on him. ‘Are you coming? Or would you prefer to take your chances out there all night?’

He shrugged and followed her inside. They waited in the eerie blue light until the inner hatch opened.

She walked across to the control panel at the front and made a few adjustments. "It’s not much, but it’s likely to be home for a while until I find a way off this planet. There’s not enough left in the fuel cells to get away in this, even if I could repair the damage."

He looked around, his face expressionless.

She frowned at his perusal. The furnishings of the small interior were necessarily sparse. A pilot seat and passenger seat to the front, and, at the rear of the vessel, a small living and storage area, complete with a combined table and bunk unit. If he didn’t like it, that was too bad. He could always go back outside and sleep rough if he preferred.

"I dare say it will suffice," he said at length.

"Well thank you. I’m so glad it meets with your approval."

His expression remained impassive. It seemed her cynicism was lost on him. "It would be useful to have a name to call you."

"Katrina. Katrina — Kincaid. I prefer to be called Cat."

Again that stunning smile spread over his face and she noticed how his eyes seemed even bluer above the even, white teeth. Damn, there was something about him. She almost regretted she’d have to kill him eventually.

Available from:
Amazon US: 
http://www.amazon.com/Beloved-Enemy-Destiny-Trilogy-Book-ebook/dp/B01BBCBYCS

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01BBCBYCS

All three books in the Destiny Trilogy can be found on my Amazon Author Page:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/l/B002BMBXH4

Please don't forget to visit the blogs below for more 'book hooks'.





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

The Dragons Harvest by Jason F Boggs, Spotlight and #Givaway

The Dragon's Harvest

The Dragon Trilogy Book 2

by
Jason F. Boggs

Genre: Space Opera, S.F.

Join Nelson Jones on a journey of horrifying discovery as an expedition to uncover the mystery of the sun gates leads to a terrible secret. This time, the Humans and the Aesini are fighting for their very lives as Nelson's nemesis, Ira Bilis, finds a terrifying ally in her quest to restore the New Era to its former glory. Nelson and his friends must now race against the clock to defeat this new threat - a power beyond imagination! Author Jason F Boggs continues the journey into a fascinating universe full of complex characters where what it means to be human and the line that separates right from wrong is explored on an epic scale.

Goodreads
Amazon

The Devil's Dragon

The Dragon Trilogy Book 1

Set 80 years into the future, Nelson Jones, a young military cadet full of optimism, is enlisted into the New Era: a fascist regime that arises to rule the world after an attack from an alien species. Under the leadership of Earth’s dictator with his ruthless enforcer, Nelson witnesses horrible abuses of power and is forced to confront his values and his world view to make difficult choices. When he happens across a small faction of resistance against this tyranny, Nelson must risk his life to do what he feels is right. Author Jason F. Boggs introduces a universe full of complex characters where the line that separates right from wrong is blurred. The Devil’s Dragon is the first of a rich trilogy that explores what it means to be human, from a multiple of perspectives.

Goodreads
* Amazon

Jason F Boggs has spent over 25 years in hotel Management where he

experiences peoples' true natures - both good and bad, fertile ground for these stories. Jason currently lives on the Gold Coast in Australia with his wife SueEllen who patiently endures his imagination and their two cats, who do not.

Website
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Twitter * Amazon
* Goodreads

Follow the tour HERE
for exclusive content and a giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

I'm still here!

Hi folks

Many apologies for my long absence from this blog - I've been really busy with all sorts of 'real life' things and a couple of visits to the hospital - nothing too serious but it all takes time and I've sadly neglected the blog.

Anyway, I'd like to wish you a very belaed  Happy New Year.

Just a couple of pictures - a nearby Stately Home in the winter sunshine

and this one is my dog Choccy enjoying the snow, which only lasted a few days but was fun while we had it.

I haven't been idle with my writing though, I've been busy trying to finish my current Work In Progress which is a ghost story set in Wales. I've been sadly neglecting it but am now about half way through. For more information - watch this space!

I'm also excited that the third book in the Destiny Trilogy, Beloved Enemy is being narrated and will soon be available, along with the other two as an audio book. I've already had some of the finished files and they sound great.

As well as this, you might have noticed a subtle change in the background of this blog. I hope you like it - I thought it would be nice to have a change but I didn't want it to be too drastic, so it's not too different to the old one.

Hopefully 'normal service' will now be resumed and I'll be featuring some great Science Fiction/Romance books and authors in the current year, starting on Wednesday this week.

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

Eileen Troemel Author of the Wayfarer Series

I'm really pleased to welcome Eileen Troemel to the Flight Deck today, to tell us more about her writing and her Wayfarer Series.

I just have to ask this, Elieen - what do you do for fun when not writing?  

Crochet - I'm a nut about this.  I've crocheted since I was 12 and usually ended up making my own pattern.  This led to me publishing these patterns. 

I used to enjoy crocheting too - but now I don't have time, unfortunately, but I've checked out your patterns and they're gorgeous.

When did you start writing?  

I was eight and in third grade the first time I wrote a story.  I always wanted to do something with writing but was too practical to jump in when I was young to be a writer.  I wrote up until I had children and then I was busy with kids - three of them in five years.  As my kids grew up, I realized I was missing something.  I started journalling again which led to poetry and short stories and then working on a book.  This started in my late 30s.  I wrote essays, articles, poetry and worked on a novel.

What comes first: the plot or the characters?  

It depends on the story.  With my Wayfarer series, my daughter picked the setting (space adventure) and I picked the character.  The opening scene with Adara getting ready for an interview - that is exactly how I saw it in my head before I started writing.  Other books start based on a concept - Dragon Lord's Mate for instance - the question in my head was how would the raider society which was prevalent in ancient times handle life if they stopped raiding but still went out each spring to "raid" or find their mates. 

Tell us about your latest release and what you think readers will enjoy about it

      Wayfarer Resolve is book 18 in the Wayfarer series.  Without giving away too much, Adara has come to a point in her life where her personal stuff is on track and she's comfortable with her mate Decker and her growing family.  But she's not comfortable with her role in the Wayfarer community.  In this book, she stops second guessing herself and steps up to the roles she's in.  It's about her being a strong woman but also about accepting the changes the Wayfarer community has gone through and what is key and vital to them. 

So, if someone were to play one your characters in a movie, which character and actor would it be and why?  

    Hugh Jackman as Decker in Wayfarer.  He has the stature and the presence to fit into the character.  Emma Watson or Bonnie Wright to play Adara.  Young and naïve.  I think either could tackle the diversity of the things Adara goes through from enduring torture to being a loving caring person.   

Great choices! Have you a favourite actor/hunk?  If you’ve answered question 7 would this be the same guy?  

John Wayne.  I grew up watching him and LOVE his movies - well not always the female roles in them but they were mostly produced before the sexual revolution.  Harrison Ford, Tom Sellect, Sam Elliot - they are all yummy. 

Oh yes, I'm a fan of John Wayne too! 
What have you learned about writing since you were published that surprised you the most?  

Once your book is published the work really begins.  As a self-published author, I publish my books but I can't just let them hang out there in the hopes someone will find them.  I've had to work at marketing while balancing cost versus gain or return on investment.  It's not just "Look I'm an AUTHOR"  It's how do you attract your readers. 

Isn't that the truth though! What’s you’re writing process? Has it changed since writing your first book? 

Most often my stories start with a scene or character.  I don't plot out my stories.  I write.  The characters tell me their story.  If they go quiet, I need to stop writing their story and move on to another.  I often have two or three stories going at once.  I work a day job so my writing is mostly at night after husband and daughter go to bed.  I work from 8 - 4 at my day job, come home to spend time with my people.  They are usually away from me by 7ish and then I write, edit, and crochet.  I'm usually up till midnight.  There is usually one light on in the house and a laptop on my lap while I work through whatever manuscript is in my head (or editing…)  When I finish a manuscript I have beta readers I send to.  Unless something nudges me, I'll let the manuscript sit until I get responses from my beta readers.  Next is the start of editing (or hacking apart and rebuilding my story).  First step is to do a spelling and grammar check along with searches for words I know I over use.  I add page numbers (or try to remember to and am annoyed when I print without them).  Then I do an actual paper edit.  This can be a quick process if the writing process was smooth and easy.  OR it can be a matter of hacking things apart and rebuilding the story because it needs it.  If I've done a lot of rewriting, I'll do a second paper edit and repeat as needed.

 Do you listen to music when you write and if so, what kind of music – or do you find it  distracts you?  

Classical or Celtic music - no lyrics or singing.  It becomes background noise if I'm really in writing mode.

I love Celtic and Classic music too - although I don't find lyrics too distracting as long as I have the volume low.  Do you have a support system? Do you have a writing community? What valuable lessons have you learned from them? 

    Some of my family have been supportive.  My oldest daughter is really good at talking through plot points with me.  My middle daughter is really good at making me see multiple options when I get stuck in a cliché.  My youngest daughter is a science oriented person - which I am not - so she is a great reference.  I've not really been part of a writing community until this year.  I've joined a Facebook group and asked advice of more experienced writers. So I'm starting to build my support within the writing community.

What is your personal definition of success? 

I'm not a planner.  I can't give you my one year goals or five year goals.  To me, success as a writer is telling a story that makes the reader laugh, cry, and hate putting the book down.  If I've managed to do that, I've told a successful story. 

What is your favourite source of inspiration?  

Life.  I pull inspiration from almost anything.  While driving to and from Indiana when one of my daughters lived down there, the landscape inspired Wild Magic.  My thoughts were what would it look like after our society fell.  The opening scene in Wild Magic and really the entire landscape in the book incorporates the local area (midwest).  Wayfarer was inspired in part by all the space shows - Star Trek, Star Wars, Lost in Space and others - which I grew up seeing. 

 Is there any advice, as a new writer, that you were either given, or wish you had been given?  

     Write what you like, read what you write, learn - never stop learning.  You need to hone your craft.  I'm self published.  This means I have to be really good at writing, editing, business, graphic design, marketing, and a whole lot more.  It also means you have to play to your strengths and know when you're going to have to pay for other services.

 What sort of research do you do for your books and what’s your favourite source  of information?  

When I'm sitting in my recliner with my laptop, I have my smart phone right next to me.  I've texted people I know questions (this I like best because I feel like it's a better answer from someone in the field) on accounting, science stuff, and so on.  I've also Googled all sorts of topics. 

 If you were an animal, which one do you think you would be, and why?  

Mythical - dragon   real life animal - panther or a spoiled house cat   Mythical dragon - who doesn't want to be a dragon.  They are powerful and have hoards.  Spoiled house cat?  Well now I tell my girls when I die I plan to come back as one of their spoiled house cats.  They are pampered, waited on, and get to sleep as much as they want.  Plus they cause mischief and don't get into too much trouble - mostly.  

Ah yes, it would be quite awesome to be a dragon! Thanks so much for visiting, today, Eileen, I've loved chatting to you. One more thing, let's show the readers where to find you.

web site https://eileentroemel.weebly.com/

twitter  https://twitter.com/EileenTroemel

facebook  https://www.facebook.com/EileenTroemelAuthor/

instagram  https://www.instagram.com/eileentroemel/

Amazon  amazon.com/author/eileentroemel
Pinterest  https://www.pinterest.com/stonedragon13/books/

Ravelry  https://www.ravelry.com/people/eileentroemel

Thank you so much, I’m so happy to have you featured on my blog.

For Readers of this post only - Eileen is giving a free copy of Wayfarer  (code HN95G)and Wayfarer Aegis (code QQ98C) which you can download with the following links:


 Wayfarer: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/473960
and Wayfarer Aegis: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/525847







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