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Saturday, September 28, 2019

#WeWriWa ~ THE PILOT: Let's Celebrate Our Survival #sfr

Each weekend, the Weekend Writing Warriors share an 8 - 10 sentence snippet. Be sure to visit the other authors. You can find them here.

Thanks to everyone who visited last week. 

I'm sharing snippets from The Pilot: An Outer Rim Novel. It's the 1st book in a series featuring strong women on the frontier of space. Celara's ship was hailed by one claiming to be Coalition Security. In this snippet, we're still with Trevarr and his buddy Laning in their ship, and Celara is long gone. (By the way, Trevarr is from the planet Bricaldia. That will explain the last line in this snippet.)

Please excuse the creative punctuation, necessary to keep this within the guidelines. It's also edited a little from the original.

In an attempt to make restitution for his bad judgment in entering the asteroid field, Trevarr said, “I will repair your ship when we return to Vesteron.”
“You’re the best mechanic I know, buddy,” Laning drawled, his anger gone, “I’d rather get a drink to celebrate our survival. Let’s go to Astron, it’s not that far, and there’s a great tavern there—the food is top-notch, the barkeep is gorgeous, and she doesn’t water down the liquor, either.”
“We are returning to Magnos Prime. If that cargo hauler made it through the asteroid field, Vesteron Colony is the closest port. A few of your shots actually hit that ship, and it will have to put in for repairs. I will teach that indie to heed orders.”
“Trevarr,” Laning shook his head sadly, “You were more fun a few mins ago, even if you almost destroyed my ship.”
“You may refrain from continual recriminations—I said I will repair the damage.”
“There you go, again, sounding like a stiff-ass Bric.”




There's no place like home, and he stole hers. 

Life on the frontier of space is hard enough so when pirates stole Celara d'Enfaden's cargo, she vowed not to be tricked again. 

Determined to make an example out of indie pilots who disobey orders, Coalition Administrator Trevarr Jovano impounds Celara’s starship and cargo. If he backs down, he’ll lose respect. If she can’t deliver her cargo, she’ll default on her loan and lose her only home—her ship. 

More important than her ship, though, is her brother. To rescue him from a galactic gangster, she’ll even work with Jovano who is bent on avenging his wife’s murder.

 Amazon ~ AmazonUK ~ B&N ~ Kobo ~ iBooks ~ Smashword






Tuesday, September 24, 2019

PETS IN SPACE 4 #sfr


I'm excited to share with you news about the next Pets in Space anthology. Have you read the previous three books? They were awesome. Several science fiction romance authors get together to share stories featuring animals who . . . Why don't I let Cassandra Chandler, who is one of the authors, tell you more.


From the moment I heard about the Pets in Space® anthologies, I thought it was such a great idea. An anthology of science fiction romance stories that feature pets? 1-clicked! I love seeing the variety in worlds, characters, and authors’ voices. Plus getting to meet the different pets is always such fun.

Then I discovered that Pets in Space® supports Hero-Dogs.org, a non-profit charity that provides service animals to veterans and first responders in need. At that point, it became a bucket-list item for me to be part of this wonderful endeavor.

I’m thrilled to be one of thirteen authors in the Pets in Space® 4 anthology releasing on October 8, 2019!

It seems both far away and right around the corner to me. I’m so excited for these stories to be out in the world! And just in case it seems like a long wait for you, too, there’s a sampler of short stories and preview chapters that you can download right now when you sign up for the Pets in Space® newsletter at PetsInSpaceAntho.com/Sampler (but sign up quick — the sampler goes away October 7, 2019!).

In the meantime, please enjoy this expert from my Pets in Space® 4 story, Import Quarantine. It’s book 11 in my Department of Homeworld Security series!


EXCERPT

She grabbed her phone from her bedside table and ran to the door, stepping up on her tiptoes so she could see through the eyehole. The motion sensor light had tripped, and through the fish-eye lens, he looked…

Pretty cute, actually.

He had greenish-blue eyes, sandy brown hair—shorter on the sides than on the top—and a strong jaw and nose. Nice lips. Really nice lips. His arms were braced on either side of the doorframe and his shoulders were broad enough that he looked totally capable of knocking down her door.

“Wow, he is buff,” Caitlin whispered.

He lifted his fist and hammered on the door again, hard enough to make the pictures on the walls shake. She yelped and jerked back.

“Caitlin O’Rourke!”

“I’m here,” she yelled. “You can stop knocking.”

His tone hadn’t lost any of its urgency when he said, “I need your help.”

“I’m not a doctor.”

He went quiet.

She was about to look through the eyehole again when he said, “Brigid told me you were.”

“Brigid,” Caitlin murmured. “Of course.”

Brigid, the quieter twin who somehow lived the more interesting life. Brigid, surrounded by celebrities that hired her to cook for them. Brigid, the valedictorian, who could do no wrong in their parents’ eyes.

“I’m a veterinarian,” Caitlin said.

“A what?”

“An animal doctor.” Caitlin raised her voice so he could hear her clearly.

“That’s what I need. Please, my cat needs help.”
  

PETS IN SPACE® 4 ANTHOLOGY BLURB

For a limited time only! Pets in Space® 4 is proud to present 13 amazing, original new stories! Join the adventures as today’s leading Science Fiction Romance authors take you on a journey to another world. Pets in Space® proudly supports Hero-Dogs.org, a non-profit charity that provides service animals to veterans and first responders in need. Join New York Times, USA TODAY and Award-winning Bestselling authors S.E. Smith, Anna Hackett, Tiffany Roberts, Veronica Scott, Pauline Baird Jones, Laurie A. Green, Donna McDonald, Regine Abel, Alexis Glynn Latner, JC Hay, E.D. Walker, Kyndra Hatch, and Cassandra Chandler for another exciting Pets in Space® anthology. Get the stories before they are gone!

Proud supporters of Hero-Dogs.org, Pets in Space® authors have donated over $7,100 in the past three years to help place specially trained dogs with veterans and first responders. 10% of all pre-orders and the first month’s royalties of Pets in Space® 4 will again go to Hero-Dogs.org. Open your hearts and grab your limited release copy of Pets in Space® 4 today so together we can continue to assist this worthy charity!


BUY LINKS



AUTHOR BIO AND LINKS

Cassandra Chandler uses her vivid imagination to make the world more interesting, spawning the ideas she turns into her whimsical Science Fiction romcoms and darkly evocative Paranormal and Urban Fantasy Romances. Fast-paced and funny, lighthearted or dark, her stories will introduce you to characters you want to be friends with and worlds where you’d like to build a vacation home.

Newsletter Signup: http://eepurl.com/boZm9j
Facebook Reader Group “Welcome to Cassland”: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1562856810451659/

Saturday, September 21, 2019

#WeWriWa ~ THE PILOT: I'm Too Young To Die #sfr


Each weekend, the Weekend Writing Warriors share an 8 - 10 sentence snippet. Be sure to visit the other authors. You can find them here.

Thanks to everyone who visited last week. 

I'm sharing snippets from The Pilot: An Outer Rim Novel. It's the 1st book in a series featuring strong women on the frontier of space. Celara's ship was hailed by one claiming to be Coalition Security. In this snippet, we're still with Trevarr and his buddy Laning in their ship, and Celara is long gone. 

Please excuse the creative punctuation, necessary to keep this within the guidelines. It's also edited a little from the original.

“Looks like the damage is superficial,” Laning grudgingly admitted after they finished running diagnostics, “No thanks to you. What in Lexol’s Fire has gotten into you? This trip was supposed to be a little run around this region to see what my new ship could do—my ship that’s so new the paint isn’t dry—my new ship that is now dented and scraped,” Laning rarely lost his temper, but he was in fine form now, “You damn-near got us killed. I’m too young to die and so are you.”
Technically, he could have Laning disciplined for insubordination, but his anger over losing his quarry paled next to his anger at himself for his recklessness, “We could have caught that hauler.”
“By claiming to be disabled? Have you forgotten distress signals are taken very seriously, especially out here? Word gets around about sending a false distress signal and you can kiss off ever getting rescued when you need it.”
“I wanted that ship—the pilot needs to be taught to heed orders.”
“At what cost—by lying? Or does the end justify the means?”



There's no place like home and he stole hers. 

Life on the frontier of space is hard enough so when pirates stole Celara d'Enfaden's cargo, she vowed not to be tricked again. 

Determined to make an example out of indie pilots who disobey orders, Coalition Administrator Trevarr Jovano impounds Celara’s starship and cargo. If he backs down, he’ll lose respect. If she can’t deliver her cargo, she’ll default on her loan and lose her only home—her ship. 

More important than her ship, though, is her brother. To rescue him from a galactic gangster, she’ll even work with Jovano who is bent on avenging his wife’s murder.

 Amazon ~ AmazonUK ~ B&N ~ Kobo ~ iBooks ~ Smashword




Saturday, September 14, 2019

#WeWriWa ~ THE PILOT: Give Me Back My Ship


Each weekend, the Weekend Writing Warriors share an 8 - 10 sentence snippet. Be sure to visit the other authors. You can find them here.

Thanks to everyone who visited last week. 

I'm sharing snippets from The Pilot: An Outer Rim Novel. It's the 1st book in a series featuring strong women on the frontier of space. Celara's ship was hailed by one claiming to be Coalition Security. In this snippet, we're back with Trevarr and his buddy Laning as they follow Celara through an asteroid field. 

Please excuse the creative punctuation, necessary to keep this within the guidelines. It's also edited a little from the original.


Laning leaned over to look at the comm display, “Sherd, Trev, not only did you leave the channel open, you used the wrong one. It’s no wonder that transport fled. You heard her—she thinks we’re pirates. Give me back my ship.”
After steadying the cruiser, Trevarr steered out of the asteroid field then relinquished control. Was Laning right? Did the transport pilot actually believe they were pirates? That would explain why the ship fled. Still, it was suspicious that the pilot had not responded initially, if only to demand proof of authority.




There's no place like home and he stole hers. 

Life on the frontier of space is hard enough so when pirates stole Celara d'Enfaden's cargo, she vowed not to be tricked again. 

Determined to make an example out of indie pilots who disobey orders, Coalition Administrator Trevarr Jovano impounds Celara’s starship and cargo. If he backs down, he’ll lose respect. If she can’t deliver her cargo, she’ll default on her loan and lose her only home—her ship. 

More important than her ship, though, is her brother. To rescue him from a galactic gangster, she’ll even work with Jovano who is bent on avenging his wife’s murder.

 Amazon ~ AmazonUK ~ B&N ~ Kobo ~ iBooks ~ Smashword





Saturday, September 7, 2019

#WeWriWa ~ THE PILOT: Nice Try, Boys


Each weekend, the Weekend Writing Warriors share an 8 - 10 sentence snippet. Be sure to visit the other authors. You can find them here.

Thanks to everyone who visited last week. 

I'm sharing snippets from The Pilot: An Outer Rim Novel. It's the 1st book in a series featuring strong women on the frontier of space. Celara's ship was hailed by one claiming to be Coalition Security. In this snippet, we're back with Trevarr and his buddy Laning as they follow Celara through an asteroid field. 

Please excuse the creative punctuation, necessary to keep this within the guidelines. It's also edited a little from the original.



“By the Matriarch’s left tit!” Laning shouted, “are you trying to wreck my new ship?”
Trevarr wrestled with the rudder to control the cruiser’s pitch and yaw.
“You there, claiming to be Coalition Security,” the feminine voice was almost as big a surprise as tumbling around an asteroid field, “do you need help?”
He struggled to regain control of the ship, momentarily taking one hand off the controls, he opened the comm channel as Laning announced, “Looks like we’re okay—a little scraped but—”
Trevarr shot Laning a warning look, “Cargo hauler, we are in need of your assistance.”
“What’s wrong with my ship? Is it in danger?”
Trevarr needed both hands to level out the cruiser, “No, but that cargo hauler will be when I catch him.”
A female laugh came through the comm channel, “Nice try, boys—you damn pirates aren’t getting my load this time. I’m going with that first report, and a word of advice—make sure you end communication before arguing between yourselves,” she laughed again before ending communication with a click.




There's no place like home and he stole hers. 

Life on the frontier of space is hard enough so when pirates stole Celara d'Enfaden's cargo, she vowed not to be tricked again. 

Determined to make an example out of indie pilots who disobey orders, Coalition Administrator Trevarr Jovano impounds Celara’s starship and cargo. If he backs down, he’ll lose respect. If she can’t deliver her cargo, she’ll default on her loan and lose her only home—her ship. 

More important than her ship, though, is her brother. To rescue him from a galactic gangster, she’ll even work with Jovano who is bent on avenging his wife’s murder.

 Amazon ~ AmazonUK ~ B&N ~ Kobo ~ iBooks ~ Smashword




Wednesday, September 4, 2019

#IWSG: BICHOK


Happy Insecure Writers Support Group Day. IWSG is the brainchild of Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh.

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds! Thanks, Alex, for starting this group and keeping it going. 

Thanks to this month's awesome hosts:  Gwen Gardner, Doreen McGettigan, Tyrean Martinson, Chemist Ken, and Cathrina Constantiner!

September 4 question - If you could pick one place in the world to sit and write your next story, where would it be and why?

Right where I am--close to the lake (Lake Michigan); closer to my grandkids. After moving around, following my husband's job, I love where I live now. 

Maybe that sounds too simplistic. A sign of increasing years? I hate to admit I'm feeling my age. After a few hours chasing the almost 2-year-old twins around (and their 4-yr-old sister who needs her share of attention), I'm exhausted. It's not like I babysit that often. Only in emergency situations when no one else is available. But this past month, it seems like I have no energy to write. Binge-watching old TV shows requires nothing--just sit idle and let the images pour in. 

I've often mentioned to others that when the creative well runs dry, it needs to be refilled. Reading is one way. I've binge-read 15 books in a 17-book mystery/thriller series this month. Since I only read before bed, that means reading long into the night then sleeping late in the morning. And that means disrupting my usual writing time.

So, what am I going to do about it? The better question is what do I want to do about it?

If I want to continue writing, I need to follow Nora Roberts' advice. BICHOK. Butt in chair, hands on keyboard.

Hope you have a great month.

Click here to find others on the Insecure Writers Support Group Blog Hop. Or go to IWSG on Facebook to see who’s blogging today.