Why I Wrote Comet Tales.
Comet
Tales is a compilation of four short stories and a novella written over two and
a half years. The common theme is light-hearted romance in a science fiction setting.
Several of these stories have been published separately.
The
short stories were written to celebrate different holidays. Most are too short
to be viable as separate publications.
Gifts of Jangalore was published in December,
2014, to celebrate the winter festival of lights as a nonsectarian celebration
in the far future, or possibly an alternate universe. It is set on the jungle
planet of Jangalore. This story belongs in the Grand Masters’ Galaxy and helps draw readers to the series.
Empath Rosa Spruce and Psi Master Varan seek an
ancient site within an alien jungle.
Stranded on Illumina was written for
Valentine’s Day, 2017, and offered to my newsletter subscribers.
Jacie’s plan to meet her boyfriend on the
Planet Illumina is scuttled when he skips their date.
Lonely Hearts on Mars was published in 2015
for Valentine’s Day. In future, I may write a series set in our solar system.
Love blossoms from disaster in this science
fiction short story set in the near future.
Super Christmas is obvious. I offered
this microstory in the Secret Supers
series to my newsletter subscribers in December, 2016. This series is set in
contemporary Earth with an alien twist, including genetic engineering and super
animals.
A glimpse into the lives of the Secret Supers.
Captured by the Hawk, the novella starring
an Irish spy and a space pirate was written and published in 2014. This adventure
pairs two stubborn protagonists in a fun and fast-paced space operetta. The
setting is the whole galaxy. Readers enjoy this story and some have asked for a
sequel.
Spaceships crash across the galaxy in the comic
misadventures of spy Grey Kat and pirate Black Hawk.
Comet Tales - Four short stories and a novella.
Trudge over the rocks of Mars, trek
through a hazardous alien jungle, or pop across the galaxy in a pirate ship in
five fun tales of adventure and romance.
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B06X3WWYF2
Excerpt from Captured by the Hawk
Kat grinned. She had unlocked the first door, and they were
inside the scouter. With luck, the ship would be empty at night while it was
under repair. They tiptoed to the far end of the hold, and climbed the narrow
metal stairs to the upper level. The door to the personnel area had a standard
lock. Hawk pushed Kat aside and bent over the lock, his body concealing his
actions. She heard a metallic crunch and the door creaked open. She guessed his
steel fingers had snapped the bolt.
Hawk glanced
back at Kat. A quick jerk of his head signaled his intention to proceed, and
she followed his dark figure further inside the ship. He seemed familiar with
the interior layout of the scouter, since he led the way without hesitation
along the corridors. Finally, they ascended narrow steps, and opened the door
to the bridge of the ship.
A handful of
lights shone on the control panels, and several were red. Kat glided over to
the central com and lowered herself into the seat. Treading quietly behind, the
Hawk rested his hands on the back of the seat and peered over her shoulders.
“Shall I open
the panel?” he whispered.
“No. I’ll try breaking into the com first.” Kat
activated the screen and hit keys. The screen lit up, but nothing else
happened. She input the first sequence of the secret code, and waited a few
seconds for a response, leaning back and propping her neck
on her hands. If the com did not activate, she would try another tactic to
break in.
Kat bent
forward to begin a new sequence. Abruptly, a loud hiss came from below the
panel. She felt a gush of air. No, it wasn’t air. It smelled wrong.
Instantly,
she sprung out of the seat, yelling, “Gas!” and dashed for the door.
She heard the
crunch of metal on metal, as if the Hawk was trying to seal off the spouting
gas. Then, he was at her back and shouted, “Get out. It’s a trap.”
More hisses
of gas escaped from beneath other panels.
They leaped down the stairs and raced back toward the cargo
hold. Faint buzzing sounds suggested the gas was seeping into the corridors.
Kat felt weird, groggy. Her legs wobbled. She stumbled, trembling
uncontrollably.
“I can’t go on!” she mumbled, tottering on legs
too shaky to support her body.
Black Hawk
hauled her upright, preventing her from collapsing to the ground. Seizing her
arms, he half carried, half dragged her towards the cargo exit. The dim lights
around the door to the cargo hold were only a few feet ahead. But, her head was
spinning and Kat was too dizzy to see straight.
Abruptly, the
Hawk groaned and slumped to the ground, dragging Kat down with him. The light
caught in his eyes as he lay beside her. “Sorry!” he gasped.
She tumbled
into a speckled greyness, which darkened to black nothingness.
Author
Bio
Aurora
Springer is a scientist morphing into a novelist. She has a
PhD in molecular biophysics and discovers science facts in her day job. She has
invented adventures in weird worlds for as long as she can remember. In 2014,
Aurora achieved her life-long ambition to publish her stories. Her works are
character-driven adventures and romances set in weird worlds and described with
a sprinkle of humor. Some of the stories were composed thirty years ago. She
was born in the UK and lives in Atlanta with her husband, a dog and two cats to
sit on the keyboard. Her hobbies, besides reading and writing, include outdoor
activities like gardening, watching wildlife, hiking and canoeing.
Media links:
