#SFRBrigade Holiday Showcase

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#SFRBrigade Showcase: The Protector

The SFR Brigade Showcase is the chance for Science Fiction Romance authors to showcase excerpts from their latest releases, snippets from a work-in-progress, a new cover for their book or just have fun! Be sure to check out all the great posts this month.

Last month, you got a glimpse into Rissa Dix, the main character in THE PROTECTOR. Now you get to see Dillan via an interview.

Please introduce yourself for those who haven’t met you in your author’s other books.

I’m Dillan Rusteran. I barely got a mention in my author’s last book The Chameleon. I live in Eleganza, capital city for the Coalition of Planets.

Tell us about your family.

My father is an iron-fisted tyrant, and my mother took off when I was 15. Before that, she was too busy helping what she called “the unfortunate.” Basically, I was raised by the family cook and mechanic.

How did your upbringing influence who you are today?

If I ever have kids, I won’t let work or volunteering keep me from being with them. They wouldn’t be raised by someone else because I was too busy.

What was your first thought when you met the hero/heroine?

I fell hard. I was sixteen and she was 24. (She reminds me constantly of the age difference. Even though I’m 32 now, she still thinks of me as a kid.) My buddies and I had come to Astron Colony to climb the mountains. The first time I saw her she was behind the bar chatting up one of the miners from my father’s company.

Hang on. You were sixteen and in a bar? Wasn’t that illegal?

[scoffs] Out on the frontier (the Outer Rim), not much is illegal. Besides, my buddies brought me to Rissa’s tavern and they were all older. I didn’t drink the hard stuff, just some ale made by a local farmer. To get back to Rissa. She was the most beautiful fem I’d ever seen. Big exotic eyes, dark hair that hung in a single braid almost to her waist, and the greatest laugh.

Why did you fall for her?

Besides being gorgeous, she was genuine. Not like the fakes in the Central District. Each time my buddies and I came back, she seemed glad to see us—and not just because we ate and drank at her place. I made sure we came back often, and, boy, did my best friend ever tease me about her. On my latest visit, I saw more of her compassion than ever before. She rescued a girl from a slave ship, rallied the colony to prevent traffickers from taking children, and even took on a galactic villain. I’m in awe of her bravery, even though the lengths she’ll go to protect children thoroughly frightens me. What a fem!

Why did you choose your occupation?

I didn’t. I never wanted to be a corporate lawyer. To escape my arrogant father (who assumed I’d follow his dictates), I went out to the frontier with my buddies where we led a reckless, thrill-seeking life for 10 years. When my best friend died in a rock slide, I vowed to change my ways. To prove to my father I’d changed, I became the lawyer he wanted me to be and joined his company. But when he sent me on an impossible mission, I knew I had to be my own man, not his clone.

Do you have any hobbies?

I’ve always played around with starship designs, what my father calls a waste of time. I learned to tinker with engines and figure out how to make them more efficient. I should have chosen this for my occupation. Rissa is making me see the light.

How would you spend a free day?

With Rissa. She is my hope, my joy, my salvation, and my love.

THE PROTECTOR blurb:

After tavern owner Rissa Dix rescues two girls from a slave ship, she must rally the townsfolk to prevent traffickers from raiding the frontier colony. She’s met with apathy and disbelief. Because she lost her own baby to traffickers, she’s determined that no other mother will suffer the same heartache. Industrialist heir Dillan Rusteran aids her in rescuing more children. Little do they know they’re about to tangle with a trafficking ring that puts Rissa in danger. Dillan’s loved her for years despite her claim she’s too old for him. As they fight the traffickers, will she finally see him in a new light?

THE PROTECTOR is available at: Amazon ~ Kobo ~ Smashwords ~ B&N ~ iTunes

Stop by the Showcase page to visit all the other Showcase authors! You’re sure to find some interesting reads.

 

#SFRBrigade Showcase: The Protector

The SFR Brigade Showcase is the chance for Science Fiction Romance authors to showcase excerpts from their latest releases, snippets from a work-in-progress, a new cover for their book or just have fun with something silly, like a character interview! Be sure to check out all the great posts this month.

For my showcase, I’m sharing an excerpt from the third book in my Outer Rim series, The Protector. It’s a standalone book, which means you don’t have to read the previous two to enjoy. But I hope you will.

Blurb:

After tavern owner Rissa Dix rescues two girls from a slave ship, she must rally the townsfolk to prevent traffickers from raiding the frontier colony. She’s met with apathy and disbelief. Because she lost her own baby to traffickers, she’s determined that no other mother will suffer the same heartache. Industrialist heir Dillan Rusteran aids her in rescuing more children. Little do they know they’re about to tangle with a trafficking ring that puts Rissa in danger. Dillan’s loved her for years despite her claim she’s too old for him. As they fight the traffickers, will she finally see him in a new light?

Excerpt:

When she heard the rustle, Rissa stopped in the middle of the sanitary. “Whoever you are, come out. Right now.”

Another rustle then the sound of feet lightly hitting the floor. The lock slid open then slowly the door moved.

“Please,” a soft voice whispered. “Don’t hurt us.”

That sounded like a young girl.

“Come out where I can see you.” Rissa, too, whispered.

A tall, dark-haired teen stepped out, followed by a smaller girl with light brown hair. They both looked terrified. Their hair was matted and dirt smudged their faces. Their clothes were filthy. The smells emanating from them contributed to the general san-fac odors. Rissa did her best not to react.

Holding the other girl behind her, the tall one stepped forward, jutting out her chin. “We are not going back.”

“O-kay. Back where?”

“You can’t make us. We’ll escape again.”

Rissa had to admire her bravado. “You escaped? From where?”

“Did they send you in here to get us?”

Since the taller one seemed to be the spokesperson, Rissa kept her eyes on her. Something about her was compelling. Rissa could be looking at herself at the same age. Then it hit her hard, like a blow to the stomach. That was what Miri would have looked like at that age. Same strong Traishan features—olive skin, dark hair and eyes. Same strong will.

Rissa took a deep breath to steady herself before locking the outer door. “Nobody sent me. You asked for help. What can I do?”

“Get us out of here before they discover we’re gone.” Despite the strength in the tall girl’s voice, she worked hard to keep her chin from wobbling.

“Who?” Rissa was afraid she knew.

“Those men. The Chellians. We can’t go back. We won’t.”

By the Matriarch, traffickers.

Her lungs seized, her heart hurt so badly Rissa clutched her chest. Be strong, she told herself. Pull yourself together. No traffickers had ever come to Astron Colony before. Or even to Galeriana. She had to help the girls get away.

She glanced at the window on the far wall.

“We couldn’t open it,” the smaller girl sobbed. “We were trying when you came in. We thought you were them.”

Since Rissa was taller, she could easily reach the window. With a shove, she got it open. “Come.” She motioned to the tall girl. “You first. You can catch your friend. She’s too small to catch you.”

She cupped her hands for the girl’s foot. “Hide outside. I’ll come around and take you somewhere safe.” At the girls’ wary looks, she added, “I promise. Now go before someone comes looking for us.”

Rissa boosted her up to the open window. The tall girl hoisted herself through, disappeared for a moment then stuck her head inside.

“The ground is higher out here. Come, Anaris.” She held out her arms.

The small girl, Anaris, gave Rissa a panicked look. “You’ll come for us?”

The door rattled. “Hey,” a male yelled. “Open up.”

Anaris gave her a panicked look.

“Gimme a min,” Rissa yelled back.

“I promise to come for you,” Rissa whispered then gave her a boost. Like the tall girl, Anaris disappeared through the window.

As Rissa reached to close it, the tall girl was there about to do the same. “Thank you.” She shut the window and ducked out of sight.

Hoping they would wait for her, Rissa walked out of the san-fac. A mech glared at her. “Whadda mean by locking the door?”

“Didn’t want you walking in on me.” She glanced over at a commotion near the freighter where she’d delivered the supplies. “What’s going?”

The pilot was yelling and his two crewmen were darting between ships, searching.

“Damn offworlder.” The mech brushed past her into the san-fac.

When the pilot saw her, he yelled, “What did you do with them?”

Rissa looked around to see who he was shouting at.

“You there.” He stormed up to her. “Where are those two girls?”

She affected a confused expression. “What girls?”

“My cargo, I mean passengers. Damn you to Lexol’s Fire. How did you get them out?”

The pilot’s slip confirmed what Rissa feared. The girls she helped escape had been cargo. The pilot and crew were slavers, bastards who trafficked in children. A primal urge swept through her. Kill them. Kill them now.

The Protector is available at: Amazon ~ Kobo ~ Smashwords ~ B&N ~ iTunes

Stop by the Showcase page to visit all the other Showcase authors! You’re sure to find some interesting reads.

SFR Brigade Showcase

I'm excited to participate in the monthly SFR Brigade Showcase. Here's a chance to find new authors and connect with familiar ones. (Notice I didn't say "old" ones. LOL) This is my first time. Yikes, a showcase virgin!

Waaay back (I'd say in a galaxy far away, except it was New York City) in the early 2000's Silhouette put out a call for their Bombshell series. Unfortunately (for them), they didn't like my idea for a series about strong women on the frontier of space. So what did they know! I loved this idea of books loosely linked but not sequels that I call my Outer Rim series. The first book is THE PILOT.

Blurb:

There's no place like home and he just stole hers. Cargo hauler, risk taker Celera d'Enfaden must work with rule-bound Administrator Trevarr Jovano to save her brother from a galactic gangster.

Determined to bring order to the frontier, rule-bound official Trevarr Jovano refuses to tolerate those who disrespect the law. So when an indie pilot refuses to obey, he seizes her ship and cargo. If he backs down, he’ll lose respect. If Celara can’t deliver her cargo, she’ll default on her loan and lose the only home she’s ever known—her ship.

Excerpt:

Celara pushed her chair away from the table and climbed up on it. “Quiet down, you Rimmer scum.”

The patrons laughed then quieted. Someone paused the Seinfeld vid.

She lifted her drink again. “A toast, Rimmers. Let’s hear it for the wonderful, fantabulous, yada, yada, yada, Administrator Jovano. May he live long enough to enjoy good health.”

To her surprise, silence met her toast. No one raised their glasses or mugs, even in jest. Everyone was looking at her, standing on the chair.

No, they were looking past her. Only thing behind her was the door. Kleema groaned and buried her head on her folded arms on the table. Booted footsteps rapped on the rough-hewn plank floor then stopped behind her.

“Thank you for the compliments and the good wishes for my longevity.” The baritone-and-chokiris voice sounded just over her shoulder.

If she ever needed a personal cloaking device, it was now. Or a magic ring with which to disappear. Sec Admin Trevarr Jovano stood behind her. Waiting. She swore she could feel him breathing.

Undaunted, she turned around. As the room tipped, she reached for the back of the chair. “Whoa, those mudslides sneak up on you.”

Missing the chair, she grabbed the closest thing—Trevarr Jovano’s black-clad shoulders. Beneath her fingers, the strong muscles contracted. “Hey there, Admin Man. Heard my toast, did you?” She grinned down at him.

He wasn’t smiling. “You should sit down before you fall down. Or better yet, go home and sleep it off.”

A dark fury swept away the sweet tranquility of two tall Kruferian mudslides. “I can’t go home, you snake. You stole my home.”

She swung a round-house punch at him, missed her objective and would have fallen ignominiously off the chair had he not caught her. For several long secs, he held her tightly against his chest, her feet dangling off the floor a good twenty-five centimeters. His green eyes caught hers and darkened.

The heat in the room rose ten degrees. Her heart tripped, the air leached out of her lungs. His eyes. She could drown in those green depths.

 

Buy links:

Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00AE6OH4K

Kobo:  http://www.kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=The+Pilot+by+Diane+Burton

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/nz/book/the-pilot-an-outer-rim-novel/id585944591?mt=11

B&N:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-pilot-diane-burton/1113871371?ean=2940015808575

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/259950



Right now, I'm working on the 3rd book in the series. Tavern owner Rissa appears in the two previous books. Now it's her turn. She'll do anything to prevent slavers from taking children and teens from her colony. She's not just being a concerned citizen. For her, it's personal. Complicating the situation is the re-appearance of the "kid" who had a crush on her. Only he's not a kid anymore and he loves her. She just doesn't realize it.

I just wish I had a title for this book. The other book in the series is The Chameleon. Any ideas?

To find the rest of the authors participating in the showcase, click here.