Updates: Writing, Reading, Babies, and Movies

Is it just me or are the days flying? We're already beginning the fourth week in January. And a very productive three weeks it's been. As I wrote in my Insecure Writers' Support Group post on January 3rd, my goal for 2018 is to release three full-length novels: a brand new Alex O'Hara mystery (the 4th and as yet untitled), The Spy: An Outer Rim Novel (a science fiction romance), and Unpredictable Nature (a romantic suspense)--the last two had been started but never completed.

As you can see by the little progress widgets (on the right), I've made quite a bit of progress on the Alex O'Hara PI mystery. My intent had been to start with Unpredictable Nature, since it was the farthest along, but the words just flowed for the mystery. In fact, I didn't want to stop. That is such a good feeling. Like when a runner hits her stride. (I have to guess on the feeling, since I've never been a runner.) Then, my free-lance editor offered a bargain (a deal I couldn't refuse). To take advantage, I selected the romantic suspense, again because it was the closest to being done. 

The funny thing about the romantic suspense is that I began that story in 2003. In those days, I saved my work on 3.25 floppy discs. Remember those? Well, that was two desktop computers and three laptops ago. That was the first (and only) story I've ever written out of order. Normally, I write from beginning to end. Not this one. I wrote scenes as they hit me. Never again! Trying to make sense of where the scenes went took a chunk out of last week. But--ta da--I think I found everything and put them in some semblance of order. Now comes the "fun" part. Revising and editing, making transitions, filling in the holes. And . . . adding 32,000 words (about 64 single-spaced pages). That's all. LOL 

The idea for Unpredictable Nature started with a Girl Scout camping trip. I never enjoyed camping, probably because I don't have good memories of family camping trips we took when I was a young teen. Dad thought it would be great fun to drive north past the Soo (Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan) into the wilds of Canada. We tent camped along a deserted lake--sleeping bags, cookstove, the whole shebang. Talk about primitive. In fact, before we could enter the wilderness, Dad had to sign in with the rangers (I assume). Twenty-some years later, I was a Girl Scout leader and had to take my troop camping. Despite my aversion to camping (I really hate bugs and dirt), I learned the basics and ended up enjoying many outdoor experiences. At least, we had pit toilets (outhouses) and cots in platform tents. 

So I thought wouldn't it be fun to write a story about a man who hates the outdoors (except for golf courses and swimming pools) and has to help chaperone his daughter's camping trip. Even worse, primitive camping. I knew exactly how he felt when he learned he had to "go" in the bushes. "What do you mean no toilets?"

Starting in February, I'll start posting snippets from Unpredictable Nature for Weekend Writing Warriors (WeWriWa). That means one last snippet from Romance Rekindled next weekend.

One the homefront: the twins are growing like crazy. Both boys have gained three pounds in three months. Daughter-in-law went back to work after the new year, and we've been helping out by babysitting once a week. I'm not sure how DIL keeps up. You get one baby fed, and the other is demanding his turn. One sleeps, and the other is awake. It's constant. I thought because my two were a year apart it was like having twins. No way! Nothing is like having twins. After a day of taking care of the twins and Toddler Girl, I need a nap. A Rip Van Winkle nap. Almost.

We're trying out Netflix. After a few years of Amazon Prime, I'm ready to switch. It was so disappointing to find shows/movies I wanted to watch only to find out that they're available but at a cost. So, we'll see how Netflix goes. I've already binge-watched Father Brown (love that show) and just discovered Shetland, a Scottish detective series set in the Shetland Islands. I'm fascinated by the scenery and, of course, the twists and surprises in solving mysteries. I consider it research. LOL

Reading: I'm hooked on Anna Hackett's Phoenix series, science fiction romances featuring brothers and cousins named Phoenix. Adventure and Romance. Right up my alley. I read before bed. Too many nights, I've read well into the wee hours.



That's it for this Monday. I hope you have a great week. Tomorrow, I'll be on Connie Bretes' blog sharing a funny incident.

Lazy Summer Morning

Good morning! How is your summer going? Mine is crazy. And I'm loving it. But I'm barely keeping up with my blogs. Last week, I missed my date on Paranormal Romantics. Fortunately for me, yesterday was open and I posted about an idea I got on a road trip. 

I've also missed several Mondays here. Sorry about that. I did manage to keep up with the Weekend Writing Warriors. It's been fun sharing snippets from THE PROTECTOR (An Outer Rim Novel). Once a book is published, I don't usually read it again--since I'd probably read it a hundred times (slight exaggeration) already. So rereading it for snippets to use brings back my initial joy when writing the story. You can scroll down to see yesterday's snippet.

My Arizona family arrived just before July 4th, in time to celebrate the holiday watching fireworks from our back deck. I think our neighbors compete to see who has the best, loudest, longest displays. This year, they even obeyed the township's rule about ending by 11 pm. Amazing.

Our household has swollen from two adults to four plus a toddler, a Great Dane, and a Lab. The family will stay with us until they find a house here. Fortunately for them, their Arizona house sold and they both have jobs. Daughter in law continues her job from home and Son continues with his restaurant company. Toddler Girl plays with us. This has been a lot of fun. She's gotten so comfortable with us. She easily picks up my phone to look at pictures and play a couple of toddler-type games I loaded. I'm a sucker for learning games. I can't wait until she's old enough for the story-telling game I did with her cousins. (My StoryMaker from Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh) If you have young children (or grandchildren) this is a fabulous program. I type their words, they choose the images to add. Each time, I'm amazed at their imaginations.

The dogs are not as rambunctious as we expected, but having two large dogs in a confined space is challenging. Unfortunately, we don't have a fence around our yard so they don't get a chance to run around unless Son and DIL take them to a nearby dog park. Keeping them off the furniture is a bit of an issue. Not that our furniture is that good or expensive. Sharing the couch with a 150-pound animal who doesn't need to jump up (he just sits back) can be confining.

Going to the beach, blueberry picking, visiting the farmers' market give them lots to do. And summer wouldn't be summer without a visit to Captain Sundae's.

This is an adjustment for all of us. Everybody needs/wants their own space. I'd resigned myself that my writing would go on the back burner. Who wants to write when a two-year-old wants to sit on your lap? Or wants to go outside and draw on the driveway with chalk? Even better, our other two grandchildren (7 & 10) spent Saturday night here. The toddler was so happy to see them. They indulged her a lot. The three of them even slept in the same room. And I do mean sleep. The fact that the older two had spent a week at summer camp and were exhausted might have had something to do with it.

In January, I had no idea how much my life would change. As I've learned in the past, change depends on attitude. Some people resent it, fight it. And are miserable. I like to think I can go with the flow, smiling and enjoying a new phase in my life. 

I hope you have a great summer making wonderful memories.

If you're a writer, do you know about the Best Banter Contest? My writing chapter is sponsoring a contest where you can showcase your witty dialogue. Clicking on the big yellow button on the right will take you to the contest page. Good luck.

Why Aurora Springer Wrote Comet Tales

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

Itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/comet-tales/id1206589852

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/comet-tales

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/comet-tales-aurora-springer/1125795181

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.

Aurora Springer’s Published Stories are listed HERE

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:

Website  Facebook  Twitter  Google+  Blog

Meet Author Ed Hoornaert

I'm always happy to have someone new on my blog. Today, I'd like you to meet Ed Hoornaert, or Mr. Valentine, as he's sometimes called. He has a crazy cat called Effing Feline who helps Ed write. Ed participates in Weekend Writing Warriors, where I hang out on Sundays.

Welcome, Ed. Tell us about yourself.

What kind of guy writes romance? A guy who married his high school sweetheart a week after graduation and still lives the HEA decades later. A guy who’s a certifiable Harlequin hero—he inspired Vicki Lewis Thompson’s Rita Award finalist Mr. Valentine, which is dedicated to him.

Ed started out writing contemporary romances for Silhouette Books, but these days he concentrates on science fiction romance. He’s been a teacher, principal, technical writer, salesman, janitor, and symphonic oboist. He and wife Judi live in Tucson, Arizona. They have three sons, a daughter, a mutt, and the galaxy’s most adorable grandson.

That is so cool about marrying your high school sweetheart. Not so sure about you having the galaxy's most adorable grandson. My grandkiddies are pretty adorable, too. LOL 

Where can readers find you? 

The best place is my blog: http://eahoornaert.com.  I post at least once a week, while my other social media presences may be hit or miss.           

If you could give the younger version of yourself advice what would it be?

Two things:

·         You’re a creative person, you idiot, so don’t be afraid to embrace your creativity.

Despite being a mostly-amateur symphonic musician for years, I honestly didn’t realize how dominant my creative juices were until I was nearly forty.  Before then, I was determinedly ‘practical’, which I think is a pretty common working-class response to life.

·         That woman you love—you know, the high school sweetheart you married a week after graduation?  Ditch her for a woman with a degree in marketing.

I say this tongue in cheek, obviously, but the three richest indie authors whom I personally know all have spouses with marketing or PR backgrounds who’ve been able to give up their day jobs to promote their loved ones’ writing.

That's what I did wrong. I married an engineer. LOL

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

For a long time I considered myself a musician (I play the oboe), and I was approaching middle age before I wrote two programming books for children.  The first book was a timid experiment to see if I could actually write a book, but then I yearned for something more creative.  My wife suggested I write a romance because “Anyone can write those.”  It’s not that easy, believe me!  After I wrote one horrid disaster, my second novel sold, and I was hooked.  There’ve been some major hiatuses when I wrote nothing, but for the most part, I’ve been hooked ever since.

How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?

How many?  That’s hard to say, actually.  Fifteen have been published, but there were some unpublishable duds along the way.  My published books include:

Two introductory programming books for children.

Three Silhouette contemporary romances.

Five traditional science fictions.

Five science fiction romances.

My favorite?  Newborn, my latest release, has the psychological depth that I admire in other writers.  I think it’s pretty darned successful, and I tend to be my own harshest critic.

If I was a first time reader of your books, which one would you recommend I start with and why?

If you’re into science fiction romance, I’d say either my newest release, Newborn, or The Guardian Angel of Farflung Station.  Guardian Angel is a novella with lots of action, so you can decide quickly whether you want to continue to its sequel, Escapee.

If you prefer more traditional science fiction, start with The Trial of Tompa Lee or The Guardian Angel of Farflung Station.  The former originally came out in hardcover through a traditional publisher, and it’s still my best selling book.  (Excluding the Silhouette romances; those things sold like hotcakes.) I know I recommended Guardian Angel for SFR lovers, but it also contains more hard science than any of my other books.

Tell us about your latest release, which will be released tomorrow, November 4th.

Thought you’d never ask.

Newborn is a near-future science fiction romance that was born out of my perverse streak that looks at common writing trends and say “I’m gonna do the opposite.”

You see, in many books and scripts, created creatures like robots, cyborgs, or clones, are supermen with powers beyond normal people, as though it’s easy to improve on human beings.  Think Arnold Schwarzenegger in the original Terminator movie.

Newborn’s heroine is sort of based on Schwarzenegger, except Jo is a petite female assassin clone rather than a beefy assassin robot.  While she does have supernormal physical abilities, she also has severe social limitations: she’s the most naïve assassin ever.  Her programmers intended her to live just a few hours, kill, and then die, so she lacks the background needed to live longer.  When her life is unavoidably prolonged, Jo compulsion to kill wars with an urge to learn about life and love; to become fully human.  This powerful internal conflict is compounded by the fact that she falls in love with the bodyguard of the alien fugitive she’s supposed to kill.  Nothing’s easy for poor Jo.

Buy links:

• Amazon
• Barnes and Noble
• Apple iTunes
• Kobo Books
• Smashwords

Ed, this sounds like a great story. I preordered my copy.

#8Sunday MISSION TO NEW EARTH #WeWriWa

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warrior and 8 Sentence Sunday time, the weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Writers share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet. Be sure to visit the other writers. You can find them here.

My snippet is from my new sci-fi romance novella MISSION TO NEW EARTH. Sara has diffused a tense situation between 2 team members, Marsh and Tom. She's given the team time off, even though they're due for another simulation. The rest of the team takes off, leaving Sara and Marsh behind.

I strolled up to the man I loved and put my arms around his waist. When I rested my head on his chest, I heard the thud of his heart, normally, a reassuring sound that always made me go weak in the knees, now it beat more rapidly than usual, still agitated

“Hey, guy, everything will be all right. We’re ready--more than ready.”

“I know, it’s just—”

Leaning back in his arms, I reached up and patted his cheek. “Settle down, big boy.” I gave him a long kiss, to which he didn’t respond—still worked up over the latest simulation. Then he gave in, as I knew he would. Not to be smug, but Marsh did like my kisses.

 

This will be my last snippet from Mission to New Earth. Next week: new month, new story. Thanks for all your comments.

The Story:

Would you go on a one-way trip to explore a new planet? Would you do it to save humankind?

In 2172, Earth’s overpopulation and dwindling resources force the United Earth Space Agency to expedite exploration of new planets for a possible new home. When new crises ensue—a giant tsunami and the threat of nuclear winter—the timeline changes. Eight years of training crammed into four.

Sara Grenard and her team prepare for launch, but are they ready for the one-way trip? Will the Goldilocks planet prove just right for Earth’s inhabitants? Before time runs out.

Amazon ~ Kobo ~ iTunes ~ ARe ~ Smashwords ~ Barnes & Noble

The is the last week for the Giveaway. Don't forget to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Now go check out the other authors. 

Release Day! MISSION TO NEW EARTH is here!

At last!

There were times when I thought I would never finish this book. And it's short, for heaven's sake. Roughly 88 pages, which makes it a novella instead of a novel.

As you can tell from the marvelous cover (by the amazing Florence at The Novel Difference), MISSION TO NEW EARTH is science fiction plus romance.

Blurb:

Earth’s overpopulation and dwindling resources force the United Earth Space Agency to expedite exploration of new planets for a possible new home. When new crises ensue—a giant tsunami and the threat of nuclear winter—the timeline changes. Eight years of training crammed into four. Sara Grenard and her team prepare for launch, but are they ready for the one-way trip? Will the Goldilocks planet prove just right for Earth’s inhabitants? Before time runs out.

Here's a short excerpt:

Then only Marsh and I were left.

I strolled up to the man I loved and put my arms around his waist. When I rested my head on his chest, I heard the thud of his heart. Normally, a reassuring sound that always made me go weak in the knees, it beat more rapidly than usual. He was still agitated about the sim.

“Hey, guy. Everything will be all right. We’re ready. More than ready.”

“I know. It’s just—”

Leaning back in his arms, I reached up and patted his cheek. “Settle down, big boy. I think Bill and Ana have the right idea. From Gloria’s blush, she and Tom do, too.” I gave him a long kiss. At first, he didn’t respond—still worked up over the latest simulation. Then he gave in, as I knew he would. Not to be smug, but Marsh did like my kisses.

His kiss turned hard, demanding, as he strained to maintain control. I wanted him that much, too. But not on the tile floor in the lav. The shower had possibilities. When he eyed the enclosure, I knew he was thinking the same thing. Too bad I had other obligations. That was me, duty first. I could be such a stick-in-the-mud.

MISSION TO NEW EARTH is available at:

Amazon ~ Kobo ~ iTunes ~ ARe ~ Smashwords ~ Barnes & Noble

BLOG TOUR

My friends have offered to help celebrate my new release. At each stop, you can read more about MISSION TO NEW EARTH, different excerpts, behind the scenes, the characters, and me. Also, at each stop, you'll have an opportunity to register for an Amazon $10 Gift Card.

Sept 1: Alicia Dean

Sept 2: Kathy Wheeler

Sept 6: Gina Conkle

            Veronica Scott

Sept 7: M.J. Schiller

Sept 9: Barbara Edwards

Sept 12: Linda Nightingale

Sept 13: Hywela Lyn

Sept 14: Linda Carroll-Brad

Sept 15: Mischa Gericke
Sept 20: Eva Solar
Sept 21: Zara West (since that's One Red Shoe's book birthday, I'll be talking about it, too)

              J.Q. Rose
Sept 27: Maureen Bonatch

GIVEAWAY

Leave a comment and you may win a $10 Amazon Gift Card. Here's a question: Would you go on a one-way trip to a new planet?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Brother Mine by Jolie Mason

Jolie Mason's Brother Mine is now available.

Brother Mine by Jolie Mason

The Basics:

Title: Brother Mine

Release Date: May 31, 2016

Genres: Scifi Romance

Heat Level: Sensual Romance

Word count: 51, 977

Editor: AM Manay

Author: Jolie Mason

Cover Design: Hayley Faye, FayeFayedesigns

Blurb:

Mal Renata was born with the proverbial silver spoon in her mouth, but it never stopped her from becoming the voice of the Braxian people. As an activist fighting off mankind’s inevitable slide into cruelty and prejudice, she wants to stop the Scourge bill from becoming law, but how can she do that, if the bill’s supporters keep dying? Public outcry wants someone to pay, so she intends to give them someone.

Until she tracks down, Adame Sacha, a Braxian freedman and one of the notorious Brother Assassins, she thinks the brotherhood is her problem. Instead, she finds they may be the best allies she could hope for. Together, she and Adame search for those who are eager to profit from the suffering of the Brax, and they track their prey in a world where lives are held cheaply, but death is expensive.

They may be able to elude the dangers of his world for awhile, but they can’t run from the attraction to each other.  No matter what their differences.

Author Bio:

Jolie Mason lives, works and plays on the mighty Mississippi in the infamous New Madrid, Missouri. Coming home again has allowed her time to write and chase the dream she's always harbored in her heart, making people smile with fairytales.

Jolie has been a fangirl to almost every scifi franchise out in her lifetime, and follows every possible scifi romance author out there. Nothing has ever captured her attention like scifi, and she's put all that day dreaming to good use.

She began publishing Home in the Stars in 2015, and has since added a novella series called the 47^th Lancers to that number.  Jolie is currently working on two brand new scifi series, including the Brother Assassins.

Author Contact:

Web site: https://joliemasonblog.wordpress.com/

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Jolie-Mason/e/B00ZBCUB0Q/

Twitter: @Rwjoliemason

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/scifichickjmason/

Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14054623.Jolie_Mason

Goodreads Book Link:  unassigned at this time

Excerpt

 “Where's your boss?"

The brother before her nodded to the space behind her, and gracefully moved to stand, allowing her room to stand as well, though not as gracefully. "What the hell did you give me?"

"A simple sedative. That is all."

She rubbed the back of her neck. "Yeah, well, it feels like a fifth of whiskey."

"I apologize for your discomfort."

Taken aback, she looked closely at the man. He towered over her and had the lean build of all his kind, but he was dressed as a freedman. Soft, comfortable jacket, trousers and the bands on his shirt that indicate he was not owned or allowed to be owned. There would be two tattoos on each arm underneath as well, to prevent his enslavement. It was a rare thing to meet a Braxian freedman.

"You are a most fortunate man. How long have you been free?"

Surprise jumped to his dark, blinking eyes. "Ten Standard, Suran."

Her lips tightened. "There is no need for sarcasm."

"Pardon?" A slight smile touched his lips.

"Does suran not mean 'most honored one'?"

"It does indeed. It is a term of respect."

She put her hands on her hips. "For royalty that no longer exist. I know sarcasm. I speak it fluently in multiple Languages. You just called me princess in a condescending tone and patronized me, thinking I wouldn't notice."

Get your copy of Brother Mine  

Are:  https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-brothermine-2034492-153.html

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Brother-Mine-Assassins-Book-ebook/dp/B01F4XKJ0S?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0

Ibooks:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1111079698

Kobo:  https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/brother-mine

New Release - The Protector

The Protector

by Diane Burton

Amazon ~ Kobo ~ Smashwords ~ iTunes ~ B&N

Genre: Science Fiction Romance

Release Date: July 24, 2015
Length: 370 Pages

It's finally here! After nine months, my "baby" is ready to meet the public. Of all the books I've written, The Protector was the hardest, the most emotional for me as a mother. I had to dig deep to image how a mother would feel upon losing her child. Not to miscarriage, which is difficult enough, but to kidnappers. Even years later, how would that mother feel? What would she have to do in order to cope? Although only a mother who has experienced this tragedy would know, I hope I've conveyed her emotions well.

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:

Fortuna hurried into the kitchen. “To what do I owe this honor?” The pleasure house owner laughed. “Finally going to take me up on my offer to sample my newest provider? He’s absolutely delish. And what stamina.”

Though her cheeks flamed, Rissa brushed aside the offer then quickly explained her need for small clothing.

“Slavers?” Fortuna screwed up her face in disgust. “I heard rumors of disappearances in cities like Rhadaman but not in the colonies.”

“About the clothes?” Rissa needed to return before the girls decided to explore. Or, worse, leave.

Fortuna led her up the back stairs to the sleeping quarters. “SeeMee isn’t working right now. She’s the smallest.”

A few mins later, Rissa had a bundle of clothing from the generous SeeMee who was only too happy to help the escapees. “I chose this life,” the tiny pleasure worker explained. “Nobody should be forced into it.”

And that, Rissa thought, made the difference between pleasure houses and prostis. Choice. She had to make sure those girls bathing in her sanitary could make their own choices.

“The other girl is taller than you,” Rissa said to Fortuna. “About this high.” She leveled her hand near her own shoulder.

Fortuna nodded. “Wait here. Don’t want to interrupt anything.” She grinned.

When she returned to the tavern with the clothes, Rissa found the girls wearing what she’d left them. Her shirt hung almost to Anaris’ ankles. On Pela, it reached her knees. They’d been sitting on her settee, Pela brushing Anaris’ hair. They jumped up when Rissa came in.

Both eyed her warily.

Pela broke the silence. “What are you going to do with us?”

Rissa sat on the end of her bed across from them. “I can find transport so you can return home.”

“No.” Pela’s sharp response surprised her. “I won’t go back.”

Anaris looked even more frightened. “Please don’t,” she whimpered.

With delicate probing, Rissa got their stories. Both girls had been sold by their fathers to the traffickers. Her heart twisted for them. How could a parent not appreciate the gift of life given to them? To sell their flesh and blood was unconscionable.

Rissa reined in her anger. “You have a choice where to go, what to do. Nobody will force you. Now try on these clothes, and when you’re ready come down to the kitchen.”

Pela stood in front of Rissa. “Why are you helping us? What’s in it for you?”

“Repentance.”

The Protector is available at:  Amazon ~ Kobo ~ Smashwords 

This week, I'll be at other blogs with different excerpts. I hope you'll stop by.

Today (Monday): Jessica Subject  

Wednesday:  Linda Carroll-Brad

                     Elizabeth Meyette

Thursday: Liza O'Connor  

                 Roses of Prose