I'm so happy to have Veronica Scott here again. She's one of my favorite authors of science fiction romance and a generous friend. Yesterday, she had me as her guest on Here Be Magic blog.
I'm excited that she's here to talk about her latest release, Danger in the Stars. As soon as it came out, I had to read it. (You can read my review on Amazon.) Action, adventure, paranormal activity, a tortured heroine bent on revenge, and a reluctant hero. Doesn't that sound great?
Welcome, Veronica!
Thanks for having me as your guest again, with an excerpt
from my latest scifi romance release, Danger
in the Stars!
There were several themes I wanted to weave together in this
book, one being the idea of an empath using her abilities as a powerful weapon.
When I was a kid I saw a Star Trek episode entitled “The Empath” and I was much
struck with the heroine’s abilities and limitations, and the effects of what
she did. (I also decided at the time that I must be an empath too, although sadly
without any extra super powers!).
It was fun to now take that concept and run
in a totally different direction with it. I also included an organized crime
element in my plot, which isn’t an area I usually delve into, but I figured the
Mob will probably go to the stars with humanity in some form or another. Having
an evil, unprincipled group like the Amarotu Combine entrenched in the Sectors
offers a lot of plot possibilities. I like to keep my novels firmly in the
science fiction realm but also to change things up and offer different looks at
the interstellar world I’ve built and adventures my characters can be drawn
into. With a strong romance and a Happily Ever After ending, of course!
Here’s the story for Danger in the Stars:
Miriell, a powerful empathic priestess, has been
kidnapped from her own primitive planet along with a number of her people, and
sold to the evil Amarotu Combine, largest organized crime syndicate in the
Sectors. When she and her handler are sent to use her power to commit an assassination,
she must leave behind her own sister as hostage to ensure her compliance.
Miriell cannot ask for aid without endangering herself and others.
Despite his best efforts, Combine enforcer Conor
Stewart is entranced by Miriell, and helps her evade the worst of brutal
treatment from the rest of the mob. But Conor must keep his distance, before
the lovely empath learns that he has secrets of his own–secrets that could get
them both killed.
The situation becomes dire when Conor and Miriell
come to the attention of both the Combine overlords and the deadly Mawreg,
aliens who threaten the Sectors. Can she save herself and the Mawreg’s next
victims? And will Conor help her, or remain loyal to his evil bosses?
VS Note: This is the story of the sister who is
mentioned in passing in Star Cruise: Stowaway, my story in the award winning
PETS IN SPACE anthology. The new novel is completely standalone.
Excerpt - the moment when Miriell is forced to show
ruthless crime boss Opherra what her powers are capable of accomplishing.
Jareck is her criminal ‘handler.’ The scene is in a luxurious restaurant.
It
was at the third course when Opherra suddenly leaned over and said to Jareck,
“I want a demonstration of what the performer can do. Prove to me you can be of
assistance in what I need.”
“Can
you give me a few more details on what you want me to make her do?” Jareck
asked.
Miriell
felt nauseated as her muscles tensed while she waited to learn what atrocious
act she’d be required to perform now, what perversion of her Thuun-given gifts
would be demanded.
“The
end game is to help me attract a particular influential gentleman who’s been
curiously resistant to my charms,” Opherra said, her lips twisted in annoyance.
“I need him in thrall to me for our plans here to move forward. In too deep to
back out when I reveal my true agenda. No names, but he’s key. My boss is tired
of waiting for the standard ploys to yield results.”
“Is
he here?”
She
shook her head. “Of course not. I need to see these abilities in action before
I risk my entire operation on an unknown.” Glancing around the restaurant, she
laughed. “Oh yes, an excellent target for the demonstration I want. You see
that blonde woman, the one with her husband, the older couple and three
children? I’ve never seen anyone less likely to commit suicide. Make her throw
herself off the balcony, and I’ll be a believer.” She drummed her talonlike red
fingernails on the tablecloth. “Now.”
Miriell’s
heart sank. The target was clearly happy, surrounded by her family, and had
been casually targeted by Opherra to die just to prove a point. She gathered
her power, which was curiously difficult to do, perhaps because she was so
repelled by the task, and hummed the death song under her breath. Reaching out
with her senses, she found the tiniest gray in the unfortunate woman’s vivid
colors. Each sentient had their private sorrows and constant worries. Miriell
worked to expand the gray, suppress the other colors. The woman’s companions
were oblivious to her sudden silence, because the lively children were laughing
and talking so happily. Suddenly, there were gasps as the target of Miriell’s
attack rose abruptly from the table, knocking her chair into the person next to
her. Face blank, the woman strode toward the edge of the dining area and the
observation platform that built over thin air. It had safety rails, but nothing
robust enough to stop a determined adult from pitching headfirst to the ground
hundreds of feet below. Her husband
raced after her, but she had a head start and was increasing her speed as she
went.
Hoping
no one would notice what she was doing, Miriell continued her pressure on the
woman but began to subtly affect one of the waiters carrying a huge load of
dishes until, at literally the last second, he backed away from a table and
collided with the suicidal woman, sending them both reeling and collapsing to
the floor, tangled together, covered in food and broken crockery. Miriell
released her hold on both sentients and fell back in her chair. Hand shaking,
she reached for her glass of water and sipped, although her throat was nearly
closed from stress. Please let that be enough of a demonstration for
Opherra.
Author Bio:
Best Selling Science Fiction & Paranormal Romance author
and “SciFi Encounters” columnist for the USA Today Happily Ever After blog,
Veronica Scott grew up in a house with a library as its heart. Dad loved
science fiction, Mom loved ancient history and Veronica thought there needed to
be more romance in everything. When she ran out of books to read, she started
writing her own stories.
Seven time winner of the SFR Galaxy Award, as well as a
National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award, Veronica is also the proud
recipient of a NASA Exceptional Service Medal relating to her former day job,
not her romances! She was honored to read the part of Star Trek Crew Member in
the audiobook production of Harlan Ellison’s “The City On the Edge of Forever.”
