A fun way to sample new books and find new writers! Here’s the link to the Weekend Writing Warriors central page, so you can visit all the participants sharing excerpts today…
The luxury ship Nebula Dream has suffered a middle of the night catastrophe in space. My hero, Nick Jameson, has fought his way to the nearest lifeboat and found chaos. Some creative editing and punctuation has occurred. As he’s just about finished loading the lifeboat, businesswoman Mara Lyrae arrives, much to his relief. But she refuses to get on the lifeboat, as there are children in need of rescuing…after a brief argument, Nick sends the lifeboat on its way. He and Mara set out to rescue the children, accompanied by Khevan, a D’nvannae Brother (think bodyguard/assassin sworn to serve an alien goddess).
This snippet is after they’ve reached the family’s cabin and discovered a growing hull breach.
The door suddenly released completely, and the two men half fell into the cabin. Mara shoved past them, stumbling over them in her haste, calling to the children.
“Paolo? Gianna, where are you, sweeties?”
“In here, with Mommy, in our bedroom. She’s on the floor. I think she’s sleeping a while now,” the high-pitched voice, choked with repressed sobs, said from the darkness.
The three adults exchanged glances in the gloom of the main cabin.
The Story
Traveling unexpectedly aboard the luxury liner Nebula Dream on its maiden voyage across the galaxy, Sectors Special Forces Captain Nick Jameson is ready for ten relaxing days, and hoping to forget his last disastrous mission behind enemy lines. He figures he’ll gamble at the casino, take in the shows, maybe even have a shipboard fling with Mara Lyrae, the beautiful but reserved businesswoman he meets.
All his plans vaporize when the ship suffers a wreck of Titanic proportions. Captain and crew abandon ship, leaving the 8000 passengers stranded without enough lifeboats and drifting unarmed in enemy territory. Aided by Mara, Nick must find a way off the doomed ship for himself and several other innocent people before deadly enemy forces reach them or the ship’s malfunctioning engines finish ticking down to self destruction.
But can Nick conquer the demons from his past that tell him he’ll fail these innocent people just as he failed to save his Special Forces team? Will he outpace his own doubts to win this vital race against time?
That can’t be good.
http://joycelansky.blogspot.com/
I have been on tenterhooks for these kids since last week – spill!
Oh no, sounds ominous, tense scene.
That’s never good, when Mommy’s “sleeping.” *prepares Kleenex for next week*
Yikes! Heart-stopping snippet, well-don!
Uh-oh. Sleeping Mommy probably not good.
Tweeted.
Oh no! I might cry.
Tweeted.
Cliff hanger. As if last week wasn’t exciting enough, now this to worry about. Thanks for another fab snippet.
Oh dear, this sounds grim. Nice 8!
Hmm. I don’t think she’s merely sleeping, is she? Nice 8.
Great snippet- so full of action, tension and impending doom. I’m also excited by the character of the bodyguard/assassin.
🙁 There is nothing worse than the sound of children’s sobs. Poor little things. You tug on every emotional heart string, Veronica. Great work!
Oh no! Poor children. What an emotional snippet, Veronica!
Even knowing what’s to come this is heart-wrenching.
I’m appreciating the comments very much…this book is loosely based on the sinking of the Titanic, as well as some other ship wrecks (but set in space), soooo…yes, this part is sad. I wrote the novel in classic disaster movie format, so Nick and Mara had met the children’s family on the shuttle coming up to the Nebula Dream on Day One, and Nick had had some other interaction with the family…the characters of these two children were my tribute to all the Third Class children who didn’t survive Titanic, and every adult in my small party of survivors is dedicated to ensuring these kids DO make it to safety.
As far as the D’nvannae Brother, I have novels in mind featuring some members of this complicated organization. We’ll see how next year goes, time-wise!
OK, going back to reading everyone else’s excerpts!
That’s definitely not a good development!
Oh no. “Sleeping” cannot be good.
Such a heartbreaking moment, Veronica! I’m so glad the children were found, but getting them to leave their mother . . .
It’s like you enjoy yanking on my heartstrings! 😀
This book is full of non-stop action and nice surprises.
Sad, but I’m sensing a ready made family here!
I just love how the tension just keep creeping higher with each snippet. Really enjoying them!!
The first time you mentioned the mom was ‘sleeping,’ I was concerned. Now I’m pretty convinced something is terribly wrong. Poor kids!
Intense! Can’t Wait for next week.
I’ll keep going with this scene and then after that maybe I can switch off to my new WIP (which takes us back to ancient Egypt). Or maybe another science fiction romance I’m still working on…but alas, no D’nvannae Brotherhood in that one.
Oh sadness…I don’t think mommy is sleeping. 🙁
Oh no! I really feel something awful has happened. I need to read more to find out! You are a master of suspense LOL!
Oh-oh, this can’t be good. With every snippet you’re tightening the tension. Great 8!
Oh no, I’ve got to read more! Poor kids. Gosh! Love it!
Oh no, I sense something bad! I can hear the child’s whimper, and I can picture the adults looking at each other, sadness in their eyes. Great job!
Keep smiling,
Yawatta
Oh that just about made me want to cry with only eight sentences!