Here’s the link to the Weekend Writing Warriors central page, so you can visit all the participants sharing excerpts today…A fun way to sample new books and find new writers!
We’re onto a new story of mine, a WIP that still needs a lot of work. Mark, an ex-Special Forces soldier in the Sectors, has been hired by the Outlier Empress to rescue a kidnap victim who’s been taken to the border planet Freemarket, where anything goes and the authorities are usually hands off. Kind of like Las Vegas…he’s broken into the house of Barent Kliin, the kidnapper, persuaded Alessandra to go with him and fled in a stolen car, pursued by the bad guys and the planetary police. They collided with a cargo hauler…Mark knocked the driver out and assisted Alessandra from their wrecked vehicle, after which the couple flee into the crowded marketplace but are now trapped…until a strange little being showed up, offering to help…
“There’s no time, travelers,” the creature said, grabbing Sandy’s skirt with its other hand, “You must make haste.”
Biting her lip, the princess took a deep breath, “I don’t think we have any choices, do you?”
“Out of options,” Mark agreed, staring into the little being’s glowing yellow eyes. “What do you have in mind, friend?”
“Come, come, come!” Maintaining its hold on Mark, releasing Sandy’s skirt as if disgusted by the silky material, the sentient backed away.
Worried about getting separated from Sandy in the crowd, Mark clasped her hand so hard she gasped. Their odd guide led the way, weaving and dodging through the crowded aisles until the two humans were hard pressed to keep up.
And in a bit of fun news, I’m proud to say Mission to Mahjundar, which I used to excerpt here, received an SFR Galaxy Award yesterday.
Interesting guide. Hope he is rescuing them and not leading them into more danger. Great snippet.
The little guy is so cute! Hopefully, he’s really on their side. Although knowing you, he’ll just land them in more hot water. 🚿🙀
Congratulations on the award!
Interesting how the little guy doesn’t like silk – what’s up with that – hmmmm.
congratulations on the award!. As usual I’m totally invested in your 8. Its like watching the story unfold a little piece at a time
Congrats on the win! Love this snippet! Great adventure and fun!
“… releasing Sandy’s skirt as if disgusted by the silky material…” Intriguing detail. I love how you add them to your writing. 🙂
Yay!! Good go on the SFR award! So happy for you, Veronica!
Congratulations on winning the award.
I’m with Teresa–the dislike of silk is a great detail!
And congratulations on the Galaxy Award! I love Mission to Mahjundar!
Galaxy Award? Do you have to go to outer space to accept? Next is an option for a movie. Anything can happen, Veronica, right? Right. Silk has a deeper meaning for the critter. To be told next week, I hope.
I hope the guide leads them to safety. It sounds as if they’re enough do-do already.
Congratulations! Love the snippet. The detail about the silk is great, stirs up all kinds of interesting questions about this creature.
Congratulations on your award!
They seem to have seen this type of being before, or else they’re so desperate to escape they don’t mind dealing with it. I might lose my longtime fear of aliens too if I were between a rock and a hard place.
Fun snippet. Interesting snippet. 🙂
Like the little guy – hope there isn’t a twist involving him.
Such fun characters — and congratulations on the SFR award!
Congratulations on the award! Wonderful news!
Love the snippet and the way Mark and Alessandra accept the situation and go with it. Curious to find out more;).
Congratulations on the award, Veronica! That’s magnificent. Great snippet, too. 🙂
Such clear details. I love this week’s snippet.
I do hope he’s on their side. Congrats on your SFR Galaxy Award! Fantastic news!
Great excerpt! And congrats!
Congrats on the award. You deserve it because you writing is great. I’m loving the little creature.
They might not have any choice… but that little alien is acting just weird enough to wonder if they’re heading from the frying pan to the fire.
Congrats on the award!
Thank you, everyone, for the kind words about the award and the snippet! Much appreciated! Since we’re just doing excerpts, you didn’t get the chance to read all that comes before in the WIP, and how truly desperate the situation on Freemarket is for Mark and Sandy/ But that’s why when this odd little character says it can help, they grab at the straw, so to speak. More twists coming LOL.
I’m right there in the action
I really like their little guide. I only hope he can help them like he says. But I wonder why he’s doing it. Congratulations on the award. Much deserved!
Congratulations on the award! Well deserved! As for the snippet, I wonder if there is any pArticular reason for it’s disgusted toward the material and where he’s leading them.
Kudos on the award! I get the feeling she’s enjoying him holding her hand tightly.
I hope he’s trustworthy. He must have very specific tactile preferences if he doesn’t like anything silky. Sort of reminds me of my boys’ various sensory texture issues.
Congratulations on the award, Veronica!
Love it! This creature intrigues me, he has such a personality. Love how he doesn’t like the silky texture. Ha! Great stuff!
Interesting snippet. I like the foreshadowing of something bad happening later. Why was the guide odd (consider giving a small detail or describing why)?
Very nice little snippet! For some reason I’m imagining the creature like a house-elf from Harry Potter. Interesting where our imaginations immediately take us. Thanks so much for sharing!