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 authors! (Also welcome to the Sunday Snippet visitors!)
From my new, best selling science fiction romance Star Cruise: Marooned. Last week I seem to have confused people a bit with the eels and Meg’s actions in the shuttle, so a more straightforward ten today. Meg, first aid kit in hand, has rushed to the beach. Red is dealing with Sharmali’s injury.
As Meg headed for the injured passenger, the Primary intercepted her.
“Miss Antille, I demand to know how something like this could happen.” Purple in the face, he waved a hand at Sharmali. “I paid top dollar, if not an exorbitant price, for a safe, enjoyable cruise for myself and my guests, and now the poor girl’s had her foot eaten!” He was so upset he was spitting.
“On behalf of the Line, I certainly apologize, sir. We do everything we can to ensure the safety of our guests under all circumstances, but if she swam beyond the sonic barrier—”
“She was standing in three inches of water right next to me,” Finchon said. “That monster could have just as easily gotten my foot.”
“The barrier’s off,” Red informed her, not glancing up from his task, “Can you argue with him later? I need your help.”
The Story:
Meg Antille works long hours on the charter cruise ship Far Horizon so she can send credits home to her family. Working hard to earn a promotion to a better post (and better pay), Meg has no time for romance.
Former Special Forces soldier Red Thomsill only took the berth on the Far Horizon in hopes of getting to know Meg better, but so far she’s kept him at a polite distance. A scheduled stopover on the idyllic beach of a nature preserve planet may be his last chance to impress the girl.
But when one of the passengers is attacked by a wild animal it becomes clear that conditions on the lushly forested Dantaralon aren’t as advertised – the ranger station is deserted, the defensive perimeter is down…and then the Far Horizon’s shuttle abruptly leaves without any of them.
Marooned on the dangerous outback world, romance is the least of their concerns, and yet Meg and Red cannot help being drawn to each other once they see how well they work together. But can they survive long enough to see their romance through? Or will the wild alien planet defeat them, ending their romance and their lives before anything can really begin?
I love Meg’s poise here- always the professional. ‘No barriers’ is very bad news.
I hate when I go on vacation, barriers go down and my foot gets eaten… ;D Great scene, Veronica, just the right mix of humor and tension.
And when you pay so much for a trip-well definitely demand money back. Meanwhile I love this snippet. It’s a hit!
Meg did such a great job of keeping her cool. 🙂
Meg was so calm and collected.
I guess I wouldn’t be as calm if I just heard that the barrier meant to prevent foot-eating eels was down. That’s why Meg is good at her job!
Oh, boy. With that perimeter down things are bound to get interesting. Great concept, Veronica.
Great snippet, and I too love Meg’s control. I also like how Red wanted to get back to the major problem at hand: The lady with the missing foot. 😉
I like Red’s response. Meg has great people skills.
I liked the pompous Primary
I’m starting to think the worst thing about this alien world might be the people she’s stuck with! (except Red, of course.) Hope they have a foot-regrower in their first aid kit.
Love the last line, Veronica. “Argue with him later.” Nicely done. 🙂
Oh my, “the barrier is off”! Talk about ominous. Great tension and I love how Red tells her to stop arguing and get on with it.
That would definitely ruin a cruise for anyone!
Ha…this sounds a bit like my vacation last month!! Great how calm and professional she stays while trying to assuage the angry passenger’s tirade. Nice tension–and what a visual this prompted!
It’s like on Jurassic World. No containment for the bad things that like to eat people.
Great last line – she keeps her cool after I wanted to throw up when he mentioned the missing foot.
Three inches of water and it bit off her foot? Methinks this creature isn’t a great white shark.
I really liked this snippet – after riding EMS for almost 30 years encountering folks who were more concerned with their own displeasure rather than the people who needed medical help I could certainly feel Meg’s inner impatience and admire her polite facade.
“Marooned on the dangerous outback world”, fantastic setting for tension and hooking readers into coming back for more. Great snippet.
Thanks, Chelle! I take that as a high compliment, coming from one who knows EMS situations as you do, that I caught the mood of some bystanders in my account of this situation. Yes, this situation is more reflective of who Meg is, rather than her attitude in previous snippets, as far as Drewson was concerned.
Easy to see why it is a best seller 🙂 Great, as usual!
Maybe they should stay out of the water for now… Sounds like trouble is on its way.
That has to hurt. I wonder who gut off the barrier and why.
Great snippet. 🙂
Thanks for all the comments! (I should probably mention that Finchon is exaggerating a tiny bit in his anger but things are looking very bad for poor Sharmali nonetheless.)
Love how the rich guy is only concerned with himself! Meg certainly has patience. Great snippet!
Great snippet … I like her calmness …. AND the last line 🙂
Great snippet! I like Meg, especially when she said that last line 🙂
OMG! I don’t know how else to contact, but thank you. I bet you are the first person to purchase my book.
Now, that’s scary! I like the reaction at the eaten feet, like it’s not a big deal. She is tough.
She’s steady in an emergency. Good thing they have Meg to help. I have a feeling things are only going to get worse.
Ha, nice yes, argue later!!!
Great scene. There’s a touch of dark humor that really makes the whole thing work.
The barrier’s off? Uh-oh, that can’t be a good sign. I love how he casually dismisses to argue with him later because he needs her help. Nice snippet!