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!)
Apologies for not making the rounds last week to comment on other posts but things got very hectic with the new grandbaby!!! I really appreciated the comments everyone left for me on the previous snippet.
I’ve switched to excerpts from my upcoming late March/early April release, Danger in the Stars. The preliminary blurb is below the excerpt, which is the first ten sentences of the novel. The manuscript is in final edits. This story is a companion piece to Star Cruise: Stowaway, my story in the PETS IN SPACE anthology, and is a completely standalone novel about the sister of Stowaway‘s heroine.
The nausea was always the worst part of emerging from cryo sleep. Miriell fought her confused thoughts and the incipient headache, trying not to throw up. She curled into a ball on her side, hands fisted on her unhappy stomach and bit her lip to avoid moaning.
A rough hand on her shoulder, shaking her, “Come on, you know we don’t have time for this sick act of yours. Snap out of it, the client’s waiting so see what you can do.” Jarek’s voice changed, became more congenial, placating almost. Clearly he was no longer speaking to her, “These exotics don’t do well with cryo sleep, but she’ll be on her feet in a minute or two, I promise. Then we can be on our way.”
“Good, the boss is getting impatient, waiting in the limo – she doesn’t spend much time in cargo warehouses.”
The new voice was deep and although the tone was rough and the words clipped, Miriell felt as if a warm blanket had been placed over her shoulders.
The story:
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?
Congratulations on the new grand baby! My daughter is expecting grandson #2 this summer, so I can relate.
Thanks!
Just spent the last 5 weeks with Toddler Girl (3rd grandchild) so I know what you mean about not responding to posts. No problem. Hope your grandchild is doing well. I am really looking forward to this book. I love the world you created and, of course, your characters are always engaging.
I really appreciate the compliment on the world building, Diane, thanks! Yes, this is my second grandson but the first one is 14 now so we’re all out of practice with tiny babies LOL. Exhausting but fun times…
Great hook! Can’t wait for this. Congrats on the grandbaby.
I didn’t make the rounds last week either. I was whipping Alien Mate into shape to send to my editor. I didn’t have a new grandbaby. 🙁
I can so relate, but the grandbaby did make a wonderful reason to not be writing or thinking about much of anything but him last week 🙂 Babies have a way of doing that LOL. Can’t wait to read Alien Mate!
Oh, I loved Star Cruise: Stowaway! Looking forward to reading this book, too. 🙂
TYVM! I just had more story to tell after Star Cruise: Stowaway was done and I was intrigued with the character of the sister and how she’d escape the bad guys (with no pets in space to help her LOL)…and a book was launched.
This definitely has me intrigued. Can’t wait to read more.
Pulled me right in! Sounds like another great read!
New baby, new story, such excitement. Wonderful engaging snippet. She’s in for big trouble. Be well, and Hugs, my friend.
This is an intriguing opening! It would certainly have me reading further.
Wonderful news about the new grandbaby! Congrats to you! Loved the excerpt and the details throughout, and I LOVE your new cover!
The opening really grabbed me, and the blurb reeled me in. Another exciting story to look forward to!
Two new babies for you! Congrats!
Love the new excerpt and the new cover! 😀
Intriguing intro. (And for some reason I’m really loving that the boss is a woman.)
And since you’re in edits:
“waiting so see what you can do”
should be
“waiting to see what you can do”?
Oh yes, the crime boss here is a tough woman indeed! Thanks for the typo catch 🙂 Yup, the copy editor has the file now….
It sounds like an intriguing start to an exciting new story, and great news about the grandbaby.
A new grand baby! Congrats to you and the parents!
Intriguing start.
Congrats on the new grand baby. Aren’t they wonderful? This pulled me in and made me want to know who was waiting.
Doesn’t sound good. I hope she can find her feet.
I’m intrigued by this scene and have a few questions. I want to know how she senses such warmth from his statement. And of course, I want to know what they want with her and why she was in cyro sleep to begin with.
Miriell is a powerful alien empath so she picks up more from a person’s voice than we ordinary humans might.
I really liked the last line – nice description
I’m very encouraged that people are finding the snippet intriguing! And definitely the excerpt is stirring up the right questions, which the book does answer fairly shortly, although there are many twists and turns to come. I had a good time telling this tale, can’t wait to release it. Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
Congratulations on the new grandbaby! I have grandkitties only, and happy with those. LOL This sounds marvelous, another reason to explore space from the comfort of my bedroom. 🙂
This sounds like such an interesting premise. Congrats on the new grandbaby!
He calls it an “act” and then admits her kind of people don’t do well with cryo in the next breath. What a jerk!
I felt her jarring awakening and her confusion. Lots of world building going on with every scene. Nice.
I was immediately pulled into the story, especially with Miriell’s anguish. From the blurb, this seems like an intriguing story – very similar to your Ancient Egyptian stories. Congrats on the new grand baby!