If you’re here for the SFRB Showcase, follow the link (longer excerpt from Danger in the Stars by the way).
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!)
Continuing on, Miriell and her controller Jareck are driven to the hotel in a groundcar with the crime boss Opherra, who goes on a rant about how Miriell looks.
The excerpt:
“The woman’s appearance is hopeless. What can your bosses be thinking? Not only is her hair unusual and easily remembered, but that gaudy piece of metal around her neck screams cheap. Tawdry. And the gray tunic? Institutional.” The boss sniffed, “I can’t have someone dressed like an escapee from a prison in my company.”
“We usually work behind the scenes,” Jareck said, his voice filled with the blatant desire to please, “She doesn’t have to be in the room with the victim, once she knows who the target is.”
“Well, she’s going to be in the room this time.”
STATUS: Danger in the Stars is at the formatter and nearly ready to start uploading to the retail sites! Hopefully by next Sunday I can announce buy links!
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?
Oh, I see an opportunity for escape coming. Maybe? I hope. 🙂 Great tease!
Nice people she’s associated with. You’ve got me hoping she finds a way to avoid using her powers for evil.
Great description of her appearance. Can’t wait to read more!
Sounds like she’s in line for a makeover.
Interesting description of her.
Sounds like she needs a new look before she attracts a lot of unwanted attention! Nice piece!
You paint quite a picture of the woman. She might need a make-up but I’m sure you have plans for her. Hugs from me.
I guess she is going to have to change. Hopefully it won’t be too extravagant.
Great job at making me not like the boss. His attitude is — grrr.
Tweeted.
Well, that’s certainly intriguing. Have me wondering why she has to be in the room this time. Can’t wait to read more.
Exciting times, Veronica. Congratulations on the imminent release of yet another awesome book.
The Bosses comment makes me wonder how he thinks Miriell should look.
Great visual. I’m curious to know what he’ll have her killing. 🙂
Great imagery of her attire. She may need to blend in better, but I have a hunch that wouldn’t be so easily done.
I’m curious why she must be in the room this time.
An extra twist here. How will she be used?
The Boss is clearly the type of person that believes in giving it to you straight. No subtlety there! Jareck seems more keen to keep in with Opherra than in defending Miriell. Good luck on launch day.
I feel insulted just reading Opherra’s words.
Yes! Opherra is not a nice person, which hopefully is clear right from this first meeting 🙂 Also, Jareck is totally out of his depth, which stress and frustration he’s going to take out, or attempt to take out, on Miriell. But of course there’s Conor….
Love how you subtly describe what she’s wearing. Yep, Opherra is the baddie in this. So far. Looking forward to reading this.
I love the whole idea of an empath, ever since Deanna Troi (I have an empath in my sooper sekrit cyborg story). I’m looking forward to reading this.
I have a feeling she’s not going to like this makeover. Great job of teasing us with challenges to come.
Talk about adding insult to injury. Of course, they could dress her nicer–but they don’t care about her, so why bother?
Good thing she can’t incinerated with her mind or rude boss would be burnt toast!
I’m really worried about what they’re planning to make her do! Sounds dangerous.
I can’t tell if this is a good development or not, but certainly it will come with a makeover.
Boy, never heard of a makeover for a hit-woman. I mean, really Opherra. His/her words just had me shaking my head. Why is appearance so important to an assassin? Great snippet!
I bet she looked different on her own planet.
I guess she’s gonna have to settle for a makeover if she wants to be in the room.
The boss sure is bossy (couldn’t resist). Great scene though!
Hmmm. A crime boss with fashion sense? I hope she does escape.
Hmm…makes e wonder if she is the target. 🙂 Nice character exploration there. 🙂