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!)
I’m now excerpting my newly released scifi romance The Fated Stars. Story below the excerpt, as per the rules. Punctuation edited a bit for this format.
The excerpt:
Too bad there’s no better way to celebrate on this backwater planet. Larissa finished her feelgood and tossed the drink container into the nearest trash receptacle. She and five of her friends, among the top mercenaries in the Sectors, were letting off the tension after the successful conclusion of a job and the extremely generous bonus from a satisfied client. Stumbling from bar to bar in this frontier colony town together, they were looking for a good time, but kept coming up short. The small colony didn’t have much in the way of entertainment.
Just when she was thinking about turning in for the night, though, they ended up in front of the ramshackle Kinterow Stellar Circus and Sideshow, parked in a vacant lot at the end of the main street. Despite the late hour, locals packed the place, playing games of chance, eating greasy food, and watching the strolling players.
“We can’t miss this,” said one of her friends, waving a bottle of feelgood in the air. Sarcasm was heavy in his slurred words, “It’s the biggest draw on the entire planet.”
“The only thing on the planet,” Larissa was drunk but not so inebriated she wanted to waste time on a rundown carnival, having her credits drained from her account by overpriced food and fixed games.
The story:
Larissa Channer, a tough no-nonsense mercenary in the Sectors, is celebrating success on her last job and a big bonus, with no slightest thought of taking on another assignment anytime soon. Out for a night of carousing with her friends at a third rate carnival on a backwater planet, she walks into the tent of a fake fortune teller and finds herself confronting the most intriguing man she’s ever seen. But something’s wrong, ominous currents lie beneath the surface of their encounter and Larissa can’t leave well enough alone.
Samell, a powerful, high born empathic priest, has been kidnapped from his own primitive planet along with a number of his people, and sold to the shady operator of an interstellar carnival. Kept enslaved, pretending to be a fortune teller while forced by his captor to steal information from the minds of all who come before him, Samell despairs of every breaking free.
Until Larissa walks into his tent and he recognizes the warrior who might mean the difference between life and death.
The situation becomes dire when Larissa and Samell come to the attention of the Shemdylann pirates who kidnapped him in the first place and the deadly Mawreg, aliens who threaten the Sectors. Can she save herself and the empathic alien noble, and derail the Mawreg plot against the Sectors? And will the soldier end up with her prince when all’s said and done?
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Carnivals definitely can be a big waste of money, as fun as they are! They can also be a good way to learn about the local color.
Stopping in here will be, I’m sure, a fateful decision.
Yes, that last line says it all 🙂 Interesting snippet.
The plot has me intrigued and can’t wait to find out what a carnival is like on another planet. Compelling snippet, Veronica!
I have a feeling this carnival will be more interesting than she expects. Nice setting of the scene here.
What a story and the meeting of the man is great. You know how to put story after story coming on, so exciting! Big Hugs, my friend.
Only thing on the planet – lol I bet she finds more than she expected.
Great excerpt! I love the cover, too! Excited to read more from this book! 🙂
Intriguing snippet. I think stopping in may prove more interesting than she thinks
I love her sarcasm. Great excerpt. Love seeing a female in a typical male role.
I’m sure they’ll find something entertaining there!
I have the feeling that planet is about to surprise her.
Your snippets are doing the job! I just went to Amazon to buy it and was informed I’d already bought it. 🙂 Love the “feelgood”. Outstanding world-building detail. 🙂
Oh dear, that’s funny – thanks for the second attempt! I’ve done that so many times, gone back to buy a book and find out I already have it…I’m glad to know the snippet was effective though. HUG!
I’m with Teresa. I was instantly hooked. Must be the combo of alien carnival and the reversed gender roles- love it!
An intriguing start! I like her attitude. 🙂 Congrats on your new release!
The carnival doesn’t sound very exciting at this point, but I’m sure that’s about to change. Interesting snippet.
Ooooh! I’m liking this already! Great set up.
Bet this place is more than she thinks it is.
I’m intrigued to know more about the carnival. Should be interesting. 🙂
Love that their “booze” is called feelgood! I hope that means it no hangover the next morning. Interesting that the planet is mostly rustic–with a frontier town. I usually think of other planets as cosmopolitan. Great start to the book!
But but but… overpriced greasy food is the whole POINT of carnivals!
I’ve a feeling things are going to get interesting very soon. Sounds great!
Something I noticed in the blurb… “Samell despairs of every breaking free” should that not be “ever”?
What a fascinating premise for a story. Really enjoyed this and looking forward to more!