Veronica: Pauline is one of my dearest friends and I love her Project Enterprise series, so I was excited to have her as a guest, to talk about her newest scifi romance release and share an exclusive excerpt!

Pauline: I’d like to thank Veronica for inviting me by her blog today to share a little about Maestra Rising: Project Enterprise 8! I love this blog, so it is a treat to get to visit!

I was only five when the Disney movie The Swiss Family Robinson debuted in theaters. I remember wanting that treehouse. I think my brothers did, too, because they tried to build one. It did not go well. I also loved the movie because it had danger, adventures, pirates, and a gentle romance. Apparently, I’ve always been a sucker for a romance.

Did you know that Lost in Space is loosely based on the original Swiss Family Robinson? I liked the television show (hey, I was ten!), but I could never understand how anyone could EVER trust Dr. Smith! The TV show also gave my young heart a hint of romance between Judy and Major Don West. It was pretty much the only possible romance because they were…lost in space. Lol

And then there was Star Trek Voyager. The franchise opened a new Trek universe—by getting lost in space. A Lost in Space movie (not going to comment on it or the recent TV show. Lol)

While I enjoyed the various entries—some more than others—I came to also appreciate the challenges of being lost in space. I think it is interesting that in each entry into the lost in space trope, there are strong elements of unintended consequences coming back to bite them on the tush. The characters made choices hoping to get what they wanted (hint: home) and it usually made things worse.

Throwing the lost story line into outer space opened up a lot more story possibilities. While you can have many encounters with alien species and yes, romance, there is still that longing for closure—for the characters to finally get home.

I avoided lost in space stories in my books for that very reason: closure. Despite this, one crept up on me despite my best efforts to avoid it (kind of like I keep trying to avoid time travel in my books…sigh).

So (spoiler alert again), Found Girl is a book about being lost. They face dangers, adventure, unintended consequences of their actions, and there is romance. But I knew I wasn’t going to leave them lost out there forever. My readers needed closure. I needed closure! The next book, Lost Valyr, did not provide this for me or my readers, but it did lay the foundation for an attempt to made (and triggered some unintended consequences — haha).

Maestra Rising wasn’t an easy book to write. Getting people and ships lost is easy. Getting them found? Not so much. And it takes a lot of words. Just so you know, long book! And it wasn’t just my characters dealing with the unexpected or unintended consequences of their choices. I did, too! You think you have a cool idea and then you realize that it needs further explanation. Tangrams and Urclocks, oh my.

But Maestra Rising is not just about trying to get home (or find a new home), it is also story about trying to do the right thing and having it circle around and bite you on the tush. It’s about keeping faith with friends and your comrades-in-arms. It’s about finding love in unexpected places. And it is about being careful what you ask for. Because you might get it.

And in the spirit of unintended consequences, I’d like like to share an exclusive excerpt with your visitors:

“The tangram,” Doc repeated. “A special key?”

“Yes.” Nivi paused, not eager for this next part.

“She activated the Urclock for this purpose,” Valyr said. “Nivi was the only one who could pull the data from the Urclocks.”

“The data?” Halliwell asked.

“The data to locate your ship,” Valyr added.

There was a stir around the table at these words.

Nivi pulled up a picture of the Urclock from the control room. As it spun slowly in front of them, silence fell.

“And what did you learn?” Halliwell asked, the sudden grimness in his tone telling her he knew the news was not all good.

“The Urclocks—” Nivi began.

“There are more of those…things?” Halliwell interrupted. He appeared to find the Urclock unsettling, if his expression were any indication.

Nivi half smiled. “There are—”

“Seven,” Doc finished.

“Yes.”

“You do know that’s a little…odd, don’t you?” she asked.

Giddioni shifted and placed his hand over Doc’s, but Nivi just smiled and made a wry shrug.

“Once we began, it was…difficult to stop,” she admitted. “We were young,” she added.

“Giddy young,” Doc said, dryly.

I hope you enjoyed the excerpt and will enjoy reading Maestra Rising as much as I enjoyed writing it!

Thanks again for letting me visit!

Perilously yours,

Pauline

Bio: 

USA Today Bestselling author Pauline Baird Jones never liked reality, so she writes books. She likes to wander among the genres, rampaging like Godzilla, because she does love peril mixed in her romance. Loves chocolate, bacon, flamingoes, and mid-century modern anything.

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Blurb:

She’s a gifted scientist. He’s a robot with a human mind. Can they save a lost ship and find love among the stars?

Nivi awakes from cryosleep plagued by guilt. The scientific genius had hoped her people would avoid war if she went into cold sleep, but she learns her sacrifice was in vain. And now a vicious enemy approaches a stranded Earth spaceship. Desperate to reactivate the technology she needs for the rescue, Nivi enlists the help of an attractive robot with a human consciousness and wisdom beyond his years…

Moose survived slavery but never forgot the feeling of worthlessness it forced upon him. After living in the body of a robot for years, he sees an opportunity to help the brilliant Nivi if he becomes human once again. In a new body with new dangers, he worries that the genius scientist will never see him as more than the robot he once was.

Outnumbered by a relentless foe, Nivi and Moose attempt to put their desires on hold to ensure humanity’s survival.

With time running out, can they defeat the enemy and enjoy a future filled with love?

Maestra Rising is the eighth novel in the epic Project Enterprise sci-fi romance series. If you like gripping adventures, captivating characters, and emotional out-of-this-world encounters, then you’ll love Pauline Baird Jones’ thrilling saga.

Buy Maestra Rising to take an interstellar adventure today!

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