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!)
May be edited a bit from published version.
Sharing excerpts from STAR CRUISE: RETURN VOYAGE, my full length novel in the Pets In Space 5 anthology for 2020!
The excerpt: I’ve skipped ahead again and Gianna has gone to do some shopping on the Level A promenade deck without Trevor. She is with Juli, the ship’s Cruise Director when she runs into a conspiracy theorist with wild ideas about the wreck she survived as a child.
Verlaine growled and pushed in front of her.
There was no other warning as an excited man rushed up to her. “It is you! Gianna Nadenoft! I can’t believe my luck—we need to talk.” He stuck his hand out, stepping back a little gingerly as Verlaine bared his fangs. “Jerrd Lanloring, at your service. You’ve probably seen my trideo documentary about the wreck? Or maybe the recent—”
Juli was doing her best to run interference and get between the other passenger and Gianna. “Sir, please, it’s obvious Ms. Nadenoft has no interest in speaking with you so if you could move along.”
Lowering his voice and stepping around Juli, although keeping what he probably assumed was a safe distance from Verlaine, Lanloring babbled on, spitting in his excitement. “Have you seen the struts in the landing bay? If those stamped serial numbers aren’t proof of everything I’ve ever said, I don’t know what is. Listen, I’ve sent you message after message—”
Gianna drew herself to her full height and held up one hand imperiously. “I have nothing to say to you. I was three, my mother died, my father almost died, I barely remember anything about the experience and I have no knowledge which could help you with your demented theories. Please don’t bother me again.” With that she walked away, Verlaine maneuvering every few steps to check whether Lanloring was following.
Juli remained behind for a moment, lecturing the man and then rushed to catch up.“I’m so sorry. We’ll make sure he doesn’t get near you for the rest of the cruise.”
VS Note: Trevor isn’t going to be happy she went out of her cabin without notifying him…
PETS IN SPACE® 5 ANTHOLOGY BLURB:
It’s time for an escape! Pets in Space® 5 is back for the fifth amazing year! Escape to new worlds with twelve of today’s top Science Fiction Romance authors. They have written 12 original, never-before-released stories filled with action, adventure, suspense, humor, and romance that will take you out of this world. The giving doesn’t stop there. For the fifth year, Pets in Space® will be donating a portion of the first month proceeds to Hero-Dogs.org, a non-profit charity that supports our veterans and First Responders. If you are ready to forget the world around you and make a difference while you are having fun, grab your copy before it’s gone!
STAR CRUISE RETURN VOYAGE blurb: Gianna Nadenoft is a reclusive survivor of one of the worst interstellar cruise ship disasters in the history of the Sectors. Now a renowned artist, she hasn’t left her home planet in decades, not since returning there after the wreck as a traumatized three-year-old. With her service animal at her side, she’s going to attempt to travel across the star systems to attend her brother’s wedding and reunite with her fellow survivors.
Trevor Hanson is a security officer aboard the cruise liner Nebula Zephyr with his own traumatic past as a former Special Forces soldier and prisoner of war. He’s assigned to provide personal protection to Gianna during her time aboard the ship but soon finds his interest turning from professional to romantic.
Onboard the Nebula Zephyr, powerful enemies are watching Gianna and making plans to seize this rare opportunity to gain access to her and the secrets they believe she’s still keeping about the wreck. Can Trevor overcome his personal demons and rise to the occasion to save Gianna from the danger waiting on his ship, or will she slip through his fingers and suffer a terrible fate deferred from her last disastrous voyage?
Makes me wonder if she will get curious enough to go in search of those stamped serial numbers.
Oh no, Gianna is really negative toward the conspiracy theories….
i wonder how trevor takes it when he hears about the incident.
Maybe Trevor isn’t going to be happy but she looks like she can take care of herself. I’m curious about that theory though.
I like Verlaine. 🙂
Nice bit of mystery thrown into the story. I really want to know about those serial numbers and what Lanloring thinks it proves!
Yeah, Trevor is NOT going to be happy about this. 🙂
It’s so annoying when someone like that corners you and talks your ear off, without understanding your discomfort or disinterest. I’m also curious about the serial numbers.
Yes, I’m sure Trevor will be furious! She did well though, so long as that guy doesn’t follow.
Ahh, the intrigue! Interesting details in this snippet, and we see different sides of the characters. Great job!
Great – conspiracy theorists exists on other planets too. LOL
Tweeted.
The conspiracy theory is actually based on one regarding Titanic, where people claimed the ship that sank was actually her sister ship the Olympic, in a complicated insurance fraud. Here’s an article that lays it all out: https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/infrastructure/a26533526/olympic-titanic-conspiracy-theory/
Message after message with no answer ought to be enough of a hint!
She did a good job of shutting him down but I doubt if he got the message. I wonder what information he thinks she could possibly have.
Interesting. What’s the real truth here? Enjoyed reading this snippet. I love Verlaine more with each snippet 🙂
Oh brother, that will make it a fun trip. Good snippet, Veronica.
Fan boys. A pesty lot. But I wonder if he’s done harassing her yet. He seems pretty determined.
I really want to know about those serial numbers. I’m sure Trevor will not be happy.
Glad she was able to stand her ground then get out of there.
You’ve researched and documented even your conspiracy theories? Your research does honor to all of serious science fiction.
Thanks! I’m a huge Titanic buff and since the first book in the sequence (WRECK OF THE NEBULA DREAM) was inspired by Titanic’s sinking, I’ve been able to use all that research for sure.
Hopefully he gets the hint and leaves her alone after this.
That guy just doesn’t want to take no for an answer. But I wonder what the stamped numbers will prove, if anything? Getting more and more interesting here! I didn’t remember The Wreck of the Nebula Dream was inspired by the Titanic sinking! I’m a Titanic buff as well. Off to get my copy!
Yes growing up I was told we had a distant relation who was a Second Class survivor. By the time I was an adult and the internet made research so easy, I don’t think she was related BUT I had a lifelong fascination with Titanic. Gianna and Paolo were my tribute to all the poor Third Class children who perished on Titanic, and Nick and the others were determined to save these two children. I did as much as I could to make WRECK reflect Titanic…and then I used research on Titanic survivors to help me with the second book STAR SURVIVOR and then this one…not to such a significant extent as in WRECK but to help me form the characters and what might have happened to them since surviving the wreck. I hope you enjoy the first book 🙂 Titanic is endlessly fascinating to me, always new facts even after all this time.
Gianna can take care of herself! I like her.