Back in 2016, I was in a scifi romance anthology entitled ROMANCING THE STARS, long since not available, for which I wrote a novelette of about 9K words entitled STAR CRUISE RESCUE. The requirement was to stay under 10K words and I always have a hard time “writing short” because I have so much action, adventure and romance to share. But for this project I figured I could tell a shorter story if I used my existing interstellar luxury cruise liner Nebula Zephyr as a framework.
I’d come across an intriguing item not too long before that time about the creation of ‘designer events’, one of a kind, secretive experiences that were usually only for the very rich and elite. I figured such an evening would be the kind of thing my wealthy and bored Socialites would enjoy, and then I came up with a circumstance in which they’d take pity on a crew member and invite her to go with them on the spur of the monent. She knows she’s made a mistake the minute she gets in the limousine but…too late. The story then unfolds over the night and the next day and involves another crew member trying to find and save the girl, who he’d kind of stood up, which led to her defiantly going off with people she should probably have stayed away from.
It’s all tense and fast paced – there’s no spicy or steamy scene in this one, no time for it! (Almost all the rest of my STAR CRUISE books do include an open door bedroom scene or three.) It was fun to write, I always love revisiting the crew of the Nebula Zephyr!
The novelette has been widely available in my STAR CRUISE STOWAWAY collection of stories volume since May 2017 and has not been revised or expanded for ADAMANT SPIRITS.
So why is this relevant now? Well, last week I was invited to participate in an anthology to support the Ukrainian relief efforts and they basically gave me about four days AND they were clear that they were looking for “novellas, novelettes, short stories, and exclusive sneak-peek chapters” and previously published works were fine. (Let me tell you, four days isn’t a lot of time for writing anything new!) I was so honored and excited to have a chance to participate in ADAMANT SPIRITS and do even a tiny thing to support Ukraine and I remembered this story of mine, so I offered it up with full disclosure it was already published elsewhere and the organizers included it in the volume, which released March 31.
Here’s the ADAMANT SPIRITS blurb:
Get swept away by more than 1,000 pages of romantic urban fantasy, sci-fi romance, and paranormal romance from bestselling authors – all to help Ukrainian refugees affected by the recent tragedy.
Featuring more than 40 authors, including New York Times and USA Today bestsellers, the Adamant Spirits charity anthology includes more than 42 novellas, novelettes, short stories, and exclusive sneak-peek chapters. Stories range in heat level from mild to scorching. Most importantly, all proceeds (100%) will be donated to the International Rescue Committee (or a similar charity should IRC become unavailable), which in turn will be directed to supporting humanitarian efforts on behalf of the Ukrainian people.
Authors featured include: Eva Chase, Honey Phillips, Anna Carven, Tana Stone, Michele Mills, G.K. DeRosa, Ella Blake, Hattie Jacks, T.K. Eldridge, Grace Goodwin, Debbie Cassidy, Kel Carpenter & Aurelia Jane, Leslie Chase, Jade Waltz, May Sage & Alexi Blake, Sara Fields, Veronica Scott, Ashley McLeo, Jessica Wayne, Tameri Etherton, and many more!
Adamant Spirits is only available for a limited time, so don’t miss your chance to own this incredible anthology and support a very important cause.
The anthology organizers and participating authors are not affiliated or endorsed by the charity.
Maggie Alabaster, G. Bailey, Elle Beaumont, Katherine Bennet, Alexi Blake, Ella Blake, Claudia Blood, Jessica M. Butler, Demelza Carlton, Kel Carpenter, Alora Carter, Anna Carven, Debbie Cassidy, Eva Chase, Leslie Chase, Sarah M. Cradit, G.K. DeRosa, T.K. Eldridge, Tameri Etherton, Sara Fields, Grace Goodwin, Jen L. Grey, Miranda Honfleur, Hattie Jacks, Aurelia Jane, Alana Khan, Lea Kirk, Lisa Kumar, K.N. Lee, Jen Lynning, Ashley McLeo, Michele Mills, Chloe Parker, Vee R. Paxton, Honey Phillips, Candace Robinson, Rebecca Rode, May Sage, Veronica Scott, Tana Stone, Julia Vee, Maria Vermisoglou, Jade Waltz, Jenni Ward, Jessica Wayne, Calla Zae
VS: There’s also a sister volume of Fantasy FIERCE HEARTS:
Lose yourself in more than 1,000 pages of love, magic, adventure, and hope – all to help Ukrainian refugees affected by the recent tragedy. The Fierce Hearts Charity Anthology includes 46 romantic fantasy novellas, novelettes, short stories, and exclusive sneak-peek chapters from more than 40 authors, including New York Times and USA Today bestsellers.
Authors featured include: Jeffe Kennedy, Olivia Wildenstein, Amelia Hutchins, Elizabeth Briggs, Karpov Kinrade, Sylvia Mercedes, Shari Tapscott, Hollee Mands, Miranda Honfleur, Carissa Broadbent, Clare Sager, Jessica M Butler, Catharine Glen, Monica Enderle Pierce, Karen Tomlinson, Marina Simcoe, Tessonja Odette, Anthea Sharp, Denali Day, Bethany Adams, and many more!
Here’s the blurb for STAR CRUISE RESCUE: Star Cruise: Rescue: A short story of 9K words, previously in the ‘Romancing the Stars’ anthology. When a shore leave excursion goes terribly wrong for Mira Gage, a member of the Nebula Zephyr’s crew, Security Officer Clint Miltan races the clock to find her before the ship leaves orbit and abandons Mira to her fate. Clint’s got more than a professional interest in Mira, but will he be able to save her from the aliens holding her prisoner?
What a wonderful service you all have done with these two books. My heart goes out to all the children affected by this unnecessary war. Thank you for doing this.
Wonderful!