With this book I started from the point that I wanted to tell a good story about Micki, who was a supporting character a number of years ago in STAR CRUISE MYSTERY DANCER (my scifi romance take on Anastasia). So then I had to ponder how I could do that and not make the book too similar to the one where she first appeared. I’d already told the story of the Comettes dance troupe on the Nebula Zephyr.

I used to love watching various reality dance shows so I had the idea to place one on board the cruise liner and for Micki to become one of the professionals charged with shepherding a celebrity through the contest. But what kind of celebrity? It occurred to me having a generational billionaire as the main male character would be interesting and give me a lot to work with for the romance. Now I had never read more than a few billionaire romances and a pet peeve of mine is people who try to write in a genre with much beloved tropes who don’t bother to research what readers expect. So although this technically wasn’t going to be a billionaire romance per se, I went and did my research, reading quite a few books in the genre in a short time frame. I discovered a few autobuy authors for myself for the future (Ana Huang, Juliette N. Banks, Renee Rose, to name a few) and got a good feel for the standard tropes which occur quite often in billionaire romances.

But why would such a person agree to be on a celebrity dance show? I came up with a couple of possible motives (which Josh explains in the book) and I kept the show’s ‘season’ short, only seven weeks. For one thing, as a nondancer, I didn’t want to try my creativity and my readers’ patience too far, when coming up with believable dance experiences.

I brainstormed all my ideas for show themes and then laid out the ones which worked for me against a timeline of the romance between Josh and Micki, and other events and then I was off, writing the book. This is more planning in advance than I usually do but I felt I had to have a logical progression toward the finale and integrate the rest of the plot into that structure.

Micki’s backstory gave rise to certain events and characters to be encountered…and now I have another genre to explore if I decide a new supporting character needs his own book – Mafia romance LOL. I mean, I have had the mob in my Sectors for a long time so…and I did deal with it in DANGER IN THE STARS but not in a mafia romance style. But I digress…

Something happened to me while writing this book which has never happened to me before – I had an actual anxiety attack while writing one certain scene. I guess I identified so strongly with poor Micki while I was writing about her experience at the charity ball that I really put myself into the story! I had to get up and deal with the anxiety attack before I could keep writing.

Not to worry though – it’s romance so of course there’s a Happy Ever After ending.

About halfway through the book I realized Josh was becoming too much the trope-y billionaire and I wasn’t liking the way he fit into the structure of a Star Cruise novel, so I backed up a bit and made him more one of my guys, just really REALLY rich. And a little oblivious to some of his own more billionaire aspects but Micki will help him overcome that, I’m sure.

And before I forget for my Pets in Space fans, F’rrh from PISA 3 makes a quick cameo appearance. She’s the only pet in the book this time.

I hope you’ll enjoy STAR CRUISE DREAM DANCER if you decide to book your star cruise!

Here’s an excerpt – the first time Josh and Micki dance, in his office on the planet. 

“Any time you’re done with your art appreciation tour of my office, we can get started, Ms. Allwell.” Josh’s voice was dry and when she turned to him, he was sitting with his fingers steepled, leaning back in his chair, completely at ease.

Micki took her time returning to the chair, although she was conscious of his gaze. Well, she was looking too so she couldn’t exactly complain. For a generational billionaire, Josh Benfield was built like a pro tisba player, all corded muscle and suppressed energy. His face was trideo star handsome although his expression right now was cold, and his hair was a thick shiny brown, longer than she would have expected. Micki had the urge to run her fingers through it and lectured herself sternly. The guy was definitely hot. And untouchable. He was a supernova and she was a tiny little Comette, finding her way through life as best she could. Taking her seat, she adopted a demure pose. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Benfield.”

“Josh. If we’re going to be dancing together for seven weeks, we’re not standing on formality. What do you have planned for us?”

She was amused but hardly surprised at his arrogance in assuming he’d survive every week’s elimination to make the finale. “Planned?”

“The contract I read was most specific regarding the fact the dancer in each celebrity team had the responsibility of choreographing the routines. I’m many things but a choreographer is way outside my scope.”

Nice of him to admit any shortcomings.  “Actually, I haven’t given it much thought as yet,” she said.

Now Josh frowned and the expression was epic. “This may be nothing but a frothy trideo entertainment for the Sectors masses,” he said in a cold tone, “But if I’m involved, I intend to do my best. I’m disappointed to hear you taking it so lightly.”

“And of course you want your charity to win.” She waited to see what he’d say. Based on what she’d read in her research a Benfield could give his charity a hundred times what the show was going to contribute and never even miss the credits. Pocket change for them. And the Benfield Family Foundation sponsored a number of charities Sectors-wide anyway.

“Of course.” He matched her smile.

“Do you dance?” Micki asked.

“In my circles it’s required to learn the basic social dances at an early age. There are always balls and events at which one will be expected to participate.”

Rising, Micki gestured at him. “Well, get up.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“I need to see what I have to work with.” Micki held her breath to see if he’d comply but after a moment Josh left his chair and came to join her, standing close enough that his no doubt expensive cologne, mixed with a subtle scent of his own, intoxicated her and his warmth set off a corresponding warmth deep inside her core. I’m in trouble now. Oh this was bad, very bad. The man was affecting her more than any male she’d ever encountered before. Struggling to maintain her outward composure, she tugged him closer, put his arm around her waist and raised her hand into the correct dance position for one of the ancient social dances he’d hopefully been made to learn.

Automatically he clasped her hand and as she began to hum a basic tune, he pulled her against him and stepped off into the first moves of the dance. “I didn’t think we were allowed to dance together until production officially began,” he said, staring at her with his intense brown eyes. “Are we breaking the rules already?”

She shrugged. “Bending them slightly, maybe. No one would ever mistake this for a rehearsal hall and we’re not dressed for doing choreo.”

He twirled her into a turn, Micki instinctively following his strong lead, and then a few steps later a back bend, pulling her into frame again so quickly she nearly stepped on his foot.

Micki realized they’d stopped moving, although they remained locked together in front of his desk. She pulled away and instantly he released her.

“What’s your verdict?” he asked with a grin, seating himself on the edge of the desk. “Do I meet your no doubt exacting standards?”

She scooped up her purse and headed for the door. “You’re clearly better than the washed-up comedian I expected to be assigned.” Struck by a thought, she pivoted on one red spiked heel. He was watching her, eyes gleaming with open male appreciation. “How are you with antigrav?”

******************

STAR CRUISE DREAM DANCER:

Micki Allwell is a Comettes dancer aboard the luxurious interstellar cruise liner Nebula Zephyr. She’s offered the opportunity to take part in a celebrity dance contest to be held on the ship but her partner is a billionaire without dance experience or much interest in the contest, which his powerful family has pressured him to enter for their own reasons. Josh Benfield has a galaxy of business deals going on every hour of the day, all over the Sectors. He has no time for dancing but his professional partner is an intriguing woman who insists he take the competition seriously. He knows she has secrets and he’s intrigued. The intimacy of partnering in dance sparks a romance between the two of them but how long can it last? Will seven weeks of competition in close quarters aboard the ship be enough to make Micki and Josh permanent partners? Or will the stark differences in their lives and pasts lead to heartbreak? And who is going to take home the trophy? This 54K word novel is the latest in the Star Cruise series. Have you booked your Star Cruise yet?

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Have you booked your Star Cruise yet?