Just about one month until Pets in Space® 10 releases on October 7th! Pauline Baird Jones and I created this anthology ten years ago and had so much fun with it until we eventually handed it off to the wonderful Carol Van Natta. She invited us back this year to celebrate the 10th anniversary.
My story for this year’s anthology is STAR CRUISE LUCKY CHARM. For the cover, check below the book blurb. (Of course my cover won’t appear anywhere yet except in promo since it’s part of the anthology but I like having a cover – helps inspire me.)
I don’t write to music, nor so I assemble a playlist for my books but as a loyal PISA10 team member I did identify an appropriate song. Actually I identified two! In my head Lady GaGa’s ‘Poker Face’ is the song, since the story centers around the casino aboard my luxury space liner the Nebula Zephyr. But then when it came time to assemble the official playlist, it was specified the videos had to be safe for viewing at work and GaGa’s had a few risque moments. So I defaulted to an old Clint Black song “A Good Run of Bad Luck’ . Try to ignore all the scenes in the video from the old movie “Maverick,” which featured this song. The lyrics fit my story, but it has nothing to do with the Old West. Cards, Lady Luck and gambling – yes!
Here’s the playlist link for all the stories: Youtube
Here’s the blurb and universal preorder link for Pets in Space® 10, followed by the blurb for my specific story in the collection:
PETS IN SPACE® 10 by Various
Nine Interstellar Tales. Nine Unforgettable Romances. Nineteen Adorably Badass Pets.
In this tenth-anniversary edition of PETS IN SPACE®, you’ll find smart-mouthed birds, cyber armadillos, tiny dragons, and alien creatures who steal the show — and sometimes save it. Across distant planets, space stations, and magical realms, unlikely heroes and heroines are drawn together by danger, fate… and the meddling of their pet sidekicks. These stories blend swoon-worthy romance with thrilling sci-fi adventure in a way only PETS IN SPACE can deliver.
🐾 Don’t miss your chance to escape into the stars with nine sizzling sci-fi romances — each with a pet who will steal your heart and a hero or heroine who will make it race. Grab PETS IN SPACE 10 and get ready to binge beyond the stars!
Pets in Space authors are proud supporters of Hero Dogs, a charity that raises and trains service dogs for disabled veterans and first-responders. 10% of the initial sales go to this excellent nonprofit organization.
Cover by Fiona Jayde
STAR CRUISE LUCKY CHARM (story included in the anthology) by Veronica Scott
Dahlia Vale is a floater on the interstellar cruise liner Nebula Zephyr. She fills in wherever she’s needed and loves the life. She hopes she can land a permanent spot on the crew roster and she and her alien rescue pet Petal can secure their home aboard the ship. Then one night she gets called to take a waitress position in the casino and a high society guest decides she’s his lucky charm after winning huge at the roulette wheel by betting on her casual suggestion. Life becomes a whirlwind for Dahlia and she’s not sure she likes the attention. Fortunately her pet gave her a special token of good luck that she carries all the time.
Casino Manager Mike Remington isn’t happy to have an unknown floater assigned to the casino on such a big night but he’s impressed with Dahlia despite himself. He wants to get to know her better which is a challenge since he’s the boss but maybe the way to her heart is to help find answers for her ailing pet. Amidst preparations for an upcoming gaming competition Mike finds time to spend with Dahlia. But he’s got everyone from the interstellar mob to the upper echelons of society on the ship to deal with.
When Dahlia is endangered thanks to her reputation as a so-called ‘luck puller’ for the avaricious gamblers engaged in the championship games, she needs her own lucky charm and Mike’s help to avoid disaster. Can their growing attraction survive the chaos?