Feb 27 2016

Have You Nothing To Say Weekend Writing Warriors

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!)

The WIP is an epic portal fantasy, which is undergoing a final edit and will be released after Star Cruise: Outbreak in the April/May 2016 time frame.

Sandy and Mark have been transported to an unknown world. This snippet is from quite a bit further in the novel, after tey’ve left the mysterious mountain oasis, in the company of some new friends… Sandy was bitten by a snake named Sherabti, went into the green light with a woman unknown to her and now is sitting in a room she’s never seen before, with four women who seem to think Sandy is someone else…the Lady of the Star Wind…A new player, Haatrin, has entered the chamber and scolded the Moon Sisters.

Thunder rumbled outside the room, and the sisters cringed away as the newcomer hobbled closer. Haatrin bowed her head but appeared less afraid or in awe than Amrell and her Moon Sisters, “Grandmother Nuet, this interruption is unfortunate but may also have potential. We may have a new Lady of the Star Wind.” She gestured toward Sandy as if presenting a rare treat.

Now the crone’s attention switched to Sandy, who instinctively bowed her head as she would have to her own grandmother, the Outlier Empress. No question, but this newly arrived being commanded respect, whoever she might be. The name had a familiar sound as well. Remembering the altar in the abandoned village, Sandy speculated whether she drifted in a venom-induced dream, constructed from bits and pieces of her recent experiences. But this crone facing her could never be mistaken for a fertility goddess.

The woman pointed her staff at Sandy, “Have you nothing to say?”

Nuet is hardly your kindly gramma LOL. There’s still quite a bit left to happen in this scene, so a few more weeks on it. Then I’m thinking maybe I’ll give you a teaser from STAR CRUISE: OUTBREAK, which I haven’t shared here at all.

Feb 20 2016

She Comes To Judge Weekend Writing Warriors

The WIP is an epic portal fantasy, which is undergoing a final edit and will be released after Star Cruise: Outbreak in the April/May 2016 time frame.

Hands folded across her stomach, Haatrin maintained her calm, detached demeanor, in stark contrast to the excitability of the younger women. “All will be decided soon. Sherabti has gone to inform the Mother of these occurrences and She comes to this place to judge.”

The Moon Sisters grew pale, exchanging furtive glances, and the light in the room dimmed.

“We never meant to disturb Her,” Amrell said, biting her lip.

“Yet you took action in a place dedicated to me from ancient times.” The voice was like the crack of a whip. An elderly woman, clad in flowing garments of black, stood on the threshold, leaning heavily on an ebony cane, her withered hand clenched on the flared snake’s head carved at the top. “You feckless children summon me to attend to matters I left behind long ago.”

There’s still quite a bit left to happen in this scene, so a few more weeks on it. Then I’m thinking maybe I’ll give you a teaser from STAR CRUISE: OUTBREAK, which I haven’t shared here at all.

Feb 13 2016

Higher Stakes Than She Knew Weekend Writing Warriors

I felt like I should have shared a more romantic snippet in honor of Valentine’s Day but I didn’t want to disappoint readers who are expecting the next lines from Lady of the Star Wind. The WIP is an epic portal fantasy, which is undergoing a final edit and will be released after Star Cruise: Outbreak in the April/May 2016 time frame.

Sandy and Mark have been transported to an unknown world. This snippet is from quite a bit further in the novel, after tey’ve left the mysterious mountain oasis, in the company of some new friends… Sandy was bitten by a snake, went into the green light with a woman unknown to her and now is sitting in a room she’s never seen before, with four women who seem to think Sandy is someone else…the Lady of the Star Wind…A new player, Haatrin, has entered the chamber and scolded the Moon Sisters.

Pivoting on her heel, she looked Sandy up and down, “Peace to you, daughter of queens. While it’s certainly true you’re not the Lady of the Star Wind from eons ago, your arrival might be timely, might be part of a larger whole.” Over her shoulder, she addressed Amrell and the others, “You know the balance is in jeopardy. Those who dwell in darkness gather and plot. This woman could be a key herself, a useful component of our strategy.”

“I’m not a tool to be used by others,” Sandy said, drawing upon her imperial heritage to sound haughty and disapproving, “And neither is Mark.”

“Yet you plan to dwell on the world Lajollae sent you to,” Haatrin made her assessment calmly. “Already you’ve chosen a side, made alliances – there’s a cost to such decisions.”

Sandy bit her lip, regretting all over again having agreed so easily to Mark’s desire to leave the oasis, and throw their lot in with Rothan and Tia. The stakes had been higher than she’d realized at the time.

A lot of creative punctuation – sorry! But Happy Valentine’s day…

Feb 6 2016

Now You Want To Kill Me? Weekend Writing Warriors

If you’re here for the “SFRB Presents,” that post will be found here.

Sandy and Mark have been transported to an unknown world. This snippet is from quite a bit further in the novel, after tey’ve left the mysterious mountain oasis, in the company of some new friends… Sandy was bitten by a snake, went into the green light with a woman unknown to her and now is sitting in a room she’s never seen before, with four women who seem to think Sandy is someone else…the Lady of the Star Wind…A new player, Haatrin, has entered the chamber and scolded the Moon Sisters.

“We meant no harm, Exalted One Haatrin,” Tresa said, getting boldly to her feet, “We merely wanted to renew our acquaintance with our old friend.” She cast an angry glance at Sandy. “But this woman is an impostor. We should let her continue into death’s embrace, since loss of life is how her body is reacting to Sherabti’s kiss in the mortal world.”

“Now you want to kill me?” Fight-or-flight response fully engaged, Sandy chose to go on the offensive, leaping to her feet. “I didn’t ask to be bitten by a snake, and I certainly didn’t ask you to bring me wherever this is. Send me back, make me whole, and we’ll call it even.”

Haatrin raised her hands, and the sisters subsided. “You were foolish and hasty,” she said to them, her tone chiding, “Now you must bear the consequences.”

Continuing on with this scene next week…

Jan 30 2016

Reaction Not As Expected Weekend Writing Warriors

Continuing with science fiction romance today. Here’s an excerpt from Lady of the Star Wind, an epic portal fantasy, which is undergoing a final edit and will be released after Star Cruise: Outbreak in the April/May 2016 time frame (fingers crossed that I can keep my schedule). I’m working with the awesome Fiona Jayde on a cover now!

Sandy and Mark have been transported to an unknown world after breaking the Globe of Amarkana (you may remember those excerpts earlier in the year?). This snippet is from quite a bit further in the novel, after Mark and Sandy have left the mysterious mountain oasis, in the company of some new friends… Sandy was bitten by a snake (who we learn today has a name), went into the green light with a woman unknown to her and now is sitting in a room she’s never seen before, with four women who seem to think Sandy is someone else…the Lady of the Star Wind…

After a moment, Amrell raised her eyes to the newcomer and spoke, “As we were telling our guest, we knew she waited in the temple so we sent Sherabti to welcome her as in days of old. Her reaction was not as expected, so I decided to personally conduct our friend and her consort to this meeting place.” Biting her lip, Amrell frowned. “His response was also odd, as if his blood fought Sherabti’s elixir. I couldn’t bring him through the barriers into this place.”

“Is Sherabti the snake? You had the snake bite me to get me here?” The adrenaline of outrage gave Sandy energy, broke the spell holding her so calm. These women were more dangerous than she’d realized.

A Rash Proceeding Weekend Writing Warriors

Sandy and Mark have been transported to an unknown world after breaking the Globe of Amarkana (you may remember those excerpts earlier in the year?). This snippet is from quite a bit further in the novel, after Mark and Sandy have left the mysterious mountain oasis (which wasn’t a zoo after all), in the company of some new friends… Sandy was bitten by a snake, went into the green light with a woman unknown to her and now is sitting in a room she’s never seen before, with four women who seem to think Sandy is someone else…(the Rothan mentioned here is a local, traveling with Sandy and Mark.)

“I told you she wasn’t who we believed her to be,” The diminutive redhead spoke, voice triumphant, “We’ve made a mistake.”

“She has the key,” answered the blonde, sinking into one of the empty chairs.

The first woman who’d led them into the room made a shushing gesture. Turning to Sandy, she said, “We’re the Moon Sisters who watch over this world—Amrell, Terali, Lifnid, and Tresa.” She raised her eyebrows, “And you are?”

“Alessandra of the Outlier Empire.” She thought at least one of the names in the introduction sounded familiar – hadn’t Rothan made some reference to Amrell a few days ago?

“A name we’ve never heard before and a mortal we don’t know.” Tresa, the redhead, poured herself a drink, “We’re going to regret this rash proceeding.”

I’ll keep going with this scene for a few more weeks – there’s quite a bit more. I started the search for stock photos for the cover last week.

And in other news, I’m a new contributor to Amazing Stories, with my emphasis on science fiction romance. Here was my first post: http://amazingstoriesmag.com/2016/01/veronica-scott-talks-science-fiction-romance/

I’ll be blogging there twice a month, in addition to my USA Today/HEA SciFi Encounters column.

Dec 5 2015

Zoo? Weekend Writing Warriors

(If you’re here for the SFRB Showcase, it can be found at this link.)

Switching back to science fiction romance today. Here’s an excerpt from Lady of the Star Wind, an epic portal fantasy, which is undergoing a final edit and will be released after Star Cruise: Outbreak sometime early next year.

Sandy and Mark have been transported to an unknown world after breaking the Globe of Amarkana (you may remember those excerpts earlier in the year?). They found themselves in an oasis-like area with no exit. Mark is speaking.

“I think our pocket paradise was built into a plateau. Took master builders to carve all this. Let’s explore the boundaries, shall we?”

After another few moments of walking through a haphazard orchard of various types of fruit trees, they reached the outer wall. A ten-foot wall of stones stacked together with no mortar, yet linked perfectly, formed the barricade, running in both directions as far as he could see. He couldn’t insert so much as a fingernail between the blocks. Troubled, he gave her a look, “The zoo-like aspects of this bother me.”

“Zoo?”

“Perfect human habitat enclosed by a stone wall, male and female specimens trapped inside – the confined surroundings don’t concern you?”

Eyebrows raised, she stared at the wall, “Now that you mention it, yes.”

No cover, no blurb as yet! All in good time…..