Tag Archives: #WeWriWa

May 29 2021

A Hard Choice to Make 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!)

May be edited a bit from published version.

I’ve moved on from COLONY ON FIRE and am now going to do a few excerpts from HEIRESS OF THE NILE, my most recent ancient Egyptian paranormal romance.

The snippet from near the beginning of the novel, continuing on from last week:

As she reached the temple, Pebatma reflected yet again on how her life had been upended. She longed to venture inside, to stroll between the colorful pillars, into the beautiful chapel noblewomen used when worshipping. She and her mother had always walked boldly inside, no question of their status, no issue with the guards or the priestesses. Pebatma glanced at her simple, mended linen dress and her patched brown cloak and sighed.

No use to make the attempt. In the early days of their downfall, when she’d had hope, she’d tried and been rudely jeered at and turned away. Members of a family fallen from the Usurper Pharaoh’s favor weren’t welcome even in a temple or so it seemed. Now the new Pharaoh Nat-re-Akhte held sway in the Black Lands but she’d yet to see any change in her own life’s condition.

Pebatma supposed she was blessed to have two men interested in her, dowry or no, and she tried hard to be grateful. For a girl who’d grown up in the nobility, expecting to be a priestess of Hathor herself and to marry a man of high rank, choosing between the innkeeper’s son, who was her old nurse’s grandson, or a spice merchant, neither of whom she loved, represented desperate times indeed. One was a stolid man of few words, whose grandmother she suspected of ordering him to court her. The other, a relatively well to do individual, was polite and deferential on the surface but lately he’d taken to touching her whenever he dared. The thought of marrying him was utterly repellent, even if he had offered to give her mother a home and bring her brother into the lucrative spice trade.

Wiping away a tear, Pebatma refused to allow herself to think of the high ranking man she’d once hoped to marry, there weren’t enough curses to call down on his head. He’d shown his true nature all right.

The book blurb: 1550 BCE – Forced by a vengeful Pharaoh to flee for her life and hide in the poorest section of Thebes, Lady Pebatma has scraped and struggled to support her ailing mother and young brother for the past two years. Now, out of funds with the rent to pay and no possessions left to sell, she begs the goddess Hathor for help. With a new pharaoh taking the throne, surely something can be done…

A powerful general in command of the army and best friend to Pharaoh, Marnamaret has everything a nobleman in Egypt could desire…except for true love. He refuses to settle for less. On a whim, he prays to Hathor to send him the woman of his dreams.Will the goddess answer these heartfelt petitions? And if she does, will Shai the god of Fate allow the course of two lives to be changed by love? For none can deny Fate….

Author’s Note: This is a connected series. Heiress of the Nile can be read as a standalone. Although it’s my newest novel, the story falls between Priestess and Warrior timewise and is set in the early days of this Pharaoh’s reign.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo     Nook     GooglePlay

Available at all major ebook sellers…

 

May 22 2021

No Time for Errands 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!)

May be edited a bit from published version.

I’vemoved on from COLONY ON FIRE and am now going to do a few excerpts from HEIRESS OF THE NILE, my most recent ancient Egyptian paranormal romance.

The snippet from the beginning of the novel:

Pebatma slipped through the relatively quiet streets of early morning Thebes, holding her cloak tightly around her. At this hour all the drunken soldiers and sailors from the night before should be in their beds and the petty thieves and other lowlifes had yet to appear because not enough honest citizens were about to fleece. She liked the city at this hour and could tell herself and believe there was a possibility of good things happening on this day. She gave thanks to Ra, whose sunboat was beginning its rise, for another dawn.

She really couldn’t spare the time for this errand, early as it was. Right now she was supposed to be in the kitchen of the Leaping Perch inn, stirring the fire and preparing the ingredients for the inn’s signature stew, under the watchful eye of the old cook. But her mother’d had a restless night, stifling her moans of discomfort and the rent was due yesterday. Pebatma had almost enough deben today, after her brother brought home his day’s wages as the baker’s apprentice and could only hope the jackal of a landlord would accept the late, incomplete payment.

Heart filled with despair, Pebatma didn’t think she could manage another day without going to the temple of Hathor and offering prayers. Surely the motherly goddess would reach out to help this time.

The book blurb: 1550 BCE – Forced by a vengeful Pharaoh to flee for her life and hide in the poorest section of Thebes, Lady Pebatma has scraped and struggled to support her ailing mother and young brother for the past two years. Now, out of funds with the rent to pay and no possessions left to sell, she begs the goddess Hathor for help. With a new pharaoh taking the throne, surely something can be done…

A powerful general in command of the army and best friend to Pharaoh, Marnamaret has everything a nobleman in Egypt could desire…except for true love. He refuses to settle for less. On a whim, he prays to Hathor to send him the woman of his dreams.Will the goddess answer these heartfelt petitions? And if she does, will Shai the god of Fate allow the course of two lives to be changed by love? For none can deny Fate….

Author’s Note: This is a connected series. Heiress of the Nile can be read as a standalone. Although it’s my newest novel, the story falls between Priestess and Warrior timewise and is set in the early days of this Pharaoh’s reign.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo     Nook     GooglePlay

Available at all major ebook sellers…

May 15 2021

Ash and Embers 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!)

May be edited a bit from published version.

Last excerpt from COLONY ON FIRE. Next week I’ll switch to one of my more recent releases.

The snippet comes from much later in the book, jumping ahead weeks in the timeline – Emily has returned to Northern Station to check on a patient with critical health issues.

She loved a good rainstorm but what greeted her was puzzling. “Snow?” With horror she realized the white stuff drifting down was gray ash. There was a strong burst of wind and a few glowing embers fell from the sky, pelting the side of the house and rolling to the ground. “What the seven hells is going on?”

She ran down the hall to Milly’s room. “There’s ash and embers falling.”

Befuddled by being awakened so suddenly, Milly sat up. “That can’t be.”

“It is. I’m going outside.” Saffia pivoted so fast she nearly tripped over one of the dogs and headed for the stairs. Stepping onto the porch, she coughed and rubbed her chest because the air quality was terrible, full of the smell of smoke. There was no question about the ash and as she watched, more glowing embers drifted from the sky, striking sparks and flickers of fire wherever they landed. “It can’t be safe to stay here,” she said to the dogs, who were flanking her now. Both animals were reluctant to go any further than the porch. Struck by a foreboding sense of wrongness, Saffia let them in and ran upstairs.

“Get dressed as quickly as you can,” she said to Milly, “And we’ll head into town, see what’s happening.”

VS: And the disaster unspools from here…

COLONY ON FIRE: HAVEN COLONY BOOK TWO

When she came to Haven Two Dr. Saffia Mandell expected to grimly do her five years of medical service as the colony’s only doctor, work off her medical school debt and leave. Then she’d fallen in love, handled an epidemic and become an accepted member of the community. Now, in her second year, she faces new challenges as the tinder dry planet heads into a fire season and a mysterious food allergy threatens the local restaurant’s reputation.

Chief Ranger Micah Navonn of the Calinurra never expected to fall in love with a human woman but Saffia was a special person who captured his heart and now means everything to him. Not all of his people are as enthusiastic about the situation and his efforts to handle the politics are getting complicated. Add to that an infestation by insects from another world, causing portions of the forest to die off and his plate is full.

When the jet stream shifts course and the fires rage, will the colonists and the Calinurra set aside their differences? With Saffia’s life hanging in the balance, can Micah arrive in time to save her and the colonists in jeopardy?
Life on Haven Two never lets up.

Amazon     Apple Books      Kobo     Nook     GooglePlay

NEW RELEASE!!!!

HOLIDAY FOR THE ALPHA: A BADARI WARRIORS NOVELLA by Veronica Scott

Daegan, the Alpha of the South Seas pack, is under a lot of stress and a near disaster in the sanctuary valley pushes him to a breaking point. Flo, his ex-mercenary human mate, knows he needs rest and relaxation but what kind of a holiday can a Badari Warrior take? She thinks she’s found a solution extreme enough to satisfy even her intense mate if she can just get him to agree to step away from his duties for a few days. Will Daegan agree to the idea?

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo     Nook     Google Play

May 8 2021

Wave to the Crowd 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!)

May be edited a bit from published version.

Excerpts from my newly released novel COLONY ON FIRE.

The snippet – Saffia and Micah and one of her nurses have flown the mobile clinic up to Northern Station, the remote, very small village. A bet was made whether there’d be a parade. There’s definitely a brass band. Roann is the nurse. I’ve skipped some introductions. Continuing on, Ellen the town administrator is speaking…:

“Please allow me and our citizens to escort you to the government house so you can rest and relax after your long flight.”

Saffia followed her toward the cars while Micah closed Gretchen up and activated the locks and security before joining her and Roann in the cavalcade. Saffia was expected to sit in the spot of honor in a convertible car, where she could see and be seen.

The parade left the landing field and drove slowly down the one central road.

Feeling slightly ridiculous, Saffia smiled and waved at small groups of people here and there beside the street. The band marched behind them, valiantly playing a catchy tune with a lot of drum accents. “I’m honored,” she said, leaning close to Ellen so her words could be heard over the percussion behind them. “Is the band from your school?”

Ellen shook her head, waiting for a trumpet riff to subside and said, “Actually it’s a community thing but one of the teachers at the school is the director and organizer. Up here we do the best we can to provide activities for people. We have a small theater group and an intramural tisba league with three teams, a book club and a quilting circle but that’s about it. A lot of rugged individualists.”

The parade arrived at the official building before Saffia could respond. Northern Station really was quite tiny. As she was extricating herself from the groundcar with Micah’s help, the band finished their song and the players wandered off with waves and shouted good wishes. The other cars also sped up and departed in various directions and when Saffia turned around the street was empty aside from her group and Ellen.

COLONY ON FIRE: HAVEN COLONY BOOK TWO

When she came to Haven Two Dr. Saffia Mandell expected to grimly do her five years of medical service as the colony’s only doctor, work off her medical school debt and leave. Then she’d fallen in love, handled an epidemic and become an accepted member of the community. Now, in her second year, she faces new challenges as the tinder dry planet heads into a fire season and a mysterious food allergy threatens the local restaurant’s reputation.

Chief Ranger Micah Navonn of the Calinurra never expected to fall in love with a human woman but Saffia was a special person who captured his heart and now means everything to him. Not all of his people are as enthusiastic about the situation and his efforts to handle the politics are getting complicated. Add to that an infestation by insects from another world, causing portions of the forest to die off and his plate is full.

When the jet stream shifts course and the fires rage, will the colonists and the Calinurra set aside their differences? With Saffia’s life hanging in the balance, can Micah arrive in time to save her and the colonists in jeopardy?
Life on Haven Two never lets up.

Amazon     Apple Books      Kobo     Nook     GooglePlay

May 1 2021

Brass Band with a Parade from COLONY ON FIRE #SciFi Romance

Excerpt from COLONY ON FIRE.

The snippet – Saffia and Micah (the planet’s Chief Ranger and Saffia’s fiancee) and one of her nurses have flown the mobile clinic up to Northern Station, the remote, very small village. A bet was made whether there’d be a parade. Roann is the nurse. Continuing on…:

There was a knock on the cockpit door and Roann stuck her head in. “Hey, you guys, sorry to interrupt and all but there’s kind of a brass band waiting outside.”

“What?” Saffia straightened in shock and Micah stepped out of the way as she surged to her feet. Activating the outer vids she saw her nurse wasn’t kidding. A group was waiting on the edge of the landing pad and there did indeed seem to be a small band.

“Told you.” Micah was gracious enough in victory not to laugh as he stood aside for her to pass on the way out into the main cabin. “Face it, you’re a big deal, doc.”

Normally she wasn’t vain about her appearance but Saffia wished she could take a moment to at least fix her hair a bit but she’d already kept the good people of Northern Station waiting long enough. Mortified, she triggered the portal and Gretchen’s ramp slid out as the panel moved efficiently aside. There was a cheer as she stepped onto the ground and the band struck up a slightly wavering rendition of a fanfare. With annoyance she was aware of Micah stifling his amusement behind her, whether he was taking delight in being right about the scale of her welcome or the dubious musicality of the band she had no idea.

Roann came behind him. “Whoa, the town is sure pulling out all the stops for us, doctor.”

There was now a banner waving with “WELCOME DR. MANDELL and STAFF” emblazoned on it.

“No banner for me, you notice,” Micah said in a wicked whisper.

Ignoring him, keeping her dignity as a shield for nervousness, Saffia walked to meet her welcoming committee, sure the woman in the lead must be Mrs. Dagerty’s niece. The family jawline and eyebrows were unmistakable.

Sure enough, the lady extended her hand, saying, “I’m Ellen Dagerty Hayes, Administrator of Northern Station and I’m honored to welcome you to our humble hamlet.”

Saffia shook hands and rapidly introduced Micah and Roann and then said, “You really didn’t have to go to so much trouble to greet us but I’m flattered. I hope while we’re here for the next three days the nurse and I can make a difference in the general good health of the village and we welcome anyone to our clinic who needs care or even just has questions about a health issue.”

The crowd cheered. Ellen nodded. “I’ve coordinated with your staff at the main clinic and we’ve pretty much got your schedule full up with appointments the entire time.”

“Good, I’m glad. We’ll do our best to fit in any walk-ins as well.”  The last thing Saffia wanted was to have spare time on her hands. Being away from the main clinic was a big deal to her so she needed this trip to be worthwhile.

“But that’s all for tomorrow.” Ellen gestured toward a line of waiting groundcars. “Please allow me and our citizens to escort you to the government house so you can rest and relax after your long flight.”

Saffia followed her toward the cars while Micah closed Gretchen up and activated the locks and security before joining her and Roann in the cavalcade. Saffia was expected to sit in the spot of honor in a convertible car, where she could see and be seen. Micah slipped in beside the driver, Saffia encouraged Roann to sit beside her and Ellen, with a small frown at the nurse, joined them, which made for a bit of crowding. Apparently Roann had been expected to ride in another car behind Saffia’s.

The parade left the landing field and drove slowly down the one central road.

Feeling slightly ridiculous, Saffia smiled and waved at small groups of people here and there beside the street. The band marched behind them, valiantly playing a catchy tune with a lot of drum accents.

COLONY ON FIRE: HAVEN COLONY BOOK TWO

When she came to Haven Two Dr. Saffia Mandell expected to grimly do her five years of medical service as the colony’s only doctor, work off her medical school debt and leave. Then she’d fallen in love, handled an epidemic and become an accepted member of the community. Now, in her second year, she faces new challenges as the tinder dry planet heads into a fire season and a mysterious food allergy threatens the local restaurant’s reputation.

Chief Ranger Micah Navonn of the Calinurra never expected to fall in love with a human woman but Saffia was a special person who captured his heart and now means everything to him. Not all of his people are as enthusiastic about the situation and his efforts to handle the politics are getting complicated. Add to that an infestation by insects from another world, causing portions of the forest to die off and his plate is full.

When the jet stream shifts course and the fires rage, will the colonists and the Calinurra set aside their differences? With Saffia’s life hanging in the balance, can Micah arrive in time to save her and the colonists in jeopardy?
Life on Haven Two never lets up.

Amazon     Apple Books      Kobo     Nook     GooglePlay

 

 

Apr 17 2021

Backbone of the Colony Snippet from COLONY ON FIRE

From COLONY ON FIRE.

Micah and Saffia have taken delivery of the brand new mobile clinic and have now gone on to the  local restaurant for breakfast. The excerpt: 

Mrs. Dagerty herself bustled up to them as the young hostess was explaining there’d be a long wait. “Not for these two busy people,” she said. “I’ll give them my special booth, in the back.” Plucking the menus from the hostess’s hands, Mrs. Dagerty led Micah and Saffia to the designated spot at the rear of the dining area and beamed while they sat. “I heard your new mobile clinic got delivered today,” she said to Saffia. “Will you be going up to Northern Station soon then?”

Saffia perked up, thinking of her shiny not-quite-new toy sitting in its parking spot at the clinic. “I’ve got to schedule it but that’s the plan.”

“I have a niece up there, Ellen, who is the town admin. I’ll make sure she rolls out the red carpet for you, doc.”

As Mrs. Dagerty walked away, Saffia rolled her eyes. “Of course she has a niece up there and of course the woman runs the town.”

He laughed. “The Dagertys are the backbone of the colony. Lucky for you, you’re her favorite doctor.”

“Since I’m the colony’s only doctor, I can’t be too conceited about the honor.” Saffia sipped the synthcaff the waitress placed at her elbow.

COLONY ON FIRE: HAVEN COLONY BOOK TWO

When she came to Haven Two Dr. Saffia Mandell expected to grimly do her five years of medical service as the colony’s only doctor, work off her medical school debt and leave. Then she’d fallen in love, handled an epidemic and become an accepted member of the community. Now, in her second year, she faces new challenges as the tinder dry planet heads into a fire season and a mysterious food allergy threatens the local restaurant’s reputation.

Chief Ranger Micah Navonn of the Calinurra never expected to fall in love with a human woman but Saffia was a special person who captured his heart and now means everything to him. Not all of his people are as enthusiastic about the situation and his efforts to handle the politics are getting complicated. Add to that an infestation by insects from another world, causing portions of the forest to die off and his plate is full.

When the jet stream shifts course and the fires rage, will the colonists and the Calinurra set aside their differences? With Saffia’s life hanging in the balance, can Micah arrive in time to save her and the colonists in jeopardy?
Life on Haven Two never lets up.

Amazon     Apple Books      Kobo     Nook     GooglePlay

 

Apr 10 2021

The Best Thing 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!)

May be edited a bit from published version.

Excerpts from my newly released novel COLONY ON FIRE.

Continuing on from where we left off last week. Saffia and Micah open the interstellar cargo carrier to see her ‘new’ (refurbished) mobile medical clinic. The excerpt: 

“Impressive.” As she walked toward the door, Saffia was pleased. Her decision to invest the extra budget she’d been given as a reward for handling the epidemic last year plus what she could squeeze from the budget and use it all to purchase the mobile unit had involved higher finances than anything she’d ever spent other than her medical school tuition. It had been terrifying to sign the contract with the dealer on faraway Barton Seven. The company came highly recommended though and had glowing testimonials, including some from prestigious Non-Government Organizations who used their mobile stations on various underdeveloped worlds.

She stepped up into the main body of the mobile clinic and stopped, jaw dropping. “Wow.” The interior was all gleaming surfaces, metallic and crisp white, with examination bays, a scan area, three critical care beds, and other medical amenities. “I mean, I pored over the marketing materials and I know what I ordered but this is amazing.”

“You can treat anything in here,” Micah said, opening a cabinet and closing it again.

As she walked through the central aisle, Saffia was more than pleased by her choices. “I can even do major surgery if I have to, deliver babies, administer specialized treatments—”

“Pull teeth?” Head tilted, Micah eyed a cabinet labelled ‘Dental’. “Branching out into a new specialty?”

“I figured I should get the minimal kit, yes. In the remote area, I might be the only person who can treat a dental issue, if it was an emergency. Obviously people would come into town and see the real dentist for most things. I have the minimum kit for a few specialties in fact, like ophthalmology. I was running thin on budget by that point in the sales order form and had to skip a few things. I had to remind myself the goal wasn’t to recreate my clinic up there in the wilderness but to provide a basic level of care.”

“I found the best thing about Gretchen,” he said a minute later, voice muffled as he’d proceeded to the rear of the vehicle.

Saffia looked up from her contemplation of the operating room suite of support devices. “What do you mean? How would you know, my non-medical friend?”

“Come see.”

Grumbling a bit but curious she made her way to the back, having trouble resisting checking out all the other amenities.  She found Micah standing in an alcove outside the tiny doctor’s office. As she walked up, he pointed at the shelf and Saffia began to laugh. Raising her hands, she said, “Yes, I ordered the deluxe coffee pot.”

COLONY ON FIRE: HAVEN COLONY BOOK TWO

When she came to Haven Two Dr. Saffia Mandell expected to grimly do her five years of medical service as the colony’s only doctor, work off her medical school debt and leave. Then she’d fallen in love, handled an epidemic and become an accepted member of the community. Now, in her second year, she faces new challenges as the tinder dry planet heads into a fire season and a mysterious food allergy threatens the local restaurant’s reputation.
Chief Ranger Micah Navonn of the Calinurra never expected to fall in love with a human woman but Saffia was a special person who captured his heart and now means everything to him. Not all of his people are as enthusiastic about the situation and his efforts to handle the politics are getting complicated. Add to that an infestation by insects from another world, causing portions of the forest to die off and his plate is full.
When the jet stream shifts course and the fires rage, will the colonists and the Calinurra set aside their differences? With Saffia’s life hanging in the balance, can Micah arrive in time to save her and the colonists in jeopardy?
Life on Haven Two never lets up.

Amazon     Apple Books      Kobo     Nook     GooglePlay

Don’t miss my $.99 sale on the Nebula Dream Trilogy box set!

Welcome to the story of the greatest interstellar cruise liner disaster of all time (“Titanic in Space” as the Galaxy Express Blog termed it), one small group of survivors and what befell them in later years, as told in three novels. This box set gathers three of Veronica Scott’s award winning science fiction novels into one collection. Please note each novel has been previously published on its own and all can be read as standalone tales.

Amazon      Apple Books    Kobo    GooglePlay     Nook

WRECK OF THE NEBULA DREAM: Traveling unexpectedly aboard the luxury liner Nebula Dream on its maiden voyage across the galaxy, Sectors Special Forces Captain Nick Jameson is ready for ten relaxing days, and hoping to forget his last disastrous mission behind enemy lines. He figures he’ll gamble at the casino, take in the shows, maybe even have a shipboard fling with Mara Lyrae, the beautiful but reserved businesswoman he meets. All his plans vaporize when the ship suffers a wreck of Titanic proportions. Captain and crew abandon ship, leaving the 8000 passengers stranded without enough lifeboats and drifting unarmed in enemy territory. (This novel was loosely inspired by the events of the 1912 sinking of the Titanic on Earth but set in the far future, in space.)

STAR SURVIVOR: The survivors of a terrible wreck meet again—but this time only one can survive. The long-awaited sequel to The Wreck of the Nebula Dream…They survived an iconic spaceship wreck together. She never expected to see him again … especially not armed to kill her. Twilka Zabour is an interstellar celebrity. She built on her notoriety as a carefree Socialite who survived the terrible wreck of the Nebula Dream, and launched a successful design house. But now the man who gave meaning to her life, then left her, is back–this time for the worst of reasons. Will he kill her … or help her survive?

D’nvannae Brother Khevan survived the Nebula Dream in the company of a lovely, warm woman, only to be pulled away from her, back into his solitary life in the service of the Red Lady. Now Twilka’s within his reach again–for all the wrong reasons. Khevan will do everything within his power to discover why Twilka has been targeted for assassination, and to save her.
But Khevan is not Twilka’s only pursuer. Will allies Nick and Mara Jameson arrive in time to aid the couple, or will Khevan and Twilka’s ingenuity be all that stands between them and death?

STAR CRUISE RETURN VOYAGE: 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 make the effort 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. The two share more in common than either of them realizes and their attraction grows as the voyage continues.

But powerful enemies including a conspiracy theory-obsessed fellow passenger and sinister individuals with hostile intentions 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 the day her last voyage came to a disastrous end?

Amazon      Apple Books    Kobo    GooglePlay     Nook

 

Mar 27 2021

Time to Sleep Later 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!)

May be edited a bit from published version.

We’ve left JAMOKAN and moved on to my newly released novel COLONY ON FIRE.

Excerpt from the very beginning of the book: 

Haven Two had an unusually large spaceport for being a small colony on an outer rim world. The huge luxury vacation resort and playground of the rich located on the planet was the explanation for almost everything that happened on Haven Two and this was no exception.

As she rode in her fiancé’s groundcar to the spaceport to collect her delivery, Dr. Saffia Mandell gazed in awe at the array of sparkling, fancy space yachts and small cruise ships spread out on the landing pad. “Usually there’s just the weekly freighter, if anything. This is amazing. I feel like you’re driving me through a used spaceship lot here.”

Micah Navonn, Chief Ranger for Haven Two, glanced at her. “The resort keeps the spaceport a going concern too, you know, like the colony itself. Gotta make the credits during the season. Time to sleep and relax later. You’re lucky you’re funded by the Sectors Medical Service.”

Saffia gave vent to an unladylike snort. “Says the man whose people own the damn planet. You don’t depend on the tourists either.”

COLONY ON FIRE: HAVEN COLONY BOOK TWO

When she came to Haven Two Dr. Saffia Mandell expected to grimly do her five years of medical service as the colony’s only doctor, work off her medical school debt and leave. Then she’d fallen in love, handled an epidemic and become an accepted member of the community. Now, in her second year, she faces new challenges as the tinder dry planet heads into a fire season and a mysterious food allergy threatens the local restaurant’s reputation.
Chief Ranger Micah Navonn of the Calinurra never expected to fall in love with a human woman but Saffia was a special person who captured his heart and now means everything to him. Not all of his people are as enthusiastic about the situation and his efforts to handle the politics are getting complicated. Add to that an infestation by insects from another world, causing portions of the forest to die off and his plate is full.
When the jet stream shifts course and the fires rage, will the colonists and the Calinurra set aside their differences? With Saffia’s life hanging in the balance, can Micah arrive in time to save her and the colonists in jeopardy?
Life on Haven Two never lets up.

Amazon      Apple Books     Kobo     Nook     GooglePlay       NOTE:  Apple is still processing

Mar 20 2021

A Portrait Drawn From Memory 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!)

May be edited a bit from published version.

OK, I relented on leaving this book, because people seemed to be enjoying the story of how Rosemari got off her dreary planet. So I’ll share another snippet or two from her on the subject. Sharing excerpts from JAMOKAN: A BADARI WARRIORS SCIFI ROMANCE NOVEL. I’ve jumped way ahead. They’ve been discussing Rosemari’s talent as an artist and she’s explaining how her skill got her off her planet through a government-sponsored contest and into space, where she was kidnapped by pirates. Hand drawn art is a rarity in the far future….

The excerpt – 

“Our planetary leader had a much beloved daughter who unfortunately died the year before and I drew a portrait of her from memory on stage for my finale.” She sighed. “It was a calculated move on my part because the citizens of our world had made her practically a revered person and I hoped my tribute to her might get me the sympathy vote.” She made a face of self-disgust. “But I was so close to the end and by then I was desperate to win. I practiced and practiced drawing an idyllic likeness of her until I could practically do it in my sleep.”

“I understand the feeling about competition. We were always in competition for our actual lives, when we were in the labs, so we did what we had to do. Besides, drawing a portrait of a famous woman is hardly a nefarious tactic. It was your true skill bringing the portrait to reality,” Jamokan said.

Taking a deep breath, Rosemari visibly relaxed a bit of the tension in her frame. Had she thought he was going to make fun of her achievement? At least his instinctive answer had pleased and comforted her. “You see, the rules guaranteed there’d be two winners. The judges picked one and the planet wide audience picked the other. The dancer and the singer were well connected, from big, populous areas, whereas I was just a hydroponics tech, from the underclass in a rural province. I didn’t have any fancy clothes to wear so I showed up for each round in my best, which honestly wasn’t too good. People lent me clothes for the last two installments. The odds were stacked pretty high against me. So drawing a portrait of Maradonja was my only hope. A number of groups worship her nowadays, in a cult like fashion. I gave the final portrait to the planetary leader and he donated it to the biggest group of fans. He got a lot of positive press for the gesture.”

“And you won the popular vote?” he guessed. His prospective mate was smart as well as talented.

JAMOKAN: A BADARI WARRIORS SCIFI ROMANCE NOVEL (SECTORS NEW ALLIES SERIES BOOK 13) 

The story: Badari Alpha Jamokan and his pack are growing discontented in the sanctuary valley, tired of coming in second place to the pushy new South Seas pack when it comes to assignments and everything else. On top of the discord within his pack, Jamokan is distracted by the search for the right woman to be a proper Alpha’s mate to partner with him in combat and in everyday life. Even the Badari goddess is warning him in visions that he and his pack are on the wrong path for a happy future. In desperation, he receives permission to take his entire pack north to the mountains for a two week hunting expedition, where he hopes to use the time and rugged surroundings to settle the soldiers down and restore order and discipline.

And figure out his own future.

When his men unexpectedly locate a hidden Khagrish lab, he goes to investigate and see if there are humans to be rescued. Little does he suspect he’ll be called upon to break one of the highest commandments of the Badari packs and bring a new disaster to those who look to him for leadership.

Before she became a Khagrish prisoner, Rosemari Parcher was a hydroponics technician on a gritty colony world, who unexpectedly won a planetwide contest. Tapped to receive her heart’s desire and move to a totally different life in the luxurious Inner Sectors, her life had become a happy dream. Kidnapped in space by enemy aliens and given to the Khagrish, she and other humans are the unwilling subjects of a bizarre medical experiment where a quick death seems to be her only hope. Rescued by Jamokan and his pack, she finds herself deeply attracted to the Alpha but the devious Khagrish aren’t through with Rosemari or the experiment.

Amazon     Apple Books      Kobo      GooglePlay       Nook 

Mar 13 2021

It Was A Joke Actually 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!)

May be edited a bit from published version.

Sharing excerpts from JAMOKAN: A BADARI WARRIORS SCIFI ROMANCE NOVEL. This will be the last one from JAMOKAN because we’re getting into spoiler territory. I’ve jumped way ahead. They’ve been discussing Rosemari’s talent as an artist and she’s explaining how her skill got her off her planet and into space, where she was kidnapped by pirates. Hand drawn art is a rarity in the far future….

The excerpt – Jamokan has the first line.

“How exactly did your talent lift you out of the hydroponics sheds and send you out into the stars? I’m curious.”

Rosemari settled herself more comfortably, leaning her head on one elbow and staring at the fire as he added wood to make it blaze again. “There’s a competition on my planet, once a year, meant to give the masses hope, I think. It’s talent-based and anyone can apply to compete. There are many rounds of elimination, at the local, district and planetwide level. Thousands apply every year.”

He shoved a fallen, partially burnt log more firmly into the center of the blaze and sat back. “And you entered?”

She shook her head, eyes a bit misty as she considered the past and recalled the events which had changed her life. “My friends entered me without telling me. I think it might have been a joke actually. The first I knew of it was when I was notified I’d made it through the local eliminations and was on to district. One of my favorite teachers was the local judge, which probably had something to do with me advancing in the contest.  I was terrified—it’s impossible to back out because the government runs the whole thing and place a high value on it. The last few eliminations were broadcast to the entire planet and we had to demonstrate our talent in real time. I was up against dancers, singers, acrobats, poets, you name it and there was a person on the stage performing it. I did caricatures—gentle ones—of the judges for one round, drew from audience requests for another. You didn’t have to win each time fortunately to stay in the competition as long as you kept adding enough margin to your points and the planet’s citizens didn’t vote you off.”

Jamokan was fascinated. “You must have won though, if you got off the planet.”

“The finale was between a  gifted dancer, a fantastic singer and me. ..”

JAMOKAN: A BADARI WARRIORS SCIFI ROMANCE NOVEL (SECTORS NEW ALLIES SERIES BOOK 13) 

The story: Badari Alpha Jamokan and his pack are growing discontented in the sanctuary valley, tired of coming in second place to the pushy new South Seas pack when it comes to assignments and everything else. On top of the discord within his pack, Jamokan is distracted by the search for the right woman to be a proper Alpha’s mate to partner with him in combat and in everyday life. Even the Badari goddess is warning him in visions that he and his pack are on the wrong path for a happy future. In desperation, he receives permission to take his entire pack north to the mountains for a two week hunting expedition, where he hopes to use the time and rugged surroundings to settle the soldiers down and restore order and discipline.

And figure out his own future.

When his men unexpectedly locate a hidden Khagrish lab, he goes to investigate and see if there are humans to be rescued. Little does he suspect he’ll be called upon to break one of the highest commandments of the Badari packs and bring a new disaster to those who look to him for leadership.

Before she became a Khagrish prisoner, Rosemari Parcher was a hydroponics technician on a gritty colony world, who unexpectedly won a planetwide contest. Tapped to receive her heart’s desire and move to a totally different life in the luxurious Inner Sectors, her life had become a happy dream. Kidnapped in space by enemy aliens and given to the Khagrish, she and other humans are the unwilling subjects of a bizarre medical experiment where a quick death seems to be her only hope. Rescued by Jamokan and his pack, she finds herself deeply attracted to the Alpha but the devious Khagrish aren’t through with Rosemari or the experiment.

Amazon     Apple Books      Kobo      GooglePlay       Nook