L.E. Thomas's Blog, page 6

Standalone or not?

"Can Dark Space be read on its own?" I was asked this question over the weekend. In other words, is Dark Space a standalone novel? My first answer was to say no, then yes, then ... ummm. How eloquent. A couple of years back when Star Runners: Mission Wraith was released, I had a guy write to me who was introduced to the Star Runners Universe (SRU) at book 3. He proceeded to read the books in reverse order of release. I'm proud to say he let me know they were still enjoyable. Whew! From the beginning of the SRU, I always wanted each book to have a complete story. Even though its a series that's building up to the events in Star Runners 6, I wanted the novels to at least have an entire story. The epilogues always provide a little tease as to what's coming next, but I wanted each book to have a complete story. To answer the original question, Star Runners: Dark Space was always going to center on Josh Morris and how he deals with the trauma following his ordeal in Star Runners: Revelation Protocol. However, I do think one could read Dark Space without having read the other books. It's a complete story of a friend going to the ends of the known galaxy in the hope he can help another person. That's really all you need to know. Of course, Dark Space would be even more enjoyable if you had read the other books in the series. Some characters and locations have been introduced in the other novels. Others have only been mentioned in dialogue and not seen. Please let me know if you have any other questions as we approach the release date of Star Runners: Dark Space on August 3. I love hearing from you!

Sneak Peek 2 for Star Runners Dark Space

The following sneak peek of Star Runners: Dark Space sees Josh Morris returning to a very familiar place (Atlantis) in the previous books in the Star Runners Universe. Hope you enjoy it! **As the doors closed behind him, one member of the working group glanced at Josh but said nothing. He continued down the row of various star vessels, all locked in the deep storage of Atlantis. Flickering tube lights lined the ceiling, casting a ray of light through the dust. Given the state of the storage hangar the farther he walked from the elevator, it was apparent most Legion staff rarely had cause to come down here. As his boots echoed with each step, he passed a freighter in space three-one-four, noticed the scorch marks on the hull. An older Trident III came next with its wings above the fuselage in park, and the Lobera insignia emblazoned under where the stenciled name of a Star Runner would be placed. He lingered for a heartbeat in front of the old fighter, wondering how it ended up in such a place. In fact, how did any of these ships end up forgotten in the dimly lit hangar? All were once a labor of love for the manufacturer and, presumably, the owner, only to be left here to await use or, more likely, the scrap heap. He marveled at the untold stories of these old ships and the crews who worked to keep them operational. Pulling away from the vintage Trident, Josh marched onward until the parking slots reached the four hundreds. Two newer Tridents sat in four-zero-two and four-zero-three, both from the Excalibur Squadron. Following this pair, he saw a modified Trident with three black streaks painted in sloppy fashion onto the rear stabilizer. He clenched his jaw. Tyral Pirates. Back when Rodon was the scourge of Quadrant Eight, his minions would capture any Legion craft they could get their hands on, modify it, and use the vessel to continue scavenging. The Trident in front of him had suffered the same fate, somehow being reacquired by the Legion and landing here in Atlantis. Had it been captured during the battle? He'd heard about the overwhelming odds the Star Runners had faced, talked a little about it with Austin. He frowned, reaching up and sliding his fingers under the fighter's nose. I should have been here to defend Atlantis that day, he thought. Instead, I was a prisoner of Dax Rodon.He moved on. Up ahead, dwarfed by the size of the modified Trident, sat the tiny triangular vessel once piloted by Matta. He touched his chin as he shuffled forward, amazed at the craft’s minuscule size. He studied the two compact laser cannons protruding from the dull red hull and shook his head. Somehow, this insignificant craft had brought him from the Zine System to Earth in one curve.Stopping in front of it, he reached down to touch the canopy. "Hi there," he whispered. "Remember me?"He keyed for the canopy release. With a pop hiss of hydraulics, it opened, and the control board buzzed to life. As the smell lifted from the cockpit, he closed his eyes. Jet fuel and Lutimite dust. The distinctive odor brought him back to the asteroid where he’d been forced into labor alongside his friend, Delmar. It was the same place he'd met Waylon, where they’d exacted their revenge on Cyclops and the other pirate guards at the price of losing several Barracudas. Amazing the little craft still smelled of that asteroid. Tossing his satchel behind the seat, he hopped inside and placed the headset over his ear as he brought the primary systems online. Flipping switches across the dashboard, the controls came to life, pulsing a growing whine of electronics. The curvature drive display activated and calibrated, revealing a star chart of Quadrant Eight that promptly zoomed onto the Solar System. Leaning forward, he typed a search for the Tormada System, secret home of the Barracudas. After a brief calculation, the curvature drive came back with a positive result.Holding his breath, he fired up the twin engines. They coughed once and roared to life on the second attempt, rumbling his seat. He closed the canopy, morphing the outside sound to a high-pitched whistle. Resting his fingers on the stick, he gently pulled into a hover. A twinge of excitement surged through his bloodstream, the familiar feeling he always felt at liftoff. He was flying again. Easing forward on the throttle, he maneuvered the small craft through the storage hangar and passed the old ships toward the exit. "Ah, this is Atlantis Control," the female voice cooed in his headset, "we have you on our screen now. Proceed to exit hatch three B for clearance." "Roger.”He set the fighter down in the exit hatch and braced himself. The inner door rumbled shut, and he was locked inside. Right now, he figured the controller was cycling through the list of approved departures. Seconds turned into minutes. “Lieutenant Morris?”He closed his eyes and keyed to transmit. "That's right, Control." A pause. "We have you scheduled as Condor six-four-zero with an open return date. Is that correct?""Affirmative.""No surface contacts in visible range. You’re cleared for takeoff, Condor six-four-zero. Proceed with powering shields as the exit hatch equalizes. Protocol requires shrouds before one-hundred feet, but you have no shroud.""That’s correct.""Follow flight pattern Bravo three-four for clear departure path. Clear skies until high orbit."He exhaled and activated his shields. “Roger, Control.”Water filled the exit, surrounding the energy bubble created by his shields. In sixty seconds, the crimson lights transitioned to green. The outer door rumbled open. Landing lights stretched into the darkness on the ocean floor. "Here we go," he said without transmitting, easing more power into the engines. The force pressed him into his seat as the fighter shot from the hatch, bubbles swirling around the canopy.Glancing over his shoulder, he watched Atlantis disappear. He pulled back on the stick, increasing his angle of ascent as he gave the engines more power. The water quickly transitioned to a dull blue. The fighter burst through the surface and into the clear sky. Giving the engine a bit more thrust, he accelerated over the Pacific Ocean, increasing his incline to nearly ninety degrees. The Gs pressed on him, but he could only smile as the sky soon darkened, and stars appeared as he entered deep orbit.**Star Runners: Dark Space is the fifth book in Star Runners Universe and is now available for pre-order! It releases on August 3!

I am boldly going...

I've never been what some people would call a "Trekkie" or "Trekker" or whatever you call a super-duper Star Trek fan. I've always leaned toward Star Wars (as many kids in the 1980s did). I'm too young to have experienced the original series in the 1960s. My first introduction to the Star Trek Universe was when my dad took me to see Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. I loved it! I think I've seen nearly every other Trek in the theater since Khan and have enjoyed them all in different ways. I vividly remember Star Trek: The Next Generation airing. Many of my friends and I thought it would be stupid (how could anyone replace Kirk and Spock's crew?), but we slowly started to enjoy them. Other than a year or so, I never really watched it religiously even though I thoroughly enjoyed the show. Thanks to the wonders of today's streaming technology, I've been going through the show again, and I'm currently at the beginning of season 3. I don't know if it's because I'm older or I just enjoy ALL kinds of stories these days, but I can't believe how much I like this show!Sure, there are some weaker episodes in the first two seasons, and some of the effects or sets might seem cheesy to today's audiences, but I urge you to stick with it and look past these shortcomings. Focus on the writing and the relationships between these characters. By season 3, they are really starting to come together. I can see why so many people love this series. Anyway, I thought I'd mention this if you're looking for a new series to start binging. As someone who is just now in Season 3, I can say it just keeps getting better.

Marveling at Marvel

Over the past couple months, I've seen Avengers: Infinity War and the Ant-Man sequel in the theater. Both were pure fun at the movies, full of escapist entertainment. It's easy to see why these movies have become such a juggernaut at the theater. People like having a good time when they go to the movies (shocker). But I've been thinking about the past ten years of Marvel movies ever since I left the theater last weekend after watching Ant-Man and the Wasp. It's been quite an ambitious undertaking that in hindsight seems like a sure thing when it wasn't. I remember thinking way back in 2008, "They're going to create a linked cinematic universe with a bunch of superheroes? That'll never work." Then I saw Iron Man and (like everyone else) loved Robert Downey Jr. in the role of Tony Stark. The movies just kept coming after that. Every time, people doubted the next film would work. A movie about Thor? That'll fail (it didn't). A movie about galactic heroes including a raccoon and a talking tree? That'll be a disaster (it wasn't). More recently, who would see movies about an "ant" man? They'll be flops (they weren't). Marvel Studios took its time, ignored the doubters, and played the game they wanted to play. Now, they're reaping the rewards. When I realized this last weekend with Ant-Man and the Wasp, I drove home from the theater admiring the laser-focus of Marvel in making these movies. It's an inspiring story of persevering in the face of doubters, one I'm sure film buffs and Hollywood historians will be reflecting on for years to come. I think we all could apply the same lesson to our lives, whatever it is we want to do. You want to be an artist, and others think it's crazy? Prove them wrong. You want to try acting, and people say you should get a traditional job? Work hard at learning everything you can about the craft and prevail. You get the idea. I guess you can see I draw inspiration from all kinds of places in this world--even from a movie about an Ant-Man and a Wasp. I think it's what makes life worth living.

Star Runners: Dark Space Sneak Peek 1

Please enjoy this sneak peek into Star Runners: Dark Space. **"Where have you been?"Josh shrugged as he trudged through the doorway of Kadyn's apartment. "I'm sorry. I lost track of time.""It's okay,” she said as he strolled into the kitchen. "I thought you wanted to go to the movies this afternoon." He tossed his keys on the counter and glanced at the clock on the microwave. "Guess I'm a little late for that. We could still go tonight.""That's fine," she said, tilting her head to the side. "Are you all right?" "Sure," he said, leaning back on the counter and drinking a bottled water. "Why?" She bit her lip. "I thought you said you were meeting Austin for breakfast." He winced. "Oh, right." Kadyn eyed him. "I called to check on Ryker this morning and imagine my surprise when Austin answered their phone." And there it is, he thought. So much for his secrecy. "I don't mean to hide things from you," he said, taking a deep breath. "I really don't.""Is there someone else?""What?" He shook his head. "Never. Why would you say that?" She looked at the ceiling. "You're always distracted—you've been like that since you returned. But you've never done this to me." "Done what? Been late?""Lied to me," she said, locking her eyes on him. "We've been recovering together since you first approached me at the clinic. I always felt like we were a team until now. Something's changed." "Listen," he said, reaching for her hands, "I made a promise to—""Don't." She pulled her hand away. "I don't want to hear any more about promises and keeping your word. What about your promise to me?"“Promise?”“You said you'd always be here." She pointed out the window toward the overcast sky. "But now you want to go back up there? How do I know you'll ever return?""It's just to take a ship back." She shook her head. "It's not just about returning a ship. I've seen you staring at the stars. I've seen the longing in your eyes when you look at the images of those space planes on the game. You wantto be back up there. I'm not enough for you here." "Don't say that." "This life's not enough for you," she said as if he hadn't spoken. "Don't try to tell me that's not true." He sighed and moved toward the window. They stood in silence, neither looking at the other. "You're right about one thing," he breathed, "I don't feel right.”“Talk to someone.” “I’ve been to the counselors. I've tried their exercises, taken their sleep aides. Still, I have nightmares.""But I have them, too," she said, placing her hand on his back. "You know that. I haven't had an uninterrupted night's sleep since Austin woke me up and took me to the mountains.” He turned to face her, framing his hands around her face. "If I don't do this, I'll never be any good for you. Please understand." She closed her eyes. "It's not about honor. It's because you can't let it go. I feel it all the time, too." He pushed a strand of hair away from her eyes. "What do you mean?"She looked at him with bloodshot eyes. "You can't unsee what you've seen just like I can't go back to a time when men in invisible suits weren't shooting at me. I wish I could, but I can't. I want to go back to a time when my biggest worries were binge-watching TV or reading celebrity gossip, but I can't. Those days are gone." Squeezing his hands, she pulled them away from her face. "And I don't think they'll ever come back."Sliding her feet across the carpet leading to her bedroom, she kicked off her shoes and stood in the doorway without turning around."We thought we could come back here and this life would be enough for us," she murmured, "but it isn't. You can't let it go, and I can't get over it. All I want is to forget the things I know. All you want is to go back and face them. Do what you have to do, Josh, but leave me out of it." "Kadyn, please." He wanted to say more, but he couldn't find the words. She took a step into her room, shutting the door behind her.**Star Runners: Dark Space is now available for pre-order and will release on August 3!

Star Runners: Dark Space is Available for Pre-Order

Star Runners: Dark Space, book 5 in the Star Runners Universe, is now available for pre-order! The book will be released on August 3!True friendship has no boundaries.Being a recruiter for the Galactic Legion of Planets is a safe and secure job for Josh Morris as he tries to re-enter a "normal" life following his captivity at the hands of Dax Rodon and the Tyral Pirates. But he is tortured by a vow he made to the smuggling group known as the Barracudas to return their ship. Once he decides to leave Earth, Josh has no idea his past is hunting him, seeking revenge. What follows is a heart-pounding adventure discovering new worlds and cultures, narrow escapes, and thrilling space battles as Josh travels to the farthest regions of the galaxy—and beyond it into the unexplored Dark Space—to keep a promise and help a friend, unknowingly sparking events leading to a conflict of terrifying scope unlike any the stars have ever seen.Star Runners: Dark Space is the fifth entry to the Star Runners Universe: a collection of space adventure books.

A little 80s goes a long way

When I first saw "Cobra Kai" in my newsfeed, I didn't even watch the trailer. I mean, there had been several rebooted 80s IPs in the recent months that had turned the old material into comedies that didn't do too well. Like every other person my age who grew up in the 1980s, The Karate Kid was essential viewing. I thought a Cobra Kai was another cash grab comedy banking on nostalgia, so I didn't give it much attention and forgot about watching the trailer let alone the series. And then it dropped. I watched the trailer. Wow. First episodes free? OK, the worst thing that could happen is that I'd lose thirty minutes of my life or so. I was sold. I am so glad YouTube Red decided to give a free sample. I would have never watched it otherwise. Guess you shouldn't judge a book by its cover. The Cobra Kai series is brilliant. The series is leagues beyond anything I ever expected it to be. It has just enough callbacks to make you smile but has a new and compelling story from multiple points of view. All relaunches of old material should take notes. At the risk of sounding like a midnight infomercial, I know some of you are like me and didn't want to give Cobra Kai a chance. If you are on the fence, watch the opening episodes for free and see what you think before making a decision. Now, I have to wait for Season 2.

And the title of SR 5 is ...

Let me get the biggest news out of the way now: The next title in the Star Runners Universe is Star Runners: Dark Space. Whew! I feel better. I'm so exhilarated and exhausted at this stage of the writing process. I get so excited to be this close to releasing a book that every step seems to take forever. All that's left in the process is one last proofread, the cover design and book formatting. Then, the book will be placed on a short pre-order to make sure everything's in order. Done! And it's about time, too. The delay between the fourth and fifth book is the longest yet in the series. I won't go into the details (no one likes to hear a whiner), but I can tell you I've been writing nonstop. I've stacked up several manuscripts during the interim that are being edited as we speak. Also, I've already started work on SR 6, which is where the main series has been heading since the beginning. It probably won't be the last book in the Star Runners Universe, but it's going to tie up a lot of the plot, and it's what I've been building toward since book 1. But you didn't come here to read about anything other than Star Runners: Dark Space. While the story will see the return of all the characters from the other books, the fifth entry was always supposed to be the story of Josh Morris. Well, let me place a little warning here before I proceed: *****Spoiler Alert*****I hate when people ruin books for me. OK, hopefully, I don't spoil anything for you. When we left Austin, he was on a self-imposed grounding to take care of Ryker. Josh Morris has been on Earth since the events of the Star Runners: Revelation Protocol and he is bothered by a promise he gave the Barracudas to return a ship he borrowed while fleeing an asteroid base. While his girlfriend, Kadyn, is suffering nightmares from the events of Revelation Protocol and wants nothing to do with the world beyond Earth, Josh can't let it go. He takes some time off to make a quick return trip to the Barracudas (but we all know it can't be that simple). For me, the fifth book was a chance to open up the universe in a big way. Some of you have written to me asking about the rest of the Star Runners Universe. I always knew the fifth book would see through Josh's eyes the highest number of new worlds and places as well as factions that have only been mentioned in previous books but not seen. For example, "Dark Space" has been mentioned in the other novels but has not played a part in the story, yet. However, Dark Space plays a significant role in this book. What I didn't realize is how much fun I would have writing this book! Josh's adventure will take him across the stars, and the tale moves beyond the "safety" of the Galactic Legion. He will see the underbelly of the universe, an ancient majestic civilization and more. There is also a lurking threat in the shadows, hunting him. I can't wait to share the book with you! For now, stay frosty! LET

Farewell, Ms. Kidder

The first Superman I experienced growing up was Christopher Reeve. For my generation, he will always be Superman. Gene Hackman will always be Lex Luthor. And, of course, Margot Kidder will always be Lois Lane. She passed away May 13, 2018, at the age of 69. When Superman came out in 1978 and promised to make us believe a man could fly, it was a much different time at the movies. Comic book movies were nearly non-existent. In fact, I don't remember another major comic book movie gracing my young eyes until Michael Keaton's Batman in 1989 (and that blew me away). But I always had a special place in my heart for Superman I and II. It captured my imagination similar to the way Star Wars and Indiana Jones did. I know I'm not unique in that way, but those were the three major movie franchises for me growing up. I don't even want to know exactly how many hours I spent watching movies from those three universes. As a result of my time watching those films, my first onscreen crushes were Carrie Fisher, Margot Kidder, and Karen Allen. Two of them have now passed on. I hope they grasp how many hours of entertainment they provided us all. I still smile when I think of Kidder's line to Reeve during the famous helicopter rescue, "You've got me? Who's got you?" And I always will grin at the countless times the scene gave me the chills. In fact, I think I'll watch it again right now.

May the Fourth - A Sentimental "Holiday"

It would be no surprise to anyone Star Wars had a ridiculous impact on my life. In fact, I can't remember a time where it wasn't far from my mind. May the Fourth Be With You is a fun day to remember how much joy George Lucas provided us. Star Wars taught me to dream, encouraged me to seek out more stories and tales of adventure in space. I ended up looking for similar stories in the library at a very young age, and I was hooked. I still get a thrill reading about spaceships leaving an atmosphere or battling in the void. As I look around my office as I write this, there are little Star Wars items throughout and it makes me smile. Space fantasies like Star Wars should be, above all else, fun! I still get chills watching the blockade runner fly over the camera with the Star Destroyer in pursuit during the first Star Wars movie (A New Hope will always be first to me). I can't tell you how much happiness I've had in visiting the galaxy far, far away. When I found someone who had not experienced Star Wars, I sought out the nearest VCR (yes, it was the 80s and 90s) and made them watch it ASAP. That made for some very interesting dates in high school for sure. Anyway, I hope you get a chance to do something Star Warsey today. Have fun and enjoy. And, of course, stay frosty. - LET