Rachel Rossano's Blog, page 29

Blackout

Sorry for the lack of response over the last few days. I am stuck in the midst of a blackout thanks to a freak snowstorm on Oct 29th. Our whole town is basically without power. The power company says it will get most of us power in five to seven days. Until then, I can't promise how much online activity I will be able to manage. As it is, I sit among wires and cables as my father-in-law's generator gives us a few hours of power to run the heater, the fridge and shower. We are very blessed.

Hopefully you will hear from me soon. Until then, we will survive. :) The Lord is gracious.

- Rachel Rossano

The Crown of Anavrea Release Celebration

[image error] Book One of the Theodoric Saga In a time when castles were the strongest…in a place where combat was face to face…Labren was on the run. He hid his true name and he admitted it freely.

In a time when slavery was legal…in a place where kings were all-powerful…Eve, a slave, appeared in the right place at the right time.

Eve saved his life. In return, he offered her the opportunity of freedom. She did not know what would happen to her if she chose to accept his proposal, but she did know the consequences of rejecting it.

Featured on Pinky's Pub

There once was a very generous lady who was blessed with a bunch of free books through Smashwords. Believing in giving back, she features and promotes Smashwords authors on her blog and Facebook. Today she is graciously posting about my books.

http://pinkyspub.blogspot.com/2011/10/rachel-rossano.html

Please stop by.

Thanks,

Rachel Rossano

Another Sweet Sample for Your Saturday Morning

Welcome back! This week's Sweet Saturday Sample will be from Exchange. I will be dropping you in the middle of the story. He is a stranger to her, yet he acts like something else.
~~~
After a fortnight, which I strangely remembered, the questions grew too loud in my head. I had to voice them before they consumed me."What am I to you?" I demanded the moment he sat on the bench and placed his tray next to mine.He arched an eyebrow in surprise. "Finally couldn't bear the mystery, eh?"I scowled at him."I was wondering how long it would take you. Normally, you would have been questioning me blue by now." His eyes softened. "They have changed you."My gut did a strange flip before tying itself in a knot. "How?""Your hair." He reached out as though to touch me, but dropped his hand at the last moment, flexing his fingers like before. He retreated a step. "You're thinner, weaker, more worn, and subdued." His eyes compared me to a woman I doubted ever existed.I adjusted my shoulders. "Superficial stuff.""True," he admitted. "But it goes deeper. What can you remember?"I recoiled. That was one area I refused to share, especially with him, a disconcerting stranger. He represented just the sort I didn't want to expose myself to. One who would point out the insanity of not remembering anything before his appearance."Go away."~~~

Will he?

Exchange is available on Amazon and Smashwords.
Only 99 cents for the whole exciting adventure.

Return to the list of savory sweets. Thank you for visiting. Please come back again.
- Rachel Rossano

Fun Questionnaire

This is a fun questionnaire to answer. (Hint: it will be part of The Crown of Anavrea's Release Celebration on Saturday 29,2011.) :)


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A Sweet Saturday Sample

Welcome! Thank you for joining me for a Sweet Saturday Sample from The Crown of Anavrea, the first book in the Theodoric Saga. The novella is available on Amazon and Smashwords. 


We join Labren and Eve on the morning they part ways with their traveling companions, a caravan of wagons.


~~~
[image error]
            The next morning Labren woke to the sounds of camp breaking. Thankfully Eve still slept. He extracted himself from bed and dressed. By the time he swung down, the women around them were up to their elbows in the morning's dishes and the men occupied preparing their horses.             Finding Ulysses took him ten minutes.            "Ulysses," he said as he approached the wagon of a young family with a pretty daughter. The boy turned from flirting to grimace at Labren.            "What?"            "I have business with you."            "What business could you have with me?" His tone oozed confident bravo for the benefit of his audience. The girl watched doe-eyed. "You broke off with my father, as I understand."            "I did. The issue isn't with him. It is with you. You assaulted my wife."            "She asked for it."            A harsh laugh tore from Labren's throat. "She didn't."            "Don't be so sure, old man. Just because she is married to you, you think she is dead to the charms of men her own age." Ulysses ran a hand through his long hair and looked pointedly at Labren's weaker leg. "She needed a real man, someone who doesn't need to be waited on or assisted in and out of a wagon."             "I will only warn you once. Prepare to defend yourself."            "You wouldn't dare." Ulysses presented his back. 
~~~
Question: What do you think Labren will do?
Thank you for coming. The Crown of Anavrea is available on Amazon and Smashwords. For more succulent morsels click to the sample link list.
The Crown of Anavrea's Release Party Giveaway is scheduled for next Saturday (October 29). Be sure to return for a chance to win ebooks and other prizes.

"The Crown of Anavrea" is in print!

[image error]
The Crown of Anavrea (reworked, expanded, and polished) Now in ebook and print! 
In honor of the occasion, I am throwing another giveaway party!There will be at least three prizes and multiple chances to win.Come and join the fun, here, on October 29, 2011.
Also, on October 22, I will be featuring a never before revealed sample from
The Crown of Anavrea as part of the Sweet Saturday Samples.
Stop by on Saturday and enjoy this tasty morsel along with many others.


In a time when castles were the strongest...in a place where combat was face to face...Labren was on the run. He hid his true name and he admitted it freely.

In a time when slavery was legal...in a place where kings were all-powerful...Eve, a slave, appeared in the right place at the right time.

Eve saved his life. In return, he offered her the opportunity of freedom. She did not know what would happen to her if she chose to accept his proposal, but she did know the consequences of rejecting it.

Available as an ebook on Amazon

Available as an ebook on Smashwords



Available in print on Lulu
(I am still working out the details of distributing the print book to Amazon and other retailers. 
When purchasing, please check to make sure you are getting the second edition.)


So, mark your calendars, October 22 and 29, and join us for another great release day celebration!

Foreboding

Welcome back those who have been here before! For those of you visiting the first time, today's excerpt is a piece of flash fiction I wrote a few weeks ago. It is a preamble/teaser for Exchange. I hope you enjoy it.

~~~

ForebodingBy Rachel Rossano 
I spent all day performing the motions of monotony with a premonition of something being amiss.  The usual Friday tasks, laundry and Emmie's litheharp group, passed uneventfully. I even managed to fit in picking up Ruhan's newly repaired hovercar. Yet, I couldn't dispel the feeling of being watched.
In the house, all appeared familiar. Pristine kitchen and elegant dining room microdusted and ready for the evening meal, a version of archaic shepherd's pie. I brought the recipe with me from Earth and Ruhan had taken a liking to it. I prepared it by hand once a month. The autochef never managed to produce a pie to please my eye or palette.
This evening's pie smelled heavenly but tasted off. I sorted through the meat and potatoes on my plate.
"You are on edge." Ruhan's bass voice interrupted my thoughts.
The concern in my mate's eyes scattered all hope of keeping my worry from him. But, how to express it?
"You aren't eating," He nodded to the strip of cold lamb dangling from my fork.
Emmie looked up from her vegetables. "Eat, Mommy, it's good for you."
I smiled at my three-year-old as I inserted the meat into my mouth. My stomach turned, but I made a production of chewing.
"Good job, Mommy." Emmie stabbed at her meal with fisted fork.
What's bothering you, Myah? Ruhan's words pressed through the jumble of my thoughts. His towa communication usually drew me in, made me eager to reach out and touch him as only I could. This time my unease soured the joy of our uniqueness.
I don't know. I just have an odd feeling, like being watched.
Ruhan stiffened. The warm entreaty in his eyes cooled. Did someone follow you?
Abandoning his dinner, he rose to stride to the interface panel set in the dining room wall. He palmed his communication patch, a diamond shaped panel on his uniform.
"Eminence?" a bodiless voice queried.
Did anyone follow you? Ruhan pinned me with worried eyes.
"You are frightening Emmie."
Our little girl, suddenly wary, glanced from Ruhan's face to mine. Her fork and impaled beans hovering above her plate.
"Answer my question." Ruhan's brown eyes darkened to almost black. "This is vital, Myah."
"Eminence? Do you require assistance?" The panel flashed a warning that the connection would terminate soon.
No.
Ruhan grimaced before turning away to touch the screen designed to translate his towa. "Evacuate and flood the outer dome immediately," he ordered the guard on the other end. "Notify me of the intruders you discover."
"But, Eminence, that requires…"
"I sent authorizations." He terminated the connection, reaching again for his patch. "Ramend?"
My brother-in-law's voice replied. "Awake. What?"
"That fear we discussed yesterday? It is happening now."
What fear? I demanded.
Ruhan lifted a finger to stall me as Ramend's voice yelled orders to someone off comm.
Emmie pressed against my side. I hadn't seen her move, but she was there. Fear stiffened her narrow shoulders. I pulled her into my lap, burying my face in her thick curls and wrapping her around me in an embrace of comfort. Her heart fluttered franticly beneath my palm. My chest ached.
Ramend spoke. "Coming."
Ruhan palmed the patch to cut the connection as a chime announced the nanny's arrival.
Let Emmie go, Ruhan instructed. The nanny held out her arms toward her.
A six-four woman resembling the Amazons of myth, Joce was equal parts nurturer and defender. She would protect Emmie with her life and manage better than I could at my measly five-six.
Why? I demanded, anger eroding my fear now. What's the danger? Why didn't you bother to tell me?
Let her go. She will be safer.
I kissed Emmie and assured her I loved her. I released her to Joce's capable care with the usual twinge of regret at being parted from her. A fresh fear twisted my heart. The door panel slid closed behind them."Now what's so blasted dangerous to merit evacuation and gas flooding of the outer dome?"
"Earthwarders."
Intent on giving Ruhan a set down for frightening our child with his theatrics, I was silenced by the anger in his face. His eyes focused over my head at the far doorway.
"What is your problem?" I spun to see what he was glaring at and the end of a trank pistol complete with silencer answered my question. My sister Kasy grinned at me over it.
"Ah, Myah, I have waited my whole life to render you speechless. Keep it that way and I might let you live."My sister's mouth twisted into a grimace as she tweaked my nose with the muzzle of her gun.
Myah, I…
Ruhan's words faded, getting lost in my head. I turned to check on my mate, but Kasy caught my arm.
"Turn that pretty head, Myah, and I will plug you where it will ache months after you wake." She glanced over my shoulder at her partner. "Restrain the fatch, Klye, they only want her."
…will… I mentally reached for Ruhan's next word, but it was like water through my fingers tangible, yet uncontainable.
"Secure," Klye announced.
"Move it." Kasy wrenched my elbow as she tugged me toward the door. I used the opportunity to glance back.
Ruhan sprawled unconscious on the floor.
I love you.
I knew he couldn't hear me, yet.
"I warned you, Myah."
Kasy jammed the muzzled into my shoulder. Thwack. The force of impact jerked my whole torso. Pain drove through me like a stake instead of a drug pellet. Ice radiated out, swiftly overreaching the pain and clawing its way up my neck. I fought drug-induced panic.
Driving my elbow into Kasy's ribs, I pulled free for a moment, but she just laughed.
"Consider this a wedding present from Klye and me, dear sister."
Ice raked my brain.  Black pain rose from the floor and swallowed me whole.
~~
Want to know the rest of the story? 
He offers her escape, but at what cost?Exchange by Rachel Rossano99 cents on Smashwords and Kindle.

Edit: Sorry, I forgot the link back to the rest of the samples this week. Please do return and indulge in more guiltless pleasure of more sweet samples.

Forboding

Welcome back those who have been here before! For those of you visiting the first time, today's excerpt is a piece of flash fiction I wrote a few weeks ago. It is a preamble/teaser for Exchange. I hope you enjoy it.

~~~

ForebodingBy Rachel Rossano 
I spent all day performing the motions of monotony with a premonition of something being amiss.  The usual Friday tasks, laundry and Emmie's litheharp group, passed uneventfully. I even managed to fit in picking up Ruhan's newly repaired hovercar. Yet, I couldn't dispel the feeling of being watched.
In the house, all appeared familiar. Pristine kitchen and elegant dining room microdusted and ready for the evening meal, a version of archaic shepherd's pie. I brought the recipe with me from Earth and Ruhan had taken a liking to it. I prepared it by hand once a month. The autochef never managed to produce a pie to please my eye or palette.
This evening's pie smelled heavenly but tasted off. I sorted through the meat and potatoes on my plate.
"You are on edge." Ruhan's bass voice interrupted my thoughts.
The concern in my mate's eyes scattered all hope of keeping my worry from him. But, how to express it?
"You aren't eating," He nodded to the strip of cold lamb dangling from my fork.
Emmie looked up from her vegetables. "Eat, Mommy, it's good for you."
I smiled at my three-year-old as I inserted the meat into my mouth. My stomach turned, but I made a production of chewing.
"Good job, Mommy." Emmie stabbed at her meal with fisted fork.
What's bothering you, Myah? Ruhan's words pressed through the jumble of my thoughts. His towa communication usually drew me in, made me eager to reach out and touch him as only I could. This time my unease soured the joy of our uniqueness.
I don't know. I just have an odd feeling, like being watched.
Ruhan stiffened. The warm entreaty in his eyes cooled. Did someone follow you?
Abandoning his dinner, he rose to stride to the interface panel set in the dining room wall. He palmed his communication patch, a diamond shaped panel on his uniform.
"Eminence?" a bodiless voice queried.
Did anyone follow you? Ruhan pinned me with worried eyes.
"You are frightening Emmie."
Our little girl, suddenly wary, glanced from Ruhan's face to mine. Her fork and impaled beans hovering above her plate.
"Answer my question." Ruhan's brown eyes darkened to almost black. "This is vital, Myah."
"Eminence? Do you require assistance?" The panel flashed a warning that the connection would terminate soon.
No.
Ruhan grimaced before turning away to touch the screen designed to translate his towa. "Evacuate and flood the outer dome immediately," he ordered the guard on the other end. "Notify me of the intruders you discover."
"But, Eminence, that requires…"
"I sent authorizations." He terminated the connection, reaching again for his patch. "Ramend?"
My brother-in-law's voice replied. "Awake. What?"
"That fear we discussed yesterday? It is happening now."
What fear? I demanded.
Ruhan lifted a finger to stall me as Ramend's voice yelled orders to someone off comm.
Emmie pressed against my side. I hadn't seen her move, but she was there. Fear stiffened her narrow shoulders. I pulled her into my lap, burying my face in her thick curls and wrapping her around me in an embrace of comfort. Her heart fluttered franticly beneath my palm. My chest ached.
Ramend spoke. "Coming."
Ruhan palmed the patch to cut the connection as a chime announced the nanny's arrival.
Let Emmie go, Ruhan instructed. The nanny held out her arms toward her.
A six-four woman resembling the Amazons of myth, Joce was equal parts nurturer and defender. She would protect Emmie with her life and manage better than I could at my measly five-six.
Why? I demanded, anger eroding my fear now. What's the danger? Why didn't you bother to tell me?
Let her go. She will be safer.
I kissed Emmie and assured her I loved her. I released her to Joce's capable care with the usual twinge of regret at being parted from her. A fresh fear twisted my heart. The door panel slid closed behind them."Now what's so blasted dangerous to merit evacuation and gas flooding of the outer dome?"
"Earthwarders."
Intent on giving Ruhan a set down for frightening our child with his theatrics, I was silenced by the anger in his face. His eyes focused over my head at the far doorway.
"What is your problem?" I spun to see what he was glaring at and the end of a trank pistol complete with silencer answered my question. My sister Kasy grinned at me over it.
"Ah, Myah, I have waited my whole life to render you speechless. Keep it that way and I might let you live."My sister's mouth twisted into a grimace as she tweaked my nose with the muzzle of her gun.
Myah, I…
Ruhan's words faded, getting lost in my head. I turned to check on my mate, but Kasy caught my arm.
"Turn that pretty head, Myah, and I will plug you where it will ache months after you wake." She glanced over my shoulder at her partner. "Restrain the fatch, Klye, they only want her."
…will… I mentally reached for Ruhan's next word, but it was like water through my fingers tangible, yet uncontainable.
"Secure," Klye announced.
"Move it." Kasy wrenched my elbow as she tugged me toward the door. I used the opportunity to glance back.
Ruhan sprawled unconscious on the floor.
I love you.
I knew he couldn't hear me, yet.
"I warned you, Myah."
Kasy jammed the muzzled into my shoulder. Thwack. The force of impact jerked my whole torso. Pain drove through me like a stake instead of a drug pellet. Ice radiated out, swiftly overreaching the pain and clawing its way up my neck. I fought drug-induced panic.
Driving my elbow into Kasy's ribs, I pulled free for a moment, but she just laughed.
"Consider this a wedding present from Klye and me, dear sister."
Ice raked my brain.  Black pain rose from the floor and swallowed me whole.
~~
Want to know the rest of the story? 
He offers her escape, but at what cost?Exchange by Rachel Rossano99 cents on Smashwords and Kindle.

Ebooks and Other Prize Winners!!!

Congratulations to all the winners!! Thank you for joining me in celebrating Exchange's release.
Winner of the ebook copy of ExchangeAlyssa O'Keefe
Winner of an ebook copy of The Mercenary's MarriageAudra Holtwick
Winner of the $10 Amazon Gift CardRachel Morelli
Winners of a HEXBUG Nano robotRachel MorelliSam NelsonLisaJoann GommesenAudra Holtwick
Conciliatory Prize I am emailing all those who participated, but did not win a prize, a coupon for 30% off The Mercenary's Marriage over at Smashwords.
If you are listed above, watch your email inbox for notifications on how to collect your prizes. If you don't receive an email in the next day or so, please mention it in a comment below.

Once again, thank you for joining in the celebration. Hopefully we will be having another one soon. :)

- Rachel Rossano