DASL Writer's Blog, page 4
June 29, 2019
D. A. Smith Writes Update: Starting A New Job is… Tiresome!
I knew this was going to happen.
Last month, I started a new insurance desk job. My last insurance job dumped me two months before I released my first sci-fi novel. The extra time being laid-off gave me opportunities to write more and market. However, after three whole months with no leads on a new desk job (and one insurance agency giving me the runaround for 6 weeks), I had no choice but to drain my savings and funds I put aside for marketing my novel just to cover my rent and to buy medication for my disabled mom. UGH!
But…
I’m thankful my new job pays me way more money, and theoretically the workload should be less than my old job, since it is a smaller insurance agency. But, let me tell you worrying about rent while getting a hang of a new position… S. U. C. K. S!
All I can say is: Thank you God, and I hate Adulting!!
Anyway…
Things are starting to click for me at work. I feel a lot more comfortable with my colleagues, and while it’s not a dream job it’s a practical step that allows me to dream bigger and keep writing again.
So…
Since, I’m not rushing home to face-plant in bed, after a long day behind the dual monitors. I’m using my time away from work to follow-up with blogging, my next novel, and growing my audience.
In the past, I’ve made the goal of posting at least twice a week. And, I hope to make that a reality.
Thank you to all of my followers and readers who checked out my blog and kept my view counts so high while I was MIA. You all are amazing!
Thanks for reading!
May 12, 2019
5 Sci-fi Movies That Inspired My Debut Novel
As a 90s kid, the only movies I remembered watching besides animated flicks like The Lion King or the occasional live-action comedy such as Dr. Doolittle was sci-fi movies.
Today, movies from my past and present helped me create the fantastic world of Syphons, my debut sci-fi novel.
Here are the 5 movies that inspired me to write Syphons.
Men In Black 1
Just Look Right Here!What is cooler than discovering that your world is surrounded by aliens? Learning that there’s a top secret government organization assigned to protect the world from said aliens.
MIB is one of my favorite movies because of the idea of having a complete novice like Agent J be introduced to races of aliens superior to his own intelligence. The movie made me feel small, in a way that humans aren’t the only ones living on this tiny planet.
MIB inspired my creation of Edge Labs in Syphons. Edge is the secret organization that seeks to gain more knowledge about the Mindstalkers by dealing with them one-on-one. I wanted to create an organization that not only tackled big-bad alien parasites, but also respected the fact that Mindstalkers are here to stay.
Dreamcatchers
I Am Not Surprised…Originally, a book written by Stephen King, Dreamcatchers is the next movie on my list. When I first watched the movie on the SyFy Network, I was equally disgusted and enthralled by the premise of the story.
Evil alien parasites that infiltrated host bodies and lived in their digestive tract until it was time to move onto a next host was so gross! This movie felt more like horror than sci-fi (as to be expected of King), but it managed to hold my attention until the end.
Parasites in most science fiction flicks and movies always seemed to be the mind-controlling kind. I loved the idea of people being controlled by something as insignificant as a lowly parasite. Mindstalkers not only manipulate their host’s bodies and thoughts, but they can influence others without even infecting them!
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
They Coming for You Bruh!There are many remakes of this particular movie. The trope is also a very common one used in most sci-fi flicks. Aliens invade the Earth, snatch the minds of human beings, and force them to do their bidding.
One thing that stood out in this movie for me was their hive-mind mentality. By forming a single entity using numerous individuals and host bodies, the aliens are able to form a powerful resistance against humanity.
When you think about it, what’s worse than having your best friend turn against you and become a total monster? That scenario is one of the things I explored with the relationship of Solstice and her bestie, Carmen, in Syphons.
Cocoon
Eternal Youth At Its Finest in FloridaIf you live in Florida, you’ve probably heard of or watched the movie Cocoon. It was filmed in Saint Petersburg, FL.
Here’s the gist, elderly people are given youth and longevity by aliens that are pretty much semi-aquatic pod people living in a swimming pool.
In Syphons, the Mindstalkers are able to breathe underwater. And, yes, the location of the novel takes place in the Tampa Bay Area, which is about twenty minutes away from Saint Petersburg.
Species
All in the name of science.One day, a group of scientists create a gorgeous humanoid using the genetic information sent to them by aliens from another world. The next day, a violent alien breaks out of their lab, and wreaks havoc on their town searching for some poor sap to be her baby-daddy.
It’s not cinematic gold, but the monster design is pretty legit. It kind of reminds me of the chestburster-type alien queen from the 70s-80s classic Alien.
I wanted my human hosts in the novel to share some physical characteristics that mirrored that of the aliens in Species.
For instance, syphons are shaped like tentacles. Each host and gender have a different amount and function for their syphons. The host’s spine contains the syphons. And, they can “siphon” the brains of their victims through the hollow tubes of a syphon, like a straw (hence the name).
So there you have it, my inspirations for different parts of my novel, Syphons came from those movies, and the rest from my twisted imagination.
Do you have a go-to movie that inspired you to write a novel? Let me know in the comments below! Thank you for reading.
[image error] Click on the Image to Preview My Novel Now!
5 Sci-Fi Movies That Inspired My Debut Novel Syphons
Photo by Denise Jans on Unsplash
As a 90s kid, the only movies I remembered watching besides animated flicks like The Lion King or the occasional live-action comedy such as Dr. Doolittle was sci-fi movies.
Today, movies from my past and present helped me create the fantastic world of Syphons, my debut sci-fi novel.
Here are the 5 movies that inspired me to write Syphons.
Men In Black 1
Just Look Right Here!What is cooler than discovering that your world is surrounded by aliens? Learning that there’s a top secret government organization assigned to protect the world from said aliens.
MIB is one of my favorite movies because of the idea of having a complete novice like Agent J be introduced to races of aliens superior to his own intelligence. The movie made me feel small, in a way that humans aren’t the only ones living on this tiny planet.
MIB inspired my creation of Edge Labs in Syphons. Edge is the secret organization that seeks to gain more knowledge about the Mindstalkers by dealing with them one-on-one. I wanted to create an organization that not only tackled big-bad alien parasites, but also respected the fact that Mindstalkers are here to stay.
Dreamcatchers
I Am Not Surprised…Originally, a book written by Stephen King, Dreamcatchers is the next movie on my list. When I first watched the movie on the SyFy Network, I was equally disgusted and enthralled by the premise of the story.
Evil alien parasites that infiltrated host bodies and lived in their digestive tract until it was time to move onto a next host was so gross! This movie felt more like horror than sci-fi (as to be expected of King), but it managed to hold my attention until the end.
Parasites in most science fiction flicks and movies always seemed to be the mind-controlling kind. I loved the idea of people being controlled by something as insignificant as a lowly parasite. Mindstalkers not only manipulate their host’s bodies and thoughts, but they can influence others without even infecting them!
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
They Coming for You Bruh!There are many remakes of this particular movie. The trope is also a very common one used in most sci-fi flicks. Aliens invade the Earth, snatch the minds of human beings, and force them to do their bidding.
One thing that stood out in this movie for me was their hive-mind mentality. By forming a single entity using numerous individuals and host bodies, the aliens are able to form a powerful resistance against humanity.
When you think about it, what’s worse than having your best friend turn against you and become a total monster? That scenario is one of the things I explored with the relationship of Solstice and her bestie, Carmen, in Syphons.
Cocoon
Eternal Youth At Its Finest in FloridaIf you live in Florida, you’ve probably heard of or watched the movie Cocoon. It was filmed in Saint Petersburg, FL.
Here’s the gist, elderly people are given youth and longevity by aliens that are pretty much semi-aquatic pod people living in a swimming pool.
In Syphons, the Mindstalkers are able to breathe underwater. And, yes, the location of the novel takes place in the Tampa Bay Area, which is about twenty minutes away from Saint Petersburg.
Species
All in the name of science.One day, a group of scientists create a gorgeous humanoid using the genetic information sent to them by aliens from another world. The next day, a violent alien breaks out of their lab, and wreaks havoc on their town searching for some poor sap to be her baby-daddy.
It’s not cinematic gold, but the monster design is pretty legit. It kind of reminds me of the chestburster-type alien queen from the 70s-80s classic Alien.
I wanted my human hosts in the novel to share some physical characteristics that mirrored that of the aliens in Species.
For instance, syphons are shaped like tentacles. Each host and gender have a different amount and function for their syphons. The host’s spine contains the syphons. And, they can “siphon” the brains of their victims through the hollow tubes of a syphon, like a straw (hence the name).
So there you have it, my inspirations for different parts of my novel, Syphons came from those movies, and the rest from my twisted imagination.
Do you have a go-to movie that inspired you to write a novel? Let me know in the comments below! Thank you for reading.
[image error] Click on the Image to Preview My Novel Now!
May 6, 2019
“Invisible Boundaries” – A Flash Fiction Sci-Fi
Last month, I attended the SunLit Literary Festival here in Florida and entered their annual writing contest . Unfortunately, I didn’t win the writing contest with my sci-fi flash fiction story “Invisible Boundaries”. However, I wanted to share the story on my blog with you to read and critique, if you so choose. Here’s the story for your reading pleasure!
Invisible Boundaries by D. A. Smith
When I opened my
eyes, light the color of cerulean filled the room. The placid blue light glowed
against the surrounding walls and equipment of the lab. Faint humming came from
the center of the room, where an enemy spy captured by the intergalactic
federation hovered on his gurney. His eyelids twitched as the REM projection in
his mind stimulated brain activity and immobilized him.
I sighed deeply,
rubbing exhaustion from my heavy eyelids. I returned my attention back to my
holo-screen and read the kill order from my superiors for the hundredth time.
My patient’s Earthling name was Commander Reid Spruce, but I knew him as
Marok-ta. I never expected to be in the center of a conspiracy to take out my
home Andromeda out of orbit. The federation’s guards found Spruce tampering
with our oxygen stores and even attempting to create mechanical failures
throughout the shuttle. Marok-ta can’t be capable of something so heinous. Can
he? But, what could I expect from someone who wasn’t a Martian? The Earth-borne
alien lied about his identity to me, even after I gave him my hearts.
At this point, I
had a duty to end his life. Reid never belonged here. As the final Earthling on
the surface of the Red Stone, he needed to be taken out. The demise of the
final threat to the Cleansing of Mars meant peace for my species. We are the true
heirs of this Stone. Our land belongs to us, not the thieves from the Cerulean
Stone planet Earth. No more foreigners would
claim what always belonged to us.
The
intergalactic federation’s plan to force Earthlings into an invisible boundary
meant that humanity will no longer be allowed to misuse space travel in order
to conquer other worlds. Earthlings belonged on Earth. They became pests the
minute they set foot on Mars. My father’s death during the Red Stone War would’ve
been in vain had he learned I spent time with the foreigner.
My hand waved
the holo-screen’s translucent image aside and a miniature gun-filled with a
special vial of neurotoxins that liquifies the human brain came into view on my
desktop. I reached into the silver case and drew the weapon out. I held the
gun, between my two feelers, and glanced over my shoulder back at Spruce. The Liar. I turned at a ninety-degree angle
and closed the distance between us. My feelers danced across the holo-screen
monitoring his REM sleep, and I forced him awake.
The machine
hissed as glasses rose off Spruce’s face. His eyes flew open immediately. As his
dark-green pupils adjusted to the light in the room, he turned his attention to
me. Surprise was written all over his dark red face. He squirmed, and craned
his head towards me, when he realized he’d been pinned by the anti-gravity gun,
he quit struggling.
“It’s you, Iba-la.
I’m so happy to see you!” He spoke in my native tongue. He used the informal
-la ending, which translated into “my dear” in Earthspeak.
“You lied to me,
Marok-ta,” I jeered. “Nothing that leaves your mouth I will believe. You are an
imposter. A threat to my land’s safety and people!”
Terror struck
him. He knew that I knew. Now, what would he say or do? Will he cower and beg
for me to free him? The superiors promised me that his species were cunning negotiators.
No Earthling that set foot on Mars should ever be trusted, they only wanted to
steal our resources.
“Iba-la, don’t
be upset,” he said and closed his eyes and added, “you deserve the truth.”
“Then, why
didn’t you tell me the truth from the beginning? My family brought you to our
home. My mother treated you as a son. I–I cared for you.” I managed to choke
out.
Marok-ta looked
at me distressed.
“I had to do
this for Earth. The pollution of that world is much too great for our
scientists to handle. Our ancestors damned us with pollution since the
beginning of space travel. We had to escape the pestilence of our own making.
We needed Mars as badly as I needed you.”
I gritted my
teeth, a click of frustration reverberated along my second air-hole just under
my throat and first set of lips.
“You didn’t care
about me,” I said. “You used me.”
“I’m sorry. I
didn’t use you. Iba-la, we share the same blood,” he said, calmly.
“We do not!”
“We both came
from the Red Stone,” he said. “Yes, I’m human. But I was born here. Sending the
humans of the Red Stone back to Earth is like forcing one of the Native
Martians to live on an ice-cold comet. We are all one in the same!”
I grabbed his
dark red arm, darker than mine. I held the three-needle points of the syringe
just a feeler’s width away from his bicep.
“You have no
right to be here. You should’ve never came,” I snapped.
“I can’t control
where my mother decided to birth me. Neither could she control her mother. We
came to Mars for sanctuary. We needed this planet. Your species should know
what it’s like to be alone in this galaxy. You judge me. But your species
didn’t populate this planet until survivors from the comet that crashed into
its surface first appeared. Do you know what that makes you?” he asked.
“That’s ancient
history,” I returned. “It means nothing, now.”
“It makes you a
hypocrite,” he continued. “Your entire species consists of aliens that
immigrated to a barren rock and turned it into their home. If you must kill me,
make it quick. I thought you were different. I was wrong to think that the
daughter of a warrior would be anything other than an empty-minded autocrat.”
My feelers
loosened their grip on his arm, though the needle pricked his skin firmly. My
feeler hovered just above the trigger. Commander Reid, no, Marok-ta kept his
eyes focused on a spot on the ceiling. My hearts fluttered as memories of us
spending time staring up at the moons, talking, and touching one another stirred
tendered emotions within me like a violent solar storm surging across the
crimson desert.
I retrieved the
weapon and slammed the gun down. I shut the anti-gravity gun down.
He sat up, rubbed
his forearm and looked into my eyes.
“You’re letting
me go?”
“I never wanted
to imprison you to begin with.” I looked away. “I’ll tell the superiors that
your body was purged from the ship. I never want to see you again.”
“Thank you
Iba-la. You are a true friend. And, I’ve always cared for you.”
“Promise me that
when you return to Earth,” I said. “You will tell them that a hypocrite saved
you.”
“No, you aren’t
one. I knew I could trust you with my life. I promise all Earthlings will know
what you’ve done for us,” he said.
“What will you
do about the forcefield the intergalactic foundation plans to activate?” I
asked in a concerned tone.
“I plan to alert
the governments of Earth of their plan. If there is a species that knows anything
about walls, it’s the ones on Earth.” He said.
Let me know what you liked or didn’t like about my short story in the comments.
My Flash Fiction Story – Invisible Boundaries by D. A. Smith
Last month, I attended the SunLit Literary Festival here in Florida and entered their annual writing contest . Unfortunately, I didn’t win the writing contest with my sci-fi flash fiction story “Invisible Boundaries”. However, I wanted to share the story on my blog with you to read and critique, if you so choose. Here’s the story for your reading pleasure!
Invisible Boundaries by D. A. Smith
When I opened my
eyes, light the color of cerulean filled the room. The placid blue light glowed
against the surrounding walls and equipment of the lab. Faint humming came from
the center of the room, where an enemy spy captured by the intergalactic
federation hovered on his gurney. His eyelids twitched as the REM projection in
his mind stimulated brain activity and immobilized him.
I sighed deeply,
rubbing exhaustion from my heavy eyelids. I returned my attention back to my
holo-screen and read the kill order from my superiors for the hundredth time.
My patient’s Earthling name was Commander Reid Spruce, but I knew him as
Marok-ta. I never expected to be in the center of a conspiracy to take out my
home Andromeda out of orbit. The federation’s guards found Spruce tampering
with our oxygen stores and even attempting to create mechanical failures
throughout the shuttle. Marok-ta can’t be capable of something so heinous. Can
he? But, what could I expect from someone who wasn’t a Martian? The Earth-borne
alien lied about his identity to me, even after I gave him my hearts.
At this point, I
had a duty to end his life. Reid never belonged here. As the final Earthling on
the surface of the Red Stone, he needed to be taken out. The demise of the
final threat to the Cleansing of Mars meant peace for my species. We are the true
heirs of this Stone. Our land belongs to us, not the thieves from the Cerulean
Stone planet Earth. No more foreigners would
claim what always belonged to us.
The
intergalactic federation’s plan to force Earthlings into an invisible boundary
meant that humanity will no longer be allowed to misuse space travel in order
to conquer other worlds. Earthlings belonged on Earth. They became pests the
minute they set foot on Mars. My father’s death during the Red Stone War would’ve
been in vain had he learned I spent time with the foreigner.
My hand waved
the holo-screen’s translucent image aside and a miniature gun-filled with a
special vial of neurotoxins that liquifies the human brain came into view on my
desktop. I reached into the silver case and drew the weapon out. I held the
gun, between my two feelers, and glanced over my shoulder back at Spruce. The Liar. I turned at a ninety-degree angle
and closed the distance between us. My feelers danced across the holo-screen
monitoring his REM sleep, and I forced him awake.
The machine
hissed as glasses rose off Spruce’s face. His eyes flew open immediately. As his
dark-green pupils adjusted to the light in the room, he turned his attention to
me. Surprise was written all over his dark red face. He squirmed, and craned
his head towards me, when he realized he’d been pinned by the anti-gravity gun,
he quit struggling.
“It’s you, Iba-la.
I’m so happy to see you!” He spoke in my native tongue. He used the informal
-la ending, which translated into “my dear” in Earthspeak.
“You lied to me,
Marok-ta,” I jeered. “Nothing that leaves your mouth I will believe. You are an
imposter. A threat to my land’s safety and people!”
Terror struck
him. He knew that I knew. Now, what would he say or do? Will he cower and beg
for me to free him? The superiors promised me that his species were cunning negotiators.
No Earthling that set foot on Mars should ever be trusted, they only wanted to
steal our resources.
“Iba-la, don’t
be upset,” he said and closed his eyes and added, “you deserve the truth.”
“Then, why
didn’t you tell me the truth from the beginning? My family brought you to our
home. My mother treated you as a son. I–I cared for you.” I managed to choke
out.
Marok-ta looked
at me distressed.
“I had to do
this for Earth. The pollution of that world is much too great for our
scientists to handle. Our ancestors damned us with pollution since the
beginning of space travel. We had to escape the pestilence of our own making.
We needed Mars as badly as I needed you.”
I gritted my
teeth, a click of frustration reverberated along my second air-hole just under
my throat and first set of lips.
“You didn’t care
about me,” I said. “You used me.”
“I’m sorry. I
didn’t use you. Iba-la, we share the same blood,” he said, calmly.
“We do not!”
“We both came
from the Red Stone,” he said. “Yes, I’m human. But I was born here. Sending the
humans of the Red Stone back to Earth is like forcing one of the Native
Martians to live on an ice-cold comet. We are all one in the same!”
I grabbed his
dark red arm, darker than mine. I held the three-needle points of the syringe
just a feeler’s width away from his bicep.
“You have no
right to be here. You should’ve never came,” I snapped.
“I can’t control
where my mother decided to birth me. Neither could she control her mother. We
came to Mars for sanctuary. We needed this planet. Your species should know
what it’s like to be alone in this galaxy. You judge me. But your species
didn’t populate this planet until survivors from the comet that crashed into
its surface first appeared. Do you know what that makes you?” he asked.
“That’s ancient
history,” I returned. “It means nothing, now.”
“It makes you a
hypocrite,” he continued. “Your entire species consists of aliens that
immigrated to a barren rock and turned it into their home. If you must kill me,
make it quick. I thought you were different. I was wrong to think that the
daughter of a warrior would be anything other than an empty-minded autocrat.”
My feelers
loosened their grip on his arm, though the needle pricked his skin firmly. My
feeler hovered just above the trigger. Commander Reid, no, Marok-ta kept his
eyes focused on a spot on the ceiling. My hearts fluttered as memories of us
spending time staring up at the moons, talking, and touching one another stirred
tendered emotions within me like a violent solar storm surging across the
crimson desert.
I retrieved the
weapon and slammed the gun down. I shut the anti-gravity gun down.
He sat up, rubbed
his forearm and looked into my eyes.
“You’re letting
me go?”
“I never wanted
to imprison you to begin with.” I looked away. “I’ll tell the superiors that
your body was purged from the ship. I never want to see you again.”
“Thank you
Iba-la. You are a true friend. And, I’ve always cared for you.”
“Promise me that
when you return to Earth,” I said. “You will tell them that a hypocrite saved
you.”
“No, you aren’t
one. I knew I could trust you with my life. I promise all Earthlings will know
what you’ve done for us,” he said.
“What will you
do about the forcefield the intergalactic foundation plans to activate?” I
asked in a concerned tone.
“I plan to alert
the governments of Earth of their plan. If there is a species that knows anything
about walls, it’s the ones on Earth.” He said.
Let me know what you liked or didn’t like about my short story in the comments.
My Losing Flash Fiction Story – Invisible Boundaries by D. A. Smith
Last month, I attended the SunLit Literary Festival here in Florida and entered their annual writing contest . Unfortunately, I didn’t win the writing contest with my sci-fi flash fiction story “Invisible Boundaries”. However, I wanted to share the story on my blog with you to read and critique, if you so choose. Here’s the story for your reading pleasure!
Invisible Boundaries by D. A. Smith
When I opened my
eyes, light the color of cerulean filled the room. The placid blue light glowed
against the surrounding walls and equipment of the lab. Faint humming came from
the center of the room, where an enemy spy captured by the intergalactic
federation hovered on his gurney. His eyelids twitched as the REM projection in
his mind stimulated brain activity and immobilized him.
I sighed deeply,
rubbing exhaustion from my heavy eyelids. I returned my attention back to my
holo-screen and read the kill order from my superiors for the hundredth time.
My patient’s Earthling name was Commander Reid Spruce, but I knew him as
Marok-ta. I never expected to be in the center of a conspiracy to take out my
home Andromeda out of orbit. The federation’s guards found Spruce tampering
with our oxygen stores and even attempting to create mechanical failures
throughout the shuttle. Marok-ta can’t be capable of something so heinous. Can
he? But, what could I expect from someone who wasn’t a Martian? The Earth-borne
alien lied about his identity to me, even after I gave him my hearts.
At this point, I
had a duty to end his life. Reid never belonged here. As the final Earthling on
the surface of the Red Stone, he needed to be taken out. The demise of the
final threat to the Cleansing of Mars meant peace for my species. We are the true
heirs of this Stone. Our land belongs to us, not the thieves from the Cerulean
Stone planet Earth. No more foreigners would
claim what always belonged to us.
The
intergalactic federation’s plan to force Earthlings into an invisible boundary
meant that humanity will no longer be allowed to misuse space travel in order
to conquer other worlds. Earthlings belonged on Earth. They became pests the
minute they set foot on Mars. My father’s death during the Red Stone War would’ve
been in vain had he learned I spent time with the foreigner.
My hand waved
the holo-screen’s translucent image aside and a miniature gun-filled with a
special vial of neurotoxins that liquifies the human brain came into view on my
desktop. I reached into the silver case and drew the weapon out. I held the
gun, between my two feelers, and glanced over my shoulder back at Spruce. The Liar. I turned at a ninety-degree angle
and closed the distance between us. My feelers danced across the holo-screen
monitoring his REM sleep, and I forced him awake.
The machine
hissed as glasses rose off Spruce’s face. His eyes flew open immediately. As his
dark-green pupils adjusted to the light in the room, he turned his attention to
me. Surprise was written all over his dark red face. He squirmed, and craned
his head towards me, when he realized he’d been pinned by the anti-gravity gun,
he quit struggling.
“It’s you, Iba-la.
I’m so happy to see you!” He spoke in my native tongue. He used the informal
-la ending, which translated into “my dear” in Earthspeak.
“You lied to me,
Marok-ta,” I jeered. “Nothing that leaves your mouth I will believe. You are an
imposter. A threat to my land’s safety and people!”
Terror struck
him. He knew that I knew. Now, what would he say or do? Will he cower and beg
for me to free him? The superiors promised me that his species were cunning negotiators.
No Earthling that set foot on Mars should ever be trusted, they only wanted to
steal our resources.
“Iba-la, don’t
be upset,” he said and closed his eyes and added, “you deserve the truth.”
“Then, why
didn’t you tell me the truth from the beginning? My family brought you to our
home. My mother treated you as a son. I–I cared for you.” I managed to choke
out.
Marok-ta looked
at me distressed.
“I had to do
this for Earth. The pollution of that world is much too great for our
scientists to handle. Our ancestors damned us with pollution since the
beginning of space travel. We had to escape the pestilence of our own making.
We needed Mars as badly as I needed you.”
I gritted my
teeth, a click of frustration reverberated along my second air-hole just under
my throat and first set of lips.
“You didn’t care
about me,” I said. “You used me.”
“I’m sorry. I
didn’t use you. Iba-la, we share the same blood,” he said, calmly.
“We do not!”
“We both came
from the Red Stone,” he said. “Yes, I’m human. But I was born here. Sending the
humans of the Red Stone back to Earth is like forcing one of the Native
Martians to live on an ice-cold comet. We are all one in the same!”
I grabbed his
dark red arm, darker than mine. I held the three-needle points of the syringe
just a feeler’s width away from his bicep.
“You have no
right to be here. You should’ve never came,” I snapped.
“I can’t control
where my mother decided to birth me. Neither could she control her mother. We
came to Mars for sanctuary. We needed this planet. Your species should know
what it’s like to be alone in this galaxy. You judge me. But your species
didn’t populate this planet until survivors from the comet that crashed into
its surface first appeared. Do you know what that makes you?” he asked.
“That’s ancient
history,” I returned. “It means nothing, now.”
“It makes you a
hypocrite,” he continued. “Your entire species consists of aliens that
immigrated to a barren rock and turned it into their home. If you must kill me,
make it quick. I thought you were different. I was wrong to think that the
daughter of a warrior would be anything other than an empty-minded autocrat.”
My feelers
loosened their grip on his arm, though the needle pricked his skin firmly. My
feeler hovered just above the trigger. Commander Reid, no, Marok-ta kept his
eyes focused on a spot on the ceiling. My hearts fluttered as memories of us
spending time staring up at the moons, talking, and touching one another stirred
tendered emotions within me like a violent solar storm surging across the
crimson desert.
I retrieved the
weapon and slammed the gun down. I shut the anti-gravity gun down.
He sat up, rubbed
his forearm and looked into my eyes.
“You’re letting
me go?”
“I never wanted
to imprison you to begin with.” I looked away. “I’ll tell the superiors that
your body was purged from the ship. I never want to see you again.”
“Thank you
Iba-la. You are a true friend. And, I’ve always cared for you.”
“Promise me that
when you return to Earth,” I said. “You will tell them that a hypocrite saved
you.”
“No, you aren’t
one. I knew I could trust you with my life. I promise all Earthlings will know
what you’ve done for us,” he said.
“What will you
do about the forcefield the intergalactic foundation plans to activate?” I
asked in a concerned tone.
“I plan to alert
the governments of Earth of their plan. If there is a species that knows anything
about walls, it’s the ones on Earth.” He said.
Let me know what you liked or didn’t like about my short story in the comments.
May 4, 2019
Indie Authors Thoughts Before & After Self-Publishing Their 1st Novel (Infographic)
I just self-published my novel Syphons. And, I feel like I have a better grasp of what it takes to be an indie-author. I will admit that the process had me equally tired and excited to create more works.
Hopefully, this funny infographic will explain my feelings about self-publishing.
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Fellow indie authors did you feel the weight of the world on top of your head when you published that first novel? I’d love to hear your comments below!!
May 3, 2019
New Release: Syphons, A Debut Science Fiction Novel
Hiya Literary Fans,
It’s here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ten years ago, in my 9th grade high school biology class the idea for my main character, Solstice Bellatrix, popped in my head and I started to flesh out the plot for my novel Syphons.
Around that time in my life, I started reading the Touched by an Alien Series by Gini Koch and I fell in love with the main character Kitty “Katt” Martini’s witty banter and of course the slew of aliens she met, fought, and fell in love with. Only problem was the main character was incredibly skinny with a great rack (it’s in the novel), and Anglo which I feel is kind of the norm for most popular sci-fi novels I’ve read.
I kind of felt bummed that there wasn’t a female sci-fi character that reminded me of myself; strong, plus-sized, black, etc…
As far as I can remember the only African-American (AA) main characters I’ve read about in science fiction novels were usually one off characters or secondary characters. My first time seeing an AA character in sci-fi (eva!) was actually Will Smith as Agent J in Men In Black (Can’t Wait for MIB International, BTW).
I really created Syphons because of this selfish desire to be represented in the realm of sci-fi. Because I love the genre so much!! I love seeing body positivity and diversity in the realm of sci-fi. And, I’m glad to see other indie and traditional authors creating either curvy, multicultural and/or complex female characters.
Seeing diversity in science fiction not only grips my attention but makes me want to give the authors who are killing it my money!!
Anyway, Syphons is a work that comes from my heart and took a lot of blood, sweat, (tons of) tears and patient beta readers (thanks, gals) to make this novel possible!
Even if you’re not a fan of sci-fi or really aren’t into the drama of 20-somethings fighting parasitic brain-eating monsters with the help of a telepathic hottie and his team of top secret agents, you may find a piece of yourself in my writing and novel and it may motivate you to test out the genre to look for other fantastic reads.
If you are interested in my novel, feel free to indulge in this yummy blurb:
Curvy, Fierce and A Total Riot! Solstice Bellatrix has already died once, and she is not about to let history repeat itself.
When Solstice awakens in a luxurious penthouse, after a near-death experience at the Skyline Lounge, she meets the handsome owner, Alexander “AJ” Ward. Alexander is a telepathic entity with many secrets, including one involving her.
Solstice learns that her best friend is kidnapped by dangerous parasitic monsters know as Mindstalkers. Thankfully, Solstice has AJ and his friends; a team of Edge agents and fellow Guardians of The Collective Mind to help save her friend.
Together they will take on a corrupt Queen and her colony of parasitic drones.
Will Solstice find her friend in time? Or will she lose everything, including her mind and the guy she’s fallen for?
Ready To Leap Into The Action?
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[image error] Also don’t forget to grab your free copy of Stolen by the Ash available this week only!
Syphons Spring Book Giveaway *Winners*
Hello,
Syphons, my debut novel was released today on Amazon as an e-book and paperback!!
Here are the winners of the Syphons Gift Card Giveaway:
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And, here is the grand prized winner of the Starbucks Gift Card.
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This giveaway is closed. Thank you everyone for participating!! I appreciate it!
May 1, 2019
Stolen By The Ash is FREE on Amazon this week only!!
In honor of the release of my debut sci-fi Syphons. I am giving away kindle edition of Stolen by the Ash A Fox Shifters Short Story>>> Read the Synopsis here!
And don’t forget to preorder SYPHONS out on Friday!
[image error] Available for Pre-order as kindle edition and on Friday as a Paperback.
