Carol Van Natta's Blog, page 20
May 1, 2018
Shifter Mate Magic Excerpt #1
Shifter Mate Magic is the first book in my new Ice Age Shifters paranormal romance series. As you might have guessed from the title, it's all about shifters, but it also has magic, elves, fairies, and dragons. Below is a short Shifter Mate Magic excerpt. (See another one here.) Did you ever have one of those days where nothing goes right, and then you meet your true mate? Lonely bear shifter Trevor sure did:
Trevor Hammond didn’t think of himself as a violent man, but at that moment, with the woman his bear insisted was his true mate leaving him in a dwindling dust cloud, he wanted to go back behind the store and kick more drunk-coyote ass.
He could not have screwed up the first meeting with his mate any more if he’d tried. If he was honest, he had to admit he’d doubted he’d ever find a mate, considering his bear was one of a kind. Aunt Straya, who had raised him, had always told him to trust in the moon goddess, and be ready, but who would ever expect to run into his entirely human mate in an all-night truck stop known for its shifter customers?
He’d tracked a tantalizing smell and almost bowled her over with his carelessness. Then her overwhelmingly nuanced and fascinating scent had lit up every cell in his body. Mate, his bear had growled, then ordered him to lick her and claim her right there in the lunch-meat aisle. His human side pointed out she was likely already mated, since she was pregnant and carrying the daughter of some sort of feline shifter. His bear countered that she didn’t have a mate bond or smell mated, and no shifter would willingly leave his pregnant mate unprotected. And while he was arguing with himself, and hadn’t even gotten out a coherent sentence, the tall, diffident woman had left him.
And to top it off, instead of going after her, he’d retreated to the back alley to get control of himself and come up with an approach that wouldn’t scare the life out of her. Because the second and third things he’d finally noticed were the sour taste of her fear and the submissive body language. Someone had conditioned his proud, strong, stunningly beautiful mate into outward displays of obeisance. He’d paced off his anger in the alley behind the dumpsters while racking his brain for something better to say to her than “Wanna see my truck?”
To his shame, he hadn’t immediately noticed that the problem in the alley involved her. Shifters often went out back to scuffle. Otto, the owner, fined or banned anyone who disturbed the peace inside, and no one wanted to be gored or stomped by an oversized, pissed-off Texas-longhorn bull shifter.
All it took was for a woman’s voice to shout “No” for his bear to take control and shift. Thank the goddess his magic took care of his clothes. His bear had recognized what his human part should have, the presence of his mate. He bounded toward the trouble in time to see her use a magic weapon on the attacker, and another coyote joining the attack.
He roared his rage and brought the fight to them. Two drunks were no match for a mad bear defending his mate. They were lucky he hadn’t maimed or killed them. He’d managed to gain enough control to warn his bear that the deaths would scare his mate even more than she already was. And then he’d had to let her ride off on her motorcycle alone, or he’d be as bad as the mangy coyotes.
The only good things that came out of their first meeting were that he now knew her name, he’d found out she really was unmated despite being pregnant with a shifter baby, and she’d taken his card.
But he could feel in the depths of his soul, through the potential connection already forming between them, she was in deadly trouble and needed his help.
About Shifter Mate Magic
A lonely bear shifter meets his mate. She’s running for her life and doesn’t have time for romance.
Pregnant Jackie Breton just escaped from a corrupt feline pack intent on selling her half-shifter baby to the highest bidder. She’s smart, independent, and has a desperate plan to keep her baby safe: Get away from the pride as fast and far as possible.
Trevor Hammond, prehistoric bear shifter, has been rejected by everyone in his life for… being born, basically. Well, except for the beloved aunt who raised him. He’s built a career as an independent trucker, but life would be much better with someone he can hold in his arms and claim as his own.
When Jackie meets Trevor at a truck stop, his bear demands he help her. His aunt even calls with a dire warning: Get Jackie to the magical sanctuary town in Wyoming before she’s killed.
Jackie thinks he’s sexy as hell, but too good to be true. She doesn’t trust shifters. With the feline pride hot on her trail, however, Trevor and the quirky town of Kotoyeesinay might be her only chance for survival. Even Trevor’s indomitable bear may be no match for the dangerous enemy seeking retribution.
Discover the secret world of magic and true mates in Shifter Mate Magic, the first book in USA TODAY bestselling author Carol Van Natta's fun, action-filled, steamy-hot Ice Age Shifters
series.
Release date: 15 May 2018
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April 19, 2018
Preorder Shifter Mate Magic
Ice Age Shifters
Book 1It's here! The first book in my new Ice Age Shifters paranormal romance series is here!
This is the fabulous cover for Shifter Mate Magic (designed by the equally fabulous Amanda Kelsey of Razzle Dazzle Design).
Okay, yes, I'm still ridiculously excited about this series. I celebrated with a little song and dance around the living room, which caused the cats jump to high places, because they know humans are inherently klutzy. This is the first of four books that I plan to release this summer.
Anyway, here's the blurb for Shifter Mate Magic:
A lonely bear shifter meets his mate. She’s running for her life and doesn’t have time for romance.
Pregnant Jackie Breton just escaped from a corrupt feline pack intent on selling her half-shifter baby to the highest bidder. She’s smart, independent, and has a desperate plan to keep her baby safe: Get away from the pride as fast and far as possible.
Trevor Hammond, prehistoric bear shifter, has been rejected by everyone in his life for… being born, basically. Well, except for the beloved aunt who raised him. He’s built a career as an independent trucker, but life would be much better with someone he can hold in his arms and claim as his own.
When Jackie meets Trevor at a truck stop, his bear demands he help her. His aunt even calls with a dire warning: Get Jackie to the magical sanctuary town in Wyoming before she’s killed.
Jackie thinks he’s sexy as hell, but too good to be true. She doesn’t trust shifters. With the feline pride hot on her trail, however, Trevor and the quirky town of Kotoyeesinay might be her only chance for survival. Even Trevor’s indomitable bear may be no match for the dangerous enemy seeking retribution.
Discover the secret world of magic and true mates in Shifter Mate Magic, the first book in USA TODAY bestselling author Carol Van Natta's fun, action-filled, steamy-hot Ice Age Shifters series.
Reserve your copy today, so you don't miss release day.
Preorder Shifter Mate Magic for 99¢ on Amazon
Release date: 15 May 2018
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April 16, 2018
Secret Project Revealed, Foxes, and Cats (Podcast)
Carol Van Natta's Video Podcast #6
This is my author podcast number 6, wherein I reveal my secret project, and talk about foxes and cats (or the lack thereof).
Astute readers will note the number above and deduce there are previous videos:
Podcast #1 ~ Podcast #2 ~ Podcast #3 ~ Podcast #4 ~ Podcast #5
This podcast is a recorded Facebook Live session from Friday, 13 April 2018. See https://youtu.be/pqkeDe0CM-4
For those who won't watch a 12-minute of video of anyone who isn't Mary J. Blige or Morena Baccarin (not that I blame you), here's the TL;DW (too long; didn't watch) synopsis.
Foxes
I'm jealous of my author friend Steph Pajonas, who writes a fabulous Japanese-culture-inspired science fiction romance series, and a cozy mystery series as well. A whole family of foxes made a nest—den?—in her backyard, and she gets to see the mother and 4 kits every day. She smartly bought a wildlife video camera, so she gets to see their nighttime activities, too—she's posting edited segments on her website. If I was ever to have a pet besides cats, I'd want a fox. Domesticated, mind you, not cruelly trying to tame a wild animal. I even put one in Minder Rising, book 2 of my space opera series. My cats think all space opera is improved by the addition of cats, so you'll see a few more of those in the series. (Note: Cats appear in Last Ship Off Polaris-G and Jumper's Hope. Cats and about 12 other pets appear in Pet Trade.)
Despite bribery with catnip and tuna, the producer cat did not make an appearance because pills. Or more specifically, nasty tasting anti-allergy medicine. I don't think she appreciates how expensive the stuff is. She is now suspicious of anything small, white, and cylindrical.
Ta-dah! Music! Fireworks!
Secret Project Revealed!
I am ridiculously excited to finally be able to tell you about a secret project I've been working on for months. It's a new paranormal romance series called Ice Age Shifters. Yes, it's true, I've gone to the dark side.
My muse and I love space opera, because that's our home planet, but we also love traveling to visit other genres. A couple of years ago, USA TODAY and NY Times bestselling author S.E. Smith invited me to be a part of the initial launch of her Kindle Worlds project, and my story in that series is In Graves Below. I had such a great time writing it that I thought I'd try my hand at my own series, and Ice Age Shifters is the result.
I know I said “dark side,” but the new series isn't really dark. As a matter of fact, it's more light-hearted than my space opera series. The main characters have exciting adventures, with obstacles and villains to make them fight to find their happily-ever-after, but they do it with humor and fun. At least one of the sexy lovers is an Ice Age shifter, a throwback to a prehistoric animal that's extinct, and usually bigger and badder than modern shifters. As you might imagine, this difference can make it hard to fit in with their family’s pack, pride, or clan. Fortunately, their destined mates find them deliciously desirable.
Despite the name, the series isn’t really cold, either. Shifters, ancient races (elves, fairies, vampires, wraiths, ogres, etc.), and humans with magic have created sanctuary towns. These are magical places where they can live in peace, away from the ignorant or fearful outside world—and sometimes from their own kind. Kotoyeesinay, Wyoming, is one such town, but there are others. When the town grants sanctuary, they’re more than just letting you stay, they’re accepting you into their community and their hearts.
So I probably should have said, yes, it’s true, I’ve got to the light side with humor and heart. The books are shorter than my space opera series, because sometimes, that's just the right length for an evening read.
Book 1 in the series is SHIFTER MATE MAGIC. Here's an exclusive first-look at the cover, designed by the fabulous Amanda Kelsey of Razzle Dazzle Design.
You'll be able to reserve your copy of SHIFTER MATE MAGIC from Amazon starting Thursday, 19 April 2018. For US and UK readers, it will be in the Kindle Unlimited program. Book 1 will be 99¢.
In my next podcast, I'll read a short excerpt for you, and talk about the next books in the series.
If you're so inclined, you can watch me live on Facebook on an upcoming Friday.
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April 11, 2018
Pet Trade, Pets in Space 3, and Excerpt Reading (Podcast)
Carol Van Natta's Video Podcast #5
This is my author podcast number 5, about Pet Trade, my latest book, news about Pets in Space 3 (there will be one), and I read an excerpt from Pet Trade. The cat was on strike and did not make an appearance.
Astute readers will note the number above and deduce there are previous videos:
Podcast #1 ~ Podcast #2 ~ Podcast #3 ~ Podcast #4
This podcast is a recorded Facebook Live session from Friday, 23 March 2018. See https://youtu.be/D4qg_vDEaZo
For those who won't watch a 15-minute of video of anyone who isn't Idris Elba or Angela Bassett (not that I blame you), here's the TL;DW (too long; didn't watch) synopsis.
Pet Trade
My current news is the new release of Pet Trade, a novella in my Central Galactic Concordance space opera series. It's a standalone, so you don't need to have read the other books to enjoy it. You can find Pet Trade at your favorite ebook seller right now, and the paperback version will come out in April. At the end of this podcast, I read a short excerpt.
The reason I wrote Pet Trade was that I was invited to participate in an anthology called Pets in Space 2, and I jumped at the chance because, come on—it's pets!—pets in space! See, you're smiling right now, 'cause it's such a great concept.
Equally importantly, the anthology supports a charity that trains and places dogs with disabled U.S. veterans. That mission inspired my story, which involves an elite forces military veteran who is now part biometal—a cyborg—and a talented veterinarian with serious post-traumatic stress (PTSD). They're both helped by their pets, which they'll need when greedy mercenaries come to call.
By the way, for those of you who were hoping to see the podcast director, a.k.a. my cat, she was sulking because she had a bad day. She had to swallow a pill, another cat was in her favorite hiding place—the one she goes to when she doesn't want her pill—and the heater in her favorite chair gave up the ghost. I promise to bribe her with catnip for a future podcast.
Pets in Space 3 Anthology
The other big news is that there will be a Pets in Space 3 this year, and yes, I'll have a story in it.
I'm in good company: S.E. Smith—Susan—who I've actually been lucky enough to meet in person, plus Anna Hackett, who lives in Australia, so I probably won't get the chance to meet her anytime soon unless my books start selling spectacularly well. I love Anna's books, especially the Hell Squad series. People I'd like to meet in person include Lindsay Buroker, who also writes as Ruby Lionsdrake, because she's prolific in science fiction and fantasy and wicked funny. I'm a fangirl of pretty much everything she does.
The anthology is organized by Jean Walker, who writes science fiction and fantasy romance as Veronica Scott, and multi-talented, genre-hopping author Pauline Baird Jones. I've worked with both before, and find them to be lovely people. I could actually meet them someday, since we all live in the U.S.
The other authors in this year's anthology are Tiffany Roberts (of Kraken series fame), Alexis Glynn Latner (in Pets in Space 2), E. D. Walker, J.C. Hay, and Kyndra Hatch, all of whom I'm looking forward to getting to know better.
As to my story for Pets in Space 3, I'll tell you more about it next month, after I finish the outline and start writing it. On the pantser vs. plotter continuum, I'm more of a plotter.
“Pantsers” are those author who sit down to write with only a character or two, and maybe a conflict or an ending in mind, and somehow, it works. Eve Langlais, Susan Smith, and Jean Walker are pantsers, and I am in awe of their magic. “Plotters” are authors who write outlines, sometimes really detailed outlines, complete with timelines and character descriptions and whole civilizations, before they ever start the first chapter of the actual novel.
The pantser-vs.-plotter designation is more of a continuum than an either-or. As I mentioned earlier, I'm more of a plotter than a pantser, but I leave myself room for surprises and discoveries as I go along. For example, when I was writing Pet Trade, my outline said that a specific pet would help defeat the villain, but when I got there, another pet stepped up to the plate and said “pick me!”.
If you read my story, see if you can guess which pet I planned to be the instrument of the villain's comeuppance. And yes, I'm being deliberately vague so as not to give away spoilers, because my clever plan is to entice you into reading the book.
Excerpt
At the end of the podcast, I read an excerpt from Pet Trade. You can read the whole first chapter, instead.
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March 19, 2018
Pet Trade Release Day
Limber up that one-click finger, because Pet Trade release day is finally here. It's space opera, with pets!
Amazon Kobo iTunes Nook Google Play
Pet Trade (A Central Galactic Concordance Novella)
by Carol Van Natta
An injured veterinarian and a cyborg with unusual pets must join forces to save their town.
The vast Central Galactic Concordance strictly prohibits genetic experimentation and alteration of humans on any of its 500 member planets. Animals aren’t so lucky.
On a frontier planet, veterinarian Bethnee Bakonin made a home for herself in the frozen north. Her minder talent for healing all kinds of animals would ordinarily assure her success, but her unwilling stint in the shady pet trade industry left her damaged and scared. She works around her limitations as best she can, and rescues pet trade castoffs.
“Volunteered” for a black-box research project, elite forces Jumper Axur Tragon now has dangerous experimental tech in his cybernetic limbs. He escaped and crash-landed a stolen freighter in the northern mountains of a frontier planet, only to discover a secret shipment of designer pets was part of the cargo. Determined to do right by them, he enlists reluctant Bethnee’s aid in caring for them—a definite challenge, considering Bethnee is terrified of him.
When greedy mercenaries come raiding, can Axur and Bethnee work together to overcome their limitations, with help from their unusual pets, and save the day?
It's a deadly adventure—with pets—in the fringes of space. Grab your copy of Pet Trade today!
Amazon ~ Kobo ~ iTunes ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Google Play
Amazon CA ~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon AU
– – – – –
Series note: Pet Trade takes place between Pico's Crush and Jumper's Hope in the Central Galactic Concordance series, but is a standalone story. Originally appeared in the USA TODAY bestselling anthology Embrace the Romance: Pets in Space 2.
…
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March 16, 2018
Pets in Space is Back!
Remember I told you that the USA TODAY bestselling, award-winning Embrace the Romance: Pets in Space 2 anthology has left the galaxy forever? Well, it still has, but here's the good news: Pets in Space is back for 2018… and lucky me, I'm one of the authors.
This is one of the overabundance of (okay, three) secret projects I've been working on this year. The first two Pets in Space anthologies won multiple awards (Library Journal Best Book and SFR Galaxy), and Pets in Space 2 was a USA TODAY bestseller. More importantly, Pets in Space has raised over $4,400 for Hero-Dogs.org, a charity that raises, trains, places support dogs with disabled U.S. veterans to improve their quality of life and help them regain independence.
Embrace the Passion: Pets in Space 3
Release Date: 9 October 2018
10% of preorders and first month's profits go to Hero-Dogs.org
Dream-Team Lineup
Who else is in this year's anthology? I'm glad you asked, because I'm in fabulous company: S.E. Smith (Sarafin Warriors series), Anna Hackett (Galatic Gladiators series), Ruby Lionsdrake, Veronica Scott (Sectors SF series), Pauline Baird Jones (Project Enterprise series), Tiffany Roberts (Kraken series), Alexis Glynn Latner, E D Walker, JC Hay, and Kyndra Hatch. I love science fiction romance, and these are some of the best writers in the business. I'm reserving that entire week for reading their stories.
My story will be another standalone novella in my Central Galactic Concordance series. I'll tell you more about it soon, because I'm already in love with my main characters… and the pets.
Come On Board for the Pets in Space Newsletter and Facebook Group
Want the inside scoop on all things Pets in Space? Sign up for the Pets in Space newsletter. As a reward, you'll get an exclusive, not-available-anywhere-else Pets in Space 3 Coloring Book. It's the perfect de-stressor while you wait for all those wonderful pets.
Pets in Space also has its own Pets in Space Reader Group. All of us authors pop in and say hello, and everyone shares favorite stories from the news and about our personal pests… er, pets. You'll be the first to get in on fun contests and special offers, too.
I'll have more information for you in the months ahead—pets, sneak previews, guest blog posts, cover reveals—all the good stuff.
If you'd like, leave a comment below to tell me what pet you'd like to see in a science fiction romance story.
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March 13, 2018
Pet Trade Teaser 2
My upcoming new release is Pet Trade, a novella that originally appeared in the USA TODAY bestselling anthology, Embrace the Romance: Pets in Space 2. In the timeline for my Central Galactic Concordance series, Pet Trade takes place between Pico's Crush and Jumper's Hope, but it's not part of the big damn story arc that's going on. Instead, it's a chance for me to explore one of the background elements in my universe, the shady, ethically challenged pet trade industry. Last week, I introduced you to Bethnee Bakonin, a veterinarian on the frontier planet of Del'Arche. Today's excerpt introduces ex-Jumper (military elite forces) Axur Tragon, and some of his pets. This is Pet Trade teaser #2:
Axur looked up when the clinic’s outside doors opened to admit a tall, willowy woman with shoulder-length, deep blue-black hair and Asian features. She carried several bags and a box, and walked with a pronounced limp. She glanced at him, startled. “Does Nuñez know…” She trailed off as her attention riveted on Kivo.
After a long moment, Axur answered her unfinished question. “Nuñez asked me to wait here.”
She darted a look to his face and awkwardly backed up several steps, dropping one of the bags. “Oh.”
He started to stand and reach out to help her, but froze in mid-rise when her eyes widened in unmistakable fear. Her hand visibly trembled as she awkwardly scooped up the bag, then fled through the doors to the back.
He sat down again with a sigh. It never paid to play the shoulda-coulda-woulda game, but starting a year ago, it was hard not to wish for a different star lane for his life. He’d never been nova-hot beautiful like some in his squad, but he’d never lacked for companionship and bed partners for his twelve years in the CPS Jumper Corps. Then, unbeknownst to him, he’d been secretly selected for a CPS “special project” that changed him forever, including adding valuable experimental tech to his cybernetics.
Now he was an ugly mass of biometal and hardware that made him a walking, talking satellite uplink. Only the heavy poncho he’d kludged together from salvaged supplies kept him from constantly broadcasting his unique comm signature to the frontier planet’s various satellites, and from there to the Central Galactic Concordance’s intergalactic communications network. If he uncloaked, his days of freedom remaining would be measured by how fast a CPS ship could get to Del’Arche to hunt him down.
Kivo whined. Axur stuck his fingers into the cage again and tried to shake off his melancholy. He’d lived, and so had Kivo and the others, and life was hope.
Ten minutes later, Nuñez strode back into the lobby, looking harried. “Thanks for waiting.” She put her fists on her hips. “I have an emergency, so I’ll cut to the chase. I can’t treat your pets, but Bethnee Bakonin can. She’s the woman who just came in. She’s already seen you, and that’s usually a deal-killer for her, but if you keep your distance and don’t make sudden movements, she’ll look at your animals.”
Her chin jutted out pugnaciously. “She’s a pet-trade expert, but she’s also a pan-phyla animal-affinity talent, so if you dislike minders, you can jet right now, ‘cause I’m one, too.”
Axur put his hands flat on his thighs. “Minders are just people. I don’t care if she uses dark energy magic, if she can help Kivo and the birds.” He pointed a thumb toward the front doors. “I could wait outside.”
Nuñez shook her head. “No, she’ll need information from you. Just move your chair away and stay seated.” She glanced at his stained pants and worn combat boots. “I’ll assume you’re not offering hard credit. What are you trading?”
Reserve Your Copy Today for the 20 March 2018 Release
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March 12, 2018
Whimsy Con Report, Pet Trade, and Cameo Cat (Podcast)
Carol Van Natta's Video Podcast #4
This is my author podcast number 4, with last week's Whimsy Con report, and about my upcoming release of Pet Trade. I had props, too. Oh, and it starts with a cameo appearance by one of my cats.
Astute readers will note the number above and deduce there are three previous videos:
Podcast #1 ~ Podcast #2 ~ Podcast #3
This podcast includes a report of my excellent adventures at the 2018 Whimsy Con in Denver, and why you should buy my upcoming book, Pet Trade. My cat is the real star. Of the podcast, not the book.
This podcast is a recorded Facebook Live session from Friday, 9 March 2018. See https://youtu.be/e2G52kGxO9E
For those who won't watch a 12-minute of video of anyone who isn't Ken Watanabe or Danai Gurira (not that I blame you), here's the TL;DW (too long; didn't watch) synopsis.
Whimsy Con Report
I met some great people at the 2018 Whimsy Con in Denver: Richard Friesen (epic fantasy, with a complete 5-book series out that starts with The Tower of Dreams), with whom I shared a vendor table for the weekend; author and publisher Milton Davis (fantasy and steampunk), including his fabulous From Here to Timbuktu – steamFUNK adventure); James Hunter (energetic, prolific multi-genre author); Chaz Kemp, artist (he did Friesen's fantastic covers), Jessica at Wings, Charms, and Things, with whom I will be collaborating on a secret project; Owen Wears, who writes horror and lives in my hometown of Fort Collins—funny that we had to be in south Denver to meet; Carol Hightshoe, the OTHER Carol at the con and owner of Wolfsinger Press, and publisher of some lovely science fiction and fantasy anthologies. James, Carol H., author Guy Anthony DeMarco, and I were on a panel together about self-publishing/indie publishing for ebook and print. I also renewed my acquaintance with Stant Litore, author of fantasy and probably the only zombie books I might want to read.
Several of the the gentle, lively fans of steampunk and fantasy had never heard of space opera, so I had to explain that it's a genre of science fiction, not a style of space-age music. Speaking of musicals, my friend Kate Blair came by my table, and said “hi” — she stage-managed and assistant-directed several musical productions in which I was in the chorus or had small roles in. The con had an abundance of panels on an amazing array of subjects, so if attendees were bored, it was their own damn fault.
The author guest of honor was Milton Davis. I had the good fortune to share a table with him in the author book-signing session. as I mentioned earlier, he wrote From Here To Timbuktu, which is a whole series. It's alternate-history steampunk set in the U.S., but not as we know it. Check out the Haitian Revolution for a hint. From what Milton described, it's international adventure, political skullduggery, and a race to recover a stolen book. Way cool, and it's at the top of the mountain that is my TBR. And lucky me, I have my very own autographed copy. If Hollywood is listening, this NEEDS to be made into a movie. Just sayin'.
Pet Trade (!)
Yes, it's finally (almost) here. Pet Trade, a novella that first appeared in last year's USA TODAY bestselling Embrace the Romance: Pets in Space 2, is available for preorder today for a 20 March 2018 release. The anthology was a limited edition, and is now gone, so I get to publish Pet Trade as a standalone.
The story is set in my Central Galactic Concordance universe, but it's not a part of the events that are unfolding in the big damn story arc for that series. So even if you haven't read the rest of my books, you can enjoy Pet Trade on its own. And how can you resist pets in space?
Pet Trade (A Central Galactic Concordance Novella)
A cargo of designer pets means a damaged veterinarian and a fugitive elite forces veteran must work together to protect them and the town from greedy mercenaries.
Reserve your copy today:
Amazon Kobo iTunes Nook Google Play
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I have 6 books out so far in the Central Galactic Concordance space opera series: Last Ship Off Polaris-G, Overload Flux, Minder Rising, Zero Flux, Pico's Crush, and Jumper's Hope.
Cameo by My Cat
This podcast opens with short segment of my cat, Kaz, who deigned to sit on the back of my chair and direct part of the podcast. She is easily bored by human activity that does not involve petting or feeding her, so she left about halfway through. She is a purebred (and cross-eyed) Tonkinese of the Platinum Point variety.
Moar Podcasts
I like doing these podcasts, because they're fun, and as you've probably figured out by now, I Haz Opinionz. Look for me on Facebook on an upcoming Friday afternoon (or evening, or next day, depending on your time zone).
★*¨*•.¸☆ ★*¨*•.¸☆ ★*¨*•.¸☆ ★*¨*•.¸☆
P.S. My YouTube channel also has this video, if that's easier for you to watch: https://www.youtube.com/c/CarolVanNatta.
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March 6, 2018
Pet Trade Teaser #1
My upcoming new release is Pet Trade, a novella that originally appeared in the USA TODAY bestselling anthology, Embrace the Romance: Pets in Space 2. In the timeline for my Central Galactic Concordance series, Pet Trade takes place between Pico's Crush and Jumper's Hope, but it's not part of the big damn story arc that's going on. Instead, it's a chance for me to explore one of the background elements in my universe, the shady, ethically challenged pet trade industry. It's set on the frontier planet of Del'Arche. This is Pet Trade teaser #1, from the opening chapter:
Veterinarian Bethnee Bakonin limped toward the cage slowly. The huge dire wolf inside stood and eyed her with wary interest, but not fear or anger. The wolf’s bright blue, intelligent eyes contrasted beautifully against her thick coat of charcoal grey and black fur. Bethnee reached out with another thread of her talent to get a sense of the designer animal’s health. “Where did she come from?”
A capricious, chilly wind blew a dust devil into the center of the paddock, then let it go. Fall always arrived early in the foothills of the northernmost mountains on Del’Arche.
“A boutique alpaca ranch down south. New client.” Nuñez frowned and crossed her arms. “Idiots thought a top-of-the-line, protector-class dire wolf would make a great herd dog.” She made a disgusted sound. “They were going to shoot her because she wouldn’t let the herd out of the barn. I convinced them to sign her over to me.”
Bethnee eyed Nuñez. “How much did she cost?” Designer animals from reputable pet-trade dealers weren’t cheap. Recreating extinct mammals from Earth’s Pleistocene period was perennially popular , because it avoided the Central Galactic Concordance government’s multiple prohibitions against altering cornerstone species like wolves and coyotes. Bethnee had been saving her hard credits to buy her own flitter, instead of having to constantly borrow Nuñez’s, but the rescued dire wolf took priority.
Nuñez shook her head. “Zero. They bought her cheap with a flatlined ID chip, so she’s probably stolen. I told them I’d take care of the problem for free, and that it’d be our little secret.” Knowing Nuñez, she’d pushed them with her low-level empath talent, so they’d be afraid of getting caught, and happy to be rid of the evidence. Nuñez had no compunction against using her minder talent to manipulate humans who hurt animals, which was one of several reasons why she and Bethnee got along so well.
Bethnee focused on sensing the wolf’s mind. The fleeting thoughts were complex, with deep memories. The wolf had known and felt pack love for other humans, but hadn’t seen them for a long time. The ranchers had beaten her to get her into the cage, and she didn’t know what she’d done wrong.
Bethnee contained her talent and her anger, then told Nuñez what she’d found. “She’s also got tracers in every major joint. Can I use your small surgical suite this afternoon?” The portable unit contained micro surgical tools with an AI-assist built in, and would make quick work of the excisions.
“Sure.” Nuñez tilted her head toward the doors of the vetmed clinic behind her. “Let’s get her inside.”
“Does she respond to a name?”
“Didn’t come up.” Nuñez looked at the clock. “I’ll make you a deal. After I put the flitter away, you help me feed and water the yaks, and I’ll help you with the tracers.”
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March 2, 2018
More Pet Peeves about Romances
This is metaphorical me, wearing my horned curmudgeon hat.Because I include romances in my Central Galactic Concordance space opera series, and because I’m working on three new secret projects that all involve romance, I read a lot of them to make sure I’m meeting reader expectations. I love romances in my favorite space opera, fantasy, and paranormal genres, but certain habits and tropes really put my knickers in a twist. So this is me, bitching, with more pet peeves about romances.
I've done a few of these in the past, e.g., Romance Pet Peeves and Dubious Consent, and they're always long, so consider yourself warned.
Virgins and Virginity
New adult (NA) or young adult (YA) stories are generally not to my taste. Maybe it's because I've forgotten my own life and feelings at those ages, or maybe it's because I never had any of my own kids to treat as social science experiments, er, raise, so I don't find stories about them interesting.
Therefore, when I run across a character in their late 20s or older who is still a virgin, they're not very believable to me, unless the author is clever about it. Sadly, it's too often used as a cheap plot device as a way to keep the love interests apart, and the implied imbalance between the lovers leaves me cold.
Popular religions place enormous emphasis on chastity in general, especially female. I expect it's partly to do with natural selection, where mating behaviors favor successful genetics, but it's also partly to do with the history of regarding females as commodities. Females bear the offspring, so controlling them ensures lineage. (Never mind that they're smart, autonomous entities in their own right…)
Physiological barriers notwithstanding, the act of intercourse isn't that remarkable — tab A into slot B, and all that. With very few exceptions, most people I've ever talked to about sex agree the first time is usually awkward and mistimed. Like anything else, it takes practice to get it right.
So when authors write about transcendent sex with a virgin, I tend to roll my eyes. Loving your partner does not inherently make mind-blowing orgasms. Show me how the lovers discover and overcome their experiential differences, and I’m right there with you. Wave a magic wand and call it “the power of love,” and I’m paging forward until the more believable plot picks up again.
What Size Do You Wear?
Maybe it's just my bad luck, but I've recently read a plethora of stories where, for various reasons, men buy clothes for the woman they just met… and the clothes fit. I call BS.
Unless he happens to be a woman's clothing designer, a man raised in Western civilization has nada, zip, zero ability in this area. In my life, the resident mad scientist is a paragon among men, but he walks into the store, buys pants in his size, and leaves. He has no idea that for women, the numbers/letters on the tags can't be trusted at all, or that a jacket that looks good on the hanger is such a bad fabric choice that it looks dreadful when actually worn, or that bras are as idiosyncratic as the boobs they're meant to support. And don't even get me started about women's shoes, a.k.a. torture booties.
Oh, and by the way, no free passes if the man is a centuries-old shifter or vampire male. Long life doesn't magically grant shopping skills.
As a minor sub-peeve, I'm thoroughly perplexed when a woman is embarrassed knowing that a man has been in her underwear drawer. I don't know if the woman thinks the man is judging her about the size or the general quality of her lingerie (hah! see above paragraphs), but some characters are nearly phobic about it. If I'm in the hospital, or hiding from enemies in a secret lair, or am about to embark on an intergalactic trip, I'd just grateful that someone was kind enough to bring me my own clean, comfortable clothes.
What Size Do You Like?
This is about male anatomy. I'll try to use circumspect language get my point across. When an author obsesses about size of naughty bits, it throws me right out of the story. It's like this weird one-upsmanship to make the size of “tab A” bigger and bigger—including actual measurements. I have one word for it: Ouch!
Note to authors who write sex on the page: It's not the size of the tool, it's what the user of the tool does with it.
Bonus Rant: Dubious Consent, Again
Dear Romance Authors,
Hi. It's your buddy, Carol, who is an author, but she's also a reader.
Why the hell do we need to have yet another conversation about dubious consent?
After the Harvey Weinstein meltdown and the long-overdue, righteous wave of #metoo stories, you'd think we'd be better at this.
But no, we're still stuck with supposed love interests who use each other (“I'll put him on my team so I can ruin his father”) or extract horrendous bargains (“I'll save your brother's life if you have sex with me for a day/week/month”), and who nevertheless somehow end up together in a happily ever after. This is just another face of the 12-sided die of dubious consent. Slavery isn't consent; it's coercion.
I hope that you'll take my plea to heart and lead the way to show readers that informed, enthusiastic consent isn't just powerfully sexy, or the right thing to do, it should be the expected thing to do. If not, I won't you out by name/title or leave one-star reviews, because I'm not objective about this. Instead, I'll leave it to enlightened readers who will, I profoundly hope, vote with their one-click fingers and find someone else's books to buy. It might take time, because humans are a contrary, recalcitrant species, but we'll get there, with our without you.
Hopefully yours,
Carol
Okay, I'm putting away my curmudgeon hat. If I've seriously harshed your mellow, please go find some funny videos of cats and dogs to help put you in a better mood.
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