Aurora Springer's Blog, page 42

Excitement - Snippet from Rishalt for #WeWriWa #SciFiRom

Welcome to another Sunday with Weekend Writing Warriors . Meet writers in various genres and read 8-10 sentence snippets of their stories.
I’m posting snippets from the beginning of my WIP, Rishalt, Book 2 of Taxyon Space. The story begins on Jupiter’s moon, Europa, shortly after the end of Book 1. It might be confusing for anybody who hasn't read the first book. I've introduced some backstory from Book 1 without, I hope, giving spoilers. The new story, continuing the adventures of Nikki and Kiron, is at 52k words, and I’m pondering how to emphasize the subtle villainy. You can read last week’s snippet here - https://auroraspringer.blogspot.com/2018/01/unidentified-floating-object-snippet.html
Excuse my minor alteration of punctuation to fit.
As she reached the door to the stairwell, Astrid Andersen raced from the opposite direction. The chief of the Division of Xenobiology ran gracefully, her long legs moving easily and her blonde hair bobbing behind. Nikki quelled a twinge of envy. Her mentor had arrived only recently and her muscles were still adapted to Earth’s gravity. Astrid said, “I had not anticipated so much excitement during my visit. Is this alarm a normal occurrence?” “Not in my experience,” Nikki admitted. “I’ve no idea what the monitors detected. Even Major Tarlick ought to recognize a large native animal.” “Let’s find out,” Astrid pushed the door open.

Book 1, Europa, is


BEST DEAL – 99c for Grand Master’s Trilogy, boxset of 3 books. This boxset is still selling on the tail of a Bookbub, so I’ll keep it discounted a little longer. Teleport through the galaxy in this thrilling SciFi / Fantasy Adventure & Romance Read about this series HERE. 99c through this weekend only at Amazon  iBooks  Kobo  B&N  
As always, I’ll be happy to reply to your comments. Please return to www.wewriwa.com to sample the works of the other writers.
Find a catalog of my published stories HERE. Join me on Facebook  Twitter  Google+

Unidentified floating object - snippet from Rishalt for #WeWriWa #SciFi Romance

Welcome to another Sunday with Weekend Writing Warriors . Meet writers in various genres and read 8-10 sentence snippets of their stories.
I skipped last week due to the holiday. Today with the new year, I’ll begin posting snippets from my WIP, Rishalt, Book 2 of Taxyon Space. The story begins on Jupiter’s moon, Europa, shortly after the end of Book 1. Here are the first lines (unedited):
The intercom beeped. A shrill voice yelled, “Dr. Bell, you’re ordered to the hub. We have an emergency. Unidentified floating object on the monitors.” Noting the edge of panic in the cantankerous Safety Officer’s voice, Nikki called, “Cut your jets, Tar, I’ll be up in a second.” Anxious to learn the worst, she left the lab and sprinted along the passage to the transit hub of Bathos, the submarine station in the ocean of Europa. What the styx could it be? The prototype spaceship, Taxyon One, had departed from Jupiter’s moon three weeks ago, leaving the fledgling colony without transport off the moon.

Book 1, Europa, is
BEST DEAL – 99c for Grand Master’s Trilogy, boxset of 3 books. Teleport through the galaxy in this thrilling SciFi / Fantasy Adventure & Romance Read about this series HERE. 99c through this weekend only at Amazon  iBooks  Kobo  B&N  GooglePlay

As always, I’ll be happy to reply to your comments. Please return to www.wewriwa.com to sample the works of the other writers.
Find a catalog of my published stories HERE. Join me on Facebook  Twitter  Google+

Early January 99c and FREE ebooks in #SciFi #Fantasy and Romance

Jan 4-18: Art of the Arcane 99c SFF books https://goo.gl/HTH7MV


Dec 22-Jan 11: Fantasy Books for Fantasy Lovers Giveaway https://www.instafreebie.com/gg/ur6zmqPozEZTufSYF6PI


Jan 1-15: New Year’s Sci-fi Romance Giveaway https://www.instafreebie.com/gg/nIh5djUTyKhYB2RADJZ6



Jan 1-31: Superhero Giveaway https://www.instafreebie.com/gg/HQNsySSYtPU5hBN8PFky 

My Plans for 2018 as an #Indie #Author

Writing Goals for the New Year
First, I want to finish the second book of my new series, Taxyon Space, Rishalt. It is about 48,000 words at present. Also, I plan to write or adapt a short story as a reader magnet for this series. My short story, Lonely Hearts on Mars, could fit since it is set in our solar system a few years prior to the events of Book 1, Europa.


Second, I plan to write the fifth book in the Grand Masters’ Galaxy, my longest series. These SciFi Fantasy stories are fun to create. They are vivid with the aural colors of the Grand Masters and almost anything can happen.


Third, I would like to extend one of my shorter series. Atrapako on Eden has only two books, and Secret Supers has three. I might run a reader poll to help decide which series, or else estimate read-through rates.

Strategic Goals
At present, two of my series are in Amazon Kindle Unlimited (Select) and two are available at other retailers. I plan to publish my two-book series, Atrapako on Eden, at non-Amazon sites. 


I expect to continue to increase my newsletter subscribers, and to run cross-promotions with other authors. These two activities have proved effective in selling my books, and worked better than paid promotions in my experience.


After 14 rejections of my books, my boxset, Grand Master’s Trilogy, was accepted for an international BookBub promotion at 99c on 12/27/2017. It paid for itself in a couple of days, and I’m hoping readers will buy Cosmic Rift, Book 4 in the series. Look out for a blog post on my experience. In future, I’ll keep submitting books to BookBub. 

Find a catalog of my published stories HERE . Join me on Facebook   Twitter   Google+

Fill your eReaders with Post X-mas Deals in #SciFi #Fantasy & #Romance

Dec 26-29 - December: Boxing Day 99c Sale with 30 SciFi & Fantasy eBooks http://www.tgermann-sf-guy.com/boxing-week-sale


Dec 26-29 - Down Under Xmas Sale 85+ FREE and bargain $0.99 romances to get you through the rest of summer. From sexy or sweet contemporaries to romantic comedy, paranormal, romantic suspense, erotic romance, women’s fiction, and Urban fantasy/Sci-fi/fantasy – we’ve got you covered. - http://traceyalvarez.com/xmas2017-sale/


Dec 26-Jan 1 - Science Fiction & Fantasy - Giant 99c Sale with 100 eBooks Take your pick of stories in Space Opera, Cyberpunk and Dystopian to Epic Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, SciFi Romance and Paranormal Romance. - http://pattyjansen.com/promo 


Dec 26-Jan 1 - Book Holly-Days - Fantasy & Romance - all books free with Kindle Unlimited - http://fantasybookgiveaways.blogspot.com.au/


Dec 22-Jan 11 - Fantasy Books for Fantasy Lovers Giveaway https://www.instafreebie.com/gg/ur6zmqPozEZTufSYF6PI

Your foolish action - snippet from EUROPA for #WeWriWa #SciFiRom

Welcome to another Sunday with Weekend Writing Warriors . Meet writers in various genres and read 8-10 sentence snippets of their stories.
I’m not sure how many people will have leisure to read these snippets during the holiday, but I’ll continue the scene from my latest novel set on Jupiter’s moon, Europa.
Tag line: Daredevil scientist and scarred alien in perilous alliance
BlurbDr. Nikki Bell’s plan to discover intelligent life in the oceans of Europa hits a rocky start when her spaceship crashes on the icy surface. Seconds before she blacks out, she spies a man’s face in the water beneath the ice. When she wakes on the submarine Station, nobody believes her story. Convinced the mysterious stranger saved her life, Nikki searches for him while she explores the ocean and its alien inhabitants.  Kiron Arqin Ramis chose exile as a Watcher on a remote outpost to redeem his family’s honor. He never expected to find an attractive Earther woman close to death. He violates the prime policy by rescuing her. Despite suffering the penalty, he strives to warn her about his hostile leaders. Nikki’s unexpected meeting with Kiron triggers a chain of disasters in Europa’s perilous oceans. Can the daredevil scientist and scarred Watcher forge a new alliance despite their people’s antagonism?             Book 1 in a new SciFi series, Taxyon Space.
Today, I’ll continue in the hero’s perspective. Kiron has been summoned to a tribunal by the Triarchs. You can read my last snippet here: https://auroraspringer.blogspot.com/2017/12/tribunal-by-holograms-snippet-from.htmlI’ve edited the excerpt slightly to fit.
He had landed in this awkward position due to the vigilance of his First. It would be Marlbor, he reflected bitterly, the Red Arrow First had disliked him ever since he had been assigned to the Triad. Marlbor had noticed the heat signal when Kiron had carried the Earther woman into the restricted zone. Kiron had learned how to evade the detectors when he wished to explore near the station, however, he had not accounted for the extra heat from the unconscious woman. The Overwarder’s Second, Parrish, had met him by the airlock and escorted him into the chamber reserved for the Triarch. The Overwarder continued his rebuke, “Your foolish action has endangered the Watchers in our base, and potentially all of our people. The Earthers must never learn the secret of our existence on this moon.” Kiron protested, “I found the unconscious Earther at the surface with a dwindling supply of oxygen. How could I leave an innocent person to die?” In his opinion, the Overwarder cared more for his ornate hairstyle than for people’s lives.

The book, Europa, is I am running year-end 99c specials for several of my science fiction books.

BEST DEAL – 99c for Grand Master’s Trilogy, boxset of 3 books. Teleport through the galaxy in this thrilling SciFi / Fantasy Adventure & Romance Read about this series HERE. 99c at Amazon  iBooks  Kobo  B&N  GooglePlay


A Tale of Two ColoniesFight for freedom, fight to survive. Feisty Tiger Lily seeks lost colony & finds her match. 99c at Amazon  iBooks  Kobo  B&N

The Lady is Blue, Atrapako on Eden, Book 1Intrepid scientist solves puzzle of scaly aliens on the remote planet of Eden.99c or Free with Kindle UnlimitedUS: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00K1N951QInternational: http://myBook.to/Amazon-LadyAs always, I’ll be happy to reply to your comments. Please return to www.wewriwa.com to sample the works of the other writers.
Find a catalog of my published stories HERE. Join me on Facebook  Twitter  Google+

Reflections on 2017 - My Year as an #Indie #Author

Reflections on 2017
What did I accomplish as an author in 2017?  My activities are divided into Writing Progress and Book Marketing. 
Writing Progress:
I began the year by updating my series, Grand Masters’ Galaxy and Secret Supers with new covers. Also, I published two box sets: 
Grand Master’s Trilogy includes the first three books in the series, Grand Master’s Pawn, Grand Master’s Game and Grand Master’s Mate.
Secret Supers box set includes: Super Starrella, Starrella Falls, and Gargoyle Hunt. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B06ZXXVNHK  
This year, I published three new works: Comet Tales, Cosmic Rift, fourth book in the Grand Masters’ Galaxy, and Europa, the first book in a new series, Taxyon Space.
Comet TalesI published an anthology of four short stories and a novella, with the theme of science fiction romance. Two of the short stories had never been published before. Trudge over the rocks of Mars, trek through a hazardous alien jungle, or pop across the galaxy in a pirate ship in five fun tales of adventure and romance.

Gifts of Jangalore - Short story set in the Grand Masters’ Universe. Empath Rosa Spruce and Psi Master Varan seek an ancient site within an alien jungle. 
Stranded on Illumina - Jacie’s plan to meet her boyfriend on the resort Planet Illumina is scuttled when he skips their date.
Lonely Hearts on Mars - Love blossoms from disaster in this short story set in the near future.
Super Christmas - A short story about the Secret Supers. Estelle invites Toby to her family’s Christmas dinner.
Captured by the Hawk - A Space Opera Novella. Spaceships crash across the galaxy in the comic misadventures of spy Grey Kat and pirate Black Hawk.
Available at  Amazon   iBooks   Kobo   B&N  GooglePlay


Cosmic Rift, Grand Masters’ Galaxy Book 4 Empath Violet embarks on a new and desperate mission to find her missing lover. Violet’s happy family is shattered when Athanor Griffin vanishes. The formidable Grand Master might have teleported anywhere in the galaxy. Violet strives to find her psychic partner, while looking after their baby and fulfilling his duties on the Council. Her frantic search uncovers a new threat to galactic civilization along with resurgence of the infamous Ixioth slavers. The Council dithers in response to her call for action, and even her former allies believe the Griffin is dead. She must risk her son, her psi-powers, and her life to rescue her beloved mate in the hope they can unite to fight the menace.
Available at  Amazon   iBooks   Kobo   B&N   GooglePlay


Europa, Taxyon Space Book 1Dr. Nikki Bell’s plan to discover intelligent life in the oceans of Europa hits a rocky start when her spaceship crashes on the icy surface. Seconds before she blacks out, she spies a man’s face in the water beneath the ice. When she wakes on the submarine Station, nobody believes her story. Convinced the mysterious stranger saved her life, Nikki searches for him while she explores the ocean and its alien inhabitants.  Kiron Arqin Ramis chose exile as a Watcher on a remote outpost to redeem his family’s honor. He never expected to find an attractive Earther woman close to death. He violates the prime policy by rescuing her. Despite suffering the penalty, he strives to warn her about his hostile leaders. Nikki’s unexpected meeting with Kiron triggers a chain of disasters in Europa’s perilous oceans. Can the daredevil scientist and scarred Watcher forge a new alliance despite their people’s antagonism?  
Available at  
Marketing my BooksNewsletter: I put a major effort into expanding my newsletter subscribers. My book magnets range from previews and short stories to novellas and the first novel in Grand Masters’ Galaxy. My newsletters include tidbits about my new stories, my free and discounted books, new releases, special deals and giveaways by other authors. Generally, I send two newsletters a month and have a corresponding boost in sales of my new releases or discounted books.
Paid and free promotions: Selling books is an uphill battle. I participate in newsletter swaps for my books, and cross-promotions with other authors, especially in science fiction, fantasy and romance. My sales have seen an uptick from promotions with Book Barbarian, Bookdoggy, Reading Deals, People Reads, AuthorsXP, and Free Kindle Books & Tips. Unfortunately, however, none of my paid promotions has given a positive return on investment. Recently, my box set, Grand Master’s Trilogy, was accepted for an international BookBub on Dec 27th. I’m hoping this will generate enough sales to cover my costs and increase international interest in my stories.
Social Connections:My twitter followers have grown to >9000. http://www.twitter.com/AuroraSpringer I have more than 1750 followers on my Facebook Page. I created a new website to highlight my books: http://www.AuroraSpringer.org

Find a catalog of my published stories HERE . Join me on Facebook   Twitter   Google+
You can find my books on BookBub and my posts on travel, nature and my stories at http://AuroraSpringer.blogspot.com  

Sign up for my Newsletter for a FREE eBook and advance notice of my new releases, sneak peeks at my stories, giveaways and discounted books by multiple authors.  

Year End Specials in #SciFi Fantasy Adventure & #Romance

Fill Your eReaders with My End of Year 99c Specials 
Best Deal – 99c for Grand Master’s Trilogy, boxset of 3 books. 
Teleport through the galaxy in this thrilling SciFi / Fantasy Adventure & Romance Read about this series HERE. 99c at Amazon   iBooks   Kobo   B&N   GooglePlay


Europa, Taxyon Space , Book 1 - SciFi Thriller & Romance Daredevil scientist & scarred alien in perilous seas.99c at

A Tale of Two ColoniesFight for freedom, fight to survive. Feisty Tiger Lily seeks lost colony & finds her match. 99c at Amazon   iBooks   Kobo   B&N
Also available in PRINT



The Lady is Blue, Atrapako on Eden , Book 1Intrepid scientist solves puzzle of scaly aliens on the remote planet of Eden.99c or Free with Kindle UnlimitedUS: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00K1N951QInternational: http://myBook.to/Amazon-LadyAlso available in PRINT



Super Starrella, Secret Supers Series , Book 1 Spunky supergirl, snarky flying horse and hunky hero tackle alien killers
99c or free with Kindle Unlimited http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01C7WC8R6/ International: http://myBook.to/Amazon-Starrella

Tribunal by Holograms - Snippet from EUROPA for #WeWRiWa #SciFiRom

Welcome to another Sunday with Weekend Writing Warriors . Meet writers in various genres and read 8-10 sentence snippets of their stories.
Sorry, I skipped last weekend, but I’ll flip to another scene from my latest novel set on Jupiter’s moon, Europa.
Tag line: Daredevil scientist and scarred alien in perilous alliance
BlurbDr. Nikki Bell’s plan to discover intelligent life in the oceans of Europa hits a rocky start when her spaceship crashes on the icy surface. Seconds before she blacks out, she spies a man’s face in the water beneath the ice. When she wakes on the submarine Station, nobody believes her story. Convinced the mysterious stranger saved her life, Nikki searches for him while she explores the ocean and its alien inhabitants.  Kiron Arqin Ramis chose exile as a Watcher on a remote outpost to redeem his family’s honor. He never expected to find an attractive Earther woman close to death. He violates the prime policy by rescuing her. Despite suffering the penalty, he strives to warn her about his hostile leaders. Nikki’s unexpected meeting with Kiron triggers a chain of disasters in Europa’s perilous oceans. Can the daredevil scientist and scarred Watcher forge a new alliance despite their people’s antagonism?             Book 1 in a new SciFi series, Taxyon Space.
In my last excerpts, Nikki learned about the mysterious disappearance of her predecessor on Bathos and sightings of possible “mermen”. Today, I’ll gie you another glimpse of the hero’s life as a Watcher. You can read my last snippet here: https://auroraspringer.blogspot.com/2017/12/a-new-mystery-snippet-from-europa-for.html
I’ve edited the excerpt to fit. Please excuse my abuse of punctuation. In a submarine chamber on another quadrant of the ocean, a lone bare-chested man stood in front of four people sitting on low benches arranged in a semicircle. Kiron had been summoned to the tribunal soon after he entered the base. Two of his interrogators were present in person, and two were holograms of individuals viewing the scene from a distant location. The three white-haired elders bore the trident symbol of the Triarchs on their faces; they wore loose white tunics and their feet were bare. Overwarder Kalpar, a tall man with a stern expression, said, “Underwarder Kiron Arqin Ramis, you are reprimanded for disobeying our rules.” His bicolored hair and matching gold and brown stripes below his left eye signified his membership in the Gold Band Triad.   Standing erect and silent, Kiron wished he had been given time to dress properly; the elders would disapprove of his naked chest. Even the two Triarchs judging him remotely were well able to appraise his appearance via the interstellar quantel. Their holographic eyes fixed on him in a deliberately unnerving manner, although they did not move. His trial was not worth the expense of a live transmission.

The book, Europa, is I have two specials this weekend.

FREE – 13-17th - Super Starrella, Secret Supers, Book 1 Always free with kindle unlimited
Spunky supergirl, snarky flying horse and hunky hero tackle alien killersFun series starring superheroes at college and set in a fictional version of Atlanta and other familiar locations. Read about the Secret Supers HERE.http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01C7WC8R6/


Super Special for Grand Master’s Trilogy, boxset of 3 books.
Teleport through the galaxy in this thrilling SciFi / Fantasy Adventure & Romance Read about this series HERE. Lowest price ever - 99c at Amazon  iBooks  Kobo  B&N  GooglePlayhttp://authl.it/B01N6IKC44/?d
As always, I’ll be happy to reply to your comments. Please return to www.wewriwa.com to sample the works of the other writers.
Find a catalog of my published stories HERE. Join me on Facebook  Twitter  Google+

Special for Super Starrella - Fun #Superhero Adventure & #Romance

FREE December 13-17th - Super Starrella, Secret Supers, Book 1 Spunky supergirl, snarky flying horse and hunky hero tackle alien killersFun series with superheroes at college set in a fictional version of Atlanta and other familiar locations. Read about the Secret Supers HERE.Available at US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01C7WC8R6/International: http://authl.it/B01C7WC8R6?d

BlurbTeen superhero, Starrella, and her flying horse combat vicious killers in the skies of Atalanta. The quiet summer before her freshman year turns frighteningly weird after Estelle Wright trespasses onto an Army base. Blown into the air and knocked unconscious, she wakes with a nascent superpower. Not to mention a winged horse with a snarky attitude and a mind of her own. Back home in Atalanta, a serial killer is targeting the students at Goldman University. Before long she must juggle college classes with sneaking out of the house after dark to battle alien monsters. Estelle’s life is in danger, but who can she trust: handsome Mark Copper from military intelligence, or hunky Toby, the tough gangster with a motorbike? Both men have secret agendas, but falling in love is not in their plans. Young adult superheroes, quirky animal sidekicks, and a dash of romance enliven this thrilling adventure. Book 1 of the Secret Supers.
ExcerptFlying with Rockette a few nights later, Starrella spotted the shadow of a giant mantis swaying back and forth against a moonlit brick wall. In the dark alley below, the crisp footsteps of a lone woman echoed faintly. The intended victim peered from side to side, nervous, yet unaware of the terror lurking above her head.  “Rockette,” Starrella warned. “Seen it.” Spreading her wings, the mare glided down toward the mantis. Her silent descent brought them within ten feet before the mantis noticed. It lunged for the flying mare. Focusing her energies, Starrella shot a beam of fire at the head of the huge insect. The flame seared across its huge eyes. It screeched, clawed at its head and dropped into the darkness of the alley. Meanwhile, the pedestrian had trotted around the corner into the safety of the well-lit main street. Rockette straightened her legs and landed in an empty lot between the buildings. Slipping off the mare’s back, Estelle circled the space, alert for another attack from the injured mantis. Behind her, Rockette snorted and stamped her hooves, impatient at the delay. A rush of air and the mare squealed, her hooves shuffling on the asphalt. Swiveling toward the sound, Starrella bit her lip. Mantis mandibles clamped onto a feathery wing, pinning the mare on the ground. In a blur of white feathers, Rockette struggled to free her wing, twisting and kicking with no visible effect. Starrella pointed her fingers and hesitated, unsure of her target. White mare and green mantis writhed together, and she was afraid of hitting the wrong one. A black shape bounded out of the darkness, resolving into the lithe body of a large cat. Leaping onto the struggling combatants, the cat’s teeth snapped into the neck of the mantis. The mare jerked away and stood shuddering as the mantis legs scrabbled on the tarmac. Starrella raced to her mare. The big cat turned to face her, bared its curved fangs and snarled. Halting cautiously, Starrella tossed her hair back over her shoulders and stared at the powerful black cat. Nearly as tall as the mare, its sleek black fur had the pale yellow splotches of a South American jaguar. A faint sound called her attention to the dark side of the building. A man stepped out of the darkness, all in black except for his eyes. In the dull black material of his close-fitting suit, he was almost invisible, like a moving shadow. Even so, she recognized his distinctive broad shoulders and muscular arms. “Toby!” Starrella cried. “What the heck is going on?” She stepped closer, holding out her hand to show the small flame rising from her palm. His eyes glinted in the moonlight. “Super Starrella’s firepower! Great, we’ll need you for the mantis attack.” He drawled, “They’re out in force tonight.”
Super Starrella, Book 1: Amazon  Always Free with Kindle UnlimitedStarrella Falls, Book 2: Amazon Gargoyle Hunt, Book 3: Amazon Secret Supers Box set of Books 1-3: Amazon