Aurora Springer's Blog, page 84

Cover Reveal for Rebellion by Sabine Priestley

Ria Montori is no stranger to kicking ass. Despite her petite size, she’s a former Sandarian military officer currently serving the Cavacent clan and adjusting to life on a strange planet called Earth. She has no time to search for her psi-mate: the one being who could bring her pleasure beyond any mere physical intimacy. Which doesn’t explain why she’s bonding with a Curzan native who just killed a government official.


Ty Sordina hates Ria’s kind. The Sandarians enslaved his people, and murdered his parents in front him when he was a child. He has sought revenge ever since, and nothing will get in his way. Especially not a feisty redhead who challenges his every instinct, and calls to his psi like no other.


But there is a war coming. And the two beings who want nothing to do with each other hold the fate of an entire planet in the heat of their undeniable desire…
               
Sabine Priestley Sabine is a lifelong fan of Science Fiction and Romance novels. When the characters in the Alien Attachments series started talking to her, she had no choice but to write. They’re still talking and she’s still writing. Sabine lives in Florida with her husband, kids, cats, and a whole mess of characters in her head. 
 For more please visit www.sabinepriestley.com.


Available for pre-order now.  Amazon

Teaser Tuesday - Release of Grand Master's Pawn

This Tuesday, I'm happy to announce that Grand Master's Pawn will be released on March 5th.

The Pawn Violet goes on missions to strange planets under the orders of her Grand Master. In secret, she is an empath and hunts the evil Grand Masters who threaten civilization. On this mission, she meets a man with a mental barrier she cannot penetrate. They are escaping a horde of eight-legged predators by climbing a cliff. 

Excerpt:
Taranis steadied her with his arm around her shaking shoulders. “The next stage will be easier,” he said reassuringly. “Look up. The crack has hand and foot holds on the sides. Imagine a chimney running to the top. You can brace yourself against opposite sides as you climb.”
Violet stared up into the narrow crack and understood what he meant. She saw the minuscule crevices and tiny projections to use in her ascent.
“I won’t let you fall. I’ll climb right behind you.”
Violet edged herself up into the crack and wedged her back against one side, while she carefully placed her toes. She pushed up, feeling overhead for the next handholds. Slowly, she climbed higher, falling into a rhythm. Place one foot in a secure spot, push up, reach her fingers into a crevice and pull up another step. Repeat and repeat again. She had no time to spare for fear during her laborious progress up the crack. Just below, she heard the clunk of boot against stone as Taranis climbed. He watched her steps. Once, her foot slipped from a projection, and he gripped her ankle, guiding her to another foothold.
At length, she reached a rock ledge wide enough for her feet, and paused to catch her breath. Staring up, she saw the vertical chimney eased into a gentler angle. The rest of the climb to the top looked straightforward.
Taranis joined her on the ledge, his body pressed against hers. She closed her eyes and savored his solid presence and the tickle of power. He had touched her more often since last night. She didn’t know if it was for her protection or his pleasure. 
Violet tensed. A cruel, cunning mind wafted into her senses from an animal crouched out of sight at the top of the chimney. She whispered, “Taranis, a creature lurks in ambush at the top.” 
More than an ambush awaits them at the top.

Buy/Pre-order link:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00TP1N5PM

Speculative Fiction Blog Hop “Meet My Character” - Sa Kamizan Veedak

Welcome to Speculative Fiction Blog Hop “Meet My Character” Last week’s Blog was by Jennifer R. Povey, As a fiction writer, Jennifer R. Povey has short fiction credits from a number of magazines including the Australian popular science magazine Cosmos (for their website) and long-running ezines Big Pulp and Bards & Sages Quarterly.at Jennifer’s Den http://jenniferrpovey.blogspot.com/2015/02/speculative-fiction-blog-hop.htmlJennifer wrote about a character from her zombie story The Silent Years: Mother
Meet My Character
1) What is the name of your character? Is he or she fictional or a historic person?
My character is named Sa Kamizan Veedak. He is a fictional alien.
2) When and where is the story set? The story is set on the planet of Eden, which is inhabited by a small colony of humans.
3) What should we know about him or her? Sa Kamizan is an Atrapako Blue. He has blue scales, a spiky crest on top of his head, and sharp claws.
4) What is the main conflict? What messes up his or her life? Sa Kamizan led his exiled people from their hostile planet of Vkani, and after a dangerous space voyage, their ship reached a habitable planet. Unfortunately, the planet already has a colony of peaceful humans.
5) What is the personal goal of the character? He is desperate to find a safe haven for his people. The planet Eden looks good, except it already has a colony of humans. He’d also like to have beautiful Dr. Lucy Stannis as his mate.
6) What is the title of the book(s), and where we can find out more? My book is called “The Lady is Blue” and background and excerpts are given in the title page of my blog.Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00K1N951Q
7) When was the book published?
April 2014

Bio:Aurora Springer is a scientist who loves to create imaginary characters in exotic worlds. Her published novels include science fiction and fantasy with romance and a sprinkle of humor. She was born in the UK and lives in Atlanta with her husband, a dog and two cats to interfere with writing. Her hobbies, besides reading and writing, include outdoor activities like watching wildlife, hiking and canoeing.
Next week Meet My Character will be presented by Kyra Halland at Welcome to my Worlds http://www.kyrahalland.com/Kyra is a writer of dark-edged tales of fantasy, adventure, and romance. Complicated, honorable heroes; heroines who are strong, smart, and all woman; magic, romance, and adventure; and excursions into the dark corners of life and human nature mixed with a dash of offbeat humor.

Science Fiction & Fantasy Saturday - Captured by the Hawk

Welcome to another Saturday of Science Fiction & Fantasy snippets exchanged by writers. My contribution this week is from my fun space operetta with romance and mystery “Captured by the Hawk”
The eBook is FREE from 13-15th to celebrate Valentine’s Day. 
Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MFY8A5Q

Space pirate Black Hawk has trapped the spy Grey Kat and discovers her official identity. 




Excerpt:

Black Hawk glanced up when she was ushered into the room. His eyes lingered, registering astonishment at her red hair and fair, freckled skin. He stood and paced around her with the supple grace of a prowling tiger. He spoke in a deep resonant voice, “A dramatic change! Grey Kat is entirely washed away.” She was attracted strongly by the feline grace of his body in motion. When he stood still, the image of raw, feral power was replaced by the enigma of the Black Hawk, clothed entirely in black. She raised her chin provocatively, and spoke in the haughty accent of the Solarian upper class. “I am grateful for your kindness in providing me with clean clothes and a comfortable room.” He circled her again, insisting, “I know your face! Where have I seen it?” He halted in front of her, staring with narrowed eyes. She remained motionless and silent, only her eyes revealed insolence.  “Wait,” he cried, with a confident smile curving his lips. “I have it! You are Mistress Trina Sligo, daughter of the Solarian diplomat.” 

Your comments are welcome.  
Please return to SFFSat and read the other snippets.

Restless in Peaceville by Pippa Jay

Now available in print!
Blurb:Welcome to Peaceville, population 2067 and rising...from the grave...
Luke Chester has had enough. He’s the school geek, the girls laugh at him, he’s lost his dead-end job at the pizza place, and in the midst of the world’s messiest divorce his parents don’t even know he exists. An overdose of his mom’s tranquilizers and a stomach full of whiskey should solve all his problems...
But they don’t. Instead, Luke finds himself booted out of the afterlife for not dying a natural death, with nowhere to go but back to his recently vacated corpse and reality. How the hell is he going to pass for one of the living without someone trying to blow his brains out for being one of the undead?
And it just gets worse. He’s got to fight his own desperate craving to consume the living, evade the weird supernatural hunter who’s having a field day with the new undeads rising, and there’s this creepy black shadow following him around. Add to that the distraction of female fellow undead Annabelle burning to avenge her own murder, and clearly there’s no rest for the wicked. Jeez, all he wanted to do was R.I.P.
Restless In Peaceville is a young adult zombie story with a twist, set in a Louisiana that never was and released by Lycaon Press on the 20th August, 2014. Add it to your Goodreads shelf HERE. Sign up to my no-spam newsletter HERE to stay up to date with releases, cover reveals, sales and giveaways for all my titles and more.


Lycaon Press | Bookstrand | All Romance eBooks | Amazon | Barnes & Noble |Smashwords Web page to other linksPrint format

Excerpts:A creak is all the warning I'm given before the floor gives way and I plummet through the rotten woodwork like a kingfisher diving through the water. I can't see a thing for dust and chunks of wood, but I know I've gone through the ground floor of the house when I break through a second layer of wood and hit earth. Damn, how long will this body hold up if I keep crashing like this?
I lever myself up, and find my head just above ground floor level while more dust and splinters shower down around me. I turn, looking for some way to pull myself back up...and find myself being stared at by three kids.
Oh, shit. For a moment we all just gaze at each other, no one sure what to do or who's going to do it first. Then one of the boys, maybe eight or nine and his mouth hanging open points at me and screams, "Zombie!"
What else can I do? I yank myself out of the hole and lurch at him, moaning fit to scare them to death. They don't hesitate. Each of them competing for the most piercing holler, they scarper out of the house so fast I expect to see scorch marks from the acceleration.
I laugh. Seriously, it's the funniest thing I've seen since I died. Maybe I could get to enjoy this.




Bio:
After spending twelve years working as an Analytical Chemist in a Metals and Minerals laboratory, Pippa Jay is now a stay-at-home mum who writes scifi and the supernatural. Somewhere along the way a touch of romance crept into her work and refused to leave. In between torturing her plethora of characters, she spends the odd free moment playing guitar very badly, punishing herself with freestyle street dance, and studying the Dark Side of the Force. Although happily settled in the historical town of Colchester in the UK with her husband of 21 years and three little monsters, she continues to roam the rest of the Universe in her head.
Pippa Jay is a dedicated member of the Science Fiction Romance Brigade, blogging at Spacefreighters Lounge, Adventures in Scifi, and Romancing the Genres. Her works include YA and adult stories crossing a multitudeof subgenres from scifi to the paranormal, often with romance, and she’s one of eight authors included in a science fiction romance anthology— Tales from the SFR Brigade . She’s also a double SFR Galaxy Award winner, been a finalist in the Heart of Denver RWA Aspen Gold Contest (3rd place), the EPIC eBook awards SF category, and the GCC RWA Silken Sands Star Awards (2nd place).
You can stalk her at her website, or at her blog, but without doubt her favorite place to hang around and chat is on Twitter as @pippajaygreen.

Goodreads |  Facebook | Pinterest | Google+ | Wattpad | Amazon page

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Goodreads Book Giveaway Restless In Peaceville by Pippa Jay Giveaway ends February 28, 2015.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads. Enter to win

Teaser Tueday - Trouble with aliens from The Lady is Blue #SciFirom

Welcome to another Tuesday Teaser for SciFi Romance Group.

Today, I'm giving you an excerpt from my first full-length SciFi romance novel, published 10 months ago. A bad moment in the story.

Description: An alien spaceship landed on Eden, which has a small colony of humans. The aliens have crests, scaled bodies and a rigid class system of colors. Dr. Lucy Stannis befriends the alien captain Sa Kamizan Veedak. At first, the aliens seem friendly, but later...


Excerpt


Lucy felt a sudden chill of premonition as the screen showed the Blue Atrapako General. “Oh, no!” she cried. “I can’t look,” and buried her face in her hands. It was Sa Kamizan Veedak, resplendent in a uniform of blue and gold.
“You must watch, Lucy,” snapped Colin. “You are our expert on Trapies.”  He gripped her shoulders firmly.
“I can’t stand it,” Lucy moaned, and yet she removed her hands from her eyes. “I hate uniforms!”
The General’s cool voice of authority assured them that the coup had been bloodless and would remain so if the humans submitted calmly. When he indicated that the Atrapako were exerting their natural superiority, there was a giggle from Trisha. “He's quite a handsome soldier, Lucy,” Trisha remarked. “Look at that sword!”  Lucy turned pale and shook with anger. “He's a vile, hateful, deceitful reptile!” “Shut up, Lucy! Listen.” said Colin curtly. “We need to understand what they intend.  Can you tell what Sa Kamizan is thinking?”“He’s not happy,” she said abruptly. “Actually, you could say, crestfallen,” she gave a tiny choke of laughter. “Shouldn’t he feel triumphant after his successful coup?” Colin said quizzically. “No, he doesn’t,” she said in a small voice. “You see, he’s too stiff, crest lowered, flat emotionless voice. He’s not exuberant. Don’t ask me why.”   

Buy Link:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00K1N951Q

Please return to read the excerpts from other authors.  

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SFR Brigade Showcase - February - Interview with Violet

Welcome to the February Showcase for Writers of Science Fiction Romance. Please return to read the highlights from other authors.
I’m showcasing my WIP, GRAND MASTER’S PAWN. As an experiment, the full-length novel is being released initially as 4 novellas.
Interview with Violet Hunter, the female protagonist.
Question: Tell us a bit about yourself, Violet.Answer: I’m twenty two years old. I’ve earned a master’s degree in xenobiology from the Space Academy, and I have certificates for proficiency in self defense and target shooting. It’s all in the public records! Off the record, I’m an empath, trained in secret.
Question: Why do you wear a steel necklace with two sapphires?Answer: The pawn’s collar shows I serve one of the twelve Grand Masters. I found the sapphires on my first mission. My Grand Master watches through them on my missions.
Question: Do tell us about your mysterious Grand Master? Answer: Oh, he’s obnoxious. He won’t tell me his name and he likes to shove his psi power at me. But I’m going to fix him!
Question: What does he look like?Answer: I’ve no idea! He has a griffin avatar with flashy blue eyes. He might not even be human.
Question: What are your goals in life? Part 2 has DragonsAnswer: I love exploring planets. And, I’m hunting for the truth about the Grand Masters. Mother Tingu believes some of them want to destroy civilization.  
Buy LinksGrand Master’s Pawn, part 1: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SG91AHEGrand Master’s Pawn, part 2: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SJE7O30
Expect Part 3 in a couple of weeks.
Please leave a comment, and remember to check out the other stories at SFR Brigade Showcase.   

Teaser Tuesday - SciFi Romance Group - Lonely Hearts on Mars - New Short Story

Cute short story and a little cynical, angels at work terraforming Mars, or are they working? 
Set fifty years in the future, with achievable technologies. Lucilla is one of the scientists observing the bacteria engineered to terraform Mars. Her quiet life is overturned by a series of disasters. Can she find love in spite of her weird artificial eyes? 


Excerpt:


The buzz of the com interrupted her perusal of the menu items. Jasper’s hawk avatar flapped across the screen. Lucilla stifled a pang of regret that she couldn’t see his face. Of course, she had met him. He had flown her from the orbiting spaceship down to her station on Mars. But they had both worn helmets and their faces were distorted by the visor. Cocking her head expectantly, she hit the switch, and prepared to enjoy his call. The daily exchanges with Phobos station added a comic touch to her life.
“Phobos to Mars three. Jasper here with a song for Lucilla, Lu, Lu, cilla, cilla, la, la, la,” he warbled in falsetto, and then dropped into his normal baritone, “How are you, Lucilla, babe?”
Lucilla was torn between laughter and annoyance at his honeyed words. She cringed inwardly. He would never call her babe if he saw her scarred face. It was best to ignore his silly song and sweet words, “Mars three to Phobos. Hello Jasper, I’m fine. Just watching the angels grow as usual. Any news from the moon?”   

Lonely Hearts on Mars - New Short Story

Cute and a little cynical, angels at work 
Set fifty years in the future, with achievable technologies. Lucilla is one of the scientists observing the bacteria engineered to terraform Mars. Her quiet life is overturned by a series of disasters. Can she find love in spite of her weird artificial eyes? 


Excerpt:


The buzz of the com interrupted her perusal of the menu items. Jasper’s hawk avatar flapped across the screen. Lucilla stifled a pang of regret that she couldn’t see his face. Of course, she had met him. He had flown her from the orbiting spaceship down to her station on Mars. But they had both worn helmets and their faces were distorted by the visor. Cocking her head expectantly, she hit the switch, and prepared to enjoy his call. The daily exchanges with Phobos station added a comic touch to her life. “Phobos to Mars three. Jasper here with a song for Lucilla, Lu, Lu, cilla, cilla, la, la, la,” he warbled in falsetto, and then dropped into his normal baritone, “How are you, Lucilla, babe?” Lucilla was torn between laughter and annoyance at his honeyed words. She cringed inwardly. He would never call her babe if he saw her scarred face. It was best to ignore his silly song and sweet words, “Mars three to Phobos. Hello Jasper, I’m fine. Just watching the angels grow as usual. Any news from the moon?”   

SFFSat snippet from Grand Master's Pawn

Welcome to another Saturday of snippets from writers. Read, enjoy and leave a comment.




Excerpt from part 2: Mission to Sythos, home of the dragon lords.
Brief explanation - Violet travels to the planet of Sythos with orders from her Grand Master to locate and study the dragon lords. 



To one side, she noted the green vegetation of a swamp. Curious, she veered towards the verdant marsh.
Green ferns predominated in the swamp, surrounding a dark pool of liquid, presumably water. Clouds of steam arose from the pool under the blazing heat of the sun. Violet flew cautiously over the limpid surface of the pool. As the shuttle passed over the water, a huge, open mouthed head burst up, raising circles of ripples. The grotesque head was followed by a long sinuous neck. Its round eyes focused on the flying vehicle, and the monstrous head shot toward her, its jaws gaped wide to swallow the shuttle.
Violet hit the accelerator and zoomed up rapidly. The enormous tooth-rimmed mouth snapped shut, barely missing the shuttle.
“Too close, by thunder!” The deep growl of her Grand Master came from her collar.  
Buy Links:
Grand Master’s Pawn, part 1: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SG91AHE Grand Master’s Pawn, part 2: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SJE7O30  Part 3 is coming soon.
Your comments are welcome.Please return to SFFSat and read the other snippets.