Releasing June 23 - First Mataras: Irene

 

A once-big name takes notice of a new band and its music

As soon as the last song ended and theband began to make their way backstage…the blind singer helped by herbandmates…Parlek hurried to meet them. He had to weave through the crowd, buthe got to the stage a couple of seconds after the spenruk, the last through thecurtain, disappeared.

The three Nobeks serving as crew eyedhim suspiciously, pausing their breakdown of the set when he joined them on thestage. “That was amazing. I used to manage bands, and I’d like to talk tothem,” he babbled, hoping they wouldn’t toss him out on his ass.

One nodded and waved for him to go on.He rushed to catch the band before they left.

They were standing around, grinning andbabbling in Earther when he burst in. The spenruk, a Nobek, immediately steppedin front of the woman to glower at Parlek. Parlek put his hands up in a peacegesture.

“Dramok Parlek. I used to manage Bodiesin Chains, Bloodletter, Venomous—”

“And Unrestrained Carnage.” The howler,obviously a Dramok, stepped forward. His demeanor offered no friendliness.

“Yes. Them too.” Parlek forced himselfmaintain a level gaze. “My greatest success and failure, as everyone knows.”

“I still can’t believe you didn’t go toprison camp.” The trasbu player rolled his eyes at the rest.

Parlek was tempted to turn and leave.Even bands hungry for notoriety and a deal weren’t hungry enough for him.

His mouth had different ideas. “I’venever heard this rimnastin music you played.”

“Because we invented it. This is thefirst time it’s been played in public.” Despite his obvious disdain for Parlek,the howler’s pride brought a smile to his face. He couldn’t restrain himself.“Did you see their reaction? They really liked it!”

“They did.” Parlek was awed. “How couldthey not? It’s new, and it’s amazing. So much power and yet there’s melody andthe singing…wow, the singing. It didn’t matter I couldn’t understand the words.She’s incredible.”

“She is.” The howler grinned at thewoman, who peered over the Nobek’s shoulder despite her seeming lack of sight.He jabbered in her language, and she smiled.

“You don’t manage now,” the trasbusaid. His hostility had lessened to cautious curiosity. “You were run out ofthe business, weren’t you?”

“More on the order of frozen out,”Parlek admitted. “I lost all my clients. No one would talk to me. So yeah, I’vebeen done for a while.” He had a sudden inspiration. “Which means I havenothing to lose by representing you.”

The three men stared at him. The howlersaid, “Having you as a manager would be a death stroke to our careers.”

Releasing Friday. Now available for pre-order at Amazon, Amazon UK, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple, Smashwords, and in print. (Print is already on sale)

 

She searched for freedom and found aKalquorian clan.

Irene Jonson is a rising star in opera, thanks to Earthforcing her to leave her parents as a teen to join a prestigious opera company.Years later, she loves music, but she wants the freedom to forge her own pathas a performer and be reunited with her family.

Sherv, Rusp, and Jemi are a clan and band playing hard,driving music. Success means more than fame and fortune; it would show theirdisapproving families they’ve chosen the lives they were meant to live.Encountering Irene, creating a new and exciting sound, gives them thatopportunity…and a chance at love.

Two worlds on the brink of war threaten everything Irene andClan Sherv have built and everything they dream of. Two worlds are bent onsnatching Irene from the men and music she loves. What chance do four misfitmusicians possibly have against Earth and the Kalquorian Empire?