Always secondary, never the heroine ~ Meet Genna from THE CHAMELEON by @dmburton72 #scifirom
My guest today is fellow author and friend Diane Burton, author of The Chameleon, a science fiction romance. And she’s brought along one of the characters from the story for me to interview. But first, here’s a little about the story…
Legally Blond meets Mata Hari
Socialite Jileena Winslott has perfected the image of the spoiled, rich, bubble-headed daughter of an industrial magnate. In reality, she’s a smart, savvy aide to her father in social situations where she is his eyes and ears. She yearns to be her true self and run the family business. When her father sends her on a covert mission to the Outer Rim, she has the chance to prove herself. Big problem. He insists she take along a fake fiancé—the man she’s secretly loved for years.
Security Officer Laning Servary has better things to do than babysit a spoiled rich girl on a tour of the Frontier. If he refuses, he can kiss his career good-by. Then Jileena’s father sweetens the pot. If Laning keeps her safe, his family will receive the land they share-crop. He can’t refuse.
In the close quarters of her ship, Laning and Jileena discover they aren’t who they seem. Pirates, weather, and her recklessness threaten to derail the mission. As Laning and Jileena revise their impressions of each other, they’ll have to make hard choices about their goals. Can their budding love survive?
I asked Diane if we could interview her hero or heroine. Apparently, they have been doing interviews elsewhere so she brought along someone else. [checking notes] All right, who is this?
I’m Genna Nogaro and this is the second time I’ve been a secondary character—first in The Pilot and now in The Chameleon. Frankly, I want to be the heroine. I want my own happy-ever-after. But every time I mention that to my author, she puts me off, saying not yet.
In The Pilot, I had a fling with my boss, Security Chief Laning Servary. We had a great time and I thought it would go somewhere. Then while he’s back at headquarters on Bricaldia, I see on the newswaves that he’s engaged. I freaked. How could he do that and not tell me. So when I heard he returned to the Rim, I headed out to Astron Colony to see for myself.
Tell us more about you.
Genna: Originally, I’m from Traish, a planet in the Coalition of Planets Central District. I’m in Space Fleet, currently posted to Vesteron Colony on Magnus Prime in the Outer Rim as an aide to the Security Chief. When the old chief retired, I was so afraid that the second in command would replace him. That smarmy, self-important, know-it-all thought he deserved it. Thank the Matriarch, the new Administrator brought in his own chief, Laning Servary. I’d go to the ends of the galaxy for that man. What a hunk. Oh, and he’s a great chief, too. Sort of like a sheriff in your old west.
Do you want to be an aide for the rest of your life or do you aspire to be more?
Genna: Darn right I want more. I’m capable of more, but the old chief thought fems belonged in subservient positions. What a throwback to ancient times. I’m a darn good pilot and mechanic, but I’m better at organization. My goal is to be an Administrator of a colony out here on the Rim. Unfortunately, my impulsive nature and my big mouth has gotten me noticed and not in a good way.
What do you think of Chief Servary’s fiancée?
Genna: She isn’t right for him. She’s an absolute fluff brain. She talks in this childish voice, no wonder everyone calls her Baby. And she certainly doesn’t belong here out on the Frontier. Fems have to be tough or they die. Laning deserves better, a fem who is as strong as he is. Someone like…well, me.
How did it feel when you realized Laning loved her?
Genna: How do you think it felt? My heart broke. I lashed out at him, at her. I tried to keep them apart. I’m ashamed to say my anger got the best of me. Even when I tried to trick her, she didn’t fight back. At first I thought she was a namby-pamby weakling. Then I realized she’s a lot stronger and more forgiving than I am. In the end, I guess I was resigned that Laning Servary wasn’t my hero. Now I just wish my author would give me my own story and my own hero. Hear that, Diane Burton! I want my story and I want it now!
Well, Diane, is Genna going to get her own story?
Diane: *sigh* Yes, she will. I wish she’d stop yelling at me and wait her turn. I like Genna, but she’s right about that big mouth of hers. It’s going to get her into more trouble than she expects.
I imagine Genna, along with our readers, want to know when?
Diane: Hers will be the fourth book in the Outer Rim series. I’m writing number three now. So she’s just going to have to wait until next year.
Genna: NEXT YEAR? BY THE MATRIARCH’S LEFT TIT, THAT’S TOO LONG.
Diane: See, Jessica, what I mean about her yelling? Sheesh. If she settles down, I might let her appear in the third book.
Genna: What? As another secondary character? No thanks! From now on, it’s all or nothing.
She certainly has strong opinions, doesn’t she?
Diane: *another sigh* You don’t know the half of it, Jess. But then she wouldn’t survive out on the Frontier, a male-dominant place, if she wasn’t.
Genna: Hey, guys, I’m still here. Don’t talk about me as if I’m invisible.
How about if you give us an excerpt from The Chameleon? *whispering* Maybe that will pacify her.
Genna: I heard that! You should show them the first time I appear in the story.
Genna Nogaro burst in. “Whew. Those miners are tough sons of bitches. Hey, Boss. Glad to see you here. I’ve got news for you.”
While he stood there like a mute, she grabbed his arm and tugged him into Kaminga’s office. As soon as she closed the door, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him soundly.
The quiet clearing of Jileena’s throat made him break away from Genna’s embrace.
“Oh, hey,” Genna said. “I didn’t know the office was in use. Sorry about that.”
“Don’t let me interrupt,” Jileena said stiffly. “I’ll wait outside with the officer while you two, uh, finish.”
Could things get any worse? Laning stopped her. “It’s better you stay in here. This is Genna Nogaro, my assistant.”
Though Jileena quickly erased her surprise, he saw it. “I’ve heard much about you. Lan claims you’re indispensable.”
Genna turned to him with questions in her eyes.
“As a favor to my father,” Jileena said, “Lan is taking me on a tour of this sector. I had no idea there would be this much excitement.”
* * *
So that’s Genna Nogaro. Jileena eyed the fem who had kissed Servary. She wasn’t just his assistant, like he claimed. Everything about the fem’s actions screamed lover.
Nogaro was beautiful in the exotic way of Traishans. Tall, sturdily built, dark hair and sultry eyes. Jileena felt small and pale in comparison, unnoteworthy.
Jileena and Nogaro stood off to the side away from the prison cell where the drunken miners slept on.
“So, your father knows the Chief?” Nogaro asked quietly.
“So, you’re his aide?” Jileena countered.
Nogaro blushed. “I, uh, thought we were alone.”
“Is that how aides greet their bosses on the Frontier?” Jileena raised her eyebrow.
She didn’t know why she said that. She wasn’t jealous. If Laning Servary wanted to have a personal relationship with his subordinate, who was she to have feelings one way or another? She was just the fake fiancée. Using him to get what she wanted, control of her family’s business.
Where can readers find Laning and Jileena’s story?
Genna: And mine!
Diane: The Chameleon is available at Amazon | Smashwords | Kobo | B&N | iTunes
Diane Burton combines her love of mystery, adventure, science fiction and romance into writing romantic fiction. Besides the science fiction romance Switched and Outer Rim series, she is the author of One Red Shoe, a romantic suspense. She is also a contributor to the anthology How I Met My Husband. Diane and her husband live in Michigan. They have two children and two grandchildren.
For more info and excerpts from her books, visit Diane’s website: http://www.dianeburton.com
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