For this
month’s showcase, I’m posting another teaser excerpt from my new SFR novel,
Europa.
Please remember to check out the posts
from the other participants at http://sfrcontests.blogspot.com/p/sfr-brigade-presents.html
This year, I began a new series intended
to be science fiction adventures. But, romance slipped into the first book and
the story of Nikki and Kiron continues in Book 2, which is currently at a messy
32k words.
Blurb
What
alien creatures lurk under the icy surface of Europa?
Dr.
Nikki Bell’s plan to discover intelligent life hits a rocky start when her
spaceship crashes on the icy surface of Europa. 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?
Science
fiction thriller and romance: Book 1 of Taxyon Space, a saga of our journey to
the stars.
Excerpt:
Nikki
and Kiron have been meeting in secret and they’ve been doing more than chatting.
This is Nikki’s first serious relationship since her fiancé died three years
ago, but she is about to learn it is different for him.
The
other human colonists are unaware of the Warrish Watchers in the waters of
Europa.
“Kiron,” she said, “Don’t you want to stay with me?”
“I wish to swim by your side.” His response sounded like a
ritual phrase.
She pressed her point. “Do you love me?”
He straightened and took a deep breath as if he were about to
submerge in the water. “Why do you ask?”
“Please,” she begged. “I’d like to know how you feel.”
“My feelings have no importance in Warrish society.”
“You’re dithering. Why can’t you just say yes or no?”
Brushing his knuckles over her cheek, he murmured, “Warrish have
no concept of your word ‘love’. Not as I understand the meaning from Earther
broadcasts.”
“No love? But you must have sex. What about marriage between two
people?”
“The triad is the key unit. We do not choose our matches. Our
families arrange a union between two triads, a male triad and a female, to
unite in pairs. Triad matches are chosen for political advantage. The highest
ranking families can sometimes arrange sets of interlocking triads.”
Bewildered by the Warrish triad system, Nikki shook her head.
“It sounds awfully complex.” She wrapped her arms around Kiron. “Forget your
triad system for the moment. Kiss me.”
He complied.
The membrane dimpled overhead.
Kiron pushed her away.
Two Warrish descended, feet first, into the tent. They aimed
tube weapons. Before Nikki could react, one man flung a net around her. She
glimpsed Kiron through the mesh. He glowered, his mouth a thin line of
suppressed fury. His hands were pinned behind his back by a heavier man.
Enraged and shaking with shock, she struggled in the net, only
becoming more entangled. Unable to reach her com, she glared at the Warrish.
Had Kiron betrayed her? What did they mean to do with her?
Nikki
is in big trouble, and Kiron isn’t happy.
The book is
still 99c for this weekend and then will rise to $3.99
Available at Amazon iBooks Kobo B&N GooglePlay
Please
remember to check out the posts from the other participants at http://sfrcontests.blogspot.com/p/sfr-brigade-presents.html
