Don't Think You're Safe. Snippet from #SciFiRom ALARIK for #WeWriWa

Welcome to another Sunday with WeekendWriting Warriors. Meet writers in various genres and read 8-10 sentence snippets of their stories. Find a new author and sample their work. Enjoy! 

While I sort out my next story, I’ll continue snippets from my newly released SciFi Romance, ALARIK, book 4 in Taxyon Space.
In last week’s snippet, Phoebe met the hero, Alarik, disguised as Rick Kent, a fake mining magnate.

You can read the snippet here: https://auroraspringer.blogspot.com/2020/01/an-athletic-young-man-snippet-from.html

I’ve skipped a section where they chat during the flight, and enter the space ferry. As a VIP, Rick gets favorable treatment and is escorted by one of the ship’s officers. Meanwhile, Phoebe has to wait in line for her cabin assignment.
Please excuse minor changes in punctuation to fit. 

   When Phoebe entered her cabin, she found two beds but no other occupant. Hoping for the privilege of sleeping alone, she chose one side of the room and unpacked her bags. 

   Her com buzzed.

  Not recognizing the caller, she hesitated to answer, but deciding it might be important, she activated the com. 

  No image, only a harsh man’s snarl, “Don’t think you’re safe; we know where you are.” After delivering his threat, the man ended the call.

  The Vipers; who else had a reason to frighten her? Phoebe shook with terror; she had not escaped from them - one of the gang might be on the ferry. 

  Scared to join the other passengers and risk encountering the Vipers’ agent, she stayed in her cabin for the first thirty hours. She studied the information on the ship accessible on the local vidilink and subsisted on water and a nutrient bar from her pack.  

Blurb:

Two people fleeing different planets discover a shared destiny.

  When an alien spacecraft crashes on Mars, the repercussions sweep throughout the solar system and endanger the fragile new alliance with the Warrish mermen.  

  Alarik Kenton Tallis, First of his Triad, is forced to infiltrate human society on Earth as a spy to insure his injured brother receives proper medical care. But when his transmissions are detected, he must flee the planet.

  On Mars, Phoebe Wong, a veterinary scientist with dubious family connections, is desperate to escape the underworld gangs terrorizing the domed city. She jumps at the chance to join the colonists bound for a distant exoplanet.

  Their paths intersect on a space ferry bound for the outer planets. Trouble created by the mysterious spacecraft pursues them to Jupiter. Will they find the answers in the oceans of Europa, the hyperspace gateway to the stars protected by three diverse species?

ALARIK is available at Amazon  iBooks  Kobo  B&N  GooglePlay

For February, my standalone book, A Tale of Two Colonies, will be discounted to 99c. 

For refugees from an overcrowded Earth, dreams of a better life on an alien planet transform into a terrifying battle for survival. SciFi and Romance.

99c at Amazon  iBooks  Kobo  B&N

 As always, I’ll be happy to reply to your comments. 
Please return to http://wewriwa.blogspot.com to sample the works of the other writers.

Find a catalog of my published stories HERE.

Join me on Facebook and Twitter  

An athletic young man - snippet from ALARIK for #WeWriWa

Welcome to another Sunday with Weekend Writing Warriors. Meet writers in various genres and read 8-10 sentence snippets of their stories. Find a new author and sample their work. Enjoy!
I’m continuing snippets from my newly released SciFi Romance, ALARIK, book 4 in Taxyon Space.

You can read last week’s snippet at https://auroraspringer.blogspot.com/2020/01/not-drill-snippet-from-alarik-scifirom.html

I have switched to the heroine’s pov and her first sight of the hero. She is sitting at the rear of the shuttle, which is preparing to lift off and fly to the space ferry. There is an empty seat beside her.
Alarik, aka wealthy Rick Kent, is running late after traveling across Mars. Of course, the shuttle has to stop for such an important passenger.
[Please excuse my misuse of punctuation to fit 8-10 sentences.]

   A second later, the door swung open and a man jumped into the cabin;  his spacesuit had a distinctive gold sheen.

   The engines slowed. The co-pilot swiveled toward the newcomer and called a question; his words were drowned by the rumble of the drive.

   “Sorry, I’m late,” the man cried, holding his com for the co-pilot to read his ID.

   Compressing his brows, the co-pilot scanned the com and nodded. He jerked his thumb at the seats.

   “Bountiful thanks, Sir,” an athletic young man with a cheerful expression on his narrow face and light brown locks flopping over his forehead, the new passenger strode along the aisle, glancing right and left in search of an empty seat.

  Phoebe watched him approach, admiring his confident stance and handsome, tanned face,.

   He halted by her, asking, “Gentle Lady, will you permit me to sit here?”

  His sincere tone and warm smile won her instant agreement. Mirroring his smile, she moved into the window seat and murmured, “Please do.” 

Blurb:

Two people fleeing different planets discover a shared destiny.

  When an alien spacecraft crashes on Mars, the repercussions sweep throughout the solar system and endanger the fragile new alliance with the Warrish mermen.  

  Alarik Kenton Tallis, First of his Triad, is forced to infiltrate human society on Earth as a spy to insure his injured brother receives proper medical care. But when his transmissions are detected, he must flee the planet.

  On Mars, Phoebe Wong, a veterinary scientist with dubious family connections, is desperate to escape the underworld gangs terrorizing the domed city. She jumps at the chance to join the colonists bound for a distant exoplanet.

  Their paths intersect on a space ferry bound for the outer planets. Trouble created by the mysterious spacecraft pursues them to Jupiter. Will they find the answers in the oceans of Europa, the hyperspace gateway to the stars protected by three diverse species?

ALARIK is available 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 and Twitter 

Not a Drill - Snippet from ALARIK #SciFiRom for #WeWriWa

Welcome to another Sunday with Weekend Writing Warriors. Meet writers in various genres and read 8-10 sentence snippets of their stories. Find a new author and sample their work. Enjoy! 

This weekend, I’m continuing snippets from my new SciFi Romance story, ALARIK, book 4 in Taxyon Space. 
Phoebe Wong is at a training session for colonists bound for a distant planet. She is tending to the sheep.
Alarik, masquerading as wealthy mining magnate Rick Kent, has been invited to observe the colonists at a training center. He gets special treatment because everybody wants a piece of his fake asteroid of rare metals. The manager, Bron Hamme, is showing him the future colonists. 

You can read last week’s snippet at https://auroraspringer.blogspot.com/2020/01/a-capable-woman-snippet-from-alarik.html
This week’s snippet continues a few lines afterward.
(edited a little from published version with extra semicolons to fit 10 sentences.)

     As Alarik mulled over the challenges of establishing a viable colony on a strange planet, a piercing wail interrupted his thoughts; he asked sharply, “What’s that?”

    “Don’t worry, Mr. Kent; it’s just an emergency drill, a standard part of their training.”

   The sky darkened overhead; a light patter on the exterior of the dome switched abruptly to a deafening crash of particles.

     Hamme’s face paled in shock; “Sandstorm. Not a drill.” Dashing to the wall, he grabbed a couple of oxygen canisters and pushed one into Alarik’s hand, yelling over the siren’s noise, “Can’t risk a breach in the dome.”

     Stunned by the sudden change, Alarik accepted the cylinder, adjusting the attached mask to cover his nose and mouth, he looked down.

    In the field below, the woman glanced at the sand showering onto the transparent barrier; her eyebrows compressed briefly. She clipped an oxygen tube on her nose and shooed the children toward the exit. Tucking the second lamb under her free arm, she calmly walked toward a box-like enclosure; the adult sheep, probably the lambs’ mother, trotted after her. She urged them into their cage, secured the door and followed the children to the exit.

Blurb:

Two people fleeing their planets discover a shared destiny.

   When an alien spacecraft crashes on Mars, the repercussions sweep throughout the solar system and endanger the fragile new alliance with the Warrish mermen.  

    Alarik Kenton Tallis, First of his Triad, is forced to infiltrate human society on Earth as a spy to insure his injured brother receives proper medical care. But when his transmissions are detected, he must flee the planet.

   On Mars, Phoebe Wong, a veterinary scientist with dubious family connections, is desperate to escape the underworld gangs terrorizing the domed city. She jumps at the chance to join the colonists bound for a distant exoplanet.

   Their paths intersect on a space ferry bound for the outer planets. Trouble created by the mysterious spacecraft pursues them to Jupiter. Will they find the answers in the oceans of Europa, the hyperspace gateway to the stars protected by three diverse species?

ALARIK will release on Wednesday, 22^nd at

Amazon  iBooks  Kobo  B&N  GooglePlay

You can start this series for 99c

Europa, Book 1 of Taxyon Space – 99c 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 and Twitter 

My Writing Goals for 2020 #IndieAuthor

Last year, I published two full-length novels, which brings my total to 14 novels in four series, 2 standalone novels, 2 novellas and 4 short stories. 

For 2020, my writing goals are: 

1) Complete ALARIK, Book 4 in Taxyon Space. 

This book is intended as the first story in a trilogy about three alien brothers, Alarik, Baswin and Karrik of the Flaming Comet Triad. The youngest, Karrik, was severely wounded during their military service and left as helpless as a newborn baby. His older brothers agreed to serve as undercover agents on Earth to pay for his care. Initially, Alarik and Baswin are disguised as humans. They had to sacrifice their sixth fingers, stain their green skin and conceal their gills. Their stories are entwined with those of three women and the mystery of the alien ship that crashed on Mars.

2) Finish Cosmic Lock, book 6 in the Grand Masters’ Galaxy 

This story is partly written, but I put it aside to promote Taxyon Space. 

3) Two possibilities are: 

A) Continue the story of the three brothers in Baswin, Book 5 in Taxyon Space. 

B) Write a second Medieval Romance and expand Dame Audrey into a series. The series would be set in the same region of fourteenth century England and stories would be linked by a touch of fantasy and Bridda’s blessing. 

A Capable Woman - Snippet from ALARIK #SciFiRom for #WeWriWa

Welcome to another Sunday with Weekend Writing Warriors. Meet writers in various genres and read 8-10 sentence snippets of their stories. Find a new author and sample their work. Enjoy!

     I’m back after the holidays, which for me included a week in Savannah and a bout with the virus that’s been circulating through my family.

     This weekend, I’m continuing snippets from my new SciFi Romance story, ALARIK, book 4 in Taxyon Space. Earlier snippets were in Alarik’s pov, and I’m continuing with his first sight of the heroine. Phoebe Wong works in a farming complex on Mars. After Phoebe’s brother called to warn her that he was being hunted by Martian gangs, she decided to flee the planet. She has joined a group of colonists bound for a distant planet. Alarik is also on the run, as you can read in this earlier snippet - https://auroraspringer.blogspot.com/2019/12/alien-signals-discovered-snippet-from.html

    In this scene, Alarik, aka wealthy mining magnate Rick Kent, has been invited to observe the colonists at a training center. Everybody wants a piece of his fake asteroid of rare metals.  
     Phoebe is teaching the young colonists how to handle sheep. Sheep are a novelty. Mars only recently permitted such livestock due to the expense of feeding them.

[Please excuse the addition of semicolons to fit into 8-10 sentences.]

     One of the small sheep, a lamb, butted the legs of a girl; the child backed away, moaning in fright.

     Her face bright with laughter, the woman picked up the lamb and spoke to the youngster.

     As she cuddled the animal, her warm smile and graceful figure evoked Alarik’s admiration. A capable woman, she seemed at home with the farm animals and the children. With a pang of regret, he remembered a certain girl in his homeland; Elissa often held her tame luma in the same manner. A sweet girl, now beyond his aspirations; her parents had begun to seek another triad match even before he and Baswin had left for Earth. By now she must be united in a hexath.

     Pointing down, he asked, “Who is that woman?”

     “The one with the lamb? Phoebe Wong; she was recruited because of her veterinary experience.”

Blurb:

Two people fleeing their planets discover a shared destiny.

     When an alien spacecraft crashes on Mars, the repercussions sweep throughout the solar system and endanger the fragile new alliance with the Warrish mermen.  

    Alarik Kenton Tallis, First of his Triad, is forced to infiltrate human society on Earth as a spy to insure his injured brother receives proper medical care. But when his transmissions are detected, he must flee the planet.

   On Mars, Phoebe Wong, a veterinary scientist with dubious family connections, is desperate to escape the underworld gangs terrorizing the domed city. She jumps at the chance to join the colonists bound for a distant exoplanet.

    Their paths intersect on a space ferry bound for the outer planets. Trouble created by the mysterious spacecraft pursues them to Jupiter. Will they find the answers in the oceans of Europa, the hyperspace gateway to the stars protected by three diverse species?

You can preorder the book at: Amazon and Kobo 

(I plan to release it by the end of this month.)

You can start this series for 99c

Europa, Book 1 of Taxyon Space – 99c 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 and Twitter 

Snippet from ALARIK - Phoebe sees his alien form #SciFiRom

Blurb

Two people fleeing their planets discover a shared destiny.

When an alien spacecraft crashes on Mars, the repercussions sweep throughout the solar system and endanger the fragile new alliance with the Warrish mermen.  

Alarik Kenton Tallis, Eldest of three brothers, was forced to infiltrate human society on Earth as a spy to insure his injured brother receives proper medical care. But when his transmissions are detected, he must flee the planet.

On Mars, Phoebe Wong, a veterinary scientist with dubious family connections, is desperate to escape the underworld gangs terrorizing the domed city. She jumps at the chance to join the colonists bound for a distant exoplanet.

Their paths converge on a space ferry bound for the outer planets. Troubles generated by the mysterious spacecraft pursue them to Jupiter. Will their flight end on Europa, the hyperspace gateway to the stars protected by three diverse species?

Excerpt  

Phoebe has spent a lot of time with Rick Kent on the space ferry, but she doesn’t know he is an alien. In this excerpt, she finally sees him without his disguise. Note: Warrish men have colorful hairstyles and moustaches. Alarik has very striking hair.   

Several Warrish men were relaxing in the room. They wore identical clothing of loose white tunics with wide belts and scaled green leggings over their six-toed bare feet. Near the entrance, a familiar triad with matching blue hair leaned on the counter, each man clasping a flask of greenish liquid. Another triad, three men with maroon Mohawks, sat around a table. In the middle of the counter, a tall Warrish man was filling a flask from a spigot. His flamboyant hair style caught her attention. His locks swept back over his scalp like a fiery wave with vivid orange roots shading to yellow at the tips. His eyebrows and short moustache had the same orange to yellow coloring. His left cheekbone bore a triad mark, an orange streak terminating in a yellow spot. Like several of the others, he wore wrist guards of gleaming copper. As she drew nearer, his familiar profile twisted her heartstrings.

He turned toward her, halting to stare at her. He smiled, warm recognition sparking in his vivid green eyes. “Hello, Phoebe. What tides swept you here?”

She scanned his green-tinged face with the strange intense eyes and orange tattoo. “Rick? Is it really you?”

“It’s true.” He placed his hand over his heart, bowed and touched two fingers to his triad mark. “Alarik Kenton Tallis, First of the Flaming Comets. That’s my real name. You may call me Rick if you prefer.”

Pre-order at Amazon  Kobo   

Scenes in and around Savannah, GA #Nature

     My husband and I stayed in Savannah on the coast of Georgia over the New Year. Here are some pictures from our visit. On the top, a view of the bridge over the Savannah River at sunset. 
     Savannah is a pedestrian-friendly city and also offers free trolley rides and a free ferry across the river. We dined at a variety of restaurants within walking distance of our rental place. 

      Savannah is noted for its squares, each centered on a monument. Since it's a southern city, the trees are draped in Spanish moss. 

  Here's the view from the rear window of our rented one-bedroom house. A cat came to visit one morning. 

  One of our favorite local sites is the Savannah Wildlife Refuge. Alligators and various birds are common in the Refuge. This alligator was on the trail watching another one in the water. We also saw an armadillo and a dead bobcat. 

     Tybee Island is another place we enjoy visiting. When our sons were young, we often stayed there. Not many people were on this section of beach since they were replenishing the sand by dredging from farther out in the sea. 

   The pier on Tybee beach had a crowd of birds looking for handouts. Most were seagulls, however, a flock of boat-tailed grackles were perching on the rails. This one, a female, had found a piece of bread. 

What are your favorite places to visit?