Book Spotlight: Addicted to Adella by Anna Keraleigh - lesbian sci-fi romance

Addicted to Adella

Anna Keraleigh

"Welcome to Ulla Major! Home to the thousand-floor high rise, the best synthetic food in the quadrant, and the safest space port for five planets. Please be on the lookout for two fugitives, Adella and Sally. Adella Perski is wanted for the murder of her boyfriend. Sally Nupson is wanted for assisting a fugitive. They are armed and dangerous."

Just the words a girl wanted to hear. Adella is stuck running from the law with her best friend Sally by her side. She isn’t exactly wrongfully accused either, but that as they say, is a long story. They’ve been through it all together, the good and the bad. This should be no different.

Things take a strange twist when a wild space chase turns into a romantic touch between the two friends. Could this be the start of something more than lust? Will they live long enough to find out?

Be Warned: F/F sex

Excerpt (Adult only 18+)

“Tell me to stop...and I will.” Sally whispered the words.

Well there it was—my out. All I had to do was say one little word and it would end. Too bad my body and mind had come to an agreement. This was a good thing. I bit my bottom lip and shifted my hips giving Sally more access.

She rubbed my pussy over the pants and the material was far too thin to hide anything. Did she feel the moisture? I leaned over and unhooked the belt that kept me strapped in. Now free, my hands went to her head and I brought her face to mine. “This will change everything...between us.”

“Adella, I’ve been addicted to you for so many years. This is my dream, my fantasy...” Sally pressed her lips against mine.

The kiss, my first kiss with a woman and it was amazing. I’d been kissed softly before but this was feather light, like I was precious. She was so delicate, her tongue swept gently at my bottom lip and I opened. Our mouths melted together. My lips tingled as they pressed so sweetly against hers. It was silk against silk and I quickly found myself craving this new touch.

Sally pulled away. Her mouth found my hard nipple once more. She made love to the bud. Her tongue and lips sent me to a fevered pitched. I wiggled and fidgeted in the chair as her mouth worked magic on my flesh. “Stand up.” She whispered the words but they still had that hint of an order.

I lifted my body, standing as she unbuttoned the four measly little things that held my pants together. Then she pulled the pants down my legs and to the control room floor. A groan left her lips that was so guttural it made my breath hitch. “Sally, I don’t know if I can...” I had never been with a woman. Would I like it? If it was anything like that kiss, I would but, what if I didn’t. What if I didn’t enjoy eating pussy? What if I needed cock to be truly happy?

“Just feel...” Sally muttered against my thigh. Her tongue swiped at the rim of my panties and slowly kissed her way to the center of my wet crotch. She licked at the material, little strokes that sent my skin on fire. I couldn’t hold the groan. It felt so decadent.

I glanced down seeing Sally’s dark head of hair between my legs. This was Sally, sweet, honest, reliably Sally. Her tongue slipped underneath my panties and swiped at my creamy center. I gasped, pleasure spiked through my system. “More.” Did I say that? That tongue explored again. It slid over my hole and prodded the entrance before retreating.

“Captain.” The AI interrupted.

“What!” Sally growled the word.

“Destination in one minute.”

I groaned. Plunker’s Moon, I could see it through the window as it rapidly came towards us. We were almost there. Sally moved between my legs. Did she not hear the announcement? “Sally...”

“First, I want you to cum. I have been waiting eighteen years to lick your pussy and watch your face as you orgasm. I am getting that right here. Right now.”

Available From:

Evernight Publishing | Amazon | All Romance Ebooks

About the Author: 

Anna delved into lesbian stories at the insistence of her girlfriend and found the fit perfect! She fell in love with the erotica genre the moment she read her first naughty novel. Anna invites you into her world of fantasy where anything is possible.

When she's not writing she enjoys swimming, reading on the deck or trying to save her fish from her cat. (They have a love / hate relationship.)

Website

10 Reasons to read Being Amber - Guest Post by Sylvia Ryan

I’m always at a loss when asked to tell a little about a book I’ve written. I never want to give away too much because I feel it takes away from the discovery of the ‘world’ and plot. This is one of the reasons I rarely read blurbs. If I do, it’s usually just the first few sentences to get a feel for the content.

So, with that in mind, here is

10 Reasons to read Being Amber…

1. Global Pandemic
2. Dystopian Society
3. Alpha males
4. Dominance/submission
5. Evil dictator
6. Underground dungeon
7. Sizzling sex
8. Undeniable love
9. The utter lack of: Billionaire Doms, vampires, werewolves, and shifters.
10. Science fiction + erotica= perfection                                

Still not sure? How about a book trailer?

And be sure to click over to my website, enter the GIVEAWAY for the kindle and other great swag and satisfy your curiosity for more at www.RyanBooks.net.

Being Amber by Sylvia Ryan

Both danger and sex are inescapable in the Amber Zone.

Jaci Harmon was born a Sapphire, but after she’s summoned to receive her final designation, the testing reveals she carries a gene slated for eradication. Within a day, she’s sterilized and dumped in the Amber Zone, where the damaged are corralled away from the rest of New Atlanta. Scared and alone, Jaci would rather die than face her future as an Amber.

Born in the Amber Zone, Xander Dimos is a product of a lifetime spent under the oppression of the Repopulation Laws. Decades of suffering have taught the Ambers to make the zone a place where touch, sex, and unconditional acceptance ease the pain of their fate. Jaci has a lot to learn about her new home, and it’s Xander’s responsibility to guide her through the differences and the dangers safely.

With the simmering undercurrents of sexual chemistry growing between them, and in the midst of discovering the Gov’s true motives, Jaci and Xander must overcome his secret and accept their love as undeniable…even if the time allotted to share it is short.

CONTENT WARNING: This title contains explicit sex, graphic language, ménage a trios, use of sex toys, and anal sex.

Excerpt:

“Why didn’t you just let me die?” she whispered.

“Because you’re mine to take care of now.” He leaned in close so that his lips were brushing her ear. “It’s okay to stumble and fall. I’ll be here to catch you. I’ll take care of you Jaci, I promise.”

Xander squeezed the words out through a tight throat and then sat on the edge of the bed. He settled her in his lap and tucked her into him, wrapping his arms around her to keep her warm and let her know she was safe. After a few beats of stillness, Jaci started shaking her head. Almost imperceptibly at first, but within seconds, a sob escaped her. “I don’t want this. Let me die next time,” she cried. “Please. Please,” she sobbed. “I don’t want to feel like this. I don’t want to feel it anymore.”

“That’s enough,” Xander growled. “I don’t want to hear any more of this. I’m going to take care of you, Jaci. I’ll help you chase the pain away. We’ll do it together.”

About the Author:

As an avid reader, I’m always on the hunt for that next amazing story. Those unforgettable books with the perfect balance of action and passion are hard to find and even harder to write. My hope is that Being Amber has given readers a few hours of happiness while they savor the gradual discovery of each character and how their story unfolds. I usually fall in love with the hero and heroine in the books I write by the time I’ve written the last page. If I’ve done my job well, you’ve fallen in love, too. So many times I find myself not wanting a book to end.  I crave more of the story, wanting to know what happens after the happily ever after. If you’re like me and want to read more about Xander and Jaci, the epilogue to Being Amber is posted on my website at www.RyanBooks.net. Stop in and find out how their story ultimately ends before moving on to Jordan’s story in Being Sapphire. And from the bottom of my heart, thank you for reading.

Website

Forge Blog Tour: Interview with author TK Anthony & Giveaway!!

Welcome TK Anthony to Backward Momentum!!

Thanks so much for having me on your blog, Jessica. I just want to let everyone know that a comment here will enter you into today’s drawing for another Decadent Publishing title in the ebook format of your choice. Also, if you follow me on Twitter, &/or friend me on Facebook—mentioning “Forge blogtour”—you’ll also be entered into a drawing on October 13th (the day after the end of my blog tour), for a $20 Amazon gift certificate. If you both friend and follow, you’ll be entered twice. Good luck, everyone!

Also, I love to hear from readers! My online home is www.scotianrealm.com. I can also be found on Twitter: @TK_Anthony_ and  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tk.anthony.9. Or, send me an email at tesskanthony@gmail.com.

So, TK, tell us about your new release.

TKA: “FORGE” is the first book in the Thrall Web series, combining epic SF with sweet romance. It’s also my debut novel...so I’m just delighted to be here chatting with you about it!

It's great to have you here. Describe the heroine in three words.

TKA: I can do that from the hero’s perspective. At first, Keir* isn’t sure whether she’s real, or the remnant of the visions induced by the same hallucinogen that stripped his memory and left him nameless. So all he’s certain of is...she’s beautiful, with dark hair and amber eyes. When he finally meets Nica, he adds another adjective: Unattainable, because of the difference in their talents and stations. But then they’re thrown together to rescue her father, and he discovers the qualities that count. Nica is courageous, compassionate, and capable. Extremely.

*He starts out as “Tazhret”... “nameless” in the Tormin tongue.

What traits does the hero possess that makes the heroine swoon?

TKA: You mean besides his rugged good looks? Nica’s a powerful healer-adept, and she’s drawn to Keir’s energy from the moment she heals him. She soon discovers that Keir is a man of dogged endurance and courage, quick intelligence, wry sense of humor...and a boundless capacity for unconditional love. Most of the men who’ve courted her were interested in what marriage to her could do for them. Keir is all about standing with her against dire odds—hunted for treason while searching for her captured father—with no expectations of anything other than the honorable friendship she would be able to return. Oh, and almost certain death.

Oh, I'm swooning, too. What was your inspiration for this story?

TKA: That’s a hard question to answer. Nothing. Everything. Underlying themes of freedom, human dignity, identity, unconditional and sacrificial love, the meaning and power of suffering and endurance, came from a lifetime of reading...and the real experience of taking on night nursing duties for my 84-year-old mother when she broke her leg, and wasn’t expected to ever get back on her feet again. Mom’s quiet heroism in the face of her own struggle definitely showed up in “Forge.” So did my own anxiety. I’m pretty sure that what happened to Nica’s father immediately after his capture was influenced by the case of bronchitis and pleurisy I had while writing the scene. But the actual characters and what happened to them...they told the story to me themselves. At times, it seemed more like channeling than writing.

Who is your favorite character from this book? Can you give us an excerpt?

TKA: I like them all...this is like asking me to name my favorite niece or nephew! (Well, I don’t like the villain, but I do feel sorry for her. She learned the lessons of her culture all too well.) But since we’ve already talked about Keir and Nica, I think I’d like to introduce Nica’s father, Col, who’s just acquired Tazhret from his abusive master...even though he has problems of his own.

~Excerpt~

Col kept the team to a deliberate, unhurried pace on the long road through the Dry Lands. As he sat up behind his easy-gaited horses, watching their ears twitch to insects and their own equine thoughts, Col considered his slow travel through the cities and settlements of Forge over the past six standard months.

The lid of civility and law sat uneasily on a simmering stew of distrust, dislike, and hostility among Scotians, Xerni, and Tormins. The ill will was worse now than at any time since Forge’s founding—a failure of its very purpose, to foster cooperation among the three peoples. And if Forge failed, the Realm would fall…. Col bit his lip. If Forge failed, the failure was his own.

Just over sixty standard years before, the Scotian Realm had discovered a world wealthy in ores, gems, timber, and soil. Compounding its worth, the planet sat at the center of an unsuspected wormhole hub—a natural crossroads among the three peoples, connecting the Xern Cluster, the Tormin Accord, and the Realm. Instead of keeping a jealous guard on so rare a prize, the Scotian high king had seized the opportunity to build the Realm’s alliances with his wary neighbors. He’d established Forge as a protectorate of the Realm, governed under a constitution negotiated with the extees, and opened the new colony to Xern and Tormin immigrants.

The son of founding colonists, born and bred on Forge, Col was one of the few who knew the hope of alliance was High King Conall’s cast against a day of dire need. Col had been a youth of fourteen when his father Gabriel had shared with him the late high king’s Seeing of an enemy who would enslave all the three peoples—Scotians, Xerni, and Tormins. Almost forty years later, the vision still had the power to chill Col’s soul. But precognition, the rarest of all talents, was also the most fickle. The high king’s vision had precious little information about the enemy, except for the knowledge that they would prevail unless the three peoples stood together against their common foe. Now, we’re more likely to turn on each other. All that’s needed is a flashpoint to set off the fire—such as Tazhret.

Tazhret. Nameless. A Scotian without any record in the identity archives was rare—and usually a criminal. And what crimes had “Tazhret” committed to drive him to erase his name from the system?

Col had scanned the identbead before signing the transference contract and read Tazhret’s brief record—including the notation “scoot-induced amnesia.” But his odd intuition dismissed—for reasons it wasn’t sharing with Col—the notion of the izzy wiping his identity with black market assistance. Annoyed with his inconvenient talent, Col still rejected the scenario on the basis of common sense. If Tazhret had paid to have his old name erased, why hadn’t he paid them to create a new, blameless identity? Maybe he couldn’t afford it? Scoot’s an expensive habit, after all.

Whatever his past, if the Scotians learned of Tazhret’s abused condition, Forge’s simmering hostility could boil over into outright violence. The counter-claim—Tazhret was a crimserv who had killed an extee izzy—would make for an even uglier stew.

Civil riots. Martial law. Sword-rattling communiqués from the extee governments. Heated responses from the Scotian Realm. If—when—the nameless foe appeared, they would find enmity among the three peoples instead of alliance. The vision of chaos and destruction drove Col’s grim resolve—Not on my watch.

He had a sudden, inexplicable feeling he was hauling the future of the three peoples in the back of his wagon. He shook his head at the fancy. Ridiculous. Still, he clicked his tongue at his team, hands moving on the reins. The willing horses lengthened their stride in a ground-covering pace.

What are you working on now?

TKA: I’m editing the sequel to “Forge”—working title, “Web of Destiny.” And I’m halfway through the first draft of a short story set in an entirely different universe.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

TKA: A lot of pantser with a little plotter. “Forge” was a wild ride of a pantser, until I began to see where the characters were taking me. Then I roughed out an outline, so I could capture some of the key scenes that came to me almost whole cloth, and pick out the stepping stones between them. But in the midst of actual writing, I sometimes found the characters overruling what I thought would happen. I always trusted my characters, and they never steered me wrong.

What genres do you enjoy reading?

TKA: SF—in particular the epic, character-driven space opera kind; westerns, sweet/semi-sweet romance, mysteries, historical fiction, biographies, history, the Bible and wisdom literature, with a smattering of philosophy and theology, fairy tales, business/leadership, cereal boxes.

Where can my readers find you?

TKA: On my website: www.scotianrealm.com (you can purchase “Forge” on the Buy page, or go direct to Decadent, Amazon, Smashwords, Coffee Time Romance....)
Find me on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/tk.anthony.90
Or on Twitter:  @TK_Anthony_
Or, send me an email: tesskanthony@gmail.com

Where can my readers find your books?

TKA: At Decadent Publishing, Smashwords, iTunes, B&N, Amazon, ARe, Coffee Time Romance, Diesel, Kobo and Rainbow Books!

Forge by TK Anthony


Warned by a Seeing…

The high king of the Scotian Realm expects the arrival of an enemy, a race of psychic predators bent on galactic conquest. The Realm’s one hope is alliance with the neighboring star domains in defense of a shared colony, Forge.

Caught in Fate’s grim weaving…

Mindblind, amnesic, Tazhret lives out his drug-induced visions of servitude on Forge. He wants to believe the beautiful woman with the nut-brown hair who whispers reassurances to his harrowed heart: “You have a name.” But is she even real? Or just one bright thread in his dark dreams?

An unexpected hope…

Tazhret’s destiny leads him to freedom and the woman he yearns for—and to a desperate struggle against the enemy.

Tazhret can save Forge, and the clan of his beloved. But only at the cost of all he has hoped for:
his name, his freedom, and his love for the woman with the nut-brown hair…

About the Author:

Warped in childhood by too much reading, T.K. Anthony made her living in the world of words, briefly on Capitol Hill as a press secretary before moving on to Corporate America in business communications and human resources.

She grew up in Pennsylvania, has lived in Illinois, Virginia, Upstate and Central New York, and Massachusetts, and has seen much of the United States by road trip, visiting a whole raft of cousins. Travel outside the US includes Scotland, England, Italy, France, and Belgium. With her travel bag packed, she now resides in Texas with her husband, two cats (Pip and Taz are close collaborators in her writing, and keep her keyboard furry), and all the people in her head who talk to her.

She loves to talk to other people, too–so leave a comment, or send her an email at tesskanthony@gmail.com.

Website / Facebook / Twitter

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Nadia Scrieva blog tour: Book Feature

Drowning Mermaids

Deep under Arctic waters lies an ice kingdom carved into a glacier. Those who dwell within it possess magnificent biological secrets. Due to the dangers of impending war, the Princess of Adlivun is forced to flee her undersea utopia and regroup with her sisters in Alaska.

Captain Trevain Murphy is a successful king crab fisherman who has spent his life building his empire above the sea, and knows nothing of the empire beneath it. When he meets a mysterious dancer whose father has recently died, he extends kindness towards her, unaware of her unique genetics and royal lineage.

Trevain's attraction to the enigmatic Aazuria Vellamo will involve him in dangerous designs that will forever change his life, and his perspective on himself and his world. He embarks on perilous journeys in which he will need to release all of his insecurities and inhibitions in order to survive. 

Fathoms of Forgiveness

There is no divorce in the undersea kingdom of Adlivun. Marriage is a bond that lasts until death—even if death comes in several centuries, and in that time your spouse happens to become your sworn enemy. This is the conflict that General Visola Ramaris faces when she learns that the mighty Vachlan is behind the attacks on her kingdom. She has sworn to protect Adlivun with her life, but long ago, she also swore to love and honor her husband...

Visola must choose whether she will destroy Vachlan once and for all, or attempt the hardest thing conceivable: communication. After two hundred years of desertion, she has no faith in their feeble bond and knows she can never forgive him. When he threatens the person dearest to her, she must take action. Confronting Vachlan on enemy territory would be nothing short of suicide. She knows that if she falls into his custody, the deranged man would relish breaking her down and making her lose her sanity.

Princess Aazuria forbids Visola from taking matters into her own hands; she will do anything it takes to protect her friend from the man who wants to crush her. Alas, Visola is a crazy, uncontrollable warrior woman with the blood of Vikings in her veins. Why would she ever consider doing the safe and predictable thing? 

Author Bio

Nadia Scrieva was born and raised in Toronto, Canada, where she grew very strong from carrying heavy bags filled with books back and forth from the library. She attended the University of Toronto, graduating with a B.A. in English and Anthropology. She likes knives. Her writing always features powerful females and (mostly) honorable male characters.

Writing has been the most meaningful part of her life since she was a child. Nadia has an addiction to receiving feedback from readers, so do not hesitate to contact her with any of your comments or even just to say hello. 

Website / Twitter / Facebook

Revealing Hamilton blog tour: Interview with author Sarah J. Carr

Welcome, Sarah J. Carr to Backward Momentum! Can you tell us about yourself? 

SJC: My name is Sarah. I’m 32 and I live in Washington State with my wonderful husband and adorable son. By day, I work in radiology billing and I’m a novelist by night. I went to college to become a massage therapist, interior decorator and I’m an ordained minister. In my spare time, I like to do sprint triathlons and splash in mud puddles.

Have you always wanted to be a writer?

SJC: Not always. When I was a child, I wanted to be a tightrope walker in a circus. Oddly, I’m afraid of heights. I have no idea what I was thinking.

What can you tell us about Revealing Hamilton? 

SJC: Here’s the back cover blurb to give you a taste of the story:

A conversation with a stranger changes Amelia Hamilton’s life forever. When she learns her grandfather faked his own death, normalcy slips from Amelia’s grasp. To make matters worse, he is coming for her in less than seven days. What she hasn’t determined is why.

Amelia’s grandfather, Marius Benedict, once headed The Physician’s Coalition, an elite group of doctors who threw the Hippocratic Oath out the window. Years ago, they used a low-risk medical research study as a front to their experiments. Without their consent, innocents were injected with JackRabbit7, a hazardous substance used to alter their DNA. The victims were left with less-than-desirable super-human powers or excruciating death. Years after he disbanded the group, Marius has a new plan and is reforming The Coalition.

Max, a mysterious stranger from the Insurance Agency, offers to help keep Amelia safe. He introduces The Agency as an underground government organization that contains and eliminates those who intend to harm the world. To protect The Agency, the truth of their activities are concealed and replaced with sugar-coated stories in the media.

Over the course of the next week, Amelia has to accept the truth and learn who can be trusted. At midnight on her 23rd birthday, a contract between The Coalition and The Insurance Agency will expire, giving Marius full rein to approach his granddaughter and finish the project he started with her so many years ago.

Which author would you like to meet most? 

SJC: It’d have to be Laurell K Hamilton and I actually met her in 2010. I’m not the type of person to be “star struck”, but I’ll come clean. I was fortunate enough to sit in the audience of a talk show and I met her during a commercial break. Instead of saying anything intelligent, a big “I love you” tumbled from my mouth. The studio audience expressed a heartfelt “Awwww”.

Do you have a favorite scene and why?

SJC: I do! Each time I read a particular part of the story my heart races and it grabs me as if I’m reading it for the first time. It happens when Amelia has a major “realization” and puts together some massive puzzle pieces. I’d elaborate, but I don’t want to spoil the surprise for anyone.

If you were to cast your characters in a movie, who would play the major roles?

SJC: Keep in mind, I’d need a time machine to adjust the ages accordingly, but here’s my vision: Amelia would be cast as Amy Lee from Evanescence, Max would be played by Michael Wincott and Nick’s a cross between Milo Ventimiglia and Adam Levine. Marius would be played by Christopher Walken and Donovan would be cast as the late Brandon Lee.

What’s the hardest part of writing?

SJC: Finding enough time to write.

What’s the easiest part of writing?

SJC: The ideas seem to flow non-stop so I’m never at a loss for words.

If you had to pick one song, which would fit your novel best? 

SJC: This is a difficult question. The playlist for Revealing Hamilton is 660 songs long. If I had to choose one of the 660, I would say My<Dsmbr (Mickey P. ft. Kelli Ali) from Linkin Park’s Reanimation album.

What’s are the craziest actions you’ve taken for research? 

SJC: A couple of weeks ago, I went on a tour of a morgue. If I need a character intoxicated, I’ll step in and drink and then write. Last go ‘round was tequila shots. Yuck! Also, Jeeping on icy trails at Mount Rainier made for some interesting (and realistic) writing.

List three things most people don’t know about you.

SJC: My middle name came from a naked doll my dad carried around as a child, I performed a wedding in rhyme (specifically, Dr. Seuss-style) and I’ve given a dolphin a vaginal exam.

Can you share an excerpt from Revealing Hamilton?

Something felt wrong.

In the living room, an ottoman rested on its side and a magazine lay open on the floor. A colorful article advertising Las Vegas blared from the pages. From the corner of my eye, the screen of Connor’s cell phone caught my attention. I watched it periodically blink, communicating new messages awaited. 

I went to the kitchen next and found the latest stack of mail on the island. The top envelope made me cringe when I saw the return address. It was another letter from the State of Washington. This one was addressed to Amelia Brooks.

My identity had been an issue for years. Since age 18, I submitted multiple requests to change my last name from my grandfather’s back to my parents. With each attempt, the paperwork came back denied, stating my name was Amelia Benedict or another obscure surname starting with the letter “B”. Double-checking each field, I clearly filled out the forms to read Amelia Hamilton, but was contradicted every time. I determined it a sick way for my grandfather to haunt me from the grave. The latest correspondence would have to wait.

A broken wine bottle and bandage wrappers were on the counter next to the refrigerator. Droplets of dark fluid created a path from the bottle to the sink, making me shudder. The room began to feel too warm and nausea flooded my stomach. I grabbed a rolling pin from the island, gripping it so tightly my knuckles hurt. 

“Calm down, Amelia,” I said. “There’s a logical explanation and no one is going to hurt you.” I forced my mind away from childhood memories of a basement.

Swallowing hard, I tiptoed across the living room to the bedroom. As usual, the door was cracked open. I held the pin over my head, ready to attack in an instant. From where I stood, I couldn’t see more than the corner of the dresser and a beam of soft light. I took a deep breath and pushed the door open. A flashlight rested on the nightstand, pointed toward the ceiling. As I scanned the room, my jaw dropped and my heart paused.

“Connor?” I dropped the makeshift weapon at my feet. 

Where can readers find you?

SJC: My website is www.sarahjcarr.com. I’m also on FaceBook at www.facebook.com/authorsarahjcarr and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/@sarahjcarr1

Would you like to add anything else?

SJC: Thank you for interviewing me! I enjoyed answering your questions.

Thank you so much for visiting with us, Sarah!

Mech Man blog tour: Interview with L.J. Garland

I'd like to welcome L.J. Garland to the blog today. (For those who don't know, L.J. Garland is a husband and wife writing team.)

LJG: Thank you for having us here today! We’re looking forward to the interview.

It's a pleasure. Can you tell us how long you've been writing with the hopes of publication?

LJG: We wrote for about five years before getting published. The first story was enormous…like 240K or something crazy like that. Yeah, it’s in a drawer, locked away. LOL But the next two stories were more realistic, coming in around 80K. They both got sold around the same time. But during those five years of writing, we studied the craft like crazy. Heck, we’re still studying it. This business tends to be fluid, so you have to watch what’s happening.

How did you get started?

LJG: Hmm, well, it wasn’t until I met my husband that the bug really bit. This story idea just jumped into my head, and I came home from work one day and said, “Honey, I want to write a book.” He was like, “Okay.” We discussed the plot and characters, the setting, etc. until we both agreed (we were on the same page <g>) So, off I went to write the first few chapters. Around chapter five, I decided to stop and show him what I’d done. I’ll tell you, there’s nothing so intense as sitting by, gnawing your nails, while the man you love reads what you wrote. Course later he told me that he’d been just as nervous. Before he ever read the first word, he wondered how he would tell me if it sucked. LOL  We’ve been writing together ever since.

What genres do you write in, and what appeals to you about those genres?

LJG: We write romantic suspense, sci-fi romance, paranormal romance, time travel romance. We love them all. There’s two things that appeal: 1. the romance genre itself leaves the door open for any genre 2. All of these set the stage for an excellent chance to blow something up. LOL We love high-action stories, lots of peril, and an intense relationship between the hero and heroine.

What titles do you have published? 

LJG: On the Fringes – He’s an intergalactic thief. She’s the law. He’ll cross the universe to steal her heart. (SFR)
Cadence Interrupted – He knows she’s keeping secrets. The only thing she trusts are her skills as a pilot. (romantic suspense)
MechMan – She wants revenge. He wants to be human. (SFR)

Do you have any recent or upcoming releases?

LJG: Dead or Alive – Accused of murder, he turns to the only person who can save him. Too bad she’s a bounty hunter who holds a grudge. (Decadent Publishing, 1Night Stand, SFR – May 5)
Sins of the Mind – He wants to protect her, but everyone she loves is dying. Is he next on the killer’s list?


Where can readers find you?


LJG: We can be tracked down at www.lj-garland.com. Or we can be caught at http://www.garland-and-gould.blogspot.com/ where we blog, chat about stuff, and interview other authors. Or, we can be emailed at mail@lj-garland.com - We love hearing from people who have enjoyed our stories.

Where can readers find your books?

LJG: On the Fringes –  Kindle

Cadence Interrupted –  Kindle

MechMan – Paperback / Ebook

Dreamspell Revenge – Paperback / Kindle / Ebook

Dead or Alive – May 5 from Decadent Publishing
Sins of the Mind – May 20 from Decadent Publishing

Mech Man blurb:

Raven is on a suicide mission. Jex is a biomech on a mission to save humanity. They discover their mutual passion to destroy the enemy isn’t their only desire.

A war against the Darch has raged for years, and humanity is on the verge of extinction. Scientists have created biomechs to supplement as warriors, but it’s just a temporary fix on what appears an insurmountable problem. One desperate scientist injects JXS241, a biomech warrior, with what he hopes is the solution for mankind’s survival. But the biomech is captured by the enemy.

Raven Nirvanni survives on the fringes of a shattered culture. While on a self-imposed suicide mission to annihilate an enemy destroyer, she encounters the imprisoned biomech. Deciding the fate of humanity far outweighs the destruction of a single ship, she recues him and decides to ensure he reaches his destination.

With the enemy anticipating their every move, Raven is completely taken aback when she realizes she’s falling for JXS241. But can she really love a machine? And if so, can he reciprocate?

Excerpt:

The needle slid between the third and fourth vertebrae in his neck. A flash of heat shot through him. More pressure was exerted to penetrate the synthetic cartilage of his neurospine.

Accessing his internal response center, he raised the pain threshold, but not so high he couldn’t monitor the procedure. Immobile, he waited for it to be finished.

“Done.” The doctor stepped back. “JXS241, system check?”

“No change,” he said, and reset his pain threshold. “As you said, Doctor Mechins. Just a pinch.”

“Good.” The doctor made a note on his techpad. “There are three biomechs just outside the lab, waiting to escort you and the information I implanted into your neurospine to the planet Altaiga.”

“Give me a ship, doctor. I’ll get myself to Altaiga.” Taking three biomechs away from the war to act as escort was a waste of resources.

“The information you carry is critical to the war effort.” Dr. Mechins tapped the techpad. “You’ll take the escort.”

JXS241 rose from his chair. The decision was illogical, but sometimes humans determined situations based on feelings rather than sound military strategy. He yanked a black shirt over his head and shrugged into his military-issue jacket.

The science lab shook, equipment toppled, and assorted paraphernalia crashed to the floor. Alarms barked to life, an alert that the base was under attack. Dr. Mechins’ reserved manner morphed to terror. His gaze rolled toward the ceiling.

“They’ve discovered us.” He grabbed JXS241’s arm, dragged him to the lab door. “You’ve got to get out of here. Take the other biomechs, commandeer a ship, and get to Altaiga. The fate of humanity may very well depend on you.”

JXS241 stepped through the doorway. Three heavily armed escorts awaited him. One shoved a pulse rifle into his hands. He grasped the familiar weapon, glanced at it, and toggled the setting to kill.  

“Wait.” The doctor clutched his shoulder. “You may notice some changes—”

The lab exploded. Hot twisted metal and glass missiled through the air, spiking everything in its path. A rush of heat shoved Dr. Mechins against JXS241, and they tumbled into the outer hallway.

Hands grabbed the biomech, lifted him to his feet, and propelled him away from the lab. On the floor lay the doctor, ripped metal and shards of glass jutting from his back, blood pooling beneath him.

“Medic required at lab, level seven,” the tallest biomech said into his com-band. His gaze shifted from the doctor to JXS241. “In line, soldier. Primary objective is to obtain a ship and fly out.”

JXS241 moved behind the other biomechs, and they hastened to the hangar where pilots scrambled to their fighters.

Scattered throughout the bay, sparks of light appeared and stretched into beings. Six-and-a-half to seven-foot men and women materialized. Graced with flaxen hair, and beatific smiles, immense gossamer wings protruded from their backs. With a serene facade they surveyed the hangar.

The enemy had arrived.

Author Bio:

L.J. Garland is a husband-wife writing team who has thrived within their own romance for over 20 years. One of their favorite things to do is get into a hot bubble bath and brainstorm story ideas. Amid their long list of hobbies and interests, two activities stand above the rest. They are both licensed helicopter pilots with hundreds of hours of flight time, and they practice with a variety of weaponry from long bows to high-powered combat rifles. This, along with years of military experience, gives their books a heightened sense of reality. They enjoy their life together in a house filled with love, laughter, and adventure along with their three cats, whistling guinea pig, and three boisterous sons—who conspire to ensure there’s never a dull moment. They love hearing from readers who’ve enjoyed their stories at mail@lj-garland.com.

For more of the interview, pleases visit http://jessicasubject.com on May 23.

Sexy? - Guest post by Kashif Ross, author of Barcode: Legend of Apollo

*Warning* I'm a no makeup, lingerie, talk a little dirty, and tell me exactly how you want it type of guy. So when I'm blunt and honest, don't be surprised. I just call it how I see it.

Yeah. I want to go there. I want to define sexy because too many people try reaching such a prestigious goal, but fail miserably. What the hell is sexy?

Sexy is what you make it, right? Kind of.

From my experience, I've learned that women define it. No matter how many theories a guy comes up with, we'll all listen to women in the end. Women are the Greek goddesses of hot & steamy. From your curves to soft and gentle areas, you are erotic. Well...you were.

Once upon a time, I thought everything was sexy. I could see the true allure in the world and appreciated the uniqueness of life. But I can't do that anymore. I'm married. I've set my standards and realized that sexuality has become saturated.

There are pole dancing classes, unique lingerie, sex toys, photo shoots, body paint, skinny jeans, workout videos, and a heap of other tools...all made to help you become sexy. Though there are so many options, everything that is enticing looks the same now. Why? You've been programmed.

I'm not going to get into some political babble, but not enough people explore various realms of sensuality and seduction. Too many people look at Kim Kardashian, Angelina Jolie, Zoe Saldana, Rihanna, Chris Brown, Fifty Cent, The Rock, or Bradley Cooper. After analyzing these stars, people work at becoming just like them.

Pardon me, but screw them. No star or one person defines sexy. Taking pictures of your body in the mirror ain't cuttin' it. Sexting...are you serious? Booty shots--especially if you have no butt at all--not cute. Amateur porn? Stop or I'll shoot you.

There is no privacy anymore. There's no mystique or allure. Nowadays, sexy is defined by how much you put out. How much you can show off.

That's not me. That's not sexy.

Attraction is meant to be mental warfare. Every writer knows this. If you want to turn a reader on, add sexual tension. Don't reveal too much. Let it play out in the reader's mind. The more explicit you are, the less you allow the reader to fill in the blanks.

If you want to be sexy, you need to become an author of your own life. Let your viewer wonder. Let thoughts of you fester in their brain until it explodes. You want them to overflow with intrigue.

Stop giving it away for free! The more you expose, the less they wonder. Eventually, curiosity will vanish and they'll simply want the final product.

So women, until you get sexy back on the right track, I'm stealing your defining rights. You're not sexy until you're like a good book--full of mystery, twists and turns. By the way, having a good cover helps.

Barcode: Legend of Apollo blurb:

Spencer's an infamously well-known “god” uninterested in his own fate. He turns nineteen-years-old on the first day of his last year at Colt Academy, the academic institution for gladiators. To celebrate, he unwillingly mentors a mysterious nerd, watches his family's helicopter plunge into the ground, and meets a strange Louisianan boy that may want to kill him. With the future of his family's fortune on the line, Spencer not only has to fight the occasional trip to Hades, but also train with his most hated childhood friend, discover the truth about his mother's death, and reestablish his legend as America's savior.

Barcode: Legend of Apollo excerpt:

I’m such a failure.

My instructors say I’m the first of the bloodline that isn’t naturally a top ranking student. Therefore, professors are inclined to boost my grades in order to keep “the great Apollo” at the top of his class.

I apologize dear ancestors. I will honor you by falling on my sword.

Damn. I don’t have a weapon yet. Give me a few days, folks.

I find a seat on a stone bench next to a small pond and watch as several lizard-fish swim and crawl through the shallow water. One has the flesh of a koi fish but the body of a garden lizard. The gold and black colors blur as my heavy eyes close and my head drops. I’m still jet-lagged.

As I open my eyes, a sharp kick lands between my ribs. Before my attacker can remove her foot, I grab it tightly and swing her into the pool.

The plague sitting in front of me with her butt dipped in an inch of water, and her arms folded neatly around her legs, just so happens to call herself Hannah’s best friend, though I knew her long before the two met.

This tomboy has a kick that’s out of this world. Her barcodes are powered by the goddess Atalanta. Every god and demigod has a code that they’re born with. That’s what separates us from Apes and humans. Some gods bond well with their bodies, while others pump so much power into their flesh that they can hardly stand. Ever. It can be a gift or a curse.

“You got my panties wet, jerk.”

“Why would a boy wear panties?”

“Don’t call me a boy, you ugly pig.”

“You walk like one, talk like one, but wait, you kick like a girl,” I tease, but my ribs scream in pain. Even more, I’m defiantly conscious that Michelle’s beauty competes closely with the most attractive girl on campus, Hannah. Still, she and I are mortal enemies that will one day battle to her death.

I’ve seen these visions in my sleep. Any morning I wake up after slaying her just so happens to be a great day. Yes. I’m very aware that many people consider these dreams, but if they are prophetic, The Writer does truly love me.

“What does Hannah see in you?”

“What do you mean? She said that in our first year you always gushed over my blue eyes, and wouldn’t stop raving about my face.” I watch the wicked witch’s eyes nearly leap out of their sockets, and her face turns pale. If the tattoos on her legs shine, I’ll need to flee for my own safety. “Geez. You look so upset; I almost think it’s true.”

Author Bio:

For the past three years, Kashif Ross has been mainly known as a teacher. Yet, he's managed to pick up very random titles along the way. Previous jobs include Student Molecular Oncology Researcher, Camp Counselor, CGI Animator, Character Designer, and Professional Geek.

Now he's an author living in California's Bay Area. You can find posts about his random thoughts and adventures on his blog, www.kashifross.com.

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All Too Human - Guest Post by S. Evan Townsend

My latest novel, Rock Killer, is science fiction but there are no aliens in it.  That's because of when and where it's set (not too far in the future, and only in our solar system).  But also because I'm not very good at writing about aliens.  I admit this about my writing.  Last time I tried to do aliens they looked like cockroaches and had a matriarchal society (I made the males unintelligent).  But to me they just didn't ring true.

I read a lot of science fiction.  This means I read a lot about aliens.  And while most of the time the aliens are interesting and add something to the story, I have to suspend my disbelief because every alien I meet in science fiction is, in my opinion, too human.  Which makes sense because the writers are human, the readers are human, and it would be difficult for them to understand a totally alien species as it would be to understand the motivations of a slime mold.  But you have things like humans and aliens falling in love.  Which would be about as likely as an artichoke falling in love with a human.  The biology is just not there.  And even though I love Mr. Spock, two species that evolved on different planets mating and producing offspring is completely unlikely.  Again, you'd have more luck trying to mate a human and an artichoke.

This is partially why I don't buy the little green men and UFOs.  The aliens described by those who claim to have been abducted are too human.  Maybe by some evolutionary chance the basic humanoid form would be most efficient even for a species that evolved millions of light years away.  But evolution is random.  So you'd think any combination that could work would work.  Also (and this may be me projecting my human values on aliens), I doubt they would expend all the resources needed for interstellar travel to anally probe a few rednecks (are they that hard up for dates?).   But alien motivations should be completely alien to us.   It's possible that if we saw a real life alien, we might not even recognize it as such.  Arthur C. Clark said that any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.   We might think aliens were wizards.  We might think they are ghosts.  Maybe they travel in the fifth dimension and we don't see them at all.

One thing I've often wondered about aliens (assuming they exist and this universe seems too big for them not to somewhere), is would they have the same values we'd have? For instance, would their laws of economics be the same.  Our economic laws are, after all, based on human behavior.  The law of supply and demand, for instance.  The more something costs, the less that people want it.  But maybe to an alien, the more something costs the more they want it.  Why not?  But then maybe because resources are finite (unless you invent something that makes them infinite), the law of supply and demand is universal.

If aliens do come for a visit (or we meet them in space) they are likely to be so much more advanced than us that we'd be like ants to them. It could be they have already been here, seen us, and decided we're not an ant pile worth stepping on.   They would probably be hundreds of thousands of years ahead of us, if not millions of years.  Why?  Because they couldn't be much behind us because they wouldn't be in space and the universe is billions of years old so odds are they started gaining intelligence millions of years ago rather than closer to when we did. That means if we meet the Klingons or the Kzin, and they are hostile, chances are, we'll lose.

I'll continue to read and watch science fiction and enjoy alien interactions.  But I will always think of aliens, such as Mr. Spock, the way Captain Kirk described him: "Human."

Rock Killer Blurb: 

Space Resources, Inc. (SRI) mines asteroids for the riches a populated Earth needs without degrading the planet.  Yet there are those opposed to progress in whatever its form such as the Gaia Alliance, a front group for eco-terrorists.  During a violent attack on the Moon, the terrorists steal an exploration ship, arm it, and rename it the Rock Killer.

Charlene "Charlie" Jones of SRI security is trying to infiltrate the Gaia Alliance's cabal to find evidence linking them to the murder of her fiancé.  But a run-in with the law threatens to reveal her identity to the dangerous men of the Alliance.

Simultaneously, SRI Director Alexander Chun is traveling to the asteroid belt to bring a kilometer-long nickel-iron rock back to Earth orbit to mine for its valuable metals.  Following him and his multi-national team is the Rock Killer.  Without armaments, millions of miles from help, Chun must stop those who threaten him and the lives of his crew.

Author Bio:

S. Evan Townsend is a writer living in central Washington State. After spending four years in the U.S. Army in the Military Intelligence branch, he returned to civilian life and college to earn a B.S. in Forest Resources from the University of Washington. In his spare time he enjoys reading, driving (sometimes on a racetrack), meeting people, and talking with friends. He is in a 12-step program for Starbucks addiction. Evan lives with his wife and two sons, aged 17 and 20, and has a 22-year old son attending the University of Washington in biology. He enjoys science fiction, fantasy, history, politics, cars, and travel.

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Trailer

Rock Killer Excerpt:

DeWite moved into the observation room and Prince followed.

The room looked almost exactly like a bar since it was a VIP lounge for watching ships land and take off. A large window looked over the shipyard, where various types of spacecraft were resting on the lunar dust. The window, made of Crysteel, invented by SRI's orbital laboratories, began about half a meter from the floor and extended to the ceiling and was about five meters wide. Crysteel, made in a factory in Earth orbit one atom at a time, was almost as strong as aluminum. Its one weakness was a very high index of refraction due to tightly packed oxygen atoms. It made great lenses but was not good for use where a clear view was needed such as spaceship windows and pressure suit helmets. But the picture window in the lounge would have been impractical without the Crysteel.

Four pressure-suited figures were moving across the plain. The suits were not SRI issue and they were carrying submachine guns. DeWite recognized them as a South African made 9 millimeter caseless that were favored by criminals who bought them on the black market.

One, carrying a 40-millimeter recoilless rifle, knelt just a few meters from the window and aimed. Fire shot out of the rear of the weapon, dying almost immediately in the airless environment. A flame licked a small intra-lunar shuttle followed by an explosion. The ship's skin crumpled and it folded in on itself in a slow, macabre death dance. An explosion marked the rupture of the fuel tanks. Fire burned until the oxygen ran out.

"Goddamnit!" DeWite exploded. "We need to get to the airlock."

Just then one of the four figures outside noticed the two Security guards. He tapped the others on their shoulders and pointed. The other three turned and again the recoilless rifle spat a fleeting flame. DeWite dived behind the bar—an easy task in the low gravity. The window exploded inward. Prince was thrown against the rear wall, his body shattered by the impact. Then the window exploded outward as the room decompressed. Prince's body was slammed against the bottom of the window and sucked out into the harsh sunlight.

DeWite heard the emergency door slam shut locking him in the room. He knew it would never open until the pressure in the room equalized with the pressure in the hall.

He stood, aimed his shotgun, braced his leg behind to compensate for the low gravity, and fired. He was surprised he heard it at all. Must still be a little air in the room, some part of him thought.

The figure with the recoilless rifle was thrown back and blood ejaculated from its torn body. It was freeze-dried before it hit the lunar plain. The remaining figures turned with their weapons firing. DeWite barely heard the bullets hitting the wall behind him. His ears felt as if they were going to explode. He screamed, not in fear, but to empty his lungs to prolong his already forfeit life a few more seconds.

Pump, FIRE, Pump, FIRE, Pump was DeWite's whole existence. Another figure crumpled, spouting blood. Then the bullets ripped into DeWite. Blood flowed like a fire hose. FIRE—DeWite could no longer stand, even in one-sixth gravity. He sank to the floor and died in a puddle of his blood that was boiling and freezing simultaneously.