Music and My Characters: Guest Blog by Lea Kirk

Happy almost 4th of July! Need some great science fiction romance reading for the holiday? Well, read on.

Today, my friend and peer, Lea Kirk, is here to guest blog on Spacefreighters Lounge. Lea just released Collision, the fourth book in her Prophecy series and she's here to talk about some of the inspiration for her stories.

Music and My Characters

I love music. I can’t hold a tune or play an instrument to save my life, but songs and music definitely inspire me when I write. In fact, every one of my books has at least one song I associate with it. Let’s start from the beginning:

Prophecy: Being that this is my first book, darn near every character has a song. (I see you rolling your eyes.) But, we’ll stick to just my hero and heroine, Alex and Gryf. I Won’t Give Up by Jason Mraz reminded me of them from the moment I first heard it. I have to mention here that 93 Million Miles by Jason Mraz also got a lot of playtime on my iPod.

All of Me: Currently the only non-novel-length book in the series. Within a couple of weeks after I came up with the title, I heard a new song by John Legend entitled…All of Me. The words even fit Garrison and April’s relationship. For over a week I struggled with the idea of finding a new title for my story. In the end, I kept it.

Salvation: Hands down, the one song that is forever stuck to Nick and Sakura’s story in my mind is Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol. Folks, this has got to be the most perfect love song ever. In my opinion, of course. I can almost hear Nick strumming his guitar and singing this song.

Collision (Just released! Yay!): Again, several songs inspired me while writing Flora and Fander’s story. The one song that perfectly embodies their relationship is Perfect by Ed Sheeran. Whatever It Takes by Imagine Dragons really captures the feel of the storyline.

I hope you enjoyed this small insight to the songs that best fit my characters and stories. Thanks for visiting my guest blog on Spacefreighters!

(P.S. – I do have a vampire novella, Made for Her, that is unrelated to my Prophecy series. Two songs inspired me for that story. Demons by Imagine Dragons, and Back in Black by AC/DC. Mikhail is a “classic rock” kind of vampire. Kinda like his author-mom, who is rocking out to BiB as she puts the final touches to this blog post.)

~*~*~

Collision, Book Three of the Prophecy Series

A heart-rending loss…

Flora Bock will never forgive the Anferthian invaders for murdering her birth-parents. Growing up with the grandson of her sworn enemies is living a nightmare—until the day she sees him through the eyes of a young woman. But giving her heart to him is the ultimate betrayal of her parents’ memory.

A life in peril…

There are precious few places in the galaxy where Fander K’nil is safe. One look into Flora’s beautiful, hate-filled eyes is proof enough that Terr is not one of those places. He must keep her at a distance and stay alive long enough to fulfill his destiny. No matter what his heart desires.

An empire at stake…

Just as Fander and Flora begin to discover the depth of their feelings for each other, they are thrust into a deadly game of politics and assassination with an enemy who stops at nothing to stay in power. With the lives of everyone they love at risk, they must find a way to avert a new invasion before it’s too late—even if it means making the ultimate sacrifice.

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Vivien Jackson's Take on Wonder Woman: Guest Blog

Recently, I started reading Wanted & Wired, a SFR in the cyberpunk sector of our genre galaxy written by author Vivien Jackson. I was immediately enthused and so, so hooked--futuristic world, complex characters, wildly imaginative setting--wow! So while I'm still chomping at the bit to finish this first novel in the Tether series, the second book went into the queue for release later this year. (Can you tell I'm stoked?)

So I'm very honored to host Vivien Jackson today for a guest blog on a subject that's been bandied about the internet with mucho gusto in recent weeks--Wonder Woman!--and to briefly discuss Wanted & Wired's sequel, Perfect Gravity. Welcome, Vivien.

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Yesterday, I took my daughters to see Wonder Woman. They’re huge superhero-movie fans—Guardians of the Galaxy (both Vols.) and Doctor Strange are their favorites … or were. See, even though they’re jaded, veteran fans, they seemed to understand that something monumental was going on with this movie. They were quiet all the way through, ingesting.

With credits still rolling and her gaze still locked on the screen like it was made of magic, the younger kiddo breathed, “She is so badass.”

We stopped off to take selfies next to the standee, and, pushing through the glass doors, out into the over-bright late afternoon, the elder kiddo said, “You know what, Mom? There aren’t any other movies where the girl is the hero, all by herself. I mean, Harley Quinn was pretty cool, but it wasn’t her movie. And River Tam and Black Widow, same thing. They all have teams and, you know, boys who tell them what to do. They aren’t in charge.”

Of course, my brain started whirring and I’m thinking, well, Ripley was kind of end-to-end the heroine of Alien, and there was that unfortunate Cat Woman Halle Berry thing, but in the main? Out of movies she would know? This probably was the first, or at least the best. It was all about the heroine, all about her struggle and her journey, not some dude’s wish-fulfillment earn-the-princess-prize flick.

So you know what, kiddo? You’re right. This is new. And women my age have been waiting for it for so long.

Diana – Wonder Woman – is the wish fulfillment of thousands, possibly millions of women. Consider:

She is all of us when she selects clothes based on how they feel on her skin and how feasible they are for her activity level, rather than whether they accentuate her eyes or minimize her belly pooch.

She is all of us when she cannot remain on the sidelines and watch her sisters fight. When she must instead fight alongside them.

She is all of us when she takes enemy fire, just stands there against the incoming hail of bullets, so that the people she nurtures and leads can safely do their jobs. (Hint: This is what moms do every day, just with fewer special effects.)

She is all of us when she walks into the halls of power and stands unembarrassed, confident amidst the decision makers. Like she belongs there.

She is the best of us when she disbelieves in the inherent evil of humanity and strives instead to reveal the core of us, which is amazing.

She is the woman I want my little girls to someday become. And she is the woman I try to write in my futuristic books, because I need the world to evolve toward her example.

I have a book coming out in November, Perfect Gravity, and though the heroine, Angela, isn’t an Amazon princess, she is a woman burdened by authority, a decision maker who sometimes makes the wrong one. Her journey is a struggle to own all the disparate parts of herself, to be both warrior and nurturer, thinker and feeler, fairy-tale princess and real-life power broker.

When I saw this cover from Perfect Gravity—brand new and official, the first time Angela has had a face outside my private brain space—my thoughts were very like kiddo #2’s after seeing Wonder Woman: She is so badass.

When someone tries to kill powerful continental senator Angela Neko, Texan outlaw and old flame Kellen Hockley is the only man who can keep her safe...and help her save the world. Perfect Gravity is second in the snarky, sexy cyperpunk Tether romance series.

Now available for preorder: Amazon | Nook | Google Play

Vivien Jackson writes stories with robots, grenades, pixies, and always, always down-home salacious kissery. She’s an unrepentant fangirl of many fandoms and would love to discuss your favorite ships: @Vivien_Jackson on Twitter or on the web at www.vivienjackson.com.

Why Pets in Space is a Project Close to my Heart: Guest Blog by Carysa Locke

I'm beyond enthused to be one of nine authors contributing to Pets in Space, a wonderful collection of novellas and novelettes. After all, pets + space! What could be more fun than that? But along with the fun comes adventure, aliens, intrigue, excitement and compelling romantic mayhem. We're also very proud that part of the proceeds will be donated to Hero-dogs.org who provide trained service dogs and companion animals free of charge for our veterans. For the next several weeks, Pets in Space authors will be guest blogging to share insights into their stories, pets, experiences and favorite things.

I'm delighted to have author Carysa Locke guest blogging today to talk about why writing a story for Pets in Space was such an important project for her.

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We are a household of two cats and two dogs. Of those four pets, three are rescues. Our second rescue was Maya, an Australian Shepherd/Husky mix that came to us through a friend’s no-kill shelter. Dogs get shipped to them from other states to avoid being euthanized. Our older dog was winding down to the end of her life, so we’d been halfway looking for a puppy to get, partly to help entertain our Bengal cat Julius, who didn’t understand why his companion of twelve years was no longer interested in playing. 

This puppy came to them from Fresno, California, an entire state away. She and her sister had been found wandering the streets. Our friend thought of us as soon as she arrived, with her quiet demeanor and sweet personality. We met her, and that was that. Maya came home with us. 

But that was just the beginning. It soon became clear that whatever her experiences had been, they had left an indelible mark on Maya. She wouldn’t go outside unless one of us stepped out with her. Afraid, we think, of being shut outside and never let back in. She had strange episodes where a noise or a touch would trigger her into what we called puppy flashbacks, where she would cry inconsolably and bury her head against one of us, while refusing to let us touch her. We’re fairly certain that someone, at some time, was physically abusive towards her. 

She has a very hard time trusting humans, even those she has met and liked several times. Each time is a new opportunity to win her trust, and each time it is like starting over again. When our older dog passed away, we decided the best thing we could do for Maya would be to get a second puppy. She has improved by leaps and bounds since we did, learning to trust more quickly, and really coming into her own as a loving, happy dog. Her flashbacks are becoming fewer and more infrequent. 

It astounds me sometimes, to think about the things Maya endured before she came to us. We may never know her full story. But what we do know is that she has a happy, safe environment with us, where her biggest worries are trying to stop her herding instincts from chasing the cats on a daily basis. 

It’s hard for me to imagine that there are people out there who will abuse animals who are defenseless and unable to protect themselves, but that is exactly why projects like this one are so important. Anything that can be done to raise awareness for rescue animals, or to aid organizations that train animals to be companions for humans in need, is a great thing to be a part of. I’m proud to be involved with Pets in Space, and so excited to share my story, Escape Run, with everyone. 

Here is a small teaser, introducing my character’s pet, Ember:

Ember looked up at Teegan with a glint in her blue eyes. Her fur rippled in the wind. She was almost entirely a silver color that disappeared against the brightness of snow, but tufts of red circled her eyes like a mask, and tipped the end of her tail and each paw, as though they’d been dipped in the color. It is high summer. It does not snow in high summer, Teegan. There was a distinct tone of disapproval to the kith’s mental voice. As if she couldn’t abide the sky spitting snow in the wrong season.

Thanks so much for hosting me today.

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Carysa Locke is the author of Pirate Nemesis and Pirate Bound. You can find her here:

Carysa Locke Website

Facebook

Twitter  @carysalocke

ESCAPE RUN

By Carysa Locke

Teegan’s job as a hunter is to track down the Talented, those driven insane by their gifts. She and Ember, her psychically gifted fox, have tracked dozens of people for Cole, the man who works to rehabilitate and recover these troubled souls. When one of Cole’s most dangerous patients escapes, Teegan and Ember are on a hunt that could prove fatal if she doesn’t keep her focus on her mission. Unfortunately, Cole is proving one distraction that might make this her last hunt if she can’t do that.

Can Teegan keep her heart and mind in the game long enough to save an entire planet’s population, or will her distraction lead to heartache – and possibly death for everyone?

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Pets in Space Anthology
Release Date: October 11 2016
ISBN: 978-1-942583-40-0

Join the adventure as nine pet loving sci-fi romance authors take you out of this world and pull you into their action-packed stories filled with suspense, laughter, and romance. The alien pets have an agenda that will capture the hearts of those they touch. Follow along as they work side by side to help stop a genetically-engineered creature from destroying the Earth to finding a lost dragon; life is never the same after their pets decide to get involved. Can the animals win the day or will the stars shine just a little less brightly?

New York Times, USA TODAY, Award Winning, and Best selling authors have eight original, never-released stories and one expanded story giving readers nine amazing adventures that will capture your imagination and help a worthy charity. Come join us as we take you on nine amazing adventures that will change the way you look at your pet!

10% of the first month’s profits go to Hero-Dogs.org. Hero Dogs raises and trains service dogs and places them free of charge with US Veterans to improve quality of life and restore independence.

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S. Usher Evans Guest Blog: Alliances - Book 2 Raza Series

About the Book

Lyssa Peate has found a tenuous balance between her double lives - the planet-discovering scientist and space pirate bounty hunter named Razia. No longer on probation, Razia still struggles to be thought of as more than a chocolate-fetching joke, and Lyssa can't be truthful to those closest to her. But both lives are turned upside-down when feisty government investigator Lizbeth Carter shows up to capture the same pirate Razia is after.

Lizbeth's not interested in taking Razia's thunder; rather, she convinces the caustic bounty hunter to help solve a mystery. Somebody's hiring pirates to target government ships, and there's a money trail that doesn't make any sense. From the desert planet of D-882 to the capital city on S-864, the investigation leads them deeper and deeper into a conspiracy that reaches to the highest levels of the Universal Government - and to one of the most painful chapters in Lyssa's past. Purchase on Amazon

 

Preview from Chapter One:

The room was dark, with a single, dingy lamp hanging over a table where three men sat, each holding a hand of cards. They said little, except for the occasional grunt or movement to tap their grungy mini-computers to up their ante. The first sighed and rubbed the scruff around his chin. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a cigarette and a lighter.

"You hear that Llendo is running for re-election?" he said, cigarette dangling from his mouth.
"What else is new?" The short, squatty man and whose toes barely brushed the floor, threw a few chips into the virtual pile using his mini-computer. "The guy's a puppet. There ain't nothin' that comes out of his mouth that ain't been sent through the ringer about a million times."

The other two men chuckled and shuffled around their cards. The third man, with a long face and sallow complexion, pulled two more cards for his own hand and shuffled them together and apart again.

"But who else is there to vote for?" he asked, counting his cards and stacking them together again.

"That general? You know that buffoon Peate works for him. He ain't getting my vote until I know he's gonna play along."

The second shrugged and said, "Nobody'd vote for him in a million years."
"You and your millions." The third rolled his eyes. "Everything you say has been done a million times."

"Bah, can it," the first barked. "And hurry up and make your move."
"I'm taking my time. Don't want to get fleeced again," the third said. "You're all a bunch of crooks."

"Takes one to know one." The second man peered at his cards through a pair of thick glasses, hunched over.

"I am retired," the first man said, sitting back and taking a long drag of his cigarette. "None of that piracy crap for me anymore. Getting too dangerous for me."

"Gonna break a nail?" the second snorted. "Bad enough you got that girl. Whatsherface."

"I hear she's doing all right," the third said. "Kidnapped Jukin Peate's brother and held him for ransom last year."

"And what's she done since then?" the second said.

"More than you've done."

"I'm just saying, it's unnatural to have a woman out with the men," the first said. He paused for a moment and began to smile. "Although I can't say I hate seeing her scamper around '882."

"Shame she doesn't wear tighter pants," the second said. "I seen pictures. She wears these baggy things. I bet if she wore something that made her look like a girl, she wouldn't even have to fight nobody."

"She could come capture me any day of the week. I don't care what she looks like," the third said. "I'd lay down and let her do whatever she wanted to me."

"Care to test that theory?"

The three glanced up sharply at the sound of a distinctly female voice in the doorway.

"Hey, hey," the first man said, standing up. "We don't want no trouble. We're retired here, lady."

"You are," Razia said, stepping into the light with a smirk on her face. She turned her eyes on the third man in the room. "He isn't."

About the Author

S. Usher Evans is an author, blogger, and witty banter aficionado. Born in a small, suburban town in northwest Florida, she was seventeen before she realized that not all beach sand is white. From a young age, she has always been a long-winded individual, first verbally (to the chagrin of her ever-loving parents) and then eventually channeled into the many novels that dotted her Windows 98 computer in the early 2000's. After high school, she got the hell outta dodge and went to school near the nation's capital, where she somehow landed jobs at National Geographic, Discovery Channel, and the British Broadcasting Corporation, capping off her educational career with delivering the commencement address to 20,000 of her closest friends. She determined she'd goofed off long enough with that television nonsense and got a "real job" as an IT consultant. Yet she continued to write, developing 20 page standard operating procedures and then coming home to write novels about bounty hunters, teenage magic users, and other nonsense. After a severe quarter life crisis at age 27, she decided to finally get a move on and share those novels with the world in hopes that she will never have to write another SOP again.

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