There's a New Captain Aboard! Carol Van Natta Takes Charge of the Pets in Space® Dynasty

If you've been keeping up with Science Fiction Romance news, you're probably aware that author Carol Van Natta will be taking the helm of the wonderfully successful Pets in Space® SFR franchise for 2021 and into the future. Carol is well known in the community and among readers as an established and popular author with several wonderful sci-fi romance series.

I wanted to ask Carol a few questions about this big transition and she graciously agreed to do an interview. Read on to hear what the new PISA Captain has to say and if you have anything special you'd like to ask her regarding Pets in Space®, be sure to post them in comments. 

Carol, first of all, many congratulations and kudos on assuming the reins of the Pets in Space® dynasty. Can you talk a little more about how this all came about?

Thanks for your kind words. I'm excited and a bit intimidated at the same time. I have some very stylish shoes to fill.

The transition owes largely to serendipity and friendships. Pauline Baird Jones and Jean Walker (who writes as Veronica Scott) came up with a fabulous concept for Pets in Space®—even the name makes people smile. Add science fiction romance goodness and the excellent charity component, and it's a winner.

In the past (crazy) year, Pauline and Jean began looking for someone to take the helm, as it were, and my name came up via a mutual friend. I love the anthology, the charity, and the possibilities. It was too good an opportunity to pass up. Besides, my cats insisted the world desperately needs more stories with felines. Please don't tell them about the stories with non-cat heroes.

As a writer for three of the past five volumes of Pets in Space®, what's your vision for the franchise going forward? Any surprises in store?

Pauline and Jean built a strong foundation and a devoted fan base. I've managed plenty of projects in my career, but never an anthology, so I know I have a learning curve. My plan for Pets in Space® 6 is to keep all the things readers love—favorite and new authors, brand new stories, pets, adventure, and science fiction romance.

I do have a few ideas for the future, but if I told you now, they wouldn't be surprises. 😸

Do you plan to continue with the usual involvement of 9-12 authors and the regular schedule of October releases for future Pets in Space® volumes, or will there be some "changing up" in the usual process? Do you also plan to continue to support the Hero Dogs charity with future releases?

Yes, I will be inviting 9 to 12 authors to participate in each anthology. As with the previous anthologies, some authors will be returning favorites, and some will be new. That number gives readers a nice buffet of stories to choose from without being overwhelming.

Unless the 2020 Calamity Fairy hangs around like a grumpy guest overstaying their visit, Pets in Space® 6 will release in October 2021. The October time frame has been good for the anthology. It will still be a limited edition, too, meaning it will leave the galaxy forever after a few months. It helps us maximize the donation amount for the charity, and quickly returns rights to the authors so they can do whatever they like with their stories.

And we will most definitely keep our relationship with the Hero Dogs charity for as long as they'll have us. Its mission to provide trained service dogs to disabled veterans and first-responders is a perfect match made in the stars for Pets in Space®. As a side note, I understand that you, Laurie, recommend the Hero Dogs charity and support them yourself, so kudos to you, too.

Pets in Space® 2: Embrace the Romance was the only volume ever released in a print version. Do you think any of the future collections might also be produced in a print version?

I am sentimentally fond of my only paperback copy of Pets in Space® 2, but it's a monster. Print books have a page limit, and every subsequent Pets in Space® volume has exceeded it by a goodly amount. I suppose we could print in tiny type and hand out magnifying glasses with each one, but I'm not sure how we'd package that. And the purchase price might be prohibitive, too.

All in all, I won't say "never," but I will say a future print version is unlikely. 

Is there anything else you'd like to say about your new role or the future of Pets in Space?

Please send black tea for me and cat toys to distract my felines. I have a feeling I'm going to need them.

Carol, I have a feeling you and Pets in Space® will have a long and happy voyage ahead. Many congratulations on taking the helm of this dynamic Science Fiction Romance anthology series, and thanks for chatting with us about its no-doubt bright future. 

Thanks for stopping by the Lounge today. 

______________

If you'd like to learn more about Carol Van Natta, visit her website here: Carol Van Natta

You can also follow Carol at these book-centered sites:  

Goodreads         Bookbub

If you have any thoughts or questions for Carol, 

please post them in comments below. 

First Look at CaSandra--and Other Pets of Pets in Space® 5

So I've got art!

Our artist has once again completed the sketches of this year's Pets in Space® 5 collection, and they are as adorable as they are diverse!

Take a look for yourself:

As you can probably tell, some are alien, some bio-engineered, robotic or cyborg, and/or possible descendants of creatures that once roamed the good ol' Earth. 

Which one of these "pets" is CaSandra? (Better known by her nick--Cassie.)

It's this inquisitive little girl!

The very talented artist (who, granted, had an easier time envisioning mine, since she's StarDog creation #4) took the following guidance and created my image. 

Paraphrasing a bit here: "I need a StarDog like the others, but this one should be really alert and inquisitive because she finds something very important. Her coloring is like the previous StarDog, Maura--a solid tan with no spots or shading." 

As inspiration, I sent an image of a German Shepherd K-9 looking down at a training device while eagerly awaiting his cue, and then reminded the artist that Cassie, being dog-cat-weasel-mongoose has much shorter legs, a fluffier coat and tail, and a face that suggests all four critters she's derived from, and is female. 

I think they did a great job of interpretation, don't you?

For reference, here are StarDogs #1 through #3, in order: Katrina, Luna, and Maura. 

The first three were K-series, L-series and M-series StarDogs and/or SpyDogs (a StarDog upgrade created specifically for espionage work) whose stories all took place just prior and after Operation Reset--the major action the Network undertakes at the end of Inherit the Stars (and SpyDog, since the two books happen concurrently).

CaSandra though, is a much earlier C-series StarDog--one of the earliest prototypes. Her story takes place a full five calendars (years) before Operation Reset. In fact, at the beginning of the story, they don't even have a name for what she is yet!

And let me just add this reminder that Pets in Space® 5 in available now for pre-order, and as with all the previous Pets in Space® volumes, 10% of the royalties from ALL pre-orders and the first month's sales will go to benefit the wonderful Hero-Dogs organization, that raises and trains service dogs to provide them to disabled military vets and first responders to improve their quality of life. 

So far, Pets in Space® editions have resulted in the donation of over $15,000 to the cause, and we hope to make 2020 a truly banner year for our donation! 

You can help right now by placing a pre-order at the vendor of your choice here. 

And let me tell you, this is no ordinary anthology! Some of these stories can be up to 50,000 words--so actual novels--as well as novellas and novelettes! Pets in Space® 5 will keep you reading for days and days, if not entire weeks or more! All of the stories are standalones that will introduce you to some amazing science fiction romance series, too! 

But it will only be available for a limited time, and then the collection is gone forever, so don't miss out!

I hope you've enjoyed this visual of all the Pets in Space® pets! Which of the images most catches your eye or makes you curious to learn more?

Exploring the Inherited Stars Worlds - Part II

Last week I published a blog that discusses a little about the origins of my Inherited Stars universe. It's an especially helpful topic for my upcoming release, Juggernaut, which will be part of the Pets in Space® 5 collection.

If you missed my first installment of Exploring the Inherited Stars Worlds - Part I, just click the link to read more about how the Inherited Stars were essentially, well...inherited. The focus of the blog is on planet Draxis...later renamed LaGuardia according to the planet's history (though the validity of that history is being challenged by their foes). 

Ah yes, the foes.

No series is complete without proper villains to terrorize and antagonize, and in the Inherited Stars Series the evil-doers are called the Ithian Alliance. 

The worlds of the Alliance (or Ithian Alliance) is made up of a joint coalition between two worlds, Ithis and Rathskia. Here's a little more about them.

Ithis

Ithis, and some of its more powerful leaders, are often the villains of my series stories. (Although, Ithians can surprise you! Not every Ithian turns out to be a bad guy!) 

Here's the background of about the planet Ithis:

Environment: The inhabitable areas of Ithis (most found in a wide band centered on the planet's equator) are temperate with a climate similar to the UK or upper Mid-West in the USA. Though seasons vary, it's not extreme. They enjoy a short summer, short winter and longer, somewhat dreary Spring and Fall seasons. The Ithian skin pigment tends to be much paler than their Draxian ancestors (who they deny existed), but they are often fair-haired like their predecessors.

History: Ithians have evolved to be tall, averaging seven feet (or foot-spans in the universe language). They evolved from a specific group of Draxians (which they also now deny) and their settlement of Ithis was difficult and filled with sacrifice and controversy, but eventually--some thirteen centuries later--they rose to be a dominant culture with far-reaching influence. not unlike Rome in its day. And like Rome, they have some horrific practices that arose as an offshoot of their pioneering days on Ithis. Though they didn't feed their enemies to lions or slaughter them by the scores as a morbid spectator event, their practices are equally chilling. Like Rome, they also have an appreciation for the finer things in life, like good food, wine, poetry, music, art and other niceties of an advanced society. 

Politics: The Ithians are the powerhouse culture in the known galaxy and are in the process of systematically subduing the governments or multi-governments of all other inhabited planets. Their tactics in the era where the Inherited Stars series books is set have become increasingly domineering and intrusive. The have denounced the generally accepted history of the known galaxy--the original human colonists arriving from a planet called Old Earth via a spatial vortex, as false and silly legend with no basis in truth. Citizens of Ithis claims their planet was the cradle of human civilization and any other claims are false legends.

Rathskia

Rathskia is probably the better known planet of my diabolic duo of worlds that make up the Alliance, but there are several main characters in my series that are either full-blooded Rathskian or half-Rathskian and are decidedly good guys ("guys" not being gender specific). Generally seen as aggressive, heartless monsters, they can have a more genial nature if not raised under the demanding influences of their culture, where horrible facial scars called kinsmarcs are inflicted as a badge of honor and sign of authority. This horrific disfiguring has given the Rathskians the unflattering nickname of "wreck-face" (usually used in connection with some colorful expletives). 

Environment: Warmer, less green and more mountainous and rocky than Ithis's literally greener pastures. Hotter, harsher climate than most of the other worlds in the known galaxy.

History: The Rathskians also evolved from a specific group of Draxians, but are genetically different than the Ithians. They tend to have dark skin pigmentation, black hair, are powerfully built and though they grow tall, they aren't as tall as their paler, slighter allies. 

Politics: The Rathskians are allies to Ithis in name only, as Ithis still requires tributes from the planet and uses the Rathskian military as their henchmen or enforcers. Their shared history is entangled and complex, and ancient tradition reinforces the Rathskian commitment to side with Ithis. Rathskian nobility claims to be descended from elite, highly-skilled Duumarakhan warriors who once served the Ithian predecessors, and Rathskians still honor the obligations of their warrior-class fore-bearers. 

The male descendants of a single Duumarakhan male--often referred to as the Holy T'mar--have ruled Rathskia for its entire history. Rathskian's fierce pride in their past is a point of contention with their Ithian ally, who denounces any history that doesn't recognize Ithis as the first planet where humans evolved.

To say these two societies are uneasy allies would be a huge understatement! Ithis and Rathskia definitely share a love/hate relationship. 

This turbulent backstory figures into the plot of Juggernaut as well as interweaving some of the history from previous books. It is the earliest story to date on the Inherited Stars timeline, taking place about five calendars (years) before the events in the anchor novel, Inherit the Stars.

Juggernaut will release on October 6, 2020 in the upcoming Pets in Space® 5 but the collection is available for preorder now! Just click here to learn more and see the list of available vendors:

PREORDER PETS IN SPACE 5 with JUGGERNAUT 

Have a great week!

Pets in Space® 5 Cover Reveal and Pre-Order Announcement!

It's finally here! It's been a long, trying year for many of us, but the much anticipated Pets in Space® 5 collection of science fiction romance adventures is now available for pre-order!

Here's your first gander at our fantastic new cover!

Have you been missing your Pets in Space®?

I am thrilled to announce that the USA Today Bestselling and award-winning Pets in Space® anthology will be back for its 5th year…and I am one of the contributing authors!

Get ready to escape!! Pets in Space® 5 anthology will release on October 6th, 2020 and once again, 10% of pre-orders and the 1st month's royalties go to Hero-Dogs.org who raise, train & place support dogs with U.S. veterans and first responders.

I am thrilled to be teaming up with S.E. Smith, Michelle Diener, Veronica Scott, Pauline Baird Jones, Carol Van Natta, Regine Abel, Alexis Glynn Latner, JC Hay, Kyndra Hatch, Cassandra Chandler, and Leslie Chase. I can’t wait to read all the stories!

Reserve your copy here: https://petsinspaceantho.com   OR I have added all the vendor pre-order links at the bottom of this post.

Excited to learn more? We can't wait to tell you about it!

PETS IN SPACE® 5 ANTHOLOGY

It’s time for an escape! Pets in Space® 5 is back for the fifth amazing year! Escape to new worlds with twelve of today’s top Science Fiction Romance authors. They have written 12 original, never-before-released stories filled with action, adventure, suspense, humor, and romance that will take you out of this world. The giving doesn’t stop there. For the fifth year, Pets in Space® will be donating a portion of the first month proceeds to Hero-Dogs.org, a non-profit charity that supports our veterans and First Responders. If you are ready to forget the world around you and make a difference while you are having fun, grab your copy before it’s gone!

Yes, we will once again be donating 10% of our first month's royalties - including 10% of all pre-order royalties - to Hero Dogs. Here's more on the wonderful charity we support:

OUR CHARITY:  HERO-DOGS.ORG

Proud supporters of Hero-Dogs.org, Pets in Space® authors have donated over $15,300 in the past four years to help place specially trained dogs with veterans and first responders. 10% of all pre-orders and the first month’s royalties of Pets in Space® 5 will again go to Hero-Dogs.org. Open your hearts and grab your limited release copy of Pets in Space® 5 today so together we can continue to assist this worthy charity! https://www.hero-dogs.org/

We had to keep this collection a big secret until now, but here's your first look at these 12 original science fiction romance stories and the authors who wrote them!

PETS IN SPACE® 5 STORIES

 

The King's Quest

A Dragon Lords of Valdier Short Story

by S.E. Smith

A King’s Quest…

King Tamblin, ruler of the Kingdom of Glitter, prepares for battle after the aliens foretold by his sister, Tia, return to their world. He will stop at nothing to prevent the creatures from decimating the small moon again. Yet, there is little he or the Kingdom of the Sand People can do to stop the invasion. Their last hope for survival rests on his shoulders when Tia insists he journey on a quest to find the beautiful and mysterious Arosa, Queen of the Wood Fairies, and ask for her help.

Arosa, considered a Goddess on many worlds she visits, is stunned when a playful trick to entertain the Dragonlings of Valdier turns her life upside down. She never expects to feel the strange yet exhilarating emotions that Tamblin stirs inside her. Her kind were supposed to observe other species, not fall in love with them!

Attempting to keep her distance, Arosa assigns a small bat to guard Tamblin, just for her own peace of mind, but it isn’t long until the bat alerts her that Tamblin is in danger, and Arosa realizes that she will break all the rules to protect him.

Arosa can admit to herself that she loves Tamblin, but will the King return her feelings when he discovers that she is more than just the Queen of the Wood Fairies—that she has the power to not only save his world, but create entire galaxies?

 

DARK AMBITIONS

A Class 5 Novella

by Michelle Diener

It's been months since Rose McKenzie was taken far from Earth. She's trying to make a place for herself amongst the Grih, with help from her Grihan lover, Captain Dav Jallan, and the dangerous and loyal Sazo, a powerful artificial intelligence who's integrated with an infamous Class 5 battleship.

When Rose gets the chance to join an exploration team going down to collect information from a planet in Grihan airspace, she jumps at the opportunity to stretch her legs and breathe some real air.

But someone is already on the planet—the Krik—and they don't want anyone to know what they're up to. The Krik are the chaos agents of the United Council, often riding the edge of the law or over it. They ambush the exploration team and take them prisoner, but they don't realize they didn't get everyone. They didn't get Rose.

With Dav, and his spaceship the Barrist, lured away by a distress signal, Rose and Sazo, along with a furry friend Rose has made, are the exploration team's only hope at rescue. And Rose never leaves a friend behind.

 

STAR CRUISE: RETURN VOYAGE

The Sectors SF Romance Series

By Veronica Scott

Gianna Nadenoft is a reclusive survivor of one of the worst interstellar cruise ship disasters in the history of the Sectors. Now a renowned artist, she hasn’t left her home planet in decades, not since returning there after the wreck as a traumatized three-year-old. With her service animal at her side, she’s going to attempt to travel across the star systems to attend her brother’s wedding and reunite with her fellow survivors.

Trevor Hanson is a security officer aboard the cruise liner Nebula Zephyr with his own traumatic past as a former Special Forces soldier and prisoner of war. He’s assigned to provide personal protection to Gianna during her time aboard the ship but soon finds his interest turning from professional to romantic.

Onboard the Nebula Zephyr, powerful enemies are watching Gianna and making plans to seize this rare opportunity to gain access to her and the secrets they believe she’s still keeping about the wreck. Can Trevor overcome his personal demons and rise to the occasion to save Gianna from the danger waiting on his ship, or will she slip through his fingers and suffer a terrible fate deferred from her last disastrous voyage?

 

GENERAL’S HOLIDAY

Project Enterprise Series Story

By Pauline Baird Jones

A lady, a frog, and the General that wanted to be Picard…

General John Halliwell, Commander of the Project Enterprise Earth Expedition, has spent most of his time in the Garradian Galaxy being shot at and shooting back. When a mysterious and intriguing lady arrives on Kikk asking for some non-shooting help, he is intrigued enough to listen.

All Naxe has ever known is a life of hiding and providing. With the end of the war, freedom still feels further than ever. Determined to end the stalemate that threatens her people, she will break all the rules—even the one where she asks General Halliwell for help.

Of course, she should have known better. Trouble—and the shooting—starts the moment she brings the general and his team to the Scoyfol ships. It won’t matter that the enterprising General Halliwell is the first man to remind her she is a woman if they are dead! Is it possible to end the stalemate, survive the shooting, and still find a happily ever after?

 

JUGGERNAUT

The Inherited Stars Series

By Laurie A. Green (a Spacefreighters Lounge author!)

Lieutenant Commander Dekessa “Dek” Garr is second-in-command of a security force that protects a discovery buried deep inside an ancient lava tube. The implications of the find are staggering, and the stakes are high if their enemy—the Alliance—ever learns the truth about Site D. When her commander suddenly departs with zero warning and a mysterious visitor arrives, her job becomes a whole new level of complicated.

Sno Telon has an exercise to perform, and he isn’t about to let anyone stop him--including the dedicated acting commander known as Dek. But when his partner, CaSandra, a bioengineered dog-cat-weasel-mongoose, takes an immediate liking to the team leader, Sno realizes there’s much more to the woman than harsh words and hard scowls.

When Dek is attacked by an invisible foe who infiltrates the off-limits excavation, she immediately suspects Telon as the obvious culprit. But her interrogations of the man don’t go as planned and an unlikely bond forms between them as they reach a startling conclusion. Could the invisible perpetrator actually be an Alliance spy who’s about to blow open the secrets of Site D?

Can Dek trust Telon and his StarDog partner to help root out a possible Alliance operative, even if it means breaking every security protocol in the process? If her instincts about Telon are wrong, Site D could be lost forever…as well as her life.

 

GALACTIC SEARCH AND RESCUE

Central Galactic Concordance Series

By Carol Van Natta

Rescuers Taz and Rylando can’t let their forbidden attraction get in the way of saving lives. When a planetary disaster turns deadly, can they save an entire town... and each other?

Subcaptain Taz Correa, telekinetic talent and first-responder in the military’s underfunded and overworked Galactic Search and Rescue division, hides her unprofessional attraction for teammate Rylando and his unorthodox team of animal assistants. When catastrophe strikes a politically important town, Taz, Rylando, and his animals are the only rescuers left to respond.

Subcaptain Rylando Dalroinn loves his telepathic connection to his animals, but wants a heart connection with teammate Taz. Unfortunately, not only is it against the rules, but he doesn’t know how to tell her. And in GSAR, rescue missions always come first.

Kaz lives her worst nightmare when trapped underground with the animals in a hidden room set to blow sky high. Everything Rylando loves is in peril, and now he’s at the mercy of people who aren’t just victims.

If Taz, Rylando, and the animals can’t find their way to save each other fast and neutralize the threat, the whole town will become a disaster statistic.

 

REAPER

Xian Warriors Series

By Regine Abel

She survived against the odds...

Janelle’s life is defined by the small, underground research base she has always called home. Imprisoned for twenty years after the base was bombed, she and the few Creckel survivors are running out of time as the last of their resources are depleted. With no hope for rescue, she and her companions wait for the dreaded Reaper to finish what the bombs missed.

Reaper, a half-human, half-Kryptid, is part of the Vanguard—an elite peacekeeping force determined to help the survivors left behind by war. New intel leads him to a remote research base where he discovers Creckel survivors—and a lone human woman named Janelle.

Janelle’s life hasn’t prepared her for the breathtakingly stunning, genetically engineered warrior. His words, filled with impossible promises, make her believe there is a place for her somewhere in the vast universe—with him by her side. Is it possible that dreams can come true, or will guilt for another man’s deeds shatter her new hope?

PASTFINDERS

Starways Series

By Alexis Glynn Latner

With a little bit of luck….

Mercury Chancer came to the planet Tellus as a member of an archaeological team investigating ancient alien ruins. The archaeologists have to work fast because a terraforming flood will soon put the ruins under water, but Mercury isn’t worried. She has a psychic gift that changes the laws of probability, bringing her accidental luck which should help the team.

Boerdelim “Haze” Tel-Hazon works for the Office of Planetary Protection. An official visit to the dig site leads him to Mercury—and a strange, shapeshifting alien animal. Haze is shaken when a long-forgotten trauma from his past comes alive. With Mercury’s luck and the help from a sympathetic alien animal, he just might survive!

Just when Haze didn’t think things could get any worse, the archaeologists make a stupendous discovery—and greedy enemies take notice. When the archaeologists prove they are not the defenseless scientists they pretend to be, Haze has to wonder—will flood, foes, and the resurgent past defeat them, or will luck and love win the day?

 

MITTENS NOT INCLUDED

TriSystems: Smugglers Series

By JC Hay

Three little kittens have lost their way…

Layth Ali thought he was happy. On board the Sentinel of Gems, he is allowed to run the medical bay as he sees fit, and the crew appreciates his talents. Most importantly, the smugglers don’t ask him questions about his past, or pressure him to leave his self-imposed exile. But when a new passenger and her precious cargo get dumped into his lap, it’s all he can do to deflect her incessant questions and keep her at arm’s length.

Meja Aquarone knew she was courting trouble when she stole a litter of kittens from the lab where she worked, but she refused to allow their perceived flaw to become a death sentence. Now she’s on the run, hoping that the crew of the Sentinel can smuggle her someplace safe without her employers finding her. She wasn’t expecting to find someone on board who understood the tiny creatures, or who shielded his compassion behind a wall of spiky indifference, but ten minutes with the ship’s doctor leaves her curious to know more.

Forced to go to the one place Layth swore never to return, the walls are closing around them. With a corporate bounty on their heads, and three cats becoming increasingly difficult to hide, Layth and Meja have to decide – what are they willing to sacrifice to gain the safety they desire? And is that protection worth being alone?

 

FINDING MOGHA

Before The Fall Series

By Kyndra Hatch

Dani Myers is on the run and running out of time. Her discovery of a young Korthan Hellhound in a lab sends her on a desperate mission. The pup isn’t some obscure test animal; it is a sentient Mogha that can speak. The last thing she needs as she tries to save the creature is to have her ship shot out from under her.

K’vyn doesn’t hate all humans, just the ones that won’t cease terraforming Korthan worlds. Their disregard for life has driven his people to the brink of all-out war. When a human supply freighter shows up in Korthan territory near the beloved Mogha home world, he is duty bound to rid the galaxy of another human ship. A distress call as the ship crashes creates an unexpected soul-deep pull inside him.

Dani’s decision to smuggle the Mogha called C’hase back to his home world might not have been her smartest move, but she felt she had no choice when she overheard plans to terraform the animal’s home planet. Now, without help from the Korthan who shot her down, she’ll never be able to warn the Mogha inhabitants of impending doom.

She isn’t sure which surprises her more after she crashes on an unknown planet—the fact that she is still alive, or the mutual attraction between her and K’vyn, the Korthan who did the shooting. Is it possible a Korthan and a human can work together to save C’hase and the Mogha home world, or will they be caught between those that want to terraform and the Korthans determined to save the Mogha from extinction?

 

RATE OF RETURN

The Department of Homeworld Security

By Cassandra Chandler

Kimmy loves being co-owner of the only pet parlor in the county. She has always been serious when it comes to taking care of animals. Any kind of animal—except maybe the two dogs fighting in her yard in the middle of the night. The canines she is familiar with don’t have tentacles, glow, or change into one of the hottest guys she has ever seen.

Serac is intrigued by the courageous Earthling that ran to his aid, wielding only a primitive weapon called a ‘broom’. He and his adorable, six-legged pet aren’t mythical beings. They are aliens—and they aren't alone. He needs to stay focused, but focusing is impossible when Kimmy accidentally imprints with the Lyrian pet he is supposed to deliver. To complicate matters further, his zyln, the elemental spirit that lives within him, is just as enamored with her as he is, plus his ex-partner is determined to capture her for his own nefarious ends!

With billions of sentients throughout the galaxy depending on him, Serac’s mission has to come first. If he walks away from Kimmy, he knows he'll leave his heart behind. But will he be leaving her in the hands of his ex-partner? 

GLITCH

Crashland Colony Romance Series

by Leslie Chase

Famous last words....

I made a promise to myself never to forget what the alien Prytheen stole from me. When one of them tells me that we're fated mates, it doesn’t change anything. Nothing could make me change my mind! Not the fact he gets along with Glitch, my holographic cat. Not the fact that he has a killer body and a smoldering gaze that leaves me short of breath. I won’t let my guard down.

Karnac is an alien pirate. Unfortunately, he is also the second part of the technical staff at the Crashland Colony broadcast station. I patch the human stuff, he takes care of the Prytheen tech. My promise to keep everything professional between us goes south when Glitch spots disaster heading straight for the colony.

It is amazing how a life or death situation can change your perspective. Maybe having a crude, arrogant, domineering Prytheen pirate of my own wouldn’t be such a bad idea?

 __________________________________

I hope you're as excited as we are that these stories will soon be released into the universe! But as with all Pets in Space® volumes, it will only be available for a limited time and then it's gone forever. Be sure to secure your copy by pre-ordering now!

Pets in Space® 5 is available for pre-order by clicking the link to the vendor of your choice:

AMAZON

AMAZON UK

AMAZON CA

AMAZON AU

KOBO

APPLE BOOKS

NOOK

GOOGLEPLAY

Enjoy the adventures!

SpyDog Secret Revealed (But No Spoilers!)

My latest science fiction romance story, SpyDog, is about to be unleashed on the universe as part of the much-anticipated Pets in Space® 4 collection on October 8th.

(Pay no attention to that author doing cartwheels behind the curtain.)

Yes, I'm a bit excited about my new 30K+ novella and how it has such dramatic tie-ins throughout my series. Today I'll share one of the secrets (but without a side of spoilers).

For starters, here's the Inherited Stars Series blurb that defines the overarching premise behind all the books:

The year is 3500 AD—more or less. No one really keeps track anymore. 

Since the fall of peacekeeper planet, LaGuardia, two centuries before, much has been lost. Few remember that LaGuardia was once known as Draxis. Fewer still have knowledge that Draxis once guarded a spatial vortex—a crossrip in time and space—and passageway to a legendary world called Earth where the human species originated. 

Somewhere, hidden in a forgotten archive, is the written history of the Draxian Universe and the chronicles of the men and women who helped forge a future in the stars.

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That "forgotten archive" plays a role in many of the series books, and SpyDog is one of them. But this is hardly the first mention of this mysterious history in books already released.

Here are two snippets, one each from Farewell Andromeda and SpyDog that both involve this important archive, though the stories take place two centuries apart.

Snippet from Farewell Andromeda

Scene Set-Up:
An exchange between two lovers with very different lives--Tiharra Bell, a deep space DEDship charter pilot who has just flown to a remote outpost called Andromeda Station, and Donner Dane, a man of science who lives there. 

Tiharra and Donner may not have long together, and both are dealing with that knowledge in this scene.

[Edited slightly for context.]

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“The Rathskians outlawed cloning centuries ago,” I reminded him.

His mouth turned down for a moment. “The Duumarakhans.”

“Excuse me?”

“It was the Duumarakhans, the predecessors of the Rathskians, who outlawed cloning. They made it their mission, since their kind had been genetically frozen in time for five hundred generations.” He shook his head. “We’ve forgotten them. So much of our history was lost in the Great Realignment.”

I packed my feelings away, grateful for the temporary distraction. “How do you know this?”

Donner’s eyes brightened. “This station contains an incredibly rare treasure. A complete library of the combined Draxian-Terran history. I’ve had a lot of time on my hands and reading is a passion.” He raised his incredibly brown, incredibly soft eyes to mine. “I have a strong need to understand as much as I can…”

Before I cease to exist, I finished for him mentally.

“This library…” I croaked, trying to turn my thoughts away from the heartache of his demise. “Seems an odd thing to entrust to a remote space station.”

“The information wasn’t brought here. It already existed in this structure’s old databanks. This station has a history too. It played a part in the Great Realignment. Before it was converted for use as an outpost and observatory, it was known as Mona Loa Station.”

“Mona Loa,” I muttered. “Odd name.”

“A loa is a type of spirit in an ancient religion. The designer named all his craft after paranormal entities. He’s the same man, by the way, who invented the first DEDspace drive.”

“Zaviar Mennelsohn?”

“You know of him.”

“From my history classes at Talstar Flight Academy. Mennelsohn also designed the first fully neuro-connective DEDship…”

“Specter,” we said in unison.

We exchanged tentative smiles, ignoring the bleak truth that hovered over us like a thick Terran fog bank.

“I find an odd sense of connection in that,” Donner said. “I live on a space station and you operate a drive created two hundred calendars ago by the same man.”

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Snippet from (Pets in Space® 4) SpyDog

Scene Set-Up:
In my upcoming story, readers will discover clues on how the records that Donner refers to may have ended up on MONA Loa Station...or Mona Loa, as it's called two hundred calendars (years) later.

This scene involves a confrontation between Sona, a rare warrior-class Rathskian female who may or may not be an enemy agent, Rigel, a Network agent and SpyDog handler, and Garr, the pilot of the transport who is tasked to extract them from planet Banna, where they were marooned. 

[Edited slightly for context.]

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“LaGuardia is the home of the Royal Draxian Archives," Garr said. "The records of our history that the Ithians are desperately trying to erase so they can replace it with their lies about our past. They want to bury the truth. High Queen Katrina was real. Our origins on the planet called Earth is truth. The Flame and the Fire Lords did exist. The vortex they passed through was a reality. It’s all there. All the lost knowledge. All the forgotten centuries. Almost fourteen thousand years of it. And it’s in jeopardy.”

“I know of these archives,” Sona said pensively. “They preserve important history for my people, too. But what does it have to do with us?”

“We’ve been directed to acquire the archives on datacells and deliver the contents to the Network. Before the gigadam Ithians can destroy it forever.”

“And with Commodore Gant missing in action, this is a priority for the Network?” Rigel questioned.

“This may be one of the most important things the Network ever does,” Garr declared. “Whether they succeed or fail with their other plans.”

Rigel considered his words. Yes, there was value in safeguarding important historical records, but it wasn’t his priority. “Why us? Why not send a Network battleship or destroyer to secure this data?”

“Think about it,” Garr grated, showing his impatience. “The Alliance doesn’t realize the Network has a fleet. They can’t show that hand. Not yet. But one small, aging wreck of a transport touching down on LaGuardia isn’t going to attract attention.”

“There’s truth in your words,” Sona conceded, “but it doesn’t change the reality that I must reach the transport to MONA Loa in time.”

“And if I give you my solemn word you’ll get to MONA Loa on schedule?”

“You can’t make that promise.”

“I can and just did.”

Sona blinked. Twice. Slowly.

“Consider this," Garr pressed. "Why would they order me to collect these records if they weren’t going to be delivered straight to MONA Loa? What would be the point?”

Sona shifted her weight. “You are speaking the truth.”

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I hope you enjoyed this brief visit to both Farewell Andromeda and my soon-to-be-released SpyDog, in Pets in Space® 4 and how they fit in The Inherited Stars Universe.

As an author, one of the things I enjoy about writing a series is offering subtle and not-so-subtle clues or tie-ins in each new story, and revealing connections to the other works and characters.

Want to see the connection between the series anchor novel, Inherit the Stars and SpyDog? Then grab a free sampler from the Pets in Space® 4 authors that contains original stories, teasers and original artwork. (My contribution is a teaser that shows how the events in SpyDog were initiated in Inherit the Stars.) But hurry! This sampler is only available for a limited time.

FREE Sampler (only available until October 7th!)

Get Farewell Andromeda for 99 cents on Amazon now

PRE-ORDER Pets in Space® 4

And please don't forget that Pets in Space® 4 will again support the wonderful Hero-Dogs.org, the amazing organization that raises, trains and provides service dogs to veterans and first responders. Ten percent of all preorders and first month's royalties of Pets in Space® 4 will go to support Hero Dogs! The last three Pets in Space® collections have raised over $7,100 for this very worthy cause. You can help by pre-ordering today.

Have a wonderful week! And stop back next Monday to discover the inspiration behind the stories from many of the award-winning, bestselling authors of Pets in Space® 4.