In Memory of a StarDog…Again

Here I am again. :’(  

It’s taken me a lot of time to cope with the agony of writing this post, because the loss of Maura, inspiration for my StarDog character in SpyDog, has been particularly painful. Maura was a very special friend to me, and her death five months ago was completely unexpected and heart wrenching.  

Maura

March 24, 2025

Rest in Peace, Beautiful Girl. 

You were my heart.

Maura’s character in SpyDog had many of her personality traits. Sweet, loving, cuddly and she absolutely adored belly rubs. But she could also be sassy and contrary at times—usually when she had her own agenda or knew or sensed something we didn’t. That was also StarDog Maura to a T. As a fictional, bio-engineered espionage asset, StarDog Maura had some traits and abilities that went far beyond her partially-canine genetics, and some of those enhancements gave her insights that her partner-handler, Rigel, couldn’t have. 

I guess subconsciously, my muse created StarDog Maura as a loving tribute to her real life inspiration. Little did I know at the time we’d lose the real Maura only a few years later. I genuinely believed she’d be with us for at least another 5-8 years. Losing her at a much younger age (13) than Katrina is never something we saw coming.

So this is how it came about…

A little over a week before she passed over the Rainbow Bridge, I noticed my little golden girl was breathing faster and heavier than normal. She hadn’t been exerting herself running or barking, so I immediately went on alert. This wasn’t normal.

Later that morning, we took her in to our vet for a check. That ended up being a week-long ordeal for her with a diagnosis of sudden onset of congestive heart failure! She was put in the doggie-equivalent of an oxygen tent and given medicine intravenously. Our long time vet updated us that her condition was very serious.

Since David was away that rest of that week, I went to visit with her several times during her stay, but it broke my heart that she wasn’t the same bestie I had known and barely seemed to recognize me. I took a lot of photos (which, sadly, blogger will no longer let me share here), and spent about a half hour each visit just petting, holding and talking to her. My only comfort was that she did seem to be improving, little-by-little. 

Finally, we got the news we’d been praying for — Maura had improved markedly over the course of the week, and could now go home—along with four RXs that she needed to be given daily. That was Friday.

We had a wonderful weekend with Maura and her cohorts—her daughter, Cassie — also her doggie bestie, Luna (both of them were StarDog inspirations), her youngest doxie pack-member, Zoey (who will be the star of a future story some day), and Chloe, a recent Chihuahua adoptee. It was heartwarming how Cassie stayed right by her side to cuddle with her, and how Luna and Zoey often checked up on her with kisses and snuggles. And, of course, she got tons of attention from me and from David, who was now home again. We were all so happy and relieved to have this very special girl back home and getting stronger. It was a heartfelt homecoming and a very special weekend.

But very late Sunday night (or more accurately early Monday morning), Maura woke me with whimpering, and was displaying restlessness and anxiety.  I got up with her and held her in my lap as we rested on the couch, but by morning her breathing was getting heavier and we could see things were getting serious again. David made a call to our vet to request bringing her in for urgent care, and by the time they called back and we bundled her into the car to make the 10 mile trip, she was in distress and panting and her tongue was turning blue!

Once at the vet, they rushed her into the doggie oxygen tent and told us they’d be in touch. We had several contacts with the office back-and-forth over the next few hours until we got the message in early afternoon that we were dreading.  “Maura is crashing. I’m so sorry!” A few minutes later we got the news that brought our world crashing down. Our beautiful Maura had passed.

We laid our baby girl to rest on our ranch near the garden in a spot with a beautiful view of the valley to the East and the mountains to the West. She is buried beside Katrina, the StarDog buddy who we’d lost a few years before. Another longhaired dachshund from many years before, Scarlet, lays nearby.

My heart felt like lead, knowing she would miss another summer and stretching out in the grass on the courtyard to soak up the sun like she loved to do. Our little sunbunny. Or that she would no longer spend time dozing in the shade of the Black Locust trees when the days grew hot. Maura’s siesta time.

She had always loved Christmas, especially all the decorations and unwrapping presents and romping through the discarded paper and bows. She got so sad every year when we took the tree down, that I promised her last year I’d put it up extra early this year so she could enjoy it longer. She’ll miss that, too. :’(

We will forever be grateful for the nine years we had with Maura—and that very special gift from above of one last weekend with her. We are also eternally thankful for her legacy—her daughter, Cassie—who seems to be taking after her mom more-and-more every day. A crystal memorial with Maura’s image sits on our buffet now—a very special gift from David—and serves as a nightlight in the darkness—a reminder of how much she lit up our lives while she was with us. 

I stumbled upon a vintage ornament of a longhaired dachshund wearing a stocking cap and wrapped up in ribbons and bows on eBay and had to get it. It will go on our tree this year in special memory of our Maura and the season she loved so much. I have to believe she’ll be with us in spirit to share another Christmas.

I hope we’ll all have a great and joyful reunion someday when it’s our time to join her. Until then, even though this very special friend is deeply missed, the love lingers as a reminder of our time together on this Earth. 

We’ll miss you so much, little Star Dog. <3

Related post:

In Memory of a StarDog (Katrina) from July 2022

https://spacefreighters.blogspot.com/2022/07/in-memory-of-stardog.html

What's Next?

Upcoming Release

With Juggernaut now released, it's time to look ahead to my next project: Courting Disaster.

This is the last book originally released as part of a Pets in Space volume to have a date with the editor!

Or I should say, another date.

Each of the Inherited Stars Series books featuring StarDogs (StarDog, SpyDog and Juggernaut) were revised and expanded from the original works, but Courting Disaster definitely takes the cake as the most evolved book of the bunch. 

I've done major revisions to various scenes and backstory elements, and re-worked portions of the plot for its upcoming release as the sixth book in the series. 

The release date? I'm working hard to make that happen this summer. 

Plans within Plans within Plans 

(Does that sound a little Dune-esque? LOL) 

As I mentioned in my Reader's Group, StarDog Tales (thanks for the title idea, Donna!) is an upcoming project, and the exciting news is that, in addition to containing all the StarDog stories (I am all the Jedi), it will also have a brand new, never before released StarDog story with the working title StarDog Reunion. 

That's right. A brand new story that incorporates all four StarDogs and their related characters. Together, these five books will make one ginormous volume. There will also be a prompt when to read Inherit the Stars, which dovetails into each and every one of these books. 

Because the books were written years apart, some of the series ties might not have been clear at the time of reading, but trust me, this group is entangled. (But in a good way...um, mostly.) I will guarantee a couple of huge surprises in the new book. 

(But not the return of the dreaded Juggernauts. Or I should say...not yet. Hold that thought.)

This is going to be such a fun project! 

For reference, here's a timeline image I created on the Inherited Stars books:

Chronologically, the order is: 

• Juggernaut
• StarDog
• SpyDog [concurrently with Inherit the Stars] 
• Courting Disaster
• StarDog Reunion 

The hero and heroine of Courting Disaster are not only the central figures in StarDog Reunion, they're also front and center in the opening of the next novel in this timeline, so my projected summer release date for Courting Disaster is key to getting the asteroid rolling on StarDog Reunion/StarDog Tales and the future of the series. (No pressure, right?)

I'll be posting more on Courting Disaster over the next few weeks to reacquaint readers with this pivotal story. 

The Inherited Stars Series: You Are Here

Things are moving forward nicely in my Book Mom life, so this seems like an excellent time to stop and talk about where I am and where you are on the series timeline. 

So first the big news...

SpyDog is out on Kindle. Hurray! 

The timing is great, because this story has some ties to my October release, Juggernaut (Pets in Space® 5), though it takes place five calendars (years) after Juggernaut. 

Set on planet Banna, aboard a Network ship, and ultimately on MONA Loa station, Spy Dog fleshes out a behind-the-scenes mission that ends up being paramount to the pivotal event, Operation Reset. 

SpyDog literally takes place at the same time as the anchor novel, Inherit the Stars, shedding new light on the building insurrection in the anchor novel as Sair and Drea (aboard Specter) have their own confrontations with the Alliance. 

There are a few scenes that intersect with the novel, though from very different perspectives. The two books together flesh out the story in the same way that Rogue One gave new insights into the plans to blow up the Death Star in Star Wars: A New Hope. 

For those that read Inherit the Stars, there are some big surprises in store in SpyDog! (And vice versa!)

Juggernaut, as part of Pets in Space® 5) is coming on October 6th and now available for pre-order. Pets in Space® 5 has already done quite well in the Amazon rankings, hitting #1 in one category and the top five in three others. We're hoping that's a good omen so we can make this the best year yet on donations to our charity, Hero-Dogs. 

As I mentioned, Juggernaut goes back five calendars in the timeline, and reveals something major in a big twist. (Thank you StarDog Cassie for your service. wink wink ) This "wrinkle in the universe" was one I had first planned to introduce in a later book, and then I had an epiphany--this discovery needed to be made earlier in the timeline.

And that's how Juggernaut transformed from an important story to a major event in the series timeline.

By the way, you can read an early review on Juggernaut by clicking here.

So what's next?

Courting Disaster

This fifth installment in the Inherited Stars universe was originally planned to release before SpyDog, but I've been wrestling with some issues that I felt needed close attention in the rewrite, as well as the planned expansions on the book. (It was originally published in Pets in Space® 2, but what's coming will be quite a different story from the original, character-arc wise.) 

I'm aiming for a release date in late October or November. Courting Disaster has just been listed on Goodreads, where readers can see regular updates, countdowns, excerpts and teasers and you can now add it to your Goodreads bookshelves as a Want to Read along with your book tags. 

If you're interested in following my updates, feel free to friend or follow me on Goodreads, too. (Please and thank you! I always love more friends so I can keep track of books you read/add to your shelves/or release.)

Courting Disaster is the latest book on the timeline to date, taking place three calendars after Operation Reset. It becomes clear the struggle with the Alliance has not necessarily ended in an HEA for everyone. There's more to the story, and Captain Jagger and Ketsia Tayah (from Inherit the Stars) find themselves thrust right into the midst of a sinister new threat.

____________________

Captain Navene Jagger’s certainty he will be promoted to command a new battleship is doused when the admiral instead assigns him to what appears to be a suicide mission. If that isn’t bad enough, he finds his self-imposed status as a military monk in jeopardy when he is ordered to escort Ketsia Tayah and her StarDog through the treacherous, rogue-infested Bradley’s Rift in a battered derelict of a vessel – a task that also forces him to confront his painful past.

Ketsia’s experiences have made her stronger. She knows the universe is still a dangerous place, but it also turns out to be a lot smaller than she would have liked. Ketsia is rattled when she discovers that she and her StarDog are to be escorted by a man she once secretly adored. Can life get any more complicated when they are captured by dangerous rogues and must pretend they are married?

After Jagger learns the ship, the mission, and the StarDog are all much more than they seem, will he be able to protect Ketsia and salvage his career? Or will self-sacrifice be the only way to save those under his protection?

What are the Plans for the Series?

Let me add a figurative place marker arrow here to tell readers where they are in the series.

All of these books are standalone, but as you read them, familiar characters (human and otherwise) may get involved and add more layers to their part in Operation Reset, the struggle against the Alliance, and their contributions to the over-arching story.

Though these books can be read in any order -- and they certainly weren't published in order -- each new story adds more detail and insight into an epic conflict. Along with a romance, of course!

If you'd like to see the chronology this is where each book falls on the current timeline:

Juggernaut (Pets in Space® 5) - five calendars before Operation Reset

StarDog - six moons (months) before Operation Reset

Inherit the Stars - just prior to and during Operation Reset

SpyDog - just prior to and during Operation Reset

Courting Disaster - three calendars after Operation Reset

Farewell Andromeda - approximately 200 years after Operative Reset.

Why is Farewell Andromeda set so far in the future? Because there are more books coming, including a sequel to Farewell Andromeda that will make it clear how crucial this story is to the series timeline.

There's also a trilogy and many more books that will take place before the current times in the series. 

After all, there's a reason this series is called The Inherited Stars. Others must have come before who discovered these many Goldilocks worlds in a distant part of our own galaxy, and they in turn had to add their part to history before passing them down to future generations. 

Have a great week!

Snippets from TWO Upcoming Inherited Stars Series Books

Happy Labor Day! Can you believe that summer is nearly over? This has been the fastest, yet slowest, summer of my life with everything going on in our country and in the world. Here's to brighter, happier, healthier days ahead.

I've got some big news! Two books in the Inherited Stars Series are on the jump deck and readying for launch in the next month! Today I'm posting snippets to give you a look into both stories. 

First to publish will be SpyDog. It's an expanded version of the USA TODAY Bestselling Pets in Space® 4 story that takes place at the same time as the anchor novel, Inherit the Stars. If you read and loved the novel, you should really enjoy this concurrent, high-stakes adventure that takes place during the turmoil just prior to Operation Reset. 

SpyDog Scene Set-up

Network deep cover agent Rigel Blackline and his partner, StarDog/SpyDog Maura, are headed for his transport off planet Banna when the ship is destroyed right before his eyes. In a busy spaceport swarming with enemy patrols, he has to act fast to avoid capture...or worse.

SpyDog Snippet

Behind him, the staccato of footsteps announced the arrival of an Ithian Alliance patrol, propelling Rigel to his feet and into the cover of the nearest hang. Inside, he hunkered down behind a discarded crew cart. He needed a better place to hide. The prize he and his StarDog were carrying could never fall into enemy hands.

The footsteps drew nearer, the sounds echoing off the high, steelonate walls of the surrounding hangars. He’d be discovered in moments. Rigel made a quick inspection of the empty hanger, his attention locking on the rust-stained chiller unit. He crept to the access panel, pulling a tachi-set from his vest pocket. After springing open a uni-key, he inserted it into the grimy lock of the chiller’s service panel. The lock clicked and the panel door popped. Rigel threw himself inside the unit, pretzeling his legs around the chiller’s pipe-and-conduit innards and hauling the satchel with his StarDog inside.

He reached out and swung the door shut, wincing at the squeal until the lock reset with a click.

When his inquisitive comrade growled, he gave a quiet hiss. “No noise!”

Outside the unit, intermittent footsteps drew closer, moving cautiously over the gritty substrate of the hangar floor. Stalking his position?

The chiller kicked on with a rattle and a laborious hum. Rigel gritted his teeth. The noise would help mask his location—if the lurking presence just outside didn’t already know he was there—but it was going to get awfully blasted cold in an awful gigadam hurry.

As if on cue, the pipes pressed to his field vest chilled. In mere sectas, the frigid surfaces were unbearably cold. Haley’s Crest! He was going to freeze to death in a tropical climate. At the sound of chattering teeth, he glanced down at the satchel draped across his lap. Sixth Hell, they both were.

If the information his StarDog carried never reached Admiral Mennelsohn and the Command crew on MONA Loa, it would be catastrophic. The data could essentially turn the tide in the insurrection against the Alliance. It was his mission to ensure it got there at any cost.

He could best whoever hunted him, but not the laws of thermodynamics. There was only one course of action available to him. Get the upper hand.

Rigel braced his shoulder against the inside of the access door. It gave way with a creak, spilling his upper body onto the hard hangar floor as he drew his laze-pistol from his shoulder holster.

Rigel jammed both elbows into the dirt to steady his aim and got a bead on his stalker. She scowled down at him with black diamond eyes, giving him a look fierce enough to slice through bone. Mouth set hard. Body sleek with lean, solid muscle. And her own laze-pistol leveled right between his eyes.

SpyDog Blurb

When his transport is destroyed before his eyes, agent Rigel Blackline and his bio-engineered StarDog partner wind up marooned on a planet buzzing with enemy patrols. Worse, they carry time-sensitive intel that must be delivered to their contacts on a distant space station—data that could defeat their ruthless enemies.

Rigel’s only hope is to reach another Network ship before they’re captured, but things get complicated when they cross paths with Sona, a savvy warrior-class Rathskian female. She claims to be a friendly, but he suspects the vixen is a dangerous counter-spy sent to intercept him and his StarDog. His intuitive sidekick’s immediate bond with Sona is even more baffling.

Rigel decides “capturing” Sona as an enemy asset and delivering her to his superiors may be his best option, but Sona has secrets that threaten more than just Rigel’s self-control. Her knowledge of Network dealings are on a level even he isn’t privy to. Is she truly an ally, or is he playing directly into the hands of a dangerous double-agent…in more ways than one?

______________________________

SpyDog is now listed on my website and vendor links will be published as soon as the book goes live. If you'd like to follow my book news via my newsletter, you can sign up here: 

Laurie A. Green's Escape to the Stars Newsletter

SpyDog will be followed by the huge and much-anticipated release of Pets in Space® 5 on October 6th, including my latest Inherited Stars Series story, Juggernaut. White brainstorming it, I decided Juggernaut would be the perfect story to reveal something huge about my Inherited Stars universe that I originally planned to reveal in a later book -- and StarDog CaSandra is instrumental in the reveal. There are some definitely ties between the two stories, but Juggernaut takes place five years before SpyDog. Here's the scene set-up, snippet and blurb from Juggernaut.

Juggernaut Scene Set-up

Lieutenant Commander Dekessa "Dek" Garr serves on a top secret security detail safeguarding a find in an ancient underground lava tube on planet LaGuardia. She's answering an order to report to the security force commander immediately.

Juggernaut Snippet

A breach in the rock ceiling high above the complex illuminated the underground lair in daylight hours. The opening had been sealed by a plasma barrier, allowing light to pass, but not weather or the prying eyes of air- or spaceborne spy craft.

Their overlord enemies, the Ithian Alliance, were always watching. Especially this planet.

“Dek,” the commander acknowledged in a gruff rasp when she entered his office.

“Commander?” Like him, she’d never been one to waste a word.

“Sit.”

She nodded and eased onto a bench in front of his workstation, powering down her pulse rifle and placing it in the weapons keep at her left. Standard procedure in the presence of the task force commander.

“Change of detail,” the commander informed her without preamble.

What? Had he finally found an excuse to boot her out of his unit? She and the commander had been at odds since the day she first entered his realm, three calendars and two begrudging promotions ago.

Commander Tapp turned away to pour a cup of kinna from the brewer on the makeshift credenza. “Effective immediately, you’re temporarily assigned as the acting commander of this task force.”

Dek overrode the compulsion to jump to her feet. What the Hades? Self-discipline prevented her from vocalizing her outburst. Or even subvocalizing it. “Acting commander,” she repeated, as if it was no surprise at all.

“That’s right.” The commander lifted the brewer to her. “Kinna?”

“No, thank you, sir.” Dek scowled and cocked her head. “You’re putting me in command of the task force for what purpose?”

“I’m needed elsewhere. You’ll be in charge in the interim.”

Dek tamped down the thousand questions bubbling up in her mind with a deadpan acknowledgement. “I appreciate the opportunity, sir.”

He gave an apathetic shrug. “No one else has a detailed working knowledge of Site D operations.” He took a sip of his kinna, grimaced, and spoke again through gritted teeth. “As my second-in-command, you’re the best option I have for the job.”

Somehow, she didn’t think it was a compliment.

Their relationship had always been professional but never pleasant. She was well aware of his opinion that she was too young for second-in-command status, not to mention the wrong gender. Apparently, he discounted the many calendars she’d served the Network in a variety of capacities—dating back to her mid-teens. And the crushing sacrifice she’d made in the line of duty.

Juggernaut Blurb

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.

____________________________________

ABOUT PETS IN SPACE® 5

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!

Read more about Pets in Space® 5 and see vendor links here: Pets in Space Antho

Thanks for stopping by Spacefreighters Lounge this Labor Day to catch these snippets.

Have a great week!

Back...With a New Cover Reveal!!!

I'm back from my week plus hiatus, but....ohmigosh!...the world sure likes to changes things up on us when we're not paying attention!

For one, the interface for this blog was completely revamped in my absence, and I'm struggling to find the new "ropes." Though the basic formatting and layout is there, it all looks so different and reconfigured--at least behind the scenes. And some of the features I use frequently are now under a drop down arrow for "other options." Ack! Learning curve! 

My other big change is that my spouse retired from his 2nd career on Friday, so we're in for a major adjustment in our lifestyle over the next few weeks...but yet, it's not as major as it could have been since the Covid scare has exiled him to working  mainly from home for the past 4+ months. 

Though his retirement party had to be postponed to a future date, he still got quite a send-off from his leadership and coworkers, including cards, gifts, a special CD that contained video messages from many present and past associates that was incredibly moving and one heck of a tearjerker. (*sniff!*)

And on the writing front...hoboy! I've got some monumental news coming later this week (I may grab a weekend day to break it here on Spacefreighters so you don't have to wait until Monday, cuz yeah....it's a biggie! :)

But I also have a special announcement for today. SpyDog is heading for the "jump deck" to be published and now has a shiny new cover. My cover artist, Danielle Fine, hit a home run with this one. I broke it to my small launch crew first, but you get to be the first readers in the big, wide universe to see it. 

Science Fiction Romance fans....meet SpyDog.

The cover features Network Agent Rigel Blackline, warrior class female Rathskian anomaly Sona (Rathskians generally only have one name--like Sair), and super StarDog/SpyDog, Maura. (A SpyDog is a special upgrade of the better known StarDogs bio-constructs.) 

The story is part of my Inherited Stars series and dovetails with the anchor novel Inherit the Stars, happening simultaneous with the events in that story, and the opening scene actually intersects with the novel, though from a very different perspective. (I often compare SpyDog to Inherit the Stars in the same way that Star Wars: A New Hope is related to Rogue One, in that both stories intersect and expand on the events in the original release, with some well-known characters making "guest appearances.") 

Here's the blurb.

When his transport is destroyed before his eyes, agent Rigel Blackline and his bio-engineered StarDog partner wind up marooned on a planet buzzing with enemy patrols. Worse, they carry time-sensitive intel that must be delivered to their contacts on a distant space station—data that could defeat their ruthless enemies.

Rigel’s only hope is to reach another Network ship before they’re captured, but things get complicated when they cross paths with Sona, a savvy warrior-class Rathskian female. She claims to be a friendly, but he suspects the vixen is a dangerous counter-spy sent to intercept him and his StarDog. His intuitive sidekick’s immediate bond with Sona is even more baffling.

Rigel decides “capturing” Sona as an enemy asset and delivering her to his superiors may be his best option, but Sona has secrets that threaten more than just Rigel’s self-control. Her knowledge of Network dealings are on a level even he isn’t privy to. Is she truly an ally, or is he playing directly into the hands of a dangerous double-agent…in more ways than one?

The story includes several returning characters from previous stories -- including a relative or two that may come as a surprise! And the ship pictured on the cover might also be familiar to readers, though readers will "meet" the vessel in an earlier time in this story than when they were first introduced to her.

SpyDog was first released as part of Pets in Space 4, though this story will have a few enhancements and expanded scenes. 

SpyDog was very well received in the Pets in Space 5 volume, a collection that was a USA TODAY Bestseller and hit #1 on Amazon, Nook and Kobo!

Have a great week! I'll be back this weekend with more news!

Guess What's Coming? (And Guess What's Going?)

It's official...

Yes, it will be the Fifth Anniversary Edition of a Pets in Space® release!

Today you get a sneak peek of a bit of the cover and the authors in the graphic above...and yes, I'm in this one, too!

I've been very busy behind the scenes deciding on:

1) What pet?
My last three have been StarDogs. Will I stick with the program or write a totally different pet this time around? You'll see.

2) What setting?
It will definitely be a story in the Inherited Stars Series, but that leaves a lot of room to improvise. :) Will it take place on a planet? A space station? Aboard a starship? Dirtside? In the future of the anchor novel, Inherit the Stars? The past? At the same time? (Oh no! Not doing another one of those again! LOL--but hang on to your hat, because SpyDog will be out soon as a standalone!) Stay tuned.

3) What characters?
As with the other PISA stories, the lead characters will be someone you haven't met in other series books, but there may be a few cameos and interaction with some of your old friends.

4) What plot?
I've already started work on the story and I can't commit spoilers, but I will give you a couple of teasers. It involves a huge secret...and one I've been hinting at for years. [::: rubs hands together in anticipation:::] but it's so super secret, it has it's own security force to guard it! I'm excited about the idea, can you tell?

There will be more announcements coming soon, so keep an eye out for future posts.

LAST CALL FOR PETS IN SPACE® 4!

Pets in Space® 4 will NO LONGER BE AVAILABLE as of the end of February!

Some of the 13 stories may return as standalone books, but you'll never have another shot at getting the entire collection in one volume again. If you haven't yet grabbed your copy, you only have a few days to do it! Don't miss this highly successful, USA TODAY Bestselling, #1 seller on Amazon Kindle, Nook and Kobo! And did I mention it's currently averaging 4.7 STARS on Amazon Kindle with 120 reviews!

CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL VENDORS

(Scroll down for full story blurbs.)

The clock is ticking down, and once it's gone, it's gone FOREVER. You'll never have another chance to grab this volume from bestselling and award-winning authors. At nearly 1,500 pages--the size of 5 full length novels!--it will keep you in reading for many, many hours (days? weeks? months?) to come.

Don't miss your shot at having a part of Science Fiction Romance history!

And to our legion of readers who loved this collection, thank you from the bottom of our hearts! You truly made Pets in Space® 4 an exciting, amazing, fist-pumping, fun, and HUGELY rewarding experience!

Have a great week.

SpyDog Snippet from Pets in Space® 4 (Soon to Disappear Forever!)

I was really excited to re-join the Pets in Space® 4 crew after writing for both PISA 1 and 2, but then skipping Pets in Space® 3 to work on some of my own material.

My story, SpyDog, gave me the opportunity to explore the flip-side of the action in my anchor novel, Inherit the Stars. It was both very fun, and extremely mind-boggling, to write a book that happened concurrently with the events in the novel, so a bit like the Star Wars: Rogue One of my series, except a tale where the main characters survive.

This is the third StarDog story in my series, this time starring Maura, a bio-engineered StarDog upgrade called a SpyDog.

Here's a quick peek at a snippet from my story SpyDog [edited slightly for context]:

_______________________________

Sona relaxed the tension in her trigger finger.

So did Rigel.

“You are a Network agent,” she whispered, her eyes going round.

This changed everything.

Whoever she was, whatever she’d seen, she was even more dangerous than he’d first thought. She’d IDed him as an agent? Not good. She was privy to Network passcodes? That left some big, fat, unresolved question marks. Leadership needed to know what she knew—and how she’d come to know it. How extensively had the Network been compromised? This breach could destroy everything they’d worked so hard for.

She wouldn’t die today. He’d just bagged a counter-intel asset. He’d deliver her to Network authorities so they could interrogate her—get to the bottom of how much damage had already been done and take corrective action. Meanwhile, he’d let her think he believed her story.

Always keep your enemies in your laze-sights. That was his motto.

“Right,” he muttered, easing his laze-pistol back to low ready. “You’re Network.”

She, too, lowered her weapon then holstered it.

He scowled when Maura left the confines of his satchel and took a few tentative steps toward the woman, nose twitching.

“Hello, little one,” the Rathskian said, going to one knee. “Can we be friends now?” She reached out to let the StarDog sniff her hand then gave Maura a gentle pat.

Maura responded by quickly scaling the women’s arm. The Rathski stiffened in surprise—and so did Rigel—when Maura wrapped herself around the woman’s shoulders like a furry, golden scarf.

Maura never took to strangers like this. It had to be an act.

The Rathski smiled and stroked the StarDog’s long back.

“Way to draw her in, partner.” Rigel managed not to smirk at his SpyDog’s cleverness. “Disarm and charm her. Let her think we’re falling for her story while we set the trap.”

_______________________________

But here's an important message about Pets in Space® 4. All the Pets in Space® volumes are only offered for a limited time, and we're now on approach to another *POOF!* point.

Pets in Space® 4 is about to disappear...FOREVER..on February 29th!

So if you haven't grabbed your copy of the most successful Pets in Space® volume EVER, let me recap:

USA TODAY BEST SELLER

#1 on Amazon

#1 on B&N Nook

#1 on Kobo

115 Amazon reviews (to date) and a 4.7 STAR average

13 Stories in 13 Popular SFR Series

13 Award Winning, Bestselling Authors

Over 1,400 Pages (equal to 5 full-length novels!)

$5.99

>>  FIND IT HERE!  <<

So the bottom line is that if you love SciFi Romance at an incredible price--

~ we're talking .46 cents per story! ~

--this volume is not to be missed! At 1,400 pages, this meaty collection has an average story length of about 100 pages!

Though some of these stories may be published as stand alones, with a minimum price of .99 each (and probably more) the total cost would run you at least $12.87 -- provided they're all offered elsewhere and you can track them all down again.

So far all of the reasons listed above, Pets in Space® 4 is one SFR collection readers really don't want to miss. Once it's gone, it's gone for good. Never to return.

Grab your copy before February 29th at your favorite vendor and capture a bit of SFR history!

Happy Reading!

SpyDog Snippet: Trouble in the Ranks

This is a scene from my story SpyDog in USA TODAY bestselling anthology, Pets in Space® 4!

Scene Set-Up

Rigel Blackline, a Network agent, 

Sona, a legendary warrior-class Rathskian female (and his potential enemy), and 

Captain Garr, the gruff pilot of their escape transport have a clash of cultures over breakfast. 

Rigel’s SpyDog partner, Maura, also puts in her two cents. 

[Edited slightly for context.]

Excerpt

“Excuse me, Captain. I’ve lost my appetite.” Sona pushed away from the table and strode away so quickly, Rigel felt the breeze of her passing.

As well as more than a little regret.

Maura gave two sharp barks over her shoulder as she trotted after Sona. “Mean Rigel.”

Damn.

“Pretty harsh, boy,” Garr muttered. “I don’t blame her for wanting to be elsewhere. What’s your issue with her anyway?”

Rigel stared a hole in his im-eggs. “I don’t have an issue with her.”

“To Hades you don’t,” Garr jeered. “Planet of origin doesn’t make her an enemy. Or you a friend, for that matter. They have dissenters, same as our side.”

“I’ll be keeping a close eye on her, all the same.”

“Yeah.” Garr gave him a crafty smile. “Kind of hard not to, isn’t it?”

Rigel shifted in his seat and chugged what was left of his mug of kinna. Was Garr intentionally baiting him?

“One thing’s clear, though,” Garr continued, adding more hot spice to his im-eggs. “She obviously doesn’t care much for your company, if she skips a meal just to be away from you.”

Rigel stared at her untouched plate. That hit home. His patronizing attitude hadn’t been called for and he’d obviously stepped on her feelings. It wasn’t right that she hadn’t eaten, especially after getting gigadam little to eat yesterday…and sharing the few bites of her rations with him.

Okay, he was a complete jerk.

Rigel got up from the table and took her full plate in hand. “I’ll take it to her.”

“You sure that’s a good idea, boy?”

“It’s a good idea,” Rigel said flatly then squared off with Garr. “But just for the record, you calling me ‘boy?’ That isn’t.”

Garr stopped chewing and narrowed his eyes.

Rigel paused just long enough to be sure he’d made his point then headed down the corridor to their shared cabin, Sona’s breakfast in hand.

_______________________________________

Just a reminder that Pets in Space® 4 will only be available for a limited time, and then--*POOF!*--it’s gone forever! This hefty volume of 13 original sci-fi romance stories will keep you in reading for days or weeks to come, since it’s the size of FIVE full-length novels, and all for the price of a cup of coffee!

If you haven’t grabbed your copy yet, you can find links and complete story blurbs here (once on the page, scroll down a bit for the blurbs and story info): 

Pets in Space® 4

P.S. Already have it? Makes a great gift, too! 

Give books for the holidays.

Have a wonderful week!

Honoring Our Vets / Last Hurrah for Hero Dogs!

On This Veterans Day...

Honoring all those who served and sacrificed for this great country.

May your contributions to our nation never be forgotten, ignored or dismissed.

Thank you for your service!

___________________________________

Pets in Space® 4 and Hero Dogs

Pets in Space® 4 has had a spectacular run since it's October 8th release, but time is running out for our Hero Dogs donation! In fact, it ends at midnight TONIGHT! (So there's still time...but hurry!)

Proud supporters of Hero-Dogs.org, Pets in Space® authors have donated over $7,100 in the past three years to help place specially trained dogs with veterans and first responders. In 2019, 10% of all pre-orders and the first month’s royalties of Pets in Space® 4 will again go to Hero-Dogs. Open your hearts and grab your limited release copy of Pets in Space® 4 today so together we can continue to assist this worthy charity!

So here are ten reasons why you should buy Pets in Space® 4 today, if you haven't already. (And if you have, you know what a great collection of SFR stories this is. Gift one to a friend you think would love it and help make our donation to Hero Dogs better than ever for 2019.)

Number 10...
Hours of great reading for Fall--in fact, it's the length of FIVE NOVELS worth of reading!

Buy it here!

Number 9...
You can get all that quality reading for the price of a cup of coffee!

Number 8...
Thirteen original, all new, never before published SFR stories!

Number 7...
It's Veterans Day! What a thoughtful way to help out a vet or first responder in need!

Number 6...
Pets in Space® 4 features books by 13 award-winning, USA TODAY Bestselling authors!

Number 5... 
It has many 5-star reviews on Amazon and major SFR review sites!

Number 4... 
The stories are all standalone books in fascinating science fiction romance series!

Number 3... 
It hit #1 on Amazon Kindle, Barnes and Noble Nook, and Kobo the day of release!

Number 2...
It's a USA TODAY Bestseller!

and the Number 1. reason why you should grab your copy of Pets in Space® 4 today to treat yourself and help out Hero Dogs at the same time...

PETS!.....in spaaaaaaaaaaace!

Still on the fence? Just click this link to see what HERO DOGS is all about. Ohhh, look at all those cute, adorable pups that will one day (with your help) become wonderful service dogs. Cuteness evolves into steadfast companions and help-mates.

What better cause than that? What better time than Veterans Day?

Note that this collection will NOT be offered on Kindle Unlimited. Grab it now to make your purchase count.

If you'd like a link to all available vendors and to see the blurb for each book (scroll down to read each title and blurb) just click here:

More About Pets in Space® 4 

I also wanted to pass along this very special tweet that Hero Dogs did earlier today. That's Mitch! A service dog graduated from the Hero Dogs program who, along with his veteran, was visiting veterans at the Vietnam Memorial Wall. Mitch was a special donation project of mine during Pets in Space 1 and 2. So glad to see an update from "my boy" Mitch!

While #Veterans are always at the top of our minds, each Nov 11th is a special day of gratitude for the service of our bravest. ⁣Last month at the Vietnam Memorial Wall, #servicedog @MitchtheDog & his veteran spent time with #PearlHarbor survivor & #WWII vet Charlie. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/FFuYCLGl1S

— Hero Dogs, Inc. (@HeroDogsInc) November 11, 2019

Have a great Veterans Day and a wonderful week.

SpyDog Excerpt from Pets in Space® 4 (plus Reminders)

Today, I have an excerpt from SpyDog, my Inherited Stars Series story in the USA TODAY Bestselling Pets in Space® 4 collection.

Scene Set-Up:
Rigel, a Network deep cover agent--along his bio-engineered partner, a SpyDog named Maura--has crossed paths with someone he believed to be a legend, a warrior-class female Rathskian. Her knowledge of the Network runs deep, much too deep for a member of the enemy alliance. She claims to be a friendly, but Rigel decides his best course of action is to reach his transport and turn her over to Network superiors. But first he has to get her there.

She may turn out to be more of a challenge than he's anticipating.

Excerpt:
They still had a long trek ahead of them, and this woman had already learned crucial information about him and Maura. If she got away from him now, it could be very bad. True, she’d been nothing but cooperative, but he still had to be wary of the potential for ambush. His SpyDog exposing a covert capability to this Rathskian had certainly upped the stakes. Reaching the safety of a Network ship and securing her onboard was crucial. He just hoped the ship had a prisoner retention cell to reduce the risk of her sabotaging his mission.

“Walk ahead of me,” Rigel directed. “A Rathskian and a Carduwan might make suspicious bedfellows.”

Sona gave him a quick glance, one eyebrow arched in surprise—or was it scorn?

“As it should be,” she retorted, and strode ahead.

“Stay with her,” Rigel told his invisible partner then realized she was no longer at his side. Dust puffs rose where the StarDog scampered along in step with their captive. It wasn’t the first time she’d anticipated a command, but now it ramped up his annoyance a full notch or two.

“Make a right here,” Rigel instructed.

Having her walk ahead made watching her easier but calling out each turn or new direction in their path was attracting attention. They’d already snagged a few puzzled looks from passersby and he didn’t need the added scrutiny. Thankfully, there weren’t that many people moving about in the midday heat. Rigel lengthened his strides to close ground between himself and the Rathski.

“Take the left fork.”

“Get any closer and you can just whisper in my ear,” she said, without looking back.

Nonplussed, Rigel eased off a stride. Was she trying to provoke him? Rigel shook it off. He had to stay sharp and avoid letting his mind wander down paths that might lead to distraction.

__________________________

Hope you enjoyed this snippet from my story.

Reminder: Time Is Running Out!

Okay, this is where I beg a little. Oh readers, hear my humble plea.

Pets in Space® 4 has had a phenomenal run so far, but our window to donate to Hero Dogs is closing fast and we (the team behind the anthology) really want our donation this year to be the best ever in the four years we've contributed to this organization.

The donation period closes at midnight on November 11th, Veterans Day, so there's still a few days to help this wonderful charity!

Please, please help us help Hero Dogs!

For $5.99 -- about the price of a cup of coffee -- you can help a veteran or first responder have a lasting impact on their life through a trained service dog donated free of charge by this wonderful organization. We'll be donating 10% of our royalties through November 11th to assist Hero Dogs...

But the donation window ends at midnight on November 11th--Veterans' Day.

If you haven't already purchased a copy of Pets in Space® 4, would you please consider it now?

Click here to see all available vendors and scroll down to read the story blurbs

What's in it for you?

How about some great science fiction romance reading adventures--a collection that's going to last far longer and bring more enjoyment than that single cup of coffee! This volume features 13 stories by best selling and award-winning authors. It made the USA TODAY Bestsellers list the week of release and has received over 60 rave reviews on Amazon--about 94% of them five or four stars as of this writing!

And this volume is substantial--the size of nearly FIVE full-length novels--with complete, standalone stories connected to popular ongoing series.

SpyDog (excerpt above) is my contribution to the collection and it's a story in my Inherited Stars Series. I invite you to check out this pivotal (but standalone) episode in Pets in Space® 4. SpyDog is the story of Rigel Blackline, a Network agent, and Sona, a female warrior-class Rathskian as they both seek to complete crucial missions that will be monumental to the future of the known galaxy--but whose separate goals just might put them at odds. And of course being part of Pets in Space®, it involves an unique creature--a highly-trained, keenly-intelligent, and sometimes defiant StarDog upgrade known as a SpyDog. Her name is Maura and she's Rigel's partner.

Check out these Pets in Space® 4 endorsements from reviewers:

"I love these Sci-fi pet stories!" - 5 stars

"Awesome anthology" - 5 stars

"Well-written, interesting and varied" - 5 stars

"Loved all the stories, each one is so very different but wonderful in their own way." - 5 stars

"This will not disappoint." - 5 stars

~~ and even one with a special mention of SpyDog ~~

"Full of fun stories with interesting pets...SpyDog. So far this is my favorite." - 5 stars

Also, the latest book in my series, StarDog, just released on October 21st and is currently at a special introductory price of only .99 cents, but this special introductory price will end November 11th.


StarDog Goes Off Sale Next Monday

If you'd like a peek into my SFR universe, grab your copy before next Tuesday to get it at .99 cents.

Here's more about it:

Available on Amazon

Navigator Taro Shall's captain assigns him an unexpected mission–find a way to eradicate deadly vipers that have infested starship Calypso. He never expects to find the solution to his problem in the hands of Adini, a charming street vendor. But the bio-engineered StarDog he acquires turns out to be a galactic hot potato, and both Taro and Adini are soon fugitives on the run.

Adini Kemm can't deny her fascination for the honor-bound navigator, though his past and her present seem to null any chance at a shared future. Until her father's capture as a spy catapults both her and Taro into a desperate bid to save him...and straight into the clutches of a brewing insurrection.

As Taro's bond with Adini grows, so does their jeopardy. Determined not to draw Calypso or his captain into the fray, Taro must rely on his wits to keep both Adini and his secrets safe from the renegade leader who takes them prisoner.

___________________

Based on a short story in the very popular Pets in Space® 1 anthology, winner of two 2016 SFR Galaxy Awards and named by LibraryJournal.com as one of the “Best Books of 2016.”

StarDog has returned as a standalone story in The Inherited Stars Series at double the length–with expanded scenes, new chapters and a new epilogue. It's also a companion story to SpyDog (except above). Click below to buy the ebook for .99 cents:

Amazon

Thanks for stopping by Spacefreighters Lounge today. Have a great week!