Excerpt: Chapter Two from DEFYING GRAVITY

Sorry, folks, no #fridayflash for a few weeks. Instead, I'm revealing excerpts from Defying Gravity, Fighting Gravity, and Pull of Gravity. So, here is Chapter Two of Defying Gravity.

Click here to read Chapter One, if you missed it last Friday.

 

CHAPTER TWO

Alezandros shielded his eyes from the lukewarm sun. His two nephews, Karros and Madden, leapt over the barren ground like giant bulltoads. He smiled faintly. It’d been a while since they had a reason to enjoy surface time. Alezandros glanced over to his sister as he adjusted his bag upon his back. The breathing mask hid most of her expression, except for the twinkle in her green eyes.

“Look at them go! They have more energy than a red giant.” He nudged her arm with his elbow.

Quick, hissing laughter burst from her lips and puffed the mask’s soft material. “Little brother, you haven’t gotten that old, have you?”

“Of course not! Let’s show them what we Underdwellers can do.”

They jogged after the boys into the old city. Forgotten buildings stood as crumbled relics. Kaire and he had been the first generation of Underdwellers. Her children and her grandchildren would suffer the same fate, if they didn’t find a new planet soon. Despite their vast underground cities, living underground without a real sun depressed Alezandros. He would do anything to prevent his family from growing up under mounds of dirt and rock. A silent curse flitted upon his forked tongue, but he held it in. He saw no point in upsetting their outing.

Her gloved fingertips trailed along one forgotten wall while she hummed a simple tune. Oh, no. He knew that look. “Boys, not too far. Stay in our view,” she called to the children before cocking her head to the side. “Have you heard from Sophisa lately?”

Ugh, not this again. His eyes rolled, and he resisted the urge to smack himself in the forehead, or his sister for mentioning his former pairing. “There’s nothing we have to say about her.”

“Has she dropped by?” She halted beside him. “She was good for you. You shouldn’t have parted from her.”

He hadn’t had the heart to tell her that she parted from him. “She’s dwelling with someone else the last I’ve heard. And, no, I don’t know his name. Sophisa and I don’t talk. Final.”

She held up her hands. “Fine. Final. Not another word.”

“Good.”

“So when are you going to settle down?” She threw the question over her shoulder as she strolled farther into the city.

If she wasn’t his sister, he would strangle her. “Never, if I can help it. Besides, why are you so interested in this?”

“Well, I was thinking—”

“That’s dangerous for you, and the answer is no.”

She crossed her arms and huffed. “But I haven’t even asked you yet.”

“I’m sure it’s another screened pairing, and the answer is no.” It’d taken three months to get his singed hair back in place after the last one.

“Oh, come on, Alezandros. She’s really nice.”

Translation: She’s as boring as a hibernating slog. Were there any of those furry-stomach walkers left on the planet’s surface?

“No.” He leaned over and picked up a rusted bowl. If he could clean it, perhaps they could sell it on the market.

“Why not?”

He tucked the object into his bag and ignored her question. She didn’t need to know his reasons. In fact, he should tell her, but he couldn’t. Not today.

She shifted closer to him. “What’s going on? You don’t pair up anymore. Surely you haven’t gone through all the eligible women in Medusa.”

“I’m just bored with them.” And he was. He needed adventure, excitement, a life above the ordinary. It’s one reason he took his family on these trysts to the surface. The women were boring, complacent, drained of all life from the drudgery of living underground.

“Bored.” She scoffed at him, and his fists clenched from a flash of anger. “Little brother, you just need to grow up.”

“I’m tired of this . . .” He spotted his nephews picking through a pile of rubble nearby and edited his curses. “. . . this stuff, Kaire. It’s why I’ve joined the army.”

Merdre! He’d told her his secret already.

Her eyes widened and she stumbled back as if he punched her. “The army? Why?”

“Oh, I don’t know. To serve my planet, perhaps. I’m training on the space cruisers.” Plus, he loved flying fast and hard.

“But they’re talking of war again, stealing a new planet. After what happened to mom and dad, I can’t believe you’d do this.” Tears brightened her eyes.

He expected anger but not that fear, that sadness. A lump formed in his throat as his heart cracked in two. “I won’t die like they did in the wars. I’m not a hands-on fighter, and I’m a merdre good flyer too.”

“Boys, come here now. We’re going back.” Her voice was shrill. She wouldn’t even look at Alezandros now.

“Aw, do we have to go?” Their voices chorused as one.

“Yes. Now.” She spun around and stalked off.

“We don’t have to leave yet,” Alezandros said when the boys passed him and neared their mother.

“Yes, we do.” She grabbed her children’s hands and left him to catch up.

If you've enjoyed what you've read, you can purchase and continue reading the rest of Defying Gravity at these retailers: iTunes  Kobo  Nook  Smashwords  Amazon US  Amazon UK  Amazon DE  Amazon FR  Amazon IT  Amazon ES.

Next Friday, we'll meet Phoebus in Chapter One of Fighting Gravity.

Last Day of Smashwords Summer/Winter Sale!

Two of my titles are in Smashwords Summer/Winter Sale lasting through the month of July. Today's the last day you can get:

Defying Gravity free with coupon code SSWIN

And Women of Foxwick half-off with coupon code SSW50.

Excerpt: Chapter One from DEFYING GRAVITY

First off, we have a winner of the complete Gravity trilogy. Using Random.org, it gave me the #8. I counted down eight comments, and we have our winner:

Esther Spurrill-Jones!

Congratulations, Esther! I'll send you an email soon with the coupon codes for the trilogy. And if you didn't win, several bloggers are still hosting the giveaway, so be sure to enter. For a list of participating bloggers, click here.

Sorry, folks, no #fridayflash for a few weeks. Instead, I'm revealing excerpts from Defying Gravity, Fighting Gravity, and Pull of Gravity. So, here is Chapter One of Defying Gravity.

 

CHAPTER ONE

It’s only a year.

Linia stepped upon the silver staircase leading to the SS Perseid. Her moment to shine was finally here. After her years of linguistic studies and weeks of private training, she was the youngest crewmember to board this mission to brave new worlds and greet intelligent life on neighboring planets.

Three Persean crewmen stood ahead of her. Vines twisted in her peripheral vision, nearly encroaching upon the launch pad. How could she leave her verdant planet for a sea of stars? But this spacecraft held her future. She shifted from foot to foot, anxious for her turn to enter.

“Saying good-bye to your mommy and daddy, Linia?” An all-too-familiar tenor voice taunted her.

“Griffon?”

At three years her senior, she thought she’d left him behind in secondary school. Her head cocked to the side as she glared into his weak yellow eyes. She ignored his fine cheek bones and pure cerulean flesh. So what if he was a fine Persean specimen to every other female? He was a trorc’s ass. She moved closer to the entrance. “What are you doing here?”

Leaning against the railing, he chuckled and eyed her up and down. “It looks like we’re going to spend a year together in very close quarters. I’m the tenth crewmember.”

Her jaw dropped and antennae drooped. “You’re kidding me.”

“Nope.” He nudged her bag. “It’s your turn.”

Her mouth opened a couple of times, but no words would form. In the distance, she spied her parents. Dad wrapped an arm around Mom’s shoulders. Mom’s wheat blond hair, so like Linia’s own, waved in the gentle breeze. Linia’s throat tightened as they waved to her, but she couldn’t bear to return the gesture. Why didn’t anyone else’s family show up? Her embarrassment singed her cheeks and even made her antennae burn. She’d thought there would be more fanfare for their important departure. Instead, she probably looked like a child to the rest of the crew.

Turning away, she stared at the spacecraft. An entire solar year with Griffon on board. Her body slumped at the prospect, and her leaden feet clomped up the remaining stairs. If she didn’t want this position so much, she would’ve turned around and forgotten the entire mission. With a dry mouth, she said, “Linia, linguist,” to the Persean with the clipboard.

“Head to your right. Mixi’ll be waiting for you.” The woman turned toward Griffon. “Your name and occupation?”

“Griffon, engineer.”

Linia gasped and stumbled through the entryway. How did that arrogant jerk get an engineer position?

Stark white walls lined the interior of the spacecraft. The light hurt her sensitive eyes, and she blinked to adjust her vision. A sterilized scent, like cleaning fluids, caused her nose to wrinkle. She turned down another smaller hallway. If two people could pass each other without brushing shoulders, it would surprise her.

“You’re the linguist?” An older woman’s sharp voice echoed along the corridor.

“Yes, ma’am.” She couldn’t place Mixi’s age, since her white-blond hair was pulled back in a bun so tight it gave her a face lift. A small silver triangle sparkled upon her crisp dark blue uniform. So Mixi was a third of the head crew’s triumvirate, consisting of Captain Bous and Corporal Kavin.

“You will address me as Lieutenant Mixi.” She placed her palm upon a panel, and the door vanished into the wall. The room contained a small tube-like bed no bigger than a coffin and a closet barely big enough for her bag.

“These are your quarters. I suggest you dress quickly and meet me outside.” The lieutenant thrust a SS Perseid standard uniform at Linia. Mixi left with a snap of her heels.

The door closed Linia into the small room. Good thing she wasn’t claustrophobic, right? She gulped and ran her fingers over the golden swirl upon her uniform. She was the bridge between the Perseans and aliens, their one link to communication. A surge of pride and authority roared through her while she dressed in the uniform. The dark blue blended well with her lighter complexion. She pulled back her hair from her face and tied it in a ponytail before checking her appearance in a compact mirror.

“Linguist Linia, any day now,” Mixi called in her crisp voice.

Linia snapped the mirror shut and dropped it in her bag. Was she delaying the ship’s departure? She scurried out the room and nearly bumped into the lieutenant. Mixi glared at Linia, and she shuddered. Without another word, Mixi marched down the corridors.

Linia jogged to keep up with the lieutenant’s long strides. Her gaze sought the Perseid’s interior, but the same sterilized walls enclosed her. Each hall was nearly identical. How would she find her way around?

Mixi halted and placed her palm on another panel. The door slid open, and they entered the control center of the SS Perseid.

Eight Perseans sat at a metallic, semi-round table in the center of the room. Ten silver chairs, bolted to the floor, had seatbelts along the waist and over the shoulders. A window panel spread along the front wall. Slight raised edges appeared on the other walls, and Linia assumed they led to various instruments and cabinets.

Mixi motioned for Linia to take the vacant chair at the end of the table before the lieutenant stormed to the captain’s right.

With some reluctance, Linia lowered herself into the chair beside Griffon. He gave her a diabolical grin, and she ignored him, or tried to. Her gaze focused on the large viewing screen. A mixture of emeralds, crimsons, and purples bloomed before them. She breathed in, already missing Persea’s warm floral air. This would be her last glimpse of the planet before they lifted off into space.

“Welcome, everyone. We have quite an adventure before us, don’t we?” Several chuckled and nodded, but Linia’s lips pursed into a line. She thought she’d be sick.  “As you know, I’m Captain Bous.” The captain rested his hands across his bugling belly. The bright lights glistened off his perspiring forehead while he introduced the crew and their positions. “Buckle your seatbelts. Let’s fly.”

The seatbelts clicked into place, and her heart rate increased as the countdown began. Tingles, like lying down in a bed of prickly grass, coursed through her body. Her hand fluttered to her neck as she traced the smooth sapphire stone of her choker, the same one all Perseans wore.

A flurry of activity surrounded her. The captain placed his hand upon the table, and the flight instruments shifted into place. Several other Perseans did the same. She felt left out. A linguist’s skills would only be necessary when they met other intelligent life. Until then, she was no one, and the thought sank home. Her chest strained against the restraints.

What was she doing here?

A deep rumbling sound rose like a furious draken. The ship trembled as if in anticipation for the journey.

“Countdown. Three, two—”

She needed off this ship. She couldn’t be gone an entire solar year with these people.

“One.”

The SS Perseid rocketed into the air.

Next Friday, we'll meet Alezandros in Chapter Two of Defying Gravity.

Purrsonal Stories with a Cover Reveal

 

Today is a special purrsonal story, which includes the cover reveal of Defying Gravity, Fighting Gravity, and Pull of Gravity and also includes a chance to win the entire trilogy, but first, it's story time!

I worked off and on since December 2009 on Defying Gravity. It was short-listed for one anthology, which was cancelled. Then, I submitted it in 2011 to a publisher and never heard back, so I withdrew my submission and decided to self-publish the story. It expanded from an 8,000-word story from one POV to a 15,500-word story from two POVs. This story inspired the other two stories in the Gravity trilogy.

The reviews started rolling in, and the majority were four and five stars. Some people wanted more, but to be honest, I told the story the way I wanted it. Then, after a free run, a couple bad reviews almost ruined everything.

That's right. I almost gave up on Fighting Gravity and Pull of Gravity and was tempted to unpublish Defying Gravity too.

But I had promised a trilogy. I re-read Defying Gravity, and I still loved that story and believed in it. Those bad reviews taught me truly how subjective writing is. It was a humbling experience. And I decided to persevere and keep writing.

Fighting Gravity came out on May 1st, and I hope to publish Pull of Gravity by the end of July/early August.

And I decided that all three needed a cover makeover.

So without further ado, here is the Gravity trilogy!

 

I love my new covers, and I think they breathe life into the trilogy. I look forward in sharing Pull of Gravity with you soon.

And now, you have a chance to win a copy of the complete trilogy. All you have to do is comment on this blog post. I will announce the winner on Friday.

Want more chances to win? Some friends are also revealing the covers and hosting a giveaway of the trilogy, so please stop by their blogs as well.

Christine Rains

Aubrie Dionne

Nicole Zoltack

Esther Spurrill-Jones

Rachel Morgan

Golden Eagle

Cher Green

Defying Gravity is an award winner!

If you're looking for #fridayflash, it's a post below this one.

 

I received an email today saying that Defying Gravity is an Indie Book of the Day Award Winner. I'm not sure what else that means, but I get this cool badge and can announce new books on their Facebook and Twitter pages as well as can tell people about it. Plus, they are featuring my book on their website today. I was really surprised by this award. It's completely brightened my day, especially after I bumped my head and burnt my thumb. Heh.

Here is what the IBD people said about Defying Gravity: A damsel deceived. A warrior on adventure. A common destiny. A fight for survival. Defying gravity defies all odds of the universe in uniting two lovers.

You can purchase Defying Gravity at these fine places: iTunes  Kobo  Nook  Smashwords  Amazon US  Amazon UK  Amazon DE  Amazon FR  Amazon IT  Amazon ES

And if you've already read Defying Gravity, don't forget book two Fighting Gravity is available.

Wednesday's Writing Update: Cover Art Reveal of WOMEN OF FOXWICK

 

Happy Wednesday!

I caught my sister's cold last week, so I've been rather slow and drained from it. In other words, nothing much has gotten done since then.

A to Z Flashes of Foxwick and Fighting Gravity have been accepted into Smashwords Premium Catalog, but it takes a while for stories to appear on there. I'll keep everyone updated. All three are now available on Nook, though, and A to Z Flashes of Foxwick and Fighting Gravity are on Kobo.

 

I've had a change in plans. Instead of working on Pull of Gravity in May, I'm planning to finish up Women of Foxwick. Here's the cover art for it. Aubrie Dionne made it for me. Isn't it pretty? Women of Foxwick is a short story collection featuring five women of Foxwick: Lyrica in "Lady Bard," Vesta in "Dragon Seer," Umbria in "Lady Death," Amelia in "Mage Game," and Zenia in "Magic Seeker." Since May has been so busy and I want to take more time with Pull of Gravity, I thought it would be best to finish up the last two stories in Women of Foxwick ("Lady Bard" and "Magic Seeker") first and get this collection out in June. Then I can write the longer Pull of Gravity and publish it around July.

You can add Women of Foxwick to your Goodreads list here.

Don't forget to enter the 2nd Annual Flash Fiction Blogfest here. It starts next Monday.

So what have you been working on?

Fighting Gravity now available!

Today is the official release date of Fighting Gravity, book two of the Gravity series.

Forced into executing Aresia’s people, Phoebus escapes the Aresian Guard by flying his spaceship through a wormhole.

The only single woman of marrying age, Marissa flees town instead of becoming a third wife.

When Phoebus’s spacecraft crashes upon an asteroid-ravaged Earth, he is captured by a rogue Earthling youth and thrown into a cellar. Marissa stumbles upon the spacecraft, but it explodes before she can find any sign of the alien. When she awakens, she discovers the alien’s whereabouts and vows to help him. But Phoebus’s Aresians have landed and are searching for him. Phoebus and Marissa must battle against their despair and their peoples in a quest for their freedom. And through it all, an Earthling and an Aresian will find it easier to fight gravity than their love for each other.

Some reviews of Fighting Gravity:

"Fighting Gravity captivated me until the end." - Review from Christine Rains, writer

"A roller coaster ride with a sweet interstellar romance at its core..." - Review from Aubrie Dionne, author of Paradise 21

To purchase: Amazon  Amazon UK  Amazon DE  Amazon FR  Amazon IT  Amazon ES  Smashwords 

If you join my author newsletter, you can receive a coupon from Smashwords to download Fighting Gravity for free!

To celebrate Fighting Gravity's release date, Defying Gravity, book one of the Gravity trilogy, is now free through May 4th. So if you haven't snagged a copy, then please do. Also spreading the word would be awesome. *hint-hint*

Defying Gravity is free at these sites (May 1-4): Amazon US  Amazon UK  Amazon DE  Amazon FR  Amazon IT  Amazon ES.

I am also on tour with Bewitching Book Tours today at these sites. If you have a chance, please stop by. *grins*

Fang-tastic Books

www.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com

Roxanne’s Realm

www.roxannesrealm.blogspot.com

The Creatively Green Write at Home Mom

www.creativelygreen.blogspot.com

Lisa's World of Books

www.lisasworldofbooks.net

Sapphyria's Book Reviews

saphsbookblog.blogspot.com

(afternoon post)

Book Travels

http://booktravels.blogspot.com.br/

Read2Review

http://read2review.com 

Flutey Words

http://authoraubrie.blogspot.com

JeanzBookReadNReview        

http://jeanzbookreadnreview.blogspot.co.uk/

If the posts aren't up yet, then please try stopping by another time.

Wednesday's Writing Update: The Day I Defied Gravity

 

All links open to a new page, so click away!

First off, my review of Selah Janel's Mooner is here.

*waves to new and former followers* If I haven't followed you yet, please let me know with a link to your blog. I try to follow back.

And I knew I forgot something from yesterday's post. Margo Kelly tagged me on Monday, so I picked three questions and answered them on a previously tagged post. Monday was Margo's birthday too, so please go by her blog and wish her a belated happy birthday.

Also, if you look to the left of the blog, you'll see that I am creating a newsletter. If you want to see cover art, excerpts, and writing news before I announce it elsewhere, then please sign up. I promise I won't spam you or anything like that. You'll most likely not receive an email except once a month or more. 

Before I get to the good news, I have received a few bad reviews on Defying Gravity and I wanted to address something about that. This is normal for authors, and these people were disappointed it wasn't hard science fiction. That is their right, and I respect their opinions. If I loved hard sci-fi and read my story, I would rate it lower too because it wouldn't meet my expectations. Of course, my story isn't hard sci-fi, more space opera/soft sci-fi romance/alien fantasy. I understand wanting to jump at my defense too, but please remember these people have a right to their opinions. Their lower ratings help weed out the people who really wouldn't like my book in the first place. If you disagree with them based on reading Defying Gravity, the best way you can help me is by writing a review on the book. Otherwise, it makes me look unprofessional, even though I don't have control over what my fans think or say or do. I appreciate all reviews.

Okay, on to the good news. *grins*

 

Last Thursday was my 30th birthday, but it was also the first day I put Defying Gravity for free on Amazon. The results were amazing. I definitely had the best birthday watching my space opera novelette climbing the charts. Thank you to all who downloaded a copy and/or spread the word about it.

Yes, that's my book beside of George R.R. Martin's!

When I started out free, I thought it would be great to reach the top 100 in a category or two. I would love to get over 250 downloads in a 24 hour period, but what happened defied all my expectations. Defying Gravity had over 2300 downloads in a 24 hour period (2235 US, 62 UK, 10 DE, 2 FR). It reached #129 Kindle Overall (Free) and #2 in Science Fiction (Free).

When it went off free, I wasn't expecting much, but since then I've had over 100 sales and have seen my Defying Gravity rise in the rankings.

That's taken from March 12 around 1 PM EST.

I've had borrows since then, saw my book as #3 in Popularity in the Science Fiction category on KOLL, and much more. I got my first sale in Germany! It's just been magical and makes me even more excited to finish writing Fighting Gravity and getting it out on May 1st. By the way, you can add Fighting Gravity here on Goodreads and Pull of Gravity (#3) here on Goodreads.

Thank you.

So what have you defied lately?

Purrsonal Thursdays: A New Decade

 

I'm at Christine Rains' blog today talking about blog tours. Plus, I have a very special treat for everyone. Defying Gravity is free for one day only on Amazon. Please spread the word. :) Plus, on Christine's blog, you can have a chance to win a copy of Once Upon a December Nightmare or The Best of Raven and the Writing Desk. Also, you can now add Fighting Gravity (Gravity #2) and Pull of Gravity (Gravity #3) to your Goodreads lists. Cover art is forthcoming with both books.

 

That's right, folks. Today is my thirtieth birthday.

I'm not quite sure how I feel about turning thirty. Part of me is excited. Good things seem to happen to people in their thirties. Life seems to work itself out more. People are more grounded in who they are and what they do. I believe this decade will lead to the publication of my debut novel. Maybe I'll even decide to have a child or two. You never know. Thirty seems so adult.

At the same time, I don't feel like I am thirty. I still get carded at R-rated movies. I often get mistaken as a student at work. I don't have a house or a family of my own (although the cats do count!). I still feel as awkward as I did in high school when it comes to social interactions. Hm, maybe that's why I write YA. Heh.

So, today I'm thirty. I have the day off from work (the entire weekend actually). I have no real plans. I'll probably edit a bit, read a bit, check my Amazon Ranking a lot (seriously, go get your free copy of Defying Gravity), and maybe write a bit.

I guess it's time to check my Amazon ranking again. (Yes, please, go and get you a copy of Defying Gravity!)

#fridayflash "To Life"

 

I've been interviewed by Jamie White about Defying Gravity. The interview is on her blog here. I'm also giving away a copy of Defying Gravity there.

This flash piece takes place fifty years before Defying Gravity and involves Linia's grandparents.

To Life

Electricity buzzed throughout the battlefield. Grasses smoked around the Medusan bodies, and stone statues peered forever forward toward their invading army. Iris tiptoed around the stone. Each statue’s face was someone she knew, but she was looking for one in particular. Her throat tightened, and she found it hard to swallow.

How could these aliens bring war to their peaceful Persea?

Tears blinded her as she stumbled toward the next statue. Her foot caught upon a dead Medusan’s arm, and she fell. Dirt stained her bluish palms. She dug her nails into it and yanked up fistfuls of grass.

“No, no, no!”

Her forehead pressed against the ground as the earth soaked up her tears. She should return to the draken caves. She’d left her daughter with Phisto and Elphie. If the Medusans returned now, she’d never flee from their terrifying stare.

She crawled toward the last statue. Please, please, don’t be him. Please.

Her fingers pressed against his stone-coated boots, trailed along his pants, and grasped hold of his hand. Her head lifted until she saw his face. Please.

His lips were parted in silent surprise, eyelids widening just so. He appeared to be reaching out with one hand. The other was close to his throat, the gemstone of life. A second later, and he would’ve been safe. Her dear husband. Gone.

A sob rose in her chest and burst from her mouth. She clawed up his body until she was standing, exposed to their enemy, their war. “No, Feros, not you. Amari needs you. I need you.”

He couldn’t be dead. Not her Feros.

Her hand went to her collar. The cool gemstone urged her to turn it. Would she be able to save him? They hadn’t tried to save them. Perseans knew the risks of their gifts and the laws, but Feros was frozen in rock, but what if he wasn’t really dead?

“I have to try,” she said, twisting the stone as blue electricity illuminated her body.

As her hand hovered above her husband’s heart, her hopes and fears lay with one touch. Did she dare? Could she save him? Them all?

She touched him, and their world exploded into possibility when the stone cracked and brought her husband back to life.

I've been interviewed by Angela Cothran

 

I'm over at Angela Cothran's today where she interviewed me about Defying Gravity and other things. Please click here to stop by.

#fridayflash "Phosphorus's Glow and Life's Oxygen"

I'm actually not here today! Read my short story "Phosphorus's Glow and Life's Oxygen" at Terri Talley Venters' blog.

Wednesday's Writing Update: Blogger Buddy Fail and Writing

 

Happy Wednesday!

Being off for Presidents' Day has really messed with my head. *laughs* I almost forgot I hadn't written up today's post. Oops.

Yes, I've been a bad blogger buddy. I've been in epic fail mode since February, it seems. I can't keep up and find my happy medium. It'll get there, but it might take longer than I'd hoped. If you've followed my blog and I haven't followed yours yet, please leave a comment with your blog link. I love following back, but sometimes I miss people who follow and don't comment. As for the first campaigner challenge, mine will be up tomorrow, and I'm slowly making the rounds.

The Defying Gravity book blog tour is going well. I've really enjoyed hearing from people. So far the reviews are good, but I'd always be open to more honest reviews, so if you would like a copy to read and review on Amazon/Goodreads/etc., then let me know. I'd be happy to send you a Kindle copy or PDF.

I've adjusted my February goals. The Phoenix Prophetess edits have been moved to March. I figure I'll write the rest of my A to Z Flashes of Foxwick for the A to Z Challenge in March too. I'm still trying to finish up my flash fiction for March's Fridays. Plus, I'm busy writing the first draft of Fighting Gravity. I have the cover art for it already. You'll see it soon. I promise. It's awesome. Even better than Defying Gravity.

So what have you been up to?

#fridayflash "Pre-Apocalyptic Planet"

 

I'm at Misha Gericke's blog today talking about relationships and Defying Gravity.

Here is a glimpse of the planet Medusa before the asteroid hit it. This also shows how Alezandros’s grandparents met.

Pre-Apocalyptic Planet

The big city. He was here. Finally.

Phylpos stepped off the spacetaxi platform and into metropolitan Snehta. His fingers tightened around his bag. Spacecars flashed through the air as golden sunbeams glinted off their silver chromes. His forked tongue darted out and dampened his lips. A gentle roar, much like the mighty felion, rose from the city. His eyes couldn’t see enough as the explosion of senses beat against him.

They told him it would be different.

He had no idea.

Bag in hand, he hopped down the stairs and strode along the lined pathways on the ground level. He pulled out the slip of paper and read: 12 Sarie Way. Now where was this Sarie Way? Perhaps he should’ve asked the spacetaxi for better directions.

“Oomph!”

Fur and tongue knocked into him, and his paper fluttered from his fingertips. His gasp halted in his throat when that purple tongue lapped him across the face.

“Marvi, here.” The woman grasped the kanog and yanked the furry beast down. “I’m terribly sorry about that. It’s Marvi’s first time in the city, and he’s overexcited.”

Phylpos’s gaze met hers, and he marveled at her dark green eyes. He’d never see them so dark, almost like leaves in twilight. He smeared the slobber off his face with his sleeve. “Don’t worry about it. It’s my first time in the city too.”

“Really? Are you planning to stay long? There are so many places to see, like the gardens and the zoo and the museums.” She grasped his arm in her excitement.

“I’ll be here for a while.” He didn’t know how long. It just depended on work. “I’d love to see everything.”

“Oh, you must!” She laughed like a sputtering engine and gently squeezed his arm. “We need to be properly introduced. I’m Alezandra, and you’ve already met Marvi here.”

“Yes, I have.” He petted the kanog’s head, and it lapped at his hand. “I’m Phylpos.”

“Phylpos,” she said his name as if she savored a rich dessert, one syllable at a time. His heart rate increased, and his arm where she still had hold of it burned him most delightfully. “I believe we’ll be good friends, won’t we?”

“I hope so.” And he did.

Wednesday's Writing Update: Defying Gravity and #atozchallenge author promotion

 

Happy Wednesday!

My review of Jenn Nixon's romantic suspense novella Trust Me, Tell Me is here.

The super awesome ninja leader Alex Cavanaugh gave a shout out to Defying Gravity here. 

And look, I've reached over 400 followers. Wow!

Okay, I completely dropped the ball. I've realized I'm not Wonder Woman. Heck, I'm not even Supergirl. Since I was busy publishing Defying Gravity last week, it meant I was still catching up on emails, blog posts, etc. this week. I didn't get around to as many Origins posts as I would've liked and I've been a bad Campaigner. I'm just now starting to get around to the bloggers in my groups (yeah, I write way too many different types of fiction). I'm sorry! Please forgive me.

But I do have good news for my fellow authors out there. On Surrounded by Books Reviews, I'm promoting authors (up to three for every letter) during the A to Z Challenge. For more details, click here. You can't beat free promotion, and the A to Z Challenge had over 1000 people join in on the alphabetic fun in April.

And yes, Defying Gravity is now available. I'm pleased with how it turned out, especially since it was my first venture into self-publishing. The formatting wasn't all that difficult beyond a couple things (still haven't figured out bookmarks), but it's a presentable, professional-looking copy. The hardest and most tiring aspect of publishing it was all the edits. I think I edited it four times in a few days. I have it out on Amazon right now and registered in their KDP Select. Once my 90 days are up, I plan to publish it on Smashwords and possibly Barnes and Noble. I need to learn how to create the other formats, hence the delay. I'm also on a book blog tour right now, so if you would stop by the various places, I would appreciate it. I'm also giving away things at a few stops, which will lead up to a massive, pretty epic giveaway on March 8th (my birthday).

While I'm still playing catch up (sorry!), I'm also trying to get some writing done this week. I plan to type what I have on Fighting Gravity, Book Two of the Gravity series. I don't know what possessed me to try writing it by longhand, but I did and wrote around 6000 words in it. Now I have to type them up and keep writing because the longhand is getting too slow. I've also been trying to get some future blog posts done as well as some flash fiction. Depending on how much I get done on the flash fiction, blog posts, and Fighting Gravity this week, then I might be able to start editing The Phoenix Prophetess sometime next week. *crosses fingers*

So what are you up to?

Fantasy Tuesdays: Space Fantasy, The Final Frontier

First off, I am talking about the importance of critique partners with Aubrie Dionne. I am also giving away a copy of my space fantasy romance novelette Defying Gravity, so please drop by and enter. Plus, Aubrie Dionne writes some wonderful space operas/science fiction romance, so be sure to check out her novels too.

Space fantasy is perhaps the final frontier when it comes to the fantasy genres. It’s so borderline science fiction that some would argue it is closer to science fiction than fantasy. For me, though, science fiction involves well, science. Defying Gravity has wormholes, spaceships, and mentions stars and galaxies, but the science part ends there. I created the planets (Persea, Medusa, the brief mention of Aresia). I created the aliens much like I would create a fantasy world with their cultures, type of magic, and creatures. I deposited the main characters on a post-apocalyptic Earth of my imagination.

When our Earth isn’t enough, I believe we writers of fantasy can sometimes have fun in other planets.

Star Wars, Star Trek, Firefly, and Stargate are some well-known space fantasy/sci-fi fantasy/space operas.

Today my space fantasy romance novelette Defying Gravity officially debuts. What a better day than Valentine’s Day to have space aliens, cannibalistic humans, and romance.

Homesick upon the SS Perseid, Linia, a young linguist, thinks she signed up for a mission of peace, but her crew members have another plan: attack the planet Medusa.

Bored with his dying planet, Alezandros, a space cruiser pilot, joins the Medusan Army in his quest for adventure.

When the SS Perseid clashes with the Medusans’ space cruisers, Alezandros and Linia’s lives intertwine. Sucked through a wormhole, they crash upon a post-apocalyptic Earth and are captured by cannibals. In adjacent cells, Alezandros and Linia cast their differences aside for a common bond: escape. But when romantic feelings emerge between them, they might do the unthinkable because for a Medusan and a Persean to fall in love, it would defy gravity.

Book Links: Surrounded by Books Publishing 

Goodreads 

Amazon  Amazon UK   Amazon DE  Amazon FR  Amazon IT  Amazon ES

 

What space fantasy novels, TV shows, or movies do you enjoy?