Sister Katherine Release Week: Excerpt 3

His private com channel beeped for attention, and Vadef smiled with affection to identify his Dramok’s frequency.  Vadef and Miv’s clan leader was the spyship’s first officer.  Simdow had been left on board to command the vessel while Captain Tranis led the group on the colony.  No doubt Simdow was hard pressed to keep patient while the majority of the ship’s crew was busy with their invasion and capture of General Hamilton, who they’d found in the colony’s temple.  Chasing the Earther general’s transport ship had led them to this little moon.  Finding all the women had happened purely by chance.

Vadef didn’t keep his clanmate waiting for more than a second before answering.  “Vadef here, my Dramok.”  Because it was a private frequency, the Imdiko thought he could ignore military protocol.

Simdow’s smooth voice rolled over him like a gentle wave.  “Hello, Vadef.  I understand they’re keeping you busy down there.  Congratulations on your part in capturing an enemy general and 120 Mataras.”

The Imdiko picked up on the excited note in his clan leader’s tone.  “Yes, we’ve been very busy, though I personally can’t take any credit for Hamilton’s capture.  You sound like you have news.  What’s going on?”  

Simdow’s voice was low, which meant he was still on the bridge of the spyship.  He shouldn’t be making private calls if he was on duty.  Vadef knew it had to be important for his Dramok to break the rules.  Captain Tranis would have Simdow’s head if he found out.

Despite Simdow’s near whisper, there was no mistaking the delight in his tone.  “We have our pick of Mataras from the colony.  A Matara for our clan, Vadef!  Any one we want except for the one named Cassidy Hamilton.  The captain’s clan has already made claim on her.  But we can choose any of the others because we’re the next ranking clan on the ship.”

Vadef’s breath froze in his chest.  Captain Tranis’ clan was claiming the one missing girl, an of-age aspirant they’d caught a glimpse of just before taking over the colony.  Cassidy Hamilton had been a pretty, pale thing in the darkness of the convent’s night as she ran screaming from their invasion party.

Still, there was one female who was even prettier.  Vadef looked into her sky-blue eyes as he tried to speak.

In a croaking voice, he told his Dramok, “I think I have the perfect one, Simdow.  I’m reading her file right now.” 

Now available from Amazon, Amazon UK, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords.

Sister Katherine Release Week: Excerpt 2

Miv shot a glance over to see his clanmate heading towards the exit.  For once Vadef didn’t look insubstantial, not when he compared the man to the tiny women they’d just subdued.

Vadef’s body was toned, possessing muscle despite a series of illnesses in his childhood that had stunted his growth.  He still looked more like a teenage boy rather than a full grown man in his mid-twenties.  Completely cured of the compromised immune system he’d been born with, Miv’s Imdiko would still never attain a large stature.  The young man looked vulnerable among the hulking specimens of their kind, and as ever, Miv felt the almost violent need to keep Vadef safe.

Adding to the Imdiko’s seeming susceptibility was the innocent cast of his lovely face, framed with a soft flow of silky black hair.  With fine-boned, almost delicate features, Vadef moved about his life with a perpetual wide-eyed curiosity that was as endearing as it was worrisome.  He soaked up new experiences like a sponge, and sometimes forgot to be careful in his enthusiasm to learn all he could.  Being confined to bed and often hospitalized as a child had left Miv’s clanmate with a near desperate need to explore and see everything in the known universe.

Vadef passed Miv’s immediate supervisor on his way out of the building.  Weapons Subcommander Osopa was deep in conversation with a couple of other security personnel, and Miv decided getting an assignment was better than standing around and waiting for his orders.

As he went towards his superior, he passed the blonde he and Vadef had just secured.  He couldn’t help but look at the female again as he went.  He’d never seen anyone so beautiful, and he replayed the way she’d felt in his arms when he’d held her.  She’d been so tiny and light, barely even there.  The little Earther was a feather compared to even Vadef.  It had been hard for Miv to set her down on the floor, to remove her from his care.  Somehow her silent tears had affected Miv more deeply than the screams of the other women.  He’d felt a visceral urge to save her, but what had there been to save her from?  Himself?  His crewmates?  

Miv’s gaze ran over the delicate features of her pale face, wondering how old she was.  She looked near his own age but with Earthers, who could tell for sure?  Their life spans were shorter and they aged faster than Kalquorians, though it was believed the superior medical capabilities of the Empire could close the gap eventually.  Earth was overcrowded and polluted, with medical research lagging far behind that of most civilized planets.  

Now available from Amazon, Amazon UK, and Smashwords.  

Special Note to Nook Users:

For some reason Barnes & Noble's platform is not publishing the revised edition of Alien Embrace or Sister Katherine.  I am trying to resolve the issue, but no one is giving me answers on what the problem is.  It could be these books will not appear on B&N unless Smashwords' distribution channel gets them through -- that could take a couple of weeks to happen.  I will continue to work on this, but for now Nook users will either have to wait and hope B&N gets its act together or get your copies of these books directly from Smashwords.  I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience.  --Tracy

Shalia's Diary Monday Post

Girl, we need to talk...but maybe not that much all at once.  http://shaliasdiary.blogspot.com/

Sister Katherine Release Week: Excerpt 1

Here we are with another book coming out!  I will alert you as it becomes available via the usual sales channels.  Meanwhile, enjoy this sneak peek:

Earthers were usually not as muscular as Kalquorians either.  Even the few surviving females of Vadef’s race were powerfully built.  Vadef himself had nowhere near the brawn of the average Kalquorian; certainly he possessed none of the robust fighter’s heft that Miv had.  Yet he was still a powerhouse compared to the female struggling in his clanmate’s arms.  Her frame was spare with the hewn look of one who had worked hard in her life.  She was too spare really, almost approaching scrawniness.

With her wide, staring eyes and tiny face twisted in a rictus of panic, this poor creature looked very much like prey caught in the clutches of a predator.  To liken Miv to a hunting animal was neither inaccurate nor insult.

Miv was of Kalquor’s Nobek breed, the warrior-protectors of the Empire.  That he belonged to the most ferocious category of Vadef’s people was obvious in the wary and almost feral expression he usually wore.  Miv’s demeanor was the first thing one noticed about him.  You had to get past that evaluating hunter’s stare to see the large eyes, the broad, crooked nose that had been broken too many times to count, and a voluptuous surprise of a mouth.

Vadef doubted the Earther was getting past his clanmate’s brutish aura at the moment, not when Miv was holding her helpless and waiting.

The poor female unleashed one final scream as Vadef painlessly injected the sedative into her neck.  She lost consciousness an instant later, and Miv handed her off to him.  The Imdiko looked at the now insensible face, which looked far more lovely without terror overcoming it.  

He grimaced.  Vadef was not a Nobek.  He’d never frightened anyone in his life, and he didn’t like that he scared these poor women.

Miv’s hand squeezed his shoulder.  His voice had a delightful gravel quality, one that Vadef felt scratched an itch deep in his ear.  “It’s all right, my Imdiko.  We’re not hurting them.”

“I wish we could make them understand that.”  Vadef thought he might hear the screams for the rest of his life.

“They wouldn’t listen.  They are poisoned against us.  Not to mention terrified at this moment.”

Vadef nodded.  Even the most benign invasion would be far from pleasant for those it was happening to.  With a sigh he carried the woman to the wall of the corridor and laid her on the floor.  Her white gown, while voluminous, still seemed inadequate protection for such a small creature.  It wasn’t cold in the corridor, but Vadef still had the urge to cover her in a blanket or slip a pillow under her head ... something that demonstrated care.  However, he needed to keep up with Miv, to finish this unpalatable work.  The sooner this invasion of the tiny Earther colony was over, the sooner Vadef could sit in front of a computer where he belonged.

Now available from Amazon, Amazon UK, and Smashwords.

July 2013 Update

Sister Katherine – It’s coming out next week!  Edits and formatting are done.  I will begin the process of loading it to Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and Smashwords tomorrow...so be on the lookout.  I hope you enjoy our step back to the Kalquorian capture of the Europan convent that was the setting for Alien Conquest.

Clans of Kalquor 1:  Alien Embrace (re-edited) – I got the electronic rights back and you can get the updated version with over 12,000 more words now at Amazon, Amazon UK, and Smashwords.  Barnes & Noble is giving me trouble over getting it to Nook, but I will continue to work on the issue in the hopes I can get it on that platform next week.  Two book releases in two weeks...wow.  Can there be a such thing as too many Kalquorians at once?  Oh, hell no.

To Protect and Service:  Ravenous Virtue – The first round of edits is almost done.  I am planning on releasing this wild ride next month...fans of captive fantasies, this is your book.  Very gritty and not a pretty story, so put on your big girl panties for this one.

Shalia’s Diary:  If you’re keeping up with the regular posts, you have a lot coming this month:  Shalia’s new friend, a shocking change, a clanning ceremony, more danger, more insanity ... more and more and more of everything.

New Year’s Challenges

Start a new book each month:

(January)  Clans of Kalquor 8:  Alien Caged – Somehow I managed to write almost half of the first draft already.  I’m planning to get this to you in October.

(February)  Clan Beginnings:  Clan, Honor, and Empire – Outlining is done, and I’m dabbling in writing a little bit here and there.  Rajhir’s parents are an interesting bunch ... there’s a lot of tension between his mother Nivere and his Dramok father Gegra.  Hmmm...

(March)  First Mataras:  Michaela – Outline is done. 

(April)  Clans of Kalquor 9:  Alien Indiscretions – Over halfway through the outline.  An Imperial Father goes on trial along with two Dramoks we know and love. 

(May)  Clan Beginnings:  Clan and Crown – Outlining Clajak and Egilka’s story and laughing my ass off at Clajak.  What a mess he is as a devil-may-care young man!  Poor Egilka...what is that man doing to you?

(June)  Brianna’s Clan -  I’m just starting to outline the story of Dramok Sojan, Nobek Cincad, Imdiko Kires, and the woman they try to rescue from dying post-Armageddon Earth (who doesn’t want to be rescued).  Brianna is one tough lady, and she’ll be keeping these unclanned boys on their toes.

(July)  Clans of Kalquor 10:  Alien Hostage – Tasha, the twin of Cissy who is the heroine of Alien Indiscretions, is captured by the Basma and held prisoner as the revolt heats up.  What happens when hostage and rebels do the unthinkable and fall in love?  I’m currently building the characters to this story.

The Couch to 5K Running Program:

I’ve done very well with my knee to the point where I’ve been cleared to go back to my running program early...but I had to start from the very beginning again.  I have just begun the third week of this nine-week program, and so far, so good.  I have dropped three sizes since the beginning of the year and 34 pounds.

That’s it for now, folks.  Take care, all!

Shalia's Diary Thursday Post

A few 4th of July fireworks, Kalquorian style. http://shaliasdiary.blogspot.com/

Shalia's Diary Monday Post

Has Nang finally learned to take no for an answer?  http://shaliasdiary.blogspot.com/