Releasing Friday - First Mataras: Irene

 

The offer of a lifetime, but no Irene

Parlek’s deep voice spoke. “Dramok Sherv, right?”

A thrill went through him in spite of the heaviness in his gut after being reminded Irene wouldn’t be staying. “Hello, Dramok Parlek.”

“Look, I realize I’ve given you next to no time to consider my offer, but I can’t calm down since seeing your band perform. I’ve been pacing my rooms nonstop, going through my contacts to see who to approach first, composing my messages to those contacts…Sherv, your band could be huge. I feel it in my gut.”

“You saw us with Irene.” His gaze went to her, and his heart lurched. She watched him, her curiosity frank. She couldn’t understand him since he spoke Kalquorian.

How could they do this without her? But she insisted they do so. “She won’t be staying on. You no doubt figured out she’s an Earther.”

“Yeah, but Kalquor is taking Earthers, no problem—”

“Big problem. We rescued her from a destroyer captain attempting to kidnap her to the empire against her will. We’re trying to get her home to her family. She doesn’t wish to go to Kalquor, and we won’t force her.”

“Then it is a mass kidnapping. I wondered. Damn. What is the empire coming to?”

“The government’s lost its mind. Anyway, we’ll have to hire a new singer.”

“Shit. That’s a major loss. She’s fucking amazing, Sherv. The whole sound is great, don’t get me wrong. You guys kick ass, but she’s such a integral piece of it.”

“I know. I guess you’ll probably drop the offer, but we could still record a demo for you.” He glanced at Rusp, then Jemi to confirm…Jemi in particular, who’d often spoken of Dramok Parlek as if he was no better than a Tragoom. The Imdiko rolled his eyes, but he nodded. “Then, if you convince them to cut us a deal, we’ll sign with you and find a singer.”

Releasing Friday. Now available for pre-order at Amazon, Amazon UK, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple, Smashwords, and in print. (Print is already on sale)

 

She searched for freedom and found a Kalquorian clan.

Irene Jonson is a rising star in opera, thanks to Earth forcing her to leave her parents as a teen to join a prestigious opera company. Years later, she loves music, but she wants the freedom to forge her own path as a performer and be reunited with her family.

Sherv, Rusp, and Jemi are a clan and band playing hard, driving music. Success means more than fame and fortune; it would show their disapproving families they’ve chosen the lives they were meant to live. Encountering Irene, creating a new and exciting sound, gives them that opportunity…and a chance at love.

Two worlds on the brink of war threaten everything Irene and Clan Sherv have built and everything they dream of. Two worlds are bent on snatching Irene from the men and music she loves. What chance do four misfit musicians possibly have against Earth and the Kalquorian Empire?

Releasing June 23 - First Mataras: Irene

 

A once-big name takes notice of a new band and its music

As soon as the last song ended and the band began to make their way backstage…the blind singer helped by her bandmates…Parlek hurried to meet them. He had to weave through the crowd, but he got to the stage a couple of seconds after the spenruk, the last through the curtain, disappeared.

The three Nobeks serving as crew eyed him suspiciously, pausing their breakdown of the set when he joined them on the stage. “That was amazing. I used to manage bands, and I’d like to talk to them,” he babbled, hoping they wouldn’t toss him out on his ass.

One nodded and waved for him to go on. He rushed to catch the band before they left.

They were standing around, grinning and babbling in Earther when he burst in. The spenruk, a Nobek, immediately stepped in front of the woman to glower at Parlek. Parlek put his hands up in a peace gesture.

“Dramok Parlek. I used to manage Bodies in Chains, Bloodletter, Venomous—”

“And Unrestrained Carnage.” The howler, obviously a Dramok, stepped forward. His demeanor offered no friendliness.

“Yes. Them too.” Parlek forced himself maintain a level gaze. “My greatest success and failure, as everyone knows.”

“I still can’t believe you didn’t go to prison camp.” The trasbu player rolled his eyes at the rest.

Parlek was tempted to turn and leave. Even bands hungry for notoriety and a deal weren’t hungry enough for him.

His mouth had different ideas. “I’ve never heard this rimnastin music you played.”

“Because we invented it. This is the first time it’s been played in public.” Despite his obvious disdain for Parlek, the howler’s pride brought a smile to his face. He couldn’t restrain himself. “Did you see their reaction? They really liked it!”

“They did.” Parlek was awed. “How could they not? It’s new, and it’s amazing. So much power and yet there’s melody and the singing…wow, the singing. It didn’t matter I couldn’t understand the words. She’s incredible.”

“She is.” The howler grinned at the woman, who peered over the Nobek’s shoulder despite her seeming lack of sight. He jabbered in her language, and she smiled.

“You don’t manage now,” the trasbu said. His hostility had lessened to cautious curiosity. “You were run out of the business, weren’t you?”

“More on the order of frozen out,” Parlek admitted. “I lost all my clients. No one would talk to me. So yeah, I’ve been done for a while.” He had a sudden inspiration. “Which means I have nothing to lose by representing you.”

The three men stared at him. The howler said, “Having you as a manager would be a death stroke to our careers.”

Releasing Friday. Now available for pre-order at Amazon, Amazon UK, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple, Smashwords, and in print. (Print is already on sale)

 

She searched for freedom and found a Kalquorian clan.

Irene Jonson is a rising star in opera, thanks to Earth forcing her to leave her parents as a teen to join a prestigious opera company. Years later, she loves music, but she wants the freedom to forge her own path as a performer and be reunited with her family.

Sherv, Rusp, and Jemi are a clan and band playing hard, driving music. Success means more than fame and fortune; it would show their disapproving families they’ve chosen the lives they were meant to live. Encountering Irene, creating a new and exciting sound, gives them that opportunity…and a chance at love.

Two worlds on the brink of war threaten everything Irene and Clan Sherv have built and everything they dream of. Two worlds are bent on snatching Irene from the men and music she loves. What chance do four misfit musicians possibly have against Earth and the Kalquorian Empire?

Releasing June 23 - First Mataras: Irene

 

Band and woman on the run

Irene sat at the dinette, her back to the table, when Rusp returned. He looked deflated, as if he’d suffered misfortune.

“It go same as always, huh?” Jemi sat next to Irene, holding her. She’d almost stopped shaking. He reached and briefly squeezed his Nobek’s hand as Rusp passed.

“I never be his favorite son.” Rusp smiled weakly, indicating it was an attempt to joke. His clanmates smiled as feebly.

He stood next to Sherv, who’d paused pacing at his entrance. The Dramok patted his shoulder. “Thank you for talking to him. What he say?”

“Is bad. Earther and Kalquorian can have children together. Empire claim they rescue human women, but I think kidnaps are because we have three hundred years to extinct.”

“Three hundred years?” Jemi paled, then shook his head. “Still not right to take women from station.”

“Not only station.” Rusp gazed at Irene miserably. “Kalquor take all Earther Mataras they find off Earth. Give to clans.”

Cold sliced through her. “It’s like the Church said. They’ll make us sex slaves.”

“No, not…well…they promise you be equal to us. Live in best home, with biggest rank clans. Not slave, but you have to be clan Mataras.” He shook his head. “Maybe it is slave if no choice. I don’t know. This is too insane for me to understand.”

Irene shoved past the horror of what his world was doing. “How much trouble are you in for helping me?”

Rusp shrugged. “If caught, arrested. Face charges.”

Sherv’s jaw jutted stubbornly. “No matter. Irene wants home and parents. We find a way to take you there, don’t let Nil take you to Kalquor.”

Rusp nodded, his gaze meeting Irene’s. “Is correct to keep you safe, no matter what happens to us. I tell father I do it, and I mean it.”

Tears sprang to her eyes. They’d risked everything. “You shouldn’t be in this position. I don’t want you to suffer because of me.”

Releasing Friday. Now available for pre-order at Amazon, Amazon UK, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple, Smashwords, and in print. (Print is already on sale)

 

She searched for freedom and found a Kalquorian clan.

Irene Jonson is a rising star in opera, thanks to Earth forcing her to leave her parents as a teen to join a prestigious opera company. Years later, she loves music, but she wants the freedom to forge her own path as a performer and be reunited with her family.

Sherv, Rusp, and Jemi are a clan and band playing hard, driving music. Success means more than fame and fortune; it would show their disapproving families they’ve chosen the lives they were meant to live. Encountering Irene, creating a new and exciting sound, gives them that opportunity…and a chance at love.

Two worlds on the brink of war threaten everything Irene and Clan Sherv have built and everything they dream of. Two worlds are bent on snatching Irene from the men and music she loves. What chance do four misfit musicians possibly have against Earth and the Kalquorian Empire?