It's Finally Coming...

It's another audiobook!

Priestess of the Eggstone is finally finished. We're just waiting on ACX to approve it.

New Story Release - The Genesis of Madame Yosefie

I'm excited to announce the release of a new story - The Genesis of Madame Yosefie. It's a novelette, so longer than a short story but not even close to a novel.

Madame Yosefie was one of my favorite minor characters from my Altairan Empire series. I just had to find out who she was and where she came from, so I wrote her back story. It's a fun romp with plenty of intrigue and plotting and fight scenes.

It's only 99cents so grab your copy today!

On Smashwords (all ebook formats)

On Kindle

All she wanted was to share her fashion sense, but what Jojo got was involvement in political scandal and assassination attempts.

Jojo came to Linas-Drias with a dream—to share her sense of fashion and beauty. But the closest she can get to high society is as a janitor cleaning the floors of the VIP space lounge. Until one night, she overhears a plot to assassinate political rivals and finds herself entangled in a web of deceit and espionage with the mysterious Commander Lowell.

An Altairan Empire prequel story.

Cover Reveal!

I'm working on re-releasing books 2 and 3 in my series. Just a quick polish, and new covers.

Priestess of the Eggstone is now available at Smashwords (all ebook formats) and Amazon (Kindle only, print is coming later)

Poisoned Pawn is now available at Smashwords (all ebook formats) and Amazon (Kindle only, print is still being formatted)

Poisoned Pawn will be coming soon.

Without further ado, here are the new covers for Priestess of the Eggstone and Poisoned Pawn!

Check out the whole series at www.altairanempire.com!
Get the first book, Nexus Point, FREE - use coupon code AA47G.

Cracking the Lid on Audio Books - Second Chances now available!

I finally dipped my toe into the audio book market. Second Chances is now available as an audio book! Others are in the works.

Paltronis wasn't the one who started the fight, but she was the one who ended it. She also ended her career with the Patrol. Until Tayvis, an officer, shows up and offers her a chance to prove she's not a complete screw-up. 

A prequel short story for the Fall of the Altairan Empire series. Find the whole series at www.altairanempire.com

I have codes for free downloads of the audio version. If you're willing to give me a review in exchange for a code, leave me a comment! Act fast, because these are limited to the first ten people to respond.

Today is also the day I defend my thesis. Talk about pressure...

And the winner is . . .

Eva Caye!

You have won the lovely crocheted ebook sleeve and one paperback from my series. Please let me know which one you would like and I'll sign it and get it out to you.

Congratulations and thanks for entering everyone!

(And I'll figure out Rafflecopter eventually...)

Giveaway! The Fall of the Altairan Empire Conclusion

Announcing the final two books in the series! Phoenix in Flames and Redemption, the conclusion to the Fall of the Altairan Empire.

If you've been looking for a great summer read, why not try the series? Lots of action and adventure. Great characters and interesting settings. Plus, with 11 books and over a million words, it will last a whole lot longer than a movie. Check out the official webpage for the full series and all the links.

Don't forget to enter my giveaway at the end of the post. I'm giving away a hand-made crocheted Kindle/small tablet/ereader cover in a lovely zebra yarn. If I get more than 100 entries, I'll throw in a paperback signed copy of Nexus Point. For every 100 entries after that, I'll add in another paperback book in the series. Sound like a good deal to you? Then go enter!

Phoenix in Flames, book 10

Kindle
Smashwords (all ebook formats)

The Phoenix is deep in syndicate territory and they're out for blood. Lowell's power base is broken and Dace is left unprotected. Jasyn will have to marshal all her resources to rescue Dace from the wrath of her enemies.

Redemption, book 11

Kindle
Smashwords (all ebook formats)

The Empire is disintegrating, leaving all civilization on the brink of collapse. Roland sends Dace to Linas-Drias as his ambassador, to try to salvage what she can. But things are worse than anyone suspected. Not even Dace can save the Emperor from the mysterious Ice Queen and her plotting.


Get book 1, Nexus Point for FREE! Use code AA47G at Smashwords.

Enter to win a hand-crocheted Kindle cover made by yours truly. It's easy and I promise I won't ask you to sign up for any spam.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And Another Release

Book 9 is now live!

Check out An Indecent Proposal - Dace faces her most challenging enemy yet: Linas-Drias high society ladies. The claws are out after the second most eligible bachelor in the Empire announces his engagement to Dace. It might have helped if he'd asked her first. And if Lowell had remembered to tell Dace that Tayvis was very much alive and waiting for her. But her engagement to the Second Speaker, Vance, is a golden opportunity for her to spy out the real traitors trying to tear apart the Empire. When her sham engagement starts becoming all too real, Dace is in too deep to escape.

Kindle
Smashwords
Look for the print version in a couple of weeks on Amazon

And if you haven't tried the series yet, go get book 1, Nexus Point, for FREE.
Coupon code: AA47G
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/10672

Nexus Point - a beginning, the origin point.
With a single flap of a butterfly's wing, a massive typhoon is born. Within a single moment, a single chance encounter, lie the seeds of destruction or salvation.
Dace only wants enough freedom to fly her merchant ship where the trade takes her. But fate and circumstance conspire otherwise. Trapped on a primitive planet, hunted by drug smugglers and betrayed by her crew, Dace's only hope of survival is the Patrol agent trying to kill her.
Here begins the Fall of the Altairan Empire.

Cover Reveal! And an update

Nexus Point is now out of print. The ebook is still available but the paperback is no longer published. I'm working on a revision for it, but it's slow going. I'm embarrassed by how bad the writing is. I think I'm good at characters and plot, but the writing itself sucks. Big time. Fortunately, writing is something you improve with practice. Lots and lots of practice.

So, here's to improved writing and better story flow. For those of you who read Nexus Point and still loved the story, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for wading through that horrible prose and sticking with it enough to see the story and fall in love with the characters.

As soon as I'm done revising book one, I'll pick up book eight and get it published. My original goal of one book a month has been derailed by school and health issues, but I only have four more in the series. Thanks for your patience.

If you enjoyed the series so far, please tell your friends. Word of mouth is really the only way anyone finds books anymore. If you would post reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, Scribd, B&N, Smashwords, and anywhere else, I will love you forever, no matter how many stars you give my books.

Okay, whiny writer rant over. How about a look at the new cover for Nexus Point? I'm in love with this one.

Finally, FINALLY, book 7 is out! Get Obsidian Tears today!

It's been a long haul the last month and a half. School ended up being a lot more draining than I anticipated. It's a good thing, but it slowed down my editing considerably. But, finally, I can announce that Obsidian Tears is available for the Kindle and should be available on Smashwords later this week. I got books 4 and 5 in the series up on Smashwords, too. Books 5 and 6 will follow shortly. Now to get book 7 formatted for print and edit book 8...

Obsidian Tears, The Fall of the Altairan Empire Book 7

When Tayvis goes missing, Dace can't turn her back on Lowell's request for her to investigate. Especially not when he hands her the shattered remains of the Eggstone. But her decision might cost her heart and her freedom.

Cold Revenge, book 5, in any ebook format.

Kumadai Run, book 4, in any ebook format - get it for 99 cents from now until Jan 14 - use coupon code TG89S.

Get book 1, Nexus Point, for FREE - use coupon code AA47G.

Finally! Book Seven is coming...

Yes, that's a fractal.
from www.sgeier.net/fractals

This has been a tough one for me. First the cover design gave me fits. Then I realized another edit needed done before the final read-through and proofing. All this was on top of writing papers and creating projects for class and dealing with work drama. But, classes are fun and most of the papers are finished. Work drama has been resolved, mostly. And the edits are almost finished.

Here's a teaser for you:

I slouched at the table, the same one I'd been at for most of the last three weeks. The Golden Pig, an upscale bar on Proxima, was quiet with few customers. The bartender didn't seem to mind me spending hours sitting at a table near the back as long as I bought drinks and paid my tab.

Tayvis was twenty three days overdue. We'd agreed to meet here, when his enlistment was finally up. It looked like he didn't want to keep his promise.

I didn't blame him. The last time we'd seen each other he'd arrested me. And the time before that I'd shot him. I shouldn't have been surprised that he hadn't come. I didn't want to believe it was really over between us, but three weeks of waiting were beginning to convince me.

Jasyn, co-owner of my ship and my best friend, had lost patience. Her hints that we should move on had become blunt and hard to ignore. She was right, I had to let go. Tayvis wasn't coming.

I'd never expected it to hurt so much.

I looked across the bar to the front windows. The sun of Proxima blazed out of a clear summer sky. The door opened, sending a flash of bright light across the polished wood of the tables. I squinted and groaned when I saw who had just entered.

Lowell stood near the door, surveying the room. Darus Venn, my father, hovered over his shoulder. I considered sliding under the table. Lowell saw me and strode across the room. He wore a captain's bars on his uniform this time. He rarely wore his true insignia. He preferred to slum with the lower ranks. Darus wore an engineer's gears.

"Go away," I said as Lowell pulled out a chair.

He sat anyway. "Is that any way to greet me, Dace?"

"Or me," Darus said, taking a second chair.

"I'm not in the mood, Lowell. Hi, dad. How have you been?"

"Try saying it like you mean it," Darus said.

"Whatever you want," I said, standing up, "the answer is no, Lowell. So don't even try."

"I need your help."

"I don't want yours."

"I think you want to hear this," Lowell said quietly. I deliberately stepped away.

Something dropped onto the table with a soft chime, like crystals muffled in cloth. A tiny prick of emotion stabbed into my heart. I stopped, my feet glued to the floor despite my best intentions to leave. Jasyn was going to rip me into shreds when she found out I'd even listened to Lowell. I turned back, I had to find out what ace Lowell held.

He poked a small bag on the table in front of him, a nondescript thing of worn cotton. I dropped into a chair, feeling the pull from the bag.

"I thought that would get your attention." Lowell pushed the bag towards me.

"I'm through, Lowell. You promised to leave me alone. Remember?"

My hand closed over the bag. A wave of pain, anger, and need washed through me. I knew what was in the bag. I closed my eyes as my fingers fumbled to untie it.

"Two weeks ago," Lowell began, "a ship limped into Viya Station, the only Sessimoniss ship to be sighted in almost a year, with a single survivor on board. He died not long after reaching the station, despite everything they tried to do for him. The only thing he said that anyone could interpret was your name." The Sessimoniss were a reptilian sentient race that lived beyond the fringes of the Empire. Only four non-Sessimoniss had ever landed on their world and returned alive: me, Jasyn, her brother Jerimon, and Tayvis.

The top of the bag opened. Tiny glittering shards of crystal in every hue of the rainbow spilled out. Tumbled emotions and jumbled images poured into my mind. This was the Eggstone, the god of the Sessimoniss. A few pieces of it, at least.

They're Playing Our Song

Sorry for those of you who were hoping for a sappy romantic moment here. This is about theme songs for my books. As I write, I listen to music. It drowns out the sounds of screaming children and Nintendo games and all the other distractions. Like the house catching fire or the kids chopping up furniture with chainsaws. (No, those didn't happen. But I do have a "writing sign" for my bedroom door that reads, If there isn't blood, bones, or open flames, DO NOT KNOCK!. It mostly worked.)

So just for fun, here's a list of songs that became theme songs for the books in my series. I have no idea why some songs stick with certain books, but they were my go-to song for that book. Listening to them set the mood and got me ready to write.

If you want to check out the whole series, at least all the ones in print so far, go here.

Nexus Point was written mostly to Air Supply. Don't ask me why. I had to laugh when I'd finish writing a very intense fight scene and realize my CD player was playing, "I'm all out of love, I'm so lost without you..."

But the big song for the book was this one - Air Supply's 'I Can Wait Forever'

Priestess of the Eggstone had The Alan Parsons Project as its backup singers, especially these two songs:

Damned If I Do

Don't Answer Me

I was going through a Josh Groban phase when I wrote Poisoned Pawn. I fell in love with this song and played it over and over and over...

Remember When it Rained

Kumadai Run didn't really have any theme songs, at least nothing that stood out. I listened to a lot of Elvis love songs and heavy metal, though. And ate way too much chocolate. There is one scene at the end that has its own theme song, though. If you've read the book, I think you can figure it out.

Josh Groban's When You Say You Love Me 

Cold Revenge was one of those that no single song jumps out at me, but this is good one for it. (I seem to have a thing for sappy love songs when I'm writing, which makes little sense. My books are NOT sappy romance.)

Chicago, We Can Last Forever

Here's a teaser for the rest of the series:

Book 6 - Jericho Falling - Laura Branigan, Ti Amo
Book 7 - Obsidian Tears - Our Farewell
Book 8 - Chain of Secrets - Midnight in Moscow, Fly
Book 9 - An Indecent Proposal - Solitaire
Book 10 - Phoenix in Flames - Ride Forever
Book 11 - Redemption - Amazing Grace

Are you excited to read them? I'm excited to get the books out!

News Flash!

We interrupt this regularly scheduled recipe to bring you breaking news...

Jericho Falling (The Fall of the Altairan Empire book 6) is now available on Kindle!

A mysterious stranger with no memories claims help from Dace. But he wants more than her sympathy. The dark secrets hidden in his mind threaten to destroy everything and everyone Dace has come to love.

Despite graduate school and children and work and life, I managed to get it edited and rewritten and a cover designed and all the rest and now you can read it. (The print version will take another two weeks to get formatting and proofing done.)

And if you haven't started the series yet, what are you waiting for? Pick up book 1, Nexus Point, for FREE - use coupon code AA47G at https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/10672

We return you to your regularly scheduled recipe Thursday...

SFR Brigade Presents... Cold Revenge

Check out the great story snippets from other SFR Brigade authors.

Here's my contribution - a snippet from Cold Revenge, book 5 in the Fall of the Altairan Empire. And as a bonus, I'm giving away copies of Nexus Point, book 1. Use coupon code AA47G.

I opened my eyes with an effort of will. Everything from my shoulders down screamed with pain. My knee wouldn’t bend. If I took shallow breaths my ribs didn’t creak and protest. I wrapped my arms around my stomach and looked up.
Sitting at my table, drinking from my mug, was an older man. He had an air of suave gentility that didn’t fool me for a second. He looked over at me and smiled.
"Take the ship up," he said to someone behind me in the cockpit.
I turned my head with an effort that sent more pain through my middle. Three people I didn’t recognize were in the cockpit. The engines throbbed in time with my knee. They were flying my ship. Rage overcame pain. I got up and threw myself at the man in the navigator’s seat.
The thugs dragged me back and beat me some more.
When I could think again, I was back on the bench and the ship was well on its way to the jump point. The man at the table was still sipping from my mug and watching me with a cold and toothy smile.
"That was stupid, Captain," he said.
"Where are the rest of the crew?"
"Safe enough. For now."
"Where are they?" I started to stand and but thought better of it when the thug nearest me stepped closer and raised his fist.
"Your concern is most touching. Show her," he said to the thug nearest the cabin doors.
The man opened Jerimon’s cabin door. The thug looming over me jerked me to my feet and dragged me across the lounge to look inside the cabin. Clark and Jasyn sat on one bunk, Ginni held Habim’s hands as they sat on the other bunk. The cabin door slid shut. The thug dragged me across the lounge and dumped me on the bench.
"Where’s Jerimon?" I said through teeth gritted against screaming in pain.
The man smiled, stretching his thin lips wider.
I turned quickly and looked back in the cockpit. Jerimon sat in the pilot’s chair, my chair, he was flying my ship. I was going to kill him, slowly and painfully. Just not right then.
"Who are you and what do you want?" I flung it at the man like a challenge.
"You know who I am, if you think hard enough," the man said. "You cost me fortunes, Dace. I’m here for revenge."
I scrounged desperately through my memories. Who could he be? The list of enemies I’d managed to accumulate was depressingly long. And those were only the ones that I knew. How many more did I have that I didn’t know about?
"Don’t tell me you have no idea who I am," he said and frowned. I preferred that to his false smile. "Does the name Belliff mean anything to you?"
My heart sank. The Targon Syndicate had finally caught up to me.

Here Comes Another Book

Cold Revenge (book 5) is coming very soon, look for it in early September. Did I mention I had the series completely written before I tried to hook a publisher with book one? All eleven books. My goal is to publish one a month until they're all out there. I've got the rights back on book one, so I'll be retooling that one after book eleven releases. Are you excited yet?

Here's a teaser for book five:

Cold Revenge
When Jerimon shows up at the Phoenix after serving only a year of his prison sentence, Dace knows something is off. But Jasyn welcomes her brother aboard the ship. Tensions are high between them. Add in a shortage of money and two stowaways running from the oppressive practices of the theocratic Sidyatha, and the last thing Dace expected: Jerimon's allegiance to the Targon crime syndicate.

And a sneak peek:
“Target acquired,” Touk announced. They’d been chasing the ship for the last ten hours through a pocket of the nebulae. Hide and seek in thick dust and radiation fields was a stressful game to play.
Tayvis brought the ship into his sights. It sat at a full stop. No fancy tricks, no last minute weapons fire, nothing; not what he expected.
“On my command,” Darus Venn, the Gunnery Commander, said over the com, “fire to disable if possible.”
“Acknowledged.” Tayvis lined up the ship in his sights then waited, his finger over the firing button.
“That’s strange,” Mryah said on his other side. She and Touk were his spotters, sorting through scans to locate and mark targets.
“What?” Tayvis asked.
“The ship comes up as a registered trader. I'm not picking up any weapons. Shielding reads as standard navigation shields only.”
“It’s supposed to be a smuggler,” Lorien the runner for their team, said. “Good cover, having a real ship id.”
Mryah shook her head. “The beacon checks out.”
“Fire when ready,” Darus’ voice came from the com.
“What’s the name of the ship?” Tayvis asked Mryah.
“Phoenix Rising,” Mryah said, squinting at her screen.
Tayvis hit the lock button, shutting down the weapons. “Hold your fire,” he said into the com to the other three gunnery teams.
The com crackled. “Are you countermanding my orders, Ensign?” Despite a rough start, Darus and Tayvis got along quite well in the two months since Darus was assigned CO for the gun batteries on the Avenger.
“I don’t think you have all the pertinent information, sir,” Tayvis said. “I want your personal authorization to fire on that ship.”
Darus hurried down the narrow corridor to the portside gun station. He crowded past Lorien. “Well?”
“What’s the delay, Commander Venn?” It was Captain Suweya on the com asking this time.
Darus leaned over Tayvis to speak into the com.  “I’m checking on that, sir.”
“It’s Dace’s ship,” Tayvis said.
“You sure about that?” Darus leaned close to the targeting computer, Mryah’s station, to check the readout. “What in blazes is she doing mixed up in this?” He straightened. “Hold your fire, all gunnery teams, repeat, hold your fire!”
“Did I just hear you correctly, Commander Venn?” The captain did not sound pleased.
“Sir, permission to come to the bridge and explain.”
“You’d better, Commander.”
“Lock your station, Tayvis,” Darus ordered. “You’re coming with me.” He looked at the merchant ship hanging in the targeting sights of the Patrol cruiser. “What’s she playing at this time?”
Tayvis had his station locked in record time then followed Darus. The two of them hurried through the ship to the bridge.
“Bet you fifty credits that Lowell’s behind this,” Darus said.
“That’s not a bet,” Tayvis countered, “that’s a certainty.”
“Keep your mouth shut when we get up there,” Darus instructed as they approached the bridge. “Let me do the talking.”
Tayvis didn’t dignify that with any sort of answer.
The door to the bridge slid open. Captain Suweya gave Darus a dark look then switched his attention to Tayvis. “Ensign Tayvis, you refused a direct order. The customary response to that is to space the mutineer. Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t toss you out an airlock right now.”
“Because that ship isn’t the smuggler you think,” Tayvis said. “It’s a merchant ship. And I’m sure the crew’s been framed.”
“Commander Venn?” The captain turned to Darus. “You countermanded my order. Why?”
“Because Ensign Tayvis is right, sir. We’ve been led on a fool’s chase.”
The captain studied both of them for a long time. His eyes, a brown so dark it looked black, were cold and hard. “I’ll give you one more chance to explain.”
“That ship, Phoenix Rising,” Darus said, “belongs to my daughter and two very good friends of mine. None of them would get mixed up in smuggling. There’s more to this than you think, Captain.”

Excerpt from book 4 - The Kumadai Run

I've been writing lots of stuff lately, just not fiction.

Want to read a review of a book chapter titled "The Architecture of Instructional Design"? It's been rewritten at least a dozen times now. Yeah, I didn't think you would. I found it an interesting topic, but then that's the graduate program I just started.

How about a handout that I created for a Cub Scout Leader Powwow on teaching cubs astronomy? Maybe? Drop me a note and your email address and I'll send you the pdf.

How about a snippet from my book four in my series? Kumadai Run is now available!

Kumadai Run, Chapter 1
If you ever find yourself as crew on a small ship with newlyweds, don’t go.
I winced as another thud sounded against the wall. Jasyn and Clark had been married a little over a month. The first couple of weeks were peaceful, for me, because they were off on their honeymoon. I had the ship to myself.
Things had gone pretty well the week after that. We were headed out of the Cygnus sector and into a part of the Empire where I’d never been. Hopefully, the Targon Syndicate didn’t reach that far. I still had a price on my head.
Another thud sounded against the wall, along with some muffled shouting. I swiveled the pilot’s chair and leaned back to close the door of the cockpit.
I heard more muffled shouting. I didn’t want to know what it was about. I’d made the mistake of getting involved in their first fight, something about socks. I refused to even listen to either of them now. It was their fight, they should resolve it.
Things got ominously quiet. I stared at the streaks of light on the viewscreen and wished we were a lot closer to our destination. We still had at least five days of hyperspace travel.
We were hauling a load of medical equipment and supplies that needed to get to Parrus as soon as possible. The shortest route there, the Kumadai Run, was the trickiest, passing through two active nebulaes and skirting at least one black hole. Most people didn’t even attempt it. We were promised a huge bonus if we could deliver the supplies in less than ten days. Jasyn, the navigator and co-owner, said it wasn’t a problem. I signed the contract.
We were over halfway there and so far the only problems had been between Clark and Jasyn. The ship flew smoothly and the route hadn’t given us problems. Five more days and I could find some excuse to get away from them for a while.
The door slid open. Clark dropped into the copilots seat. I snuck a look at him. His green eyes, normally full of mischief, were angry.
“She locked herself in the cabin again,” he said. “I don’t understand her.”
I stared at my controls and wished he would go away. I didn’t want to be dragged into their fight. I didn’t want them to insist I take sides. He didn’t get my subliminal message.
“Dace, help me. You know her. You tell me why—”
“I don’t know what to tell you to do.”
He sighed heavily and lounged back in his chair. “She’s so unreasonable about things.”
I would have got up and left but there really wasn’t anywhere else to go. He was going to make me part of the argument whether I wanted to be or not.
“She asked me how she looked in that new dress she bought. So I told her and she started throwing things at me.”
I sighed and put my head in my hands.

Poisoned Pawn Release Date This Week!

Book number three, Poisoned Pawn, arrives this weekend. I'm thrilled with the release. This is my third book! Eight more to go in the series. Eight more book launches, at least, in the future. (Go here for links for the whole series.)

This whole journey of writing and then publishing my stories has been enlightening. Why do I do this? Most days I don't know. Writing a book is very personal, at least for me. I get tangled up in my characters, to the point they become real to me. When I send that story out for others to read, it's almost like releasing my most secret diary entries in public. I learn more about myself by writing than I have any other way.

For those who have taken a chance on me as a new author, thank you. For those who have sent me emails and notes, thank you. It means a lot to me to know my story resonates with you.

Here's Chapter One of Poisoned Pawn.
Here's a deleted scene from the book. (The plot needed to be tightened up and quite a bit ended up in the virtual trash bin.)

And here's Chapter Two:

I sat in the cell on Viya Station and fumed. The last time I’d been on Viya, I’d left a trail of destruction and almost caused a war with the Sessimoniss. Most of it hadn’t been my fault, but the station authorities still held it against me. I wouldn’t have come but the only cargo we could get on Tebros was for Viya. The pilot we’d hired, because regulations insisted on two, had gotten into a nasty brawl in the worst bar on Viya. When the authorities showed up, they arrested me. My pilot ducked out and disappeared. If she ever showed her face at the ship again, she wasn’t getting back on. Her contract was void.
I kicked the wall a few times out of frustration. The guard yelled at me to quit or be fined even more. I quit.
Another long hour passed.
The guard appeared, keys jangling. He opened the door and waved me out. “You made bail. Don’t come back.” He gave me a look that promised lots of pain if I did.
“I’m not planning on it.”
Jasyn waited in the foyer area, tapping her foot impatiently, but still gorgeous even though I knew she hadn’t had any sleep for almost two days. Next to her I was short, dumpy, and mussed. She didn’t do it on purpose, she was just so naturally beautiful that I couldn’t compete.
“We’re broke now,” Jasyn said as we approached the airlock of the ship. “We have barely enough to pay docking fees, if we leave in the next few hours. It’s a good thing the cargo I managed to find is pay on delivery. No deposit. What were you thinking?”
“I was getting Letha back,” I said, slapping the controls for the hatch.
“So where is she?”
“I’d like to know myself.” We stepped through the hatch.
“What happened, Dace?” She turned to face me, dropping paperwork on the small galley table. “You’ve got a black eye.”
“Letha was in a bar, drunk and starting fights. I tried to stop her.” I touched my cheek by my eye and winced.
“You were the only one they arrested.” She rummaged in the locker behind her for the small med kit. We had a more complete medical bay in the back cabin, one I hoped we would never have to use. With my luck, I’d spend more time in it than out, I thought sourly. Jasyn put the kit on the table. “I’m the one who’s supposed to get in fights with men who don’t understand no.” Her voice was gentle, taking the sting out of her words but not out of the antiseptic she dabbed on my cheek.
“Letha wasn’t saying no, either, which is where the problem started.”
“I take it we’re short one pilot?”
I nodded while she put the kit away. “You get to hire the next one. I’ve had lousy luck.”

Time for a Teaser

Poisoned Pawn, book three in my Fall of the Altairan Empire series, will be released in one month - April 18. I'm excited. I love the characters. I love the stories. Want a taste?

Go here for links to all the books (feed my fish while you're there, please). Book one, Nexus Point, is available at a variety of online retailers. If you go to the Smashwords link, you can download the first half of the book for free to see if you like it before buying. Go ahead, I'll wait.

Just to whet your appetite for book 3, here's a teaser from the first chapter:

Lowell thumped his feet on the desk and leaned back in the chair. He held a handcomp in one hand, the screen set on the station data feed, but he wasn’t paying attention to it. He watched the busy Patrol docking bay through the wide window in the office. Several ships had docked in the last hour, three courier class and one large hunter class. He rubbed his upper lip as he considered his options.

An aide opened the office door. He frowned when he caught sight of Lowell. “You are going to have to leave. We have a visiting commander who requested this office. You shouldn’t be here when you’re off duty, anyway. The enlisted lounge is on deck seven.” The man planted himself in the middle of the office.

“I’m well aware of the location of the lounge, but my rank tends to make the enlisted men nervous.”

The aide’s gaze flicked over Lowell’s plain black uniform. “You aren’t wearing any insignia.”

“Would it make you feel better if I borrowed a set of Admiral’s pins?” Lowell’s handcomp beeped. He glanced at the new message. He raised one eyebrow as he shifted his feet from the desk. “That’s going to cause a few problems.”

“A Commander Lowell requested use of this office.” The aide wasn’t giving up.

“And you are bothering him.”

“Sir?”

“The ship that just docked, escort the pilot to this office. His name is Trevyn Clark.”

The aide shifted his feet, uncertain.

Lowell tapped his com, impatient with the man. “Paltronis, please escort Major Trevyn Clark to the office. He just arrived on the station. And please remove the man who doesn’t believe me when I tell him I’m the Commander who requested use of the office.”

“If you wore your rank pins, this wouldn’t happen, sir.” The woman on the com sounded amused.

“Worse would happen.” Lowell fixed the aide with a steady gaze that had unnerved fleet admirals.

“I’ll have Major Clark in the office in a few moments, sir.” Paltronis signed off.

The aide dripped nervous sweat. “Sorry, sir. It’s easy to mistake you in that uniform. Station Commander Morgan sent me to assist you with whatever you need, sir.”

Lowell turned his attention back to the handcomp. “Then fetch me a sandwich. And something to drink.”

Poisoned Pawn, The Fall of the Altairan Empire Book 3
Release date - April 18

Publisher site - scroll to the bottom for information on buying the books

Red Alert! Battle Stations!

Space Battles: Full Throttle Space Tales #6
Edited by Bryan Thomas Schmidt

Flying Pen Press, 264 pp., tbp, $16.95, April 18, 2012

Red Alert! Red Alert!

This is not a drill…

Anna Paradox’s “Between The Rocks”: The Courtly Vizier, a utility truck, renders aid to a colony ship but when they return to their asteroid home from supply runs to mines on Old Lumpy from Jupiter’s atmosphere, the colony ship they once helped attacks them. But the situation is not what it seems, and strange circumstances are at hand.

David Lee Summers’ “Jump Point Blockade”: While pirating a mine on an asteroid, Captain Ellison Firebrandt and the crew of the Legacy find themselves forced into battle by Captain Stewart of the New New Jersey, serving as shields against the Alpha Comas at a jump point to Rd’dyggia. But instead of obeying Captain Steward, Firebrandt has plans of his own.

Jean Johnson’s “Joystick War”: Scavenging a storage bunker for salvage, Scott Grayson and Rrenn F’sauu stumble onto mint condition Targeting Drone A.I.’s, joystick controlled combat suits and can’t resist taking them for a test run. Then an old enemy, the Salik turn up, and instead of joy rides, they’re fighting for their lives and their people...

Mike Resnick & Brad Torgersen’s “Guard Dog”: Watchfleet sentinel Chang leads a lonely life of extended, dream-filled sleeps in between frenetic, life-or-death battles. The Sortu had almost defeated humanity and the lives of everyone, including his wife and son, depend on men like him. Then, called to battle again, he finds himself up against the last opponent he’d ever expected...

These and more stories await inside…

All personnel, report to battle stations!

Between the Rocks – Anna Paradox
The Thirteens – Gene Mederos
Like So Much Refuse – Simon C. Larter
Jump Point Blockade – David Lee Summers
First Contact – Patrick Hester
Isis – Dana Bell
The Book of Enoch – Matthew Cook
The Joystick War – Jean Johnson
Never Look Back – Grace Bridges
The Gammi Experiment – Sarah Hendrix
Space Battle of the Bands – C.J. Henderson
A Battle for Parantwer – Anthony Cardno
With All Due Respect – Johne Cook
Final Defense – Selene O’Rourke

Bait and Switch – Jaleta Clegg

The Hand of God (A Davi Rhii Story) – Bryan Thomas Schmidt
Guard Dog – Mike Resnick and Brad R. Torgersen