• Character Interviews,  Science Fiction Romance

    Meet Grant: Star Cruise Songbird #PetsinSpace 2 Veronica Scott @vscotttheauthor #RLFblog #SciFi

    Let’s meet Grant Barton from Star Cruise Songbird by Veronica Scott in the Embrace the Romance: Pets In space 2 anthology, a new acifi romance. Welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. I’d like to get to know you better. Let’s talk.

    About Star Cruise Songbird

    Genre scifi romance

    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): PG13

    The pets are back! Embrace the Romance: Pets in Space 2, featuring twelve of today’s leading Science Fiction Romance authors brings you a dozen original stories written just for you! Join in the fun, from the Dragon Lords of Valdier to a trip aboard award-winning author, Veronica Scott’s Nebula Zephyr to journeying back to Luda where Grim is King, for stories that will take you out of this world! Join New York Times, USA TODAY, and Award-winning authors S.E. Smith, M.K. Eidem, Susan Grant, Michelle Howard, Cara Bristol, Veronica Scott, Pauline Baird Jones, Laurie A. Green, Sabine Priestley, Jessica E. Subject, Carol Van Natta, and Alexis Glynn Latner as they share stories and help out Hero-Dogs.org, a charity that supports our veterans!

    10% of the first month’s profits go to Hero-Dogs.org. Hero Dogs raises and trains service dogs and places them free of charge with US Veterans to improve quality of life and restore independence.

    Star Cruise: Songbird: A security officer aboard a spaceship finds his job complicated by his attraction to the interstellar singer he is assigned to protect and the bird he has inherited.

    Introducing Grant Barton

    Welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. I’d like to get to know you better. Please tell me about yourself.

    Age: We count years differently in the Sectors, as we live longer now than people in your time did. I’m mid-thirties in your way of thinking.

    Gender: Male

    Birthplace: A planet named Qaazamir

    Profession: Served in the Sectors Special Forces, now on medical retirement, working security on the Nebula Zephyr spaceliner

    Ethnicity: Qaazamiri

    Species (for scifi/fantasy characters): Humanoid I believe is your term

    Please provide a physical description of yourself.
    Over 6′ tall, dark hair, hazel eyes. A couple of tattoos. Some scars. Karissa seems to like my face well enough.
    Tell us about yourself, please.
    I served in the Z Corps of the Special Forces, where soldiers with augmented mental abilities serve on teams alongside telepathic animals, like my eagle Valkyr. We did missions behind enemy lines, among other things.
    Who is the significant other in your life?
    Karissa Dawnstar, the interstellar singing sensation. I still have to pinch myself some days that I’ve ended up with her. How fortunate can an ordinary guy like me be, you know? She’s on a whole other level.
    How do you dress?
    On duty, I wear the uniform of a CLC Line Security Officer. The Line’s colors are navy blue, light blue and white. I carry a sidearm (blaster/stunner combo) on the ship. We’re responsible for the safety of over 8000 passengers and crew. Off duty I prefer what you’d think of as T shirts and utility pants. Boots.
    On what special skills do you rely?
    I have a number of top secret implants I received as a member of the Sectors Special Forces. Sorry, you don’t have the right clearance to discuss them. I also have a telepathic bond with Valkyr, my eagle. I’m highly rated at marksmanship, unarmed combat, rated to fly anything up to a fighter craft, skilled in individual aerial combat using antigrav tech. I have leadership and management skills from my military training that I plan to deploy in support of Karissa’s career as we move forward.
    Do you have children?
    Not yet. Karissa and I would like a family but we’ve just gotten together as a couple so it’s too soon.
    Do you care about what others assume about you?
    Not in the least. I care what Karissa thinks of me. I care that my brother soldiers trust me to watch their six (have their back) and know they can rely on me in any situation. I care that Valkyr knows I’d never do anything to hurt him or break our bond.
    Can you keep a secret? Why or why not?
    I carry the highest level of clearance the Sectors military gives and if I told you any more than that I’d have to kill you. (He grins.)
    How emotionally expressive are you to others?
    With Karissa and Valkyr, I can be myself. Anyone else is going to see the tough military guy façade.

    Embrace the Romance: Pets in Space 2

    Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Embrace-Romance-Pets-Space-2-ebook/dp/B073W5WQBH
    Barnes and Noble b https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/embrace-the-romance-mk-eidem/1126974793
    iBooks https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/embrace-the-romance/id1248937950
    Kobo https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/embrace-the-romance-pets-in-space-2

    Veronica Scott Social Media

    Best Selling Science Fiction, Fantasy and Paranormal Romance author, as well as the “SciFi Encounters” columnist for the USA Today Happy Ever After blog, Veronica Scott grew up in a house with a library as its heart. Dad loved science fiction, Mom loved ancient history and Veronica thought there needed to be more romance in everything. When she ran out of books to read, she started writing her own stories.

    Seven time winner of the SFR Galaxy Award, as well as a National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award, Veronica is also the proud recipient of a NASA Exceptional Service Medal relating to her former day job, not her romances! She was honored to read the part of Star Trek Crew Member in the audiobook production of Harlan Ellison’s “The City On the Edge of Forever.”
    Website http://www.petsinspaceantho.com/
    Blog https://veronicascott.wordpress.com/
    Twitter https://twitter.com/vscotttheauthor
    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Veronica-Scott/177217415659637
    Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5428500.Veronica_Scott
    Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Veronica-Scott/e/B006CUCJ92/
    Newsletter http://wordpress.us7.list-manage1.com/subscribe?u=2a337b96e2ee1ee1250004b9d&id=7462393c9e

     

  • Science Fiction Romance,  Stressing the Hero

    Stressing Gib from Gib and the Tibbar in #PetsinSpace 2 @jsubject #RLFblog #SciFi #Romance

    Today we’re reading about Gib from Gib and the Tibbar in Pets in Space 2 by Jessica E Subject. Tell us about your book.

    Gib and the Tibbar

    Galactic Defenders Series

    A dedicated Defender to the core, Gib is willing to go to any planet the Galactic Alliance sends him. That is, until he’s sent with his squad to Hemera for their Alorama ceremony, far from any threat of Erebus invasion and with no chance for promotion.

    Vilarra has lived on Hemera all her life, working hard in the kitchens of the royal palace until she achieved lead hand. But learning of the universe beyond her world reveals her insignificance and shreds her sense of accomplishment and purpose.

    With the help of a furry, little tibbar, Gib is determined to win the affection of Vilarra, prove to her how significant she is to him and the people who depend on her. But will his personal mission be cut short before he has the chance to win her heart?

    About the anthology:

    The pets are back! Embrace the Romance: Pets in Space 2, featuring twelve of today’s leading Science Fiction Romance authors brings you a dozen original stories! Join in the fun, from the Dragon Lords of Valdier to a trip aboard award-winning author, Veronica Scott’s Nebula Zephyr to journeying back to Luda where Grim is King, for stories that will take you out of this world! Join New York Times, USA TODAY, and Award-winning authors S.E. Smith, M.K. Eidem, Susan Grant, Michelle Howard, Cara Bristol, Veronica Scott, Pauline Baird Jones, Laurie A. Green, Sabine Priestley, Jessica E Subject, Carol Van Natta, and Alexis Glynn Latner as they share stories and help out Hero-Dogs.org, a charity that supports our veterans!

    10% of the first month’s profits go to Hero-Dogs.org. Hero Dogs raises and trains service dogs and places them free of charge with US Veterans to improve quality of life and restore independence.

    Stressing Gib

    Every hero has a story. He has a background, a history, and a past. This interview allows us to meet a hero and get to know him better, by focusing on how he handles being relaxed, as well as how he handles stress.

    Age: approx. 24 Earth years
    Birthplace: planet Mingo
    Profession: Galactic Defender, part of Hotel squad
    Ethnicity/Species: Mingot

    The Hero’s Relaxed Side

    This hero is at a party. Considering his story, describe the party.
    The hero is actually at a celebration banquet during part of the story, but let’s assume this other party is one where he’s not working as a Defender. Because Gib is a Galactic Defender, the only time he gets to leave the Galactic Alliance carrier ship is when he is on a mission. So, if he’s at a party, it would be in the Defender lounge on the carrier. It would be to celebrate the end of a successful mission, and those in attendance would all be other Defenders. Now, the Defenders consist of multiple species from around the universe, though no one from Earth. At least not at this point in the series.
    How does the hero feel about being this particular party, and what body language is he displaying that gives it away?
    Because his squad is still fairly new compared to many of the others, he likely wasn’t part of the successful mission. He would be leaning against the wall somewhere talking to another squad mate about they find it unfair that they don’t get sent on the good missions. While his words would show his frustration with the Alliance, and his jealousy of the older Defenders, inside he would be full of admiration for the more experienced squads.
    Is he more likely to mingle or remain aloof?
    Unless called over by one of the more experienced Defenders, he would stick to those in his squad and others whom he trained with.
    If he drinks, what is his drink of choice at this party?
    The Defenders have to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice, so there is no drinking of alcoholic beverages on the carrier. But, as you will learn in Gib and the Tibbar, it can happen while they are on a mission.
    How much drink is his usual?
    If he is on duty, or has a rotation coming up, he will not drink. Though, if he does not have to worry about being on duty, he will drink enough to get a good buzz. Never to the point of blacking out.
    The hero figures out where the hiding places are and then goes there. Is it to hide, to avoid someone, or to go drag a friend back to the party?
    In the carrier, he would either go back to his room which he shares with a squad mate. Or, he’d go to the training room to run a simulation. He wouldn’t go to either place to hide, but if he was exhausted, he’d go to his quarters. If he wanted to avoid someone, he’d go to the training room.
    Is he likely to latch onto a friend and stay with him/her and ignore others, or is he the friend that others latch onto?
    Gib is usually the friend that others latch onto. They like to complain about the unfairness of the Alliance to him, especially Zair.
    If someone picked a fight at this party, how is the hero going to handle it?
    Unless it was someone he knew well, he would not get involved. There are plenty of other Defenders to control their own squad mates and friends.
    Is the hero the one most likely to get tossed out of the party, or the one who does the tossing?
    In his squad, he’d be the one who does the tossing. He can read minds unless someone blocks him. But when someone is angry, they don’t hide their thoughts as well. He’d be able to sense the upcoming conflict before any fists were thrown.
    Will he know when to leave, or stay late and make a nuisance of himself?
    He always knows when to leave, though with all the thoughts flying around at a party, he’d likely leave early just to clear his mind, or put up his own block.

    The Hero’s Stressed Out Side

    How does the hero handle it if the cops or some other authority figure pulls him aside when he was blameless in a situation?
    Although he would be calm about it, he would not accept blame for something he didn’t do. He would calmly explain the situation and what really happened.
    How does the hero react to hearing a scream?
    If he was on a mission, he would ready his weapon and head immediately to the source of the scream if he wasn’t already occupied.
    If he sees someone being assaulted, what is the FIRST thing that crosses his mind?
    He would immediately want to help them.
    If he sees someone being assaulted, what is the FIRST thing he does?
    If not otherwise occupied, he would assess the situation while rushing to them.
    This hero attempts to rescue someone and realizes that he is in over his head. The odds are against him and there is no way out. He is going to get his butt handed to him. What does he do?
    He would fight until the very end, hoping another Defender came to help him out.
    The hero runs into the one person from his past he wanted to avoid. He can’t get out of the situation and must interact with him/her in some way. What does he do?
    Gib would slowly sneak farther and farther away from the person until he found an excuse or opportunity to leave.
    Someone younger than the hero is in charge of the situation, and they are handling it badly, perhaps bungling things. How does the hero deal with it?
    This usually doesn’t happen as Gib is one of the younger Defenders, but if it did, he’s the type who would casually and privately suggest alternative ways to handle the situation. If that didn’t work, he would simply take over rather than put his life and the lives of others in danger.
    The hero is in physical pain but must bear up under it and keep going. What does he tell himself in order to get through the situation?
    When he enrolled in Defender training, he knew pain, injury, and even death could result. He would push through it because he knows that his actions save lives.
    What mentor’s words come to mind in a bad situation?
    “You can’t save everyone, but even if you save one being from the Erebus, it’s worth it.” – What his squadron leader tells all of the members
    What lesson from his past gets him through a stressful situation?
    All of the lessons he learned during training as a Galactic Defender get him through each and every mission, whether fighting the Erebus, or simply interacting with the natives of the planet he is on.
    Where can we find your book online?
    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): Each story in the anthology varies, but I believe the highest rating would be R – Restricted
    Genre: Sci Fi Romance
    Amazon: http://bit.ly/EmbraceTheRomance
    Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/embrace-the-romance-se-smith/1126723852
    iBooks: http://bit.ly/EmbraceTheRomanceiBooks
    Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ebook/embrace-the-romance-pets-in-space-2
    Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/S_E_Smith_Embrace_the_Romance_Pets_in_Space_2?id=Jp8rDwAAQBAJ

    Jessica E Subject Social Media

    Jessica E Subject is the author of science fiction romance, mostly alien romances, ranging from sweet to super hot. Sometimes she dabbles in paranormal and contemporary as well, bringing to life a wide variety of characters. In her stories, you could not only meet a sexy alien or two, but also clones and androids. You may be transported to a dystopian world where rebels are fighting to live and love, or to another planet for a romantic rendezvous.

    When Jessica is not reading, writing, or doing dreaded housework, she likes to go to fitness class and walk her Great Pyrenees/Retriever her family adopted from the local animal shelter. Jessica lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband and two energetic children. And she loves to hear from her readers. You can find her at jessicasubject.com.

    Website http://jessicasubject.com
    Blog http://markofthestars.com/wp/blog
    Twitter http://twitter.com/jsubject
    Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jessica-E-Subject-author/205759796126370
    Pinterest http://pinterest.com/jessicasubject/
    Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4959083.Jessica_E_Subject
    Amazon Author Page http://amazon.com/author/jessicasubject
    Newsletter http://eepurl.com/eX1Zw
    Instafreebie (anthology sampler) https://www.instafreebie.com/free/EZz5p

     

  • Science Fiction Romance

    Embrace the Romance: Pets in Space 2 by Multiple Authors #RLFblog #SciFi #Romance

    Today’s featured book is Embrace the Romance: Pets in Space 2, a science fiction romance by twelve best-selling and award-winning authors.

    Dogs for Heroes, and Pets in Space

    Embrace the Romance: Pets in Space 2 by Multiple Authors #RLFblog #SciFi #RomanceHi, there, I’m Carol Van Natta, science fiction and fantasy romance author. What do dogs for heroes and pets in space have to do with romance? Everything!

    First, there’s a new anthology coming out called Embrace the Romance: Pets in Space 2. Twelve authors came together to write science fiction romance stories all around the theme of pets in space. When we humans finally manage to explore the stars, of course we’ll take pets. I may have got carried away in the number of pets I included in “Pet Trade,” my contribution to the anthology, but I couldn’t pick just one.

    Pets provide humans with love, companionship, and service. It’s that latter that attracted us Pets in Space authors to a charity called Hero Dogs. They raise, train, and place service dogs and other highly skilled canines, free of charge, to disabled U.S. veterans, to improve the quality of life and help them regain independence. Current medicine has come a long way in making catastrophic injuries survivable, but we still have a ways to go in treating PTSD, prosthetic technology, and permanent disabilities. Hero Dogs not only places the dogs, but provides lifetime support of the partnerships. Sounds a lot like love to me.

    Authors Veronica Scott and Pauline B. Jones organized the anthology. They thought it’d be fun to mix scifi romance and heroic pets, and to see what different authors would come up with using the same theme. They agreed they wanted to donate to a charity that helped animals and veterans. Hero Dogs was the perfect fit for the group, since all of us have pets and personal connections to veterans. I begged and pleaded asked politely to be allowed to join the party.

    I asked some of the other authors as to why this subject and why this charity. Veteran and current jet pilot Susan Grant said, “As a veteran myself, I think what Hero Dogs is doing to help veterans is so important. As a pet lover, I know the special bond between humans and animals can heal the deepest wounds. As an author, I couldn’t pass up the chance to write about that special bond.”

    NY Times and USA Today best-selling author S.E. Smith said, “As the daughter of a disabled vet, I can appreciate how much having a furry companion enhances the quality of life for those struggling with day-to-day activities. Hero Dogs reminds us there are many wonderful ways to help others.”

    Author Cara Bristol said, “Everyone has or had had a pet at one point in their lives. If we were going to travel into space, of course, we’d want to take our furry companions with us. So, to me, sci-fi romance and pets was a fun blend. Besides relating to pets, we can relate to heroes. These are the men and women who gave their all for their country. Supporting Hero-Dogs is a great way to give back to the heroes who need our help now.”

    Laurie Green said, “It’s inspiring to know my fictional StarDogs are helping support Hero Dogs and all the wonderful things these service animals do for our veterans. The amazing healing power of animal companions is something I believe in.”

    Sabine Priestley said, “Like so many, I have friends and family that suffer from PTSD. Animals have the ability to affect our energies in ways science doesn’t fully understand. The group of authors is outstanding and I’m thrilled to be a part of it.”

    The pets are back! Embrace the Romance: Pets in Space 2, featuring twelve of today’s leading Science Fiction Romance authors, brings you a dozen original stories written just for you! Join in the fun, from the Dragon Lords of Valdier to a trip aboard award-winning author, Veronica Scott’s Nebula Zephyr to journeying back to Luda where Grim is King, for stories that will take you out of this world! Join New York Times, USA TODAY, and Award-winning authors S.E. Smith, M.K. Eidem, Susan Grant, Michelle Howard, Cara Bristol, Veronica Scott, Pauline Baird Jones, Laurie A. Green, Sabine Priestley, Jessica E. Subject, Carol Van Natta, and Alexis Glynn Latner as they share stories and help out Hero-Dogs.org, a charity that supports our veterans!

    Ten percent of the first month’s profits go to Hero-Dogs.org. Hero Dogs raises and trains service dogs and places them free of charge with US Veterans to improve quality of life and restore independence.

    Genre: Science Fiction Romance
    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): PG-13 to R
    Publisher: Cats, Dogs and Other Worldly Creatures
    Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Embrace-Romance-Pets-Space-2-ebook/dp/B073W5WQBH
    Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/embrace-the-romance-mk-eidem/1126974793
    iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/embrace-the-romance/id1248937950?mt=11
    Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/embrace-the-romance-pets-in-space-2
    CreateSpace: https://www.amazon.com/Embrace-Romance-Pets-Space-2/dp/1942583575

    Carol Van Natta Social Media

    Carol Van Natta writes science fiction and fantasy romance, including “Pet Trade,” one of the stories in Embrace the Romance: Pets in Space 2, part of her Central Galactic Concordance space opera series. She also writes paranormal romance. She shares her Fort Collins, Colorado home with a resident mad scientist and various cats. Any violations of the laws of physics in her books are the fault of the cats, who are notorious gravity scofflaws. They all want to explore the galaxy.

    Website: http://author.carolvannatta.com/PetTrade
    Blog: http://author.carolvannatta.com/blog
    Facebook: https://facebook.com/CarolVanNattaAuthor
    Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/CarolVN_Author
    Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3980825.Carol_Van_Natta
    Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Carol-Van-Natta/e/B002F4UN24
    Newsletter: http://bit.ly/CVN-news