Excerpts from my upcoming space opera novel.
One Sentence Summary: A young heroine defends her homeworld’s outpost against destruction by an alien invader.
Character Preview
Author’s Note: In the course of writing the book, I found some of the characters had interesting backstories which were helping to define them. This is the story of my female protagonist’s name – where she got it, how she chose. You’ll find distinct clues to her personality in this short introspective. It takes place …
Excerpt from Chapter Eleven
…Nakin, Planet 3, Venhae System In space, viewed from the nightside, Nakin gave the impression of serenity. Cirrus clouds blanketed the planet in the protective folds of an unfathomable number of ice crystals, each twirling in the atmosphere’s upper layers. Within the planet’s shadow an occasional ray of light reached across the vast treacherous divide …
Excerpt from Chapter Five
About a grotball field’s length from the remains of her cabana, Vespa spotted several erect figures wading through the shallow bay waters. They were closing in from the north and northwest, like wraiths from the Waterhell. “What are those?” Zephyr’s hand shot up, pointing toward Terraq’s location. “Look! Whatever they are, they’re heading toward her.” …
Excerpt from Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fourteen …Intelligence Headquarters, outskirts of New Romas “Ashbar, do you see him?” Utara rocked on the balls of her feet, hoping even a centimeter more height would afford her a better view through the towering wanderwillows encircling the headquarters of the Prime Intelligence Service. The Cultural Minister and her assistant had been waiting at …
Excerpt from Chapter One
Chapter One …breaking dawn on the Kavil moon A place exists between slumber and waking where reality floats about in dreams. It was perfect. Everything meant nothing and nothing was everything. Or so Vespa believed. The gentle sounds of water lapping the shore washed over her, whispering enticements to stay within the dreamscape. She was …
Excerpt from Chapter Ten
Chapter Ten The moment before impact isn’t a moment; it is an eternity. Time full of wishes – another way, another moment, or just another wish. An infinite number of images – some memories, others thoughts, a few dreams – fill Vespa’s mind. Then all she sees is the hulking mass of once burnished, now …
Excerpt from Chapter Three
“Sir,” Geordida called, “I think you should see this.” Iko followed her slender finger’s aim to a vidscreen adjacent to the main viewport. The status display indicated the feed was a replay from the inoperable FleetCom satellite. The timestamp showed the recorded events had occurred not more than fifteen minutes ago. The feed’s perspective appeared …
Excerpt from Chapter Twenty
To Utara, all dreams were meant to be perfect. They were nothing yet everything. Or so she wanted to believe. The lyrical sounds of afternoon – birds chirping merrily, the rustle of trees, the soft rumble of departing thunder – had ceased. Yet a great pull bid her to stay immersed in the heavy warmth draping …
Excerpt from Chapter Twenty-One
The thundering of hooves echoed off the sheer rockface lining both sides of the Trackerin Gorge, sounding so many distinct beats it could have been an entire cavalry on the move. Progressing through the gorge, the white granitine cliffs widening and barren dirt giving way to grasses, the cascade of hoofbeats thinned and grew recognizable …
Excerpt from Chapter Twenty-Two
…the Good Tide When the door slid open an hour after Chantral had left, Badge was thoroughly engrossed in real-time vid recorded from the vessels that had been berthed in the Antillan port. Glancing over the top of the IAF’s screen, he dared to glare at the new arrival. “You’re late.” His long, dark hair …