Spotlight of Battlefield Earth by L. Ron Hubbard (21st Century Edition #Science Fiction)

 

 

L.R. Hubbard has written numerous Science Fiction books through his lifetime. I want to introduce you to "BattleField Earth- A Saga of the Year 3000." One of his classic novels. Thanks for stopping by.

 

Book Title: Battlefield Earth

Author: L. Ron Hubbard

Publisher: Galaxy Press

Pages: 1080

Genre: Science Fiction

 

In response to Voyager I, the human race was nearly wiped out by an alien invader of superior strength and weapons so technologically advanced that any counterattack was futile.

After a thousand years of dystopian terror, one courageous man attempts to gather the scattered tribes of humanity and reclaim the planet. He must unite a beaten people and uncover any possible weakness in the alien’s hold on our world.

Already pitted against overwhelming odds, Jonnie is being secretly undermined by an unexpected enemy within his own people, who will stop at nothing to destroy him.

This carefully plotted journey of the fate of humankind has captivated readers for more than 40 years and earned its place as one of the most beloved science fiction novels of all time.

 

 ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

With 19 New York Times bestsellers and more than 350 million copies of his works in circulation, L. Ron Hubbard is among the most enduring and widely read authors of our time. As a leading light of American Pulp Fiction through the 1930s and ’40s, he is further among the most influential authors of the modern age. Indeed, from Ray Bradbury to Stephen King, there is scarcely a master of imaginative tales who has not paid tribute to L. Ron Hubbard.

  

Website ➜ https://battlefieldearth.com/battlefield-earth/

X ➜  https://x.com/BE_the_Book

Facebook ➜ https://www.facebook.com/BattlefieldEarth/

Instacart ➜ https://www.instagram.com/be_the_book/

Amazon  https://amzn.to/4ibN3PQ

 

Book Blitz of Serpentina by Faith Consiglio(Get a free copy of the book during the blitz-#contests- Win An Amazon gift card and a Copy of the Book)

SERPENTINA
Faith Consiglio
Publication date: June 27th 2024
Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult

Driven to find a cure for her brother’s illness, Emma embarks on a research trip to the island of Crete, a land brimming with tales of the gods. There, she is drawn to the myth of Medusa, a beautiful priestess turned monster, cursed at the hands of a jealous Athena.

Her exploration leads to a dangerous encounter with a mysterious serpent in the forest, and after the snake’s venom nearly kills her, Emma slips even deeper into the myth, her own fate intertwining with the woman at its heart.

She returns home, eyes set on attending Columbia University after graduation, but it isn’t long before she notices changes to her body and mind… changes that are nothing short of serpentine.

As she pulses through Medusa’s memory, she unlocks an unexpected truth that alters her world. She discovers the scope of her new abilities, including her blood’s power to cure illness, but with a cost. When Emma is betrayed by those closest to her, she finds herself hunted by an enemy hungry for her blood. And she is not the only one in danger; a horrifying plan unfurls as young girls disappear from the streets.

Emma must embrace what she has become to fight an enemy more ancient and evil than she imagined, for the chance to heal her brother, save the girls, and avenge the mythical source of her power.

 GET A FREE COPY OF THE BOOK DURING THE BLITZ!

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble

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EXCERPT:

“Dark leaves rustled in the forest, their dried tips rubbing against each other like the slow rattle of a snake. Emma paused, a warning echoing in her mind. Since her arrival to the reptile research base on Crete, she had ventured into the palm forest alone each afternoon, wandering deeper each time.

Never enter the forest alone. It was the rule her research mentor emphasized most during orientation. But there was nothing truly dangerous on the island. Hercules had cleared away all the deadly creatures to honor Zeus’s birthplace. She smiled, recounting the myth the airport taxi driver had told them. Emma knew, out of all the snakes there, only the cat snake had venom, and it was too mild to hurt a human.

Still, if Dr. Belken discovered her sneaking out at dusk, she might as well kiss a Columbia University recommendation letter goodbye. Yet the forest called her in, beckoning her to explore its ancient grounds.

She stepped over sandy soil, glancing over her shoulder at the wooden stairs and scanning to see if anyone was watching before turning into the trees. She savored a breath. The air was dry and the heat tame, with an endless breeze carrying wisps of sea salt and the spice of wild herbs through the dancing shadows of leaves.

A rustling halted her steps.

Her eyes darted to catch a beige, reptilian tail slipping into the nearby shrubs.

She held her breath and crept toward it, afraid to scare it off. It would sense the vibration of even her lightest step.

She peered through a thicket of narrow, glossy leaves and clustered pink flowers. Her heart pounded, instincts heightened, but she reminded herself that even a bite couldn’t kill her.

At first, she didn’t see anything. Then scales materialized among the leaves on a thick, coiled body. Only now they were green and pink. She squinted. Was it a different snake, or had it changed?

Its serpentine head emerged through the leaves, forked tongue flickering. She froze.

This was not a cat snake.”

Author Bio:

Faith grew up in Sloatsburg, NY, and finished medical school in Stony Brook to become a psychiatrist, with a passion for storytelling. When she's not writing or seeing patients, Faith enjoys traveling, taking her cat for walks, trying different types of green tea, and seeing how many plants she can fit in her apartment.

Website / Goodread / X / Instagram

 

 

 

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Book Blitz of Vibrations-Children of Atlantis by A.R. Alexandar(#contests- Win an Amazon Gift Card)

Vibrations – Children of Atlantis
A. R. Alexander
Publication date: November 12th 2024
Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Young Adult

 

Nada and Kani, two sixteen-year-olds with secrets as deep as the ocean, are about to face the truth. Nada, an orphan hiding her ability to read sound waves despite being deaf, has kept her powers buried for years, fearing rejection and isolation. Kani, who seems like a typical popular kid, also harbors a secret, he can sense and manipulate vibrations around him, a gift he’s never fully understood.

When a string of unexplainable attacks turns their world upside down, Nada and Kani are thrust into a hidden war between ancient forces. Atlantis, the legendary lost civilization, isn’t just a myth: it’s their destiny. Together, they must unravel the mysteries of their origins and confront mythical creatures determined to stop them. With the survival of Atlantis, and possibly the world, on the line, Nada and Kani must face their fears and inner demons. But can they rise to the challenge and prove they are the champions Atlantis has been waiting for? Or will their secrets be their undoing?

Add to Goodreads

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EXCERPT:

Nada
December 21, 2012
NADA

I can feel the gritty sand under my hands as I hit the ground. My battle partner lies still beside me, his chest barely rising and falling. I reach out, my fingers brushing through his blood-soaked hair, feeling the ragged rise and fall of his breath. The creatures ’footsteps grow louder, the sound of their approach heavy and unrelenting. We wait for the final blow, completely spent. Every movement sends a fresh pulse of pain through our battered bodies, blood seeping steadily from our wounds. I shut my eyes and think, Mom, forgive me. You told me to run, but I didn’t listen. The world around me starts to fade away.

September 3, 2012

Sunlight streams through the windows, cutting through the pool’s surface, highlighting the rhythm of my strokes. I love swimming early, before the chaos of the swim team arrives. With my eyes closed in the water, it feels like I’m at the center of the universe, my universe. I don’t need to open my eyes to know I’m nearing the edge; I just feel it, flip, and head back. My body glides, my arms break the surface, pushing through the pliable liquid, brushing my thigh, rising into the air, and starting over again. The rhythm of my breathing, alternating between water and air, sets a gentle beat for my heart. It’s comforting, especially today. Lately, I keep having that weird feeling, like when
it seems like someone is watching or following you and my sleep’s been a mess. Maybe it’s the loneliness making me paranoid. This morning swim helps me relax and lifts my mood a little.

Suddenly, everything changes, and chaos erupts. I reluctantly pull myself out of the water. I sit on the pool’s edge for a moment, water dripping from my fingertips, then turn to grab my towel. I keep my goggles on, hoping they’ll at least partially shield me from the cacophony of noise coming from the rowdy crowd of swimmers.

As I’m trying to make my way out as quickly as possible, I sense someone behind me, reaching for my shoulder. I spin around, instantly on the defensive.

«Hey, hey, hey! Easy…» my friend Carrie laughs, raising her hands. «Is it possible you never hear me when I call out to you?»

I exhale slowly, not realizing how tense I’d gotten, smile at her, and gesture for her to wait a second. I pull off my swim cap and remove my earplugs.

«Sorry C, I forgot to take these out… What’s up?»

She shrugs and then nods toward the windows above the pool that overlook the school hallway.

«Did you see who just arrived? I heard he starts tomorrow… and he’s ridiculously cute!» Carrie gushes. When it comes to guys, she’s always enthusiastic.

I cautiously turn and spot the principal talking to a couple of parents standing next to a tall, lean guy with dark hair and an easy smile.

Carrie shifts, turning her back to the pool so we can sneak a look.

I sigh, watching as she effortlessly adjusts her perfect curls, which frame her smooth, deep-toned shoulders. Her confidence is something I can never quite understand. I can’t help but wonder, once again, why someone like her would want to be friends with someone as plain as me.

«Who is this guy, anyway?» I ask, not really interested.

«His dad is the famous Hawaiian artist Kalai Kekoa, and his mom is the Japanese author Riko Shirabe. I know you like them both!»

«Oh, right… Well, you know how this is gonna go. The school’s royalty will pull him into their clique, and he won’t give us a second glance without their approval. At least, he won’t notice me, but you seem to have caught McAllen’s attention, haven’t you?» I say, giving her a wink.

She giggles, a little embarrassed, and lowers her eyes. «I know you don’t trust that group, but they’re not so bad when you get to know them… They’re just kids who haven’t figured out their place in the world yet.»

Gosh, she’s so sweet! I smile at her. «I think you picked the right major, you’re going to be an amazing psychologist! I just worry they might hurt you. Like my mom always says, a confused kid can be unpredictable…»

She laughs. «Nah, you’re just too suspicious!»

«And you’re too trusting! Together, we make one balanced person,» I laugh.

I glance back at the guy, and something unexpected catches my eye. He’s talking to the principal, but the waves coming from his voice and body are unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. They’re bright, almost glowing, and take on a strange shape. I can’t make sense of it. Mom warned me, right up until the day she died: If the waves ever turn to images, run. But these aren’t images, they’re something else, and they terrify me.

Author Bio:

"Let’s try something new: let’s start from the end."

Because, in the end, I’m proud of what I’ve become. After all the hard work, it's important to recognise when you've earned your reward. I’ve battled with dyslexia and ADHD my whole life, often feeling like I wasn’t good enough, like I was foolish or constantly falling short of others. But over time, I realised that the struggles I faced, the unique strategies I developed to solve life’s challenges, have become my greatest strengths.

If someone had told me 30 years ago that I’d become a psychologist—or even more surprisingly, a writer—I would have laughed out loud. But here I am. I graduated, I published a book, and I’m about to publish two more.

Now, let’s talk about that first book—oh yes, it did find its fans! But it was inspired by a more traditional style of writing that doesn’t quite resonate with modern tastes anymore. So, I made the tough decision to pull it from the shelves. One day, I hope to dust it off, give it a fresh new look, and reintroduce it to the world. I learned so much from that experience, and for that, I’m incredibly grateful.

These days, I’ve found my groove writing Young Adult fiction, and I’m excited to release my upcoming novel this November. If anyone is interested in being a beta reader or receiving an advanced copy, feel free to reach out! I’m happy to send out the ebook to the first few who contact me. I’m also launching a newsletter on my website, and the first 100 subscribers will receive the ebook for free.

I’m also thrilled to announce a new adventure I’ve embarked on with my friend and translator, Sandra Ortu. Together, we are working on a project to rediscover and bring attention to forgotten Italian female writers. Our second book, which I’ll be publishing soon, is a testament to that journey.

As a reader, I’m an avid book lover with a passion for Young Adult fiction. But my first loves were the works of Terry Brooks, Isaac Asimov, Hermann Hesse, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, George Orwell, Ray Bradbury, and others. Over the years, I’ve devoured countless classics and discovered that there’s always something new to learn from every genre. I can’t wait to share my thoughts, exchange recommendations, and connect with fellow readers here on Goodreads. Let’s explore new worlds together!

Website / Goodreads / Instagram / Newsletter

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Book Blitz of Transference by Ian Patterson (#contest # Science Fiction- Win An Amazon Gift Card)

Transference
Ian Patterson
Publication date: October 1st 2024
Genres: Adult, Dystopian, Science Fiction

Nicholas Fiveboroughs is a Sicko, someone that takes on others ’illnesses. In a city where diseases can be transferred, the rich buy longer lives without pain, and the poor get a short life of constant sickness. Maybe it was fate, or maybe someone is looking out for him, but after Nicholas barely survives his latest affliction, he gets the chance to try and change things. To finally stop the whole disease transfer network.

Tensions escalate as Nicholas infiltrates a higher society he doesn’t understand, and starts to fall for the very person he needs to manipulate to be successful. And between run-ins with a talking animal and genetically modified humans, the world around him just keeps getting stranger. Can Nicholas tear down the disease transfer architecture? And can he do it without losing his own humanity along the way?

Goodreads / Amazon

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EXCERPT:

The Disease Transfer Machine, or the Box as we call it down here, was invented some time before the city. It’s always existed here, the primary thing shaping our lives. It sounds noble at first, the elimination of disease, until you realize it only works that way if you can afford it. For those of us in the lower levels, it’s the thing killing us. It’s the only job we can find. It’s the poison that we can’t stop eating.

Do I know how it works? Not a ****** clue. One person sits on each side of the giant metal box, various tubes extend from it and connect to each of them. There’s a giver’s seat and a receiver’s seat, and no one else in the room when they turn the thing on. It’s a strangely intimate thing, sitting across the room from your destroyer. There’s a feeling of great suction all over your body, and then the misery sets in. The symptoms start like a bucket of ice water dumped on your shoulders. I’ve always wondered what a great relief it must feel like on the other side.

The backbone of our economy is built on it. The very rich trade their diseases to the very poor for appropriate compensation agreed on by both parties. But realistically, when you’re poor enough you’re too constrained to know what appropriate compensation is. Some people have tried to create laws around it, establishing contractual requirements and base pay for different diseases. They don’t mean much though, there was always someone willing to go under the base pay, there was always someone that needed the money badly enough to take the risk. Laws just give the illusion that what’s happening is fair. Of course, it’s not.

This new caste of people, the perpetually ill, were lovingly nicknamed Sickos. The working poor hated them for the ease they got their money, the middle class decried the horrors of rampant capitalism they represented, and everyone tried to buy their services when their own bill came due.

Author Bio:

Ian Patterson is many things. Importantly here, he’s the author of Transference, Book One of the Narrator Cycle. He’s also an engineer, cyclist, foodie, coffee lover, cat dad, human dad, and reader of books. Preferably, thick books that deal with strange things and big ideas. He’s dreamed of being an author for decades, but finally began the journey with the birth of his first daughter. This is an objectively terrible time to start work that requires quiet concentration, and he knows it, but he loves the chaos nonetheless. He lives in Colorado with his wonderful family.

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Spotlight of the book How Soon is Now a Time Travel Tale by Paul Carnahan

 

 

It's the trip of a lifetime – a mind-bending, heart-breaking time travel tale unlike any other...

Title: How Soon Is Now?

Author: Paul Carnahan

Publication Date: June 10, 2024

Pages: 462

Genre: Contemporary Fantasy/Time Travel

A troubled ex-journalist launches a perilous mission into his own past after being recruited by a mysterious group of time travelers.

Luke Seymour uncovers the secrets of the eccentric Nostalgia Club as he battles to solve the riddle of their missing leader, honing his newly discovered – and dangerously addictive – talent for time travel and plunging ever deeper into his own time stream … where the terrible mistake that scarred his life is waiting.

Set in Glasgow and Edinburgh in the 1980s, 1990s and near-present, ‘How Soon Is Now?’ is a gripping new novel loaded with unforgettable characters, intricate storytelling, dark humour and a unique twist on the mechanics of time travel – all moving towards a powerful and emotional climax.

Available at:

Amazon U.S.: https://www.amazon.com/How-Soon-Now-powerful-travel-ebook/dp/B0D1RG2GL5 

Amazon U.K.: https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Soon-Now-powerful-travel-ebook/dp/B0D1RG2GL5 

 

 Book Excerpt:

Time tidies up after itself better than most of us realise, so I’ll be brief. I want to get everything down while I can still remember how it happened.

It started with a note: Blue ink on a slip of paper you might mistake for a Christmas cracker joke, with these words written in a plain and precise hand: ‘We know. We can help. Come to the Thrawn Laddie, Edinburgh, 7.30pm Wednesday.’

I was at the off-licence, digging for change in the outside pocket of my suit jacket, when I found the note. I was down to one suit that still fitted and wore it most days - I was, more or less, still keeping up appearances - so the note might have been curled up there for hours, days or even months. I glanced at it without really reading it and stuffed it back into my pocket, where it stayed until I made it back to the flat with the evening’s beer supply.

Once the bottles were safely in the fridge, I emptied my pockets, throwing a fistful of old train tickets and crumpled till receipts into the bin. The note nearly joined them, but something about the neatness of the script caught my eye, and I read it properly for the first time. ‘We can help’. Who could help? How could they help? Where had it come from? I left it on the kitchen table for the rest of the week; a minor mystery pinned under a beer bottle.

It was a long week. Alison still wasn’t talking to me after The Incident at our college reunion, and even Malcolm wouldn’t return my calls. I eyed the note every time I passed the kitchen table on my way to the fridge and, by Wednesday evening, had convinced myself a minor mystery might be just the distraction I needed. One Glasgow-to-Edinburgh train and a 20-minute cab ride later - an extravagance, considering I was trying to make my redundancy money last - I was standing on Morningside Road, outside the Thrawn Laddie.

That October night was cold and crisp, and a wall of heat hit me as I opened the door. The pub - a dusty jumble of antique clutter and old-world charm - had changed so little in the 30-plus years since it had been one of our preferred student haunts that I half-expected to spot the old gang huddled in our favourite corner, but the place was now a near-empty refuge for elderly locals and a few wine-sipping post-work professionals. The students had moved on.

I checked the clock above the bar: 7.10pm. I could fit in a couple of pints, if I was quick. I ordered a Guinness and settled at a single table with a clear view of the door. By 7.30, the only new arrivals had been a pair of old gents who went straight to their friends at the end of the bar without looking in my direction. I finished my drink, ordered another and took it to my table. My second glass was nearly empty when the bored young barman, a skinny youth labouring under a misjudged haircut, loomed over me.

‘Mind if I give your table a wipe?’ he said. I lifted my pint glass and drained the remnants.

He ran a damp cloth over the table, gathered my empties and asked: ‘Another Guinness?’

‘No, thanks.’ I slipped my hand into my pocket, and my thumb and forefinger pinched the little note. ‘Maybe you can help me with something, though. Has anyone been asking for me? I’m supposed to be meeting someone.’

He stared at me, waiting for something. He cocked an eyebrow - the one pierced by a silver stud - and I added: ‘Seymour. My name’s Luke Seymour.’

He shook his head. ‘No one’s been looking for you, as far as I know,’ he said. ‘Who are you meeting?’

‘I’m not sure.’ He looked puzzled, so I added: ‘It might not be a person. It could be a group.’

The barman stuffed the cloth into his back pocket. ‘Might be the crowd back in the function suite, then. Are you one of them?’

‘One of them?’

‘The good old days mob,’ he said. ‘They rent the back room on a Wednesday night. Had an early start this week for some reason. You could try giving them a knock.’

‘I might,’ I said. ‘Who are they?’

‘The Nostalgia Club, they call themselves. They might be who you’re after. Past the toilets and turn right. You can’t miss it. Follow your nose.’ He pointed towards a corridor leading off the end of the bar.

I thanked him, left my table and followed my nose. As I turned the corner, the barman gave a soft cough.

‘Word of advice,’ he said. ‘I’d knock first. Good luck.’

After a brief stop at the gents, I followed the corridor off to the right. At the end was a dark oak door bearing a brass plaque: ‘Function Suite’. Below that, stuck to the door with a strip of sticky tape, was a sheet of A4 on which was written, in the same precise hand as the note in my pocket: ‘NOSTALGIA CLUB. PRIVATE.’

 

About the Author

 

Paul Carnahan was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and grew up in the new town of Cumbernauld. After studying journalism in Edinburgh, he began a decades-long career in local and national newspapers.

‘How Soon Is Now?’ is his first novel. The second, the Britpop-era romance ‘End of a Century’, will be released early in 2025, and a third is currently a work in progress.

Website & Social Media:

Website ➜ www.paulcarnahan.com 

Twitter ➜ https://twitter.com/pacarnahan  

Instagram ➜ https://www.instagram.com/paulcarnahan6/ 

Goodreads ➜ https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/211423352-how-soon-is-now

 

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Book Blitz of Whiskey and Warfare Book One by E.M. Hamill (#Contest- Win an Amazon Gift Card)

 

Whiskey and Warfare
E.M. Hamill

 
(The Team Huntress Flights, #1)
Publication date: September 15th 2024
Genres: Adult, Science Fiction

Running on caffeine and spite with nothing left to prove.

Maryn Alessi retired from mercenary service after her last assignment went horribly sideways and settled down on a quiet planet with the love of her life. Unexpectedly widowed, Maryn must fulfill a promise to return her mate’s ashes to zer home planet for funeral rites, but a brutal civil war has destabilized space travel.

Former Artemis Corps sisters-in-arms and their sassy ship, the Golden Girl, are up to the task, counting on luck and their rather sketchy cargo business to get Maryn passage through the contested star lanes. But when the crew of the Girl rescues survivors of a ruthless war crime, Maryn and her ride-or-die friends must take up their old profession to save the lives of innocents from a genocidal dictator.

WHISKEY AND WARFARE is the first of The Team Huntress Flights.

Goodreads / Purchase

—

EXCERPT:

“We’re in position.” Scylla’s voice came over the headset. She squinted at the display as the external floodlights played over twisted metal. The ramp began to descend, letting the void in. A cold sweat broke out over Maryn’s skin at the sight of interminable space.

I’m inside, not out there, she reminded herself. She tried to train her attention on the heads-up instead, but her eyes refused to focus. “Girl, adjust the holo projector for plus three distance and magnification.”

“Setting display for granny glasses,” the ship responded.

“What did you say?” Maryn blurted.

“That’s what I call it. Girl does too, now,” Scylla said over the comm.

Her eyes finally cooperated. The blasted hull of the ship spun beneath them and she caught sight of the cylindrical life pod, projecting part way out of the tube from which it had been launched.

“I see it. Match trajectory and rotation.” She extended her arms. The hydraulic limbs reflected her movement. “There’s a piece of debris jamming the life pod into the tube. I can only see one of the retrieval cuffs on the pod. It’s twisted the wrong direction. Bring us more to port.”

“Roger. Correcting speed and rotation.” Scylla said. The stars outside spun in a dizzy arc, drawing Maryn’s gaze to them, and she blinked sweat out of her eyes. “How’s that?”

The other cuff was in view. “Good for now.” She reached for the near cuff and clamped hydraulic fingers around the handle. The other limb extended but she met unexpected resistance before she could use the claw to grab the metal rod jamming the tube. “The right arm is stuck.”

“You have to punch a little to unstick it,” Jac told her over the headset. “It’s got shoulder issues. Girl’s getting old, like us.”

“I beg your pardon,” Girl said, offended. “I’m younger than all of you. It’s not the age. It’s the shit you’ve put me through.”

Maryn carefully retracted her arm, swiveling, and extended her fist with more momentum. The joint popped and the robotic manipulator extended the rest of the way, the metal hand slamming against the lifeboat. “I probably just scared the hell out of whoever’s in there.” She wrapped the claw around the junk pinning the capsule into the tube and pulled back. The rod moved but refused to let go. “It’s not going to budge without a little force. It might just pull the wreck with us before it releases. How big of a problem is that?”

“Big,” Scylla admitted. “A huge section of the transport is drifting toward us faster than I hoped. We won’t be able to move out of the way fast enough lugging that behind us and I don’t want the Girl smashed between ‘em.”

“If we leave the life pod here, they’re going to be smashed instead of us,” Maryn snapped. “How long do we have?”

“About two minutes until we have to disengage.”

“Just like old times,” Maryn muttered. “All right. Give me a minute. Be prepared to move away as soon as it comes loose.”

She wrapped one hydraulic claw around the tow handle, the other on the obstructing debris and pulled. Both shifted in the tube and stuck again. “Come on, you bastard,” she grunted, throwing her weight against the hydraulics. The cylinder slid out another foot, not even halfway out of the launch tube.

Her thigh muscles burned with the effort as she leaned backward in the arm controls. She staggered when the cylinder suddenly slid free, and the hydraulic claw jerked the life pod forward too quickly, banging it on the ramp of the cargo bay.

“Damn it, I’m really rattling whoever is inside. I hope they’re strapped in.”

“Make it fast, Mar,” Scylla said. “That wreck’s getting too close.”

Maryn gritted her teeth and clamped the other claw on the opposite tow handle. She carefully drew the vessel into the bay and deposited it hatch side up on the deck, not as gently as she would have liked. “Got it. Go!”

Impulse engines fired, treating her to a fresh, terrifying sight of wheeling stars and drifting wreckage as the bulk of the shattered transport plowed into the remains of the smaller ship and drove it toward the Girl’s stern. “I said go, go, go!”

Author Bio:

E.M. (Elisabeth) Hamill writes adult science fiction and fantasy somewhere in the wilds of eastern suburban Kansas. A nurse by day, wordsmith by night, she is happy to give her geeky imagination free rein and has sworn never to grow up and get boring.

Frequently under the influence of caffeinated beverages, she also writes as Elisabeth Hamill for young adult readers in fantasy with the award-winning Songmaker series.

She lives with her family, where they fend off flying monkey attacks and prep for the zombie apocalypse.

Visit her website at www.elisabethhamill.com and her blog at www.emhamill.wordpress.com

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / TikTok

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INTERVIEW OF NINA CROFT AUTHOR OF BREAK OUT

 I want to welcome Nina Croft to Books R Us. Nina is the author of Break Out (Blood Hunter) a Paranormal/Sci-Fi romance. Thanks for stopping by.

Can you tell me who or what was the inspiration for the book?

Break out is a mixture of sci-fi and paranormal romance, and there were actually two things that inspired it.

The first was watching the sci-fi series Firefly for about the third time. I love the series and I decided I wanted to write a space opera, because they’re fun and absolutely anything can happen.

The second was a serious case of paranormal deprivation. A while back, my husband asked me—why didn’t I write a good book? By ‘good’ he actually meant without any romance, vampires, werewolves or aliens. So, I wrote him a thriller, which I loved doing (it’s called The Descartes Legacy and will be out early next year!) And while a little (okay, a lot) of romance sneaked into it and maybe just a little bitty alien, there were no vampires and no werewolves, and by the time I’d finished writing I was in desperate need of a paranormal fix. So when I started plotting Break Out, and the pilot of my space ship turned out to be a vampire, I wasn’t too upset and actually welcomed him with open arms.

So there I was – vampires in Space.

Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? If so, what do you do about it?

I go through stages where I find it difficult to get the words down. When that happens, I tend to just force myself to work through it. Usually though, I’ll give myself a change of scenery and perhaps try a different method from typing into my laptop. I’ll maybe take a notebook into the garden or up the mountain or… and I’ll write longhand for a change. It usually gets me going again.

Can you tell me your experiences in finding a publisher for the book?

I always knew that Break Out would be hard to find a publisher for, because it’s such a mixture of genres: sci-fi, romance, paranormal. I’d had another book accepted by Entangled Publishing through a pitch competition on the Savvy Authors site (that book was Bittersweet Blood, a paranormal romance to be released this December). I’d loved my dealings with Entangled up to that point and so when I saw that they were actively seeking space opera submissions I thought why not—maybe they’d like my space opera with a vampire. My manuscript found its way to Liz at Entangled who got back to me within the day. She asked me if it was part of a series, and if it wasn’t could it be? It was one of the nicest days of my writing career!

How long did it take you to write the book and how long did it take to get the book released?

Break Out was first released last July as a novella. The first draft took me probably a month to write and then another to edit. It was accepted in April last year and released in July so things moved pretty fast.

Who is your favorite character in the book and why?

Definitely the hero of the book, Ricardo Sanchez or Rico. He’s probably my favourite of all my characters. Rico turned up almost fully formed. He just about wrote himself and in fact, has a tendency to take over every scene he’s in (which was okay for Break Out, as he’s the hero but a bit of a pain for the later books.)

What are your current / future projects? 

I tend to have a few things on the go at once. I’m contracted to write another three Blood Hunter books so I’m planning those, but right now I’m working on a paranormal romance, a sequel to my December release, Bittersweet Blood.

Do you have any tips for a young writer just starting out?

Write what you love, because that’s what will sustain you when the going gets tough—which it will.

If your book was to be made into a movie, Who would you like the main character to be played by and why?

This is so hard. I think as writers we get such strong images of how are characters look that it’s hard to accept a real person. But I think for Rico, maybe a young Antonio Banderas (Rico is Spanish) or maybe Ian Somerhalder (I’ve just started watching The Vampire Diaries!) he could pass for Spanish.

What do you like to do for fun when you’re not writing?  Where do you like to vacation?  Can you tell us briefly about this?

I live on an almond farm in southern Spain with my husband and a whole load of animals. So when I’m not writing, I’m usually either walking the dogs, riding my horse, Gencianna, or lying under an almond tree reading.

We used to travel a lot before we moved to Spain, and we loved getting off the beaten track. We visited Africa, India and South East Asia. But we don’t really get to go on holiday anymore, it’s just not possible because of all the animals, so we spend holidays at home. But as we live in a spectacularly beautiful part of the world, that’s not really a hardship.

Can you tell me where we can purchase your book?

Buy Links

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

About the Book:

The year is 3048, Earth is no longer habitable, and man has fled to the stars where they’ve discovered the secret of immortality—Meridian. Unfortunately, the radioactive mineral is exorbitantly expensive and only available to a select few. A new class comprised of the super rich and immortal soon evolves. The Collective, as they’re called, rule the universe.
Two-thousand-year-old Ricardo Sanchez, vampire and rogue pilot of the space cruiser, El Cazador, can’t resist two things: gorgeous women and impossible jobs. When beautiful Skylar Rossaria approaches him to break a prisoner out of the Collective’s maximum security prison on Trakis One, Rico jumps at the chance. Being hunted by the Collective has never been so dangerous–or so fun! 

 About the Author:

Nina Croft grew up in the north of England. After training as an accountant, she spent four years working as a volunteer in Zambia, which left her with a love of the sun and a dislike of 9-5 work. She then spent a number of years mixing travel (whenever possible) with work (whenever necessary) but has now settled down to a life of writing and picking almonds on a remote farm in the mountains of southern Spain.

Nina writes all types of romance often mixed with elements of the paranormal and science fiction.

Find me at:

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