SFFSat - March 30

Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday (SFFSat) is a place where a bunch of us post snippets from our written works and also shoot the breeze a little. And before I get ahead of myself, thanks and appreciation as always to those who stop by and leave fantastic comments.

Still featuring my new WIP. It's still untitled (and so my OCD tendencies are still irked by that), but you guys have given me some ideas. So far, here are some suggestions: LOST LEGACY, THE ACQUISITION OF THE LEVI, or RELIC RANGER.

The story is about a young woman, Ranger Serafina Derwynde, who works for the Acquisition Guild - an agency that procures and retrieves items of historical and human interest. Sort of like an official scavenging agency, with training and university studies specifically targeted to such items of interest and their historical background. Not to mention ways and means to successfully procure them - by whatever means (force) necessary.

Last week, Serafina stumbled across a hulking generation ship - one thought to have been lost for millennia. After a few lines where I describe her searching the database to compare the image of the old ship and determine whether or not it is, in fact, an actual generation ship, we move on to this, another cheerful exchange between her on board interface, Bertram...(By the way, I came up with the word 'solam' since it just sounded cooler than kilometers or whatever-meters).

            A distance counter flickered underneath stating the mystery ship was a thousand solams away, picked up by her No.2 probe.

“Satisfied?”

Ignoring the interface's muttered response, Serafina squinted at both images and with a raggedy-nailed finger, she flicked the corner of the schematics display to let it rotate a full 360º, glancing at the image No. 2 broadcasted. They looked the same.

“Scan it for life signs,” she instructed the AI.

“I tried.”

Serafina expelled a breath with a groan. “And?”

“My signal bounced back...it’s blocking me.”

“What?”

If you are interested in participating in next weeks SFFSat, just click HERE, and follow the rules. Sign up is open every Wednesday - and if you're on Twitter, use the #SFFSat hashtag.

Cheers!

SFFSat - March 23

Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday (SFFSat) is a place where a bunch of us post snippets from our written works and also shoot the breeze a little. And before I get ahead of myself, thanks and appreciation as always to those who stop by and leave fantastic comments.

Moving on today to a brand new WIP. It's still untitled (and that irks my OCD tendencies...perhaps that's why it's now sitting on the back burner while I scratch my head for a suitable title. Anyone got any ideas?)

The story is about a young woman, Ranger Serafina Derwynde, who works for the Acquisition Guild - an agency that procures and retrieves items of historical and human interest. Sort of like an official scavenging agency...with training and university studies specifically targeted to such items of interest and their historical background. Not to mention ways and means to successfully procure them - by whatever means (force) necessary.
It just so happens that Serafina stumbles across a hulking generation ship - one thought to have been lost for millennia. (By now you've probably guessed that it's set way into the future...way way...)

The following is the very first opening lines in the tale...

            “Come again?” Serafina Derwynde scratched her head and leaned back in the pilot seat.

“Shida Class, Generation Model, DS-057,” the onboard AI repeated, pitching its masculine tone to sound mildly irritated.

To the best of Serafina’s knowledge and remembered history lessons, Shida Class generation ships no longer existed—at least, not since the Migration, two thousand nine hundred and eighty-six years ago. A find like this would set her up for life, not to mention the fame it would bring.

“Are you sure, Bertram?” A quiver of excitement raced through Serafina; she envisioned early retirement and a brand new ship with a new artificial intelligence interface—one without attitude. Maybe a small outpost station to call her own. “Run it again.”

If you are interested in participating in next weeks SFFSat, just click HERE, and follow the rules. Sign up is open every Wednesday - and if you're on Twitter, use the #SFFSat hashtag.

Cheers!

SFFSat - Feb 16

Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday (SFFSat) is a place where a bunch of us post snippets from our written works and also shoot the breeze a little. And before I get ahead of myself, thanks and appreciation as always to those who stop by and leave fantastic comments.

Today, I'm going to share a snippet from a new WIP, a short story spun off from the full-length (completed but undergoing tweaks) Bengaria's War. This short is titled, Bengaria's Promise, and follows the life of the main protag, Ryn Bengaria. Some of you may remember her as I shared a few snippets from BW already.

Ryn is now Ambassador (quite a step down from being Queen, but she wanted it so). While en route to the main planet to oversee an Alliance Treaty, she is intercepted by the relative of an old adversary, who wants her dead. Meanwhile, in this scene, Ryn and her bodyguard, Aiya, are forced to land on a derelict docking platform. Aiya, ever the suspicious Nezu (the name for the feared Nezu Colonists - long story) suspects their shuttle captain of underhanded deeds...

            Aiya leaned closer. “How well do you know of this Captain Garrak?”

Ryn drew her mouth into a line. “He was approved by Captain Amis. I trust Amis with my life.”

“Anyone’s loyalty can be bought.” Aiya leaned back and directed her glare into the cockpit.

The shuttle made a sharp jerk, bringing a gasp from Ryn. She gripped the armrest and gritted her teeth. She hated space travel.

If you are interested in participating in next weeks SFFSat, just click HERE, and follow the rules. Sign up is open every Wednesday - and if you're on Twitter, use the #SFFSat hashtag.

Cheers!

SFFSat - Jan 19

Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday (SFFSat) is a place where a bunch of us post snippets from our written works and also shoot the breeze a little. And before I get ahead of myself, thanks and appreciation as always to those who stop by and leave fantastic comments.

Today, I'm revisiting another WIP called Time Fracture, a sort of paranormal sci-fi short story where the culprit is Time itself. We have our hero (a nameless man with a family) trying desperately to escape from Time's wicked clutches...

In this scene, our hero stands poised before an old pocket watch, debating a few things.

            I purchased an old pocket watch from an antique shop, amazed that it still worked considering the manufacturing date of 1897 stamped on its back. At first, I was afraid to wind it up, activate it, fearing Time would find me and make me pay for destroying its Markers. My hands trembled terribly as my fingers hovered over the winding mechanism.

Despite our resolve to be free of Time, we still needed a Marker. I could not tell the passing of the day by looking out at the sun, since having depended on a Time Marker all my life it had rendered me ignorant and blind to the workings of nature. Nor could I accurately read a sundial. By keeping one Time Marker, we would not draw attention to ourselves and Time would not notice that we had disappeared from its watchful eyes. If I were to wind up the old pocket watch twice a day, at the same hour each time, Time would still catch a small glimpse of us. Slowly, gradually, we would abandon this device as well, and learn like the pioneers to read the passage of the sun and shadows to determine the time of day. It was not just resetting Time itself, but our lives.

If you are interested in participating in next weeks SFFSat, just click HERE, and follow the rules. Sign up is open every Wednesday - and if you're on Twitter, use the #SFFSat hashtag.

Cheers!

SFFSat - Jan 05

Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday (SFFSat) is a place where a bunch of us post snippets from our written works and also shoot the breeze a little. And before I get ahead of myself, thanks and appreciation as always to those who stop by and leave fantastic comments.

To Catch A Marlin
is available in Ebook and
Paperback from Amazon

Happy New Year and welcome back to another long year of SFFSat snippets!

Today, I have the very first opening lines of my new WIP for the To Catch A Marlin series. This is a short story with the working title of The Devil Inside.

To Catch A Marlin is a futuristic cat and mouse tale involving Special Inspector Pedroni and the vigilante Jax Marlin, who just happens to be a super sexy woman with ninja skills.

In this scene, the story continues from her last 'adventure,' where things didn't go quite as she planned (The Necromancer of the Avon), and she's having a bit of a...well...venting episode in the form of a wee killing spree. Don't worry, it's just a passing phase...

            Dead man’s punch!

Jax Marlin pivoted her body like a matador, her right elbow raised high over her head just before she delivered a powerful blow into the man’s chest.

Like a bull grunting, the man let out a gust of air, crumpling inwards then he teetered sideways, falling heavily on his side. Jax imagined his heart fibrillating from the trauma, his system would soon go into shock. Leaning over him, she drew her arm back, poised to hit him again in case the first blow didn't take.

She waited.

Red-faced, his eyes rolled up into his head as his breath came out in strained gasps.

“You will die,” Jax stated calmly. “No one is coming to save you. No one wants to save you.”

If you are interested in participating in next weeks SFFSat, just click HERE, and follow the rules. Sign up is open every Wednesday - and if you're on Twitter, use the #SFFSat hashtag.

Cheers!

SFF Saturday - March 24

Welcome to another SFFSat, and thanks to everyone who stops by and leaves awesome comments.  Much appreciated.

I'm still featuring my work in progress, The Grosjean Chronicles.  The story revolves around Captain Alanis Grosjean, a Space Marine (featured briefly in book 2 of my Lancaster Trilogy).  She's a no-nonsense, fire-breathing lady with beguiling elfin feautres who has an unpredictable temper and poops out nails.  Capt. Grosjean's mission in this tale is to capture the notorious space pirate Norstrom and his crew on board the Drunken Sailor...

In this scene, Capt. Grosjean and her team discover a message from the pirate Norstrom, and we have Dr. Mica's POV as he witnesses Grosjean's reaction.  I might add that Mica is a little infatuated with her...

       Grosjean took a breath; she’d been taking a lot of them since they found the message stuck to the underside of the agrostation.  A magnetic message sticker, one of those fanciful ones that came in different shapes and designs.  This one took the form of a man’s penis, so that when you slid your finger down its shaft, it played back the recorded message. 

       Captain Norstrom had left her a very crude and cocky message, filled with many ‘darlings’ and ‘love bunnys’ and ‘sweehearts.’  A literal taunt and a dare to catch him if she could, and quote, “…just like old times, my Petunia.” 

       Mica could’ve sworn she nearly paled after hearing the recording the patrol found.  In fact, she looked nauseous.  He shuffled a little closer, unable to resist being near her.  Then he realized she might clock him in the eye, so he froze.

If you're interested in participating in next week's SFF Saturday, stop by their sign-up blog which is open every Wednesdays.  And don't forget to follow the rules and use the #SFFSat hashtag.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheers!

SFF Saturday - March 17

Welcome to another SFFSat. I'm still featuring my work in progress, The Grosjean Chronicles.

The story revolves around Captain Alanis Grosjean, a Space Marine (featured briefly in book 2 of my Lancaster Trilogy).  She's a no-nonsense, fire-breathing lady with beguiling elfin feautres who has an unpredictable temper and poops out nails.  Capt. Grosjean's mission in this tale is to capture the notorious space pirate Norstrom and his crew on board the Drunken Sailor...

In this scene, we meet Norstrom, idly waiting for the arrival of Grosjean.  He's such an adorable character...

       Norstrom sat back on the plush divan couch with a sigh and let out a chuckle.  The Solaris Hotel on Bacchus cost a little bit more, but it was worth it.  Not that money mattered, but wasting it unnecessarily just didn't make sense.  Besides, they made the best pre-dinner canapés in the galaxy.  Especially the devilled eggs.  And he did have a penchant for devilled eggs at the best of times.

       He burped deeply from the champagne.  Grinning, he impressed himself with the length and loudness of his release.  Soon, the eggs would have worked their way through his system and he’d be releasing another sort of build-up.  He looked forward to that prospect.  Idly he hoped Grosjean would be around with witness the event.  She’d always been such a prude about normal bodily functions.  Must be the French in her, he sighed.

If you're interested in participating in next week's SFF Saturday, stop by their sign-up blog which is open every Wednesdays.  And don't forget to follow the rules and use the #SFFSat hashtag.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheers!

SFF Saturday - March 10

Welcome to another SFFSat. Today I will feature a little snippet from my other work in progress, The Grosjean Chronicles.

The story revolves around Captain Alanis Grosjean, a Space Marine (featured briefly in book 2 of my Lancaster Trilogy).  She's a no-nonsense, fire-breathing lady with beguiling elfin feautres who has an unpredictable temper and poops out nails.

Capt. Grosjean's mission in this tale is to capture the notorious space pirate Norstrom and his crew on board the Drunken Sailor...

In this scene, we have Grosjean and her party in an agrostation searching for some missing scientists, supposedly hidden in a packing crate.


     Ashok and Mica scrambled, resembling digging dogs.  Packing material flew out, wafting briefly in the air before settling.  Grosjean, still not taking chances, stood firm and aimed her weapon.  If Norstrom had a hand in this, she should expect any number of surprises from a spring-loaded clown popping out to an explosion of jellybeans.  She remembered one occasion he’d crammed a space cruiser’s deep freeze with its captain and senior crew—naked except for thermal underwear.  Okay, that was funny, but she still didn’t like surprises.

If you're interested in participating in next week's SFF Saturday, stop by their sign-up blog which is open every Wednesdays.  And don't forget to follow the rules and use the #SFFSat hashtag.

Cheers!

SFF Saturday - March 3

Today's SFFSat will be the final little snippet from my work in progress, Bengaria's War. Next week, I'll showcase another WIP...not sure which one just yet.

Bengaria's War is a tale set way into the future, where man has colonized star systems, wages war to steal other Systems, grow cabbages and sword fight, shoot energy guns and fly Nezu-class warships...while drinking tea.

The tale centres around, Ryn Bengaria, the daughter of a farmer who finds herself married to a King and at the brink of war as the evil Regent Sibur tries to steal their System.  Along the way, they encounter the Nezu colony.

In this scene, we have the unscrupulous former Regent, Xin Sibur.  He sits pondering his devious plans when his aide disturbs him...

“We are in position, sir.”  An aide’s dull monotone interrupted his thoughts.

“Are we still in the clear?”  Sibur inspected a snag in his fingernail.  He preferred not to make eye contact with his subordinates; they might consider it as being friendly.  “How much longer?”

“Yes, sir.  Xale’s sensors haven’t detected us as yet—the shroud is working.  One hour, latest.  The governor usually takes an early dinner on her terrace.  We can drop our team in directly overhead and take her.”

“Excellent.”  Sibur stood, straightening his jacket with a sharp tug.  “Alert me when it’s done.”

If you're interested in participating in next week's SFF Saturday, stop by their sign-up blog which is open every Wednesdays.  And don't forget to follow the rules and use the #SFFSat hashtag.

Cheers!

Distractions

So, I find myself eager to complete my current WIP, Bengaria's War and move along to a completely different story.  By new story, I don't mean my other WIPs (The Grosjean Chronicles or To Catch A Marlin)...I'm talking about Time Fracture (working title that's kinda working well).

To be honest, it's not really my story, but a collaboration of sorts with my brother (the original geek in the family).  Since it's still in the working stages, with generalized outlines and stuff, I can't get into too much detail.  But I'm greatly enthused with it, to the point I'm terribly distracted with my final read-through of Bengaria's War.

Speaking of Bengaria's War...once it's done, it's wending its way to another beta read.  From there...well...I'm not quite sure what to do with it.  Seek agents probably.  Wish me luck on that.  Within the week, it'll be done with my meddlesome tweaking and I'll have to let it go and grow up on its own.  Like all WIPs and completed MSs, letting go is the most difficult phase in the writing process.  But I'm learning.

Anyway, better get back to the final tweaking (for now) and send it off to be beta'd.

Cheers!

SFF Saturday - Feb 25

Once again, I bring you another snippet from my current work in progress, Bengaria's War. This is a story set way into the future, where man has colonized star systems, wages war to steal other Systems, grow cabbages and sword fight, shoot energy guns and fly Nezu-class warships...while drinking tea.

The tale centres around, Ryn Bengaria, the daughter of a farmer who finds herself married to a King and at the brink of war as the evil Regent Sibur tries to steal their System.  Along the way, they encounter the Nezu colony.

In this scene, we have Ryn and her former weapons master, Til, in relaxed conversation...

    “And I’ll bet your mother always had good reason to clobber you.  I can just see you as an unruly child.”  Ryn affected aloofness, but her mood had shifted—at last—enough that he saw her relax.  “Always up to no good.”
    Til grinned.  “I had a fabulous childhood, as one does on a huge tea plantation.”
    “And I bet it was a misspent one filled with mischief.”
    “Adventure,” he corrected solemnly.
    “Is there a difference?” she blinked back pretending to be shocked.
    “Huge.  Adventure means I didn’t get half as many clobberings as when I did mischief.”
    Ryn laughed loudly.  It made her entire face light up, even bringing some colour back to it.  “You’re too silly, you know that.”  Then, she slid out of the armchair, dropped to her knees, leaned forward, and kissed him.

If you're interested in participating in next week's SFF Saturday, stop by their sign-up blog which is open every Wednesdays.  And don't forget to follow the rules and use the #SFFSat hashtag.

Cheers!

Between WIPs

The Grosjean Chronicles or To Catch A Marlin...

Decisions, decisions.

Now that Bengaria's War is "complete" and in the hands of betas, I find myself flitting from one WIP to the next.  To be honest, I've got two on-going stories, both set in the same world as the Lancaster world (to make things easier) and both competing for my attention.

Last week, after resurrecting The Grosjean Chronicles, and then this week, To Catch A Marlin, I realized that both were becoming too similar.  Ack!  We can't have that happening!!  Then it got me wondering if that was the reason I couldn't get past a certain point and ended up writing Bengaria's War -- which is set in a completely different world, and so, fresh.

Yesterday, I spent most of my supposedly-allotted-for-day-job-time reviewing what I'd written so far in To Catch A Marlin.  Of course, I couldn't help but fiddle with a few paragraphs and tweak a few chapters, mostly to disguise the fact that it was once again set in the Lancaster world.  I think I managed it, but kept enough similarities to make you wonder.  The fact that both Grosjean and Marlin end up at the same place (okay, a space station) right now is irrelevant.  There will be plenty of time later to fix things up and give each a little distance.

But, I'm still in a quandary...I want to continue writing, both of them, at the same time.  Which one, I'm not sure.  I've also reviewed all my notes on both stories (making adjustments along the way...of course), and still haven't come any closer to a decision.

I'm thinking I should let both have another little rest.  I've also been asked to beta the sequel to a really cool SFR story, the first in the series to be released shortly (this month, I think).  So my mind is tugged in that direction as well.

I wonder, maybe to solve the problem I'll just have to flip a coin and let it rest at that.

Oh well, cheers!