Liza O'Connor interviews Tompa Lee from the Triumph of Tompa Lee, by Ed Hoornaert

Today I’m interviewing a very special person – Tompa Lee, the protagonist of The Triumph of Tompa Lee by Ed Hoornaert, the final volume of The Trilogy of Tompa Lee.

Liza: Welcome, Tompa, and thanks in advance for responding to my questions.

Tompa: You're welcome in advance then.

Liza: Can you tell us a little about yourself?

Tompa: Why do you want to know? Is this a maggoty damned trick? If it is, I—

(Ahem. Sorry for this interruption. My author, the guy who writes me, just told me to cool it with the attitude and answer politely. If I don’t, he’ll invent even more disasters for me. But I warn you in advance, ‘polite’ is a foreign language I don’t speak well.)

Thank you so very, very, very much for asking, kindest, gentlest sirs and madams and alien sentients. My name is Tompa Lee, and I’m a ravishingly gorgeous twenty-four-year-old seductress who—

(Ahem. My author again. He says to answer truthfully, as well as politely, and without sarcasm. The man is never satisfied.)

Truthfully? I’m okay-looking, if you like short, flat-chested orphans with great survival instincts. I escaped the worst ghetto on Earth by diligence, hard work, and larceny—mostly larceny—and clawed my way into Earth’s Space Navy. When I got to planet Zee Shode, the intelligent natives first tried to kill me, then proclaimed me a goddess. Stupid of them, right?

But one of the natives, an old, working-class guy named Awmit, became my friend.

I never had a friend before.

Never.

Liza: I can't imagine why not. What is your role in the story?

Tompa: I’m the title character, so obviously I’m the heroine. Let me clue you in on something: you do NOT want to be the title character of a science fiction adventure novel. Problems, problems, endless, life-threatening problems.

The bit about becoming a goddess happened in another book—I’ve endured three novels’ worth of disasters—but since each book is a separate disaster adventure, you can start with the latest. That’s The Triumph of Tompa Lee. I adore the title but abhor the problems I’m expected to triumph over.

Liza: Now that I understand. What is your favorite hobby?

Tompa: You’re kidding me, right?

I know the word hobby, of course. I’m very smart, even though my schooling ended when the orphanage was destroyed when I was twelve. Someone like you probably sneers at someone like me, self-educated and without a degree. Well, screw you with a cactus, Jack.

Hobbies are the stuff that gordos (rich fat cats) do to keep themselves from getting bored. Told you I knew the word. Thing is, I’ve never had the luxury of spare time.

I guess you could say my hobby is staying alive.

Liza: Other than staying in live, what is the challenge you’re trying to overcome during the story?

Tompa: Because I’m a so-called goddess (hah!) the most powerful organization in the Galaxy is determined to squash me. Yep, the Galactic Trading Council. They think I’m getting uppity and threatening their monopolies.

The book opens when an alien from the Council projects himself into my bedroom—while I’m getting dressed, the pervert!—and orders me to commit ‘honorable’ suicide. After I refuse—of course I refuse!—they hire a bounty hunter who kidnaps Awmit and Ming. (Ming is a brave, handsome, talented Space Navy undercover agent who wants to marry me. Him I don’t refuse.)

So now I have to search the ruins of an alien city, alone, and rescue Awmit and Ming before the bounty hunter kills them. Or me.

I told you—problems, problems.

Liza: Don't envy you. If you could make one wish, what would it be?

Tompa: Peace and quiet on a cute little terraformed moon I’ve been told about. And no more cockroachy disasters and sequels!

Liza: Yeah, I wouldn't count on that happening. There may be no ends to your sequels. Now let's find out about the book.

Title: The Triumph of Tompa Lee

Author: Edward Hoornaert

Genre: Science Fiction

Tompa Lee—orphan, anti-social loner, and homeless street meat—has clawed her way up to the stars. There, on planet Zee Shode, she finds the galaxy’s greatest treasures: friendship and love.

Happily ever after? Not if the Galactic Trading Council has its way. The Council rules by divide and conquer, and Tompa commits the unforgivable crime of forging an alliance between humans, Shons, and Klicks.

The Council hires Lily Kilsing, earth’s most feared bounty hunter, to deal with her. Kilsing lures Tompa to a deserted alien city by kidnapping her fiancé and her best friend.

Aided only by the voices of dead people, can Tompa outsmart the huntress, or will she be forced to sacrifice her own life to save her loved ones—and the future of the Shon race?

Buy links:

Website:  http://eahoornaert.com

Trade paperback

http://smile.amazon.com/Triumph-Tompa-Lee-Edward-Hoornaert/dp/1500464023/ref=la_B001K8HWVQ_1_1_title_1_pap?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1414812272&sr=1-1

Kindle version

http://smile.amazon.com/Triumph-Tompa-Lee-Edward-Hoornaert-ebook/dp/B00M5PZO22/ref=smi_www_rcolv2_go_smi?_encoding=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0

Kobo version

http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-triumph-of-tompa-lee

Nook version

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-triumph-of-tompa-lee-edward-hoornaert/1119986484?ean=2940046058673

Smashwords

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/455436

Liza O'Connor interviews Ember from Winter's Kiss by KG Stutts

Liza: Today, we sit down with Ember Wilson, the leader of a team known as Amethyst. Ember, thank you for joining us. I'm going to do my best to behave, because she's got a big gun with her. 

Ember: Thank you for having me.

Liza: All right, let’s get started. You have a very unique look to you.

Ember: Do you mean my purple eyes?

Liza: For starters

Ember: I love my eyes.

Liza: How did your eyes become purple?

Ember: I assumed you had done your research on me. Isn’t that why we’re here?

Liza: *clears throat* Um, yes. I have a little information on you. You were in the Air Force before joining a special project. I don’t have much more information than that.

Ember: No, you wouldn’t. No one does.

Liza: Are you still with the Air Force or are you a member of the Intergalactic Security Commission?

Ember: We are classified under the ISC, but Commander Emmitt Stewart knows he couldn’t control us if we go against his orders.

Liza shifts uncomfortably in her chair: I see.

Ember: The thing you have to understand is this: We don’t work well with others.

Liza: Does that include a certain Air Force Major?

Ember: You mean, Liam Ross? It sure does.

Liza: I’ve met Major Ross before. He’s really handsome.

Ember: It takes more than a handsome face to turn my head.

Liza: And what would it take?

Ember: I am a strong, powerful woman. I would need a man tough enough to handle me. Quite frankly, I don’t think he exists.

Liza: You have a close bond with Michael Lewis

Ember: I’m close with all three men in Amethyst. We have a special bond.

Liza: Are you as close to your father and sister as you are to them?

Ember *narrows her eyes*: Amethyst is the only family I need.

Liza: What do you love?

Ember: I never use that word.

Liza: Love?

Ember: Yes. That word has too much power behind it. I would never give anyone that much authority over me.

Liza *quickly changes the subject*: Do you have any fears?

Ember: Do you have anything other than dumb questions?

Liza: Um… probably not. Their my forte.

Ember: Then I’m going to leave before you waste anymore of my precious time. 

Liza: Let's check out the book. (I think I would have been happier if I had interviewed it.)

Winter's Kiss

Amethyst Chronicles

by KG Stutts

Amethyst is a secret team of genetically enhanced humans which is Earth’s greatest defensive weapon. Leading the team of super soldiers is Ember Wilson, a tough woman with a huge chip on her shoulder. The team gets their name from the after effect of the Genesis Project which turned their eyes and even their blood purple.

For decades, Earth has been ravaged by unpredictable weather which began to cause crops to fail. Most of the planet’s food sources have deteriorated. Dr. Clayton Rudo has proclaimed he has the means to save the soil. He has created a weather machine to regulate and help replenish. But Ember knew the truth. He didn’t want to save the planet. He wanted to control it. Amethyst destroyed the machine, but was placed in stasis. Two years later, Rudo recreated the device and has frozen Washington, DC and the west coast of the United States.


General Tom Blanchard brought Amethyst out of stasis to work with an elite Air Force team, led by Major Liam Ross. Tensions between Ember and Liam rise as they butt heads. Can they work together before Earth is completely under ice?

General Blanchard pulled a large painting of him and his daughter, Laura, from a wall and revealed a security key pad. He punched in a security code and motioned Ross over. A portion of the wall gave way to reveal a secret room. The room looked like a lab with white walls, a gray marble floor, and various computers and equipment he didn't recognize. Against the back wall were four pods with people asleep in stasis.

The General stood in front of the first pod, stroking his unkempt bearded chin. The sleeping man had extremely short black hair and was the shortest and skinniest of the four in the tubes. As they approached, a holographic image appeared on the glass next to the man’s face. The picture was of a smiling man with wire-rimmed glasses on his thin nose, brown eyes, and longer hair.

"This is Bryan Morris," the General introduced. "Best tech man I've ever seen. Smart, quick on his feet, and crafty."

 Liam looked at the General curiously, but he didn't elaborate further. Blanchard moved down to the next pod. The man inside was slightly taller than Morris and had curly red hair. The holographic picture displayed another smiling man with light blue eyes and hair sticking out everywhere.

 "Alexander Nova. He was the best pilot Earth had to offer. And this," the General pointed to the third tube, "is Michael Lewis. Brilliant military mind. He was second-in-command."

 Ross wrinkled up his nose as he gazed upon the strong specimen of a man. Lewis was tall and clearly well-built with brown hair that stopped just above his eyebrows. The image displayed was of a serious man with brown eyes.

 "Command?" Ross questioned, but the General didn't address it.

 He moved down to the last pod which had a woman in it. Ross looked at the tall woman with jet black hair who was somehow scowling even though she was asleep. The picture showed a strikingly beautiful blonde woman with blue eyes.

 "Ember Wilson," General Blanchard softly said. "She's the leader of this team known as

Amethyst."

His voice pulled Liam’s attention away from her. "Amethyst, sir?"

"A group of genetically enhanced super soldiers. They were Earth's greatest defense."

"I've never heard of Amethyst."

"Nor would you. The gene program was top secret. They were named after a side effect of the genetic manipulation causing the quartet's eye color to change to a brilliant shade of dark purple."

"Gene program? Purple eyes? Sir, this is a little unbelievable."

"They had it all," General Blanchard continued, still not answering the Major's questions.

"Super strength, speed, endurance, skill, stamina, healing, and intelligence. They could withstand several kill blaster shots before they even felt a twinge to their central nervous system. Their natural talents increased tenfold."

Liam let out a low whistle. "What happened? What led them here?"

"You remember two years ago when the weather computer designed by Dr. Clayton Rudo was destroyed?"

 Liam nodded. Of course he remembered. Rudo was proclaimed a hero when he introduced a super computer that could control Earth's climate.

 "Ember came to me and said Rudo had plans to control Earth, but I didn't believe her. As a result, Amethyst attacked Rudo’s lab in Abilene and destroyed the system.”

“They were the ones behind the assault? Sir, I helped designed the security protocol for

Dr. Rudo’s base myself.”

“I’m aware, Major. I haven’t met a security platform which Amethyst couldn’t disable.

Because of their actions, they were on trial for treason and convicted. Due to the team's enhanced abilities, it was decreed they would remain in stasis until they could be rehabilitated."

"But we later found out she was right."

"Yes. Of course it would take us two years to realize. It took, but Rudo rebuilt his machine. I even assigned several top scientists to help speed the process along after Amethyst thoroughly destroyed all of his work. And now ..."

 And now Rudo used his weather system to bring the world to its knees. Washington, D.C., New Mexico, and Texas were now completely under ice. Everything was frozen solid.

Amazon

B&N

Growing up in Texas and later South Carolina as the youngest in a house full of science-fiction fans, K.G. Stutts had her natural curiosity and imagination nurtured since birth by family movie nights where they would watch Star Wars, Indiana Jones and even timeless Disney favorites.

A prolific writer of sci-fi, romance and mystery, K.G. draws much of her inspiration from those amazing works that gave her an appreciation for telling rich, compelling, character-driven stories for all audiences.

Book one in her science-fiction writings are out now by the wonderful group at http://distinguishedpress.com and a romance ebook launched at the beginning of June from http://lazydaypub.com. She is also a contributor to http://iwassociation.com and http://thewritingnetwork.com.

She lives in North Carolina with her husband, Brad and works for a customer service call center full time. She's a lover of Star Wars, Star Trek (original, TNG, and Voyager), Stargate SG-1 and Atlantis, Muppets, Garfield, Disney, Indiana Jones and is a big football, wrestling, and hockey fan.

http://www.Facebook.com/KGStutts
http://www.twitter.com/KGStutts

http://kgstutts.blogspot.com

http://kgstutts.com

Liza interviews When Dark Falls by Pippa Jay

Today, we are interviewing a beautiful book from Pippa Jay called When Dark Falls.

Space Rep: That sounds really good can I bring it over now?

Liza: Absolutely!

Space Rep: It's soup!

Liza: Better not be...

Liza: Welcome When Dark Falls. May I call you Dark?

Book: Sure, why not.

Liza: I like your obliging attitude!

Dark: Yes, well when dark is falling you don't sweat the little things.

Liza: Gorgeous cover. Tell me about yourself. Your city appears to be burning.

Dark: The city is in trouble. Dark Technologies now runs the show.

Liza: It's never a good idea for a Corporation to take control of a city. They really aren't people, you know. They are profit machines. Any chance you have a superhero to kick their non-people asses?

Dark: Unfortunately, our guardian superhero, Blaze, has fallen. 

Liza: And no one cares?

Dark: Kadie Williams does, but she has her own problems. Every morning for the last few months she's woken up with cuts and bruises on her body and no idea how she got them.

Liza: That's weird. Is she thrashing about in her sleep believing monsters are attacking her?

Dark: Nope, she's not having nightmares.

Liza: Is she sleep walking and getting mugged?

Dark: There's no evidence that she's sleepwalking or any sign of a break in.

Liza: You thought burglars were breaking in to beat her up in her sleep. Man, this town must be really mean to even think that!

Dark: Well something's going on, and someone has been cleaning up after her.

Liza: Hmmmm a mystery. Didn't see that coming.

Dark: As just one of thousands of civilians conscripted to slave away in the labs of Professor Dark, she knew there'd be trouble ahead. But she never expected it to be so bad, or so personal.

Liza: What's she going to do?

Dark: Desperate for answers, Kadie looks to the new defender of the night, the only person who can hinder the total domination of Professor Dark.

Liza: What's his name?

Dark: It's a she: Nocturnelle, the mysterious vigilante superhero came from nowhere with her cybernetic sidekick Shadow, set on putting an end to the brutality of Dark's regime.

Liza: Then all is good now!

Dark: Not as long as his laboratories are working on a new secret super-weapon.

Liza: But we have Nocturnelle and Shadow.

Dark: That may not be enough to save the city of Nephopolis or Kadie.

Liza: Darn it! Open your covers so I can read more.
  

Dark: No marring the pages.

The roar of the cloudburner flaming into life woke her. The vibration as it powered up rippled through the building created a disturbance impossible to sleep through. No more being roused from sleep by the dawn chorus of traffic or a rowdy neighbor. Those days were long past. Everyone in Nephopolis woke to the sound of fire burning into the clouds, to cast a false darkness over the city. The shadow of Dark.

Kadie stretched...and froze. She stared at her left arm. A pattern of blue and purple covered her forearm, a harsh contrast to her otherwise pale skin.

She shuddered, turning her arm this way and that. Had she fallen out of bed? And if so, why hadn't she woken? She didn't remember catching it on anything yesterday that would have gone unnoticed and yet left such intense bruising. One day blurred into another now, but even so, surely she'd remember hurting herself that badly?

If I'd been conscious. She sat up and examined the bruise. It was the fourth injury in as many nights, and yet there'd been no dreams. No sign she'd left her bed in the night. Would she know if she'd been sleepwalking? After all, she lived and slept alone. 

Unless she was leaving her apartment to wander around in the corridors...

The idea made her stomach churn too much to consider it. Instead, she swung her legs out from under the duvet. Pale pink flannel pajamas clothed her, crumpled from a night's sleep but nothing more. Her bare feet revealed no signs of midnight wandering. What the hell had happened to her arm when everything else seemed so normal?

Liza: Now this sounds really good. Anything else you'd like to share?

Dark: When Dark Falls is an alternative 1920s superhero romance releasing from Breathless Press 21st of November. Add it to your Goodreads shelf HERE. Sign up to my no-spam newsletter HERE to stay up to date with releases, cover reveals, sales and giveaways for all my titles and more.

Liza: So tell me about your author.

Dark: After spending twelve years working as an Analytical Chemist in a Metals and Minerals laboratory, Pippa Jay is now a stay-at-home mum who writes scifi and the supernatural. Somewhere along the way a touch of romance crept into her work and refused to leave. In between torturing her plethora of characters, she spends the odd free moment playing guitar very badly, punishing herself with freestyle street dance, and studying the Dark Side of the Force. Although happily settled in the historical town of Colchester in the UK with her husband of 21 years and three little monsters, she continues to roam the rest of the Universe in her head.

Pippa Jay is a dedicated member of the Science Fiction Romance Brigade, blogging at Spacefreighters Lounge, Adventures in Scifi, and Romancing the Genres. Her works include a YA science fiction novel—Gethyon—published through BURST (Champagne Books), a scifi romance novella—Tethered—published by Breathless Press, a YA paranormal romance—Restless In Peaceville—published by Lycaon Press, three self-published short stories (Terms & Conditions Apply, The Bones of the Sea, and Reboot), and she’s one of eight authors included in a science fiction romance anthology—Tales from the SFR Brigade. She’s also a double SFR Galaxy Award winner, been a finalist in the Heart of Denver RWA Aspen Gold Contest (3^rd place), and the GCC RWA Silken Sands Star Awards (2^nd place).

Liza: And for my followers prone to legal stalking, where can they follow you?

Dark: You can stalk her at her website http://pippajay.co.uk, or at her blog http://pippajay.blogspot.co.uk, but without doubt her favorite place to hang around and chat is on Twitter as @pippajaygreen

Space Rep: Finally! I've broken out of the Transporter. Someone shut me inside. *Glares at Liza*

Liza: Great to see you Space Rep. Go find us the buy links. This book sounds great.

Space Rep: Found them! 

Buy Links:

Breathless Press - http://www.breathlesspress.com/index.php?main_page=product_free_shipping_info&cPath=25&products_id=691

Web page to other links - http://www.pippajay.co.uk/#!when-dark-falls/cl15

A Family crisis in Space

Once upon a time, in far away space, there was a mother with child chasing her dead beat husband.

The mother's name was Rosetta, and let me tell you, she ran herself in circles going after Kid Comet, all the while carrying her baby drill-bot name Philae...we'll call him Phil due to my typing issues.

The extreme levels Rosetta will go to hunt down her Kid Comet.

Turns out, it wasn't just alimony Rose wanted.

After 10 years of chasing, she finally caught up to Comet Kid. 

Her human companions were not hopeful she'd be successful. In fact, they went on and on about everything that could go wrong, and it was a dire and long list. 

But Rose refused to listen. She was on a mission.

The first thing she does is drop Phil in Kid Comet's lap. Clearly Phil was upset, but he landed on his feet and tried his hardest to be brave...only he didn't like his father at all and he sure as hell didn't want to be tied down to him. So he mucked up his anchors which kept him foot loose and fancy free.

He remained in contact with his mom, Rose, and they'd talked whenever his father didn't get in the way. But all she wanted to know about was his father. What's he like? Was he hard or soft? What type of rock is he? 

Angry and sick of discussing his father, Phil decided to go on a walk about.

Rose asked him were he was going, but he refused to say. And when he got there, he had no idea where 'there' was. 

When his mom asked him to drill into his father and run other tests on his bad parent, he was more than happy to oblige. However, eventually Phil got tired and found a nice shady spot where he could snuggle in to sleep.

He had done everything his mom wanted, but he was tired now, so Rose asked him to shift a sun panel so it might in the future catch more light, then let him shut down and go to sleep while she moved further away from Kid Comet less he get her with yet another baby.

And thus Rose remains, hovering 30KM above Kid Comet who continues to rotate to his own music. She can't see or hear her little robot now, for he's sleeping in some dark shadow.

Rose thought she'd be happy once she dumped Phil off on his father, but she's not. She desperately wants to see her son, to know he's all right.

Like all creatures, living and mechanical, life is finite. Little Phil was never expected to live through Kid Comet's close drive by the sun. 

But that doesn't mean that as his dad nears the sun, Phil won't wake up and have the chance to say goodbye to his mom and all the humans who fell in love with him. No one expected him to wander all over his dad, so who is to say he can't wake up and say goodbye to us all.

And what about his Dad? How will he survive the drive by? He's expected to come out the other side, but he might let off a lot of steam and come out a changed fellow. Or he might fall completely apart. Comets are unpredictable fellows, so we really won't know until it happens.

And will Rose continue to chase Kid Comet, or will she give up and find some nice steady planet to admire?

Only time will tell.

What you've learned today is that Liza O'Connor can make anything silly, even extraordinary space accomplishments.

Liza's a bit sad over Phil.

But you can cheer her up!

 Check out her books.

Liza gets help from author Greta van der Rol

Scouring the multiverses I've located an excellent box set of 11 Sci Fi Romances you must buy.  I also transported over one of the authors and extracted a very fine memory from author Greta van der Rol's brain about a conversation she had with her main character from The Iron Admiral: Conspiracy.  

Nope, there are no lengths to what I'll do to entertain you.  

I give you Greta:

I'm excited to tell you that our science fiction romance boxed set, Nebula Nights, is now available in a new and improved second edition. 

To celebrate, I thought I'd share with you an interview I had with Admiral Chaka Saahren, who is the hero of my book in the anthology, The Iron Admiral: Conspiracy. This interview was conducted before the events chronicled in the book. Saahren has rocketed to prominence after his decisive victory over a Ptorix fleet threatening Forenisi, a mainly human planet at the edge of the Confederacy.

TOP SECRET INTERVIEW

BETWEEN GRETA & Admiral Chaka Saahren

As extracted from the memories of Greta

Saahren's clerk escorts me into the admiral's office. Saahren stands when I enter. Dressed in the Fleet's black day uniform, he's tall, dark and imposing, his lips curved into a brief smile of welcome. I stop myself from drooling as he waves me to a seat. "So kind of you to see me," I manage.

He offers a head bow. "My pleasure. What can I tell you?"

I point at the decoration on his breast, a blue jewel surrounded by a spreading burst of silver rays. "Congratulations on the Confederacy star."

He shrugs. "I'm honored, of course, but I was just doing my job. I see it as recognition of the valor and dedication of all the crews of all my ships."

I get the feeling he means it. So often it's false modesty. "Do you think we're safe from the Ptorix, now?"

He considers. "Safe? We can hope. But there are many, many more Ptorix in the galaxy than humans, and although we coexist on some planets, we're so very different. It's inevitable we'll clash. Especially with someone as ambitious as Lord Governor Anxhou in charge of the adjoining Ptorix sector."

I don't really want to talk about politics, though. I want to know about him. I ask him why he moved from his home world to Malmos when he was twelve years old. 

His eyes take on a faraway, introspective look. Eventually he says, "The planet had fallen into anarchy. Warlords had usurped power. My father was part of a revolt against the local tyrant. During the fighting I was badly injured, but I was lucky enough to come under the care of a specialist doctor from Malmos. He took me back to the capital with him to finish my treatment, and then he became my foster father, you might say."

"From there you went to the Fleet Academy."

He nods. "Yes. It was an opportunity I would not have had if I'd remained on my home world."

"You've never married?"

Again, that enigmatic half smile. "My career has always been important to me. I see that as a way of giving back, making life safer for millions of ordinary people. I don't see myself as a family man."

I throw the rumour out to see how he'll react. "There have been suggestions you're gay?"

He laughs. "I've also heard I'm impotent. Either way, they can think what they like."

"Even your own officers and crews?"

The grin fades and one black eyebrow arches. "I don't expect all my officers to like me. That's impossible. But they will obey orders."

That last is said very quietly. I have to stop myself from standing up and saluting. I toy with the idea of asking him out to dinner, but I think I'll be wasting my time. He shakes my hand after I stand to leave. Warm, strong fingers gripping firmly, not one of those condescending limp fish offerings people like me get from too many 'important' men.

As the door closes behind me I wonder if he'll ever give himself the time to fall in love. I've met a few like that. They swear it'll never happen… then they meet the right woman, and BAM.

Time will tell.

The Iron Admiral: Conspiracy is just one of the eleven full books you'll find in the Nebula Nights anthology. If you haven't bought your copy of Nebula Nights, here are the links to the new, improved version. And (ahem) if you enjoy it, do please leave a review.

Amazon All Romance  B&N iTunes Kobo

Greta van der Rol loves writing action-packed adventures with a side salad of romance. Most of her work is space opera, but she has written paranormal and historical fiction.

She lives not far from the coast in Queensland, Australia and enjoys photography and cooking when she isn't bent over the computer. She has a degree in history and a background in building information systems, both of which go a long way toward helping her in her writing endeavours. Find out more at her website, http://gretavanderrol.net/

Liza: Hmmmm. I think Greta has a secret crush on the Admiral. It's not as shocking as you might think. Authors often fall in love with their characters. It's an occupational hazard.

Computer Love Inc.II Gestations by Kurt & Jessica Hansen

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Enter to win a $50 Amazon gift card. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

After the sudden deaths of two previous Computer Love Inc. CEOs, Marius takes control of the company. Embracing the talents of his godson, John, and his best friend, Zak, he hires the boys to oversee the Companion Services Division. Marius refines his breakthrough technology, the Brain Machine Download, and as a result, creates his double, M2, as the prototype. Together, they ignite the future of Computer Love Inc. by acquiring an elite team of scientists to expand the company’s technological boundaries. Meanwhile, Marius struggles with the government’s demands for a clandestine initiative - the Secret Service Companion. Between the looming government presence and the overwhelming force behind his new team of inventors, can Marius survive the outcome of his own creations?

Enjoy an excerpt:

The wave was perhaps the greatest in height they’d ever seen. Later, John was sure they’d recount it as being of tidal proportions, hyperbolic as they always were when it came to surfing expeditions. But in truth, he wasn’t even sure how to approach its vastness; he caught the edge of the big, rolling force in an awkward, unbalanced maneuver, yet he evened himself out at once, rising up into a standing position, and coming through the tube with precision.

Zak waited for John to reach their squatting spot once again, then greeted him with a seated bow from atop his board. “Nicely done. But that was great luck, catching a swell that size. Next one’s mine.”

They didn’t have to wait long. The pair ignored a series of smaller waves that rolled past (though, by a normal day’s standards, they would have been worth riding), until a massive upsurge formed within the surf, collecting all of the surrounding water to join its force. Zak was gone before John could give him any encouragement.

John held up his unit, readying its hologramera to capture Zak’s performance. He pressed “record,” but then, a loud beep emanated from underneath him, coming from his surfboard. The sonar screen at the top of his board lit up, depicting a large incoming vessel approaching Zak’s position. John looked up again, but noticed that Zak was alone - there were no other surfers or boats nearby.

About the Author:

Kurt and Jessica Hansen reside in northern New Jersey . Kurt has worked in the aerospace electronics industry for over three decades and enjoys the outdoors, writing, and composing music. Kurt is easily recognized with a guitar in his lap, a pencil in his mouth, and a piece of paper in front of him.

Jessica graduated from Montclair State University, summa cum laude, with a B.A. in English. Her favorite pastimes include reading, running and spending time with her family. She can usually be found with a book in one hand and a hazelnut coffee in the other.

The Computer Love Inc. series is a collaborative effort between father and daughter.

Kurt and Jessica Hansen Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Kurt-Hansen/e/B00E9ZHCGM/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1
Website: http://computerloveinc.com/Home.html
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ComputerLoveInc
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Computer-Love-Inc/396920320362031
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