$1.99 Novella
STARS BETWEEN US is a romance set in a futuristic Space Frontier World, a Wild West, Firefly and Steampunk inspired Space Opera Universe. The space frontier is a dangerous place with the long risky space journeys and almost lawless settlements. The series leans toward sci-fantasy with some fantasy elements (shifters).
I was raised in Montana by parents who took us to every historical site in the state. My grandparents homesteaded outside Laurel, Montana. When their hunting dog got a bad hit by a porcupine, my grandfather drove the dog into town, three days by buckboard, to get quills removed.
My grandfather once traveled with the circus, and I had a relative who had a trading post--and two Native American wives!
My family loved to tent camp in the most remote areas--which can be pretty remote in Montana! I read many westerns as a girl and those crisp starry nights by a campfire area fond memory.
When combined with sci-fi, colonization stories have always caught my imagination.This series is about immigrants to two planets, Celstar, an Earth-like world with carefully planned immigration, and Starlander's Green, which was settled by Terrans but also has a native population.
In STARS BETWEEN US, Odessa, a dock worker with a past, longs to immigrate. Veras will be leaving the space station soon for a new life on a planet.
Excerpt:
“Odessa.” Veras pulled her into an awkward embrace, since Odessa still held Garnet’s seat by the handle. The warmth of his body against her erased any words of greeting. She slid her free hand up and down his back assuring herself Veras was really here with her after all this time. She blinked away tears. This was no place for an emotional moment. He’d think she was crazy, desperate.
“So glad you came.” Veras took Odessa by the hand and pulled her to a booth in the rear of the eatery, a private seating area.
“Glad we could meet before you leave.” She was finally able to speak though her voice was husky. It was important for her to remember Veras was leaving in a couple days, perhaps to never return to the space station.
They ordered a meal and while they waited for it Odessa fed Garnet a self warming bottle of mixed baby formula and breast milk.
“She is smaller than I expected,” Veras said.
“She was born premature, plus her father was short. I don’t think she’ll be very tall as an adult.”
Veras shook his head. “Hard to believe you have a child.”
“I know.” She smiled wryly and wiped a drop of formula from the baby's chin. “I’m clean now, though, so I can take care of her right.”
“How do you know what to do with a baby?”
“I took a class. Plus my childcare woman is really a great resource.”
“You look really good. Healthy. I’ve never seen your hair so long.”
Odessa felt her face heat. “I remember my mother wore her hair long, so I decided to let it grow. Something I could do to try to remember her.”
Their food arrived. “What made your grandfather decide to send you all the way to Charity Wells for medical school?”
I have two other short reads in this series, and have another two longer stories planned.
For fun, I'll pick two comments for an ebook copy of the STARS BETWEEN US. Leave your email!
Melisse Aires
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Sounds like a fun read. Your past and family must make for some interesting plot points! I wish you all the best!
ReplyDeleteMakes my family look downright dull in comparison.
DeleteMy mother's father married late in life-- to a 16 year old girl. She cleaned his saloon during the day. So you know her family loved him. He'd been a horse wrangler with the Ringling Bros. Circus. Due to family pressure they moved west and raised 11 kids.
DeleteI still want to write a circus romance. Or space circus. I have planzz.
My dad's family were more the hurdy gurdy girl types,lol. Not respectable.
What a beautiful cover!
ReplyDeleteI think it's both beautiful, and very different for a sci-fi
DeleteI had great fun with the cover--Victorian lovers in spaaaace!
DeleteWow, that is some family history for sure, but what great fodder for your books! (I grew up in Northern Wyoming, so have driven through Laurel many times. Beautiful country.)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for hosting me, Liza! You are the best hostess!
ReplyDeleteAwww. Thanks.
DeleteWow, what a rich family history you have.
ReplyDelete