Books

Rainbow Snippets: Excited

Happy (and thank God it’s) Saturday! It’s been a week, and I’m sure lots of us are feeling the strain. But I’m going to focus right now on a happy thing, which is that my older kid is performing in a county-wide chorus later today. He sings Tenor 2. Apparently, he made a new friend yesterday, which isn’t surprising. It’s not an exaggeration to say my son is the happiest person I’ve ever met, and people are drawn to his sunny nature.

I’m working away on multiple projects, but I feel a bit like writing has stalled out again. It’s feeling directionless to me, and I’m not sure what I want out of my writing life. I need a change, but I’m not sure what that looks like.

Anyway, I’m still snipping from “Ashes & Alms.” It’s a second-chances story about a woman seeing her first love after 40 years apart. Last week, she picked up the phone and made the call.

“Jo!” Annie’s mellow tones were replaced with the bright enthusiasm Jo remembered, and it made her smile in spite of the situation. “How are you these days?”

“I’m doing all right. Yourself?” She felt oddly formal.

“Fine, fine. You’re calling about the reunion, right?”

“I am. I’m not sure—”

“So you’re coming?” Annie sounded so excited that Jo pictured her bouncing on her toes.

Rainbow Snippets is a safe and welcoming space for LGBTQIA+ authors, readers, and bloggers to share 6 sentences each week from a work of fiction—published or in-progress—or a book recommendation. Feel free to join in!

Review: Surrogate: Hunted by Jeanne G’Fellers

Books, Featured, Reviews

About the Book

Title: Surrogate: Hunted

Series Title: Surrogate

Date: March 1, 2018

Length: 372 pages

Publisher: Supposed Crimes

Categories: sci fi, alien worlds, bisexual

Goodreads

Synopsis

Sequel to the epic, world-spanning Surrogate.

Alien Scum. Royal Concubine. Destroyer of Traditions. Alyward Etain Ixtii detests the hate-wielding labels others place on her, but there is one label she wholeheartedly embraces—Mom. With her husband, Leigheas, their five children, and her goddaughter relying on her, Etain manages a careful balance between her family, her diplomatic career, and her problematic, opinionated breeding instinct dubbed She-Beast. But balance can’t help when Etain and her Human goddaughter, seventeen-year-old Brigit Feney, must run for their lives.

Brigit and Etain have been abducted and transported via stolen wormhole technology to the planet Clkya, where the primary government, Clkya Sa, sees them as meat-production livestock. When the militaristic Znyrs religious cult offers protection from the Cycalk meat markets, Etain accepts Defender Stra Ttla and her wife Yalntry Sar’s assistance and eventual affections, ensuring Brigit’s survival while denying herself thoughts of family and She-Beast her greatest desire—fellow captive, multi-lingual entomologist and Earth pagan, Mateo Sato.

However, Etain’s dreams and She-Beast’s cravings will be destroyed if Clkya Sa has its way. The blood-thirsty government wants its livestock returned and the Znyrs eliminated so they’re colluding with Etain’s old enemy, Usurer Serria, to accomplish their goals.

The hunt is on and survival is the only option.

Purchase Links

Amazon | Amazon UK | Smashwords | Kobo | Barnes & Noble

Review

In the interest of honesty, I had the opportunity to proofread this novel. When I was asked to do so, I was thrilled. I loved the first book, and I was excited to see where the story was going. It was every bit as good as I’d anticipated.

One of the things I look for in a great book is excellent characters. There’s no shortage in Surrogate’s world. When Etain and Brigit are captured, it gives the opportunity to expand readers’ understanding of yet another culture and the various beings within it.

First, there’s Etain’s ever-expanding family. Her species is a central female with a circle of people who each fulfill a different emotionally and/or physically intimate role in her life. They are woven together and around Etain, and it’s a joy to watch these relationships deepen and change as they need. Besides the obvious celebration of polyamory, there are also some parallels to how we live and love and the places people hold in our “circles.” It’s beautiful and affirming.

On the flip side, there are some dark elements as well. But within those, there are rays of light. In the prior novel, I’d had the impression of the Cycalk as predators. That’s only partially true. Etain and Brigit are initially kidnapped by the ruthless sort who want them for their potential to breed new meat. But there’s another, deeply spiritual side to these beings, and they are complex and interesting. There’s enough vivid detail to develop a good understanding of their world, but the main draw is the Cycalk themselves. We see through their eyes why the practitioners of Znyrs have chosen a different path and what the consequences are for those choices.

As always, I love Etain. She is the definition of a survivor. Her loyalty and fierce protection of the people she loves means she won’t tolerate them being hurt. But her open-mindedness leaves her softened to new experiences and learning about other cultures. This is just the right blend of toughness and tender-heartedness and forms the core of the story.

The world-building here is fantastic. I like when I can uncover the secrets myself, through reading the story and getting to know the characters. As with the first book, we’re thrown right into the deep end. It’s not hard to catch up, since Etain is learning right along with us. Everything unfolds at a perfect pace. Not so fast that it’s confusing, and not so slow as to become dull.

I don’t want to reveal too much about the story itself because it’s so fascinating, and anything I say would be both spoilers and pale in comparison. This is a world I can visit over and over and feel like there will always be something new to discover.

At its heart, this series is an anthem to survival and to the resilience of the spirit. It’s an emotional and intellectual ride which I find wonderfully life-affirming. The series deserves to be read and re-read to catch all the metaphors and unlock the deep truths we might apply to our real world.

For phenomenal writing, a compelling story, and characters who feel real, this gets 10/10 fountain pens.

Excerpt

Lifeboats

“Diani Fash Ixtii-Sternbow, stop playing with your hand-held!” Etain Ixtii’s growl held a practiced, parental edge. This would make the third time her eldest child had clicked off his hand-held, the third time—

“It’s not me!” Twelve-year-old Diani, with his dark mass of unruly curls, turned his head as the screen cut out again. Diani Fash liked practical jokes and mischief making. Nothing deliberately harmful but enough to keep him in trouble with his parents. “Everything on the ship’s acting wonky.” His image returned.

“Put your pala on.” Etain watched as Diani turned his hand-held to where Leigheas, her Takla husband-autalaci of thirteen years, stood talking to his students.

“Hey, Pala! Mom wants you!”

“What? Oh.” Leigheas pulled his hand-held from his pocket, and two view blocks appeared on the vid above Etain’s desk. “Hello, my love.” He squinted at the screen.

He missed his last vision adjustment. I’ll have to make him an appointment. “Our son is being himself.”

“Diani?” Leigheas looked to where the boy sat. Black hair, blue-black skin, dark eyes, and a lean build. Diani was a Gno’ worker by genetics but freeborn so he’d never know the subjugation his mother and biological father had faced. “What’s he done now?”

“He keeps clicking out of our conversation. Please remind him that—” Leigheas’ screen cut out at the same time as their son’s. So it’s not Diani being himself this time. Etain sighed and waited until Diani’s image reappeared.

“See, Mom? It’s not me!”

“Etain?” Leigheas returned as well.

“Why is the feed cutting out?”

“We’re on auxiliary power. They’re trying to reset the engines.”

“What is the problem?” Etain could hear the rumbles, see the lurches. Analeigh’s icon appeared on Etain’s hand-held. She tapped the vid, and the ten-year-old and her wild, red-brown, springy overmane filled a third block. Analeigh and her younger siblings were all Human-Alyward mixes— hybrid alien children according the less tolerant Takla court members. They’re all beautiful cubs. Analeigh’s eyes were a rich brown, her skin taupe with a slight blue undertone, and she was broader built than an Alyward child. “Yes, cub girl?”

“This transport is being weird.” Analeigh chewed on her bottom lip, bringing out the hints of pinkish Human tones deep within them.

Why do my children acquire my worst habits?

“Who’s Pala talking to?” Analeigh pulled at a curl.

“Me,” said Etain.

“See?” Diani Fash blurted. “It wasn’t me this time.” All three images on Etain’s vid shook, and a thin, dark smoke trail rose behind Diani. “Rashers!”

“Leigheas?” But he was talking to the crew. His students sat in small groups in the passenger cabin, including Diani and Analeigh. Oh, this age, so resistant to everything and anything parent-related.

“Keep your seats.” Leigheas’ gaze returned to his hand-held. “It’s a minor fire. A melted line or— I don’t know exactly.” But when his surroundings shuddered, he narrowed his dark-green eyes. “Minor fires don’t cause that. Hold on.” He shoved his hand-held in his pocket. “The Caplieri, please. Yes, I know she’s busy, but I have sixteen children under my charge.” Etain couldn’t understand his under-the-breath observations. “Caplieri Agusta, I know you’re in a hurry, but—”

“Everything’s under control, Instructor Leigheas.”

She sounds winded.

“We’ve run across some sort of energy wave. Nothing too serious, but both ships are adrift right now.”

“And the fire?” he asked.

“One of the auxiliary systems overheated.” Caplieri Agusta’s voice faded. “It’s already been extinguished. Now, if you’ll excuse me…”

Leigheas pulled out his hand-held and smiled at Etain. “The Caplieri says—”

“You left the channel open.”

“Again?” He chuckled. “Bad habit. Sorry. See? Nothing serious.” But smoke continued to filter into the passenger cabin behind him. “Nothing serious,” he repeated as he turned to his students. “All right, kids. Quiet down. Move so four of you are sitting with each chaperone.” He spoke to one of the chaperones then returned to Etain. “Before you ask, they’ve already handed out breathers.”

“Good.” There’s nothing worse than fighting for air. Her throat tightened with memory. “You have a lot to deal with. Contact me when—”

“Please proceed to your designated evacuation position. This is not a drill.”

“They’re activating the life boats.” The message repeated behind him. “Once we’re aboard it’s official communication only.” He touched the vid. “Love you. Time to load the kids.”

“Love you too. Keep Diani and Analeigh with you.”

“I’ll bring them back, promise.” He closed his hand-held correctly this time.

“This is so rashers!” Diani Fash grinned. “We’re going down!”

“Stop frightening your sister.” And me. “Turn off your vid and go sit with Pala.”

“Aw, Mom.”

“Diani Fash.” She growled to stress the situation.

“But—”

“Love you. Now do it.”

“Love you too.” Diani Fash’s vid block closed, leaving only Analeigh.

“Can I sit with Pala too?” She pulled at another curl.

“Of course, you can. Love you, cub girl, now disconnect.”

“Love you too.” The vid went dark.

Etain scrolled her hand-held to contact Dresh. If anyone knows what’s going on, she will.

About the Author

Born and raised in the foothills of the Appalachian mountains, Science Fiction author Jeanne G’Fellers has taught on both the secondary and collegiate levels, but she now devotes her time to writing. Her early memories include watching the original Star Trek series with her father and reading the stacks of books her librarian mother brought home. Jeanne’s influences include author Anne McCaffrey, Ursula K. LeGuin, Octavia Butler, Isaac Asimov, and Frank Herbert.

Social Media

Facebook | Goodreads

WIPpet Wednesday: Tug-o-War

Books, Writing

Happy Wednesday! Things have mostly settled back into our “new normal” at this point. The schedule is a lot less tight, and we’re all more relaxed. This weekend, my older child is performing with a county-wide mixed chorus. Should be fun to go see him and the other kids from his school.

Writing in Minuet has slowed down due to being so busy and having to catch up with work. But overall it’s going well. Random plot bunnies and new ideas have to stop, though! I’m also going over the print proof for Drumbeat, which is scheduled to be out in September. I’m much happier with the slower pace of releases. It gives me time to think about what projects I’m invested in and what I want to do with each one.

On to the WIPpet. This follows on directly from last week’s. Mack and the guys are out at Grand Slam, a sports-and-entertainment inclusive LGBTQ bar. They’re missing Jamie, who is away due to [spoilers].

WIPmath: 3/7/2018 = 3 x 7 = 21 sentences

“We might as well say it,” Nate told them.

“Yeah,” Trevor agreed. “It’s not the same without Jay.”

Mack gritted his teeth. He hated that Trevor used the pet name; it annoyed him every damn time. He said nothing about it, internally repeating that it was not his issue. If Jamie didn’t like it, he could tell Trevor so himself.

“He’ll be back soon.” Mack intended to come off as soothing or something, but instead even he heard how curt he sounded.

Trevor eyed him. “Well, you would know, I guess.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing.” Trevor’s shoulders slumped. “We’re all on edge. Maybe we should, you know, just cool it.”

Nate looked back and forth between them and then burst out laughing. “Oh, shit. The two of you are horrible. Seriously? Are you gonna keep fighting over Jamie like a pair of toddlers, or do you think you could act like grown-ass men for seven minutes?”

Like what you read? Be sure to check out the other entries and add your own. Just post a bit of your WIP, connect it to the date, and link up with us. Many thanks to Emily Wrayburn for giving us this space. Happy reading and writing!

Rainbow Snippets: Making the call

Books, Writing

Happy Saturday! It’s my first weekend off in what feels like forever. No more early mornings, rushing to get the kids to rehearsals. At least, not for the next 6 months or so. The show went well, though, so all those Saturdays we gave up paid off.

I’m still snipping from “Ashes & Alms,” my short story featuring characters over 50. Last week, Jo was about to call Annie. Here, she’s finally making the call.

After several minutes of indecision, Jo dialed the number on the post card. She bounced her knee while she listened to it ring.

“Hello?” Annie’s voice was warmer than Jo remembered.

“Is this Annie Tomassino?”

“Yes, it is. May I ask who’s calling?”

Jo swallowed before answering, trying to settle her nerves. “It’s Jo Brighton, formerly Hodges.”

Author Interview: Peyton Landry

Books, Writing

I’m pleased to welcome yet another new-to-me author, Peyton Landry, to the blog. She’s warm and fun and open-minded, and I hope you enjoy reading her answers as much as I did.

Interview

Welcome! I’ll start off with a biggie. How do you hope your writing influences other people?

My biggest hope is to open the eyes of the mainstream romance reader to what’s out there in the way of love, same-sex relationships, and relationships that don’t fall into the standard box our society seems to crave. There are so many great authors who work outside of that box, both in the realm of LGBTQ Erotic Romance and LGBTQ general Fiction.

Acceptance is a big thing for me, but our bookstores are still segregated, and there is bias in the aisles. Anything in the mainstream Erotic Romance genre is gaining shelf space because of books like Fifty Shades, but anything erotic in the way of LGBTQ is still absent from the standard book store shelf. I’d like my writing to shake up the book store and rearrange it.

That’s fantastic! I think that’s a great goal, and I think we need more authors willing to take that chance. Along those lines, are there any common themes you see in your work?

There are a few. I very much write what I know, so everything is Canadian – language, locations, and traditions. Second, I grew up in a stable, typical, middle-class, two-parent home, so often my HEA’s are mirroring that ideal, even if the orientation of the main characters is not hetero. The biggest is my medical background. Someone always seems to end up in hospital or has some medical problem (lol), and one of my founding characters being a doctor only makes that easier for me to do.

Ha! I can relate to a lot of that. What do you wish people understood about your genre?

What I produce is actually a mix of romance genres. Every novel I write holds two love stories at its core, and the sexual orientation of the couples in each book vary, so what I write doesn’t fit into a traditional literary genre. Some of my novels are m/m & m/f. Some are m/m & f/f. Others are mm/f & m/m. Some are traditional love stories, some romantic suspense. Others are BDSMs. The way I think of it is, the Blurred Lines Series of novels holds the best of everything that is considered romance in the market today. The reader gets to experience something different with every book. But what is assured in my novels is, heat, romance, love, a little chaos, and complex characters who feel genuine and will stir wild emotions within the reader.

So, I guess, I consider my genre as Blended, with the traditional romance genres blurred as one.

That is awesome, and I think it provides a unique reader experience. It delights me. What else do you use to immerse yourself in the story (music, visuals, etc.)?

I find my best inspiration when writing outside, and I do it no matter the weather. And damn, Canada can be cold from October until May, and hot and humid in July and August. But I enjoy the sounds of the yard, the breeze, and the sun on my face. I have gloves, a tougue, a down jacket, and a fire pit for winter. In the summer, I add a fan to my gazebo and enjoy the shade.

Wow! Not sure I could brave the snow to write. What advice would you give someone starting out?

First, live in your mind for a few hours each day, and get lost. It helps if I build the story in my head before sitting down at the keyboard. Second, research, research, and research some more on not only the topics you are hitting on in your novel, but the world of writing and publishing.

With all that advice in mind, how do you handle a story that doesn’t go as you planned?

It’s amazing where a story can go when you let it roam on its own. It’s like the characters are real and deciding for themselves where they will go and how their lives will look, and they often take the writer on a wild journey before they ever let the reader in on what they’re doing. It’s amazing, and I usually let it run, only occasionally slapping the story back into place.

I’m a semi-pantser myself, so I get that.

Okay, time for word sprints!

Coffee or tea?

Tea. Coffee will kill you.

Reusable or disposable grocery bags?

Reusable. Plastic makes me cringe. That stuff stays around forever. And I mean, ever!

Do you enjoy watching or playing any sports?

Hockey, of course!

As a kid, were you a Goody-Goody or a Wild Child?

Wild.

In school, were you more academic, artsy, or athletic?

Still wild. Surprised I’m still alive to talk about it, actually.

Thank you for taking time out to chat here, and feel free to come back any time to tell us about new releases! I know many of my readers will appreciate discovering romance that crosses boundaries.