FRIENDS IN DEED - 27 March 2016

Time for Weekend Writing Warriors and Snippet Sunday!

Welcome back to another week of Weekend Writing Warriors and Snippet Sunday crews! If you haven't already, catch up with my previous snippet, where Aston has been dumped on a prison planet, was chased by a pale, naked psychotic giant with a homemade boulder/tree mallet, and was saved at the eleventh hour by a homemade arrow out of nowhere.

And now, without further adieu, I present the final snippet from my Aston West novel, Friends in Deed. Enjoy!

He couldn’t pull it out from the front, so reached back. The beast’s mind finally gave up hope as soon as his fingers felt a stone tip emerging from the back of his neck. His eyes rolled up into his skull, then he fell backward.

The corpse splashed down and huge waves pushed against me. I jerked my head around and stared at the opposite bank. There, a bow in his left hand and a quiver of arrows strapped to his back, stood the man who’d just saved my life.

Elijah Cassus.

* * *

I shot awake, drenched in sweat and breathing heavy. The ship was rapidly decelerating, and something was definitely wrong. My ship’s computer usually gave me advance notice before we dropped below the hyperspeed threshold.

And there you have it...if you want to find out who Elijah Cassus is, I'm afraid you'll have to buy a copy over on Amazon (and while you're there, pick up one of my other titles). That, or you can make your deductions based on the blurb below. Please check out the other Snippet Sunday folks and the Weekend Writing Warriors! See below for more info on Friends in Deed.

Aston West was condemned to life on the prison planet Lycus IV for spitting in a man’s face. Being forced to reside with the likes of murderers and thieves, he owes his freedom to Lars and Elijah Cassus, who orchestrated an escape. Now the twin brothers call in the favor and force him to return with their team to Lycus IV to rescue crewmate Leah Jordan.

Aston discovers Leah’s desire to leave the twins forever, but Lars and Elijah use fear and intimidation to control their group and no one leaves alive. It’s a case of kill or be killed and Aston will need to become more like the brothers than he ever wanted.

FRIENDS IN DEED - March 20, 2016

Time for Weekend Writing Warriors and Snippet Sunday!

Welcome back to another week of Weekend Writing Warriors and Snippet Sunday crews! If you haven't already, catch up with my previous snippet, where Aston has been dumped on a prison planet, has just fallen in a riverbed, after being chased by a pale, naked psychotic giant with a homemade boulder/tree mallet.

And now, without further adieu, I present the continuation of my Aston West novel, Friends in Deed. Enjoy!

I flipped over and faced my attacker as his cold, dark shadow enveloped me. Milky-white foam oozed over his lower lip, dripping long strands toward the water below.

“Prepare to meet your maker!”

He raised the mallet high above his head. At least my death would be quick, but I couldn’t say much for painless. I shut my eyes tight and waited for the crushing blow.

A sharp whistle passed overhead and the giant beast gasped and choked. My eyes flashed open as the beast dropped his weapon into the river behind him.

Only one object stood between me and oblivion, a homemade arrow buried in his neck, with feathers fashioned into rear fins.

Oh, wow! That was sure a close one! But hopefully whoever shot that arrow is a friend, and not a foe...

Hope you enjoyed the snippet, and if you want to catch the rest of the book, it's available over on Amazon along with all of my other titles. Please check out the other Snippet Sunday folks and the Weekend Writing Warriors as well! See below for more info on Friends in Deed.

Aston West was condemned to life on the prison planet Lycus IV for spitting in a man’s face. Being forced to reside with the likes of murderers and thieves, he owes his freedom to Lars and Elijah Cassus, who orchestrated an escape. Now the twin brothers call in the favor and force him to return with their team to Lycus IV to rescue crewmate Leah Jordan.

Aston discovers Leah’s desire to leave the twins forever, but Lars and Elijah use fear and intimidation to control their group and no one leaves alive. It’s a case of kill or be killed and Aston will need to become more like the brothers than he ever wanted.

***

As a little side bonus,  you can also catch weekly snippets during my posts with Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday from this book's companion title (and fourth book in the series), All Good Things, with this link to the final snippet...

FRIENDS IN DEED - 13 March 2016

Time for Weekend Writing Warriors and Snippet Sunday!

Well, hopefully this week will go better than last, and maybe Google won't eat comments to the blog post randomly (and in great quantities). Welcome back to another week of Weekend Writing Warriors and Snippet Sunday crews! If you haven't already, catch up with my previous snippet, where Aston has been dumped on a prison planet and is being attacked by a pale, naked psychotic giant with a homemade boulder/tree mallet.

And now, without further adieu, I present the continuation of my Aston West novel, Friends in Deed. Enjoy!

He hoisted his club and swung it. I stumbled back and it sent a breeze across my face. Escape was my only chance for survival, so I turned toward the opposite bank and sprinted across the riverbed.

“Your punishment is death! Vengeance is demanded!”

I high-stepped through the water while the beast screamed bloody murder. I didn’t want to look back, because that would leave no doubt he gained on me.

My foot tripped over a cluster of submerged rocks and I splashed into the cool, clear water.

Oh, no! Let's hope Aston can find a way out of this one, because it's not looking good for him...

Hope you enjoyed the snippet, and if you want to catch the rest of the book, it's available over on Amazon along with all of my other titles. Please check out the other Snippet Sunday folks and the Weekend Writing Warriors as well! See below for more info on Friends in Deed.

Aston West was condemned to life on the prison planet Lycus IV for spitting in a man’s face. Being forced to reside with the likes of murderers and thieves, he owes his freedom to Lars and Elijah Cassus, who orchestrated an escape. Now the twin brothers call in the favor and force him to return with their team to Lycus IV to rescue crewmate Leah Jordan.

Aston discovers Leah’s desire to leave the twins forever, but Lars and Elijah use fear and intimidation to control their group and no one leaves alive. It’s a case of kill or be killed and Aston will need to become more like the brothers than he ever wanted.

***

As a little side bonus,  you can also catch weekly snippets during my posts with Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday from this book's companion title (and fourth book in the series), All Good Things, with this link to the final snippet...

FRIENDS IN DEED - 6 March 2016

Time for Weekend Writing Warriors and Snippet Sunday!

Well, hopefully this week will go better than last, and maybe Google won't eat comments to the blog post randomly (and in great quantities). Welcome back to another week of Weekend Writing Warriors and Snippet Sunday crews! If you haven't already, catch up with my previous snippet, where Aston found himself on a prison planet and accosted by a pale, naked giant running towards him.

And now, without further adieu, I present the continuation of my Aston West novel, Friends in Deed. Enjoy!

His makeshift mallet towered above his head, a boulder strapped into the fork of a tree branch. I jumped aside just before the weapon crashed down.

One of his eyes grew crazy-wide, while the other glazed over. Saliva dribbled from his lips. “I am King of the Wooded Realm! You dare invade my territory?”

This wasn’t a fight I planned to stick around for. This beast was obviously psychotic, and they were always the worst type of violent.

Obviously not too friendly, and armed to boot? Aston better figure a good way out of this one...and fast!

Hope you enjoyed the snippet, and if you want to catch the rest of the book, it's available over on Amazon along with all of my other titles. Please check out the other Snippet Sunday folks and the Weekend Writing Warriors as well! See below for more info on Friends in Deed.

Aston West was condemned to life on the prison planet Lycus IV for spitting in a man’s face. Being forced to reside with the likes of murderers and thieves, he owes his freedom to Lars and Elijah Cassus, who orchestrated an escape. Now the twin brothers call in the favor and force him to return with their team to Lycus IV to rescue crewmate Leah Jordan.

Aston discovers Leah’s desire to leave the twins forever, but Lars and Elijah use fear and intimidation to control their group and no one leaves alive. It’s a case of kill or be killed and Aston will need to become more like the brothers than he ever wanted.

***

As a little side bonus,  you can also catch weekly snippets during my posts with Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday from this book's companion title (and fourth book in the series), All Good Things, including my latest snippet from yesterday...

SFFS: Snippet #6 From ALL GOOD THINGS

Welcome back, everyone, to another week of Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday.

I'm back with another snippet from my new Aston West "series" novel, All Good Things. If you didn't already realize it, the new novel is now fully available over at Amazon (in print and e-book) through the link above. I'll continue posting snippets for the next several weeks.

If you've missed an excerpt or more, be sure to check them out through the following:

Snippet #1
Snippet #2
Snippet #3
Snippet #4 
Snippet #5

First, the blurb for All Good Things:

 A new ship. A new love. A new life.

An old nemesis could end it all.

Space pirate Aston West never truly came to grips with the death of his friend, Leah Jordan. He’s tried to move on, falling in love with his best friend, Rione Sc’lari. But the memories of Leah’s murder at the hands of twin brothers Lars and Elijah Cassus still linger, gnawing at Aston’s soul as he blames himself for her death. Even though he exacted fatal vengeance on Lars, Elijah has promised revenge for his brother’s demise.

Elijah finally reveals himself, and Aston believes his life is over. But rather than carry out his prior threat, Elijah, possessing a new miracle drug, promises to bring Leah back to life if Aston goes along with his latest diabolical plan. Will Aston risk his newfound love and join forces with the ultimate evil, just to find absolution?

Last week, Elijah had just informed Aston that he wasn't there to kill him...and now, here's the new snippet:

“Funny, those were the last words you said to me. ‘Hunt me down’ or something to that effect.”

“Time has a way of changing things, Aston. Besides, I have a little surprise for you.”

I wasn’t sure I wanted to find out what sort of surprise he had in store, but if it meant I’d survive this, I couldn’t complain. “And that is?”

“Aston...” Warm breath eased past my ear. I hadn’t heard that voice in forever, but there was no mistaking it.

Chills raced up and down my spine as I muttered, “It can’t be. You’re dead.”

I turned on my heels and saw Lars Cassus standing right in front of me, living and breathing, and carrying a disintegrator cannon of his own. I stumbled back, trying to scramble away from the man I’d killed. The corner of his mouth curled up. “I’m back.”

Hope you enjoyed it! (And if you don't know who Elijah and Lars are, why not pick up a copy of Friends in Deed? Sorry about the spoiler in this snippet about a major plot point from that one, though...) If so, pick up a copy of All Good Things from the link above. And of course, be sure to check out all of the fabulous SFFS snippets through the link at the top of this post.