Tag: Big Damn Heroes

SOVRAN’S PAWN: The First Week

On By jccasselsIn Black Wing Chronicles, Mercenary Adventures of Blade Devon, Update, WritingLeave a comment

Initial response to SOVRAN’S PAWN has been incredible! I couldn’t be happier with the reception my debut novel has gotten. Thanks to everyone who has shared, tweeted, talked up, and bought a copy! Your comments are pure gold to me. Here are just a few comments people have sent to me:

  • “I am madly in love with Blade. You had better write a sequel!”
  • “Oh, and yes, I did buy it, despite not being a big sci-fi fan. Surprisingly, I’m actually enjoying it. Who knew?”
  • “I downloaded it last night and read the first chapter this morning…love your imagination.”
  • “If you love your heroes in the mold of Han Solo and Malcolm Reynolds, you’ll be left idolizing Blade Devon.” ~ 4 out of 5 stars
  • “I can’t stop reading!”
  • “A fast, fun read!”

With no pretentions at great literature, SOVRAN’S PAWN is escapist fare; space opera with a bit of romance tossed in. If readers are entertained for a few hours, I consider my mission accomplished.

The BLACK WING CHRONICLES series is about the hero’s journey from callow youth (or ingénue) to Big Damn Hero who puts it all on the line to save the Commonwealth. I’d like to thank everyone who has embarked on the journey with us. I promise, there will be more! Just check out my WORKS IN PROGRESS page or the BLACK WING CHRONICLES page. And yes, Blade has his own series, THE MERCENARY ADVENTURES OF BLADE DEVON, with the first installment, ARCANA DOUBLE CROSS, in revisions with an eye on a Fall 2012 release. For those wondering whether Bo will become that Big Damn Hero, I invite you to read the excerpt from the first chapter of BARRON’S LAST STAND, the final installment of THE BLACK WING CHRONICLES.

#SFFSat – 4-21-2012 SOVRAN’S PAWN

On By jccasselsIn Black Wing Chronicles, SFFS24 Comments

Welcome to Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday. On the surface, it’s a web ring of authors who post snippets of their work for comment. In reality, it’s a close-knit group of friends and colleagues working together to support and encourage one another and promote the science fiction and fantasy genres.

Today’s snippet returns to SOVRAN’S PAWN. (Released yesterday and now available in e-book and Kindle on Amazon and Smashwords.) Begging your indulgence, it’s slightly longer than the usual snippets. I hope you enjoy it, and remember ~ Nothing is what it seems…

***

Lord Marin nodded and studied him with a speculative gleam in his blue eyes. A slow smile curved his lips. “I have an assignment for you, boy.”

“I don’t work for the IC anymore, my Lord.”

“You swore an oath, boy. You work for the IC as long as I say you do. Unless, of course, you’d like to face those desertion charges you seem so proud of.”

It was an empty threat. It had to be. Blade studied his face for some sign that he was bluffing. Finding nothing but a pleasant smile that indicated the Sovran didn’t care one way or another, Blade’s throat tightened.

“You wouldn’t send me to prison,” Blade said with more certainty than he felt. “You don’t want me in prison.”

Marin shook his head. “A wise man would hear me out before digging in his heels.”

Blade reluctantly nodded. “As you say, my Lord.” He clenched his jaw so tightly, he felt a muscle twitch in it.

“I want you to get close to her.”

Blade blinked twice, not certain he heard correctly. “Sir?”

“I want you to cultivate the Barron as an asset. Gain her trust. Get her loyalty.”

“If you want her loyalty, sir, all you have to do is pardon her. She just wants to go home to her people. She wants her honor back.”

“Yes, but I don’t want that. I want to know how important it is to Lord Scull that she dies in disgrace. Keep her openly as your mistress, but keep a professional distance. Never forget she’s only an asset and a potential threat to the stability of the Commonwealth.”

***

That’s the snippet for the week. Thank you for stopping by. Please take the time to visit the other wonderful authors taking part in Science Fiction/Fantasy Saturday!

***

If you’re interested in more about:

SOVRAN’S PAWN

United by extortion, divided by duty, someone wants them both dead. They want each other. The catch is, nothing is what it seems…

Convicted of treason and sentenced to be executed, Bo Barron is the last person who should be infiltrating a Sub-socia weapons auction. But when her father is kidnapped and the ransom demand is the schematics to an experimental weapon, she has no choice but to go under cover with her uncle to get it.

Nobody counted on former-government-agent-turned-holofeature-hero Blade Devon’s infatuation with her. A botched assassination under the guise of a bar brawl leaves Bo blind and Blade wondering if there isn’t more to this job than he was led to believe.

Never able to resist playing the hero, Blade tends her injuries and delves deeper into the intrigue only to find this mission isn’t about a weapon at all. It’s about two Sovrans’ maneuvering for control, with Bo and Blade as their pawns.

All Bo and Blade have to do is figure out how to survive the game they didn’t know they were playing.

 

SOVRAN’S PAWN Back on Schedule – Big Damn Heroes Blog Tour Underway

On By jccasselsIn Black Wing ChroniclesLeave a comment
Image
Now available
on Amazon & Smashwords

Despite initial delays, the Friday release of SOVRAN’S PAWN is on schedule thanks to the herculean efforts of Laurel Kriegler.

The Big Damn Heroes Blog Tour is underway. On Monday, JC talked with TK Toppin in part one of a two-part interview and today she stops by Pauline Baird Jones’ blog to explain where heroes come from…at least in the mind of a writer. The origins of Bo Barron may surprise you!

Comment on the posts for your chance to win a free e-copy of SOVRAN’S PAWN! And remember… Nothing is what it seems…

Sovran’s Pawn Blog Tour Dates Announced

On By jccasselsIn Black Wing Chronicles, Update, WritingLeave a comment

SOVRAN’S PAWN, Book One of The Black Wing Chronicles…

…is on schedule to be released on April 20 in e-book format. Look for it on Amazon and Smashwords.

JC Cassels – Big Damn Hero Blog Tour Dates

Apr 16 TK Toppin pt 1
http://www.tktoppin.blogspot.com/

Apr 18 Pauline Baird
http://www.paulinebjones.com/

Apr 20 Publication and launch with SFFSat (with a snippet from SOVRAN’S PAWN)
https://jccassels.wordpress.com/
http://misa-buckley.blogspot.co.uk

Apr 23 TK Toppin pt 2
http://www.tktoppin.blogspot.com/

Apr 24 Space Freighters Lounge
http://spacefreighters.blogspot.com/

Apr 25 Pippa Jay
http://www.pippajay.blogspot.com/

May 2 Imogene Nix
http://www.imogenenix.blogspot.com/

Dates TBA:
http://westofmars.com/blog/

HEIDI’S PICK SIX:
http://heidirubymiller.blogspot.com/

Participants who comment will be chosen at random for a FREE e-copy of SOVRAN’S PAWN.

Check back here for more information as it develops.

#SFFSat 3/31/2012 – Arcana Double Cross

On By jccasselsIn Mercenary Adventures of Blade Devon, SFFS22 Comments

It’s Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday time again!

To keep with the theme I’m following on my blog, “Celebrating Big Damn Heroes,” this week’s snippet is a departure from the upcoming release, SOVRAN’S PAWN (April 20). This week’s snippet comes to you from one of the lost novels of THE MERCENARY ADVENTURES OF BLADE DEVON. Set approximately five years after SOVRAN’S PAWN, this snippet from ARCANA DOUBLE CROSS (Fall 2012), finds Blade and his band of merry mercenaries in a firefight in a multilevel promenade filled with restaurants and upscale shops.

***

Blade looked desperately around for the fastest way to the lower level where Nina and Adin were pinned down. He studied the banners with a speculative eye. With a mad flash of inspiration, he raced for the balcony railing, shouldering the rifle as he ran.

“Phinny! Cover me!” 

With Phinny laying down a spray of covering fire, Blade slipped the knife from its sheath and swung his legs over the rail. Giving a mighty effort, he leaped for the nearest banner. Catching a handful of it, he slashed the ties with one quick swipe of the knife. As gravity took over, rending the banner free of its mooring, he slid the knife blade between his teeth and swung the rifle around. 

Blade’s stomach lurched as the floor raced towards him.

***

Well, that’s the Saturday Snippet for this week! Please don’t forget to comment by clicking on either the blog title or the little quotation balloon in the upper right hand corner. Tell your friends. Stop back here next week for another!

If you want a little more of SOVRAN’S PAWN, BARRON’S LAST STAND, or to learn more about THE BLACK WING CHRONICLES, just click on the links.

In case you missed them, here are links to an interview with Blade Devon and the blog post kicking off the Celebration of Big Damn Heroes, complete with a heroes gallery slideshow. Can you spot the inspiration for Blade Devon in the gallery?