2012 – The Tennova Job

On February 10, 2012February 10, 2012 By jccasselsIn Black Wing Chronicles, SFFS27 Comments

It’s Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday time again! As you may recall, SFFS is a ring of authors who share some of their work each Saturday. Anyone is welcome. The idea is to feature a snippet of your work for others to enjoy.

The cover art and blurb for THE TENNOVA JOB have been finalized, but it still does not yet have a publication date. This book is the first installment of THE BLACK WING CHRONICLES, the Space Opera series starring Bo Barron and Blade Devon.

This scene is Blade’s introduction to the series. During the course of this scene we learn that he is a man with many aliases. He is a deserter and a burn out. Tonight, Blade has donned the persona of Darien Roarke, a gambler, in order to play in a Five Point Tourney in a night club in the Third Sector, and he has no idea that events have been set into motion that are going to change his life forever. Aware that he is being followed, he isn’t exactly surprised when one of the “predatory females” propositioning him turns out to be someone he knows well and isn’t happy to see.

***

He steeled himself as he turned to face her. Her attractive, angular face, pale in the harsh extremes of light and shadow, lifted to his. Though she was tall for a female, she still had to look up at him. A spiky, close-cropped crown of hair, black as deep space, glistened under the flashing lights. The black shimmersilk dress fit her like a second skin revealing more of her lean, athletic body than it concealed. Tracing his shoulders and chest with long, manicured fingers, she undulated around him with a sensual grace that could only come from years of practice.

“You know this isn’t a social visit,” she purred.

“Of course not.”

He studied her with tightly leashed expectancy. Many men had underestimated Larianne Varo to their detriment. He knew better.

***

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 THE TENNOVA JOB, BARRON’S LAST STAND, or to learn more about THE BLACK WING CHRONICLES, just click on the links.

For past snippets click here:

#SFFSat – 2/04/2012 – The Tennova Job

On February 3, 2012February 1, 2012 By jccasselsIn Black Wing Chronicles, SFFS28 Comments

Recently I completed the latest revisions of THE TENNOVA JOB which is starting to make the rounds in hopes of publication. This book is the first installment of THE BLACK WING CHRONICLES, the Space Opera series starring Bo Barron and Blade Devon.

***

He stopped at the edge of the balcony overlooking the establishment and patiently studied his surroundings. Surreal lights in shades of blues and reds cast odd shadows on the walls and floor. Mirrored surfaces reflected the lights and created a greater illusion of space. Tables scattered across the next level down huddled around a stage and a dance floor. Joy Babes and sky hoppers lounged on the stairs, on landings, benches, or leaned against railings and columns alongside amateurs looking for companionship, their next fix, or their next ride off planet.

Tucking his hands into the pockets of his long black coat, he slowly made his way down the curving stairs, carefully keeping to the middle, well away from the predatory females holding vigil as he passed. More than one gave him a speculative look or a welcoming smile. He was pragmatic enough to credit their interest to his expensive clothes and not any other particular allure he may possess. While there was some off chance he’d been recognized, he doubted any of them could put the correct name to his face. If they had, they would likely have been more aggressive in their approach.

***

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

For past snippets click here:

#SFFSat – 1/28/2012 – The Tennova Job

On January 27, 2012January 27, 2012 By jccasselsIn Black Wing Chronicles, SFFS25 Comments

***

He was being hunted. After all these years, he knew when someone was after him. His lips quirked into a small smile. Let them come.

He stepped out onto the sidewalk from the underground mass-transit station, leaving the cloying odor of exhaust fumes mixed with stale urine behind him. His blue eyes studied the scene, taking every minute detail in a glance. Spotting no imminent threat to life or limb, he oriented himself by the street signs and headed off in search of his evening’s entertainment. The occasional ground cruiser sped past sending an acrid wave of exhaust fumes roiling towards him. He breathed deeply, reveling in the sheer baseness of it.

That was the beauty of Third Sector cosmopolitan areas like Linnes IV. You still had the modern conveniences of the Inner Commonwealth without the sterile conformity of places like Trisdos or Cormoran. It was still possible to engage in countless forms of vice, all of varying forms of legality.

***

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 THE TENNOVA JOB, BARRON’S LAST STAND, or to learn more about THE BLACK WING CHRONICLES, just click on the links.

For past snippets click here:

#SFFSat 2012/01/21

#SFFSat 2012/01/14

#SFFSat 2012/01/07

#SFFSat 2011/12/17

SFFS – 1/21/2012 – The Tennova Job

On January 18, 2012January 22, 2012 By jccasselsIn Black Wing Chronicles, SFFS, Uncategorized23 Comments

I’m glad everyone has been enjoying BARRON’S LAST STAND, but I’ve decided to shake it up a little today with a snippet from THE TENNOVA JOB. This book is the first installment of THE BLACK WING CHRONICLES, the Space Opera series starring Bo Barron and Blade Devon. It is the prequel, if you will, to BARRON’S LAST STAND.

This scene occurs very early in Bo and Blade’s relationship. They don’t even know each other’s real names because they’re both under cover. Her father has been kidnapped and she has to steal a set of plans being offered on the black market if she wants to get him back. Blade has been coerced by the Inner Circle to return to work on “one last mission” to obtain said plans. Bo was blinded in a bar fight and Blade, a former military medic, has been tending to her injuries. After a rare attack of conscience, he’s decided that she would be safer if he sent her home. Unwilling to leave without the plans, she was reduced to begging for his help, but she can’t tell him why without placing her own life in danger.

***

“Somebody has you scared,” he said. “You’re not used to being scared, are you?”

Biting back her tears, Bo shook her head.

“You’re not used to swallowing your pride and begging, either. This must be something pretty big… important.”

He sighed.

“Ah hell… I’m a sucker for the chance to play the hero.” Disdain dripped from his tone. “Of course I’m going to help you. Blind, beautiful, helpless, mysterious… no holofeature writer could have come up with a better script for me. You’d better stop crying before I have to change your bandages again.”

***

THE TENNOVA JOB is currently making the rounds of slush piles everywhere.

I hope you have enjoyed this little snippet, don’t forget to check out the other wonderful authors in the web ring and please comment – writing is a lonely business and we’re such needy neurotic types we need to know our work is appreciated – or maybe that’s just me.

What Are The Black Wing Chronicles?

On January 17, 2012 By jccasselsIn Black Wing Chronicles, SFFSLeave a comment

Between the Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday Snippets and my excerpts, I’ve been getting some questions about BARRON’S LAST STAND and THE TENNOVA JOB. As more people are introduced to the characters and the ‘verse I’ve created, I suppose I should take the time to make the proper introductions.

I’ve been working on developing a Space Opera series of books called THE BLACK WING CHRONICLES. No, I don’t have a publisher for them – yet! While I have other Works In Progress (WIPs) the lion’s share of my effort has gone into THE BLACK WING CHRONICLES.

A HISTORY

First begun a little more than twenty years ago, this series started out as a single SF Romance novel – one book with a kick-butt heroine. After discarding two other potential heroes to win her heart, the soldier-turned-actor-turned-mercenary Blade Devon really captured my imagination. Yes, I’m not ashamed to admit that I fell head over heels in love with him. I finished the novel and sent it on its rounds. It was promptly rejected by some of the finest romance publishing houses in the business in the 1990’s. Looking back, I can see how it wasn’t something they were ready for at the time. So I set it aside to focus on honing my story craft skills, and to make a living as a freelance writer while I learned.

At a writer’s conference I was both covering and attending, I had the good fortune to speak at length with two of my heroes in SF – Piers Anthony and Ben Bova. On advice from both gentlemen, and with a promise from the late Barbara Bova to take a look at the next attempt, I went back to the drawing board and worked like a fiend on setting the groundwork for the series.

For varying personal reasons, (death, divorce, marriage, children) the series got pushed aside while life intruded. It sat for more than ten years before I pulled it out and fell in love with the characters and their ‘verse all over again. These characters will not leave me alone until their story is told. I have other stories, other characters, wanting to see the light of day, but Bo and Blade will not accept any more delays, and they are quite insistent. NOW!! They say. I must tell their story NOW!!!

At first, I focused on BARRON’S LAST STAND believing it to be the strongest story, and the one that stood alone with the greatest ease. But the more I worked on it, and the closer I got to completion, the more I realized that, while it does stand alone, much of the best parts of the ‘verse in which these characters lived and operated was lost without the rest of the series for reference.

So with a submission call from a publisher in mind, I switched my efforts to THE TENNOVA JOB, the tentatively titled first installment in THE BLACK WING CHRONICLES. What began as a novella has evolved into a more complex novel laying the groundwork for the remainder of the series. THE TENNOVA JOB is about to undergo a name change as it approaches a final draft. I’m leaning towards BARRON’S FALL, because it begins with The Barron’s fall from grace and sets her on course to save the Commonwealth.

SFFS 1/14/2012 – Barron’s Last Stand

On January 13, 2012March 21, 2014 By jccasselsIn SFFS27 Comments

Response from Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday was so overwhelmingly positive that I decided to post a total of three snippets from the same scene from BARRON’S LAST STAND for last week and this week’s installments. As you may recall, the idea is to feature a snippet of your work for others to enjoy.

Our heroine Bo Barron, has just taken her ship into hyperspace following a successful prison break that she was hired to manage. Unknown to her, along with her paid passenger, her estranged husband, Blade Devon, (a government operative also being held at the prison,) followed her and stowed away aboard her ship. Last time, she had just discovered him in her engine room. After hearing him out and extorting an outrageous fee out of him in exchange for passage on her ship, she’s escorting him, at gunpoint, to his quarters where she intends that will be locked in for the duration of the voyage.

***

Admiration shone in his eyes. With no other option, he reluctantly entered his quarters. Hands still on his head, he turned to face her. “Don’t I even get a good-night kiss?” he asked, his eyes settled briefly on her mouth.

Her breath caught and before she could stop herself, she lightly chewed on her bottom lip. She started to lean towards him, caught in his steel blue gaze, but hesitated when the memory flooded back. He’d made his choice and it hadn’t been her.

“Good night, Agent Devon,” she said.

He glanced briefly at the blaster in her hand, then a genuine smile quirked his lips. “For the record, Bo, I’m not your ex-husband. Kah Lahtrec doesn’t allow for divorce.”

***

You can find a brief summary of BARRON’S LAST STAND, along with a link to a longer excerpt on the Works In Progress page. It is, as the page suggests, a work in progress

SFFS 1/7/2012 – Barron’s Last Stand

On January 6, 2012March 21, 2014 By jccasselsIn SFFS17 Comments

Response from the last Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday was so overwhelmingly positive that I decided to post a total of three snippets from the same scene from BARRON’S LAST STAND for this week and next week’s installments. As you may recall, the idea is to feature a snippet of your work for others to enjoy.

Our heroine Bo Barron, has just taken her ship into hyperspace following a successful prison break that she was hired to manage. Unknown to her, along with her paid passenger, her estranged husband, Blade Devon, (a government operative also being held at the prison,) followed her and stowed away aboard her ship. Last time, she had just discovered him in her engine room. He has offered to pay her for his passage. Knowing that she has him between a rock and a hard place, Bo sees an opportunity for payback.

***

He gaped at her. “One point two mill?” he said, incredulously. “For an extra passenger?”

“For an ex-husband.” She smiled. “If you don’t like the price, you’re welcome to leave. I will be happy to escort you to the airlock.”

He shook his head. “You’re a pirate, you know that?”

“You’re a stowaway,” she shot back. “I’m within my rights if I shoot you now.”

***

You can find a brief summary of BARRON’S LAST STAND, along with a link to a longer excerpt on the Works In Progress page. It is, as the page suggests, a work in progress

SFFS – Barron’s Last Stand

On December 16, 2011March 21, 2014 By jccasselsIn SFFS25 Comments

What better way to kick off this blog than with a snippet from BARRON’S LAST STAND for Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday? The idea is to feature a snippet of your work for others to enjoy. In that spirit, I welcome you to my blog and offer this tiny teaser for your amusement.

***

With a sound mental shake, Bo tightened her grip on her blaster and clenched her jaw. He did not get to swagger back into her life as if nothing had happened.

“On your knees!” she snarled. “Now! Keep your hands where I can see them!”

“Now, love, let’s not do anything hasty,” Blade said calmly as he obeyed.

“Don’t worry. Anything I do to you I’ve been thinking about doing for a long time.”

***

You can find a brief summary of BARRON’S LAST STAND, along with a link to a longer excerpt on the Works In Progress page. It is, as the page suggests, a work in progress. Provided there are no more world-shattering crises, the finished manuscript should be in the hands of eager publishers and agents by the end of January.

Gotta Name My Blog

Tag: SFFS