Born Novelist
November 5, 2023
Just a quick post today to show you my new book trailer. If you’re thinking of stocking-stuffers for the readers on your Christmas list, check out the link for the trailer, then browse some titles with the link below that.
Until next time.
October 23, 2023
Have you started Christmas shopping yet? You still have time.
Books make a great gift, especially for those on your list who love to read. Most books are cheap and small enough to stuff into stockings.
May I recommend my own novels? I have 22 books on Amazon (both paperback and e-books), all at a reasonable price. They are classed under science fiction, but I promise you’ve never read science fiction like mine. I call it “Science Fiction that doesn’t Taste like Science Fiction”. Why? Because it’s more about people than science.
I don’t do aliens. I don’t do horror. I don’t do magic. I don’t do supernatural. My heroes are human. They solve problems using human talent, not fairy-tale magic. In my novels, all set either in the future or other galaxies, the characters suffer from human nature (which will never change, no matter what Gene Roddenberry thought). They have human talents and human flaws. Most of them are just like you and me.
So…why not give them a go? Twenty-two novels in three series. I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Today’s featured title: A Vow to Sophia
This is the first novel in the Fighter Queen series, and was my first novel ever published. It’s about a young, vulnerable girl alone in a hostile galaxy. Her mother and sister have been forced into slavery, and she is next. Unless…
Her father bribes a spacer to get his child to Terra, where she will be safe. Never could he imagine the adventure that awaits her…and neither could she.
Here’s an excerpt:
It was midnight when Adam peered out from an alley to check for curfew patrols. Across the street, outlined against the night sky, the Temple of Sophia sat majestically atop a pyramidal mound of earth, surrounded by lush gardens and gushing fountains. Marble steps led up to it on all three sides, and Adam made sure the street was clear before he hurried across and began the climb, starkly aware of the ringing sound his shoes made against the marble. Both moons were up, one in full phase, casting a silvery light from two directions. Had it not been for the danger of discovery, he might have enjoyed the beauty.
He reached the temple and stepped between the pillars, entering the Sanctum, where he descended the steps between rows of lush leather seats to the dais in the center. Goddess Sophia stood proud and serene, her multi-hued garments rippling with color and light, her eyes seeming to follow him as he approached. Incense burned at her feet, and candles flickered around the base of the statue. Adam reached the dais and knelt on one knee, ducking his head as he made the Sign of the Cult, a triangular motion that touched both shoulders and his heart.
“Bless this endeavor, Sophia,” he said quietly. “Grant success to my mission. Sophia’s tears.”
He stood, gazed up at the goddess for a moment, then turned. When he entered, the Sanctum had been empty. Now two people approached, one a woman of indeterminate age, the other a young girl. The girl gazed up at him with wide, sky-blue eyes, her porcelain features clouded and unhappy. As the girl approached, the woman stopped a few feet short, her eyes on Adam. She appeared serene and untroubled. Adam knelt again as his daughter stepped up to him.
“Daddy, I don’t want to go!”
Adam took her shoulders and kissed her on the forehead. His heart swelled as he took in her innocent beauty: the snow-blond hair, the blue eyes, the full lips, the tears glittering in her eyes.
“It’s done, Onja,” he said huskily. “I already reported you missing. You have to go now, or everything will be lost.”
“Daddy, please! I don’t want to leave you! You are all I have left!”
“Onja—”
“Daddy, I have to stay! I made a vow!”
“What kind of vow?”
“A vow to Sophia. I vowed to find Mother and Sonja and set them free!”
“Honey, you shouldn’t have done that.”
“But I did! And now I have to follow through. If you send me away, I won’t be able to keep the vow!”
Adam looked up at the priestess, but she said nothing, though her lips moved silently as if chanting a prayer. He hugged the girl briefly and kissed her again.
“Onja, listen to me. I love you more than you will ever know, but you absolutely must be on that ship tonight. It may be the last chance to get you off the planet. The money is already paid; the SE is already notified. If you’re discovered… Onja, if they find out I lied to them I’ll be executed! Do you know what that means?”
Tears spilled down her cheeks and she nodded.
“Why did you do that, Daddy? Why do you want me to go? You didn’t have to do that! I want to stay with you!”
Adam’s heart fractured a piece at a time as he heard the pain in her voice. For just a second he almost told her the real reason, but stopped himself just in time. She was too young for that, too young to understand. He’d promised himself at her birth that she would never know, and he wouldn’t go back on that promise now.
Another excerpt:
Onja crawled out of her gun turret and let the ship handler help her to the deck. She was tired but exhilarated; her blood was still pounding, as if she needed more action. It had felt good to, finally, strike back at the enemy. Surely this was what she was born to do, and she already longed for another shot at the bastards.
As the fighter crews passed through the airlock, they were unprepared for what awaited them. The observation deck above the entrance was crowded with cheering people; pilots, gunners, off-duty base personnel; in total, more than two hundred people were packed in, cheering afresh each time the airlock opened. Onja tugged off her helmet and stared up at them, her blue eyes incredulous. But the ovation was infectious, and within moments she was smiling and waving along with the rest of the crews.
Ten minutes later, in the ready room, the debriefing took place. Onja sat silently next to Landon as Lt. Cannersby, the S-2 (intelligence officer), compiled the score. Not everyone knew for sure how many Sirians they’d hit; toward the end of the engagement, torpedoes and lasers had been running wild. The most Cannersby could account for was seven, but several gunners were making duplicate claims on those kills.
“This doesn’t add up,” Cannersby said after a moment. “How many Sirians were there?”
“Eighteen,” Landon told him.
“And they were all destroyed?”
“Every one.”
“I’m only getting seven, and if I accept all these claims, the most I can account for is ten. What about the rest?”
The room sat silent as every eye focused on Landon. He hesitated a moment, then coughed modestly into his fist.
“Some of those have to be shared kills,” he said finally. “When we made contact, my gunner was the first to open fire. Lieutenant Ka-vorik had eleven kills.”
Onja’s eyes sprang wide as she gazed at Landon. She hadn’t bothered to count them. She looked back at Cannersby to see him staring at her in disbelief.
“From all the reports we’ve monitored,” he said quietly, “nobody in the Fighter Service has accumulated eleven kills since the war started. Nobody.”
Landon shrugged. “Today, someone did.”
Happy Halloween! I’ll be back soon with more book offers.
Until then.
October 4, 2023
October is here! Cooler weather, falling leaves, Halloween…and Christmas is less than three months away!
Even without Christmas, who doesn’t love to curl up with a good book on a chilly afternoon?
If you have friends or relatives on your gift list who enjoy reading, why not gift them a book for Christmas? Or even a book series? Books are often an inexpensive option that will be deeply appreciated by those who love to read, especially if the book is well written, exciting, and has great reviews. In other words…a page-turner.
I have 22 books like that in three series, most of them priced under $20 for paperbacks (they are also available as e-books). Over the next three months, I will feature some of these novels for your consideration. Don’t be afraid to shop early, and remember, if you already have something more expensive in mind for your loved ones, books make great stocking-stuffers.
Today’s featured title: Bounty Hunter at Binary Flats
When Colonial Senator Gil Prater of Alpha Centauri 2 receives a wanted poster with his name on it, he calls in Nick Walker, U.F. Marshal. Nick travels 2000 miles to investigate the threat and walks into a whirlwind of conflicting characters and agendas. Within hours of his arrival he finds himself at odds with the local police chief, a pair of small-time thugs, a Rukranian mercenary…and even the Senator himself seems a little flaky.
Aided by beautiful journalist Cybele Gannon, Nick tries to make sense of a baffling case: Who wants the Senator dead, and why? Or is the whole thing just a giant hoax?
Nick quickly realizes he can trust no one, then learns the stakes are even bigger than he ever imagined. The only person he can truly count on is his fiancée Suzanne, but she’s back home in Trimmer Springs. He’s called for backup, but backup is always late.
This time he’s on his own.
Here’s an excerpt:
Nick glanced toward the newcomer, a woman in her mid-twenties. She was a pretty brunette, curvy, with long hair the color of dark chocolate. Her clothing was country casual, but expensive—tight jeans and a halter top. She was staring at him with a little smile.
“Well, well, well,” she said slowly, “look what the mattababe dragged in.”
Nick stared at her in confusion.
“The what?”
“The mattababe.”
“What…what’s a mattababe?”
She cocked an eyebrow and smiled. “Nothing, babe, what’s a matta with you?”
The clerk burst into laughter, guffawing loudly, tears forming in his eyes. He leaned over the counter and slammed it with his palm.
“Goddamn! I never thought you’d fall for that one!”
Feeling foolish, Nick grinned and shook his head.
“I never heard it before. Guess I walked straight into it.”
“Like a spinning propeller,” the girl said, her dark eyes sparkling. She extended her hand. “You must be Marshal Walker. I’m Cybele Gannon. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you.”
***
Nick walked back out to his car and disconnected the fuel stanchion. Cybele Gannon was on his heels.
“How did you know I’d be here?” he asked as he secured the fuel hatch.
“Anyone coming in from Camarrell is going to need gas,” she said smugly. “This is always the first place they stop.”
“The only fuel depot in town?”
“No, but it’s the first one people see, and the grocery outlet helps. They’re usually hungry by the time they get here.”
She watched him with a little smile, as if waiting to see what he thought of her deductive brilliance. Nick held both hands out away from his body.
“I didn’t buy any food.”
“But you did stop for gas.”
“Yes I did. How can I help you?”
She smiled and slid her hand along the side of his hovercar, her dark eyes never leaving his. The breeze came from behind her, and Nick picked up a tantalizing whiff of perfume.
“I know you’re here on business,” Cybele Gannon said, “but I was hoping you could carve out an hour for me. I’m a stringer for a news network, and I’d love to do a story on you.”
His eyes narrowed. “A reporter?”
“A journalist.”
“I didn’t realize Centauri Springs had a holonews station.”
“We don’t, but holonews isn’t the only kind of news there is. I write a feature for the local V-news page, and now and then I’m lucky enough to sell something to AlphaNet. They have a station in Camarrell.”
“How often is that?”
“Not often enough. Not too much happens around here.”
He cocked his head. “Exactly what kind of story were you planning on doing?”
“You were all over the networks a few months back when you broke up that illegal arms thing. But nobody ever did a feature on you, lucky for me.”
“A feature.”
“Right. Everyone was talking about what you did, but nobody ever did anything on Nick Walker the man. What’s he like, what makes him tick, what he likes to eat…things like that.”
“You want to write about the food I like?”
“Human interest.” She held up both hands as if framing a headline. “The Cowboy Marshal—that’s my working title—a former Star Marine who single-handedly ended the cult rebellion back in thirty-six, then went on to become a U.F. Marshal. Broke up a human slavery operation on Sirius 1, then returned to the very town on Alpha Centauri where he ended the war and prevented the cults from starting a second rebellion—”
“Where the hell did you get all that?”
“Background stuff.” She smiled. “I did my homework. All I need is a couple of hours of your time to put a face on the man himself. So what do you say?”
Nick activated the car door; the clamshell popped open. He removed his hat and tossed it onto the seat.
“It was nice meeting you, Miss Gannon. But I’m here on assignment, and I need to get moving.”
Cybele Gannon didn’t try to hide her disappointment. Her shoulders slumped and she frowned.
“How long are you going to be in town? Maybe we can get together before you leave.”
“I have no idea. I don’t even know why I’m here yet.”
He climbed into the pilot’s seat and closed the door. The window was still open as he fired the turbines. Cybele Gannon leaned in.
“At least give me something! Why do you wear cowboy clothes?”
Nick gazed at her a moment, then grinned.
“They make me look sexy.”
He spun up the window and goosed his lifters. The car began to rise and drift toward the street. Cybele Gannon stared after him as he disappeared down the block.
“Yeah,” she muttered, “they do. You bastard.”
For a little more action, one more excerpt:
When he reached the street he looked in both directions; it was after midnight and cold—Alpha 2’s only moon was high in the sky, casting a silver glow across the town. He saw a Ruke standing at the end of the block peering down a side street, but in the other direction the sidewalk was clear. He started to trot that way, but his boots made a clatter against the wooden boards. He leaped for the gutter to reduce the noise, but was too late—a laser bolt blistered past him just a foot to his left, and he spun to see the Ruke at the intersection drawing down on him. The Ruke fired again and Nick ducked as a flash of light spanged off a lamp post beside him.
He had no choice. To keep the noise down he needed his laser pistol, but if he took time to switch weapons the Ruke would get him for sure. Nick’s right hand snapped up and the .45 roared in the still night. The Ruke dropped. Nick turned to run, but had made only ten yards when he heard a door swing open behind him and the blast of a shotgun deafened him; the buckshot passed inches above his head.
“Freeze, Marshal! The next one hits center body mass.”
Nick stopped dead still and turned, the .45 still in his right hand. Goldie stood in front of her diner with a four-barreled shotgun pointed at his chest, six feet from where he stood.
“Put it down, Marshal.”
“Goldie…I thought you were a reluctant participant in all this. You want to be a party to murdering a Federation officer? Who’s the damn fool now?”
“It isn’t about what I want, Marshal. I just don’t have any choice. I can’t afford to piss them off.”
“Why? You can find G-men anywhere. What do you need them for?”
Goldie inclined her head to indicate the shops up and down the street.
“You were curious about all this. You were wondering how we could be so independent without the Federation or the Colonial government. Well, now you have your answer. Everything we have, every commodity, every good that comes in, comes from them. If we had to import from any other source, we couldn’t afford it, but they give us rock bottom prices.”
“Then they must be losing money. What’s in it for them?”
“A base of operations.”
“What operations?”
“I don’t know and I don’t ask. I’m just looking out for my people, and the agreement with Beta Centauri is all we have. I can’t do anything to jeopardize that.”
“Does Harold Reed work for you?”
“No.”
“Do you work for him?”
She shook her head. “I only met him a couple of weeks ago. He’s a friend of the BCs, and whatever they’re up to has nothing to do with me. I just want him out of my town so things can get back to normal.”
Nick stared at her a moment, feeling his racing heart begin to settle. He lowered his hands to his sides, still holding the .45.
“I could kill you, Goldie. I really ought to kill you.”
She shook her head again. “Do you really think so? All I have to do is pull this trigger. I’ve already got you lined up.”
“Ah, but when I shoot, I will be diving to one side or the other. I figure I have a fifty-fifty chance that you won’t be able to guess which way that is. And whether you hit me or not, one thing you can count on is that I will get you. That’s a hundred percent guarantee.”
Goldie hesitated. Nick heard running footsteps and turned to see a fourth man, another Ruke, racing toward him from the next block. He glanced at Goldie again, but she hadn’t moved. He shrugged minutely.
“They can’t hold you responsible for how many I kill before you stop me. Can they?”
Goldie’s tongue traced across her lips as her only answer. Nick spun and fired at the fourth Ruke, who was now only ten yards away. The heavy .45 slug stopped him dead in his tracks and he dropped into the street. Sweating now, Nick looked at Goldie again. Her eyes seemed to glitter in the moonlight.
“I still have four rounds left,” he said. “If you’re smart, you never saw me.”
She stood there panting, a hundred and ten pounds of sinewy woman, the heavy shotgun still in her hands. Nick took a step back, and then another. Goldie didn’t move. He took a third step, now halfway into the street, and she lowered the shotgun.
“I owe you one, Goldie,” he said, then turned and raced down the street to the other side, where he disappeared into the shadows. A few seconds after he was gone, Goldie pointed her shotgun into the air and fired her three remaining rounds.
“Damn!” she muttered. “Missed.”
If you haven’t tried Nick Walker yet, you don’t know what you’re missing. He’s a great guy, an ordinary dude who likes adventure and hates injustice. My kind of guy, and I’m betting he’s yours as well. Fighting crime on the Final Frontier.
Order your paperbacks now, direct from Amazon:
Or use this link: Bounty Hunter at Binary Flats
Until next time.
September 20, 2023
Well, shoot! (And thanks to the subscriber who tipped me off)
I’m still learning how to blog and it looks like yesterday’s email did not provide an Amazon link to the promoted novel. It shows up at the web site but not in the email.
So let’s try it again (apologies if this doesn’t work, but the only way I know to test it is to send it out to the subscriber list. If this doesn’t work, try the link below).
If you don’t see an image above this line, then try this link:
Talk to you soon.
September 19, 2023
Yeah, it’s still three months away, but smart shoppers often shop early.
If you have friends or relatives on your gift list who enjoy reading, why not gift them a book for Christmas? Or even a book series? Books are often an inexpensive option that will be deeply appreciated by those who love to read, especially if the book is well written, exciting, and has great reviews. In other words…a page-turner.
I have 22 books like that in three series, most of them priced under $20 for paperbacks (they are also available as e-books). Over the next three months, I will feature some of these novels for your consideration. Don’t be afraid to shop early, and remember, if you already have something more expensive in mind for your loved ones, books make great stocking-stuffers.
Today’s featured title: Guerrilla Girl
In this sequel to Starport, we meet Terra Lafirma, 16, a native girl from the Casamanilla region of Tropicon, a third-world planet with a troubled history. Terra has been taught from childhood that Askelon, the most powerful planet in the Trimary System, has exploited her world and stolen its resources. She wants nothing more than to join the local regiment and help throw the evil Askelonis off her planet.
The problem is, the local regiment doesn’t hire teenage girls…at least not for combat. Her application is rejected and she’s told to return home, only she can’t, because her family no longer wants her.
Here’s an excerpt:
Two men stood outside the tent, one of them some kind of officer. As she approached, Terra couldn’t see any rank on his shirt, but he was obviously a leader—his shirt was a different color, light brown instead of green, and he was wearing sunblinders that hid his eyes. Most telling of all, his skin was white.
“Excuse me…”
Both men turned to face her. The white man didn’t speak, but the other one did. He wore no insignia and was very old…maybe forty-five.
“What do you want, muchica?” he demanded in a harsh voice. “This is a military camp for soldiers only. Did you not see the sign?”
“I’m looking for Colonel Parker,” she said evenly. “I came a long way to see him.”
“He isn’t here. Turn around and go back.”
Terra’s eyes hardened. The man was lying to her. Why did he have to be such a pendejano?
“I’m not leaving until I talk to Parker,” she said quietly.
“What you want to see him for, huh?”
“That’s my business.”
“Do you know the colonel?”
“I met him once. He invited me to come here.” That wasn’t strictly true, but close enough; it gave the pendejano pause.
“Colonel Parker will be gone for many days. Come back then.”
“How many days?”
“That is classified.”
“Then I will wait for him.” She dropped the canvas bag on the ground. “Where can I sleep?”
The old man seemed to swell with anger at her impudence, but the white man was smiling.
“Where’d you get that uniform?” he asked. His Spanzi was flawless but he spoke with a twang of accent.
She looked at him more closely. His eyes were hidden, but the smile was friendly enough. He had nice teeth, strong and white. He was an inch taller than the pendejano and much younger, maybe twenty-five. He wasn’t a big man, but he was fit—the brown shirt fit snugly and showed off his muscles.
“It isn’t a uniform. It’s military surplus.”
“We don’t give away used clothing!” the pendejano blustered.
“My uncle gave it to me. It’s one of his old uniforms.”
“From which regiment?” the white man asked.
Terra blinked, suddenly uncertain. Had Tío Ricardo broken the rules by giving her the outfit? Would he get in trouble if she told this man? Well, he hadn’t told her to keep it to herself, and he must have known she would wear it when she came to Casamanilla, so…
“This one.”
“What about the bayonet?”
“It’s mine.”
The pendejano glanced at the white man suspiciously, but the white man didn’t move. Nor did he speak for several seconds.
“It’s against the law for a civilian to carry a weapon on a military base,” he said quietly. “I would advise you to take it off.”
“I came here to join up. So I won’t be a civilian no more.”
The pendejano laughed in disbelief.
“Join up!” he hooted. “You can’t join up! We don’t take muchicas!”
Terra glared at him, the first hint of doubt forming in her mind. She felt her heart beat faster.
“Parker said I could join,” she said defiantly. “I will ask him when he returns.”
“When did he tell you that?”
“He came to my village when I was tw…a couple of years ago. He was looking for soldiers and told us all about the evil Askelonis. When I asked if I could join up too, he said sure.”
The pendejano laughed uproariously.
“He thought you wanted to be a putaña! And you’re a cute one, so he said sure. But he ain’t gonna let you carry a gun! You can’t train with the men!”
Terra’s budding fear turned to anger.
“I will not accept that from you! I will ask him myself.”
“Why do you want to be a soldier?” the white man asked. He was no longer smiling.
“Colonel Parker said it was our duty. Every generation of my family has supplied soldiers. My abuelo lost a leg fighting for Campetana, and my padre was killed. I have no brothers, so I will fight for my generation.”
“War is a nasty business. It’s no place for a girl.”
In the meantime, back on Askelon, Tyler Unruh has joined 14th Star Infantry, the “elitest regiment in the whole damned army”. As a civilian, he unwillingly saw action on Environ during the recent fuel crisis and the experience moved him to enlist. His squad mates have no idea that he was on Environ and see him simply as the “new guy”.
Another excerpt:
Tyler sat relaxing with a beer. He was unbelievably tired, but a hot shower, a hot meal, and a cold beer had energized him a little. It was two hours to lights-out and it felt good to just sit and relax with friends. He’d only been on the post for a week, so had no close friends yet, but most of the guys in the squad were at least friendly. Cpl. Borba had gone out of his way to make Tyler feel welcome and so had Weston Rogers, a private. Aside from Sam Duval, the others had been pleasant enough, though noncommittal.
The chatter ranged from the day’s field problem to the weather to the music and finally devolved into friendly insults and lots of laughter. Borba picked up two baskets of smoking-hot fritters and set them on the table he was sharing with Tyler and Rogers. Sam Duval wandered over and joined them, carrying a beer in each hand. He set them down and popped one, downing half of it in a single chug. He told a joke that had the others screaming with laughter, but Tyler only smiled. Duval’s presence irritated him, but as the “new guy” he was hardly in a position to make an issue of it.
Duval peered at him with glittering eyes.
“Wassamatter, Unroo? Didn’t you think that was funny?”
Tyler nodded. “Yeah, it was pretty funny the first time I heard it.”
“You heard it before? When?”
“I dunno, maybe when I was ten.”
“Bullshit! That joke only came out las’ year! I never heard it before las’ year.”
Tyler smiled quietly.
“Then I must’ve heard it last year.”
Duval eyed him warily and tipped his beer bottle again.
“Then why’d you say you heard it when you were ten?”
“Maybe I was wrong.”
“No shit, you were wrong! Looks like you get a lotta things wrong, don’tcha?”
Tyler shrugged. Borba shoved Duval’s second beer in front of him.
“Settle down, Sam. Have another beer.”
Duval unscrewed the cap and tipped the bottle, his eyes never leaving Tyler.
“Ya know what? I’m gettin’ a little sick o’ your attitude, Unroo!”
Tyler had been glancing around the club, noting the steady stream of arrivals. Now he returned his gaze to Duval.
“Yeah? What attitude is that?”
Trouble was coming, he could feel it. He had known the first time he met Duval that they were going to clash—Duval was the insecure type who had to assert his dominance in the pecking order, and anyone new to his circle had to be challenged.
“You’re a fucking smart-ass, that’s what! You walk in here all high and mighty!”
Tyler frowned. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“Yeah.” Borba was also frowning. “What’s Unruh done to piss you off?”
Duval swung bleary eyes on Borba.
“Pete, are you fucking blind? He’s a punk! A fucking punk!”
Borba cast Tyler an alarmed glance and turned back to Duval.
“Sam, he’s only been here a week and he’s done his job. What more do you want from the guy?”
“I jus’ don’t like his smug, superior attitude!”
“Is that why you’ve been on his ass since Day One?”
“What! I ain’t been on his ass! He’s been on my ass! Walked in here like he owns the goddamn place! Made it to 14th Star on his first try!”
Realization dawned in Borba’s eyes. He threw Tyler a bemused look.
“Is that what’s bothering you? That he made it on his first try and it took you three?”
“Fucking A! Nobody else did that, so what’s the big fucking deal if he did! He don’t have to throw it in everybody’s face alla time!”
Rogers spoke up for the first time.
“I made it on my first try, Sam, and so did Pete. The way I remember it, you asked Unruh the first day he got here how many times he applied for 14th Star and he told you. He didn’t volunteer anything.”
“Bullshit! I’m gonna kick his fuckin’ ass!”
Tyler tensed. Duval was glaring at him, but Tyler didn’t know him well enough to know if he was bluffing. If it came to a fight, Duval had thirty pounds on him; Tyler was fit and well trained, so he could hold his own, but it would probably be a serious brawl.
“You’re not kicking anybody’s ass,” Borba said, his voice suddenly low and threatening. “Unruh’s a member of our squad and you’ll give him the respect he’s due. If there’s any ass kicking, we’ll do it privately, with Sergeant Toews supervising. Is that clear?”
Duval’s eyes drifted away. He sat silent for thirty seconds, tipping his beer again. He looked back at Tyler and sneered.
“First time we get into combat this pussy will prob’ly run away. Chickenshit bastard!”
Tyler swigged his beer and broke eye contact, looking around the club. But Duval wasn’t finished.
“You better watch your ass, Unroo. Shit gets mighty confused in combat, bullets flying every which way. You never know—you might get smoked by your own side.”
Tyler set the beer down with a thump and leaned across the table, eyes blazing.
“Is that a threat, Sam? Are you threatening to kill me if we’re deployed?”
Duval stared at him a moment, then grinned.
“Naw, that ain’t a threat. That’s just friendly advice. Wouldn’t wanna see you get hurt, Unroo. But shit happens, don’t it? You just better watch your ass.”
Carlene Vargas, wanted for murder on Askelon, is hiding out on Tropicon and seems to be safe until the day she spots a suspicious man following her. Her tail is none other than retired Col. Oliver West, with whom she has a brief history. West offers her a deal–immunity on the murder charge if she will work for him as a spy. Turns out…she’s pretty good at it.
Excerpt:
Rachelle’s was nearly empty when Carlene strolled through the door and stopped to look around. Four different sales “girls” eyed her suspiciously from four different vantage points, certain they had never seen her before, wondering if she was new in town or just another rich girl wannabe. Carlene ignored them, slid her shades to the top of her head, and advanced into the store like an invading general looking for the soon-to-be-deposed king. She was wearing a tight, bare-shoulder body-hugger, brilliant red with gauzy sleeves interwoven with tropical flowers, and six-inch heels (Oliver West had purchased the dress right here in the same store a few days earlier).
Carlene’s hair was dyed completely black, but her tan was the real thing—she’d spent three nearly-naked days baking under Askos 2 to get it. Her left hand sported an obscenely expensive wedding ring with three multi-carat diamonds in a triangular setting—a Trimary Ring; the rest of her fingers flashed an assortment of other rings, also expensive, to complete her look. The jewelry belonged to the Askelon Intelligence Agency, and had to be returned if she valued her life.
“Can I…help you?”
Carlene was inspecting a rack of furs, her head tilted critically, almost angrily. She glanced at the sales “girl” to see if it really was a woman—the voice was suspiciously deep and man-like. Carlene pinned the plastic creature with a direct stare for a moment, then nodded to the rack of fur pieces.
“Is that supposed to be ring-tailed battock? It looks fake to me.”
The over-painted woman sniffed and lifted her chin in haughty disdain.
“I assure you, that is not fake. It was trapped by hand, skinned by hand, and cured by hand. It was taken right here in the wilds of Campetana. Perhaps you are accustomed to furs raised on the farms of Askelon.” (She pronounced it “fuhzz” and “fahms”.)
Carlene lifted one of the furs and turned it over in her hand, drawing a look of alarm from the clerk. Gazing at it critically, she shook her head.
“No, I would never buy anything raised on a farm. Farms are so…inorganic.”
She set the fur down and tossed her head, brushing the clerk aside as she moved toward another rack.
“In any case, there’s little enough opportunity to wear fur in this horrid climate.”
Scandalized, the sales woman trailed along in her wake, now certain that Carlene was either going to steal something or, just perhaps, blow up the store.
“Did the mistrilini have anything…pahticulah in mind?”
Standing before a display of sexually-explicit underthings, Carlene whirled on her, scanned her head to toe, and shook her head.
“No, but when I find something I’ll let you know. In the meantime, you don’t need to follow me around like a sex-starved lesbian sniffing my ass.” She tilted her head slightly. “Unless you don’t particularly enjoy your job.”
“Well!”
The woman stared at her in shock, then turned on the professional scowl that usually wilted uppity customers; when Carlene continued to glare at her, she spun on her heel and stalked away.
Carlene watched her go, giving the other clerks a moment to observe her resolve, then moved on to another display. She inspected several items of merchandise, turning them this way and that, and rejected them all with a faint snort, her disdain evident. By the time she reached the cosmetics counter every clerk in the store was watching her.
And so was the only other customer at the counter, a thin woman in her fifties with black hair, pinched features, paper-thin lips, and absolutely no figure. The woman could easily have passed unnoticed in a homeless shelter, yet she obviously had money or she wouldn’t have been in Rachelle’s. The kindest thing one could have said about her was that she was ugly; the meanest would have made reference to pointed hats and broomsticks. And yet there was something about her…
Carlene took up position two feet to the woman’s left, picked up a bottle of exotic scent, and sprayed a few molecules on her wrist. She sniffed it suspiciously, then began briskly scrubbing it off with the palm of her hand. She shook her head sadly.
“Why do we even put up with them?”
“Excuse me?”
Carlene turned her direct stare on the ugly customer; the woman was regarding her with wide, disapproving eyes.
“Men!” Carlene smiled. “They’re all a bunch of bastards, aren’t they? Take my husband for example—he brings me to this—this planet…sets me down in this godforsaken hole of a city, gives me a credit line, and tells me to—” She said the rest in sing-song. “—‘have a good time, honeeee!’ While he rockets off to some kind of ‘business retreat’ over on the coast.”
Scowling, she picked up another bottle of scent and tested it as well.
“If I ever find out that he’s fucking some goddamn beach girl while I’m sucking air in this shithole of a town, I’ll…well, I’ll cut off his balls!”
She set the perfume bottle down and heaved a deep breath, planting a hand flat on her chest. She panted down her adrenaline for a second, then turned to the black-haired woman again.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t really mean to dump all that on you. I’m just venting.” She stuck out her hand. “My husband really is an asshole, but he’s a rich asshole, so what’s a girl going to do?”
The other woman stared at her for ten seconds, glaring first at her face and finally her outstretched hand. Finally, as if coming to a long-debated decision, she allowed a thin smile to crack her features. She locked gazes with Carlene and suddenly laughed out loud. She took the hand and gave it a firm shake.
“My dear, you are the most refreshing breath of air I’ve had in ages. My husband is an asshole, too. Thank you for brightening up my day.”
Carlene laughed. “You are absolutely welcome. My name is Carla Verda.”
“You can call me Gloria. Gloria Boyd.”
“I’m thrilled to meet you, Gloria. Have you had lunch yet? I’m starving.”
…and there’s a lot more where that came from. Guerrilla Girl is packed with adventure, excitement, suspense, bone-chilling combat, and even a little romance. And politics. Don’t forget the politics.
Order your paperbacks now, direct from Amazon:
And soon I’ll send another email with more Christmas offers.
Until then.
September 10, 2023
I never cease to be astonished at the reach of the Worldwide Web. Back when I was still a kid, dreaming of being a famous novelist, I envisioned having readers all over the United States. “Foreign sales” never occurred to me. I didn’t actually publish any novels until the internet was firmly established, and my early novels were available as e-books only (all are now available as both e-books and paperbacks).
Then something remarkable happened. Not only was I selling books in the USA, but also the UK, Canada, and Australia.
One of the interesting features of sales reports is that sales are reported by country, and I was blown away when one of my books found a buyer in Poland, another in Brazil, then along came Spain, Germany, and South Korea. Not a lot of sales in those countries (my books are English only at this time), but a few. I was overwhelmed.
I activated this website three months ago and when someone clicks on the site, WordPress records where the click came from, and guess what–my last post (September 7, 2023) generated clicks from France and Germany! I started looking back over the past three months and found other clicks from (deep breath): Mexico, Norway, South Africa, China, Taiwan, Ireland, Saudi Arabia, India, Costa Rica, Japan, Vietnam, Singapore, and Pakistan (as well, of course, as the USA, UK, Canada, and Australia).
Needless to say, I am blown away. I have no idea who you all are or how you came to my web page, but I thank you from the soles of my shoes. I hope you will continue to visit, browse around, and maybe even buy some of my books (each book has a link to Amazon). I promise my writing will not disappoint you, even if you are not a fan of futuristic fiction. I have endeavored to create memorable tales of adventure, intrigue, romance, and war that involve “real” people filled with hope, despair, and extreme passion…and I hope you will give them a try.
I am currently working on a fourth series that I hope will appeal to an even younger audience than the current three do. When they are ready for release, I will announce them via this newsletter.
You can find my current novels, by series, using the following links:
Until next time.
September 6, 2023
It isn’t unusual to see that someone downloaded an entire series at one time. More commonly, someone will download the first book in the series, then two or three days later they download the rest of the series. I see this fairly often.
What is less common is to get a complete set of reviews on a series from the same reviewer (usually readers don’t review a book at all, or if they do, they might review only certain books in the series).
On June 12, 2023 someone called “Honest Reviewer” posted a review of Asteroid Outpost, the first novel in the Nick Walker series. To my pleasant surprise, Honest Reviewer then went on to review the next book, and the next, all the way to the end. Twelve reviews in total from one person, the last review posted on August 4, 2023.
In case any of you doubt the quality of these stories, or their reception by readers, I am posting those reviews in their entirety for you to see.
Asteroid Outpost (Nick Walker, United Federation Marshal)
Honest Reviewer
Not My Genre, But I Enjoyed Every Second
June 12, 2023
| Verified Purchase
I may have found my new favorite author.
This book is a combination of science fiction and western that works. It grabbed my attention from the first chapter and held it until the end. Mr. Bowers even managed to touch on racism, including an ingenious substitute for the N-word, to show that humans haven’t changed.
Oh–the editing is top-notch, unlike what I find in so many books I’ve purchased recently. Kudos to AKW Books.
Sirian Summer (Nick Walker, United Federation Marshal)
Honest Reviewer
Another Great Installment in the Nick Walker Series
June 17, 2023
I’m really enjoying the larger-than-life UF Marshall Nick Walker. He has a knack for getting into trouble, analyzing the problems he’s created, and somehow surviving–but not always without consequences.
This novel and the previous one in the Nick Walker series show the immutable nature of humankind. People of the future are driven by similar motivations as is today’s society.
Once again, the editing is superb. (I hate being drawn out of a story by typos and sloppy formatting.) I recommend this science fiction/western series to anyone who’s looking for a not-put-downable read.
Rebel Guns of Alpha Centauri (Nick Walker, United Federation Marshal)
Honest Reviewer
Never a Dull Moment
June 23, 2023
Mr. Bowers pokes a stick at organized religion in a distant future that seems all too real. And he succeeds. Protagonist Nick Walker makes difficult choices, experiences loss, and comes out on the other side a better lawman.
As always, the books in this series are engaging, and the editing is superb.
Victoria Cross: United Federation Attorney (Nick Walker, United Federation Marshal)
Honest Reviewer
Another 5-Star Read
June 26, 2023
| Verified Purchase
A good book is one that makes me want to read instead of sleep. Mr. Bowers kept me awake with Victoria Cross: United Federation Attorney.
The legal cases intrigue; the mysteries intertwine; the romantic tension builds. Are the defendants really guilty? What will the new detective uncover? Will Miss Cross manage to avoid a face-to-face with Nick Walker? You won’t know until the end (and no spoilers).
Bowers lashes into organized religion and the legal system, and shows that human nature hasn’t changed over the centuries.
And once again, the editing is superb.
Bounty Hunter at Binary Flats (Nick Walker, United Federation Marshal)
Honest Reviewer
Another Impressive Read
July 2, 2023
| Verified Purchase
Mr. Bowers is an expert at weaving clues into a story so that when the surprise is revealed, you shake your head and wonder why you didn’t see it earlier. Bounty Hunter at Binary Flats is no exception.
I thought I caught a typo (“under the Ladar”). Turns out I was wrong. “Ladar” appears as well in the next book, and it’s obviously intentional.
Although I suspect humans so far in the future might not use so many cliches and idioms from this century, the storyline is believable and suspenseful.
Gunfight on the Alpha Centauri Express (Nick Walker, United Federation Marshal)
Honest Reviewer
Humor and Tears
July 4, 2023
| Verified Purchase
This novel swings from chuckles to tearjerkers. I can’t say much more without providing spoilers–and I don’t want to do that. Let’s just say I didn’t anticipate some of the tearjerkers.
Every story in this series provides suspense and plot twists. Bravo, Mr. Bowers, for keeping me entertained.
Manhunt on Tau Ceti 4 (Nick Walker, United Federation Marshal)
Honest Reviewer
Another Exciting Installment in the Nick Walker series
July 8, 2023
| Verified Purchase
Suspense in every chapter and just the right number of chuckles–interspersed with an occasional tear. Recommended reading for anyone who likes sci-fi and westerns.
Assassin on Centauri B (Nick Walker, United Federation Marshal)
Honest Reviewer
Another Engaging Read
July 17, 2023
| Verified Purchase
Nick Walker is forced to make untenable decisions. We see him wrestle with his conscience, and we watch his character transform. A big question: Will he betray the trust of someone back home?
Revolt on Alpha 2 (Nick Walker, United Federation Marshal)
Honest Reviewer
Ambivalent?
July 20, 2023
| Verified Purchase
If you’re trying to organize the Nick Walker books according to date, this would be the first one. I read Revolt on Alpha 2 during incredibly hot weather, and I empathized with Nick and his Star Marine comrades as they suffered in the heat.
The story does have its happy and sad moments, but the suspense factor isn’t what it was in previous Nick Walker books. It almost made me feel as though the entire novel was a vehicle for Mr. Bowers to present his personal manifesto.
The writing isn’t as tight as I’ve grown to expect–almost as though this book was written before all the others.
Return to Sirius (Nick Walker, United Federation Marshal)
Honest Reviewer
Suspenseful Plot
July 22, 2023
| Verified Purchase
Has Nick taken on too much this time? Although the gratuitous sex was unnecessary and distracting, the twists and turns of the story kept me wanting to read “just one more page.” This one is true sci-fi with a touch of Old West.
Victoria Cross: Colonial Defense Attorney (Nick Walker, United Federation Marshal)
Honest Reviewer
Filled With Suspense to the Very End
July 29, 2023
| Verified Purchase
This one made me break out laughing a couple of times because of Nick’s warped sense of humor. Meh to the sex scenes. They didn’t contribute anything to the plot.
Another memorable story in the series.
Ambush at Galaxy Gulch (Nick Walker, United Federation Marshal)
Honest Reviewer
A Satisfying End to the Series
August 4, 2023
| Verified Purchase
Slow start–no suspense until the end of Chapter Five, but it picks up from there. The suspect(s) in an ongoing series of mishaps are not all they seem to be, and the reveal near the end will shock you.
I have no idea who “Honest Reviewer” is, but I would like to thank him or her for posting their impressions. Reviews like this make writing novels worthwhile.
Until next time.
August 18, 2023
Welcome to my second post!
Today’s post is about new content. Sometimes, when writing a novel, scenes get deleted because they don’t move the story forward. Today you can take a look at two such scenes that were removed from the Nick Walker series for that very reason. I may never use them and hate to see them go to waste, so you get to see them for FREE!!
Here they are:
Nick Walker tries to talk down a suicide jumper
Victoria Cross argues in court for women’s self defense
I will be adding more content from time to time and will also feature content you may not have seen yet. Take your time and look around. If you haven’t read any of my books, I promise you’ve never read anything like them. Ever.
Feedback is always welcome. If you like what you see, don’t like what you see, want something different, or have questions, leave a message at the bottom of this page.
If you are receiving this email for the first time, chances are you may have subscribed to my original site (bornnovelist.wordpress.com), I may have met you at one of my book signings, or I have interacted with you at some point.
If you prefer to not be a subscriber, click “unsubscribe” at the bottom of this message to be removed (or leave a message with your email address and I will remove you).
You can also change or update your subscription on the main page by filling in the Subscribe to My Site box with the email you prefer to use.
Until next time.
August 9, 2023
Welcome to the new home of the BornNovelist.
If you are receiving this post, chances are you may have subscribed to my original site, bornnovelist.wordpress.com, or I may have met you at one of my book signings. Or, you just might be one of my friends.
The old site, bornnovelist.wordpress.com, will remain active for a few more months until this one is completely on its feet, but all new posts and news will happen here, at bornnovelist.com.
If you received this via email, maybe you can do me a favor and drop a comment to let me know you got it. Then, if you prefer to not be a subscriber, let me know that as well, along with your email address, and I will remove you from the list.
You can also change your subscription on the main page by filling in the Subscribe to My Site box with the email you prefer to use.
As a subscriber, you will receive an email each time I post something new. This might be an upcoming event, a new book announcement, or maybe just some free content for your enjoyment. I will try not to flood your inbox by posting too often.
While you’re here, feel free to look around. From the main page you can find links to all my books, events, news, and samples from Amazon reviews I’ve gotten over the years. Any new novels will be announced in the *News* section and subscribers will receive an email as well.
Each published book already listed also has an excerpt for you to read and a link to Amazon if you decide to purchase the novel. All novels are available as both e-books and paperbacks…and I’m investigating audiobooks as well.
(If you would like to see audiobooks, please let me know. It’s an investment I am willing to make if the demand justifies it.)
Once again, welcome. Look around, have fun. Leave a comment.
I’ll be in touch.
August 7, 2023
Good day, everyone.
At present, all my novels are available only as e-books and paperbacks, but from time to time people have inquired about getting them in audio format as well.
So…my question here is, how many of you would be interested in hearing my novels instead of reading them? If there is enough interest, I may explore audio as another format.
Since I don’t have email working yet, please use the “Contact” form on the main page and let me know if you are interested. ALSO, please advise if I can add your email address to my mailing list (which isn’t quite finished yet).
Thanks for your participation.
Born Novelist 