REVIEW of ALLEGIANCE SWORN

A heart warming review of ALLEGIANCE SWORN from Aimee at The Window Seat on a Rainy Day.

I do like her reactions to this book!

Allegiance Sworn Countdown...

A little bit of action...

A Kaal Clan warcry split the air. A swift glance showed Barrca and another of her Na’Hord engaged in battle with the lead Vorc-rider. Her gait faltered.
“Keep going!” Arek grasped her arm.
“They’ll be overrun!” she gasped.
Steel on steel rang out.
Thunder rumbled so hard the ground seemed to shift beneath her foot. Then as small rocks and pebbles danced on the ground in front of her, she realised it had.
Another swift glance and a mass of rock, slate grey, almost black from the rain and sleet, rolled down the mountain side, gathering speed and debris – bushes, shrubs, other boulders – with terrifying intensity. The sound of them smashing together grew to a deafening roar.

ALLEGIANCE SWORN (Ch.38)

Allegiance Sworn Blog Tour

I'm tripping all over cyberspace visiting various blogs over the next few weeks promoting and having fun celebrating the release of ALLEGIANCE SWORN.

Here's the blog-tour schedule:

April 2nd - My Book Chatter & (ARRA release day post)
April 3rd - Kylie Scott's blog
April 5th - Romance Bandits
April 8th - The Qwillery
April 9th - All Things Urban Fantasy
April 12th - Riverina Romantics
April 17th - Sassy Book Lovers
April 20th - My Bookish Ways
April 22nd - We Fancy Books
April 24th - Dark Faerie Tale "Fantastic Fables"
April 26th - The Reading Cafe
April 29th - Writerspace Blog


May 1st - Bitten By Books
May 9th - DSDU Magic Thursday
May 12th - ARRA Guest Blog
May 19th - My Tote Bag
May 29th - Get Lost In a Story


You'll learn more about the book, the characters and there will be loads of giveaways.

I'd love it if you could join me!

Allegiance Sworn Countdown...

Imhara observes Arek...

He’d left his hair unbound and, with his head bowed, the blond-streaked locks obscured his face from view. If it hadn’t been for the gentle rise and fall of his chest, Arek could have passed as a mastercrafter’s statue placed on display for any viewer’s pleasure.
Every muscle, every limb, every ridged angle and curved line displayed stone carved perfection. More than worthy of admiration, although – and here, her mouth twisted wryly – she doubted any artist would approve of the carnal nature of her appreciation.

ALLEGIANCE SWORN (Ch.27)

REVIEWS for ALLEGIANCE SWORN

Some lovely reviews from some early ARC book blog readers for ALLEGIANCE SWORN.

Alyssa from Riverina Romantics gave it 5 Hearts!

"To say I was blown away by this book is an understatement. This was everything I love about a romance novel and more. All the necessities were there--captivating story, amazing characters, hot sex—but what I wasn’t expecting was the depth and entrancement of the world this book took place in."

Full review here. 


Mrs Clare's Books had this to say about the book.

"Arek and Imhara's story just grabbed me by the heart and yanked...Never have I felt such a range of emotions while reading a book. When they hurt, I hurt. When they were touched, I was touched. When they felt empty, I felt empty. It was just profound. I loved it."

Full review here. 


And Cath from My Book Chatter gave it 5 stars.

"...I was and still am, very emotionally invested in these characters and I have been blown away with the sheer honesty and believability that Kylie is able to bring to them, most especially in Allegiance Sworn. Kylie's writing is smooth, enveloping and addictive, leaving me in a state of book withdrawal that has yet to be sated.
A fantastic continuation of a story that has well and truly captured my heart."

You can read the full review here.

Thank you to one and all - I really appreciate the heart-felt reviews!

GUEST BLOGGING over at Mrs Clare's Books

I'm guest blogging today over at Mrs Clare's Books!

Come on over - check out the interview as there's some insight into what I do to keep track of a series, and enter the giveaway!

Allegiance Sworn Countdown...

Cue the music (Darth Vader Theme)...we finally meet Na'Rei Savyr, demon King...

But the Second was nowhere as intimidating as the Na’Reishi striding behind him. Savyr Gannec was huge, just over seven feet tall, towering over many of the Na’Hord gathered around them. The latent power in his wide shoulders and thick, bulging biceps couldn’t be concealed by the long sleeved shirt or loose-laced vest. There was little evidence of him entering his fifth decade. He carried himself with the ease and confidence of a warrior half his age.
Hair the color of obsidian had been pulled back into a tight cue, the severe style emphasizing the strong lines and natural markings running down the sides of his face. Dark brows framed a predatory gaze that missed nothing.

ALLEGIANCE SWORN (Ch.23)

Last Days - Goodreads Giveaways!

There are three books up for grabs over on Goodreads:

• Vengeance Born (mass market paperback)
• Alliance Forged (trade size)
• & Allegiance Sworn (trade size).

The deadline for entering is March 31st, 2013.

Don't miss out!

Allegiance Sworn Countdown...

Arek is faced with a decision...

How could he trust Imhara when he’d doubted her every action and then his own?
Mother of Light, it’d taken him nearly six months to adjust to living with the Na’Chi in their village near Sacred Lake. Now he had less than a week to reconcile with the past. What he wouldn’t give to be able to talk to Kalan or Kymora about this, seek his friends’ advice, their guidance.
He didn’t like the idea of uncertainty paralysing him.
Nor was hoping for the best an option.
Yet indecision knotted in his gut like a nest of tunnel vipers.

ALLEGIANCE SWORN (Ch.15)

RWA RITA© & Golden Heart © Awards 2013

Can you hear the Aussie, Aussie, Aussie shout out reverberating around the country?

Announcements for the finalists in the Romance Writers of America RITA Awards (published authors) and Golden Heart Awards (for unpublished authors) have been happening overnight and the lists are now complete. For those who don't know, these awards are the Oscars of the romance publishing world!

The following friends and RWAustralia members have received that magical phone call:

GOLDEN HEART Finalists

"The Predator" - Christine Taylor (Romantic Suspense category)

  







RITA Finalists

Zoe’s Muster - Barbara Hannay (Contemporary Single Title)

Bride by Mistake - Anne Gracie (Historical)

Dead Heat - Bronwyn Parry (Romantic Suspense)

A Marriage Worth Fighting For - Lilian Darcy (Short Contemporary Series)



Fantastic news, ladies!!!

You can read a full accounting of the results for the RITA's and Golden Heart here.

Allegiance Sworn Countdown...

Here in this snippet you get to meet Imhara Kaal, the Na'Reish leader of the Kaal Clan...

Imhara squeezed the iron railing, knuckles turning white. His refusal sat like a rock in her gut. Heavy. Unmovable. To lose this warrior would end her ancestors’ legacy and condemn her Clan to death.
She couldn’t let either happen.
Her heart beat harder. There was one way to stop him escaping. A temporary measure until he understood. But the deceit involved sickened her. He would hate her more.
Yet what choice did she have? 

ALLEGIANCE SWORN (Ch.6)

WORLD-BUILDING: The Characters of the Light Blade world

A cast of thousands - well, yes, that happens when you write a series. LOL

Characters keep popping up and demand an appearance in a story, sometimes they come out of nowhere. There's been at least one in every book in the Light Blade series.

Today, I'd like to go back and revisit the main characters and influential secondary characters who've impacted the series so far. And, you're lucky, I'm going to introduce you to a couple of new ones who appear in ALLEGIANCE SWORN (#3)!

Let's start with...

Annika (from Vengeance Born)

• Annika Gannec - the much maligned, half-blood Na'Chi who has the Gift of healing. Her demon father raped her mother to hatch his plan of vengeance against Davyn, a Light Blade warrior who killed his son nearly 30 years ago. She's Davyn's granddaughter and Arek's half-sister.

Kalan (from Vengeance Born)

• Kalan Tayn - the Light Blade warrior & leader of the human Blade Council. He was rescued by Annika from her father's dungeon. This action set in motion a series of startling events and revelations that shook the demon and human worlds. Kalan and Arek have been best friends since childhood and they went through Light Blade training together. Kalan overcame his prejudice and joined with Annika, who is now his wife.

Varian (from Alliance Forged)

•  Varian - is the leader of a small group of half-blood Na'Chi who were raised by a human slave called Hesia in Gannec Fortress, the same place Annika grew up in, although their presence was kept a secret from her all her life. Varian led his people into human territory, following Annika and Kalan after they escaped from her father's fortress. He asked Kymora for sanctuary at Sacred Lake then, with her help, established an alliance with the Blade Council. He and Arek became friends and helped the Light Blade warrior start his journey to accepting the Na'Chi and their shared demon-human history.

Kymora (from Alliance Forged)

• Kymora Tayn - Kalan's sister who served as the Temple Elect, the leader of the humans religious order. Blinded by an illness at a young age, she learned to compensate using her Gift of reading the auras of those around her. Devoted to serving their deity she was the catalyst for integrating the half-blood Na'Chi into the human world and instrumental in helping them form an alliance with the Blade Council. She gave up her position as Temple Elect to continue helping the Na'Chi. She and Varian found love by the end of Book #2.

• Arek Barial - Kalan's Second and chilhood best friend to both Kalan and Kymora. Arek never knew his parents and was raised by Davyn, his embittered grandfather. When he was three years old, his mother was kidnapped and raped by the demon king Savyr (although he never found this out until much later in life) and this led to his father taking his own life. Hating all thing demon, and encouraged by Davyn, Arek excelled in his career as a Light Blade warrior. During a patrol, he ended up wounded and captured by Na'Reish slavers. His journey to meet Imhara Kaal begins in Allegiance Sworn (Bk#3).

Arek & Imhara (from Allegiance Sworn)

• Imhara Kaal - full-blooded demon and leader of the Kaal Clan. She assumed leadership of her Clan shortly after her family were murdered, spoiling Savyr's plans to claim her territory and people. Tired of living a doule-life of a demon leader and an advocate of the Old Ways - accepting half-bloods and not enslaving humans - she hatches a plan to approach the human Blade Council and petition a truce in return for helping them defend their border against Savyr and the other Clans. She rescues Arek from the slavers who captured him and begins the task of convincing him her cause needs his help.

• Na'Rei Savyr Gannec - the demon king and Annika's father. He believes compassion is for fools and that to get anywhere in life you have take what you want. He's determined to see all humans either dead or enslaved to the Na'Reish. In the first two books of the series he is preparing to go to war with the humans.

• Davyn Barial - once a Light Blade warrior and Blade Councillor. He is Arek and Annika's grandfather, although he won't acknowledge his relationship with Annika as he lost his only daughter to Na'Rei Savyr. He's a man of many secrets, some which were revealed in Vengeance Born. He almost succeeded in killing Annika and his fanatical followers kidnapped Kymora in an attempt to destroy the human and Na'Chi alliance. Had he succeeded in his plans, the unrest and division he caused would have thrown the human race into civil war and the alliance would never have eventuated.

• Rassan Kaal - is a three-quarter blood Na'Chi and Imhara Kaal's Second-in-Command. Unswervingly loyal, Rassan is Imhara's closest friend and moral compass. Instead of playing a less prominent role to avoid detection (remember full-blooded demons despised half-bloods and would kill them to keep the bloodline pure), he ignored the risk to his life to accompany Imhara to the annual Enclave in Gannec territory and participated in the Clan Games, and earned himself the title of Clan Champion.

Rissa appeared in VB & AF.

• Rissa - the young human child Annika befriended in Vengeance Born. She is Gifted with the remarkable skill of being able to sense and heal pain on an emotional as well as physical level.

Master Healer Candra

• Candra - Master Healer and councilor on the Blade Council. She overseas the Healers Guild and is a prominent supporter of Kalan. She calls a spade a spade, tending to be quite outspoken in Council meetings and isn't afraid to share her opinion publicly.

Zaune appears in all 3 books

• Zaune - one of the half-blood Na'Chi who fled demon territory to seek sanctuary at Sacred Lake. An exceptional scout, he uses his Gift as a blood-tracker to help Varian and Kalan find Kymora after she's kidnapped by Light Blade rebels. Like Varian though, he is struggling to control the darker impulses of his Na'Reish side.

 I hope you've enjoyed this recap and sneak peak at some new secondary characters.

Allegiance Sworn countdown...

Today we begin the week long countdown to April 2nd - the USA/Canadian release day for ALLEGIANCE SWORN.

A teaser for those keen to read a little about the story...

Icy disbelief raked down Arek’s spine. If the warrior had sensed his Gift, why wasn’t he tearing his throat out? What game was the Na’Reish playing at?
“I’m prepared to die for my people,” he panted. “Death by your hand or the boat-master’s makes no matter, demon!”
His hair was released.
“It’s not your death I seek, Light Blade.” Rope secured his wrists once again. “My Clan needs you to live.”

ALLEGIANCE SWORN (Ch.2)

Saturday Seven! (Archangel of Mercy)

It's Saturday Seven!

ARCHANGEL OF MERCY by Christina Ashcroft is a paranormal romance involving demons, angels and a mix of mythologies.

Gabriel and Aurora have just met. Gabriel is wondering why the all powerful Guardians have shown an interest Aurora and he's considering snatching her out from under their non-existent noses...

That alone could make them more tenacious in their desire for this particular human.
Curse the gods. This was his sanctuary, his bolthole, the head-quarters fr his black ops ventures. he'd never rough a mortal here. The thought had never crossed his mind. But because of one unguarded second Aurora Robinson was not only here - she could well be here for weeks.
It was a nightmarish prospect. There was a world of difference between sharing a few pleasurable hours with a desirable female and having that female intrude into his personal existence. Especially when she did nothing with her mouth but talk.
And he had no one but himself to blame.
But instead of thanking him, instead of showing due gratitude for the great sacrifice he was making to ensure her continued safety, all Aurora wanted to know was how soon she could leave.
It was obvious she had no intention of shutting up. He'd seduce her and exhaust her so thoroughly her brain would require all its power to maintain basic life functions. She'd have no energy left to think of questioning him again.
"Try and understand." The words were as much for his benefit as hers. Hammering home the full implication of his unthinking action. "You're not going back, Aurora. You're here until I deem it safe for you to return to your life."

ARCHANGEL OF MERCY

Between an angel and a desperate woman comes salvation-and a raw passion that challenges them at every turn…

When Aurora Robinson attempts to open a rift between dimensions to embrace her true heritage, an arrogant Archangel is the only one who can save her from the jaws of hell. And while she owes Gabriel her life, she’s determined not to fall at his feet-despite the desire she feels whenever they’re together.

After his wings were brutally destroyed millennia ago, Gabriel has no compassion for humans like those who ruined him and betrayed the ones he loved. But when he inexplicably finds himself defying ancient protocols to rescue a woman from a fate worse than death, he is shocked by the searing attraction he feels for a mortal.

As the ancient forces that seek to punish Aurora for her actions close in, Gabriel offers the tempting woman protection at his private sanctuary. But as they both succumb to their desires, they discover an even deeper connection-one that threatens to consume them.

GUEST BLOGGING over at Erin Moira O'Hara's blog!

I've popped over to Erin Moira O'Hara's blog to participate in a fun interview where we talked about learning new skills, mentors, great books and favourite meals, among other things! 

Would love it if you could drop in and say hi!

WORLD-BUILDING: Na'Reish territory (maps)

One of the things I really enjoy when creating a fantasy series is the world-building.

With the Light Blade series I roughed out a map of their world and then, thanks to John Wrench, a friend who's skilled with IT graphics programs, he transformed my etchings into what you see below.

This is the map that appears in ALLEGIANCE SWORN.

 

Compass Rose from the map

What do you think of maps for fantasy worlds? Do you prefer a visual aid? Something that adds value as the story unfold? Or do you prefer to leave it to the imagination?

Cat-urday! - Games Cats play...

 Yes, it's...

Ahh, cats...

CAST OF CHARACTERS: Imhara - the Na'Reish demon leader

As an introduction to the characters from ALLEGIANCE SWORN, today I'd like you to meet Imhara, the heroine.

Name: Imhara Kaal

Race: Na'Reish demon (Na'Reishi highborn & Na, leader of her Clan)

Age: 28

Background: Imhara belongs to the Clan Kaal, one of twelve Na'Reish Clans. Her ancestors have remained true to the Old Ways - honoring the Lady as their deity and embracing a lifestyle where humans, Na'Chi and Na'Reish live together in peace.

Since the Great War over 400 years ago, her Clan has led an double life, interacting with the other Clans when necessary, portraying the use of a caste system and slavery as a part of everyday life, yet discouraging and restricting access into their territory to keep their secret safe.

Imhara (& Arek)

Their territory is geographically isolated by a mountain range and they control Skadda Pass, a well known slave-route used by Na'Reish patrols and raiders, to sneak into the southern provinces of human territory.

Imhara monitors the pass and all traffic, taking advantage of her rank as Na to demand tribute from those who use it, and rescue humans captured for the auction block.

As the only survivor of an assassination attempt on her entire family five years ago in a raid designed to seize control of her Clan and Skadda Pass, she took her father's place as Na during a Clan Enclave, foiling Na'Rei Savyr's attempt to claim her family's territory as his own.

Over the years she's survived numerous attempts on her life and made many enemies among the other Clans. Seeking vengeance, and in an effort to ensure her Clan's survival, Imhara intends to kill Savyr and approach the Blade Council for a truce. But to aid her in this attempt she needs to find an advocate, someone who will speak for her and convince them that the Kaal Clan are not a threat.

Skills: Imhara was taught by her parents the importance of responsibility and leadership from a young age, even though her older brother was groomed to take on the role as Clan Na.

Her father also insisted she train and learn weapon skills and strategy with her brother and his Na'Hord. She was able to utilise these skills after her family was murdered.

To avoid any further assassination attempts Imhara honed her fighting skills - an usual move by a female Na'Reishi society.

Imhara has also learned the art of deception and lives a double life within a culture that despises the Lady and her tenets. She's an advocate of the Old Ways, while her alter-ego, Na Kaal, has developed the reputation of being a tough, ruthless leader who enjoys taking human male slaves to her bed (a proclivity frowned upon by most of Na'Reish society).

Interesting facts:

• Imhara and Rassan (her Second-in-Command) became close friends during her teens. They met when her father insisted she learn fighting skills with his Na'Hord. Rassan was one of the young trainees.
• Imhara prefers the comfort of wearing breeches & a shirt to dresses, flaunting Na'Reish convention.
• Her favorite drink is k'sa, a hot, creamy, strong nutty flavored beverage popular among the Na'Reish.
• Imhara and her mother made the matching quilts that adorn her bed and chair in her room.
• As part of her persona as Na Kaal, Imhara has chains and shackles attached to the corner posts of her bed to foster the perception that she takes unwilling, human lovers.

Saturday Seven! (Flesh)

It's Saturday Seven!

FLESH by Kylie Scott is a post-apocalyptic erotic romance. Ali and Daniel have met and their relationship has progressed to intimacy but it's still in its infancy.

They've just come face to face with some Mad Max type bad-guys who tried to kill them and been rescued by Finn, an ex-policeman. They're now holed up in a safe place, hiding from them, but they all know their survival depends on trusting one another.

Finn is attracted to Ali, something Daniel is acutely aware of...

Finn chuckled, casting an eye over his sleeping beauty. His gaze glommed onto the side of her breast where it pressed against Daniel's chest.
After a hell of a long moment, wherein he was certain the guy had stopped breathing and quite possibly swallowed his own tongue, the kid's gaze shot back to Daniel's face. Hungry looking eyes turned guilty in an instant. "Shit.. Sorry, man."
"Don't worry about it. I know what it's like." Yeah, he knew what it was like. He still wanted to hit the pretty asshole, but he did know what it was like.
Therein lay the root of the problem.
Sharing was not in his nature, but nature would have to adapt. Ali needed this kid. Finn was a modern day gunslinger. Deep down he fucking hated it, but his girl needed this one nice and close. Preferably wrapped around her finger and deeply concerned about her health and happiness.
Every goddamned minute of every goddamned day would be best.
Daniel did not want to share her. Not with the kid, not with anyone, not even a little. He knew it would work, this insane idea of going halves, he just didn't want it to. He had only recently found her and she was his. But he couldn't keep her safe on his own, a fact that bit deep and hard and hung on as a pit bull would. How the hell to convince her? What Ali wanted and what would keep her safe and alive would likely be at odds in this case. She'd accused him of being pushy a time or two. His girl had no real idea how far he would go to protect her.

FLESH

Ali has been hiding in an attic since civilisation collapsed eight weeks ago.

When the plague hit, her neighbours turned into mindless, hungry, homicidal maniacs.
Daniel has been a loner his entire life. Then the world empties and he realises that being alone isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
Finn is a former cop who is desperate for companionship, and willing to do anything it takes to protect the survivors around him.
When the three cross paths they band together; sparks fly, romance blooms in the wasteland and Ali, Daniel and Finn bend to their very human needs in the ruins of civilisation.
Lust, love and trust all come under fire in Flesh as the three battle to survive, hunted through the suburban wastelands.

CAST OF CHARACTERS: Arek - the demon hating warrior

As an introduction to the characters from ALLEGIANCE SWORN, today I'd like you to meet Arek, the hero.

Name: Arek Barial

Race: human

Age: 29

Background: Arek's parents were Light Blade warriors.

His mother was captured and raped by Na'Rei Savyr when he was 3 years old. She gave birth to Annika Gannec, his younger half-blood sister (who's story is portrayed in VENGEANCE BORN).

Chris Hemsworth - my inspiration for Arek.

His father committed suicide on learning of his mother's capture.

Arek was brought up by Davyn, his maternal grandfather. Thanks to Davyn's embittered influence, he grew up hating everything demon and made it his mission in life to kill as many of them as possible.

He held the position of Kalan's Second-in-Command until it was presumed he was killed in a rescue mission-gone-wrong (in ALLIANCE FORGED - Varian, the Na'Chi leader took his place at Kalan's request to help forge the alliance between the humans and Na'Chi).

Arek was actually captured by a Na'Hord raiders and transported into Na'Reish territory to be sold as a slave.

Skills: Arek is a Light Blade warrior - one of the best. His Gift from the Lady, the power to kill with kinetic energy, is so strong he's able to direct it through any weapon or via touch.

In human society, Light Blades are highly respected for their skills and dedication to upholding the Lady's tenets. They are the protectors of all.

Interesting facts:

• Kalan is Arek's best friend. They met as children and trained as Light Blade warriors together. He considers both Kalan and Kymora the brother and sister he never had.
• Growing up he used to escape the pressure of living up to his parents' reputation as Light Blade warriors taking off into the city with Kalan - to play with the children there, or, as he grew older, to visit the Night Markets.
• He cherished the time he spent with his paternal grandparents on their farm outside Sacred Lake. Helping them with the daily grind of chores was something he thoroughly enjoyed as he was able to leave his studies and training as a Light Blade warrior behind. It also gave him time away from Davyn and his never-ending lectures on his obligation to avenge his parents' deaths.

Arek (& Imhara) - not a bad match for Chris, eh?

• Arek froze the first time he faced the Na'Reish in battle. If it hadn't been for Commander Yevni's intervention he would have died on the battlefield.
• He was the first to discover the information that the Na'Reish and humans used to coexist peacefully together, and those with Gifts from the Lady were actually of mixed blood (ie.Na'Chi).
• Arek is highly respected as a Light Blade warrior and leader, yet quite openly admits he'll never make a good Councilor given his outspoken attitude and lack of patience with the political arena. He's insulted almost every member of the Blade Council at one time or another, and been ejected a number of times from meetings because of his lack of diplomacy.

Goodreads Giveaways Galore!

With the release of ALLEGIANCE SWORN exactly a month away, it's time to begin the party with a triple giveaway!

Yes, you read that right - a TRIPLE giveaway!

Not one book.

Not two books.

But THREE books of Light Blade goodness.

• VENGEANCE BORN

• ALLIANCE FORGED

and

• ALLEGIANCE SWORN

All are now listed over at Goodreads (they're also listed in the side bar of this blog) - get thee there and enter! Good luck!!!

GUEST AUTHOR: S.E.Gilchrist

I first met S.E.Gilchrist at a Romance Writers of Australia conference many years ago, and it was then we discovered a shared love of all things paranormal, and that we liked to read many of the same authors.

Today it's a great pleasure to have her as my guest - please make her feel welcome!

S.E.Gilchrist Bio: My home is in the beautiful Hunter Valley of Australia with vineyards, rivers, tree studded countryside and the Pacific Ocean all at my doorstep. I grew up in a small coastal town in NSW, a fantastic place with the ocean, the lake, the Aussie bush, caves, old mines all offering different ‘worlds’ to explore.

I love traveling, meeting new people and exploring their cultures. I have visited Asia and the US and spent several years traveling around Australia, lived on a cattle station, on the gem fields, beside the ocean, camped beside mountain streams and under the stars in the outback – all truly magical experiences.

My dream is to earn a living from my writing and be in a position to travel once more.

My writing passion is in the romance genres of sci fi / futuristic, fantasy, paranormal, post apocalyptic/dystopian, ancient history and time travel. I love to combine adventure and romance and aspire to give my protagonists a goal worth fighting for. And I really enjoy giving them a hell of a lot of problems along the way! Adventure – exploring new worlds, battling aliens, dueling with medieval warriors, vanquishing demons, weathering the storms and embracing the joys of challenging relationships.

My other interests are : the environment, science/new technology, animal welfare, mythology, kayaking and bush walking.

I am a member of the RWA of Australia, Romance Writers of New Zealand,  Darksiders Down Under Blog, Hunter Romance Writers, Hot-Down Under anthology writers and RWAmerica, the SF Brigade, Savvy Authors.

Title - LEGEND BEYOND THE STARS 
Publisher - Escape Publishing 
Setting - The Seven Galaxies 
Hero - Commander Tarak el Rajan of the Darkon Battle Fleet 
Heroine - Captain Alana Knight of the United Earth Corporation 

LEGEND BEYOND THE STARS

Seeking redemption from a mission gone terribly wrong, Captain Alana Knight volunteers to aid a dangerous operation to transport colonists between Earth and alien traders. But on board the spaceship, she learns of a galactic war raging for power. A power that can be transformed into a terrible weapon. 
When the colonists are betrayed and sold, Alana’s mission is re-defined. Nothing will stop her from keeping those in her care safe and finding a passage home. But her new captor is nothing like she expects…

Commander Tarak El Rajan is human, male and equally determined to retain his payload. With his race on the brink of extinction he is under strict orders to transport all females to the planet Isla for research purposes. 
In a world of uncertainty, where the wrong decision could mean the death of an entire race, the last thing either of these two soldiers expects or needs is to fall in love.

Buy Links
Escape Publishing     Amazon     Kobo


Scene you would never cut -
Alana swallowed hard on the bile which burned her throat. She was proud her voice did not quaver when she continued, “And Commander Tarak, does he know too?”
Surprise widened Atolo’s eyes. “Of course. Now we must hurry.” He waved the warrior away. “I am eager to begin. This section here, we have some interesting specimens of our earlier research. Up ahead we have preserved the results of our experiments in more recent years. As you can see, we had almost reached a stage of achieving an actual embryo. Almost but not quite.”
He grabbed her hand and pulled her along. Alana shook her head in violent denial, refusing to accept his words. She saw his mouth moving as he gesticulated with pride at the tiny vulnerable life forms curled up in the familiar foetal position in their lonely tube coffins.
Her body spasmed.
A shudder so profound it almost felled her to the ground wracked through her. The monster’s voice had receded to a thin drone in the background. Alana heard nothing through the roar in her ears. She could barely see as she stretched out a trembling hand and touched the uncaring metal. A bitter wave of revulsion shook her to her core and she struggled for air.
And Tarak knew of this?  Could this be the secret her lover had kept from her? That plus the knowledge her friends and herself were destined for these horrendous research chambers? She thought back over all the times she had sensed he had held something back, something of vital importance. She recalled the eerie atmosphere pervading the Darkons’ city, the grim almost despairing auras that clung to Tarak and his warriors. Deep inside amid the cauldron of horror, doubt and remembered grief, murderous thoughts poisoned her mind.
She jerked her hand from her jailor, lurched to the side and vomited.
Over and over until nothing remained but hollowness.
Emptiness.
She scrubbed at the tears on her face and retched again. She knew she would carry the image of a frail shrivelled body until the end of her days.
Her eyelids were as heavy if they were weighted with bricks and her body felt as if lead was in her veins. She shuddered and realised she huddled on the icy floor. The faint sounds of whimpering were coming from her own throat.
So cold, she was sure she would never be warm again. Her movements slow and jerky her hands scrubbed at her face. She wiped her sleeve under her dripping nose. Only one thing mattered now. Her mouth hardened into a thin line as her brain kicked back into gear.
I’ll kill them.
All of them.
Every last Darkon.
And she would save Commander Tarak for last.

Something your heroine would never do or say – Alana would never turn her back on anyone who needed her. She’d also never sing, as she sounds like a drowning cat.

What do you think the readers will like about LEGEND BEYOND THE STARS?
The love story. I hope readers will find emotionally fulfilling Alana and Tarak’s romance. Both Alana and Tarak have to wrestle with duty, their responsibilities for others and the knowledge they need to sacrifice what they hold dear if they should reach out and take this chance at happiness.

There’s action and adventure in this story plus the underlining thread is a war raging in the background and a villain who has yet to be conquered.

What themes or tropes appear in the book?
Sacrifice, protection, responsibility for others. Greed and desperation. 

What's the most fascinating aspect about writing in the science fiction romance genre for you?
Definitely the ability to create entire worlds with new rules, laws, cultures and religions. Power! Give me more power!

Which authors have inspired you in your own writing?
Wow, too many: Elizabeth Peters, Denise Rosetti, Linnea Sinclair, Angela Knight, Karen Marie Moning, John Birmingham, Agatha Christie, Georgette Heyer, Matthew Reilly, JRR Tolkien, Betty Neels, Karen Hawkins, JD Robb, Johann Lindsey etc.

Is there anything else about LEGEND BEYOND THE STARS that you'd like to share?
*Legend has a quirky little side-kick, an alien called Norman who ends up a close and important friend to Alana.
*The need for the colonists to leave Earth for example is because climate change has wrecked havoc on our resources and war has erupted on all borders as people become desperate for the basic necessities of life.
*There’s also some gritty realism in this story. Just like in our reality, people make unpleasant decisions; some with terrible consequences. And not everyone gets their HEA.

*And I’d like to finish with a mention for a hot, short story called THE PORTAL. It's a tale set in the same world as Legend and was released on 1st March by Escape Publishing.

THE PORTAL
When Janni, a young salvager, boards a space wreck, she is caught for daring to steal Darkon tech by a patroller and the one man she had thought never to see again. Several months ago she had allowed him to slip past her defences for a brief and wonderful interlude. But with both of them on either sides of the law, they had walked away. Now they are trapped on a wreck and with an alien life-force hunting them. Will the patroller save her or abandon Janni to her fate?


Kylie, thank you so much for hosting me on your site today. Its been wonderful!

Thank you for visiting, SE, and congratulations on your latest releases!

You can find out more about S.E.Gilchrist at her website or Escape Publishing, or you might like to follow her on Facebook, Twitter or the Hunter Romance Writers blog.


Other books by S.E.Gilchrist:

Released Dec.28th, 2012 w/Smashwords & Amazon

Released Dec.1st, 2012, Momentum Books