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Excerpt from “Claiming Kaden” by Celia Breslin
The station’s vid screen flared to life, blocking her view. A handsome and angry male face filled the space. The brightest amber eyes she’d ever seen glared at her.
“Stop shooting,” the man growled.
The face disappeared.
“Who the hell was that, Athena?” A Zyphorran? She ignored the gorgeous stranger and kept firing at the battleship.
The face reappeared. Dark brows furrowed over his blazing whiskey eyes. “Desist, woman!”
“Desist this, you jerk!” She shot at the enemy. Continued to miss. “Ugh!”
She didn’t care how handsome he seemed, with his pale, silvery blue skin and spiky dark hair, and those glowing eyes which looked like they could melt a girl’s panties.
No one told her what to do, and no one would force her into servitude.
Never again.
The green vessel took out two enemy ships before it planted itself in front of Calie’s station.
Angry Guy’s face filled her screen. “I’m trying to help you. Stop firing!”
Oh… Cranky Guy was the pilot of the green ship. Possibly a good guy? Calie lifted her hands away from the controls.
As she watched, he took out every single destroyer then turned his attention to the warship.
“Shield at eight point seven percent,” Athena announced. “Hm…”
“What do you mean, hm? Should we head for an escape pod?”
“This is most intriguing. And disconcerting,” Athena murmured, not answering her escape question.
“What, that guy’s amazing battle prowess?”
“No. He infiltrated and took over my communication system to speak with you.”
Okay, now Calie was doubly impressed with good-looking Mister Frowny, because Athena was a powerful genius. No one bested her.
Calie plastered her palms on the controls. “Let’s help him kick that warship’s ass.”
“Don’t you dare,” their unknown ally barked, audio only.
“Are you eavesdropping on us? Rude!”
“The unknown male is attempting to take control of all station systems, Calie.”
“Cut it out, whoever you are,” Calie warned him. She aimed one of the station laser cannons at his ship.
“Who I am? I’m the male who’s going to disable and commandeer the warship, then eliminate everyone on board it while you sit on your pretty ass and stay out of my way.”
He thinks I’m pretty? She shook off the frisson skating down her spine. “Screw you. I’m blowing up that warship. Athena, take it out.”
Interview
Celia Breslin
1. What literary pilgrimages have you gone on?
When
I was in college, I was a literature major and had the opportunity to study in
France one summer. We visited many of the cities and locations (museums,
chateaux, famous landmarks, etc.) that were featured in the books we studied.
That was fun.
2. What is the first book that made you cry?
Stephen
King’s “The Stand.”
3. Does writing energize or exhaust you?
Energize!
4. What is your writing Kryptonite?
Research
rabbit holes. I like research, and looking up one thing often leads to another,
and another, and before I know it, I’ve lost a chunk of writing time. Oops!
5. Did you ever consider writing under a
pseudonym?
Yes.
6. What other authors are you friends with, and
how do they help you become a better writer?
Virginia
Nelson, Georgia Lyn Hunter, and C. J Burright, to name a few. Virg is my editor
for my indie publications. Georgia, CJ, and I beta read for each other.
7. Do you want each book to stand on its own, or
are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?
Yes,
and yes. Most stories I write can stand on their own while they’re also
connected to others in their respective series in one way or another. For
example, in my three Black Hills Wolves stories, the three main characters are
siblings who each find their forever mate.
8. What authors did you dislike at first but grew
into?
Stephen
King. I started reading his work when I was a teenager. I didn’t want to like
horror by any author (because, scary! Bad dreams! Ack!), but he’s a fantastic
writer. His stories are sooooo good, I had no choice but to love them.
9. What’s your favorite under-appreciated novel?
Can’t
think of a novel, but a movie comes to mind immediately: “Scott Pilgrim vs. the
World”. My family and I love this movie and have watched it many, many, many
times. If you’re a gamer and a comic fan, it is an absolute must-see!
10. As a writer, what would you choose as your
mascot/avatar/spirit animal?
Cat.
Definitely a cat.
11. How many unpublished and half-finished books
do you have?
Currently,
three unpublished, one half-finished, and a few others in notes form only,
waiting their turn.
12. What did you edit out of this book?
Claiming
Kaden, which is one of the stories in the Beyond Earth anthology, is the first
in my new cyborg series, Cyborg Guardians of the Aurora. The first draft had
some backstory on the origins of my cyborgs, which was ultimately edited out
for pacing and length.
13. If you didn’t write, what would you do for
work?
I’m
an editor, too, so that’s what I currently do for work. If both editing and
writing were off the table, then… hm… maybe teaching.
14. Do you hide any secrets in your books that
only a few people will find?
What
a fun idea! I haven’t yet but now you have me thinking… ;-)
15. What is your favorite childhood book?
“The
Shining”. See? Stephen King, again! LOL.
Thank you for hosting our sci-fi collection on your blog. And thanks for interviewing me; that was fun. :-). Happy Holidays!
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