Author Spotlight - Excerpt from Duty and Devotion

Enjoy this excerpt from Duty and Devotion:


The transport ship was packed. Nettie felt like she was going to suffocate, or go crazy from all the noise, sweat, and bodies. The bunkhouse on Callisto had been noisy, but she could always escape from it. Here, she was stuck. She shoved her way through to the restroom and cursed when she spotted the line.

"Your mom knows you talk like that, Ice Princess?" James asked in humor from behind her.

"Who do you think taught me?" she replied, but felt the guilt of the lie. "Oh, shut up, Northman."

He punched her arm and then leaned in. "You're extra grouchy. You wanted on this trip, remember?"

Nettie shrugged. "Yeah, I just forgot how packed these rides could be. I can't wait for our turn at patrol."

He laughed, a full rich sound that warmed her body. Taking her upper arm, he guided her through the paddock and up a flight of stairs. After a few turns they entered a small, empty conference room. In the corner was a private restroom.

"You're a saint, Northman. Just a saint." She rushed into it.

Afterwards, she headed to the door. He stood in her way.

"Come on, Northman." She gently nudged him, finding his body taut. Peering keenly into his bright green eyes, she felt a stirring. "What are you about now?"

He brushed his hand along her cheek, leaving a tingling trail along her skin. Her body spiked with need. Her vision blurred, her heart raced, and her legs weakened.

"What do you want me to be about?"

I can't do this. Nettie panicked as the attraction piled on with all her other tumultuous emotions. "Hey, Northman. I'm a mess right now. It's not a good idea." She ended on a whisper.

He nodded and grasped her shoulder. "You've had it a little rough."

James pulled her toward him and when she thought he'd kiss, he hugged instead. This, she sighed and leaned into him. He rubbed her back with one hand and held onto her with the other. After a moment, she pushed away and smiled shyly. "You're full of surprises, Saint Northman." When he smiled, she slipped by and they headed towards the main room again.

"I won't always be a saint, Ice Princess. There will be a time, soon, when a hug won't be enough... for either of us."




If you want to learn more about me, stop by my blog: Adventures of a Sci-Fi Writer

Purchase Links: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Sony, Kobo, Desert Breeze Website, All Romance Books

Book Trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZ5T_uDQru8

Author Spotlight - AR Norris talks about her love for Sci-Fi Romance

Why I write SFR. It's a two part answer that has morphed over the generations. The equation is easy: SF + R = SFR.

First the SF part. That one is pretty easy to answer. I write science fiction because that is where my creativity automatically goes. If I think of a woman going on a hero's journey, it's in space. If I think of a man trying to find his father, he finds him on an alien planet. I wake up in the morning from a dream and my husband listens to the galactic adventure I went on through the night.

The second part, romance, is a little more winding. I wanted to write and read stories that had the characters and story at the front and the science as the backdrop, by which the world is enhanced. Unfortunately, by the late 80s and early 90s SF had really boxed itself in. The stories available in bookstores were science heavy with the characters and story as a backdrop. Most of the pages were filled with expounding theories and physics and blah, blah, blah. I didn't care! I wanted the characters to use the dang technology without explaining it to the tenth degree. But then I found the hidden secret.

Science fiction writers, ones who really cared about the human element of the story, were publishing in romance. "Those little sneaky sneaks!" Romance really saved SF, just like they saved paranormal and fantasy. It was easy to fold into the romance world. I mean, who doesn't want a HEA?

Author Spotlight - Q&A with Author AR Norris

STEPH: I don't know much about Duty and Devotion. Can you tell me a little more about it?

AR: Duty and Devotion is a science fiction romance set in the distant future and follows two sisters raised in the safety of Earth's domes after they are drafted into war. Older sister Nettie heads off to space pilot training for war. There she discovers her true strength and also that love sometimes is hidden in a friendship and grows slowly. Younger sister Rinny goes to Mars for surface combat training and learns to try new experiences and stretch who she is beyond expectations. She learns that knowing who you are and who you love means nothing if you’re not willing to fight for it…even to the death.

Here's the book trailer I did for it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZ5T_uDQru8

STEPH: How long did it take to write?

AR: Oh boy, that's a tricky one. I've been working on some version of this story for decades. I guess, though, you could say my serious work to prepare it for publication submission took a little over a year...maybe a year and a half.

STEPH: Did you do a lot of research for the novel?

AR: Geez, did I! With all books it takes research to be accurate. But I'll say, SF buffs can be super critical...and they're usually super smart about science and technology. They'll catch a formula or engineering mistake in a second and then you've lost all credibility.

STEPH: Where did the inspiration for the story come from?

AR: It was inspired by a dream. Though, looking back there were a couple triggers. First, my stepfather was in the Vietnam War and really had post war troubles that affected our family. Also, the Gulf War was happening at the same time (early 1990s). Those probably had something to do with the dream.

STEPH: If your story was going to be made into a movie, who would you cast as the leads?

AR: Argh! I can never think of actors. Okay, okay...let's see...Nettie would maybe be Kristy Swanson (from the original Buffy movie). Rinny would be Monica Bellucci (Persephone in The Matrix Reloaded). James Northman...well, he can never be anything other than my husband. (LOL! Sorry, no acting abilities but he's a great storyteller.) Daniel Gubvre would be Jack Shepherd (Lost).

STEPH: What is the theme of the novel?

AR: The major themes of the book are keeping family bonds and finding romantic love during the chaos of war.

STEPH: What do you want readers to take away from the novel when they finish it?

AR: If they have a sibling I want them to call and say, "I love you..." Ha ha! Just kidding. Well, you know every authors dream is to have the reader turn the last page and be bummed the story is already over...and think about what's going to happen the characters after.

STEPH: Do you have an ebook reader? If so, which one?

AR: ((Hugs Kindle)) Have I mentioned before how much I love my husband? He bought me the Kindle 3G for Christmas last year. I love, love, love it.


STEPH: What's the last movie you saw?

AR: Prince of Persia. It was very good...oh, now that I think of it, maybe Jake Gyllenhaal should be Danny. He was very...fit in the movie. Yes, yes. I'm changing my answer in question 5 above.

STEPH: Any words of wisdom for aspiring writers?

AR: Be open to learning. There's so much to the craft and it's a constant medium. Take pride out of the equation and be open to criticism and comments from reliable people (not friends and family, they'll never be fully honest with you...they love you too much).

Buy Link for Duty & Devotion: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-174/AR-Norris-Duty-and/Detail.bok