Show Your Work

Somewhere in the first half of the adventure

I’m really enjoying this new series. It started as a “I gotta get this story bit out of my head” but already I’m thinking of the next adventure for Jackson and the others in this universe with a freshly minted Empire.

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When Jax came up the stairs, he found mister Ichiko and Lori sitting at the small table near the kitchenette looking over a tablet while Steve was watching what looked like an episode of Star Trek: The New Adventures. Not one of the better episodes Jax noticed. “Oh good, you’re all here.” He made a come-on motion, “This is uh, my, er, girlfriend. Naomi.”
“Your—“ Lori started.
“Girlfriend?” Naomi finished, then coughed, “Girlfriend, yeah, hi. We met a few weeks ago, one of those hookup apps.” She looked around the room, “Couldn’t get enough of him after that.” Jax pointed toward the forward bulkhead and the hatch leading to the head while studiously examining something on the ceiling.
When the hatch closed behind Naomi, Steve paused the vid, “Girlfriend? Couple weeks? Wouldn’t that be around when…” His face had a red hue, but Jax wasn’t sure if it was an angry or embarrassed blush.
Jax ran a hand through his hair, “Uh yeah. Anyway, she’ll make herself useful and won’t get in the way.” He made sure to not make eye contact with Steve.

New Series Fun

I’m normally ‘a finish the first draft then revise’ person. But I got towards what I thought was the end of this story and realized it wasn’t the end. I’d recently introduced a character that was going to be a throwaway, and a few pages in was like, “No, she’s a keeper.”

So I stopped where I was and went back to the start to re-engineer the entire beginning of the story to include this new character and to delve a bit deeper into the backstory of this universe. I’m far and away happier with where things are now.

Also, I’ve decided to try to work on my character descriptions more, so this book is my go at it. I’m really excited about this new series! You can join (if you’re on my list you won’t be 2 emails, but I want people to opt-into this sub-list specifically) my Grand Human Empire mailing list to stay up to date on this new series.

Jackson “Jax” Caruso doesn’t have many human friends. He certainly doesn’t welcome just anyone into his circle.

Jax took a sip of his beer then said, “Looks like we’re down a Delphino, any chance they’ll let you adjust the food order?” He took a bite of the burger. Even though he knew it wasn’t beef he closed his eyes and let a low moan escape his lips.
“Uh, what’re you doing?” His nav droid friend asked. “You better not be —“
Jax swallowed, “I’m eating lunch you perv. Can you change the order?”
“I’ll see what they say, but don’t hold your breath. Oh, you had a visitor.”
“Yeah?” Jax pressed. He took another bite, careful that time to conceal the moan of pleasure. Lucas had a gift for spicing the vat meat enough you’d never know it grew on a meter tall frame with nutrient sludge pumped into it.
“Governor Singh came by, said you should visit her sooner rather than later.”
“Weird she didn’t just call me.” He looked at the screen and tapped to his call log, “oh, she did, six times while we were on Mariposa, oops. Ok, anything else.”
“Nope that’s it.” Rudy said, then closed the channel. The screen on Jax’s phone lit up then returned to the home screen.
“Well if it isn’t Jackson Caruso.” A woman said from behind Jax. He looked up as Naomi Himura slid into the booth opposite him.
“Wait, wha?” Jax stumbled over his words.
“Miss me?” The Asian woman asked taking his mug of beer and sipping from it.
Jax regained his composure, “Not even a little.”

This is from book one of Still unknown Series or book name LOL. I’m almost done with my first draft, but had to take a pause to see where I wanted it to go, so have been shuffling things around. I like the new direction I’ve settled on and the flow of the story. I should be able to send it to beta readers in another month or so.

I’m excited to get a new series out into the world, and hope folks enjoy it.

For those that have been reading the Space Rogues series, you know meals/food are important. The crew of the Ghost does a lot during meals. When they have guests/clients, the meals get even more interesting.

The meal is delicious and the conversation light. As Wil and Cynthia clear the dishes he calls to everyone, “Ok, I think it’s time we introduce our guest to the wonders that are Star Wars. We’ll watch them in the appropriate order of course.” He makes a slashing motion, “Machete!” He accents the word, for no one’s benefit but his own.
Jarek Ruus, sitting on the sofa next to Zephyr and Maxim opens his mouth to ask something and Zephyr rests a hand on the older man’s knee, “Don’t ask. The last time this came up it was two days before we actually got to watch them as Wil explained the various preferred watching orders and their merits.”
The older man closes his mouth then says, “I see, very well.”
Bennie at his usual perch on the arm of the large overstuffed chair says, “The end result is that no one cares except him.”
“The order you watch Star Wars is important!” Wil shouts from the sink. “It informs your view of the entire thing.”
Maxim snaps his fingers, “Whatever, hurry up and start whichever one you’re going to start.”
“And bring popcorn!” Bennie adds.

It should also be no surprise that Wil is a pop culture (for him historical) junkie. Much like me.

Space Rogues 7: A guy Walks Into a Bar comes out on October 6th. You can pre-order it now from all of the retailers as well as direct from me.