QSFer Fletcher DeLancey has a new FF sci fi novella out:
An elite warrior. A split-second decision that launches a legend.
Lead Guard Fianna Vellmar is the daughter of a champion, raised from childhood to work hard and be the very best. When she is given the opportunity to compete at the highest level and earn her place among Alsea’s elite warriors, a stunning turn of events forces her to choose between life and glory, mercy and pride.
Vellmar became a legend not for winning a championship, but for losing it.
With Vellmar the Blade, Fletcher DeLancey has created another strong female protagonist in her compelling science fiction series Chronicles of Alsea.
Special Note: Vellmar the Blade is a gift to fans of the Chronicles of Alsea, a novella published in July to tide folks over before the release of the next full novel, the 400-page Catalyst in December. Please note that these books are not in chronological order. Vellmar the Blade is Book 5 in the series, while Catalyst is Book 4. However, Vellmar the Blade is not part of the main story arc and thus contains no real spoilers with the single exception of a new romantic relationship. If you would rather be fully surprised, then wait until December. But if you’d like to bite into this novella and enjoy a new view of Alsean culture while waiting for the next full novel…it’s available at all the main retailers, in ebook and paperback.
Chronicles of Alsea, Book 5
Giveaway
In celebration of our own Olympics (and the fact that a lovely box of paperbacks just arrived at my house), Fletcher is giving away two signed copies of Vellmar the Blade in a drawing on her own blog. To qualify for the drawing, simply go here:
http://www.chroniclesofalsea.com/vellmar-the-blade-free-giveaway-olympics-edition/
and comment on her blog post there. Share two things: 1) the name of your favorite female athlete from the Rio Olympics, and 2) the reason why she became your favorite athlete.
Buy Links
Excerpt
Jandahar stood just outside the bedroom door and cleared his throat loudly. “Anyone wanting a bedtime story had better be in their bed by the time I come in this room, or—”
A stampede of small feet thudding across the wooden oor interrupted him, followed by creaking bed frames and the whoosh of blankets as his two children raced to beat the deadline. By the particularly loud creak of Milena’s bed, he guessed she had leaped into it from a good four paces away. If that bed lasted through her tenth cycle, he would be amazed.
“Look at that, already in bed,” he said as he walked through the door. “What a nice surprise! You didn’t wait until the last possible tick this time.” Milena and her younger brother, Harren, blinked up at him from their
beds on opposite sides of the room. eir covers were pulled up to their chins, hands still clutching the top edge in a position they clearly thought would fool him.
“No, Bai,” Milena said without a trace of guilt. “We were just waiting for you.”
“So I see. Your teeth are brushed?” She nodded.
“Face washed?”
Another nod.
“Toes washed?”
A giggle escaped. “Bai!”
“You didn’t wash your toes?”
“We don’t wash our toes before bedtime!”
He turned around. “Harren? Are your toes washed?”
Harren smiled widely. “No, but my toes don’t stink like Milena’s. She
didn’t put on clean socks this morning.” “I did too!”
“Did not.”
“Did too!”
“Enough!” Jandahar cut them o before they could wind themselves too tightly. “Milena, let me see your feet.” He pretended not to notice the tongue she stuck out at her brother even as she pushed her feet out from under the covers. Making a show of approaching carefully, he gave an exaggerated sni . “Well, they don’t seem too bad.”
“ ey’re clean!”
“I wouldn’t go that far.” He pointed at a suspicious spot.
She pulled up her foot to inspect it. “ at’s just from my socks.”
“Your dirty socks,” muttered Harren.
“Hm.” He leaned a little closer. “Well, I’m sure you’ll put on clean socks
tomorrow. Yes?”
Milena sighed as he tucked her feet back in. “Yes.”
“Good.” He resettled the covers over her. “Harren? Teeth and face?” “Clean, Bai.”
“Which is more than I can say for your bed.” He crossed the room and
tidied Harren’s blanket, which as usual was a twisted mess except for the small section he had pulled up while diving under it. Standing erect, Jandahar put his hands on his hips and surveyed the two children in their beds. “Since things are mostly clean and you’re in bed and ready, I suppose it’s time for a story. Which one shall I tell tonight?”
Author Bio
Fletcher DeLancey spent her early career as a science educator, which was the perfect combination of her two great loves: language and science. These days she combines them while writing science fiction.
She is an Oregon expatriate who left her beloved state when she met a Portuguese woman and had to choose between home and heart. She chose heart. Now she lives with her wife and son in the beautiful sunny Algarve, where she writes full-time, teaches Pilates, tries to learn the local birds and plants, and samples every regional Portuguese dish she can get her hands on. (There are many. It’s going to take a while.)
She is best known for her geeky romance Mac vs. PC and her science fiction series, Chronicles of Alsea. The latter has won a Golden Crown Literary Society Award, a Rainbow Award, and was a finalist for a Lambda Literary Award.
Currently, she is working on the next books in the Chronicles of Alsea and as an editor for Ylva Publishing.