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The Last Vhalgenn – the Story Behind the Story #Fantasy #SciFi #MFRWhooks

The Last Vhalgenn - the Story Behind the Story #Fantasy #SciFi

A few years ago, I heard about an upcoming anthology that wanted female characters as the lead. They had to be complex, suffer misfortune, and yet prevail. I brushed off The Last Vhalgenn, updated the story, had it edited, and submitted it. The story was accepted and put in print. The anthology was nominated for the EPPIE in Fantasy, and was a runner up, as well as being nominated for a Triptree Award.

I have since added another story to the Colonies of Man series with Trailing Kaiwulf, and I'm working on a sequel, Return of the Vhalgenn.

This series is one of seven set in my Ever Expanding Empire.

The concept behind the series is archaeology. A group of xeno-anthropologists and archaeologists are collaborating to find evidence behind the uses of the so-called "Gates of Life" found on alien worlds. All are identical in basic structure, but no "working" versions have been discovered. That changes in Trailing Kaiwulf, and will go a big step further in Return of the Vhalgenn.

Colonies of Man

Colonies of Man #SciFi #Fantasy

Series: https://kayelleallen.com/scifi-space-opera-fantasy/

#SciFi #Fantasy #Romance

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The Last Vhalgenn by Kayelle Allen #SciFi #Fantasy

Trailing Kaiwulf by Kayelle Allen #SciFi #Fantasy #Romance


Welcome to Book Hooks!

Marketing for Romance Writers Book HooksBook Hooks is a weekly cooperative blog hop hosted by Marketing for Romance Writers as part of the MFRW Authors Blog.
It's a chance each week for you to discover current works in progress or previously published books by possibly new-to-you authors.
Thank you for stopping by.

Links below lead to other sites also taking part. You can "hop" from mine to theirs with one click.

Feel free to say hello or leave a note in the comments.

Any of my characters mentioned on this page might be found in multiple books in my story universe. Download a printable book list and check them off as you read.


~ Copyright Β©2024 Kayelle Allen. All rights reserved ~ Kayelle Allen participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates program, an affiliate advertising program which provides the means for sites to earn fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com. If you purchase an item listed on the site from Amazon.com, Kayelle will earn a small commission. Other sites might be affiliate links as well. These will not result in higher prices for you. Thank you for your support!


To experience art, sci-fi, romance, and space opera with unstoppable, unshakeable, unforgettable characters so real you'll swear you've met them, join my newsletter.

#Archaeology Arches so ancient no one alive remembered their use #SciFi #DarkFantasy #MFRWhooks

Trailing Kaiwulf: Colonies of Man by Kayelle Allen #SciFi #DarkFantasy #Archaeology

A pair of bounty hunters (a big guy who's the brains, and tiny woman who's the brawn) set out to find a missing person last spotted by an archaeologist on an alien world.

The problem?Β He's in another dimension. Oh, yeah, and he's invisible.

They literally didn't see that coming.

In this scene, our two bounty hunters have discovered more about their mission, and are now retiring to their room for the night.

Excerpt

 

"How are we supposed to get into another dimension?" Jee tossed her knapsack on the floor and dropped onto her cot. Crossing her ankles, she folded her hands across her waist. Above her, the ceiling fan trailed dust webs as it turned. She swatted at a buzzing insect and reached back to pull the pillow under her head. "I can't figure this one."

Across the room, behind a hanging sheet, Dane yelped. Slap! "Watch out for those buzzing things. They bite."

She slapped at one. After a moment, she turned over. "You got any ideas?"

"About how to track an invisible man in another dimension?"

"That's the general problem, yeah."

"Nada, Jee. I could resign. Work for a living."

"What, you mean get a real job?"

Dane slapped at a bug. "Beats this."

"Be serious."

"I am serious. At least your feet stay under the covers. I hang over the end of every bed I sleep in except my own. I'm tired of it."

Dane had propped his feet on a chair at the end of the cot. They showed past the end of the sheet hanging between them. Dr. Post had apologized for not realizing TRAIL was sending agents of the opposite sex. No other quarters existed, but they'd slept in one another's company for years, with no problem. On a hunt, you snoozed where and when you could. Jee felt safer with Dane than without him.

"It's like this." She tucked an arm under her head. "With the kind of money we'll get from this job, you can buy dozens of portable custom-made beds. We could cash out. Put that money in savings and live off the interest. You could pay off your house. Stay home and play with the kids."

"Good as that sounds, I can't imagine retiring, Jee."

"I know. But we have to think of some way to find this guy. Come on. You're the brains of this duo."

Dane snorted. "Right. You think it's so easy, you come up with something. And since when am I the 'brains' anyway? You're smart."

"You only tell me I'm smart when you're stuck for an idea."

"I asked you for an idea back on... on... uh..." Dane's voice dropped. "I think it was... uh..."

Jee snickered. "Like I said."

Colonies of Man

Click covers for the buy link. Click text for the website page and excerpts.

#SciFi #Fantasy #Romance

Sign up for my newsletter and claim your immortality


Welcome to Book Hooks!

Marketing for Romance Writers Book HooksBook Hooks is a weekly cooperative blog hop hosted by Marketing for Romance Writers as part of the MFRW Authors Blog.
It's a chance each week for you to discover current works in progress or previously published books by possibly new-to-you authors.
Thank you for stopping by.

Links below lead to other sites also taking part. You can "hop" from mine to theirs with one click.

Feel free to say hello or leave a note in the comments.

"Gates" by Nano-Core on DeviantArt.

You'll find these characters mentioned in many books in my story universe.
Download a printable book list and check them off as you read.

Any of my characters mentioned on this page might be found in multiple books in my story universe. Download a printable book list and check them off as you read.


~ Copyright Β©2024 Kayelle Allen. All rights reserved ~ Kayelle Allen participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates program, an affiliate advertising program which provides the means for sites to earn fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com. If you purchase an item listed on the site from Amazon.com, Kayelle will earn a small commission. Other sites might be affiliate links as well. These will not result in higher prices for you. Thank you for your support!


To experience art, sci-fi, romance, and space opera with unstoppable, unshakeable, unforgettable characters so real you'll swear you've met them, join my newsletter.

Fantasy Fiction Book Fair #BookFair #SciFi #Fantasy #Romance #PNR

Fantasy Fiction Book Fair #BookFair #SciFi #Fantasy #Romance #PNR

Sci-Fi & Fantasy Book Fair

A bundle of high-caliber authors for lovers of SF/F. All books are at a sale price.

This special event showcases all subgenres of sci-fi and may include cyberpunk, dystopian, fantasy, young adult, hard scifi, military, paranormal, post-apocalyptic, robots, sci-fi romance, soft scifi, space opera, technothrillers, time travel, urban fantasy, and more.

Join us! Sci-Fi & Fantasy Book Fair

You'll find these characters mentioned in many books in my story universe.
Download a printable book list and check them off as you read.

Any of my characters mentioned on this page might be found in multiple books in my story universe. Download a printable book list and check them off as you read.


~ Copyright Β©2024 Kayelle Allen. All rights reserved ~ Kayelle Allen participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates program, an affiliate advertising program which provides the means for sites to earn fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com. If you purchase an item listed on the site from Amazon.com, Kayelle will earn a small commission. Other sites might be affiliate links as well. These will not result in higher prices for you. Thank you for your support!


To experience art, sci-fi, romance, and space opera with unstoppable, unshakeable, unforgettable characters so real you'll swear you've met them, join my newsletter.

Colonies of Man

Click covers for the buy link. Click text for the website page and excerpts.

#SciFi #Fantasy #Romance

You'll find these characters mentioned in multiple books in my story universe. Download a printable book list and check them off as you read.

Any of my characters mentioned on this page might be found in multiple books in my story universe. Download a printable book list and check them off as you read.


~ Copyright Β©2024 Kayelle Allen. All rights reserved ~ Kayelle Allen participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates program, an affiliate advertising program which provides the means for sites to earn fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com. If you purchase an item listed on the site from Amazon.com, Kayelle will earn a small commission. Other sites might be affiliate links as well. These will not result in higher prices for you. Thank you for your support!


To experience art, sci-fi, romance, and space opera with unstoppable, unshakeable, unforgettable characters so real you'll swear you've met them, join my newsletter.

Oh, look! Another book fair :) A new Fantasy and Science Fiction Book Fair #BookFair #Fantasy #SpaceOpera #SciFi

Oh, look! Another book. A new Fantasy and Science Fiction Book Fair #BookFair #Fantasy #SpaceOpera #SciFi

Sci-Fi Book Fair

A bundle of high-caliber authors for lovers of SF/F. All books are at a sale price.

This special event showcases all subgenres of sci-fi and may include cyberpunk, dystopian, fantasy, young adult, hard scifi, military, paranormal, post-apocalyptic, robots, sci-fi romance, soft scifi, space opera, technothrillers, time travel, urban fantasy, and more.

Join us! Sci-Fi Book Event

Colonies of Man

Click covers for the buy link. Click text for the website page and excerpts.

#SciFi #Fantasy #Romance

You'll find these characters mentioned in multiple books in my story universe. Download a printable book list and check them off as you read.

Any of my characters mentioned on this page might be found in multiple books in my story universe. Download a printable book list and check them off as you read.


~ Copyright Β©2024 Kayelle Allen. All rights reserved ~ Kayelle Allen participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates program, an affiliate advertising program which provides the means for sites to earn fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com. If you purchase an item listed on the site from Amazon.com, Kayelle will earn a small commission. Other sites might be affiliate links as well. These will not result in higher prices for you. Thank you for your support!


To experience art, sci-fi, romance, and space opera with unstoppable, unshakeable, unforgettable characters so real you'll swear you've met them, join my newsletter.

Feb is a short month. Make it count with free reads #BookFair #PNR #Fantasy #SciFi #FairyTale

This is a short month. Make it count with free reads in #PNR #Romance #Fantasy #SciFi #FairyTale

Book Fair for Free books

A bundle of high-caliber authors for book lovers.

This special event showcases all subgenres of sci-fi and may include cyberpunk, dystopian, fantasy, young adult, hard scifi, military, paranormal, post-apocalyptic, robots, sci-fi romance, soft scifi, space opera, technothrillers, time travel, urban fantasy, and more.

Free Book Event

Colonies of Man

Click covers for the buy link. Click text for the website page and excerpts.

#SciFi #Fantasy #Romance

You'll find these characters mentioned in many books in my story universe.
Download a printable book list and check them off as you read.

Any of my characters mentioned on this page might be found in multiple books in my story universe. Download a printable book list and check them off as you read.


~ Copyright Β©2024 Kayelle Allen. All rights reserved ~ Kayelle Allen participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates program, an affiliate advertising program which provides the means for sites to earn fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com. If you purchase an item listed on the site from Amazon.com, Kayelle will earn a small commission. Other sites might be affiliate links as well. These will not result in higher prices for you. Thank you for your support!


To experience art, sci-fi, romance, and space opera with unstoppable, unshakeable, unforgettable characters so real you'll swear you've met them, join my newsletter.

Love books? #Fantasy #UrbanFantasy #PNR #Romance A book fair with Fantasy, Paranormal, & Science Fiction

Love books? #Fantasy #UrbanFantasy #PNR #Romance A book fair with Fantasy, Paranormal, & Science Fiction

Sci-Fi Book Fair for Free books

A bundle of high-caliber authors for lovers of SF/F.

This special event showcases all subgenres of sci-fi and may include cyberpunk, dystopian, fantasy, young adult, hard scifi, military, paranormal, post-apocalyptic, robots, sci-fi romance, soft scifi, space opera, technothrillers, time travel, urban fantasy, and more.

Join us! SF Free Book Event

Colonies of Man

Click covers for the buy link. Click text for the website page and excerpts.

#SciFi #Fantasy #Romance

You'll find these characters mentioned in many books in my story universe.
Download a printable book list and check them off as you read.

Any of my characters mentioned on this page might be found in multiple books in my story universe. Download a printable book list and check them off as you read.


~ Copyright Β©2024 Kayelle Allen. All rights reserved ~ Kayelle Allen participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates program, an affiliate advertising program which provides the means for sites to earn fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com. If you purchase an item listed on the site from Amazon.com, Kayelle will earn a small commission. Other sites might be affiliate links as well. These will not result in higher prices for you. Thank you for your support!


To experience art, sci-fi, romance, and space opera with unstoppable, unshakeable, unforgettable characters so real you'll swear you've met them, join my newsletter.

Coming home, an excerpt from The Last Vhalgenn #Fantasy #SciFi #MFRWhooks

Coming home, an excerpt from The Last Vhalgenn #Fantasy #SciFi #MFRWhooks

Duty, honor, and ritual rule her life, but one of these may kill her.

The Vhalgenn is the last of her kind, a companion bred to serve the king. Duty and honor burn in her blood.

When the queen begs for a secret blessing to save her newborn son, the Vhalgenn answers.

But when she takes the babe to the queen's homeland for the ritual, what she discovers could topple the kingdom and overthrow her beloved king...

This story is currently my only first person narrative.

Coming Home

In the private receiving chamber, I knelt before the king I hadn't seen in over two years, an ache in my knees and groin and back that four hours ahorse had burned into my muscle; and delivered the news of victorious battle I'd been dispatched to bring. When I finished, the sovereign master of Qarth and Kellindahr leaned back his tawny, lion-maned head to regard me with heavy lidded eyes.

I couldn't believe the luck of having caught Orix awake so late. He'd always been one to turn in early. Soft, his father used to say. I knew it for his love of bed play. My throat tightened with pleasure at the thought and I had to swallow, hard, to force it away. That we were alone amazed me even more. But war has a way of loosening rules, even in Qarth.

A wartime's ransom of jewels glittered on his hands as he reached for a bowl of golden Kellindahrii apples beside him. He bit into one and chewed.

I waited until the apple reached his smiling mouth again, and then I rose, moved to kneel between his outstretched legs, and closed my callused hand around his be-ringed one to bring the fruit to my own lips. Meeting his gaze, I bit into the same place his teeth had torn and wiped my mouth with the back of a dusty hand.

Orix laughed. "Ah, Raik. You've not changed a whit." He ran his gaze over me, then frowned and moved a candlestick closer to peer at me. "Your leathers are ripped." He traced the slash a scrim saber had made the night before. The blue gaze bored into mine. "Were you hurt?"

Despite my protest to the contrary, he insisted on making sure of my health and untied the bindings of my doublet. Beneath the black leather lay a now sweat-soaked blouse of emerald Qarthian silk, the same color as his standard, which my youngest brother had borne into battle the night before. The silk had been the king's gift the year before on my birthday: green that matched my eyes. His color marked me as Orix's as much as my clan's cheek tattoo. The overlapping petals of the flowering Ddumach ivy tangled itself around a diadem, the symbol for Hellesbor, clan name of my sovereign.

"The leather's ruined, Lord. So's the silk."

"No matter." His gaze still held mine. He jerked loose the ties at my throat as if he meant to strip me naked.

I shivered despite the summer's heat.

Colonies of Man

Click covers for the buy link. Click text for the website page and excerpts.

#SciFi #Fantasy #Romance


JOIN US FOR BOOKHOOKS
Book Hooks is a weekly cooperative meme hosted by Marketing for Romance Writers as part of the MFRW Authors Blog.
It's a chance each week for you the reader to discover current works in progress or previously published books by possibly new-to-you authors.
Thank you for stopping by. Please say hello or leave a note in the comments.


You'll find these characters mentioned in many books in my story universe.
Download a printable book list and check them off as you read.

Any of my characters mentioned on this page might be found in multiple books in my story universe. Download a printable book list and check them off as you read.


~ Copyright Β©2024 Kayelle Allen. All rights reserved ~ Kayelle Allen participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates program, an affiliate advertising program which provides the means for sites to earn fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com. If you purchase an item listed on the site from Amazon.com, Kayelle will earn a small commission. Other sites might be affiliate links as well. These will not result in higher prices for you. Thank you for your support!


To experience art, sci-fi, romance, and space opera with unstoppable, unshakeable, unforgettable characters so real you'll swear you've met them, join my newsletter.

New book fair with Paranormal, plus Science Fiction & Fantasy @AldreaAlien @BethanyShaw77 @JennaCollett28 #Fantasy #UrbanFantasy #PNR #Romance

New book fair with Paranormal, plus Science Fiction & Fantasy @AldreaAlien @BethanyShaw77 @JennaCollett28 #Fantasy #UrbanFantasy #PNR #Romance

New book fair with Paranormal, plus Science Fiction & Fantasy @AldreaAlien @BethanyShaw77 @JennaCollett28 #Fantasy #UrbanFantasy #PNR #Romance

New book fair with Paranormal, plus Science Fiction & Fantasy @AldreaAlien @BethanyShaw77 @JennaCollett28 #Fantasy #UrbanFantasy #PNR #Romance

Meet three of the authors and their books!

Book Fair for Free Books

A bundle of high-caliber authors for lovers of SF/F & PNR.

This special event showcases all subgenres of sci-fi and may include cyberpunk, dystopian, fantasy, young adult, hard scifi, military, paranormal, post-apocalyptic, robots, sci-fi romance, soft scifi, space opera, technothrillers, time travel, urban fantasy, and more.

Join us! SF Free Book Event

Colonies of Man

Click covers for the buy link. Click text for the website page and excerpts.

#SciFi #Fantasy #Romance

You'll find these characters mentioned in many books in my story universe.
Download a printable book list and check them off as you read.

Any of my characters mentioned on this page might be found in multiple books in my story universe. Download a printable book list and check them off as you read.


~ Copyright Β©2024 Kayelle Allen. All rights reserved ~ Kayelle Allen participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates program, an affiliate advertising program which provides the means for sites to earn fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com. If you purchase an item listed on the site from Amazon.com, Kayelle will earn a small commission. Other sites might be affiliate links as well. These will not result in higher prices for you. Thank you for your support!


To experience art, sci-fi, romance, and space opera with unstoppable, unshakeable, unforgettable characters so real you'll swear you've met them, join my newsletter.