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Marketing for Romance Writers is a peer mentoring group for authors. It was founded in 2006 by Kayelle Allen.

At the Mercy of Her Pleasure #SciFi #Romance

 

In this scene, Senth and Khyff are about to meet with Luc Saint-Cyr at a rather infamous club in a bad part of town, when they run into a little snag.

Senth's "baby face" means no one takes him seriously.

Good thing his father -- known as the Man -- has a reputation that opens doors.

 

As Senth approached The Ghost, the club's beefy Kin bouncer put out a hand. "Hold up, kid. You--" She motioned toward Khyff -- "Wait over there. Now..." She motioned Senth aside. "You got ID?"

Senth opened his cloak, revealing the lining with its unmistakable Thieves' Guild insignia, a skeleton key inside a slashed circle. He gave his Sen'dai's hand sign.

"Ffffftt!" The bouncer made an apologetic shrug. "Sorry. Why didn't you say you were the Man's right up front?"

"His shouldn't have to." Senth brushed a hand down the front of the cloak. "And I'm no kid."

"Sorry, sir." She opened the door for both of them and bowed.

Once inside, Khyff held out one palm, and Senth slid his down it, hooked his fingers as Khyff did, and with hands clasped, gave one downward shake.

"C'mon, Bro." Khyff led the way past the darkened foyer.

Inside, music pulsed like a living entity. Throbbing bass tickled Senth's chest, and he coughed. Drums pounded. Colored lights swept the cavernous room. Strobes flashed across the congested dance floor, highlighting bobbing heads and upflung arms. Light glinted off human bodies slick with sweat, while bared and damp Kin furskin stuck out in points, laden with glitter.

"Stay close," Khyff shouted over the pounding music, standing next to Senth. He headed for the rear and left no chance to argue. They skirted around the crammed dance area. Senth liberated a few loose credit stubs clipped to belts and stuffed them into the pockets of his cloak.

Antonello Brothers

Antonello Brothers Sci-Fi Romance Series by Kayelle Allen #SciFi #Romance

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

Series page https://kayelleallen.com/antonello-brothers

#SciFi #Romance
Read all my books for $3 total on Ream Stories

Complete Set Antonello Brothers Series

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 ©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 me on Ream Stories!

Body to body closeness #SciFi by Kayelle Allen #Romance

In this scene, NarrAy shows Senth the room they will be sharing.

 

All People's Liberation Army Ship Vandal Officers' Quarters   

Though still carrying the marks of an Imperial Armada cruiser, the Vandal and its crew had switched sides. Senth followed NarrAy down a corridor painted dull gray. Far from the luxury of the sleepliner, this ship had been stripped to basic military starkness.

"Why is everything lit up with red?"

"It's on night ops. Red makes it easier for the eyes to adjust to darkness, and you can still distinguish everything." NarrAy opened a hatch, and stepped through into another corridor.

"We use red for night work in the Guild, too." Senth waited while NarrAy closed the hatch behind him, and then followed her again.

"Let's see, cabin number... Ah, here we are." She unlocked a door, and he followed her inside.

Encie and Broxus had brought Senth's and NarrAy's bagbots with them, and both bots waited in the room, inactive. The tiny cabin sported a chair, a drop-down desk, and a garment rack with a few cubbyholes under it. A mirror covered the back of the door. One bed--a double.

Senth's cheeks burned in remembrance of the last time he and NarrAy were alone near a bed.

NarrAy gestured around herself. "Like it? This is our room."

"We're...um...both in here?"

"Mmm hmm." NarrAy backed him against the door and set a hand on either side of his waist. "This cabin is for accompanied officers."

"A-accompanied?" Unsure where to put his hands, Senth put them behind him.

"Accompanied." She traced a finger across his chin. "Meaning with someone."

"Oh." His mind churned, fighting for intelligent words, but failed. All he could see was the bed. And NarrAy. Right there, up close, next to him, breathing the same air.

NarrAy put one of her feet between his and leaned against him. Body to body. All the way from his calves up to his waist. Even through his clothes, her warmth soaked into him. Her scent bloomed like warm sugar cookies coming fresh from the oven. Vanilla. Butter. Sugar.

Senth breathed her in, and the scent took him back to his childhood, but the touch of her, the warmth of her, rocked him down to the core as a man.

NarrAy pressed her fingers against his lips.

Senth held his breath as NarrAy watched the progress of her fingers. She drew them from his mouth to his chin, down the front of his throat, and stopped where his cloak fastened.

Antonello Brothers

Antonello Brothers Sci-Fi Romance Series by Kayelle Allen #SciFi #Romance

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

Series page https://kayelleallen.com/antonello-brothers

#SciFi #Romance
Read all my books for $3 total on Ream Stories

Complete Set Antonello Brothers Series

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 ©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 me on Ream Stories!

A Broken Heart - Thieves' Guild Academy #SciFi #SpaceOpera

A Broken Heart - Thieves' Guild Academy #SciFi #SpaceOpera

 

In this scene from A Broken Heart, Senth fights with idBot over a single, deleted--but vital--message.

Message Deleted

A buzz at Senth's wrist alerted him to a message. He withdrew his mobile and set the device to read-only mode, rather than bring it up on holovid.

The message required a password, which told Senth who had sent it. His Sen'dai--guild master--and father, Luc Saint-Cyr.

The Guild didn't accept non-humans, unless they were enslaved to a human member. No one could rise past level ten, unless related to a human member. Guild-arranged marriages and adoptions happened regularly. To keep the Guild happy, Saint-Cyr was Senth's lord and master and his adoptive father.

Could his Sen'dai send a note the way anyone else would? Of course not. No, the Man had to do it with mystery and ceremony.

Folks in this town never referred to Saint-Cyr by name. You could hear the capital letters when they called him the Man, or referred to him as the Harbinger. His father was the crime lord all the other crime lords wanted to be when they grew up.

"Ooh, big scary Man." He thumbed off the device. "Please let this be a job and not him thinking I screwed up." Senth ducked into a coffee shop and made his father's handsign to the worker behind the counter, then slipped into a back room to access the password function in private. That he had no idea what the password might be did not deter him. It took seconds to break in.

"This is prolly some test to see how fast I can break these suckers." He opened the message, and then brought the device to his ear.

"A worker at the Guild says he's met a man who claims you're family. Come home and we'll discuss it. Now." The message ended.

Senth jerked the device from his ear. "No way I heard that right." He pressed play and brought it to his ear.

"The idBot messaging system regrets that your message has been deleted. Would you like to access another message at this time?"

"No, I wouldn't like to access another message. I want to hear this message." He poked at the screen. None of the usual options showed. After several fruitless minutes, he resorted to asking for help. "IdBot, how do I replay the message?"

"Message has been deleted."

"I know that, you stupid machine. Undelete it."

"IdBot is unable to comply."

Senth swore under his breath. "Why?"

"Message was delivered as hear-once-and-delete. Would you like to access another message at this time?"

"No, I wouldn't, idiotBot. Thank you not very much." Senth turned off the device and put it in his pocket. "Why is Dad sending me encrypted hear-once messages? What in the worlds is going on?"

Antonello Brothers

Antonello Brothers Sci-Fi Romance Series by Kayelle Allen #SciFi #Romance

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

Series page https://kayelleallen.com/antonello-brothers

#SciFi #Romance
Read all my books for $3 total on Ream Stories

Complete Set Antonello Brothers Series

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 ©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 me on Ream Stories!

Hiring a voiceover artist for Pietas #PietasFans #SciFi #MFRWhooks

Hiring a voiceover artist takes time and patience. I found mine on Fiverr. Here's how it went.

Hiring a Voiceover Artist

Be prepared to listen to samples and watch video reels. This can be fun. You will see many different levels of expertise.

You might get lucky and find the right person on the first try, but I had specifics in mind and that made it a bit more daunting.

If you'd like to search for a voice actor yourself, try this link. Fiverr Voice Actors

Giving a Voice to Pietas

In 2018, I worked with the Russian cosplayer Nik Nitsvetov, who is a dead ringer for Pietas. After he recreated the Ritual of Strength from the book, Origin of Pietas, I decided to find a voiceover artist who could give Pietas a voice.

I wanted someone with at least a slight English accent, as if he'd learned English from someone in the UK. And he'd been born in Wales, so that was important to pull into the sound.

Also, Pietas has a tenor voice, not too deep. He speaks properly. The immortal king is a perfectionist who demands the best of himself and others, so he had to enunciate each word without sounding like he was reading a script.

Are you thinking -- you are one crazy woman, Kayelle. Where are you going to find someone like that? And how could you afford it? Yeah, I was thinking the same thing.

I decided to try Fiverr. I've been lucky at getting help there over the last few years. I recommend giving it a try if you need help on a quick project -- or a long one. I've successfully added automation to my newsletter, engaged Twitter followers (not bought them) and created more than one video, and I've hired several artists. I'll share info on those in another post.

After listening to bajillion different samples of voiceover artists, I settled with one. Got the sample back, and hired him ($60). He did a great job, but I wasn't quite satisfied. I decided to try again. The next one also cost me $60. Yet I still wasn't happy with the final product.

Should I try one more time, I wondered. You know what they say about the third time being a charm? Well it was true on this one, because I found someone who sounded EXACTLY the way I hear Pietas in my head.

Here are the three voice artists (each sample under 20 seconds). One is no longer on Fiverr. I'll provide links to the ones that are.

Each created a sample using this dialogue:

"No. I cannot imagine settling down with the same person for eternity. How mundane. It would take a special person indeed. I have, however, cohabitated with the same person for centuries and been quite happy. At least at first."

Voice talent artist Lukedact records professional voiceovers in a British accent. You can hire him here. https://www.fiverr.com/lukedact

Drywvoiceover has left Fiverr and I have no contact information for him. Here is his sample.

Hiring a voiceover artist for Pietas #PietasFans #SciFi #MFRWhooks


Zack from Zack Black Voiceovers was the perfect candidate for voicing Pietas. He is now a member of my Creative Team. You can hear him on the Ritual of Strength video, with performer Nik Nitsvetov as Pietas. Here is Zack's sample.

 

Is it any wonder I went with Zack? I'll be posting a video next week using Zack's voice and Nik's performance to answer a few questions. I hope to see you then.

Comments or questions about working with a voiceover actor? Pop a note in the comments. I'll be glad to help if I can.

Check the links below to find more authors in this blog hop.

Pick up the first story in the Bringer of Chaos series, Lights Out, free by joining a reader group!
https://kayelleallen.com/reader-groups

Origin of Pietas

Origin of Pietas: Bringer of Chaos #SpaceOpera #SciFi

Forged in Fire

Forged in Fire: Bringer of Chaos #SpaceOpera #SciFi

Lights Out

Lights Out: Bringer of Chaos #SpaceOpera #SciFi


JOIN US FOR BOOKHOOKS
Book Hooks is a weekly 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.

Your queen is risking her life. Show some respect #Excerpt The Last Vhalgenn #Fantasy #MFRWhooks

 

 

The Last Vhalgenn

Duty.

Honor.

Ritual.

One of these things
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 the newborn prince, the Vhalgenn answers.

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

To save them, she must abandon every last thing she holds sacred, and do the one thing that will destroy her own heart...

Excerpt from The Last Vhalgenn

Duty has shaped the Vhalgenn's life since birth, but to protect the newborn heir, she must betray all she holds sacred.

In this scene from The Last Vhalgenn, the heroine, Raik, has just bathed and eaten, and is alone with King Orix. They grew up together, but his new queen barred Raik from the palace. Raik is back to deliver news of a battle and while delighted to be with Orix, is nervous about his queen discovering them.

---

Orix set his fingers beneath my chin, and turned my face up to his. "You're more than pretty. You're magnificent. My queen has never once sat near the fire with me and talked."

It had been our nightly ritual. "Never?"

"Never." He brushed my hair back from my face. "I've learned to get along with her, Vhalgenn, but I never had to learn anything with you. We grew up with one another. You were my partner in everything I did. My lover, my sister, my sparring partner, my best friend. My everything."

I lifted my head to look up at him. As I did, his mouth came down on mine. A feverish chill coursed through me at his touch. I'd wanted his mouth from the moment I'd seen him on his throne. Orix could not help but be languid and sultry and hot. I felt desire emanating from him like heat from an oven with its door ajar. It scorched my face and I drew in a shallow breath, afraid of being burnt.

Resisting him was something I had never done, except in play. He thought I meant it that way now and made as if to pressure me, until he saw my eyes were brimming.

"Please, Orix. Don't." I pushed myself away from him. "I can't."

He frowned, confused. For him, life was simple. A need? Fulfill it. Thirsty? Drink. Hungry? Eat. Lusty? Love.

"Half the palace must know I'm here. Do you think your queen will let this go unnoticed? She'll have someone in here to check on me before the night's through and I won't be thrown out again, Orix. I couldn't bear it."

"Vhalgenn, I promise. She'll never know."

"No!" I moved away from him. "She's no fool. She's your queen and she's risking her life to have your child. The least you can do is be faithful."

The look of horror on his face tore out a piece of my heart. Then I realized he was looking past me.

His pregnant queen stood in the darkness, right outside the door.

Publisher Romance Lives Forever Books
Universal book link https://books2read.com/u/mYgNnp

Pick up a free, behind the scenes illustrated book and "see" the countryside of this world.

 

Be sure to check below for all the other authors in this hop.


Free Illustrated Starter Set

Pick up a free illustrated starter set when you subscribe to my newsletter.

KayelleAllen.com/Reader-Groups

 

Pick up five free books when you subscribe to my newsletter.


 


JOIN US FOR BOOKHOOKS
Book Hooks is a weekly 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.

Who is she - and is she single? Crystal Clear Truth  #SciFi #Romance #MFRWhooks

Crystal Clear Truth

A slow-burn, forced proximity scifi alien romance

His mission: firestorms

Her mission: protect him.

She just fell in love with her work...

Excerpt from Crystal Clear Truth

This scene takes place after Joe was rescued by Shohn and taken to her home for safekeeping. He'd awakened to find an intruder in his hotel room. Shohn received an alert and decided he needed a safer place. After all, this man holds the possible key to two conflicting missions that Shohn must deal with. This part is right after she settled him in and then left the room.

Hands behind his head, Joe lay on the bed. He couldn't sleep if he tried, so he hadn't bothered pulling down the sheets. Faint light from around the door cast a bit of light on the ceiling. Before long, that went out, and he found himself in darkness.

He pulled out his mobile and brought up Imperinet. "Search people," he told the device. "Basic background on Kin Shohn Lexius."

The unit made an answering ping. "Full name Lexius, Shohnahki, born 4624 on Felidae, Lexius Township, age forty-four years. Employed by idBot 4645. Volunteer at Kin Kids Healthcare. Do you require current address?"

"Think I've got that pretty well covered. What's her position at idBot?"

"Ms. Lexius is the Senior Liaison on the Lucsondis security team."

"What is Lucsondis?"

"Lucsondis is an umbrella company owned by Luc Saint-Cyr."

"Saint-Cyr?" Joe rubbed the tight spot between his eyes. Wasn't that just great? "Is there a civilian world equivalent of her position?"

"Comparative titles include Senior Vice President of Security, Senior Vice President of Security and Transport Division, Executive Director of--"

"Okay. I get it. She's powerful and she works for Saint-Cyr." Hadn't his father often lamented not being able to seek research grants outside the TCF? Saint-Cyr's interests in firestorms was a matter of public record. More specifically, in the crystals created during firestorms. "Okay, idBot. Is Ms. Lexius married or dating anyone?" He gritted his teeth, waiting for the answer.

"According to Idle Time Ezine, Ms. Lexius is not and has never been married. She is listed as number seven on a list of the ten 'Most Sought After Businesswomen of Tarth City.'"

And why did that give him such a feeling of satisfaction? Joe set aside his mobile.

So she worked for Saint-Cyr. What would it take to get Shohn to set up a meeting with the man? And if she did, what would it take to keep the TCF from firing him on the spot?

She might be helping him at Saint-Cyr's behest, or because of the research of Joe's father. Maybe even his own. After all, why would an executive that high up in the company take on a missing person case like his? And then bring him right into her own home?

What were her ulterior motives? Was she planning corporate espionage on Saint-Cyr's behalf? But how would she have known Joe would end up in a vulnerable position, the victim of a break-in?

Unless she set it up in order to gain access to him. Or had herself been the one in that room.

No. He'd felt the vibes. Definitely male.

If she was spying on him, why did she have to be so damned attractive?

Joe swallowed. He'd been right. He wouldn't sleep for a week.

Antonello Brothers

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

#SciFi #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.

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 ©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 me on Ream Stories!


Welcome to Book Hooks!
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 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.