I’m at The Imaginarium this weekend, with print copies of OTHER EARTH, OTHER STARS. Currently, it’s only available for general sale in Kindle format. The print version will go live on Amazon on September 26, just in time for my 65th birthday. 🙂
Meanwhile, here’s this:
Leaving the Turtle — excerpt
by Marian Allen
The Babas retreated into the meeting house. The Earth people were granted permission to attend, and our best fighters were called in as well. That included me.
“Their demand is out of the question,” SharShar na Bal said flatly. “Someone must fight.”
“But…to the death!” a younger Baba objected. “That’s never been done. Not on purpose, at least! Why would they throw away their best fighter?”
“Who will go?” Bal asked.
Ordinarily, there would be a clamor for the honor of defeating the native champion. The death-challenge was daunting, though, and there were no volunteers.
“BranDal na Cam,” Bal said, as I knew she would. “You will fight. They must have some secret or trick, or they wouldn’t make this challenge. You other fighters, watch. See what the secret or the trick is. One of you will win when we challenge them to take the hunting grounds back.”
The Earth people objected, but even I had to admit I was the most expendable of our fighters. It’s possible I even deserved it. A troublemaker from the womb, it’s as if I had been born for exactly this.
~*~
A WRITING PROMPT FOR YOU: Write a scene in which your main character is the most expendable member of a group.
MA
Jane
September 13, 2015 at 10:07amI like to think that self-assessments of expendability are often off the mark. However, it does suck to even consider one is expendable, particularly if logic and stuff tends to back up such an assessment. 🙁
Oh! Here’s a good story idea (probably a short one):
Most post-apocalyptic stories feature the young and vigorous. Write one from the POV of an arthritic elder who just knows they’re made to be zombie fodder. Like I said, it’ll be a short story.
Marian Allen
September 13, 2015 at 6:15pmI do like that story idea, Jane. That may be one of my extremely rare zombie post-apocalyptic stories. Hmmmm….
Holly Jahangiri
September 13, 2015 at 12:58pmWait, I thought you were MY age! Damn… did you find the Fountain of Youth?
I’m eager to buy this in Kindle or paperback. Reading the ARC on a 17″ monitor is not the same as curling up on the couch, imagining you reading to ME. (Okay, so I was on drugs when I first got hooked on your stories – just smile, nod, and go with it. Even stone cold sober, I’m enjoying them immensely!)
Marian Allen
September 13, 2015 at 6:17pmYou’re so sweet!
I can send you the mobi file if you prefer it. Or I can call you and read to you over the phone. heh.
We just heard from the narrator guy that he’s ready to start recording A DEAD GUY AT THE SUMMERHOUSE, so that’ll be an audiobook soon! Yay!
Holly Jahangiri
September 13, 2015 at 11:04pmYou spoil me enough already – don’t tempt me!! I’ll gladly give you my phone number, though, if you’re serious! (I thought you did send me the .mobi, and I tried to email it to my Kindle, but that didn’t work. I hate to admit that I have no idea how to side load files onto it, if they don’t come through Amazon. 🙁 )
Marian Allen
September 14, 2015 at 11:48amCame home from Imaginarium with a cold. Or, as conventioneers call it, Convention Crud. You mingle with a thousand people, run on adrenaline, eat whatever whenever, wear yourself out, come home, and BLARGH. Then you do it AGAIN! Kind of like drinking: fun while it lasts.
Holly Jahangiri
September 14, 2015 at 11:58amOh, you poor thing. I got the file; my Kindle email got the file. Now, to recharge the Kindle and make sure IT gets the file – but yes, I had only several copies of the PDF and had apparently tried to send the COVER file to the Kindle when you sent it, but never found the spot where it goes or realized that I had to DELIVER it, too. Sheesh. I think we’re good, now!
Holly Jahangiri
September 13, 2015 at 11:06pmNo, all I have are several copies of it in .pdf – that may have been the problem! Haha! Yes, let’s try the .mobi if you don’t mind.