Hi y’all,

I’m excited to freaking bits and beyond!

Why?

Because my first novel-length story is coming out with Red Sage on December 1st *runs round the room waving her hands and acting like a total loon…VBG*

It’s called, FROM THE ASHES, and here’s the story behind the story.

I like a challenge — I guess I’m weird that way. And I always wanted to have a go at writing a SFR (Speculative Fiction Romance) complete with space ships, futuristic tech, and aliens. Hyperspace jumps, stun-guns, stim, grav-sleds, skim-cabs…. Awesome-sauce! And what’s not to like about a Chef-Mate, where you program in what you feel like eating and voilà! Sheesh. I sooo want one of those installed in my kitchen to appease hungry teens.

Then there’s genetic engineering and cosmetic enhancements. Fancy extra fingers, anyone? Multi-colored eyes? Reinforced skeletal structure? How about having your fingerprints lasered and re-etched, and your eyes done, so if you’ve got a dubious past, you won’t red-flag the authorities during a routine ret-scan?

The possibilities are only limited by the imagination. Mine’s pretty fertile, by the way. Just sayin’ *grin*

And let’s not forget aliens. Specifically, my alien, Asher, who hatches from an egg and is fully grown in seconds. Hoh boy, is he something special.  As my heroine, Calista, might say: Booyah!

Only trouble is, Asher’s also the ultimate victim, a specially bred sex-slave who mentally bonds with his intended master and lives to make that person happy. He’ll take a lot of physical punishment because if he displeases his master, he feels intense physical and mental pain. Pleasing his master is as necessary as breathing to him. But how to get around the horrific reality that if Asher does end up at the mercy of the sadistic young Libertine destined to be his master, he’ll eventually die of his injuries? Why, give him Phoenix-like qualities—burn his body and he rises from the ashes. Didn’t I tell you I had a fertile imagination?

So the idea for my Phoenixae alien, Asher, and From The Ashes was born.

But it wasn’t all plain sailing. Originally I wrote this story as a novella exclusively in the heroine, Calista’s, point of view. The readers would only get to see what she saw, and feel what she felt. Trouble was, Asher was so darned compelling a character that I felt I needed to do more with him. He deserved the chance to smack Calista upside the head with the fact that he’s so much more than just a victim. Heck, he deserved his own voice.

So I changed the story from first person point of view to 3rd. Thus a 30,000 word novella became a 45,000 word novel. And after my editor read it and saw the potential for an even bigger story 45,000 words became 62,000.

BTW, I have a special shout-out to fellow Red Sage author, Calista Fox, who let me borrow her name for my heroine. I truly believe my Calista wouldn’t be half as sarcastic, and endearingly vulnerable, and completely kick-your-ass-into-orbit capable, if  I’d gone with the name I originally thought up for her. Thanks, Calista! Sending hugs out into cyberspace for you.

Hope you’ll enjoy reading Asher and Calista’s story as much as I did writing it.

Here’s the blurb for From The Ashes:

Calista’s a freelance space courier recovering from a disastrous marriage during which her ex tried to sell her as a slave. Sure, she’s emotionally damaged, but you should see the state of her ex! She’s also an expert pilot who can illegally reprogram and augment all manner of tech. She’s been ripping off the system and flying under the radar her entire life…. Until now.

Asher’s her “cargo”, the mouthwateringly gorgeous Phoenixae alien who accidentally hatched from the egg she was transporting, and bonded with her. He’s been bred as a sex slave and he can read her mind. Which wouldn’t be so bad if 1) she didn’t abhor slavery and everything it represents, 2) she wasn’t horny as hell, and 3) he wasn’t doubly tempting because of his extra er, male parts! Oh, and then there’s the small issue that if Asher is killed and his body burnt, he can be resurrected. He’s one hot commodity that illegals will kill to possess.

Take one sex-deprived space courier who’ll risk everything to save an alien from a life of slavery. Add one mouthwateringly hot alien sex-slave who knows her deepest desires, feels her pain, and lives to please her in every way. Mix with a ruthless ex-husband intent on vengeance. And stir in a sadistic Libertine noble who will do anything at all to get his hands on a Phoenixae.

From the ashes, an unexpected hero will emerge…. And he’s full of surprises!

And for any of our Red Hot Red Sage blog visitors who’re interested in a sneak peek of the story before it’s officially released:

I’m giving away an electronic ARC of From The Ashes.

Just leave a comment on this blog post before 25th November and I’ll draw one random commenter. Don’t forget to leave an email address on your comment so I can contact you!

Addendum: BTW, you can read an excerpt here. (Thank you, Cathy!)

Cheers,

Maree

Maree Anderson
EVEN DEMONS GET THE BLUES–Night Owl Reviews Top Pick
LET SLEEPING DEMONS LIE–Night Owl Reviews Top Pick
FROM THE ASHES–Red Sage Publishing, Dec 2010

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