Thursday, February 12, 2009

Thursday's Special...StarQuest!

STARQUEST by Hywela Lyn


When Jestine Darnell is rescued from her sabotaged starship by the crew of the Destiny her only objective is to complete her mission and keep her promise to save a world from slavery. Love is the last thing on her mind. However, she has not counted on losing her heart to Kerry Marchant the ship’s second in command, who makes his distrust of her painfully obvious, despite the chemistry between them. The completion of her mission has consequences that neither of them could have foreseen.


Enter Dahll Tarron, who becomes involved in a long and dangerous quest to find the Destiny. Fates become intertwined, perils shared, culminating in the realization that sometimes love may be so close that there is a danger it will not be recognized until it is too late…


To buy StarQuest from The Wild Rose Press, CLICK HERE

Click to visit, Lyn's website or her blog.


Excerpt from STARQUEST


Kerry turned and looked at her. "Something on scan that should not be there?" he asked, the brusque tone of his voice breaking into her musings.

"No, it's just...so beautiful out there—and so vast," she replied. How could he fail to be moved by the stars she loved so much? "It makes me think of something my mother told me when I was a child back on Earth."

He raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"You wouldn't be interested. It's just a story." She rose from her seat.

"Try me."

"Well..." Noting the cold skepticism in his eyes, Jess wished fervently she had not mentioned it, but it was too late now. Reluctantly she seated herself again.

"I used to spend hours watching the stars, dreaming of one day exploring them," she told him softly. "My mother and I would often watch the night sky together. I loved to see falling stars, and she told me they were the souls of young girls who had died for love. For a long time I believed it."

Kerry regarded her witheringly. "Presumably you do not need me to give you a lecture on meteors and astrophysics?"

"I did say I was just a child. I knew you'd think it ridiculous." She tossed back her hair and looked at him steadily. "But even when I was old enough to know falling stars were merely specks of cosmic dust igniting in the Earth's atmosphere, I still loved watching for them and imagining—"

She broke off with a slight shrug, and gestured toward the scanner. "I'm sure it sounds absurd to you, but I would never be afraid to die if I thought I might become part of all that, even if just for a moment."

"Are you not a little old for such fanciful ideas?"

Jess ignored the scorn in his voice. "Perhaps, but I can't help thinking how fragile life is. I've already cheated death once. My escape module wasn't equipped with interstellar drive. I couldn't have made it to another planetary system before the life support units gave out. If the Destiny hadn't picked me up."

She studied him pensively for a moment. He behaved like part of the ship itself...cold, calculating and unfeeling. Why had he suddenly decided to strike up a conversation with her? What thoughts were going through his head to make him stare at her so fixedly? "Kerry, don't you believe in anything?"

"Oh, yes," he replied, giving her a very direct look. "Myself and this ship, and the technology that enabled us to design and build her."

"And there's no room in your life for the concept of the Universal Spirit...you think this whole universe was created by accident?"

"I know it goes against all the rulings of the Union, with their insistence on blind obedience to the 'Universal Spirit,' but I trust only in the things I know and can control. I do not waste my time on fantasy or myths."

"It must be very gratifying to be so self-sufficient you need no one and nothing but yourself," Jess said, without trying to suppress the note of scornful resignation in her voice.

"It avoids disappointment."

She shook her head disparagingly and rose to leave the flight deck, taking one last look at the observation panel. To her consternation, Kerry caught hold of her by the shoulder and pushed her firmly back into her seat, standing over her with an attitude of grim resolve.

"Not so fast, you have some explaining to do."

***************************************************************************

Please answer the following question for a chance to win a free copy of STARQUEST. Or, pop in and chat with Lyn!!
What’s the first thing Jess explains to Kerry?



Hywela Lyn (usually known by her second name ‘Lyn’, which is easier to pronounce, is intensely proud of being Welsh, although she currently lives in England with her husband Dave and rescued Jack Russell, Bouncer. She has made up stories in her head for as long as she can remember, inspired by the beautiful Welsh scenery and its legends, and acting out her characters' roles in her mind. She is passionately fond of all animals and the outdoors. She has two horses, Harry and T’pau and usually manages to have a horse somewhere in her stories.

‘Starquest’ is her first novel, a romantic SF/Fantasy. It is available in print or as an Ebook from The Wild Rose Press, and the sequel ‘Children Of The Mist’ is due to be released on 19th June this year. She is also one of nine authors collaborating The Wild Rose Press’s ‘Song Of The Muses’ series about the nine Greek Muses. Her Muse is ‘Terpsichore’ and Lyn sent her to 5th Century Wales. The book is also a tribute to her old endurance mare, Sally, ‘Dancing With Fate’ is available now from The Wild Rose Press.

71 comments:

Sarah Laurenson said...

Good morning one and all. Firing up the grill to welcome Lyn to the house.

Grab a cup of joe or something a bit stronger, pull up a seat and say Hi.

Chris Eldin said...

Good morning Sarah! Ah, I see we have an English lassie on the roast today. They're a bit spicier than your average American.... hehehehe

I love the movie "Contact." This excerpt reminded me a bit of that.
:-)

Hywela Lyn said...

Good morning Sarah, thanks for haing me here. I'm passing round the hot chocolate since it's a bit chilly. Don;t mind a nip of something stronger thogugh! :)

Sarah Laurenson said...

I like my roast spicy. This will be fun!

Hywela Lyn said...

Hi Chris
*Grin* Are British girls 'spicy'? Not sure, hae to consult my husband on that one!

Flattered my excerpt reminded you of 'Contact'!Q

Beth Caudill said...

Hey Lyn

Popped in to say hi.

Jess explains about her memories with her mom and how falling stars were the souls of young girls who died for love.

I used to dream about going into space....still do. I often think there has to be something else out there. Probably why I love science fiction books. :)

Sarah Laurenson said...

Yummy. Thanks. Hot chocolate is wonderful. You even got the mini-marshmallows. How thoughtful.

Sarah Laurenson said...

Hey Lyn - Checking out your website and your blog. Those would be awesome places to invite your friends and fans to the Roast!

Anonymous said...

Hi Lyn!

What's this about a roast??? Do I need to bring the matches???

I have read this wonderful story more than once and can say that it just gets better each time! :)

This story should be a movie...REALLY!

Sarah Laurenson said...

Hey Lyn - Did you ever want to be an astronaut? Or was dreaming about space a lot more fun?

Hywela Lyn said...

Hi Beth,

Thanks for dropping in. Yes, I share Jess's dreams of space with you - wouldn't it be wonderful to see the beauty of space firsthand. (That's why I write SF, next best thing!)

Hywela Lyn said...

Glad your enjoying the hot choc and marshmallows Sarah. Yes, I will pop along and get the word out on my blog and Website now, I meant to do it before but time sort of ran away with me!

Hywela Lyn said...

Hell - my friend and supporter and unpaid moral booster, Miss Mae. Great to see you here. (You've made me blush again) Now, put those matches away, you don't need 'em the barbeque's going just fine. Pull up a chair and have a slurp of hot choc and mallows.:)

Hywela Lyn said...

Well Sarah, to answer your question, I've always loved the idea of space travel, but I'd like to do it like my heroine, Jess does, with artificial gravity and a starship with mod cons. I'm not sure I'd be able to cope with the claustrophobic spacesuits and cramped conditions today's astronauts have to deal with, so I guess realistically I'm more of a dreamer.

Hywela Lyn said...

Well Sarah, to answer your question, I've always loved the idea of space travel, but I'd like to do it like my heroine, Jess does, with artificial gravity and a starship with mod cons. I'm not sure I'd be able to cope with the claustrophobic spacesuits and cramped conditions today's astronauts have to deal with, so I guess realistically I'm more of a dreamer.

Hywela Lyn said...

Ooops, I just spotted the typos in my first post! Must be the excitement! Or the fact my fingers are freezing. I'll just edge a little closer to the grill!

Sarah Laurenson said...

Edge on up there. We wouldn't want you to be cold. Right there on top is nice and comfy warm.

Hywela Lyn said...

*Grin* Ooh yes, you're right there. Just gott watch I don't singe my boots!

Sarah Laurenson said...

Yeah - no boot singing around here. Shoe leather is not the tastiest thing on this planet.

I'd love to be able to put my jeans on and blast off into space.

Sarah Laurenson said...

Seems like Jess has got a nice wild side to her that she keeps under tight control. Am I far off?

Hywela Lyn said...

You're so right about that Sarah, singed bootleather is not nice.

Yes, blasting into space would be fantastic - especially with a hot (not singed) hulky hero for company!

Hywela Lyn said...

Yes, Jess is a redhead and very spunky, but she tries to keep calm and controlled in most situations, sometimes though that wild side does get the better of her!

Sarah Laurenson said...

Gotta love those redheads! Feisty, passionate...

Hywela Lyn said...

Very ... though she tries her best to appear demure. Once her fuse is lit though - !

Sarah Laurenson said...

We ladies can have interesting tempers.

Anything you care to share on your writing process?

Charles Gramlich said...

Hum, well Kerry seems a bit of a fuss budget. She's going to have to do some work on him it looks like. I like the female character though. A bit of a dreamer but also smart and aware of what's around her.

Hywela Lyn said...

Oh, yes, we ladies have different tempers to men don't you think? But I reckon our tempers, are, as you say, interesting.

Anyway - my writing process. Mmm 'process', I'm not sure there is one! :) Actually each story is different.

Starquest came to me through the characters, first Kerry, dark, brooding and very mistrustful of women. I wanted to come up with a woman who could stand up to him, thaw his heart and help him learn to trust. Jess arrived, not only strong and courageous, but caring and sensitive. She proceeded to relate the story to me, and when I had the audacity to write the ending, she told me in no uncertain terms that 'that's now how it happened!' so I had to change the ending - and admit that she was right.

The sequel 'Children If The Mist' started with a first sentence, and a problem, and this time I had to work much harder. But I knew how it ended and that was the important thing - I have to have something to work towards even if it changes! :)

'Dancing With Fate' was written as part of an anthology, about each of the nine Greek Muses. Mine was Terpsichore, and I knew she'd end up in 5th century Wales, I also knew how that story ended but again my characters had a few surprises for me along the way.

Hywela Lyn said...

Hi Charles. I'm not sure about Kerry being a 'fussbucket' :) he is very self confident and aloof though. But there are reasons why he's like he is, and when I eventually get some time I'm going to try to talk to him and perhaps there's another story there somewhere.

Yes, i'm glad you like Jess, she's the favourite character of any that I've written and 'Starquest'
is 'the book of my heart' to use a cliche, because of her. As you say, she's a dreamer, but yes, she's smart, and more capable than the men around her sometimes give her credit for, including the 'bad guy'.

Sarah Laurenson said...

I know what you mean about the characters writing their own story.

Time for me to scoot off to work.

I had a spot of trouble getting on here when it was time to close yesterday - work is a bit strange about letting us out in the big world of the internet. I believe that will be far into your night anyway. So talk as long as you like and come back and post the winner when you can.

Hope everyone enjoys this grand roast we've got going! Smells delicious to me.

Hywela Lyn said...

Have a good day at work Sarah and thanks so much for looking after me today and keeping the grill going. It's a pity about work, it's a necessary 'pain' isn't it!

Yes, it's already evening in the UK here, so while I'll be around for a few hours more yet, it will still be early evening for my US friends when I have to turn in, so I'll come back first thing tomorrow (my time)and announce my winner and answer any questions or comments which were posed while I was asleep!

laughingwolf said...

welcome, lyn, love the excerpt :D

thx for the cuppa, sarah...

the first thing jess expalins to kerry: you MAY be 2-ic, but that does NOT mean you get to manhandle me like i was one of your robot help! ;) lol

Hywela Lyn said...

Hi Laughing Wolf

Nice to see you, glad you like the exerpt. And I LOVE your explanation!

Nightingale said...

Sounds like an intriguing read. Just added to my TBR!

Hywela Lyn said...

Thank you so much Nightingale, I hope you enjoy it - let me know, I love to hear from people.
Thanks for stopping by.

Hywela Lyn said...

Ooh, sorry Nightingale I forgot to say, I checked out your profile and website, and I see that apart from being fellow Wild Rose Press Authors, we also share a love of horses - not to mention long haired, handsome men! :)

Anonymous said...

You won't regret it, Nightingale. It's an incredible story. :)

Hywela Lyn said...

Thank you so much Miss Mae - having you say such lovely things is so heartwarming since you are such an incredibly talented and amazing author yourself!

Hywela Lyn said...

Sorry folks I meant to post this before. This is a link to my website where I have a video you might like to take a peek at

http://www.hywelalyn.co.uk/starquest.htm

Susan Macatee said...

Hi, Lyn! I already have my copy of Starquest at the top of my TBR pile. But I just wanted to say that was a great excerpt!

DanielAbelman said...

hi lyn

love the colour of your purple space-suit top [in your pic]. i think you would look rather grand in it, on the deck of an intergalactical spaceship.

bon voyage with your book - the unlimited stars are your limit.

M.Flagg said...

Hi Hywela, Loved the excerpt. The concept of stars being souls is wonderful. That description just took me away.
Enjoy being roasted...whatever that means.
Have a great day!

laughingwolf said...

thx lyn, i'm all for the distaff side, especially brainy/competent ones like jess...

always had a soft spot for redheads, too, cuz my first love was one: mama :D

Hywela Lyn said...

Hi Susan

Thanks so much for your kind comment - glad you liked the excerpt, i do hope you enjoy the book when you read it. Thanks again.

Hywela Lyn said...

Hi Daniel

Many thanks for your comment - I admit it - purple is my favourite colour - as for wearing it on the deck of an intergalactic starship - ye-, move over Janeway! :-)

Hywela Lyn said...

Hi M F -

Thank you for your kind words - that excerpt is actually one of my own personal favourites, and one of the first things that 'came' to me when I started writing it. I' so glad you liked it.

Yes, this roasting is fun - especially as it's pretty chilly in the UK at the moment!

Hywela Lyn said...

Aw thanks Laughing Wolf - what good taste you have - I'll pass your kind remarks on to Jess - did you know she has her own 'My Space'?
http://www.myspace.com/jestine_darnell

McKoala said...

OK, so completely different question here. Wasn't T'pau the name of a band in the eighties? I've got a song going through my head right now, something about 'china in your hands'?

Hywela Lyn said...

Hi McKoala (Luv it!)

Yep - T'pau is the name of a band, which as far as I know is still going. But my T'pau isn't named after the band. She's named after Spock's grandmother, in Star Trek. That T'pau was a very powerful, respected matriach - and my horse is a sorrel paint mare who acts just like her namesake - but I love her!

Hywela Lyn said...

Well here in the UK it’s way past midnight so I’d better run this ship on auto-pilot for a few hours while I get some kip. I’ll be back in the morning (my time) to select a winner, so feel free to post more questions or comments if you wish and pop back tomorrow (your time) to see who’s won a copy of Jess’s adventures.

Thanks to everyone who’s come by and commented, it’s been great (and I think there’s still some hot chocolate and marshmallows left, so finish them off). Thanks again to Sarah and the book roast crew for keeping the grill fired up and making my day so enjoyable.

Christine Clemetson said...

Hi Lyn,
Great excerpt.

Christine

Hywela Lyn said...

Thanks Christine. Glad you liked it.

Hywela Lyn said...

Good morning everyone.

Firt of all, I'd like to thank everyone who stopped by yesterday and was kind enough to leave a comment. It was difficult to choose from so many interesting posts, so I fed all the names into the Quest's computer. Eventually it churned out the answer 'Laughing Wolf'! So congrats to Wolf. However, it (the computer, which eventually got named 'Seattle', being very wise, decided there should be a runner up, to receive a desk calendar and a few other goodies - so Beth Caudill, your name was the next one to pop up.

Congrats and thanks again everyone for giving me such a great roasting!

Anonymous said...

Great post, Lyn! And I love the folklore. ;) Skhye

Hywela Lyn said...

Thamks so much Skhye, sister muse, appreciate you stopping by!

laughingwolf said...

i did not know, lyn... thx

will check her out :O lol

laughingwolf said...

ooops!

shoulda read before i posted!

ol wuff's da winnah? YAYYY!

thx so much, lyn... what do i do now?

and grats to you, beth! :D

Sharon Donovan said...

Hey Lyn. Great roast. Enjoyed reading the excerpt so much I'm off to planet TWRP to make a purchase. I've always enjoyed stories of floating through space since Lost in Space. BTY--the next time you take a trip through space, bring me back an out of this world hunk!
Sharon

Hywela Lyn said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Hywela Lyn said...

Oops sorry about that, try again!

Hi Wolf, Congrats. If you and Beth each send me your address to HywelaLyn at hywelalyn dot co dot uk
(You know the score, leave out spaces etc.) and I'll send you your prizes.

If you would prefer a download to a paperback, Laughing Wolf, I'll need your email address as well.

Hywela Lyn said...

Hi Sharon -

Thanks so much, I so pleased you enjoyed the excerpt - *Grin* I'm off to find an 'out of this world' hunk for you! :)

laughingwolf said...

k lyn, i'll email immediately :D

thx for a great roast, btw

and sarah, you may roast more, if you so desire ;) lol

McKoala said...

Well done Doggie and Beth! Thank you for a fun roast Hywela!

laughingwolf said...

aww thx mc :D

Hywela Lyn said...

Thanks McKoala, I thoroughly enjoyed it myself.

Hywela Lyn said...

Laughing Wolf - I'm sorry, did you email me? I don't seem to have received it - would you mind trying again. If you go to my website www.hywelalyn.co.uk and click on 'Contact me' and leave me a message it should go through all right. I do apologise I'm not sure why it shouldn't have come through the address I gave you but we'll get it sorted.

laughingwolf said...

i did lyn... will try again

gmail and google are related, so not surprised when things screw up :(

Hywela Lyn said...

Well done Wolfie, we made the connection! I've emailed you back.

Hywela Lyn said...

Well, I reckon I'm not just roasted, but chargrilled and blackened to a cinder! It's hard to leave, but I guess I'd better go before I really outstay my welcome. Thanks again folks - and just to prove what a great time I've had, I'll be back again with my muse Terepischore, on March 5th!

laughingwolf said...

we did indeed, lyn... and the myspace site's cool, too :D

Hywela Lyn said...

Thank you kind sir - you are very kind! :)

laughingwolf said...

woof! ;) lol