Every desire can be fulfilled ... #SciFi #AlternativeReality #Giveaway @dreamphaze1

Blurb

Everyone dreams.

All Saxon Zynn wanted to do was dream, not for himself, but for everyone. Back in 2037, Saxon stated, ‘Dreaming is a reality to be experienced.' A decade of research later and his Dream Immersion technology is poised to become the major entertainment medium of the 21st century, but will unforeseen obstacles prevent him from achieving his purpose?

Dream Phaze is about the inception of engineered dreams and the evolution of indulgence. Set at the crossroads of alternative realities in the near future, it plunges into a world where every human desire, no matter how heroic or evil, can be fulfilled… dreaming just became an adventure.

Excerpt

Twilight was ending as night beat day and engulfed the barren landscape. They gingerly entered the water.

‘It’s stinging my legs, Saxon. What’s that smell?’

‘Sulphur. Under no circumstances should we dive, splash, or put our faces into the water,’ Saxon instructed. ‘Unusual tactile sensation; it’s sort of thick and soupy. What’s your pain threshold on?’

‘I’m on three,’ Kris said.

‘Me too,’ Wendy confirmed. ‘I shouldn’t have shaved my legs this morning.’

‘Don’t go in too far, you might have trouble putting your feet back down on the bottom.’

The three of them lolled in the dense Dead Sea water, looking up at the burgeoning night sky. Small foam bean pillows supported their heads.

‘So, besides the floating sensation, stinging cuts, and the danger of swallowing this muck, what are we doing here, Saxon?’

‘Relax, Kris, enjoy the experience for a moment, we have time. Notice there are very few sounds here.’ Saxon heard someone entering the water behind him, but didn’t look back.

‘Hello, Saxon.’

He instantly recognised her voice. ‘Evening, Lena,’ he smiled.

‘Hi, Lena,’ Wendy chimed in.

‘Lovely night for a dip.’ Lena waded into the water beside Saxon and reclined.

‘Look up there,’ Kris pointed at a faint glow in the eastern quadrant of the night sky. ‘Meteoroid?’ The radiance grew in intensity, then an abrupt flash exploded into flares rippling out like fireworks.

‘Exploding meteoroid,’ Wendy agreed, watching tens of thousands of shooting stars pepper the heavens. ‘Spectacular!’

‘Wow, it’s beautiful,’ Lena whispered, as the sound wave touched them with a faint crack.

‘About 13,000 years ago, just north of this region,’ Saxon explained, ‘early nomadic tribes, hunter gatherers, began staying put in the one place. They collected plants, animal meat and skins, and settled down around their larder to became hunter collectors.’

The others bobbed, mesmerised by the light show above as they listened to Saxon’s lecture-style storytelling.

‘At that time, a sizable meteoroid entered the atmosphere and exploded into a massive meteorite storm covering almost a third of the planet.’

‘So, we’re going to have meteorites rain down on us?’ Wendy asked.

‘One theory goes, this event changed the planet forever,’ Saxon continued. ‘It helped initiate a 1300-year cold period that wiped out the megafauna across North America. Tonight, we will be re-testing the–’

‘Involuntary death exit protocol,’ Kris finished.

‘Correct.’

‘I don’t know, Saxon,’ Wendy said, concerned. ‘Being hit by a meteorite is not my idea of entertainment.’

About the Author

Matt lives in Sydney, Australia and works as a course developer and writer in the Community Services sector.

'This narrative began as a short story in 2014. Over subsequent years it evolved through several plot, character and title iterations until Dream Phaze emerged as an episodic series published online in 2018. These episodes, collectively known as Germination, are now an ebook.

Dream Phaze - Imagination, the second ebook in the series, will be released in September 2020.

Matt is a member of the Australian Society of Authors and Alliance of Independent Authors.

Dream Phaze website: http://www.dreamphaze.com

Buy Dream Phaze – Germination here: https://books2read.com/dreamphaze1

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dreamphaze/

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/dreamphaze1

Goodeads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19559598.Matt_Watters

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A quick trip to the Tarthian Empire - #Interview #SciFi #LGBTQ @KayelleAllen

After recently reading and reviewing Kayelle Allen’s latest novel, A Stolen Heart, I found I had a lot of questions about the book and the elaborate universe in which it’s set. Kayelle kindly agreed to an interview, so I could ask them!

Lisabet : I’ve known you online for more than fifteen years. You’ve been writing stories about the Tarthian empire the whole time. Tell us about the origin of the Tarthian empire – where the ideas came from, not the origin myth within your fictional universe. How did your notions develop? How much of what you “know” now (and what you’ve shared in your recent Antonello Brothers books) did you know when you got started?

Kayelle: When I was seventeen, I had a nightmare about walking down a seemingly endless walkway in a huge throne room. At the end of the room was a woman on a throne, and I knew she was waiting for me. Her brother was missing, and she needed my help. The room was the size of a cathedral, and it was packed. Row after row of soldiers stood facing her, waiting. It felt like I walked forever but got nowhere. Finally, I decided to turn and look back, to see how far I'd come. When I did, the soldiers all looked at me, and I saw their faces for the first time. All of them had the heads of white cats.

I woke up instantly, and my heart was racing. Why I was so frightened, I don't know. No one was threatening me, but the alien aspect frightened me deeply. I also knew I had to find her brother. Why he was missing, I didn't know. That's the nature of dreams. But all of my Tarthian Empire series has come out of that.

L: How did you get the inspiration for Pietas? I have a feeling that from a creative perspective, he’s a relatively recent arrival. (Of course, I might be wrong. Sometimes characters nibble at our consciousness for decades.)

K: I probably don't have to tell you that the missing brother I dreamed about was Pietas. I didn't know his name right away, but it didn't take long to figure out. When I get a character's name, I get everything about them at once. It's quite bizarre. Until I know their name, I can't write them. There's no such thing as using a placeholder like Joe. I have to know the name because the name IS who they are. Like Pietas. His name means piety to one's parents, children, relatives, country, benefactors, etc. It's also one of the Greek virtues and denotes respect and love, especially toward fathers. I had no idea about those meanings. I had read a book where a character was named Pietr. I loved the look of the name, and decided I'd use a form of it. It wasn't until 40 years later that I discovered the other meanings. It struck me as funny, because Pietas loathes his father with every fiber of his being. That man is what drives Pietas to better himself and be a good king.

L: What made you decide to go back in time and explore Senthys’ and Khyff's early life?

K: In the first Antonello Brothers book, At the Mercy of Her Pleasure, Senth and Khyff have only just met. I always wanted to do a story about how they got together. So I wrote a story called Bro, in which they are introduced to one another, and there's a scene where Senth and his father (Luc) have each gotten a cloak through the Thieves' Guild that will make them virtually invisible. When Senth goes to get his, Luc puts on his own. When Senth comes back in, Luc scares the dickens out of him. It's a funny scene ,but there's a moment when Luc remembers his son at age three, right after he'd adopted him. His tender memory of playing hide and seek with Senth was the catalyst for A Stolen Heart. I'd like to do another story that takes place between that book and Bro. But it will be awhile. I have another Antonello Brothers story planned in which they discover they have an older brother. That's on the horizon and I hope to finish it soon.

L: When I first became aware of your work, you were writing erotic romance, including some MM romance. Then you switched gears. In fact, I believe that you even rewrote some of your earlier novels to make them PG. What were your reasons for this change?

K: I was never comfortable writing erotic romance. I did a lot of research to make sure the MM scenes were realistic, and the books were well received. It just didn't match my personality. I'm much happier writing lighter scenes. My books don't shy away from sensuality, but they are strictly closed door. The only exception is my Tales of the Chosen boxed set. That's a set of three erotic gay romances. The books tell the story of Wulf, who is a Chosen -- a secret servant of the immortals -- namely Luc. Each book is a happy for now story.

My next planned book is Surrender Trust, the sequel to Surrender Love. It's MM and features Luc finding his forever love.

L: In A Stolen Heart, you make it clear that Luc and Pietas were lovers in the past. Have you written about that in any of your novels? Do you plan to?

K: It's mentioned in other books, and in Jawk (Tales of the Chosen), there's a scene of them together, but it's an "afterwards" scene and not erotic. Both men are pansexual -- they aren't bothered by things like gender differences or sameness. They love the person for who they are, not what they are. It's refreshing writing scenes with them. They're both very open.

That said, Pietas believes Luc is his forever love and he has no intention of giving him up. So when I write Surrender Trust, Pietas is going to have to face losing him. The immortal king does not give up a fight until there's no possible means of winning, and he's been known to keep fighting even then.

L: Given that you’ve created an entire planet of felinoids, I have to ask: are you an ailurophile?

K: I do love cats. I love dogs too. I have no pets currently, though. I will happily spend an hour watching kitten and cat videos. I'm on Instagram, and there are plenty on there, believe me.

A Stolen Heart by Kayelle Allen

When he rescues a half-human orphan, a glorified space pirate turned entrepreneur sets in motion a chain of events that threatens to topple the powerful Thieves' Guild he once led.

Multiple layers of conspiracy unfold, reaching all the way to Luc's immortal ex--the king. Behind each solved mystery looms an unseen foe, undoing the good Luc accomplishes. For the sake of this child, Luc must postpone his own freedom and master his desire for revenge or he will violate an ancient vow. Worse, he'll put the toddler at risk.

At war with his compassion for the vulnerable child, loyalty to the king, duty to the Guild, and the bright lure of freedom he's coveted for centuries, Luc seeks the right path. Will he choose liberty and unparalleled success, or restore the Thieves' Guild to its former glory while overseeing the child's training?

A hard choice for any man. For an immortal whose inner monster can destroy on sight? Impossible.

A pirate with a monstrous past can never be trusted with an innocent child. Luc must ensure the child is protected, safe, nowhere near danger. Nowhere near him. Even if this little boy has already stolen his heart...

A Stolen Heart - Sci Fi with romantic elements (LGBT)

A former space pirate who's gone straight rescues a vulnerable child adept at breaking into things.

Universal buy link https://books2read.com/u/mZK1zB

This edition comes with a 50+ page bonus book. I'm a hobby artist and love finding ways to illustrate my books. The bonus includes multiple images of characters, places, and items. I do not have skill for certain technical drawings, so I employ a graphic designer when needed.

Kayelle Allen writes space opera with larger than life, unforgettable characters. Come walk in her worlds and meet her misbehaving robots, mythic heroes, immortal gamers, and warriors who purr.

Reader Groups https://kayelleallen.com/reader-groups/

Twitter http://twitter.com/kayelleallen

Facebook http://facebook.com/kayelleallen.author

Pinterest http://pinterest.com/kayelleallen/

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/710889.Kayelle_Allen

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Kayelle-Allen/e/B003ZRXVN8

Excerpt

In this short peek, Luc is meeting with the king, Pietas (his ex), after not seeing him in person for several years.

Pietas scooted in closer and then slipped one hand across Luc's shoulders.

Luc stiffened.

"Surprised I'm here?" Pietas slid that hand down Luc's back.

The man's touch had no right to feel this good. Twisting toward him, Luc cleared his throat. "Yes. I worried something happened."

"I'm touched." A playful smile lit Pietas's face. "You worried about me?"

"I worry whenever you do something different."

"Different how?"

"Let's see." Luc ticked items off his fingers. "Send troops over a border. Incite a riot. Invade a planet. Invade some king's daughters. Or his sons... Shall I go on?"

Pietas chuckled. "You worry a lot."

To increase his personal space, Luc adjusted the hang of his jacket. "You're in a good mood."

"Yes, yes." Pietas brushed a dismissive hand through the air. "I haven't triggered a war, if that's what you're fretting about. I'm not sending you out of the Empire, and I'm not planning to feed you to my cat."

"Not planning."

"No," Pietas agreed, with a bemused expression. "Although if there's someone you want to be rid of..." He lifted one brow.

"No, no, quite capable of making people disappear on my own, my lord, but I'll keep a personal dose of panther justice in mind."

"Panther justice!" Laughing, Pietas laid a hand on his chest. "How I've missed your sense of humor. I don't recall the last time I laughed out loud." He looked down, toying with a turquoise ring.

The fat nugget of fractured stone occupied his left forefinger. The silver setting evoked a dragon's open mouth, a gift from Luc hundreds of years ago. Pietas rarely removed it.

Did he cling to their past relationship, or wear it to show Luc he hoped for the future? Either way, Luc could not reconcile being with this man with the desire for freedom. To give birth to one meant the death of the other.

One last time... #MFRWHooks #Paranormal #Shapeshifters

Welcome to this week’s Marketing for Romance Writers Book Hooks blog hop. Today I’m sharing a snippet from my paranormal erotic romance The Eyes of Bast. Anyone who’s followed me for a while will know I’m a huge ailurophile (that is, a cat lover). Hence I had great fun writing this feline shape-shifter tale.

Blurb

Trust your heart. Follow your dreams.

Shaina Williams’ grandmother bequeathed her that wisdom, along with an old pendant from the Islands, carved from an ocelot’s tooth. When instinct tells Shaina to visit the feral cat trap she’s set in Central Park, she listens to that inner voice. She discovers she’s caged a magnificent black tom, but the cat inexplicably vanishes after she tends to his wounds. Seeking the errant feline, Shaina encounters instead a handsome stranger whose slightest touch sets her body on fire. As the day dawns after a night of ferocious passion, her mysterious lover is forced back into his true shape—the tomcat she rescued.

Born a cat, Tom was transformed into an unwilling shape shifter by a sorceress who craved a human plaything to satisfy her perverse lusts. Centuries old and irresistibly powerful, Delphine Montserrat will stop at nothing to find her runaway familiar. Shaina vows to do whatever is necessary to defeat the vicious but seductive witch and save the man she believes is her soul mate—even though it might mean losing him forever. 

 

The Hook

I drew him against my breasts and, naturally, his lips sought mine. Tabasco and brown sugar flavors mingled with his usual wild and earthy taste. My sex felt sore and inflamed after his most recent ravishment, but that didn’t stop me from craving the sensation of his relentless cock pummeling me again. However, with something like resignation, he pushed me away. Residual arousal rippled along my skin.

“Tom?”

“I’ve got to go. Every minute we are together increases your danger. She’s somewhere in this city, seeking me. She’ll find me, before long. She’ll find us and when she does, she’ll punish you as viciously as she will me.” With a grace that almost made me sob, he rose to his feet and headed for the bathroom. “If you’ll lend me some money, I can be on an outbound bus in a couple of hours.”

I followed him, standing in the doorway as he splashed water on his face and under his arms, then patted himself dry with my towel. Despite his washing, his musky odor filled the tiny cubicle. I ached to hold him tight, to never release him. Still, I knew that he wouldn’t lie to me. He wanted to stay with me. I had no doubt of that, could feel it in my very bones. But he didn’t dare.

I watched, feeling totally helpless, as he dressed himself in the jeans and jersey he’d worn that evening we’d met in the park. Had he left them here? I couldn’t recall. All that I remembered was that incredible sense of connection—physical, emotional, spiritual. How could I let him go?

I slipped into my robe, somehow not wanting to be naked when he was clothed. My mind whirled as I sought some way to keep him with me.

“You can’t run forever, Tom. We’ve got to find her, before she finds us, so we can break the spell.”

“Find one woman in this hive of eight million souls?” His laugh was bitter. “You’re dreaming, Shaina.”

“Gram always told me that dreams point the way to truth.” I clasped the pendant I never took off, the one she’d given me as a girl, an abstract feminine shape she’d told me was carved from an ocelot’s tooth. The relic from her home island felt warm under my fingers. “You’re my dream, Tom—my heart’s desire. I won’t let you go.” I squared my shoulders and stepped closer, blocking his route to the door.

“Ah, woman—I don’t want to go.” He clasped me to his chest and once again, the world cartwheeled around us. Reeling with desire, I sought his lips and felt him surrender to me. One last time. I could almost hear his thoughts.

 

Be sure to visit the other great authors joining today’s Book Hooks Hop!

Fidelity - #fidelity #monogamy #dreams

Image by Christelle PRIEUR from Pixabay

 

I have been happily married for nearly forty years. Nevertheless, I don't think I am monogamous by nature. Before my husband and I hooked up, there were periods in my life when I was simultaneously in love with, and had sexual relationships with, two men. I realize that some readers may find this outrageous, as well as improbable. I couldn't possibly have loved them both, could I? And how could the men involved have put up with such a thing? That sort of thing happens only in novels―usually in erotica rather than in romance.

Well, it's true. I couldn't help it. And actually, it worked reasonably well. When I was with either of my lovers, he was my emotional focus. I did not fantasize about the other man. I didn't compare the two of them. Each of my relationships stood on its own, not perfect (that never happens, except in romance novels) but enjoyable and fulfilling.

I didn't lie. My lovers knew of each other's existence. In some cases they had even met. If they were jealous, they knew better than to complain. I gave myself 100% to each of them when we were together. I guess they cared enough about me to be satisfied with that.

But all that changed when I married, right? Not exactly. Before we met, my husband had enjoyed at least as active and adventurous sex life as I did. Our marriage contract explicitly acknowledges the fact that we might not be monogamous. We grant each other sexual freedom, provided that we are honest with one another and always put our marriage first.

In fact, neither of us has been involved in side relationships with other people. However, we did experiment with polyamory in the first decade or so of our marriage. We were both attracted to the notion of finding another couple with whom we could have an intimate friendship or even form a family. We didn't really succeed―swing clubs and parties are not the right places to find the sort of deeper connection we wanted. I've come to believe that real polyamory is something that happens, not something you can go seeking. In any case, we didn't become monogamous, technically speaking, until we both got to the age where it seemed a bit ridiculous for us to be looking for outside lovers.

Despite this, I consider that I've been faithful to my husband. Don't scoff. Fidelity is an emotional concept, not a physical one. Our relationship comes first. His happiness and comfort are my primary concern. I might be drawn to a guy I meet, but I won't act on my attraction if I think it will hurt my husband (and these days, I know that it would). It doesn't bother me if my spouse is attracted to another woman because I'm confident that I come first for him, too. He could have sex with her and it would not diminish his love for me.

I've always had extremely vivid dreams, not infrequently erotic. I have a recurring dream where I encounter some man and there's instant chemistry. I don't usually dream explicit sex acts but every touch, every glance, overflows with desire. (I'm always younger in my dreams―somewhere between 25 and 30 when I was in my prime―so it never feels odd to attract someone's lust, the way it would in my waking life.) I'm so horny that I can scarcely bear it. He obviously feels the same way. It's overwhelming, intoxicating.

Then I'll remember: I'm married. If I go off with this other guy, whoever he is, my husband will be alone. I don't want to make my husband suffer. I know he needs me, needs my company, my presence. So, with some regret, I'll let go of the dream guy and the arousal he engenders. I'll explain the situation. I'd love to be with you, but I can't. I'm committed, and I take that commitment seriously.

I find this dream scenario fascinating. You'd think that in my dreams, where no one would get hurt, I'd let loose and give expression to my non-monogamous nature. Yet I don't. It's a measure, to my mind, of true fidelity.