One of the great joys *cough* of parenthood is sorting through your kids' stuff after they move out. This generally happens when the parental units are ready to convert the bedroom into an office, and they get tired of asking, cajoling, bribing, and threatening their former tenants to come home long enough to finish the job.
But, I digress.
A couple of weeks ago, I was sorting through all the cra--erm, stuff left behind and came across a rather large book. One of my kids had apparently borrowed it and never returned to its shelf in the living room. It gave me a chuckle. After all, I did mention this over-sized tome in my second book, Salvation.
Here's the specific mention:
But, I digress.
A couple of weeks ago, I was sorting through all the cra--erm, stuff left behind and came across a rather large book. One of my kids had apparently borrowed it and never returned to its shelf in the living room. It gave me a chuckle. After all, I did mention this over-sized tome in my second book, Salvation.
Here's the specific mention:
Dante slid a very large, very thick book bound in dark green leather off one bookshelf and dropped on his desk with a floor-vibrating thud.
A soft, humorous sound escaped Nick. “I’m guessing that’s not the complete works of Shakespeare.” He leaned forward to read the blocky, gilt print on the book’s cover. “Anferthian Health and Anatomy?”
Yes, a book containing the complete works of Shakespeare really does exist, and we own a copy. (Scroll down to read an excerpt of this scene.)
A soft, humorous sound escaped Nick. “I’m guessing that’s not the complete works of Shakespeare.” He leaned forward to read the blocky, gilt print on the book’s cover. “Anferthian Health and Anatomy?”
Yes, a book containing the complete works of Shakespeare really does exist, and we own a copy. (Scroll down to read an excerpt of this scene.)
So, there you have it, peeps. This is the inspiration for the Anferthian Health and Anatomy. Now this baby may not be as enormous as the AH&A Nick mentions, but it does take up almost a quarter of my kitchen table. And I assure you, this is not something you'd want in your backpack while traveling anywhere, especially to distant planets like Matir.
Just ask my kid who apparently never had the strength to schlep this sucker all the way back downstairs. Don't worry, darling. Mom took care of it, because she is a bad ass.
Just ask my kid who apparently never had the strength to schlep this sucker all the way back downstairs. Don't worry, darling. Mom took care of it, because she is a bad ass.
SALVATION, Book Two of the Prophecy Series
A blessing and a curse…
Seven years ago, a single moment changed the course of Nicholaus Bock’s life forever—the moment his preternatural Gift to heal awakened in him. A gift that made him an invaluable commodity to the known galaxy. Now his mentor’s intriguing and secretive new student goes out of her way to challenge his loyalty to everything he values.
A dark secret…
After facing death and destruction during the Anferthian invasion, Sakura Yamata revels in her new-found Gift to heal. Helping Earth’s survivors keeps her mind off the loss of her family, and the memory of the terrible choices she made. Nick could penetrate her defenses and discover what she’s hiding. She must not let the handsome healer close enough for that to happen.
A race facing annihilation…
When a mysterious disease strikes the hidden sanctuary of the Anferthian dissenters, Nick and Sakura are called in to help. But someone is going to great lengths to ensure the dissenters don’t survive. Nick and Sakura must set aside their differences and work together to save them before the fragile peace between three worlds is shattered.
A blessing and a curse…
Seven years ago, a single moment changed the course of Nicholaus Bock’s life forever—the moment his preternatural Gift to heal awakened in him. A gift that made him an invaluable commodity to the known galaxy. Now his mentor’s intriguing and secretive new student goes out of her way to challenge his loyalty to everything he values.
A dark secret…
After facing death and destruction during the Anferthian invasion, Sakura Yamata revels in her new-found Gift to heal. Helping Earth’s survivors keeps her mind off the loss of her family, and the memory of the terrible choices she made. Nick could penetrate her defenses and discover what she’s hiding. She must not let the handsome healer close enough for that to happen.
A race facing annihilation…
When a mysterious disease strikes the hidden sanctuary of the Anferthian dissenters, Nick and Sakura are called in to help. But someone is going to great lengths to ensure the dissenters don’t survive. Nick and Sakura must set aside their differences and work together to save them before the fragile peace between three worlds is shattered.
Join Lea's monthly newsletter
Lea's Letters from Space
Lea's Letters from Space
Lea Kirk loves to transport her readers to other worlds with her Sci-fi Romances. In 2016, she published two full-length SFR novels, and two short stories for her Prophecy Series. She was named 2016 Debut Author of the Year by GravelTells Blog.
She lives in California with her wonderful hubby of twenty-seven years, five kids, and a six-month-old bull mastiff who thinks she’s a lap dog.
She lives in California with her wonderful hubby of twenty-seven years, five kids, and a six-month-old bull mastiff who thinks she’s a lap dog.
Excerpt from
Salvation, Book Two of the Prophecy Series
Salvation, Book Two of the Prophecy Series
Nick moved aside as Dante brushed past him in the direction of his office. The expression on the healer’s face was grim. This didn’t bode well. It seemed something big was about to go down, and with his luck he’d end up smack in the middle.
He gave Sakura a tight smile and flourished his hands in an after you gesture. She frowned, then stalked passed him, her cute, flat nose in the air. He stepped in behind her, his gaze drawn to the silky, dark ponytail bouncing mid-way between her shoulder blades. And the sway of her hips under her shapeless, grey healer’s smock….
Jesus, what was wrong with him? He was ogling her like a pubescent boy, which was crazy. She was nothing like any woman he’d ever been attracted to, ever. Tall and blonde, that’s how he liked ’em. Sakura was the polar opposite. And what was up with her attitude, Miss Japanese-is-not-one-of-them? English, Matiran, and four years of high school French. That was the extent of his linguistic knowledge. So the hell what? It wasn’t like he was competing with his brother-in-law, Gryf, who spoke twenty Earth languages, and who-knew-how-many galactic languages.
“Close the door please, Nick.” Dante’s request snapped Nick back to reality.
He complied, then sat in the chair next to the one Sakura occupied. Dante slid a very large, very thick book bound in dark green leather off one bookshelf and dropped on his desk with a floor-vibrating thud.
A soft, humorous sound escaped Nick. “I’m guessing that’s not the complete works of Shakespeare.” He leaned forward to read the blocky, gilt print on the book’s cover. “Anferthian Health and Anatomy?”
“Anferthian?” Sakura’s brow furrowed. It seemed this entire situation baffled her as much it did as him. Good.
The expression on Dante’s face was grave. “There is a developing situation on which you two will be briefed. You have twenty-four hours to digest as much of this book’s content as possible before your ten a.m. meeting with Ambassador K’nil tomorrow. I want both of you as well-versed as possible on at least the basics of Anferthian physiology. In depth research can be done later.”
Nick met his mentor’s gaze. “A situation on Anferthia?”
“I cannot say.”
“But healers are needed?” Sakura probed.
Dante’s jaw tightened, a sure sign that someone had lit his fuse. “Yes.” The word was stiff and final. No arguments would be accepted.
Well, damn it all. Dante must have been ordered not to talk about it—whatever it was. And who’d pissed him off so royally? It couldn’t have been K’nil. The Anferthian Ambassador to Terr rarely pissed off anyone—except members of the Anferthian Arruch Union, the political party currently in power on Anferthia. The masterminds of Terr’s invasion seven years ago. But even that was rare despite the fact the K’nil was anti-Arruch. Something only a handful of people in the entire universe knew for sure.
Nick blew out a breath. Twenty Questions used to be a fun game. Now he dreaded the answer to the question at the top of his mind. “We’re leaving Ear…Terr, aren’t we?”
“The crisis is not on Terr. Both of you may draw your conclusions as you see fit,” Dante replied. “There are certain questions I cannot and will not answer today.”
“Gee, Dante, what can you tell us?”
Dante’s expression was apologetic. Unbelievable.
“Wait.” Sakura fixed Dante with a speculative look. “Are there any parts of the book we should or should not focus on?”
“I would not waste any time on Anferthian reproduction,” Dante replied quietly. “The circulatory and immune systems on the other hand may help, however do not limit yourselves. Did you drop your bags at the student dorm, Nick?”
Nick gave his head a nod. “Graig took them. Sent me straight here after our shuttle landed.”
“Good. You two take this book there and start studying. Once the rest of the students return this evening, bring it back. You may continue your studying here tonight.”
Nick met Sakura’s dark-eyed gaze. “Sure hope you slept well, because it looks like we’ll be pulling an all-nighter.”
He gave Sakura a tight smile and flourished his hands in an after you gesture. She frowned, then stalked passed him, her cute, flat nose in the air. He stepped in behind her, his gaze drawn to the silky, dark ponytail bouncing mid-way between her shoulder blades. And the sway of her hips under her shapeless, grey healer’s smock….
Jesus, what was wrong with him? He was ogling her like a pubescent boy, which was crazy. She was nothing like any woman he’d ever been attracted to, ever. Tall and blonde, that’s how he liked ’em. Sakura was the polar opposite. And what was up with her attitude, Miss Japanese-is-not-one-of-them? English, Matiran, and four years of high school French. That was the extent of his linguistic knowledge. So the hell what? It wasn’t like he was competing with his brother-in-law, Gryf, who spoke twenty Earth languages, and who-knew-how-many galactic languages.
“Close the door please, Nick.” Dante’s request snapped Nick back to reality.
He complied, then sat in the chair next to the one Sakura occupied. Dante slid a very large, very thick book bound in dark green leather off one bookshelf and dropped on his desk with a floor-vibrating thud.
A soft, humorous sound escaped Nick. “I’m guessing that’s not the complete works of Shakespeare.” He leaned forward to read the blocky, gilt print on the book’s cover. “Anferthian Health and Anatomy?”
“Anferthian?” Sakura’s brow furrowed. It seemed this entire situation baffled her as much it did as him. Good.
The expression on Dante’s face was grave. “There is a developing situation on which you two will be briefed. You have twenty-four hours to digest as much of this book’s content as possible before your ten a.m. meeting with Ambassador K’nil tomorrow. I want both of you as well-versed as possible on at least the basics of Anferthian physiology. In depth research can be done later.”
Nick met his mentor’s gaze. “A situation on Anferthia?”
“I cannot say.”
“But healers are needed?” Sakura probed.
Dante’s jaw tightened, a sure sign that someone had lit his fuse. “Yes.” The word was stiff and final. No arguments would be accepted.
Well, damn it all. Dante must have been ordered not to talk about it—whatever it was. And who’d pissed him off so royally? It couldn’t have been K’nil. The Anferthian Ambassador to Terr rarely pissed off anyone—except members of the Anferthian Arruch Union, the political party currently in power on Anferthia. The masterminds of Terr’s invasion seven years ago. But even that was rare despite the fact the K’nil was anti-Arruch. Something only a handful of people in the entire universe knew for sure.
Nick blew out a breath. Twenty Questions used to be a fun game. Now he dreaded the answer to the question at the top of his mind. “We’re leaving Ear…Terr, aren’t we?”
“The crisis is not on Terr. Both of you may draw your conclusions as you see fit,” Dante replied. “There are certain questions I cannot and will not answer today.”
“Gee, Dante, what can you tell us?”
Dante’s expression was apologetic. Unbelievable.
“Wait.” Sakura fixed Dante with a speculative look. “Are there any parts of the book we should or should not focus on?”
“I would not waste any time on Anferthian reproduction,” Dante replied quietly. “The circulatory and immune systems on the other hand may help, however do not limit yourselves. Did you drop your bags at the student dorm, Nick?”
Nick gave his head a nod. “Graig took them. Sent me straight here after our shuttle landed.”
“Good. You two take this book there and start studying. Once the rest of the students return this evening, bring it back. You may continue your studying here tonight.”
Nick met Sakura’s dark-eyed gaze. “Sure hope you slept well, because it looks like we’ll be pulling an all-nighter.”
RSS Feed