First Scene From Dark Cure
Dark Cure, the final installment in the Dark Thoughts/Refuge series will be releasing November 13th. Woot! I love this story and I hope you’ll love it too.
While we wait, I’ll be sharing the first chapter. Today, I’m sharing the first scene from that first chapter.
Healing was Gisella’s sole purpose in the universe.
Determined not to repeat the mistakes her mother had made, she banished any other distractions from her lifespan, suppressing her yearnings for a male, for children, for love.
She focused on her role as a medic, on those important duties.
As the lead medic within the Refuge, Carinae E’s largest settlement, her responsibilities included more than saving the lifespans of those she personally tended. She also had to train the next generation of healers.
Her current protégé, Pono, was a Tau Cetian who had lost everything when the Humanoid Alliance blew up her planet. After discovering the girl was like her, all alone in the universe, Gisella had offered to mentor her. Pono had gripped that opportunity with both hands and now bubbled over with enthusiasm.
“If I work two shifts a planet rotation like you do, Lead Medic, I’ll progress even quicker.” The girl chattered as she walked beside Gisella, the two of them navigating the corridors of the medic bay. “Medic Shaushka made that suggestion.”
“Medic Shaushka is the second best medic on Carinae E.” Gisella was the most experienced healer. “Listen to her.”
The girl’s head bobbed. “She could have her own medic bay if she wanted that role. Other settlements have approached her and she turned them down.”
“Her mate is a merchant in the Refuge.” Gisella stifled a sigh.
Like Gisella’s mother, the other medic was choosing love over her dreams, putting a male first. She suspected the female would later regret her decision, would become just as bitter and disillusioned at the end of her lifespan.
Which was a shame as Medic Shaushka was a skilled healer.
Gisella stopped in front of a chamber. “What’s the status of our next patient?” She looked at her protégé.
“He’s an Ahkian male.” Pono consulted her private viewscreen. “His hand has been severed. Source of trauma is unknown. He was given a prolonger and a pain inhibitor by the receiving medic.”
They were treating another severed hand. Gisella shook her head. Since a certain group of barbarians landed on the planet, the number of reattachments she’d performed had tripled.
“He might be violent.” The Refuge catered to outlaws and outcasts, was home to the some of the most vicious beings in the universe. “Be on your guard.”
She slid one hand into her jacket’s front pocket, curled her fingers around the tiny gun hidden there, and placed her other palm on the control panel. The doors opened. She strode into the space. Her protégé followed her, locking the door behind them.
A male with greasy dark-blue hair and lighter-blue skin turned toward them, a gun in his right hand. Strips of dirty cloth were wrapped around his left wrist. “Finally, a fuckin’ medic arrives.” He holstered his weapon. “I’ve been waiting here for an entire fuckin’ shift.” His eyes were bright yellow.
Shit. He was a Mox-X addict. They were extremely volatile, the drug altering their brains.
Gisella stepped to the side, positioning herself protectively in front of her protégé. “You’ve been waiting here for mere moments.” That information had been recorded in his file. “Sit on the sleeping support.”
“I don’t have time to fuckin’ sit.” He glanced at the now-closed door. “I need my hand reattached now.”
That body part had been set on a horizontal support. He might be blasted out of his skull on drugs but he’d had the foresight to retrieve his hand.
“I’m not treating you until you sit.” A seated patient was less dangerous.
The male huffed yet did as he was told, plunking his ass on the sleeping support. “I’m seated.” He glared at her.
“Then I can treat you.” She unwrapped his wrist. “Was the object that severed your hand clean?”
That question was asked for her listening protégé’s benefit. The cloth utilized to stop the bleeding was filthy. The wound would be infected.
“One of those Chamele bastards with their fuckin’ claws attacked me.” Her patient confirmed her suspicions. “I didn’t see him coming.”
The damn barbarians had fought with yet another resident, creating more work for her and her team. She pressed her lips together.
“It was none of his fuckin’ business.” The Ahkian spewed hatred. “He had no—”
The doors behind Gisella opened. Only one being in the Refuge had the ability to unlock them. She straightened.
“The female you decided was your fuckin’ business died.” Kralj’s voice came from everywhere and nowhere. The Ruler of the settlement had powers she’d never witnessed in another being.
“Fuck.” Her patient reached for his gun. “You found me.”
Read the next installment (Available October 22nd): http://tasteofcyn.com/?p=6643
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A warrior seeking forever faces a medic living in the moment.
Gisella, the Refuge’s medic, is dedicated to her role. She doesn’t have the space in her lifespan for love, a mate, or children. Healing is her entire focus.
But she’s also a female in her prime. She has needs, wants, cravings…especially for a scarred, long-haired barbarian warrior temporarily residing in the settlement. One fierce, soul-blasting, passion-filled encounter is all she is willing to give him before she returns to her duties.
Oghul, a Chamele Warlord’s Second-In-Command, has waited his entire lifespan to find his gerel, the being fated to be his. He’s thrilled to discover she wants him as savagely as he yearns for her.
His little human medic appeals to his primitive possessive side. Greatly. He wants to stamp his ownership all over her bountiful curves, take her back to his home planet, claim his fiery female permanently.
When Carinae E’s solitary sun rises, two determined beings with very different desires find their lifespans entwined. Their battle for emotional supremacy will span systems and alter destinies.
The universe will never be the same.
Dark Cure is a STANDALONE SciFi Romance set in a gritty, dark world.
Buy Now:
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07HCTHN27
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07HCTHN27
Apple/iTunes : https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/dark-cure/id1436359104
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dark-cure-cynthia-sax/1129542129
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/dark-cure
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/895634
Topics: Coming Soon | Comments Off on First Scene From Dark Cure
Interview With Whitley Gray
I sat down (virtually) with Whitley Gray for a short interview. Whitley Gray’s latest release is Crash Pad, a MM Contemporary.
Cynthia Sax: What is your favorite line from Crash Pad?
Whitley Gray: “Okay. I’m back. The boys are trying to murder each other. Superman and Batman are not friends, no matter what they tell you.”
“It’s that superpower-envy thing.” Jamie chuckled.
This is from a telephone conversation Jamie has with his sister. I like the visual of Jamie’s two nephews racing around in capes, Bat powers versus Spidey senses. No cooperation of superheroes in a household with two young boys, who compete with each other about everything.
One of the things I like the most about writing is layering in little details like this, especially things the typical reader may be able to relate to.
Cynthia Sax: Where did you get the idea for Crash Pad?
Whitley Gray: I set out to create a story set in the summer. Lots of people run in the park year-round, and I wanted to add an activity more confined to nicer weather—like rollerblading. This activity also lent itself to an accidental meeting, as rollerblading isn’t easy, especially for beginners.
Remy is an Emergency Medicine doctor and has seen a lot of sports injuries due to accidents. Naturally he wants to help. Jamie is suspicious of doctors due to his background. The opposing viewpoints makes for some nice conflict.
Cynthia Sax: How does Crash Pad start?
Whitley Gray: As they say, always start in the action. Each of the guys has a backstory that contributes to the story, but initially it’s not necessary to know that history in order to understand what’s happening. I like to start with a brief orientation of location and what each character is doing, and then throw them right into the action. The story starts when Remy and Jamie “crash.”
Cynthia Sax: What one piece of advice would you give new writers?
Whitley Gray: Voracious readers make the best writers. If you don’t like to read, writing is the wrong career choice.
In the beginning, I think it’s vital to ground yourself in the fundamentals of writing. I don’t have a background in English Composition or Creative Writing—I’m a hard science person. For me, the best way to learn about writing was with a combination of online workshops and devouring a lot of books on craft. Since romance adds another complex layer to any story, it was important to move on to workshops about writing romance in particular. Finally, because I write M/M romance, I did a lot of reading in the genre itself, then workshops and books to help me get a good handle on what I wanted to do.
Thank you, Whitley Gray, for joining us today!
Whitley Gray’s Website: http://www.whitleygray.com
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Physician Remy Marshall has two loves: Emergency Medicine and running. Work doesn’t leave much time to meet guys, and most seem more interested in his bank account than him. With a week off to train for a marathon, Remy plans to make the most of his precious vacation. The last thing he needs is a distraction.
Jamie Sutton is new to the area. He hopes to make a fresh start after leaving an abusive relationship with an orthopedic surgeon. He’s got a new job as a massage therapist and wants to meet some nice guys. Against his better judgment, Jamie decides the best way to meet a cute rollerblader he’s seen in the park is on wheels.
With attention on his watch and not where he’s going, Remy crashes into Jamie and fractures the first-time rollerblader’s ankle. Jamie has no one to help him after the injury; Remy proposes Jamie stay with him. Jamie is reluctant, but it’s a better option than staying with the odd guy in the neighboring motel room. As the two get acquainted, Jamie’s past comes calling. Remy discovers the prize he really wants isn’t a medal in a marathon, but the man right in front of him.
Buy Now: http://www.loose-id.com/crash-pads.html
Topics: Author Interviews | Comments Off on Interview With Whitley Gray
