Hey, Everyone!
So, with the upcoming signing in a few weeks, I thought it would be a good time to fill you in on what’s going on. Please see the .pdf below with the info on my author signing event on November 4th at the Utah Viridian Events Center. You can also follow the event on Facebook if you’re planning on going:
Local Authors and You Facebook Event
I’ll have a table set up with all my paperback romances from Boroughs Publishing and Loose Id Publishing on sale for 40% off! I’ll also have some fun things like the book trailers and chocolate available. If you’re in the Utah area, please swing on by, I’d love to chat!
I also thought I should update what I’m working on. So, for those who don’t know, in addition to being a romance novelist, I also write across many genres, including science fiction. I do have a romance on the back burner that I plan to work on soon, but over the last few months, I’ve been writing a science fiction novel (which is not erotic, but has a central romance).
If you like sci-fi with a bit of romance and would be interested in following along with its progression from manuscript to publication, please feel free to follow me at the following social media links:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/haley_cavanagh
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/haleycavanaghbooks/
The novel is nearly complete, and I have plans to submit it to some prominent publishers. Here’s a teaser and some beautiful character artwork by Bianca Duarte, who also did artwork for my Costa Mesa Series. Enjoy, and I hope to see you all at the book signing!
Premise: A young chief medical officer aboard a science exploration vessel in the future must work to unravel the mystery of a humanoid alien she discovers adrift in space.
Alistair came on over the speaker. “The telemetry from his X-ray and thermal scan readout are out of this world, Sakota. His plasma count is through the roof. I’m seeing sacs where there shouldn’t be sacs and extra musculature walls where there should be protective adipose tissue. I’d like to examine him without the suit, but I’ll take what we can get for now. This is unreal.”
“You’re telling me. So, he’s not an android?”
“Doesn’t look like it. Unless he’s somehow engineered to have two synthetic hearts. The Captain’s here from the bridge, Sakota. She’d like a word when you’re done.”
“Acknowledged.” She secured a slim bio-monitor bracelet on the man’s wrist, and activated it. This way she’d be able to download his progress and uplink the data to her room, even if she had to leave the lab. “Computer, try to revive the patient.”
The vibrations of an electric massage hummed. She studied his face. He had a distinct masculine jaw, stubbled and rugged. Full lips parted beneath the oxygen mask. A straight nose led to closed, long black eyelashes. He groaned, and she took a step back.
“He’s regaining consciousness.”
The intercom chirped. “Sakota, it’s Alistair. Should I send Captain Rutledge in with a few men for protection?”
“No. Hold off. I’ll let you know if I need help.”
“Okay. Just say the word.”
The man opened his eyes, dazed. A sea of glacial blue lit up his eyes, highlighting his smooth, light brown skin. She’d never seen anything like it. He blinked as he adjusted to the light, and stared brazenly at her with a fierce intelligence. He remained still, but followed every twitch of her fingers, and each subtle movement.
They had him strapped and more secure than the airlock seal, but the weight of his gaze stripped her bare, as though he were somehow probing her mind. He lifted his head, and his clear, blue eyes assessed her. She approached and willed her hand not to shake, but it didn’t listen.
“Hi. I’m Sakota Thorell, a medical officer aboard this ship,” she said softly. “I don’t know if you can understand me, but I need to examine you, to make sure you’re all right.” She stopped a foot away from the bed. “I won’t hurt you. I’m just going to feel your pulse for a second, okay?”
He gave a nod identical to the one she’d given him earlier. She repeated her name, and pointed to him. “What are you called? What’s your name?”
He opened his mouth, and she moved closer, eager for his first words. Instead, he watched her lips with obvious attraction. His intriguing eyes caught the light. Despite her disappointment that he couldn’t speak, a rush went through her. Alien or not, he was the most handsome man she’d ever laid eyes on, with the kind of ethereal elegance some upper class privileged men on Earth spent fortunes on plastic surgery trying to achieve.
“It’s okay if you don’t want to talk, or if you can’t. We’ll get there. Now, I’m going to check you, okay?” She kept her voice gentle, as she might use with a child. She pressed the button to disengage the protective bubble over the med bed, and she shone the retinal scanner in her own eye to show him. “I just need to look at your eye with this.” She motioned with the scope to him. “It won’t hurt, I promise.”
Warm puffs of his breath blew on her neck as she leaned in. She paused, noting the remarkable eight-pointed star-shape of his pupils. It was the one physical difference which set him apart, and only if one were to look very closely. The pupils dilated when hit by the light, and she’d never seen eyes as remarkable.
“You’re doing great,” she soothed. There were so many things she wanted to say. She had so many questions. Where are you from? How did you get here? What do you want? But he appeared to like the caress of her voice. He seemed relaxed, and his breath against her was steady. How long had she been staring into his eyes? Should she push her luck and see if he would let her examine his mouth?
Before she could try, his finger stroked her inner arm. He was still restrained at the wrists, but he could reach her.
She allowed it. He stroked a feathery finger along her forearm, and his eyes did not leave hers. She offered a kind smile. “That’s right. Friend. Sakota. Sa-ko-ta.”
He opened his mouth, and let out a chicken-like squawk. “-Ota,” he said in a throaty, deep voice.
“Good. Very good.”
He titled his head, watching her lips. “Gooood.”
Excited, she lowered the retinal light. “Can you understand me?”
He looked confused but alert. “Me…”
“Okay. That’s a no. Then let me take this opportunity to say, in no uncertain terms, that you’re the stuff of dreams and legends. I’ve waited my whole life for this. Are you watching this Alistair?” she called.