Tuesday, October 21, 2014

SNOW CHEETAH is coming November 1!

Get ready, SNOW CHEETAH is coming November 1, 2014, and I already love the cover. Find it in November HERE.

This is the very last book in the Chronicles of Kassouk series (I swear). It nicely caps the series as after a thousand years, a vessel from Earth discovers unexpected humans on this far-flung planet.

On a mission to annex a planet for Earth, Captain Martial Terrien faces a culture with incredible psychic abilities, and falls for its lovely but forbidden queen.

Natalia, future queen of Kassouk, pressured into bonding with a power-hungry prince, yearns to improve her people's lives. She finds the handsome Earth captain a refreshing distraction, despite his five fingers and ridiculous claim of being human, like the lowly workers of her world.

Captain Martial Terrien, nano-enhanced Space Marine from Earth, is on a secret, desperate mission to find his people a new home. The unexpected population on the chosen planet complicates his task, especially since the ruling caste can read minds, levitate, and teleport at will. Furthermore, the lovely princess and her pet cheetah take a shine to him... and beautiful women always spelled disaster in his past.

Natalia's jilted suitor, determined to reign at any cost, vows to annihilate the Earthlings. When the conflict escalates, can Martial obey Earth Central Command, or will he jeopardize the future of his race to save Natalia and her people?

EXCERPT:

When her arm weakened and her steps grew shaky, he did a somersault over her head, leaving her confused. Then he shoved her sideways, and tackled her. He pinned her to the soft mat, face up, while he held her sword arm to the floor.
He had her.
Her hair came undone around her head, like a bright halo on the soft gray mat, and her luminous green gaze locked with his. Her lips opened slightly, and he couldn't help but stare. She looked so helpless, her chest heaving. Her eyes unfocused and her pupils dilated. She was not playing the game anymore... neither was he.
Her breath hitched. He lowered his face to hers and hovered closer to marvel at her beauty. She kept staring at him. He couldn't resist the temptation to probe her mind. A mistake. She was calling to him, wanting him to kiss her. He lowered his gaze to her mouth and she licked her slightly open lips. How could he possibly resist her sensual call?
Slowly, deliberately, he brushed her pliant lips, enjoying the soft contact. When she tasted him with a lick, he held his fire, afraid she would balk at a fierce response. She had to be a virgin. Then she let go of the sword. He relaxed his hold, and she caressed his hair.
The sensation of her six-fingered hand on his head awakened shored up needs he could no longer contain. Cupping her fiery mane, he claimed her mouth and ravished it with the fervor of a starving man.
She moaned softly and arched under him, as if seeking body contact. Flashes of all the disastrous consequences their relationship could bring barely cooled his lust, but he must stop this now.
He steeled himself against the separation and rose slowly, with great reluctance.
She sat up on the mat, staring at him.
"I'm so sorry." He turned away. He couldn't watch her like that. "It won't happen again. I promise."
"Why not?" The disappointment in her voice and in her mind sliced him deeper than a sword.
"You are promised to another man." As good an excuse as any. The truth was too ugly to tell. His mission might require him to annihilate her entire race.
"I do not intend to become Kaylar's mate." The indignant tone told much about her dislike for the man.
Martial stiffened, closing his fists, then he faced her again. "I hope we can still be friends."
"Friends?" Tears welled in her beautiful green eyes.
"Or colleagues... diplomat and future queen." Martial still needed more information on the Starlings.
She swallowed a sob, quickly wiped a tear, then composed her face. "Maybe when you see more of our culture, you will understand that although our females often take a submissive role, we do have a choice in the matter. We are civilized."
"Of course, you are." He certainly felt like the Neanderthal here.
She rose from the floor and tossed her long wavy hair behind the shoulders of her impeccable white body suit. "Then shall we meet again tomorrow?" Hope softened her face. "I planned to show you our hydroponic installations."
"I accept, but I must bring my team." For his own protection. He didn't want to repeat past mistakes. And mistakes would certainly be made if he spent too much time alone with her.


READ THE OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES:

Monday, September 29, 2014

SNOW CHEETAH is coming soon!

Yep! I don't have a cover, yet, but I'm finishing the second edits, and the release date is November 1, 2014 from Desert Breeze Publishing. Yay!

Like in the other books in the series, I picked the hero and the heroine from opposite sides of the controversy. Here is the blurb:

Natalia, future queen of Kassouk, pressured into bonding with a power-hungry prince, yearns to reign and improve her people's lives. She finds the handsome Earth captain a refreshing distraction, despite his five fingers and ridiculous claim of being human, like the lowly workers of her world.

Captain Martial Terrien, nano-enhanced Space Marine from Earth, is on a secret, desperate mission to find his people a new home. The unexpected population on the chosen planet complicates his task, especially since the ruling caste can read minds, levitate, and teleport at will. Furthermore, the lovely princess and her pet cheetah take a shine to him, and beautiful women spelled disaster in his past. Natalia's jilted suitor, determined to reign at any cost, vows to annihilate the Earthlings. When the conflict escalates, can Martial obey Earth Central Command, or will he jeopardize the future of his race to save Natalia?


EXCERPT:

When her arm weakened and her steps grew shaky, he did a somersault over her head, leaving her confused. Then he shoved her sideways, and tackled her. He pinned her to the soft mat, face up, while he held her sword arm to the floor.

He had her.

Her hair came undone around her head, like a bright halo on the soft gray mat, and her luminous green gaze locked with his. Her lips opened slightly, and he couldn’t help but stare. She looked so helpless, so confused, her chest heaving. Her eyes unfocused and her pupils dilated. She was not playing the game anymore... neither was he.

Her breath hitched. He lowered his face to hers and hovered closer to marvel at her beauty. She kept staring at him. He couldn’t resist the temptation to probe her mind. A mistake. She was calling to him, wanting him to kiss her. He lowered his gaze to her mouth and she licked her slightly open lips. How could he possibly resist her sensual call?

Slowly, deliberately, he brushed her pliant lips, enjoying the soft contact. When she tasted him with a lick, he held his fire, afraid she would balk at a fierce response. She had to be a virgin. Then she let go of the sword. He relaxed his hold, and she caressed his hair.

The sensation of her six-fingered hand on his head awakened shored up needs he could no longer contain. Cupping her fiery mane, he claimed her mouth and ravished it with the fervor of a starving man.

She moaned softly and arched under him, as if seeking body contact. Flashes of all the disastrous consequences their relationship could bring barely cooled his lust, but he must stop this now.

He steeled himself against the separation and rose slowly, with great reluctance.

She sat up on the mat, staring at him.

“I’m so sorry.” He turned away. He couldn’t watch her like that. “It won’t happen again. I promise.”

“Why not?” The disappointment in her voice and in her mind sliced him deeper than a sword.

“You are promised to another man.” As good an excuse as any. The truth was too ugly to tell. His mission might require him to annihilate her entire race.

“I do not intend to become Kaylar’s mate.” The indignant tone told much about her dislike for the man.

Martial stiffened, closing his fists, then he faced her again. “I hope we can still be friends.”

“Friends?” Tears welled in her beautiful green eyes.

“Or colleagues... diplomat and future queen.” Martial still needed more information on the Starlings.

She swallowed a sob, quickly wiped a tear, then composed her face. “Maybe when you see more of our culture, you will understand that although our females often take a submissive role, we do have a choice in the matter. We are civilized.”

“Of course, you are.” He certainly felt like the Neanderthal here.

She rose from the floor and tossed her long wavy hair behind the shoulders of her impeccable white body suit. “Then shall we meet again tomorrow?”

The hope softening her face broke his heart.

“I planned to show you our hydroponic installations.”

“I accept, but I must bring my team.” For his own protection. He didn’t want to repeat past mistakes. And mistakes would certainly be made if he spent too much time alone with her.

*****
Here are the other books in the series if you want to catch up. They can be read in any order, but if you are like me and prefer to read them in the right sequence, here they are:

Prequel - NOAH'S ARK, Book One - WHITE TIGER, Book Two - RED LEOPARD, Book Three - BLACK JAGUAR, Book Four - BLUE LIONESS, Book Five - SNOW CHEETAH (November 1, 2014).




HAPPY READING!


Vijaya Schartz

Blasters, Swords, Romance with a Kick

http://www.vijayaschartz.com

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/vijayaschartz
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/vijaya-schartz
FB: https://www.facebook.com/vijaya.schartz
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Vijayaschartz

Saturday, September 13, 2014

99cts Alien Lockdown by Vijaya Schartz

99cts for a few days in kindle
ALIEN LOCKDOWN
sci-fi action romance
http://amzn.com/B00495XUT0

The year is 3033, in the Andromeda Galaxy, and deep in the bowels of the underground galactic prison, something has gone terribly wrong.

Rhonda Alendresis never wanted this prison job. When the civilians vanish and an earthquake damages the nuclear reactor, she must go down to repair it with Captain Perfect himself, Cole Riggeur, who always plays by the rules and never trusted a woman in his life. But deep in the underground penitentiary, the most wicked convicts in the Galaxy are loose, and a treacherous shape-shifter plans his revenge. Disconnected from the Garrison, against impossible odds, Cole and Rhonda now face their greatest challenge... trusting each other in order to survive.

"The action reminded me of an INDIANA JONES movie and the romance was equally intense." --Paranormal Romance Reviews

"...the fantastic anticipation only a ticking bomb can generate, I was enthralled from page one" --Lynn Lowe - Ecataromance

"...suspenseful, gripping saga of survival, betrayal, and hope...the resourcefulness and courage that occurs when a person refuses to admit defeat and die." --Dena - Fallen Angel Reviews - 5 angels

HAPPY READING!

Vijaya Schartz
Blasters, Swords, Romance with a Kick
http://www.vijayaschartz.com
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/vijayaschartz
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/vijaya-schartz
FB: https://www.facebook.com/vijaya.schartz
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Vijayaschartz

Friday, September 12, 2014

Kicking Bots - 99cts for a few days - by Vijaya Schartz

The Anasazi, taken to the stars by the star people 800 years ago, are returning to claim the planet of their ancestors, Earth...

Kicking Bots
Ancient Enemy Book Three
by Vijaya Schartz
99cts in kindle for a few days,
then $1.99 until it returns to its regular price: $3.99

"Begins with a bang and keeps the fireworks coming. As much as Melissa and Bennett try to fight their feelings for each other, it is too strong for them to deny... but he cannot let that prevent him from doing his job.... Can they override their programming in time to save the human race? - Sensual Reads - 4.5 stars - Sultry

"... Bennett. Sexy, balls to the walls Bennett. Ladies man, his own military militia and a devilish sense of humor. A sensational and fantastical alternate universe, painted and laid out for me with every wondrous word. I really enjoyed being taken away into the lives of the characters as they wove their way through imminent death, every lie and betrayal, every scary new path on their journey to get to the truth and save the world as they know it." Book Junkie - 4 stars

"I really enjoyed this book. Even though I hadn't read the previous two... I have always been interested in the mysterious disappearance of the Anasazi and this story nicely filled in the blanks... exceptionally well written. I am definitely going to have to find the previous books and check them out as well." - The Romance Studio - 5 hearts - rated very sensual 

Each book in the series can be read separately, but if you want to read them all in the right order, here they are: Anaz-voorhi - Relics - Kicking Bots


HAPPY READING!

Monday, September 1, 2014

Book Five in the Chronicles of Kassouk coming in November!

I thought I was done with the CHRONICLES OF KASSOUK series, until I talked with my publisher at a conference, and we started throwing ideas around the table at lunch. What's your next book in the series? They were expecting more?


All right. I had to think. Truth be told, I already had an idea I had played in my head before writing the prequel, NOAH'S ARK, the story of how a human population happened to flourish on this far flung planet beyond Earth's reach. Now that I had the very beginning, I needed a cap at the end of the series.

Since in the very beginning of the series, a human craft is thrown off course and crashes on the wrong planet, I surmised that sooner or later, humanity at large would finally discover that planet... and wonder why there is a human population there.

Since the people of Kassouk had lost their technology but had been in contact with many different alien races in the past centuries, their culture has evolved differently. Some of them also have mixed blood and psychic abilities that set them apart. So, when the hero, the handsome captain of the Nautilus, discovers Kassouk, it's a complete surprise, and a culture shock.

Of course, humanity has also evolved, the hero is enhanced in many ways, and the reason for his exploration trip is not to rescue the humans of Kassouk. Earth has its own problems, and is looking for a new home.

Here is the blurb for Book 5 in the series, 
SNOW CHEETAH:

On a mission to annex a planet for Earth, Captain Martial Terrien faces a culture with incredible psychic abilities, and falls for its lovely queen.

Pressured into bonding with a power-hungry prince, Natalia, future queen of Kassouk, yearns to reign and improve her people's lives. She finds the handsome Earth captain a refreshing distraction, despite his five fingers and ridiculous claim of being human, like the lowly workers of her world.
Captain Martial Terrien, nano-enhanced Space Marine from Earth, is on a secret, desperate mission to find his people a new home. The unexpected population on the chosen planet complicates his task, especially since the ruling caste can read minds, levitate, and teleport at will. Furthermore, the lovely princess and her pet cheetah take a shine to him, and beautiful women spelled disaster in his past. Natalia's jilted suitor, determined to reign at any cost, vows to annihilate the Earthlings. When the conflict escalates, can Martial obey Earth Central Command, or will he jeopardize the future of his race to save Natalia?

I have no cover yet, but the eBook is scheduled for release on November 1st, 2014. The paperback will follow shortly after that, probably in December.

HAPPY READING.

Vijaya Schartz
http://www.vijayaschartz.com
Amazon:  
http://www.amazon.com/author/vijayaschartz 
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/vijaya-schartz
FB: https://www.facebook.com/vijaya.schartz
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Vijayaschartz

Monday, May 19, 2014

Kindle Bargains on Snatched and Anaz-voohri



99cts for the next three days on Amazon Countdown:
SNATCHED – futuristic sci-fi romance (one of my favorites with a kick-butt Amazon and a gorgeous Viking hero)
"Love this book. Great, action packed from the beginning... mysteries, surprises everywhere in the story... Even if you do not read Sci-Fi romance, I recommend this story... will leave you satisfied in the end." Paranormal romance Reviews 5 stars.


 Also still $1.99 in kindle, Anaz-Voohri, Book One in the Ancient Enemy futuristic series. "fast paced with just the right amount of action... The romance between Zack and Tia was very realistic... I couldn't put the book down until I finished it... very memorable." Fallen Angel Reviews - 5 cups

HAPPY READING!

Vijaya Schartz
Blasters, Swords, Romance with a Kick



SO MUCH FUN AT THE 2014 RT BOOKLOVERS CONVENTION


Vijaya as a green alien (perchance happening)

 I had so much fun last week at the RT BOOKLOVERS CONVENTION in New Orleans. Over 2000 attendees at the Mariott hotel in the French Quarter, hundreds of authors and thousands of readers.

I was hosting, with NYT bestselling author of sci-fi romance Linnea Sinclair, the INTERGALACTIC BAR AND GRILLE Readers event. We had games... even had readers shooting green inflatable aliens with plastic air guns and small balloons for bullets. What a hoot! The next day, I had a panel with the same gang of sci-fi romance authors, titled IT’S NOT EASY BEING GREEN (on how to write alien characters). The funniest thing was, that Wednesday night, at the Mardi Gras Carnivale party, when we walked among the gorgeous floats that participate in the parades, my friend Lexi Post took a picture of me, and it turned out green, because of all the colored lights. So, the picture is me being green. Fitting when you write about aliens.
Vijaya Schartz, Stephane Marsan, Isabel Varange
 
I also met French people there, Stephane Marsan and Isabel Varange, editors for Bragelonne, Milady, and Castelmore, in France, publishing romance. Since I am French and I don’t often get to speak it, I realized my French was rusty. Shame on me. We exchanged views on the cultural differences between France and the US. The Book Signing also was a highlight for me… so many readers… so little time to write for them all.
 
I hope you enjoy the pictures and the peek into this 2014 RT Bookreaders Convention. I enjoyed every minute. Of course, the food was fantastic. Not exactly French, but close enough.


Vijaya Schartz
Blasters, Swords, Romance with a Kick

Sunday, April 13, 2014

My Writing Process Blog Hop - by Vijaya Schartz



I want to thank author Lena Jakes (Hardened Hearts) for tagging me into this blog hop. You can read about her writing process at: http://www.lenajakes.com/blog This is what she says about herself: Well, I am Lena. In my real everyday life, I'm a single mom of two teenage boys, three dogs, with an over active imagination and manage a law firm in Arizona. In my other life, I am putting my daydreams into words—which believe it or not is quite a feat considering I've been writing since before we had computers... or typewriters... or time not devoted to someone/something else.
 
MY WRITING PROCESS

What are you working on?
Right now, I'm writing Book Five in the CHRONICLES OF KASSOUK series, it's titled SNOW CHEETAH, and will cap the end of the series, with the official discovery by humans from Earth of the planet where the series takes place. The last book in the series was a prequel, NOAH'S ARK, telling the story of how humans happened to crash on that unknown planet in the first place. Like all the books in the series, it's a romance as well as a science fiction adventure. The heroine, Natalia, is a human hybrid with psychic abilities, and the hero is the captain of the ship, a nano-enhanced Space Marine, with a secret mission. Like in the other books, cats play a role in the story, and in this one, it's a Cheetah.  The book comes out in November of this year. Look for the gorgeous award-winning cat covers.

 

 And in July, I'll start writing the next book in my medieval fantasy series, The Curse of the Lost Isle. It will be Book Six in that series. It will be set upon the backdrop of the First Crusade. 



How does your work differ from others of its genre?
My books are not typical romance and touch on other genres, like sci-fi, fantasy, historical, or a mix of at least two genres. I also take the time to create worlds where the reader wants to stay a while, but always keeping the action and the romance going. My logline is Blasters, Swords, Romance with a Kick.


Why do you write what you do?
I write what I love to read. A romance novel without any action would bore me, and an action story without a relationship would leave me disappointed. As for sci-fi and medieval settings, some say I'm a time traveler and I have known all these timelines.... the truth is, I do intensive research, even when I write sci-fi.

How does your process work?
I'm usually on deadlines, so I have to plan in advance, and figure out what works best for me. I usually write a chapter a week, not a draft, but a polished chapter. After five rewrites during that week, I present the chapter to my critique partner, she makes comments, then I rewrite it again, print it, set it in the binder with the other finished chapters. When the book is finished, I revise the entire manuscript several times, before sending it to my publisher. A month or so later, I get the first edits, then second edits, then a final copy to review before it gets published.

Next author speaking on the writing process;
I'm tagging my critique partner, multi-published author Linda Andrews, very successful in the Dystopian genre. She also writes science fiction and  historical romances set in the American West, and is currently working on a series of WWI romances, set in Belgium (1914-1918). You can find more about her on her website at: http://www.lindaandrews.net/ and visit her blog at: http://lindaandrews.wordpress.com/

Vijaya Schartz - Blasters, Swords, Romance with a Kick

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/vijaya-schartz
FB: https://www.facebook.com/vijaya.schartz
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/Vijayaschartz