Welcome! A Writer’s Mind’s, HOT SUMMER NIGHTS BLOG EVENT continues today with incredibly talented author, P.L. Parker. Today she’ll be be chatting about her latest title, The Chalice. Be sure to leave a comment for a chance to win a free Ecopy!
Let’s hear from P.L. Parker…
When I was young, I dreamed of being the first woman astronaut. I would fly to the moon and beyond, finding my destiny in the vastness of the universe. My childish imagination was fueled by Flash Gordon and then later, the original Star Trek series.
From time immemorial, I like other humans have studied the skies. Interest in space soars as tales are woven from the fabric of those distant twinkles of light. Who and what is out there? Are the aliens the fantastic creatures encountered by Jim Kirk and his crew in Star Trek, or those encountered by Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia in the Star Wars episodes? 
Could they be the vicious creatures Ripley battled in the Alien series? Or perhaps the cruel hunter aliens encountered by Earthlings in the Predator series? And what about the gentle creature ET or the hilarious grey Paul and his two cohorts, or my favorite, the crew of the Firefly, or the latest and greatest, Avatar? Unless and until we have that first true encounter, we must rely on fantasy to create the realms we dream exist in those limitless galaxies millions of light years beyond our world. Eventually, we will seek the stars, perhaps sending out survivor ships as depicted in Pandorum, or seeker ships geared to unravel the mysteries of the universe.
What would a story be without romance? In Starman, the heroine found love with an alien who took human form. A human in alien form (Avatar) found love with a blue native on the planet Pandora. We romance writers connect those unlikely characters, blending humanoids with aliens in all shapes and sizes, but how possible could that truly be?
My latest novel, The Chalice, is a sci-fi romance about 1,000 women who awaken 200 years in the future aboard an unmanned alien spacecraft headed for parts unknown. Their only contact until they reach the planet of the Chiagan-Se is with a hologram creature short on information but long on demands. Preparing for the worst, the women devise a first meeting plan and await the arrival of the breeders. 
Because it is hard to imagine love with a brutal Predator or any creature so totally unlike humans, my heroes in The Chalice are towering humanoids with long silvery white hair, light grey to vivid blue eyes, muscled to the extreme and all trained as warriors. Man-candy in all respects! The males, “breeders” as I call them, are the last survivors of the once great Chiagan-Se race. They send ships into the void hoping to find genetically compatible females capable of procreating with their race and, finally, on an obscure planet in an unknown universe, a match is found. The males thought the women came willingly. The women believed they’d been kidnapped. Will my human women come to love these aliens? Find out. And in the words of Mr. Spock: “Live long and prosper.”
Blurb for The Chalice:
Decimated by the savage Deg’Nara and teetering on the brink of extinction, the last surviving males of the once great Chiagan-Se embark on a quest to salvage what is left of their civilization. They send their remaining seeker ships into the void, searching for genetically compatible females. Time is running out, but in the far reaches of the universe, on an obscure and primitive planet, a match is discovered.
One thousand panic-stricken women awaken two hundred years in the future, captives aboard an unmanned alien spacecraft bound for parts unknown! How had they gotten there and why?
The males thought they came willingly. The females believed they’d been kidnapped. Full of hopeful expectation, the Chiagan-Se prepare for the arrival of their new mates. Terrified and furious at the inexplicable abduction, the women prepare for combat! And when the two sides meet, the battle commences.
Excerpt:
He moved not a muscle, merely watched her as she drew near, glistening silver eyes alight with anticipation. He licked his lower lip, lips stretching in a wisp of a smile. The sparkling gaze deepened, the massive chest expanded as he inhaled.
He was superb. A flawless sculpture of perfect manhood. Like a Greek statute carved from ivory granite. In that moment, she totally understood Hanna’s reaction to Mordaq. Being near Tegan felt like being plugged into an electrical outlet and ignited by a shower of burning sparks.
She rounded the table, so close she could feel the pulsating waves of scorching heat emanating from every pore of his great body. His height was such, even sitting, they were almost at eye level.
She studied him carefully, examining each separate feature, from the snow white hair loosened now from the braids he normally wore, the high, intelligent forehead, the silver-blue eyes, slightly arched nose, sculpted lips and firm chin. All taken together, there was nothing effeminate about his looks, but he was beautiful all the same. And the fangs—well, they were just another part of him, an acceptable one now that she knew better.
Her eyes moved lower, assessing. Strong neck and wide shoulders rippled with muscle. Biceps and triceps that would make Mr. Universe jealous. Brawny tattooed pecs emphasized the six-pack abs of his trim waistline. A Greek sculpture indeed!
And then—even lower.
She jerked her gaze upwards. This is a catch and release fishing trip. She wasn’t here for the kill.
But no reason not to make him wonder!
He calmly returned her gaze. A single brow arched. “You. Like?”
“Oh yeah,” she grinned in appreciation. “I like a lot.”
Who wouldn’t? Maybe a damn fool or someone who hated chocolate! But not this girl! No, sirree!
“Stay?” he asked, his tone wistful.
She heaved a sigh. “No,” she shook her head reluctantly. She’d already moved faster than she’d expected to and she wasn’t going to ruin it now. One step at a time.
“Soon,” she said, backing out of reach.
She fled towards the exit, hands gliding over the control panel. The door slid open. She stepped out, turning to look one last time.
He stood up, the thin cloth falling to the floor. Grinning outright, he posed, granting her the full benefit of his gloriously nude form.
Damn him! The tables had turned. He became the hunter and she the prey.
Don't forget to comment for a chance to win The Chalice! Contest ends Saturday, August 18th, 2012, 12 AM, EST.
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23 comments:
Good Morning Everyone and thanks to Sky for hosting me. Looking forward to visiting.
I'm a sucker for a hot, sexy scene. We as writers can do what they can't do in movies like Avatar, or in the Star Trek series - we can find lust.
Thanks Aquablogger for stopping by. Lust is always good LOL.
Ooooooo! Love the excerpt! This is going on my TBR list right now! Fabulous interview!
Thanks Krystal! Appreciate you stopping by and leaving a comment!
HI SKYE AND P. L.! MAN I READ BOTH OF YOUR BOOKS!! WONDERFUL BOTH!!
linda_bass@sbcglobal.net
Hello Sky and Patsy,
What a great post Patsy. I too dreamed of flying through space and discovering new worlds, my imagination fuelled by many of the SF series you mention - and my all time favourtie, Blakes 7!
I have The Chalice on my Reader, waiting to be read and am really looking forward to relaxing and enjoying it.
Wishing you many, many sales
lyn x
Hiya ladies.
Wow! How fun is that excerpt? Forget the TBR pile, this one goes in the Must Have!
Mac
Patsy! Great post. I have to fess up and say I've read your books and love them! Much luck!
Patsy you are a terrific author. Sounds wonderful! World building is really tough!
Thanks Ladies - Linda, Lyn, Mac, Jerri and Mary - really appreciate you stopping by and commenting.
Loved the book!! Thought the romance was perfect for the terific plot you'd designed. Just waiting for your next release...xo
Oh, how well I remember the Star Wars movies, Patsy! They came out when I was a little girl, and they really stirred all the alien-fans and non-alien-fans alike. As long as there is time, there will always be us sci-fi fans. And it's even better when there's some hot romance involved!:)
Fantastic excerpt, too!
Hey Mimi and Alyson thanks for popping in. The minute a SciFi movie comes out, you can be sure I'll be sitting in the audience. Was so disgusted when Firefly went off. Loved that show.
Here's another excerpt for your reading pleasure:
Tegan’s breath hitched. The door to the women’s quarters slid open, revealing a line of human females. Tense and uncertain, their very stance exuded uneasy wariness. Crowded together for protection, they stepped forward with studied caution and entered the communal area. As before, his Chalice appeared to lead the group, flanked by the giantess and the childlike female. Slightly behind, the dark one scowled with fierce determination, while beside her the calm one’s eyes searched the room, missing nothing. He nodded approval. Though nervous, they were nonetheless alert.
His Chalice bent down, patting the prone female’s shoulder, her soft voice murmuring unintelligible sounds rife with comfort. Long pale hair concealed her delicate features from his perusal stimulating his imagination to contrive her expressive eyes and sculpted lips. The female on the floor jerked upright and threw herself on his Chalice, her hysterical wails shattering the quiet.
“Should we go out there?” Shagal pranced from foot to foot, face alight with anticipation.
“Not yet. They need time to adjust to our presence—understand we’re not the enemy.”
“Why would they think that?” Shagal’s brow furrowed. “They were invited and they came. We’ve shown only kindness and welcome.” His silvery eyes flashed. “Unless you did something when you talked to them,” he added, lips drawn down.
“I did nothing.” His own excitement was hard to contain. He wanted nothing more than to enter the communal room and attempt to converse with his Chalice but now was not the time. He wished he knew more of their language, enough to tell her how pleased he was and how he hoped he could make her happy. Strange how he’d never worried about that in the past. In the before time, his Chalice would have been selected from the available females and they would have commenced their commitment to each other. If the Gods willed it, children would have blessed the union. He would have become regent with all the duties that title entailed and his Chalice would have ruled at his side. Now all he had to offer was his honor and his protection. Poor exchange for the life she could have had.
“She is too small,” Mordaq grumbled. “I told you she was.”
Kewl post! Love the pics and the book. :) A win, win, all around.
Your new book sounds very interesting. Your work is so inventive! :) -laura
hey Sky, I followed your link from Triberr, happy I did. What a tantalizing excerpt.
Just sticking my head in now. I've been writing for the past five hours. I see some familar faces here but many new ones. Nice! Enjoy Patsy, she's awesome! Hugs all. I'll swing back in later. xoxo
Hey thanks everyone for stopping by and so please by the comments. Really nice to see some new friends and the old ones as well. Will stop by again.
Great excerpt and pictures. They remind me of Star Trek.
Thanks Mona! As a SciFi fan, I've see all these movies. Love them all.
And the winner is ....*drumroll* Krystal Shannan.
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