Q&A: Desire The Stars

Hello! Welcome to The Screaming Damnation, ship of Captain Jorsen! This is the brief Q&A for C.M Herndon’s latest novel: Desire the Stars.

 

Q: Just to clear a few things up, DtS is slated as a “new trilogy” set in the same universe as the Defiant Trilogy. Do the trilogies need to be read in order?

A: No, they do not need to be read in order. You can read the Defiant Trilogy before or after. DtS is designed to be it’s own standalone series. If you are interested in character connections, there are characters from the previous trilogy mentioned and shown. The Main Character himself is seen in the final Defiant Novel, Havoc. They can be read in any order.

 

Q: So it’s a new series in the same universe. Tell us a bit about the Ektos Universe.

A: Right, so the Ektos Universe is the name of the universe both trilogies are set in. There are dozens of planets, thousands of cultures, and plenty of badass characters to keep you company.

 

Q: Speaking of badass characters, tell us a bit about the main characters in this story and the places.

A: Actually, a lot of the “places” of the first book is on ship. The Screaming Damnation has a big role to play. It’s not just a ship, it’s a safe place, a home for the crew. Similar to the way Captain Mal in Firefly looks at Serenity, I think this crew shares that opinion of this ship. We do, however, see a brief glance at the planet Achmos, a mostly desert planet with fierce natives. They take a brief trip onto a couple of other planets. As for the characters, Captain Jorsen is the best warrior on his planet. He let’s that go to his head sometimes, but he’s damn good at what he does and Shera, while a bit naïve, is equally as fierce. She has a stubborn recklessness that gets her into a lot of trouble but lucky for her she usually has the skills to get herself out of the trouble. When she doesn’t, that’s where she finds Jorsen.

 

Q: So what separates the Desire the Stars Trilogy from the Defiant Trilogy?

A: A whole lot actually! Defiant was a very dynamic story, showing many points of view from different planets. Faelan had a certain carefree charisma because she was a criminal who fell in love with a prince. Her only goal was to keep that. She and Virion started a war and had to live without, trying to hold onto each other and the family and home that was important to them. It was very broad but at the same time, it was very much about them. While Desire the Stars is also about the couple, I think it’s a little more centered on the couple as a whole. Their issues are more defined in who they are as people. They have obligations, they have expectations, and they have two different races to contend with. Jorsen has a specific set of laws he has to abide by and Shera’s goals don’t align with that. They have to overcome the fact that she can’t just walk away from her family and that he can’t leave his people. For the two of them, their battles are with personal enemies. Faelan and Virion were fighting for a whole planet. While it may seem less broad that way, I think Jorsen and Shera really get to touch on issues in today’s society with bi-racial couples not always feeling welcomed or being acknowledged. Even Shera herself has to come to terms with the fact that Jorsen’s own race is different than hers.

 

Q: Different how?

A: Let’s just say his race has a few biological differences.

 

Q: Will we be seeing more of these races in the other two books?

A: Absolutely. In book two we will be visiting Victere and learning more about how they operate. Especially since Jorsen doesn’t exactly play by the rules. We’ll also be visiting Achmos and learning more about Shera’s culture.

 

Q: What defining qualities can you tell us about each culture?

A: Without giving away major plot points… Victere is a heavily militarized culture that places value on being able to give and take commands. Achmos is a free culture that places value on family and welfare.

 

Q: I’m sensing this might create some tension between the characters?

A: Tension. Sexual tension. D, all of the above.

 

Q: Is there anything else you can touch base on?

A: Read it. If you like your characters with a little sass and a little badass, you’ve come to the right place. Read it, love it, share it.

 

 

Check out Desire the Stars below!

 

 

 

 

Thanks for reading!

 

Special Announcement

As the Defiant Trilogy comes to a close, many of you have been both satisfied with it’s conclusion, and saddened that it had to end at all. Have no fear, my friends! Though this is the last of the Defiant Trilogy, it’s not the last of the Ektos universe!

That’s right! You read correctly!

There are MORE Ektos novels!

More fun! More sarcasm! New characters, returning characters, and a whole lot more of the Ektos that we have never seen before!

With this special announcement, I have a surprise excerpt for you from the upcoming Ektos novel and a secondary announcement that this novel will feature Jorsen of Victere, a character seen in Havoc (Defiant III), as the main character!

Plot details will come later, but for now, enjoy this excerpt!

Jorsen tilted his head as he considered today’s events before asking, “Do you think it’s justifiable to buy a slave to save it?”

“What?” Evar jerked his head around to stare at him like he was going mad.

“If I try to take her I’ll likely get a bullet in my hosa, but we have the funds for it.”

“Jorsen,”

“Go get the ship ready. I’ve pissed enough people off today, we might need to leave fast.”

“Jorsen, you can’t—Jorsen!” He paid Evar no mind, just walked on down the stairs.

The crowd on the main floor parted out of his way easily enough. He knew why. He knew what they saw when they looked at him. Terror on two legs, savage, uncivilized brute. He’d heard it all. He didn’t even need his own reputation, they’d run away just knowing which planet he was from.

Wise people didn’t bother Victerans.

This place was a lot like the black markets of Rosen, with vending tables lining the walkways and supplies you could hardly guess at. You could find anything down here, including slaves. All illegal in Ektos. This was everything he needed to report back with evidence of black markets, but first he was going to break their own laws.

As he drew closer, he spotted the roped off area with cages full of slaves. He scanned the people lingering in front of the cages until he spotted the guard Mauve. Next to him was Richter. Jorsen smirked and started forward. He couldn’t wait to piss Richter off again.

He didn’t see the woman he’d come here to buy out from under Richter which meant she was in the back, seconds from being branded. If he could stop it, he would. Once he had her, he didn’t care where she went, but getting her away from this gosteno was really all that counted. He couldn’t save everyone, yet, but he would save this one. If not for the OUP then for his own selfish need to ruin Richter’s day.

As he neared him with the guard, he realized he was already passing money over to the slave-holder and he dropped his hand in between them—hard—scattering the money across the floor.

“Hey!” Mauve wheeled on him, fury blazing in his eyes.

“Well, if it isn’t the Victeran again.” Richter lifted his hand to show the guard there was no threat and Mauve eased the grip he’d just taken on his gun.

Jorsen ignored Richter and said to Mauve, “I want to buy the woman.”

“We have lots of women,”

“No, the one he’s trying to buy. Give her to me.”

Richter laughed, “I thought you Victerans didn’t believe in slave trade?”

Mauve said, “I’ve already made a deal on her with Mr. Richter,”

“I’ll double his price.”

“Wait a second,” Richter’s smile faded from his face, “I already paid.”

“Your money is on the floor, sir.” Mauve stated, considering that doubled price.

Jorsen added, “You don’t have to tell anyone you doubled the price, just take the extra and keep it yourself.”

“No, she’s mine.” Richter took a step towards him.

Jorsen faced Richter, curled his fingers into a fist and slammed him with a right hook that sent him straight to the floor, next to his money. He faced Mauve again. “You going to sell to me or the man lying on the floor?” Mauve looked stricken like he wasn’t sure what to do. “Would you like to join him?”

Mauve swallowed, “She’s twenty gold credits.”

Which was equal to twenty thousand primary credits. Fesca. Jorsen had to hold his breath as he nodded in agreement. Mauve flipped out an electronic file and he paid and signed, keeping his face blank. Victere might hang him for this, but his mind was made up. He wasn’t even sure why it was so important, but he couldn’t let that prick walk off with another prize that would be dead in two weeks under his care.

And they called his people savages. At least Victerans didn’t believe in human trafficking. They believed in loyalty, hard work, and the ring.

“I’ll bring your papers out. It may take a few minutes before we can bring her out to you.”

“Why?” Jorsen didn’t leave the gruffness out of his voice.

“She’s being branded and cleaned.”

His stomach soured with fury, “I don’t want her branded.”

Mauve lifted a brow. “No brand, no sell.”

Jorsen was getting sick of this. Without warning, he grabbed Mauve by the throat and started walking while Mauve scrabbled to keep his feet on the ground and find balance, his hands latching onto Jorsen’s arm. He didn’t stop until he reached the slave cages and slammed Mauve’s back against the bars.

He was making strangled sounds of protest as he tried to breathe and the slaves in the cage behind him flinched and stepped back, watching with apprehension. “I believe I already paid. Go back there and get my woman or you’ll be the next one they’re branding to put on my ship. Got it?”

He yanked him forward and sent Mauve sprawling across the floor and the guard surged to his feet, holding his throat and gasping for breath. He scattered in seconds, running headlong towards the end of the cages where there was a door that led to the back. Jorsen snorted and brushed his hands off on his pants before glancing at the slaves in the cage behind him.

He’d free them all if he could.

Not too far away he saw Richter was finally pulling himself up off the floor, dazed and confused. He glanced around, saw Jorsen, and scowled before he slunk off without a word. Jorsen shook his head and faced the door again. He was standing, back straight, arms crossed, when the door at the end opened again and three men came out with Mauve. “Ah hell.” Jorsen muttered but he didn’t move.

The group stomped towards him, weapons on their hips, but when they got closer he could see a woman just behind them, chains clasped around her wrists and they’d muzzled the poor thing.

When they got closer, Mauve didn’t speak, one of the other three did, the one holding the chain attached to the woman’s wrists. “She’s been branded and cleaned.”

“I wanted—”

The man cut him off, something that wasn’t a wise thing for even his closest friends to do. “We already branded her before Mauve reached us.” He held the chain out towards Jorsen. “We don’t want any more trouble, Victeran, just leave with your woman.”

Her eyes went wide but Jorsen didn’t take the chain. “Take that bloody muzzle off her face.”

“You’ll want it on there, sir, she bit one of us.”

Jorsen almost choked as an unexpected wave of amusement hit him. He kept his face straight, barely, and a second man spoke. “It will not be removed while she is still here. We’re not taking risks.”

“Fine.” Jorsen took the chain roughly. It caused her to stumble closer to him as he glared at the men. They passed him his papers of ownership and watched him sign his name to them and then he turned and started walking.

The chain snatched taut but he didn’t glance back, he didn’t slow. She could either follow him or get dragged. His time was up here, if he remained much longer they were liable to start a fight…or he was liable to start one. Either way, he needed to leave.

We need to leave, he corrected himself. Victere is going to kill me for this.

 

 

 

If you enjoyed this excerpt, consider reading the original Ektos novels, The Defiant Trilogy. Click here for more information.

HOT NEW WHAT?!

I’m so very excited and pleased to tell you guys that Havoc (Defiant #3) has been on Amazon’s “Hot New Release” list for Action and Adventure since it’s début!

Everyone just can’t seem to get enough of:

A) Faelan’s sarcasm

 

B) Virion’s Man Throwing Skills

Faelan gawked as Virion lifted the man even higher and then literally threw him several feet. “Get out!” His voice was so loud it seemed to fill the entire main cabin and then some.

The pilot scrambled to his feet and ran from the main cabin. Faelan didn’t know where he went and she didn’t pay attention, her focus was on Virion. She could honestly say she’d never seen a man throw another man like that.

“I just have to say,” Faelan began, “That was the coolest shit I’ve ever seen.” Or perhaps the hottest. She could stand to see him do that again…and again…and again. Hell, she wouldn’t mind having him throw her as long as it was onto a bed.

-Excerpt from Defiant

 

C) Mikhal’s Mysteriousness

(Or maybe not so mysterious. He’s The Bone Breaker, we get it. He likes to torture people)

 

Or D) All the general action and mis-adventures befalling Faelan and her crew

• Like Virion’s sister getting kidnapped
• Or the whole planet falling under attack
• Or basically everyone almost getting shot

 

Either way, the verdict is in! Fans can’t get enough of Faelan and I am so blessed you followed me through to the final book of Faelan’s story, but never fear! This won’t be the last adventure in the Ektos Universe! There’ll be more adventures to come. Click here to see the Hot New Release list for Action and Adventure, and catch Havoc while it’s hot!

 

Much Love,

C.M.

 

See the Defiant Trilogy here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B079Q2M9CW/ref=series_rw_dp_sw