Hey there! Thank you, so much, for
including me on your blog today and getting the word out about IMPLANTED, the
second book in The Ascension Series!
1.) Tell
us about your journey so far in this series.
Well, let’s see. Like many authors, this
series began when a “what if…?” idea sparked in my head, followed immediately
by fast finger action (on the keyboard). After that, came the season of endless
hair-pulling with a lengthy detour (changing of publishers and discernment of
direction.) Finally, after rounding up of the troops (aka, perfect editors and
amazing cover designer), I marched forward. Impervious re-released in the
spring and now *taking large breath and chest puffing with pride* I can finally
move into the “guts” of the story that began with IMPERVIOUS.
2.) Guts
of the story? How so?
Let’s just say, IMPERVIOUS was the loading
of the weapon… IMPLANTED is the pulling of the trigger. (The final book will be
the shot heard ‘round the world.)
3.) Ah-ha!
So this is a trilogy!
Yes. But I let’s not get ahead of the
curve. I’m going to keep the final installment a bit of a mystery for you. What
I can say about IMPLANTED is that it will answer some questions that lingered
with the reader after IMPERVIOUS… yet it might stir up a few more.
4.) Wow!
Can’t wait… So, tell us a little more about the author. We’ve also head that
you are a gypsy-nerd. What does that mean, exactly?
LOL! It means my life is in a constant
state of flux! My husband and I have dedicated this season of our lives to meandering
about the U.S. He’s a software nerd. I’m a book nerd. And for the past ten
months, we’ve been traveling about the contiguous United States in a one-ton
dually (um, nerd-speak for big pick-up truck) towing a very bougie trailer… glamping (aka glamour camping). We spent
most of the winter checking out the corners and crevices of sunny Florida and
right now, as we speak, we’re hunkered down in Hungry Horse, Montana! (Glacier
Park). I guess, much like my character, Fran, you could say I like to think of
myself “off the grid.” (However, I try to maintain good WIFI and cable TV… and,
I’m Accountable.)
5.) Lastly,
two quick personals…
- Do
you work in your jammies?
LOL! Well, typically it’s more like shorts
and a tank. But, every now and then, I suppose I’ve been known to keep the
jammies on for the better part of the morning.
- Favorite
munchies while you work?
Blueberries! Fresh, plump and juicy! (and
coffee… always coffee at my right hand.)
with Fran
INTERVIEWER: “Hey Fran! Good to see you again!”
FRAN: “Hi.” Fran smiles.
INTERVIEWER: “Last time we spoke, you were kind of in a strange season in life.
FRAN: “Mm hm.” Fran runs her fingers through a spring of curls. “I
believe that was back when I was a Rebel.”
INTERVIEWER: “Right. Rebel.” I cock a brow. “So no more Rebel-Fran?”
FRAN: Fran snorts. “Well, I suppose I’ll always be just a bit
rebellious. But, no. Not an official Rebel.”
INTERVIEWER: I nod in agreement. “And how do you like living outdoors?”
FRAN: “In the Open Air?” She corrects me. “Love it. It’s great. I just
wish everyone else could be there with me.”
INTERVIEWER: I crack a coy smile. “Like Pete, maybe?”
FRAN: Fran lets out a long sigh and I’m unsure if I’ve crossed our line
of friendship.“Pete,” she whispers.
INTERVIEWER: “I’m sorry,” I quickly respond. “That’s a painful subject. How
about if we talk about your mom instead?”
FRAN: Fran throws her head back and releases a hearty guffaw.
“Mom.” She shakes her head. “I really
love Mom.” She looks at me and I see a hint of the old Fran sparkle from her
eye.
“She just, such a….”
INTERVIEWER“Mom?” I add.
FRAN: “Exactly.” Fran agrees. “And, really. The best Mom ever, by the
way.”
INTERVIEWER: “I know.” I agree. “I have one of those too.”
Implanted by Heather Letto, Book 2 in the Ascension Series
Suddenly,
another bellow filled the air, causing tiny bumps to rise on Ret’s forearms. He
dumped the bowl and swiped an extra rock from the dirt, tossed it into his
pouch and took off in the direction of Sophie’s wails.
As
he raced along the river’s edge, Sophie launched another battle cry. If she was
this upset, her cubs must be in
danger. Ret broke into a full run, loading his sling as he followed the sound.
But
when he reached the clearing, the cubs appeared safe, wrestling and rolling in
the meadow as usual. Sophie, on the other hand, stood on her hind legs, knee
deep in the river, with the rapids splashing up high on her furry form. Her cry
of distress continued and Ret wondered if she’d been injured.
He
slowed to a walk as he approached, clucking his tongue in a soothing manner.
What had always worked in the past, however, didn’t seem to faze the mother
bear. Once near enough, Ret assessed her from head to toe. No obvious wounds.
She stood upright and strong, and bellowed again, filling the air with thick
vibrations.
Ret’s
gaze whipped along the raging river and a swatch of color caught his eye. Had
someone fallen into the rapids? Ret knew the villagers opted not to enter the
river this time of year claiming his sport of rapid riding to be a bit extreme.
Yet, his gut—and Sophie—told him something wasn’t right.
He
scanned the shoreline with Sophie’s desperate cries as a backdrop. On a nearby
river rock, Ret saw a torn cloth clinging to the rock’s edge. His eyes darted
from one rock to another while searching the foamy islands.
He
saw her hand first. Laying casually on top of a boulder as if she’d simply
stopped for a rest while swimming. Her body, wedged between the boulder and
mass of sharp stones, lifted and dipped as the water passed over and under her
form.
Like
the rushing of the water before him, adrenaline cut through Ret’s veins. He
thrust himself, waist deep, into the freezing water. Before he could even
wonder what had brought Wolf into these dangerous rapids, the current yanked at
his body. He carved a trail to the high boulder, the roar of the river drowning
out Sophie’s wails.
The
torrent labored to hamper his progress, but Ret pushed back. Would the
ferocious waters dislodge Wolf, sending her downriver before he could reach
her? His mind reeled with calculations—percentage of submerged mass in relation
to the speed of the current—as if he could determine the number of remaining
moments before she launched. She bobbed on the water’s surface, and Ret
swallowed back lumpy fear. He reached out and lunged, catching her around the
waist. Relief lasted a short moment, as Ret rolled her over to face the sky.
Her
skin was ashen grey.
Ret
looked back at the shore. Could he maneuver her back in time? He couldn’t risk
losing a precious second. Instead, he hefted her limp body fully onto the
boulder that had served as her temporary refuge. After crawling to her side, he
placed a finger on her carotid artery, and a wave of relief exploded through
him. He felt a feathery pulse—but she wasn’t breathing.
With
a supportive hand beneath her skull, he pulled down on her chin, rolled her
head back, and opened her mouth. Without hesitation, he performed as he had been
taught. He covered her lips with his own, pinched her nose and sent a strong
breath into her lungs. He watched her chest. No movement. He repeated the
process.
No
rise. No fall. He pinched off her nose, covered her mouth with his own and
released another breath before sitting back on his heels.
“Come on, Rebel. Breathe!”
Last but not the least a . . .
