Alpha Trine (The Valespian Pact #1)
Ebook Release Date: September,
2013
Audiobook Release Date: February 2015
Cover Artist: Aisha Akeju
Genre: Sci-Fi/Gay/Poly
ISBN: 9781620042434
Alpha
Trine was the winner of 2014 Rainbow Awards
Audio Purchase Links: Available at
iTunes and Audible
Audible:
http://www.amazon.com/Alpha-Trine/dp/B00U0HGZU2/ref=tmm_aud_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1427073838&sr=8-1
Book/Ebook Purchase Links:
Less
Than Three Press - http://www.lessthanthreepress.com/books/index.php?main_page=product_bookx_info&cPath=95&products_id=501
Barnes
& Noble - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/alpha-trine-lexi-ander/1116830303?ean=9781620042441
Blurb:
The
sole survivor on a science vessel adrift in deep space, Zeus was adopted by the
Emperor and Empress of the Mar'Sani, though he is both human and blind, and
seen by most as unfit to join the royal family. Though they were able to repair
his vision, Zeus does not trust his eyes and the nobles of his parents' court
refuse to ever trust a frail human.
Dargon Kal-Turak, along with his symbiote and lover Alpha, command one of the most dangerous ships in the stars. Narrowly escaping a trap, they dock in a space port to make repairs, but find that the Psionics hunting them are closing in fast. In desperation they kidnap the port Master Mechanic, unaware that the man they've brought on board is more than he seems, and will bring far more upheaval to their ship, their lives, and the stars than any of them could have imagined.
Dargon Kal-Turak, along with his symbiote and lover Alpha, command one of the most dangerous ships in the stars. Narrowly escaping a trap, they dock in a space port to make repairs, but find that the Psionics hunting them are closing in fast. In desperation they kidnap the port Master Mechanic, unaware that the man they've brought on board is more than he seems, and will bring far more upheaval to their ship, their lives, and the stars than any of them could have imagined.
Striker (The Valespian Pact #2)
Ebook Release Date: June, 2014
Audiobook Release Date: March 2015
Cover Artist: Aisha Akeju
Genre: Sci-Fi/Gay/Poly
ISBN: 9781620043783
Available
in both ebook and print and audiobook
Audio Purchase Links: Available at
iTunes and Audible
Audible:
Book/Ebook Purchase Links:
Less
Than Three Press - http://www.lessthanthreepress.com/books/index.php?main_page=product_bookx_info&cPath=95&products_id=616
BLURB:
The
peaceful respite for which Zeus and his intended, Dargon and Alpha, had been
hoping is shattered when Zeus is unexpectedly drawn to the Waters of Poseidon
and told that the safety they’ve been promised is a trap. But the Fal’Amoric
aren’t the only important cargo on the Oethra 7, and countless others are
depending on the success of their mission. If Zeus hopes to break the silent
siege on Valespia and protect those most precious to him, he will need not just
powerful allies but the fortitude to survive overwhelming odds.
Author Bio:
Lexi has always been an avid reader, and at a young age started reading (secretly) her mother’s romances (the ones she was told not to touch). She was the only teenager she knew of who would be grounded from reading. Later, with a pencil and a note book, she wrote her own stories and shared them with friends because she loved to see their reactions. A Texas transplant, Lexi now kicks her boots up in the Midwest with her Yankee husband and her eighty-pound puppies named after vacuum cleaners.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rDoV0EBu44&authuser=0
I love this series and have read
it more times than I can count, lol. What made you write the first book?
Yay! I'm
so tickled you loved the series. ^_^ The Valespian Pact was inspired by a story
prompt that requested a Sci-Fi story with mpreg of a non-human male without the
use of technology. The requester was pretty specific about the non-human being
a person who didn't look remotely human. I wasn't really worried about the impregnation
part because there are so many options for mpreg in the natural world (there is
a species of flat worms are all born male. When they mate, the males
"sword fight" with their "penis" and the one that loses
gets to be the female. Pretty cool, eh? ). The hardest part was picking what to
use.
The real
question was how to make the non-human attractive to the reader. If the idea
was too foreign or people couldn't empathize with the character then no one
would believe that Zeus could ever fall in love with someone completely
dissimilar to the norm. Then when I finished Alpha Trine, I had one of those
moments where I thought I had failed my objective. I really liked the story,
okay I sorta loved it, but I wasn't sure what others would think because
sometimes what I liked was way out in leftfield. I'm still amazed at how much
people love the series. It's humbling.
Where did you come up with the
Mar'Sani? Is the world and its people based on something or totally made up?
The idea
of the Mar'Sani started out with a race of reptile-people. In science fiction,
more often than not, lizard-people are depicted as villains, the bad guys. Even
though they walk upright and have advanced technology, they are still depicted
as the vicious Neanderthals of the galaxy. Few find them attractive or worthy
of a hero's tale. It's sorta unfair because reptiles have amazing qualities but
many people prefer furry to scaly.
I did
borrow from Greek Mythology for place names and Mar'Sani character names from
Atlantis lore. I changed Atlantis to the planetary name of Atlainticia. Some of
the names name for the Ancients came from Greek mythology, and of course, Zeus.
But that was all I took from mythology. I didn't want anything more because the
Greek Gods were sort of *ssholes and some of them are downright creepy.
Everything else about them is made up. Mar'Sani are a fierce people who don't
do things halfway. They throw themselves full-force into their convictions. How
they view their responsibilities, family, spirituality—they commit to with all
of their hearts. So even though they are alien in appearance, they are still
lovable.
I also
borrowed the reptilian scientific names for the names of the Mar'Sani houses.
The revered and fear Gerrho'Sauridae is an actual lizard family that is native
to Africa and Madegasgar, I just made mine venomous and a really cool color to
blend into the Black Sands Desert. There are also little things like the space
station Bashker'Qa is actually the character K in Cyrillic script. Udens
Mahte'lan is from Latvian mythology term udens mahte, an epithet applied to 67
water goddesses. Oh, I almost forgot. The warrior side of the Mar'Sani, I
borrowed (loosely) from the Māori people and their Haka. The battle in Striker
is where you can see the correlation the most with the responsive chant and the
face paint.
So while
there are definitely made-up things about the Mar'Sani and the Valespian-verse,
there are some things that are drawn from my love of reading reference
material. ^_^ (I'm waiting for someone to ask me where the V'Saar came from and
I can show them pictures of a really cool helmet. LOL!)
Is there going to be a book #3
for the series? How far are you into it?
Yes,
there will be a third book. Actually there will be seven books total. I had
originally planned four books for the series. Two for Zeus and two for
Prometheus, but when turning everything over I realized that for Prometheus to
accomplish his task there would be too much telling. There were side stories
and quests that impacted his story. After looking at what those side stories
would be comprise of, I decided I would "show" instead of
"tell" what happened. So three stories were added in the middle from
characters the readers already know. I'm a pantser. But with the different
plots and side stories I did have to sit down and bullet point what was needed
in every book. Those points have to do with the plot arches and making sure the
information across the board is consistent. The only one that I haven't
completed an arch for is Legends because I know some things will change before
I get to that point. It always happens when writing, especially when I discover
that what I had in mind won't work for some reason and have to change the
direction. Here's what's planned so far.
Bespoken
(#3), which is about the Galactic Princes finding Prometheus.
Chosen
(#4), is about the GyrFalconi navigator Axis. He's taken a liking to the
Chimera triplets but go missing and Axis refuses to stay home and hope for the
best. What he finds will affect all of Atlainticia.
Rebirth
(#5), is about Canry and Nethus… and there really isn't any hints that I can
give about this that won't give out spoilers. ^_^
Boundless
(#6), is about the mission the Galactic Princes send Madux and Star Eater on.
If they fail, the Grid will fall.
Legends
(#7), we are back again with Prometheus, Vipre, and Malek. What they and their
allies have to do, and what some will give up to protect the galaxies from the
V'Saar hoard will bring an end to the series. *tissues required*
Right
now I'm in the middle of completing the Sumeria's Sons series. The final book,
Releasing Chaos, is the WIP I'm working on currently. Bespoken is next on my
writing schedule and then I'll roll right into Chosen. I'm really, really
excited about both. I had a difficult time trying to figure out where (when) to
start Prometheus's story. The story doesn't flow correctly if started in the
wrong place. I believe I know where to begin, but is it the right spot? I won't
know until I start penning it.
Out of all the characters, who is
your favorite? Do you have one?
That is
such a hard question. When I was writing Alpha Trine, I was totally in love
with the Orion, Rhee. (Not that I don't love the MCs!) He's a bad*ss and the
background on his family pod (which won't be revealed until Bespoken) is really
cool and no one knows but me. *sad face* At least for now. So it's really hard
to talk about why I like them without people jumping to conclusion that it's
all the tentacles. Don’t get me wrong. The tentacles are totally cool, but the
Orion are so much more than their extra appendages.
While writing
Striker, I became infatuated with Otho the L'Eema. He is such great fun to
write and his story becomes so much bigger by the time I start Legends—Dudes, I
can't wait to show you.
I love Alpha. How did you come up
with him?
I adore
Alpha, too. When I came upon the idea of Alpha, I was devising the reason why
the Dar Massagas needed a symbiote. What did the Alpha-Zetamites glean from
such a union? Why was it important? If I couldn't explained convincingly then
Dargon and Alpha weren't credible characters.
Alpha's
shape came before the why of it. I wanted Alpha to be old and versatile, but because the Alpha-Zetamites came upon the dying Dar
Massagas and offered their help, the question became: where were they from, how did they get there,
what was their origin? With the lack of bone structure or cartilage, his form
was perfect for birth in space. By the end of Striker, you know that Alpha is
only small part of a huge Alpha. They are all connected but retain their own
personality. I wanted him be the representation for "giving a piece of
yourself to someone you love". Sort of corny, I know, but I liked the
idea.
Didn’t you win a Rainbow Award
for one of the books?
Alpha
Trine won the 2014 Rainbow Award in the Best Bisexual General Fiction category.
I didn't think that Alpha Trine would win. I was simply tickled (you just don't
know how I cried) when it received an Honorable Mention and thought that would
be the end of the road. The announcement for Alpha Trine winning in that category
came three weeks later, after my father the passed away. At times, our
relationship was strained. He didn't approve of me writing gay romance, but
he always told me that if writing gay romance made me happy, if this was my
cause, he was glad that I found something in this world to fight for. Even
though he didn't understand my choices he would've still told me he was proud
of me for winning an award. I don't think I'll ever be able to think of the
Rainbow Awards and not think of my dad.
Thank
you so much for having me on the blog today!!
