by J. A. Marlow
In the "String Weaver" Universe:
The String Weavers (The String Weavers - Book 1): Kelsey Hale thinks she's just a typical mixed-up teenager. Everyone feels that way, her teachers assure her. Yet, strange things happen to her, like food disappearing before she can eat it and hearing music no one else hears. Then a giant flaming bird arrives and drops an alien at her and her father's feet. Well, good grief, how can you ignore something like that? Before she knows it, Kelsey finds herself struggling to survive on another world in another Universe, all while trying to rescue her father who seems to have kept a very important secret from her all these years...
Other stories in the Galactic Commonwealth Universe
Coffee Cup Dreams (A Redpoint One Novel): Fleeing Earth after a 'psi event', Tish Douglas struggles with a new life on a remote space station built by long-gone aliens, complicated by a forbidden attraction for a man she can't have: boss Arthur Getty.
Mop Jockeys and Fighter Pilots: Captain Carme Batista doesn't have time for anything other than fighting the next battle. A distraction could mean death for her and her squadron. But Felix isn't an ordinary janitor. He remembers things no one else does, unobtrusively attentive, seeming to sense what she needs before even she knows it. He doesn't seem to understand she has no emotion left. The war with the Chion destroyed them a long time ago... Or did it?
In the Cauldron: I like to live. I'm funny that way. Dropping out of hyperspace into a pulsar system with no engines, a dead bridge crew and captain, and limited power doesn't bode well for survival. Somehow I've got to convince the people that matter to stay with the ship and get the engines running. Before it's too late for any of us.
Children of Jad Omnibus: The day started with Elvy Akuma enjoying a day out in the forest with her parents. It ended with her life changed forever... This 48,400 word, 193 page (approx.), Omnibus is a collection of the four Children of Jad novelettes at a bargain price, completing the entire story arc in one volume. The collection includes: Glint of a Suncatcher, Glint of a Ring, Glint of an Artifact, Glint of a Tower.
In the "StarBlink" Universe:
Into the Forest Shadows: On a world of valuable giant trees and intelligent animals, a red-cloaked headstrong teen struggles to save her family from a planetary conspiracy awaiting her at Grandmother's house. A Science Fiction novel retelling of the fairy tale "Little Red Riding Hood."
The Art of Negotiation: After overseeing the downsizing of a construction facility at Arcturus, Zada Harper comes face-to-face with an old friend... whom she just helped lay off. Zada then finds herself the next target of the ISC Corporation layoffs. She is suddenly without a job and forced into automatic arbitration for a severance settlement. But Zada won't go quietly. The ISC feels the sting of her departure.
In the "Coalition of Worlds" Universe:
Salmon Run Series
Welcome to Salmon Run, Alaska! A place of wild animals, wild land, and wild inhabitants...oh, and native legends come alive and an inter-planetary alien conflict at their backdoor.
Night of the Aurora (Salmon Run - Book 1): The Callahans arrive in Alaska to begin a new life at the lodge left to them by crazy Uncle George. But first they must survive the wilds of Alaska, a massive Aurora, and an alien spacecraft hidden under the snow.
Alien Winter (Salmon Run - Book 2): During a harsh Alaskan winter, the inexperienced Callahans struggle to prepare the lodge despite power failures and a possible haunting when a diminutive alien with a big attitude complicates efforts.
The Singing Lakes (Salmon Run - Book 3): After an earthquake rattles Salmon Run, ominous messages only Zack and Sasha can understand lead them to the local aliens and a secret lurking at the bottom of Lake Iliamna.
"Alien Winter (Salmon Run - Book 2)" Sample
During a harsh Alaskan winter, the inexperienced Callahans struggle to prepare the lodge despite power failures and a possible haunting when a diminutive alien with a big attitude complicates efforts.
Available now!
***
Hawk Callahan's hands were chapped, his nose clogged with dust, and his muscles ached. The air smelled like vinegar, bleach and soap, and all his work-clothes needed to be washed.
Yet, he was happy.
The lower level of the lodge grew cleaner with each passing day. The varnished wood glowed warmly in the light of the colored-glass and wrought-iron light fixtures. Dust no longer swirled up when they walked down the hallway to the bedrooms or into the kitchen.
The upstairs he didn't dwell on. Other than a quick inspection the very first day, noting the layer of dust on everything, he hadn't climbed the stairs again. Time enough for that later.
He wrung out a sponge and went after the window casings of the large kitchen. A bit more cleaning and he wouldn't feel bad about cooking meals in the room.
The two-way door into the kitchen opened.
"Finished with the second bathroom?" Hawk asked, taking a last swipe along the edge of the window before moving his bucket to the window on the other side of the kitchen table.
"Sorta. Something is wrong with the plumbing," Zach said.
Such simple words, yet they struck fear in his heart. The one thing he'd never been able to fix in any apartment they'd ever lived in. The one time he'd tried, and failed, the landlord made him promise never to try again.
Hawk dropped the sponge in the bucket of warm soapy water, turning away from the window. "Did you use the plunger?"
Zach shook his head. "Not that kind of problem. Besides, it wouldn't affect the sink and shower."
So much for thinking something simple would take care of it.
He tried the kitchen sink. The water ran crystal clear, but odd gurgling noises came up from the pipes. He quickly shut off the water before it could back up into the sink.
Hawk sighed, glaring down at the drain. "How bad is it in the bathroom?"
Zach leaned against the counter, crossing his arms. "I shut everything off the moment water started coming back up. It's slowly draining away."
"Time to call in help." Hawk moved to the list held to the front of the refrigerator with a big Alaska-shaped magnet and ran a finger down the contact names and numbers.
Gus Springer didn't answer, forcing him to leave a message.
Zach hovered at the edge of the kitchen as Hawk set down the phone. "Anyone else we can call?"
"I'm not sure who else in town is a plumber." He glanced at the wall clock. "Or who would be available to come over at eight at night."
Zach grimaced. "We need to do something. It may be late for a plumber, but it's early for us."
Hawk looked at the door at the back of the kitchen area. "Grandpa Neeley said there was an old outhouse."
Zach's mouth dropped open. "It's ten degrees below freezing and you expect me to go outside?"
"Just until morning when we can get someone out here. I'll go find it." Hawk walked to the arctic entry to get his jacket, wondering if he should have taken Zach on more camping trips. One night wouldn't be too bad, no matter the outside temperature. After pulling on his boots he grabbed a flashlight.
The lights blinked.
Hawk stared up at the main light fixture, telling himself that the blink had only been a figment of his imagination.
It blinked again. And stayed out.
"I don't believe this," Zach said in the darkness.
"Alien Winter (Salmon Run - Book 2)" is available at most online ebook retailers.
"The String Weavers (The String Weavers - Book 1)" Sample
Kelsey Hale thinks she's just a typical mixed-up teenager. Everyone feels that way, her teachers assure her. Yet, strange things happen to her, like food disappearing before she can eat it and hearing music no one else hears. Then a giant flaming bird arrives and drops an alien at her and her father's feet. Well, good grief, how can you ignore something like that? Before she knows it, Kelsey finds herself struggling to survive on another world in another Universe, all while trying to rescue her father who seems to have k
ept a very important secret from her all these years...
Available now!
***
Kelsey opened her eyes to find herself staring into the dark gray fold of a blanket.
She sat up, the blanket falling away. Instantly she wished she hadn't moved so fast, as the sudden movement made her eyes water and her head swim. At least her hands weren't bound, although she could still feel the tightness of the binding. Hadn't she been dreaming?
The tent was empty except for her and her backpack. She grabbed the backpack, hugging it to herself, glad for something familiar. As her head cleared, she realized an odd light filtered into the tent through the door.
"It has to be another Weaver group. With the binding, it's hard for me to tell," someone said softly from outside the tent.
"The little alien said not to talk," she heard her father say.
"Channix is distracted by the same thing we are seeing."
Recognizing the other voice as belonging to the alien called Bonn, Kelsey leaned over to peer out the tent flap. She could see the shapes of them just outside, both of them staring in the same direction. She crawled towards them, shivering as she came out into the night air, trying to see what they were looking at.
The source wasn't hard to find. At the top of the nearby hill a pulsing light strobed into the sky in a gentle steady rhythm. A light moving in time with snatches of music drifting in the breeze. The melody changed and shifted slowly, pieces of discord slowly fading away to be replaced with new notes. Against the glow she could make out a tall domed structure on the very top of the hill.
"What is that?" Kelsey managed to ask.
They turned towards her, Father immediately asking, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, I just fell asleep for a bit," Kelsey said irritably. Her stomach grumbled at the indignity of being awake and empty. "What's going on?"
"A Weaver is untangling a String," Bonn said curtly.
"A what?"
Before Bonn could answer, they heard Professor Hadrian shouting for Channix. Channix perked up from the rock he still sat on. Professor Hadrian stood in front of his tent as Rozelle also climbed out. He gestured, and apparently understanding what he meant, Channix stood up, shook his body in a violent shiver, and then loped towards them.
"We go," Channix said, motioning them towards the Professor.
With her father's help Kelsey managed to get to her feet. Bonn rose in one fluid motion. Kelsey kept close to Father, still unsure of Bonn.
"What about the tent?" Father asked.
"We go!" Channix said fiercely in a manner that made his words hard to understand
Okay, scratch that. Bonn wasn't as threatening as the one called Channix. Kelsey clenched a hand around the strap of the backpack even tighter, deciding not to leave it behind. If the little alien came at her, she wanted something to put between them.
"If I didn't know the binding keeps you from sending out a message, I would think you summoned someone, Weaver," Professor Hadrian said calmly with a glance towards Bonn when they caught up. "Shall we see who our guests are? Perhaps one of them has a band which functions better than yours."
Kelsey saw Bonn's ears go back at the comment, although he didn't say anything. In the darkness, she could see the band around Professor Hadrian's wrist glowing in the dark.
"Channix, your group will follow behind us," Professor Hadrian said as he led the way up the hill.
As they climbed the steep incline, Channix started chattering, making no coherent words at all. Kelsey turned her head back at him, finding him pointing towards the sky. She looked up to see distant streaks of gold and yellow flames against the sky.
"Ah, look, Rozelle, we have company," Professor Hadrian said in a sarcastic voice.
Rozelle looked up and cringed. "The Phoenix themselves. Do they mean for this world to fall as ours did?"
"Fear the Phoenix?" Bonn asked, turning away from the sky at them. "How telling."
"Do you see only pretty lights in the sky?" Rozelle swirled around at Bonn, her dark hair wrapping around her face, her body rigid, hands in tight fists. "I see death and destruction."
"Then you do not truly know the Phoenix," Bonn said.
Professor Hadrian glanced back at them. "Do you believe you know who and what they truly are? Do you ignore the damage and destruction they reign down into the Universes, onto worlds and suns? In truth, you know nothing. Be silent."
Kelsey glanced back up at the Phoenix as they circled in the sky. One disappeared in a streak of flames. She wondered if they were friendly. It sounded like they saved Bonn from Professor Hadrian initially, but then she and her father ended up prisoners as a direct result.
Her mind went back to the words the Phoenix spoke just before it disappeared. Changes, oh yeah, that happened, but what choices? With the binding she was a prisoner, she didn't have any choices to make. What did it mean by that, anyway? Maybe Father had been right to look so worried to see it appear.
She glanced at him as he helped her through a thick patch of brush. Which brought up another question. How did her father know about the Phoenix in the first place? Her mind immediately went to the lists of questions she'd wanted to ask him about her mother. Out of the corner of her eye she caught sight of her own band. The center jewel shined as brightly as Professor Hadrian's.
As they hiked farther up the hill, Kelsey began to wonder at the wisdom of bringing the backpack. Channix remained safely behind them. Her legs still felt shaky and the backpack was getting heavier and heavier by the second. She shifted it to her back, settling the straps across her shoulders.
"Do we need or want more people in our group?" Rozelle asked so softly Kelsey could barely hear it. "They will slow us down."
"It's not the people, it's the bands," Professor Hadrian answered.
Obviously Bonn heard. Kelsey was starting to enjoy the little twitches and dances the ends of his ears did in time with his emotions. Probably like her blushing.
The light from the top of the hill suddenly ceased. It took a few minutes for Kelsey's eyes to adjust to not having the soft glow to help light the way. In the meantime, she stumbled over practically every rock, limb or uneven piece of ground in the vicinity.
A small half moon emerged over the far mountains, casting a soft glow to the surroundings. Above, the last of the Phoenix spiraled out of sight. She stumbled again as a line of sharp minor chords flew through the air above her head.
Channix hissed sharply. But, his attention not on them, but on something up the hill.
No matter how she squinted and searched she couldn't see what he could be looking at. A movement against a light colored rock helped her to find the shapes. No wonder she'd had trouble seeing them, they were rather low to the ground. Then she realized whoever they were meeting walked on four legs. More aliens?
Tripping over a hidden log, Kelsey grabbed onto her father's arm. He put a strong arm around her back, helping her find her feet. As she got up she saw Bonn's ears were completely laid back. Somehow she knew that meant something bad.
Professor Hadrian turned to Channix. "Keep them here and silent. We will return shortly."
Her knees aching, Kelsey looked for a place to sit down but prickly shrubs and trees covered the ground. Turning around, she could make out in the moonlight the small clearing where they'd made camp and the pinprick of red of the dying campfire. To her right the trees grew taller, and beyond those she could see the night shimmer of a lake. Music continued floating around her, strained and tense notes she couldn't help reacting to with uncomfortable shivers.
A flash of light from behind her accompanied by a loud resonant snap made her jump. Kelsey whirled around just in time to see another flash of light coming from the arm of Professor Hadrian. The burst of energy plowed into the dirt and soil further up the hill.
Channix growled low in his throat but remained where he was. Another light appeared at the dome, pulsing and surging frantically into the sky. Growing first bright and then fai
nt, alternating colors as it did, it surged into the scattered light clouds.
Chords filled the air from all directions. First off key, but with each surge, coming more and more in tune, the melody growing more intricate. The light above the dome ceased, and with it the melodies began to fade.
And then, she felt the snap. A rush moved right down into the center of her body and then radiated outwards. It echoed back from the band on her wrist. She breathed in deeply, overwhelmed with relief. The invisible ropes were gone!
Professor Hadrian knew it as well. He turned towards them and raised his arm, yelling down the hill, "Keep them restrained!"
Bonn shoved Kelsey violently to the side as he raised his own arm. She saw the flash of a brilliant pulse of energy as she tripped and then tumbled off the side of the steep hill.
Her ears filled with the loud crashing of her own body as she fell, skidded and rolled through and off of trees, bushes and rocks. She felt like a pinball with vertigo, not knowing her direction, but feeling the pain of each new encounter with an outside object.
With a splash and a hard bump that knocked the breath out of her, she landed face down in frigid water. Scrambling to her knees, she felt something moving on her head. She swatted at it, and a small dark body jumped off with an indignant croak. It landed in the water and scrambled onto a rock, looked at her and croaked at her again.
Suddenly, she couldn't help but start laughing.
Kelsey stood up and shook her hands, moving to one rocky bank. It was then she realized the water was running off her dry skin even though her clothes were soaked. Yet, she could feel the sense of water on her bare skin, but when she rubbed two fingers together, there was definitely no moisture there.
A howl of pain echoed down from the hill. Through her band she felt the tug of Professor Hadrian's Binding Machine.
Terror welled up from her band, overcoming every conscious thought in her head. She had to get away from the machine!
Her legs began running away from the hill, carrying the rest of her with them. In a few strides she splashed across the stream, disappearing into the forest.
