The fate of the galaxy rests in the most unlikely of hands
Greetings from the Sub-Arctic!
I thought we were on the other side of the mosquito surge, but no. They’re back after some high winds and heavy rains. A new bumper crop of the evil creatures. Here’s Stanley as we pioneer an expanded trail through the woods to give us a one half mile loop. Still working to clean up one section with a lot of deadfall, otherwise we’re mostly there.
Where I live in Alaska, it is one hundred percent business as usual. The airport still requires masks, but no other place in town does and very few people are wearing them. The good news is that no one judges. If I’m feeling sick at all, I will put on a mask to warn others away 🙂 People generally keep their distance up here because space is not at a premium.
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The First Hit – an Ian Bragg Thriller short story, FREE!
Look what we have here! If you didn’t pick up this story in the Make Them Pay anthology, then get it here, for FREE, directly from BookFunnel before I put it up for sale on Amazon.
They say the first is the hardest.
See how Ian started his journey as a hitman, learning from his mistakes to be one of the best. We can’t always be smooth our first time out. That’s the power of experience. It becomes wisdom as we learn and get better and better.
https://dl.bookfunnel.com/h6mp53yknw
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Ganymede Wakes – A near future thriller! Only 99 cents
When megacorporations fight for control of an alien substance, it’s up to a retired special ops veteran to restore order before civilization falls to the threat from outside the solar system.
“Joshua T. Calvert has a gift for making nail-biting science fiction that you can’t put down. Get ready for some sleepless nights!” – M.A. Rothman, USA Today bestselling author
You can get this book on sale for 99 cents for the next few days only.
Get it from Amazon US
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The Interview, Judge, Jury, & Executioner #13
A quick snippet because The Interview is back from the editor and ready to go to the proofreading team. I think we’ll be able to get it out before the end of July. I’m going to push hard to get this to you soonest.
Chapter 1
Interstellar Space, Wyatt Earp, Magistrate Rivka Anoa’s Heavy Frigate
“Holding pattern! What the hell does that mean?” Rivka shouted at the screen. Grainger looked back at her, wearing an unusually grim look
.
“Don’t make this harder than it is. The Federation Council was less than amused by the raid on not one but two ambassadors. They are debating the status of the Magistrates right now.”
“But they were dirty as fuck.” Rivka stomped around the bridge while Aurora, the pilot, and Clodagh, the chief engineer, focused on their workstations even though nothing was happening because they were stopped in interstellar space, waiting for clearance to proceed. “Dirty. Stinking. Criminals.”
“We all have our skeletons, Rivka. I remember how you got your start.”
“I killed a man who was freed by a jury of his peers. A man who was a murderer.”
“A jury trial supersedes even our authority. Double jeopardy. We can’t try someone twice for the same crime. But your insight has been a gift to us. You saved my life. It also looks like your gift might be a curse.”
Rivka flopped into the captain’s chair, her anger spent. She knew the curse. She felt the pain of seeing into others’ minds. She wouldn’t go crazy as long as she was doing it for the greater good.
“Introspection,” she said softly. “It’s good for the soul. Maybe I need a trip to Azfelius.”
“In its own time, but that time is not now, even though now is when it’s needed most. Find something to do that doesn’t involve punching holes in the walls. The High Chancellor is engaged with the council right now. I’ll call you as soon as I know anything.”
“That fucking smug bastard,” Rivka growled.
“I know you’re not talking about the High Chancellor.” Grainger made a face. Aurora snorted and covered her face with a hand while clearing her throat.
“Of course not. That ass-grabbing shitweasel, the honorable Ambassador Bik Tia Nor from fucking Delegor, the place with inedible food. No wonder they have laws saying you can’t leave leftovers. Diddle-fucking crotch rot.”
Aurora stood and tried to make her way off the bridge, her lips a tight white line as she tried to keep her mirth under control. She was failing.
“Are you upset? It’s so hard to tell with you and your interminable poker face,” Grainger quipped. “Maybe you can put one of the SCAMPs on the line so I can have a conversation where we discuss the issues.”
Clodagh chuckled out loud before burying her face in something she tried to make believe was new and fascinating on her computer screen. “What issues are there to discuss? I’m to cool my heels right here until I’m dismissed, summoned, or freed. I don’t see any other options.” Icicles hung from Rivka’s words. She flexed her jaw to relieve the anxiety she was carrying. She could feel her nanos fighting the wrinkles she was trying to create around her eyes.
“It’s him and Delaveen. Nothing we can do now will change their crusade. Trust the High Chancellor.”
Besides her crew, the High Chancellor was one of the few individuals she looked up to. His job was hard enough without her making it harder. “I didn’t think I was doing anything out of bounds. I was following the evidence.”
“I know.” Grainger smiled. “It’s not you. This has been a long time coming. The Federation Council has members who think they are above the law. The High Chancellor will set them straight. Now, take a load off and relax. Order some food or something.” Grainger signed off.
Rivka summoned the ship’s sentient intelligence. “Clevarious, transfer our coordinates to Ankh so I can order some hot wings.”
“You never order hot wings. He’ll think you’ve been taken over by a succubus.”
Rivka froze in place. “C? Are you yanking my chain?”
“If you had a chain, it would have been fully tugged, Magistrate. I’ll take care of the order.”
Rivka waved over her shoulder as she strolled off the bridge. Aurora averted her eyes.
“Go back to your post, Aurora. I’m a lot less mad now, and All Guns Blazing food is inbound.”
“That always takes the edge off. Can we get some coleslaw?”
Reserve your copy today!
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Craig Martelle’s Other Books (listed by series, also available in audio)
- Terry Henry Walton Chronicles* (co-written with Michael Anderle) – a post-apocalyptic paranormal adventure
- Gateway to the Universe* (co-written with Justin Sloan & Michael Anderle) – this book transitions the characters from the Terry Henry Walton Chronicles to The Bad Company
- The Bad Company* (co-written with Michael Anderle) – a military science fiction space opera
- Judge, Jury, & Executioner* – a space opera adventure legal thriller with Bad Company cameos
- Shadow Vanguard – a Tom Dublin series
- Superdreadnought* (co-written with Tim Marquitz)– an AI military space opera
- Metal Legion* (co-written with Caleb Wachter) – a military space opera
- The Free Trader* – a young adult science fiction action adventure
- Cygnus Space Opera* – A young adult space opera (set in the Free Trader universe)
- Zenophobia – an alien archaeological space adventure, coming late 2021
- Battleship: Leviathan – a military sci-fi adventure, coming late 2021
- Old Glory (co-written with Ira Heinichen) – pure military sci-fi, coming late 2021
- Darklanding* (co-written with Scott Moon) – a space western
- Mystically Engineered (co-written with Valerie Emerson) – Mystics, dragons, & spaceships
- End Times Alaska* – a Permuted Press publication – a post-apocalyptic survivalist adventure
- Nightwalker (a Frank Roderus series) with Craig Martelle – A post-apocalyptic western adventure
- End Days* (co-written with E.E. Isherwood) – a post-apocalyptic adventure
- Krimson Empire (co-written with Julia Huni) – a galactic adventure
- Successful Indie Author* – a non-fiction series to help self-published authors
- Leader Within – a standalone non-fiction book about leadership (audio available exclusively from BookFunnel)
- Metamorphosis Alpha – stories from the world’s first science fiction RPG
- The Expanding Universe – science fiction anthologies
- Monster Case Files (co-written with Kathryn Hearst) – A Warner twins mystery adventure
- Rick Banik* – Spy & terrorism action adventure
- Ian Bragg* – A hitman with a conscience
Books published by Craig Martelle, Inc
- The Dragon’s Call by Angelique Anderson & Craig A. Price, Jr. – an epic fantasy quest
- A Couple’s Travels – a non-fiction travel adventure series
- Mischief Maker by Bruce Nesmith – contemporary fiction on Norse mythology
- Love-Haight by Jean Rabe and Donald J. Bingle – a mystery, horror, humorous, paranormal legal drama
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