Every year, the Maryland Romance Writers hold their annual "Reveal Your Inner Vixen" Awards. Last year, my novel Earthman's Bride ( published by Lyrical Press this year) placed first in the Futuristic/Alternate category. This year, Tony-Paul de Vissage decided to try his luck. Entering an excerpt from his horror novel, The Shadow Lord, I think he was more surprised than anyone else when it placed third in the Erotic Romance category.

His response? "I placed third in the erotic romance category! How about that? Pretty good for someone with only two short stories and a soon-to-be-released novel under his belt, Non?"

Sorry I can't post the excerpt here. (It's pretty steamy.) And apparently the judges thought so, too.

(Today, Icy Snow Blackstone is blogging about her new book, Earthman's Bride.

With the release of the novel Earthman's Bride (first offering in the Tusteyan Annals series), I'd like to present my guest Taryn Spearman, a secondary male character in the story.

TARYN (he is tall, blonde, brown-eyed, a godling wearing leather and carrying a long bow): My thanks, Mistress Blackstone, but--if I may contradict you--I'm not secondary to anyone!

ICB: By that, I mean you aren't the main male character in the story.

TARYN: Oh. Well. (manfully tries not to look insulted and almost succeeds) If you put it that way... I suppose there are a few men who supercede me in this little tale--like Philip Hamilcar...and that outspoken walking box of bolts Darius. (scowls)

ICB: I take it you don't like Darius much. Is it because he's an android?

TARYN: I don't have anything against androids in particular, but I don't like anything having to do with the Earthmen--or manufactured by them. And I don't trust Earthmen--or their robots--as far as I can toss them!

ICB: Then poor Darius is out of luck on two counts.

TARYN: Poor Darius? (snorts scornfully) Mistress Blackstone, that creature is as strong as three men (looks smug) and that's exactly who it took to destroy him--my two hunting mates and me. We pounded him to bits, buried him. Then Dr. Martin simply dug him up, wiped off the dirt, and put him back together again... (shakes his long blond hair despairingly)

ICB: Yes...I see what you mean. Unlike Humpty Dumpty, Darius was able to be "put together again."

TARYN: Humpty who? Is that a Terran myth?

ICB: Never mind. So you didn't like Darius. Oh, before we go any further, I suppose we should introduce you to everyone. It seems we just jumped right into the interview with both feet.

TARYN: My apologies. My father always said I leap first, then look. He also says that isn't a good habit for a warrior. I'm working on it.

ICB: Your father. He's...

TARYN: Alcin Spearman, once counselor of Tusteya...until those Earthmen invaded and destroyed the city of Ulea and took away our freedom. I'm his eldest son. My mother Rhedora is his Prime Wife.

ICB: Prime wife? How many wives does your father have?

TARYN: Four. (looks proud)

ICB: Four? Oh my.

TARYN: (Defensively) Polygamy was necessary after the attack. Only about a quarter of the warrior caste survived and Father decided to allow a man to take as many wives as he thought he could handle in order to rebuild the population. (laughs) He and my uncle Talbot are the only two with four wives each.

ICB: You weren't aware of your father's plan for peace, were you? About offering Rebeka as a bride to the Governor of Tusteya?

TARYN: (angrily) No! And if I had been, I'd have fought against it. Father knew exactly what I'd do. As it was, I was lucky I was allowed to travel with her to Ulea to deliver his plan under a white flag. I felt so sorry for Rebeka, even if I wasn't allowed to show it. She's my only sister, you know. I have seven other brothers but only one sister.

ICB: And you're very protective of her, aren't you?

TARYN: I'm almost eight years older than she. Her mother is my father's fourth wife and Anemoni was so young when Rebeka was born, she spent most of her time crying instead of tending to the baby. Rebeka was practically raised by our servant Mara. Father calls that old woman a godsend.

ICB: So when you found out about your father's plan, you were less than approving--

TARYN: I completely disapproved. And was just as disbelieving. I mean--killing the Governor? I became a warrior when I was eighteen and was in many battles against the Earthmen. How could a young girl do what we warriors had failed to do for thirty years? Father even ordered me to teach Rebeka how to use a knife. That was a disaster! She wasn't even strong enough to make a lethal stab wound. (looks angry) I remember Darius watching us and laughing. He'd been appointed her bodyguard by then and went everywhere with her. (sneers) Like a metal leech.

ICB: So you taught Rebeka what you could and went with her to Ulea and left her there to kill a man.

TARYN: It wasn't as cold-blooded as that, but--yes. I remember my first look at Philip Hamilcar. I was surprised he was so young, just a few years older than Rebeka. He had inherited the governor's mantle from his father. His mother was Astorii, as mine is, and we look a lot alike. I thought then that if he wasn't an Earthman, we might have been friends, but then--the look he gave Rebeka...

ICB: Not good?

TARYN: It was so hot it could've melted boulders off Mount Scar! I decided we were a little too alike! I may as well state plainly I like females. Perhaps a little too much. SO I recognized the signs in another man. I could see he wanted her, could barely wait to be alone with her, in fact, and we nearly came to blows when he told his guard to take her to his suite. (looks a little embarrassed) I protested too loudly, I'm afraid. Said a few things about his masculinity that could've ruined everything. He explained he only wanted to talk to her alone. I have to admit he was tactful, didn't respond to my insults at all, but... Well, I know what I would have wanted to do and it wouldn't be talk, so I assumed... You understand...a brother has a right to worry.

ICB: I think Rebeka is lucky to have such a loyal brother, Taryn.

TARYN: Thank you , Mistress Blackstone. Now, instead of putting me through more of an interrogation and further revealing what a loyal brother but a clumsy clod I am when it comes to my only sister, why don't you show that video-trailer thing you made?

ICB: Good idea! Here's a trailer of Earthman's Bride, being released this month by Lyrical Press. And thank you, Taryn for being here. And being so forthright.

Earthman's Bride started out as a short story, and then--like Topsy--it just grew. I wanted to write a story of a young woman given to a conqueror as part of a peace agreement, how she first feared and came to love him. Okay, so far so good, but what was to be the setting...medieval...paranormal...futuristic? And the conqueror, would he be a warrior...a beast...a supernatural entity?

There are too many science fiction stories of invaders from other planets coming to Earth a la War of the Worlds. Well, I decided, I'm not going that route. That theme has been run into the ground. What if my story told the other side of the coin? What would happen if Earthmen barged into another a galaxy attacking and conquering?

My Earthmen aren't very nice people, I'm afraid. Having depleted their own natural resources, they go searching for planets having the elements they lack, to make them a part of the United Terran Federation simply to lay claim to those assets. They "accept" these worlds into the Federation, place them under their "protection" and then haul their natural possessions back to Terra. Since most of the planets are less developed than theirs, it's easy to subdue them with superior firepower and take what they want.

The planet Tusteya is different. Though not as technologically advanced, the Tusteyans knew of space travel and traded with other planets and weren't about to allow themselves to be enslaved by aliens. A war resulted, one in which the Tusteyans put up steady resistance until, at the opening of the story, only one small tribe, the Elius, is still free, all others now slaves to the Federation's representative, the Governor of Tusteya. Philip Hamilcar, the Governor, was ordered to stay behind with his men ostensibly to keep the natives under control; in fact he was really stranded on the planet as punishment for voicing his disapproval of their treatment. As the story opens, thirty years have passed, the original Governor has died, and his son, another Philip, has taken his place. Alcin Spearman, leader of the Elius, asks for a truce, and to show the sincerity of his intentions, offers his 17-year-old daughter Rebeka to the new Governor to cement the peace. Alcin is certain the young Earthman will want Rebeka, not knowing that she has an agenda other than simply being a peace offering. Once Rebeka has gained his trust, she's to kill the Governor, and during the chaos of his death, her father and his men will storm the palace and end the Terran tyranny once and for all.

Rebeka agrees because she has no choice, and everything appears to be going just as her father wishes...the Governor is intrigued and eager to stop the bloodshed...he's fascinated by the young woman and lets it be known he wants her...eagerly, he agrees to the peace, and Rebeka is left alone in the palace her father used to rule, married to an alien whom she's expected to bed and then kill...




Earthman's Bride will be available as an e-book from Lyrical Press. Other books of mine published by Lyrical Press are Jericho Road, and When the Condor Returned, the sequel to Earthman's Bride.

Yesterday I received notice that my excerpt from Earthman's Bride had won the 2008 "Reveal Your Inner Vixen" award. Following is (an edited for sensitivity's sake) part of that excerpt. (WARNING: sensual, suggestive content.)

(The Premise: Rebeka Spearman's planet has been held prisoner by the Terrans for 30 years. In an effort to oust their invaders, her father has arranged a marriage between Rebeka and the Terran leader. She is to gain his confidence and kill him. To prepare her for her marriage, Rebeka is counseled in Terran erotic physiology by her teacher, Master Martin, and introduced to Darius, a reprogrammed Terran android who will be her body guard. Rebeka is told Darius is an unfeeling machine, unaware that he possesses an empath chip which makes him as emotional as a human being. She is also unaware that the andnroid has fallen in love with her.)

"Good morning, Darius, Rebeka. What are you two up to so early? Couldn't sleep again, my dear?" Master Martin looked at the girl sympathetically.

She nodded. "I decided to come here and wait for you to waken. Darius and I were just talking."

"Hm," the teacher looked pointedly at their clasped hands. "So I see!"

Quickly, Darius released Rebeka's hand, then scowled slightly as he realized the movement had a furtive, almost guilty move to it.

"Come into the house." Turning, Martin started back to the hut, calling over his shoulder, "Darius, you come, too."

"Yes, sir." Obediently, the android followed behind them.

In his office, Rebeka sat at the little table with Master Martin, going over the drawing and diagrams, reeling off names of body parts and how they functioned and what would stimulate them, while Darius lounged on the little window seat across the room, his body looking too large for that small space. One elbow leaning on the raw wood, he rested his chin in his hand, eyes half-closed, appearing totally disinterested in what was going on across the room.

Gradually, he allowed the gray lassitude that preceded dormancy to slide over him.

It was only when Master Martin took the book from Rebeka and snapped it shut and stood up, calling to him, "Darius, would you come here, please?" that the android roused, shaking his head to clear the cobwebs of near-deactivation from it, and obeyed.

"Certainly, Master." Three strides brought him to stand between Martin and Rebeka. "How may I help you?"

"Take off your tunic."

"S-sir?" For an instant, he was certain he'd misunderstood, just stood there, unmoving.

Rebeka, who had been staring at the teacher, turned her attention to him, mouth slightly open with a unreadable look on her face. She seemed to be holding her breath.

"You heard me, Darius. Take off your tunic." This was said very softly, but his quiet tone seemed almost threatening.

Mouth set in a hard, straight line, Darius did as he was told, untying the sash at his waist and pulling the tunic over his head.

Master Martin took it from his hands and dropped it over his chair, too far away for him to reach, then waved a hand in the android's direction.

"There he is, Rebeka! A naked male. He's exactly like a human. Look him over well!"

Darius bit his lip and took a deep breath.

Rebeka stared.

Under her gaze, he shifted uncomfortably.

Master Martin broke the silence. "Now, Rebeka, you know it all. Show me the erogenous zones."

She looked at her teacher. Had to practically force her eyes away from me, Darius thought, resentfully. Taking a deep breath, she said, like a bored schoolchild reciting a lesson, "First, there's the ear lobes," she hesitated, pointing vaguely. "Should I touch him, Master Martin?

No, damn it! Darius thought angrily, you old bastard, you'd better not say what I think you're going to!

She stopped, looking at the old man as if she hoped the same thing, but he nodded quietly, and then said exactly what Darius had hoped he wouldn't hear, "Show me, Rebeka, how you'll arouse your husband!"

"Master--" Darius began a protest, which was quickly cut off, "Quiet, Darius! Just stand there, be obedient, and silent!" So he remained where he was, mouth set grimly, as Rebeka reached up and caught his left earlobe between her forefinger and thumb.

Her touch was so gentle that for a moment, he barely felt it.

She put her other hand behind his neck, pulling his head down. Her body was so close to his he could feel its heat. He wanted to put his arms around her, hold her closer. It was an effort to make his hands remain at his sides.

Standing on tiptoe, she began to nibble on his earlobe, breath warm and soft against his skin.

Darius shivered slightly, then forced himself to be still as her tongue traced around the edge of his ear.

If I were to...straighten...he thought, recognizing that his attention was suddenly becoming erratic, she...couldn't touch...my ear!--but he didn't move, continued to stand, leaning forward, his head trapped in Rebeka's embrace.

Only when she released him, allowing him to stand upright again, did he begin to relax...until her hand slid down his shoulder to his chest, and her mouth trailed kisses along the same path.

Darius took a deep breath that was almost a gasp.

She looked up at him. "Is something wrong, Darius?"

"No," he lied, hastily, "I was just taking in extra oxygen. I have to do that to renew my pneumatic cells so I can appear to breathe."

He took a couple of extra deep breaths to demonstrate. Master Martin, the son of a bitch, smiled slightly.

"That's enough oxygen, I think," the old man put in, quietly.

Rebeka turned her attention back to his body, moving even closer so her own pressed closely against him. Darius closed his eyes. God, she's so warm, so soft. I'm going to kill Master Martin! As sure as Tusteya's sun rises each morning, I'm going to tear the old fart limb-from-limb to pay him back for this!

Without warning, she embraced him, her hands sliding to the small of his back, encircling his buttocks, fingernails performing that little scratch-and-arouse that made the tiny sensors in his outer dermis bristle invisibly to attention. Her fingers floated over the deep separation of his cheeks, hesitated slightly at the rough repair to the tattered skin on his left hip, then circled under it, squeezing lightly.

There was a slight tremor of Darius' body under her fingers. His skin began to quiver.

She released him, took a step backward, brushing one hand across his stomach, circling the little depression that had never been attached to any umbilicus, bending to kiss and gently lap at it with her tongue, flicking delicately into the little dimple.

The tremor grew stronger. He was visibly shaking now.

"Darius?" She looked up at him, feeling the sudden shiver.

He didn't answer, wouldn't look at her, eyes riveted on something on the far side of the room.

Rebeka stepped away from him. It was all he could do not to heave an audible sigh of relief.

She didn't look at Master Martin, didn't see the broad smile that now framed the teacher's mouth but Darius did and silently cursed the old man.

"Go on, Rebeka," Master Martin ordered.

"That's all," she looked from Darius to the teacher, then gestured vaguely, "E-except for--"

She nodded at the android's genitals, still--he was thankful to note--at rest.

"Go on, Rebeka," Master Martin's voice was softer now, very gentle, as if he were afraid of frightening her.

No--oh, no! Darius's eyes met the old man's. He took a deep breath, preparing to protest, grab his clothes, stalk out. As if he realized the android's thoughts, Martin shook his head, mouthing the words, No, you won't!

Aloud, he said, "Darius, what's the first tenet of your programming?"

"I will obey the commands of my human makers to the best of my ability!" The words were spoken with a total absence of inflection.

Dammit! He had to do what the teacher said. His will was his own only when it didn't clash with human wishes, and it would take a tremendous effort on his part to override that order.

"Go on, Rebeka," Master Martin ordered again....

(Earthman's Bride and its sequel When the Condor Returned have been contracted by Lyrical Press for publication in 2009.)