#space

Saturday, February 16, 2019

Cat in Space

Today, Larry guest blogs on cats in space. Enjoy!

In the third book of my science fiction series, The McGregor Chronicles, I included a cat named Qittah as one of my characters. Why an animal in space? Animals have traveled as pets or helpers on almost all the journeys of explorers and colonists throughout history. Cats and dogs were used to control stowaway vermin on long sea voyages. Cattle, sheep, and horses were brought aboard for use at their final destination. When mankind travels to the stars, I’m sure animals will accompany them.

Why did I choose a cat? Cats are independent, opinioned, self-sufficient, but if they find you worthy of their love, they can be devoted and affectionate. My cat doesn’t talk, do magic, or anything beyond the ability of an ordinary feline, but her presence greatly affects the wellbeing of the other characters and the outcome of the story.

After reading the history of the first cat in space, I knew this was the creature I wanted.

In October of 1963, the Centre National d’Études in France was set to rocket a small feline, a male named Félix, into space. After all, the Soviet Union had all ready sent dogs into space, and the Americans used monkeys. France was eager to join the space race with Félix. Rumor has it, on launch day, it was discovered that the intended little astro-cat had gone AWOL. A more likely reason was that the selected male cat had gained weight and could not fit in the restrictive carrier. The flight had to be delayed until a suitable replacement could be found to take his place. Her name was Félicette, a shorthair “tuxedo style” kitty.

On October 18th, 1963, Félicette jetted 130 miles above Earth on a liquid-fueled French Véronique AG1 rocket, soaring high above the Algerian Sahara Desert and into the history books. After her successful landing, French scientists at the Education Center of Aviation and Medical Research (CERMA) studied Félicette’s brain waves to see if she had changed at all since her voyage. CERMA officials later reported Félicette had made “a valuable contribution to research.”

You’d think Félicette would have received the recognition due her. However, The French commemorative stamp published after the flight shows a different, longhair cat incorrectly identified as Félix, thus adding to the confusion as to the gender and name of the real first cat in space.

So Qittah as a traveling companion is not very far-fetched.

Tuesday, October 10, 2017

Meet Pauline Baird Jones

Let me introduce my friend and fellow author Pauline Baird Jones. She is one of Larry's favorites. (He especially enjoys her steampunk and sci-fi books.)

When my son was receiving chemotherapy for Hodgkin Lymphoma, our cat, Felix, became very protective of him—and was very comforting to my son as he dealt with all the side effects. Felix would curl up next to him, sometimes on his chest, and purr and just be there. He also licked away my tears.

Pets provide unconditional, uncomplicated love and comfort in ways hard to define with words. They need us, but I think we need them more. So, when Veronica and I conceived the idea of Pets in Space, we agreed that we wanted it to feature:

1. Pets who are an important part of the story

2. Stories about heroes and heroines in space

3. Most of all, we wanted to donate a portion of the proceeds to a charity that served both veterans AND pets in some way.

When Google delivered Hero Dogs, we were beyond thrilled. Hero Dogs raises and trains service dogs and places them free of charge with US Veterans to improve quality of life and restore independence.

They work to help real life heroes recover from the wounds of war.

The next question was: would Hero Dogs be willing to work with an anthology called Pets in Space, one written by science fiction romance authors? To our delight and gratitude, they were enthusiastic about working with us, not once, but twice.

So once again, Embrace the Romance: Pets in Space 2 is working to raise money for Hero Dogs. All authors involved are donating 10% of all preorders and the first month’s sales (to Nov. 11, 2017) before expenses to Hero Dogs.

As Embrace the Romance: Pets in Space 2 gets ready to release twelve stories with new pets, new adventures, and new romances—ALL of them happening in outer space or on alien planets—we are also grateful to everyone for helping us to spread the word about our awesome charity. And of course, we applaud our readers who are supporting Hero Dogs and the anthology at its full price of $3.99.

If you love pets and love our veterans, but you’ve never tried science fiction romance stories, here is your chance to take a fictional journey to some strange new worlds with characters who love pets, too, AND help a hero struggling to come all the way home.

Embrace the Romance: Pets in Space 2 Anthology

Release Date: October 10, 2017

The pets are back! Embrace the Romance: Pets in Space 2, features twelve of today’s leading science fiction romance authors. They bring you a dozen original stories written just for you! Join in the fun, from the Dragon Lords of Valdier to a trip aboard award-winning author, Veronica Scott’s Nebula Zephyr to journeying back to Luda where Grim is King. These stories will take you out of this world! Join New York Times, USA TODAY, and Award-winning authors S.E. Smith, M.K. Eidem, Susan Grant, Michelle Howard, Cara Bristol, Veronica Scott, Pauline Baird Jones, Laurie A. Green, Sabine Priestley, Jessica E. Subject, Carol Van Natta, and Alexis Glynn Latner as they share stories and help www.Hero-Dogs.org, a charity that supports our veterans!

10% of all preorders and the first month’s profits go to Hero-Dogs.org. Hero Dogs raises and trains service dogs and places them free of charge with US Veterans to improve quality of life and restore independence.

Hero Dogs: http://www.hero-dogs.org/

Time Trap

A Novella in the Project Enterprise Series

By Pauline Baird Jones

Hiding in time is not as easy as you’d think…

Madison lives by the rules of a time travel rebel–never tell anyone your real name, not if you want to remain alive. On the track of a traitor, Madison and her parrot partner, Sir Rupert, time travel into a trap. Their only way out sends them back in time and into the arms of a man who ignites a fire inside her.

USAF Master Sergeant Briggs is in trouble–not the kind he’d like, but still in trouble. He is bored out of his mind. Ordered to recuperate on a quiet bay away from the Garradian outpost, he’s ready to mutiny and go back to his beloved engines. When his friends send him a gift from Area 51, he figures it will relieve his boredom for an hour or so–until he turns it on and he gets his second present of the day.

Madison would love to get to know Briggs better, but it is just too dangerous. Unfortunately, she might not have much choice. With a Time Service Interdiction Force on their heels, can the three craft a plan that will save a base full of geniuses and technology and discover a happy-ever-after forged through time?

About Pauline

Pauline never liked reality, so she writes books. She likes to wander among the genres, rampaging like Godzilla, because she does love peril mixed in her romance. You can find out more about her books here:

Website: http://paulinebjones.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorPaulineBairdJones/

FB Handle: @AuthorPaulineBairdJones

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PaulineBJones

Twitter Handle: @PaulineBJones

Instagram: @paulinebjones

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Pauline-Baird-Jones/e/B000APFS0M/

Where to buy Embrace the Romance: Pets in Space 2

Buy Links: (available for preorder in digital and print)

Universal Link for All Stores: books2read.com/u/3L9aYM

Amazon Paperback https://www.amazon.com/Embrace-Romance-Pets-Space-2/dp/1942583575/

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073W5WQBH/