Saturday again? So soon? *looks at calendar* Yeah, I guess it is. The end/beginning of the month is our busy time. There’s a lot to do and not enough time to get it all done and write as I long to. We are, however, going to see the Beatles tribute band the WannaBeatles this evening, weather permitting. It’s a free concert for our historic, artsy lil’ town’s annual 4th of July festival. Parking, however– every now and then I’m actually glad I no longer drive. Rain out.  😦

On to this week’s #RainbowSnippet*. I am again working from Surrogate: Hunted,  which now lies in editor hands. Please feel free to read and comment, but when you’re done head over to the RainbowSnippets Facebook Page and read snippets from other LGBTQ+ authors.

NOTE FOR THOSE NEW TO THE SERIES: The Surrogate Series is best described as epic LGBTQ+ Sci-Fi. It’s broad in its LGBTQ+ content, but the series’ protagonist, Etain Ixtii, is both bisexual and polyamorous. Actually, her entire species is, but she’s living in the world of Taklas and Humans, who are widely monogamous. This doesn’t mean that she’s adapted to monogamy. On the contrary, she’s bent her new world to meet her needs, forming what the Alyward call a circle. Etain is the center of this circle and her lovers play varying roles within the circle. Some of her lovers are involved with each other as well, but not all of them. Circles, like all else, evolve over time.

Etain’s circle contains three members:

Imma (best friend w/ benefits): Merch Feney (bisexual Human)

Ottonol (woman who assists and protects an Alyward woman through eja): Amna Dresh (lesbian Takla)

Autalaci (husband): Leigheas Sternbow (hetero Takla)

Leigheas is well aware his and Etain’s marriage is to placate him and his world’s legal system, not because she loves him alone. This means, of course, that their differing takes on marriage occasionally complicate their relationship.

Snippet Setup: You met Merch, last week, so this week let’s meet Leigheas. Oh, and you’ll see twelve-year old Diani Fash, Etain’s eldest son, too.

     “Mom?” Diani Fash’s hand trembled. “I had a really bad dream. The ship was on fire and—”

     “Come on, son.” Leigheas patted the space beside him.

     Before long, all five children were in their nest, sleeping on or between them, but Leigheas still stretched his arm across to hold Etain’s hand.

     I’m fortunate.

     Leigheas had wanted a large nest when their family had started to grow, and Etain had insisted on filling it.

NOTE: If you ever wish to know the meaning of an alien term in Surrogate: Hunted, there’s a Language Primer link at the top of the page. The primer spans the entire series and is listed in simple alphabetical order, so you don’t need to know the language to find the word.

The first novel in the Surrogate Series, Surrogate, is available, among other places, HERE.

*Rainbow Snippets is a safe and welcoming space for LGBTQIA+ authors, readers, and bloggers to share 6 sentences each week from a work of fiction—published or in-progress—or a book recommendation. Feel free to join in!