Two-week streak – I’m downright proud of myself. Now, don’t give me that look. If you knew half what’s going on in this body of mine at present… Ah, but we all have our ills right now, don’t we? I’ll stop my whining, I promise. Suffice to say that I’m trying, and I’ve done enough this week to share something totally new. In fact, I’m ripping you from the 18th century and thrusting you into the 23rd century via a wormhole, straight into my upcoming release Rules of Trade, which will be unleashed into the world on Tuesday (Amazon says Wednesday, but by Gods, it’s on its way!). Rules of Trade is bi-poly, multi-cultural Science Fiction, AKA social or soft Sci-Fi, so if you like complex societies, conflicting cultures, a bit of politics, and people trying to coexist, even love, amid it all, Rules of Trade should spark your interest.

Rules of Trade, in its first incarnation, was known as Surrogate, but I’ve regained my publishing rights, given the story a needed polish, added a few features you won’t find in the first version, and I am rebranding the entire series to better fit the series’ final direction.

I know I like the changes, and I think you will too. Here’s the blurb to get you started.

A worker takes risks while others profit. Wrong. It’s all wrong. New trade agent Etain Ixtii returns to her homeworld aghast at the suppression she’d once been blind to. Workers like Etain are reared to know their station but their, no, her entire existence profits others and now she is to cross through a wormhole to secure profits for the usurers without asking why?

Questions equate to disobedience and Etain is now a liability worthy of disposal via a collapsing wormhole. She awakens a survivor of the impossible and determined to free her fellow workers, but there are rules on both sides of the wormhole she must learn if she is to succeed. Some are for the greater good while others are poisonous.

And it’s up to Etain to decide which is which before it’s too late.

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So what about a snippet? But of course! Here’s a selection from the front novel’s front matter, a poem if you will, from Mamatan herself. Yes, it’s more than six sentences, but I’m not apologizing. Not this time.

Remember the Rules -A reflection

When you’re drowning

In the quicksand

Of comply or die

And talking to Them

Risks all profits,

 Stare into the big,

 The ugly,

And make your last words

As an outsider

Successful.

 

Little worker,

They think you’re dumb.

You fill their pockets with your holes.

So patch those tears with crazy.

Sing their death.

Kill them with life

And terrifying joy

Then be homesick for water

And know that great profit

Blooms amid decay.

 

Intrigued? I surely hope so.

After this week, I’ll be returning my Rainbowsnippets posts to my 18th century historical dark Fantasy, Striking Balance, and my Writing Wednesday posts will focus on Rules of Trade, just so you know. 😃

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*RainbowSnippets 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.