Guest Post – Adverse Effects by Alicia Nordwell

Adverse Effects

Saving Caeorleia Book Two

Published by Dreamspinner Press

Interview with Dade

Dade

What is your current state of mind?

Conflicted as hell? Caeorleia is like a paradise—but after my lifetime, how is it possible to adjust to something like that? In my experience, if it’s too good to be true—then it’s too damn good to be true. There’s a catch somewhere.

Always is.

What is your most treasured possession?

Used to be my weapon. Soldier without a gun? Dead man walking!

What is your favorite planet you’ve visited?

I wouldn’t call it visiting. Invading? Conquering? Sure. It’s definitely a change, being on an alien world when I’m not battling for my life. At least, not overtly. That damn guy on their council, Buphet, is a slimeball.

When and where were you the happiest?

Growing up wasn’t a picnic. I lived on an overcrowded planet. I didn’t see anything green until my first deployment. But I remember this one time, a friend found an old picture book once. There were trees and water not blackened by pollution, and animals—so many different ones. We hoarded that book for months before he traded it for some food.

What is your greatest fear?

Soldiers aren’t allowed to have fear, but if I were to pick the one thing I’d hate the most, it would be to die without having made a difference. It was a naïve dream I realized real quick wasn’t going to come true after I enlisted, but there’s still a bit of truth in it. If you do something to help others, you’re remembered. I don’t want to die forgotten.

On what occasions do you lie?

When telling the truth would get my ass in the shit? No one needs to know what’s going on in my head. I don’t need anyone prying about, trying to figure me out.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

What they did to me. The doctors who changed me didn’t do it for any reason other than their own advancement. I’ve never been anything but a pawn. But I won’t be that anymore. I’m going to become something better.

How would you like to die?

*snorts* Quick! I don’t think any soldier hasn’t seen their death in their heads a thousand times, but I don’t want to suffer. If I have to go, I’m going to go out with a bang.

What do you like about Caeorleia?

Probably the food. I’ve never tasted anything as amazing as their food. I’d spend all my time eating if I could. Some of the people are okay, too. I’ve met a few lately…

What is one thing you want us to know about you?

I’m not defective. I’m not a coward. I’m strong, and I won’t let anyone make me into a victim.

Buy Links:

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Excerpt:

“Dade!”

My body arched and twisted in a bid to get away from the sensations forced on me. The intense feelings had faded to one of concern. I jerked away, ripping the hand off my shoulder as I rolled and came up in a fighting stance on the other side of the bed.

“Ow!”

The knife I’d pilfered during a meal days before was in my hand. My chest heaved as I tried to separate reality from the vivid nightmare of a memory I’d been locked in.

Nicklaus stared at me with wide eyes, cradling his arm against his chest. The one he’d broken was still weak even after they’d fixed it. Fieo rushed into the room, a projectile weapon naked in his hand.

“What in the name of all that is holy is going on in here?”

I straightened the second Fieo came in, palming the knife and sliding it into the back of my wrap’s waistband. A slight sting told me the edge was still razor-sharp.

“Nothing.”

“I heard screaming.” He looked back at Nicklaus. “Are you hurt?”

“Twisted my wrist a little.” Nicklaus stared at me. “My fault, though. Dade was having a nightmare. I tried to wake him up.”

Fieo snarled. “He hurt you.” His fangs were showing when he glared at me.

Nicklaus shook his head, reaching out toward Fieo with his good arm before pulling back. “No, I’m fine. Besides, he didn’t do it on purpose. He was asleep.”

Fieo turned and stared at me. “Is that true?”

I was trying to hide the way my teeth wanted to chatter in the chill of the air. I was cold, but sweat slid down my spine. I nodded instead of speaking.

Fieo put his gun into the harness around his waist just under the top edge of his wrap. He gave me a hard look, a violent promise in his eyes. I knew what he’d do to me if I actually hurt Nicklaus. I didn’t cower, returning his glare instead. He could try.

Author Bio:

Alicia Nordwell is one of those not so rare creatures, a reader turned writer. Striving to find an interesting story one day, she decided to write what she wanted instead. Then the voices started… Yep, not only does she talk about herself in the third person for bios, she has voices in her head constantly clamoring to get out.

Fortunately, with the encouragement of her family and friends, she decided for her own sanity to keep writing. Now you can find her stories both free and e-published. When she’s not on the computer typing away, she’s a wife and a mom of two in the dreary, yet ideal for her redhead complexion, Pacific Northwest. Except for when she disappears into one of the many worlds in her head, of course!

She can also be found quite often at her blog, where she has a lot of free fiction for readers to enjoy or working hard, or maybe hardly working, as an admin on GayAuthors.org under her online nickname, Cia.

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