August 10, 2014

Succubi in spaaaaaaaace! She can kill with a kiss... A guest post by @pippajaygreen #scifi



Tethered blurb:
She can kill with a kiss. But can assassin Tyree also heal one man’s grief, and bring peace to a galaxy threatened by war?

For Tyree of the Su, being an assassin isn’t simply something she was trained for. It’s the sole reason for her existence. A genetically enhanced clone—one of many in Refuge—she’s about to learn her secluded lifestyle, and that of all her kind, is under threat by a race capable of neutralizing their special talents to leave them defenseless.

For Zander D’joren, being a diplomat has not only cost him his appearance, but also the love of his life. Scarred, grieving, he must nonetheless continue in his role as co-delegate to the fearsome Tier-vane or risk a conflict that could only end one way.

Now both of them need to keep each other alive and maintain a perilous deception long enough to renegotiate the treaty with the Tier-vane, or throw their people into a war that could wipe out Terrans and Inc-Su alike. But there’s more at stake than humanity, whether true or modified. Can the love growing between them save them both? Or merely hasten their destruction?

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Author Pippa Jay: 
 
After spending twelve years working as an Analytical Chemist in a Metals and Minerals laboratory, Pippa Jay is now a stay-at-home mum who writes scifi and the supernatural. Somewhere along the way a touch of romance crept into her work and refused to leave. In between torturing her plethora of characters, she spends the odd free moment playing guitar very badly, punishing herself with freestyle street dance, and studying the Dark Side of the Force. Although happily settled in the historical town of Colchester in the UK with her husband of 21 years and three little monsters, she continues to roam the rest of the Universe in her head.

Pippa Jay is a dedicated member of the Science Fiction Romance Brigade, blogging at Spacefreighters Lounge, Adventures in Scifi, and Romancing the Genres. Her works include a YA science fiction novel—Gethyon—published through BURST (Champagne Books), three self-published short stories (Terms & Conditions Apply, The Bones of the Sea, and Reboot), and she’s one of eight authors included in a science fiction romance anthology—Tales from the SFR Brigade. She’s also a double SFR Galaxy Award winner, been a finalist in the Heart of Denver RWA Aspen Gold Contest (3rd place), and the GCC RWA Silken Sands Star Awards (2nd place).

You can stalk her at her website http://pippajay.co.uk, or at her blog http://pippajay.blogspot.co.uk, but without doubt her favorite place to hang around and chat is on Twitter as @pippajaygreen.

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Where the idea began...

Succubi in spaaaaaaace!

It might seem an odd idea, and I can't help but say it in the same comedy way as Pigs in Space from The Muppet Show. But essentially that's what the story boils down to. It began as a random discussion on Twitter with a couple of author friends over how dragons and elves seemed to be hogging the limelight as mythological beings went, and it was about time the others got a look-in. I started with a vague idea of writing about a succubus, since I'd never seen it used in anything I'd read, but being a scifi author I wanted to put a futuristic or SF twist on it. And then Christmas Day, of all the days, muse had an epiphany and Tethered began.

It started off under the working title of Succubi, and the original opening scene was a stark revelation of her abilities (that particular scene later got moved further into the book). As the story developed and I researched the whole myth of succubi further, my seductive demon became a genetically enhanced clone with special abilities, who assassinates her targets in a way true to her supernatural origins.

From the Wikipedia entry – "A succubus is a female demon or supernatural entity ... that appears in dreams and takes the form of a human woman in order to seduce men, usually through sexual activity ... Religious traditions hold that repeated sexual activity with a succubus may result in the deterioration of health or even death.

In modern fictional representations, a succubus ... is often depicted as a highly attractive seductress ..."

While Tyree's human co-delegate is somewhat uncomfortable with her methods, she's quick to assure him that at least her victims "die in ecstasy", though he doesn't find that much consolation. She feeds on their auras—an energy field given off by all living things (excuse the Star Wars reference, lol)—but especially the psychic release resulting from sex. It's considered the bonus of her profession. She could do it simply by touch, but as she points out someone in the throes of passion is far less likely to struggle or protest, and makes it far safer and easier for her to do the deed. Her genetic enhancements mean she's stronger and faster than the average human, can use her pheromones to seduce and enthrall not only human males but also those of the fearsome Tier-vane featured in the story. Add to that her ability to ghost through solid objects by adjusting her molecular density, and Tyree is as beautiful, deadly and irresistible as her supernatural origin.

But not all succubi are malevolent, and while Tyree might be a killer, she still has a conscience. And, much to her surprise, a heart...

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