Shrouded
Vashia’s
father is the planetary governor. Unfortunately, he’s also a complete bastard.
When he promises her to his lackey, Jarn, she panics. On the run in the
nastiest corner of the galaxy, Vashia seizes her one chance at escape and signs
on as a bride candidate for the elusive race of aliens known as the Shrouded,
unaware that she very well may be chosen as the next Queen of Shroud
Of
the seven, volatile Shrouded princes, Dolfan may be the only one that doesn't
covet the throne. So the last thing he expects to find in the future queen is
the woman of his dreams. If he wants Vashia, he must accept the throne as well.
Unfortunately, his long-time rival has the same idea. Now, only the planet’s
sacred crystal can decide their fates, but what happens when the right woman is
paired with the wrong man? And when Jarn comes after what was promised to him?
Add on Goodreads
Purchase Links
Buy Direct ~ Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble
Francis Pauli on Shrouded
Who do you think would be most affected by or touched by this work?
I hope the story pairs a good science fiction plot with the romantic theme. It is aimed at anyone who can enjoy both. The questions posed about faith, and not just in a religious aspect but faith in one’s personal ideals and dreams, should speak to those of us who have held onto a dream despite the odds. It speaks to anyone who has been told to give up when they knew the right thing to do was to hold on.
What is a profound memory from this title’s writing process?
I distinctly remember creating the Chromian. He’s such a minor character, and yet, pivotal to unfolding Vashia’s good nature at the beginning. I can still see him as he popped into my head, squat and wrinkly sitting on his carpet with his shiny cards lain out in front of him. He has the mystery of the future in his doughy hands, and at that point, the future of the book was still misty enough that I think he became a symbol for it in my subconscious. He picks one card and twirls it in the air. It flashes, silver and ruby red, the symbol of the Heart. That moment, trusting the Chromian, put Vashia’s feet on the path that led everywhere else.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Purchase Links
Buy Direct ~ Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble
Frances Pauli
Frances Pauli writes speculative fiction,
usually with touches of humor or romance, which means, of course, that she has
trouble choosing sides. She's always been a fan of things outside the box, odd, weird or unusual, and
that trend follows through her books, which feature aliens, fairies, and even,
on occasion, an assortment of humans.
Connect with Frances Pauli
Web ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ GoodreadsFrancis Pauli on Shrouded
Why this story?
Initially the spark for Shrouded was all about the planet. It started with a what-if, a curiosity about the technical aspects of the book. Could this world exist, veiled by its own atmosphere, kept secret by the difficulties of getting at it? What sort of society would end up there, under the weight of that cloud? I became fascinated with the possibility of these natural magnetic highways and the sort of vehicles that could utilize them. In the end, however, Shrouded became a story about faith, and I think that appeals to me even more. he characters, in particular the Shrouded ones, have this rock solid belief and yet everything they experience completely defies it. I wanted to know how long they could hold onto their certainty in the face of that, and what it would take to really shake loose that kind of total devotion to their native spirituality.
Who do you most identify with in this work?
I would like to say Vashia, but I’m probably way too old and well taken care of for that. She’s the heroine, and so I’ve spent a lot of time in her head, but Madame Nerala is realistically the one I can identify with the most. She is mother to all the Bride candidates, looks after them, worries about them and does her best to get them the skills they’ll need to survive the next stage of their journey.
Initially the spark for Shrouded was all about the planet. It started with a what-if, a curiosity about the technical aspects of the book. Could this world exist, veiled by its own atmosphere, kept secret by the difficulties of getting at it? What sort of society would end up there, under the weight of that cloud? I became fascinated with the possibility of these natural magnetic highways and the sort of vehicles that could utilize them. In the end, however, Shrouded became a story about faith, and I think that appeals to me even more. he characters, in particular the Shrouded ones, have this rock solid belief and yet everything they experience completely defies it. I wanted to know how long they could hold onto their certainty in the face of that, and what it would take to really shake loose that kind of total devotion to their native spirituality.
I would like to say Vashia, but I’m probably way too old and well taken care of for that. She’s the heroine, and so I’ve spent a lot of time in her head, but Madame Nerala is realistically the one I can identify with the most. She is mother to all the Bride candidates, looks after them, worries about them and does her best to get them the skills they’ll need to survive the next stage of their journey.
Who do you think would be most affected by or touched by this work?
I hope the story pairs a good science fiction plot with the romantic theme. It is aimed at anyone who can enjoy both. The questions posed about faith, and not just in a religious aspect but faith in one’s personal ideals and dreams, should speak to those of us who have held onto a dream despite the odds. It speaks to anyone who has been told to give up when they knew the right thing to do was to hold on.
What is a profound memory from this title’s writing process?
I distinctly remember creating the Chromian. He’s such a minor character, and yet, pivotal to unfolding Vashia’s good nature at the beginning. I can still see him as he popped into my head, squat and wrinkly sitting on his carpet with his shiny cards lain out in front of him. He has the mystery of the future in his doughy hands, and at that point, the future of the book was still misty enough that I think he became a symbol for it in my subconscious. He picks one card and twirls it in the air. It flashes, silver and ruby red, the symbol of the Heart. That moment, trusting the Chromian, put Vashia’s feet on the path that led everywhere else.
Thanks for your input. Glad you could stop by.
ReplyDelete