Writerly Wednesdays Presents – Marva Dasef

ULTIMATE DUTY
by Marva Dasef
Eternal Press http://www.eternalpress.biz/book.php?isbn=9781615722280

Bio:
Marva Dasef is a writer living in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and a fat white cat. Retired from thirty-five years in the software industry, she has now turned her energies to writing fiction and finds it a much more satisfying occupation. Marva has published more than forty stories in a number of on-line and print magazines, with several included in Best of anthologies. She has several already published books and a few more scheduled for 2011 and 2012.
Website: http://marvadasef.com
Blog: http://mgddasef.blogspot.com
Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxaTLrg5c5A

Blurb:
Facing a life of drudgery on a repressive factory planet, Remy Belieux longs to escape. Her only option for release is to enlist in the Space Service, becoming a soldier for her own world’s oppressors.

She receives her first assignment: guarding a charismatic rebel leader being transported to a prison planet. When rebel troops surprise them, Remy fails to thwart the ambush. Despite a commendation from her Captain, she feels she must redeem herself by recapturing the handsome fugitive.

Shocked by what she learns during the pursuit–her own family’s past involvement in the rebellion–Remy faces a dilemma: remain loyal to the oath she swore as a soldier or join the rebel cause and condemn herself to a death sentence for treason. What is her ULTIMATE DUTY?

Excerpt:
Remy and Garrett arrived at the outer wall path that led to the dock ports. Remy hoped at least one shuttle was still attached to the station. She dropped to the floor and peered down the slope of the passageway. Two guards stood at the entrance to bay 5. Luckily, they faced the opposite direction. Remy slid back and pointed silently, then held up two fingers. Garrett nodded and pointed left and then at himself. Remy nodded.

With no way to get any closer unseen, they must use speed instead. Both stepped back a couple of paces, so they’d hit the corner at full tilt. A nod from Garrett, and they sprinted through the twenty meters separating them from the guards. One guard turned to look only when Remy and Garrett were close enough to attack. The guard yelled, “Halt!” as he raised the barrel of his blaster. The second guard turned with a confused expression and didn’t manage to raise his own weapon before Remy reached him.

Remy felt her mind and body slip into fighting mode. Time slowed for her, and she noted every detail of the guard’s stance. She leaped high in the air, her legs coiled like springs. The second guard finally lifted his rifle but never had the chance to fire. Remy drove both feet into his abdomen, slamming him against the wall with the force of her strike. In the low gravity she landed easily on her feet crouched and ready. She crossed her arms against her torso, grabbing the guard’s belt with her left hand and prepared to strike with her right. The man’s eyes widened when Remy’s backhand arced toward him. The force of the blow across his jaw sent him tumbling to the floor.

Seven Writerly Questions…

1. In three days, all electricity is going to be shut off for a very long time. What items are you going to gather in preparation for this event?

Lots of batteries of all sizes and a small gas-powered generator. Oh, wait! I’ve already got those, plus several gallons of potable drinking water and lots of canned goods. I guess I’m already good to go.

2. Where did the idea for the work you are promoting arise?

I wrote a short story many years ago which became the basis for the entire book. Since I liked the character of Remy, I wrote another short story. Both of these stories were published as standalones. They ended up as chapters with lots of editing to make it flow. The original idea? It is lost in the mists of time.

3. What do you like to read?

Science fiction (duh!), fantasy, and historical (non-romance). I do read a lot of other genres because I love to buy the books of my fellow authors in the small presses. They deserve my money more than Famous Author Who Doesn’t Need Another Dime.

4. Tell us about the most exciting place you have ever visited?

This is so creepy, but it’s Disneyworld, and I went as an adult. You can get your adrenaline rush and feel reasonably safe at the same time.

5. What is the most mundane, day to day, thing you can share about yourself?

Hm. I stay in my jammies until about noon? I do get caught up in the morning going through emails, reviewing blogs, and hunting for ways to market my material. As you know, Sally, that’s the biggest job authors have. Writing books is easy in comparison.

6. What scares you the most?

That I’ll get Alzheimer’s. My father has it and I hate seeing the continual progression downward. It’s also a tremendous burden on my mother. I’d just as soon kill myself while I still have some of my wits about me.

7. Tell us anything but keep it G rated.

The most I could report would be no more than PG. Well, except for that time when… Never mind, that’s moving swiftly into R-rated and beyond. Let’s just say I’ve been a lot of places and seen a lot of things, but I ain’t seen nobody who can bake chocolate cookies like my mother can.

I want to thank Marva for being my first Wednesday Writer. Please feel free to buy her book and pass the link along to everyone you know.

Till Next Week, Don’t touch anything sharp!