Nervous, scared, and completely unqualified. That's the way I walked into Jack Shaw's office building. I walked out with my stomach in knots for a completely different reason. My heart is pounding like I had actually went running.
My head and heart war with quitting or working through the fiery desire he stimulates through me. At the end of the day, I leave the decision to him. The problem is I can't tell if he wants to toss me over his desk or out on my rear. I guess by the dark look in his eyes, I'll soon find out.
Julien: After going through numerous candidates, I've found the best baker to work alongside me. Marilyn Shaw's baked goods are works of art that rival my own. She bakes the most delicious desserts, but I don't want them. I want her.
Marilyn: I could have my own bakery if I wanted, and my older brother would have it set up for me in a heartbeat. The problem is that I have something to prove. I'm not a spoiled girl who gets everything her brother throws her way, but people have always assumed it, so I've worked tirelessly to get perfect grades in my pastry program. Now, to show off my skills in a bakery. The only problem is everyone believes I got the job by sleeping with my new boss. And I am . . .
Tagline:The amazing conclusion to the Transformed Nexus duology explores uncharted territory with dangerous compassion.
BLURB
In “Omitted Pieces,” the conclusion of the Transformed Nexus duology, the year is 2164 and the new Sierra is on a new planet with a new problem. The mad scientist Cromwell has kidnapped her mother and set up shop on planet Scepter. In order to save her, Sierra will need the help of friends in this place of glowing leaves and a floating capital. Back on Vortex, Al has shut down the old facility, but will he be able to make it to Scepter? What about those who made it to Earth? Can they all work together or are they closer to danger than they realize?
Excerpt I awake hungry and thirsty. Is this what the afterlife is like? I never expected Dr. Cromwell to follow through on his promise to put my conscience and memory in a qualified body. Hunger pains me again and I rise to find myself in a tropical forest. I’m surrounded by lush green, but the color is unlike any I’ve seen before. It’s as if the leaves are neon shining off of their surroundings. My body knows what to look for, even though I don’t. Where am I? What planet have I been transported to? Where’s Mom? I look down at it, this hourglass figure. I’d never been blessed with such curves in my sixteen-year-old body. I wonder if my dad will recognize me in this new one. I wonder if Al will still love me after everything? I also try to map out how to get home, but it’s all too much for this newfound body and I quickly find myself napping under a sea of green. I’m roused by a series of clicks and identify the circular metal in front of me immediately out of place as it may be. “Vex, how’d you get here?” “I told ‘past’ you your mission was full of danger, Sierra.” “How long has it been since I lost consciousness?” “I calculate two weeks and five days since the ‘new’ you left Planet Vortex.” “What? How have I been out for that long? Where’s Al? Did the shuttle make it to Earth?” There’s a stream of beeps. “My universe data scan shows that the Al you’re asking about still has a pulse. It’s the Al ‘old’ you met on Planet Vortex, right?” My heart warms, it beams. “Yes. Wait, your universe data scan, what’s that?” “The World Government equipped all clopils with new scanners and applied all Counter Friction strings when the Planet Vortex revolution hit the news. The scan also shows that everyone who had been on your scheduled shuttle made it to Earth. The processes at the medical facility ended, too, but more on that later. We need to get to your mother.” Mom, are you okay? I try to reach her telepathically, the way I had back on Vortex. I’m fine. Just need to figure out where I am exactly. “Sierra, there’s much at stake. We must embark on our journey at once,” Vex says. Sunrays stream through openings in the canopy of leaves above us as we hike. I keep having to reassure myself it’s me when I look down and see someone else’s smaller feet. At least Cromwell dressed this body in proper attire. I don’t know what I’d do without these boots. Vex, on the other hand, is not well equipped for this terrain at all. He was made for modern city living. He’s used some of the tools he brought to lengthen his arms in order to help, but I keep assisting him, wishing he’d move faster. I think being locked up in the Vortex facility for so long gave me a sort of cabin fever. Now, being out in the open, I want to stretch my (these, no my, oh whatever) legs and cover the ground between us and Mom as quickly as possible. Also, the weight’s gone. My legs had felt like they were filled with lead because of the guilt. But now, now that Viscerous and Albina are alive and safe on Earth; now that Pixie’s where no more harm can be done (well, no more harm than a painful exam in the graduate mathematics program at Stanford); now that Dad is free and no longer having to save Cromwell’s subjects, my legs feel light as air. Mom, we’re headed to you. How are you doing? I wait for what seems like an eternity, but she doesn’t respond.
Author Info
Stephanie Hansen is a PenCraft and Global Book Award Winning Author. Her novella series, Altered Helix, released 2020 and book one of the Transformed Nexus duology, Replaced Parts, released 2021. Her short story, Break Time, and poetry has been featured in Mind's Eye literary magazine. The Kansas Writers Association published her short story, Existing Forces, appointing her as a noted author. She has held a deep passion for writing since early childhood, but a brush with death caused her to allow it to grow. She's part of an SCBWI critique group in Lawrence, KS and two local book clubs. She attends many writers' conferences including the Writing Day Workshops, New York Pitch, Penned Con, New Letters, All Write Now, Show Me Writers Master Class, BEA, and Nebraska Writers Guild conference as well as Book Fairs and Comic-Cons. She is a member of the deaf and hard of hearing community.
The Book Junkie Reads . . .Reckless Dreams Interview with . . . Stephanie Hansen . . .
How would you describe you style of writing to someone that has never read your work? My style of writing is quirky…as if you took Stephen King’s Dark Tower series and Seanan McGuire’s books and mashed them into the YA genre.
Do you feel that writing is an ingrained process or just something that flows naturally for you? I feel that my writing is both an ingrained process and something that flows naturally. I have the natural desire to write. Stories and poems sprinkle in throughout my days no matter what I do. I have become a better writer through study and practice on a regular basis.
Can you share your next creative project(s)? If yes, can you give a few details? Yes, it’s GHOSTLY HOWLS. It will be on novella of twenty included in a boxset, Born of Shadows and Magic, for only $0.99 and it releases in May but you can pre-order it now. https://books2read.com/u/4NxXKW Here’s my working blurb: Irish Folklore meets Small Town USA – a heartbroken half banshee, a cockle selling spirit possessor, and a town haunted by mysteries…if they don’t find the killer, Orla and Molly might die before finding love.
What are some of your writing/publishing goals for this year? The group of authors participating in the boxset mentioned above have a goal to try our best to hit the USA Today bestsellers list! Fingers crossed. 😊
Where would you spend one full year, if you could go ANYWhere, money is not a concern? What would you do with this time? I would love to go to Ireland and write for a year. Or, I’d love to see space. I’m not sure I’d like to be in space for an entire year. Plus, I’d prefer the money go toward helping Earth and those living on Earth but it’s still a dream.
Join the Live Release
Day Celebration for Replaced Parts by Stephanie Hansen at 10am EST on Facebook
with special guest USA Today bestselling author Scarlett Kol. https://www.facebook.com/events/2533205153651500
Replaced Part
Transformed Nexus, #1
by Stephanie Hansen
Date of Publication: 02/23/21
Publisher: Fire and Ice YA and Tantor Audio
Cover Artist: Caroline Andrus
Genre: YA Sci-Fi
ISBN: 9781953735027
ASIN: B08RZB9PXL
Number of pages: 232
Word Count: 67,770
Tagline: When a clopil named Vex warns you of danger…Listen!
BLURB
In the year 2163 a corrupt World Government controls everything on our planet and beyond.
Sixteen year-old Sierra has been so caught up in her own world of saving animal test subjects and her father’s disappearance, she hasn’t paid much attention. When she finally finds his location, she and her friend set off on a covert interplanetary mission to rescue him, she begins to see the corruption first hand.
Discovering that her father has been on the front lines secretly trying to save human test subjects inspires her to join a revolution. But she is afraid of the collateral damage of hurting the people she loves. Will she find the strength to make a deal with the mad scientist Cromwell to save not just her friends and family but everyone?
Excerpt: To make a smoke
bomb all you need is potassium nitrate, sugar, water and a fuse. Programming
holograph messaging to be ‘smoke screen projection only’ is much more
difficult. It’s a digital version of invisible ink and completely security cam
resistant. I pull up Yesha’s incoming call. The smoke allows her image to take
shape and it almost feels like she’s in the room with me. “I can’t believe
you talked me into this, you little gomer.” Yesha frequently
begins conversations in the middle, no introduction or formal interrogation
into my life. I think that’s why I like her. “It didn’t take
much to convince you.” “Did you receive
the package?” I hold up the
box addressed to me, Sierra, but I’ve removed the contents. “Yep, right
here, see.” Yesha’s laugh is
like a chorus of toads with hiccups. Her image vibrates on the smoke. “That’s only the
box, you drone bug!” “I know.” I hold up the
syringes that had been inside the box. “Be careful with
those. Check the labels.” I roll a syringe
in my hands like Kitchen, one of our home bots, does with pretzel dough. “One says
healing serum, which I asked for. Why does the other say anti?” “Backup. You
always need an emergency abort mission option.” “All right.
Thanks!” Yesha interrupts
before I collapse the projection. “Just be sure
not to give the anti if you haven’t given the original serum.” After she’s gone,
I look at my subject. I shouldn’t be
doing this, but I find the koala’s eyes drawing me in like a poli-magno crash
about to happen. It’s impossible to turn away. The Science
Olympiad team’s going to put me on probation again, which stinks since they’re the
only local, human friends I have. Following
protocol gets us nowhere, however. Mom’s going to
be agitated because this isn’t the first time I’ve broken the rules. I guide the
koala out of the cage, leaving her brothers inside. I have to shake off feelings
of jealousy. I don’t have any siblings. “Why ya look so
sad?” Uplifting
experiments have given us animals who speak. “Why do you look so sad, Eucarpo?” The koala
glances back at her brothers and then her eyes look up at me past her round,
stub nose, and adorable ears. The sensation of an infant wrapping tiny fingers
around mine envelops me. I can’t let them endure more unethical testing just so
we can have the best DNA combination. I was okay with the testing when the
purpose was to help those that were sick and it was beneficial to the koala
species, but I can’t stomach testing these sweet things just for superficial
reasons. “Hate leaving
‘em behind.” “They’re going
after you if this works.” “What ya mean,
if?” “Healing
adaptation experiments have just begun.” “But ya aced the
test?” “Well, yeah, but
that was just practice. This is the first time I’ve used it on a living being.
Don’t worry, it should all go as planned. I’m just being paranoid.” It would be nice
if I could stop blabbering when I’m nervous. Sometimes you just have to go for
it and see where the cards fall. That was something my dad used to say. Before
he disappeared, he used to tell me lots of things. He’s been gone almost a
decade, but I might as well as have “Missing Dad” tattooed on my forehead. “Ya
paranoid?Ne’er!” As she raises
the fur above her eyes, I scratch behind her ear, and she leans into it like a
bear scratching its back on a tree trunk. Her fur is soft as manufactured silk
charmeuse. “Ah yeah, right
dere.” “You sure you’re
ready for this?” “It gets us
closer to freedom, so I been ready a long time.” She takes
another glance at her brothers, and I pick up the syringe with self-healing
serum. I begin the sedation process as no one wants to be awake when artery
lining fortifies, muscles pull with new agility, and brain tissue encases
itself with a biting, thin metal sheet. Another reason I’m jealous of Eucarpo
is that she responds to sedation, and I don’t. As Eucarpo
drifts into a peaceful sleep, I look out the school windows and see only the
steel and glass of surrounding buildings. Their reflections mirror the sky.
Today the unending blue gives the impression of being in the middle of the sea.
On gray days, it’s as if I’ve been swallowed by thunderclouds. I can only
imagine how green fields would look. People used to love the smell of fresh-cut
grass. That was before an asteroid broke through the atmosphere damaging our
ecosystem and killing all plants, causing our world to work together to save
Earth and its remaining, limited vegetation. The only vegetation left is kept
in guarded areas and labs. I think I can
hear the machines used to keep the atmosphere from collapsing but the sound
isn’t right. Instead of a hum, I hear iron clanging. The serum glides through
the syringe into Eucarpo and her breathing intensifies as the cells within her
body multiply. No, that isn’t the machines. It’s locker doors slamming,
followed by footsteps of someone coming down the hall. No one should be here
now. They should all be at the assembly that I’m skipping. I must finish before
anyone else arrives. I look at the oxygen and pulse readings, cringing with
every spike. It feels like an hour passes as I look at the screens, but I know
it’s only been seconds. I count breaths and clock ticks, staring at Eucarpo’s
oxygen and platelet numbers rising. “Come on, the
science minds keep refreshments in here.” I think I
recognize the voice coming down the hall. Every muscle in my body wants to
stiffen, but I can’t freeze now. Luckily, the
serum is fast acting and Eucarpo’s readings are settling. I inject the
awakening treatment and then I throw the syringes and all remaining evidence
into the incinerator. The burning and sanitizing process will turn these things
into energy or something else useful. Eucarpo stirs a little when I hear the
door sensor click. As the voltball
captain and visual arts queen walk in, I step in front of Eucarpo.
“Look, we found
someone avoiding the assembly,” Milcah says as she nudges Danver in the ribs
with her elbow.
Author Info
Stephanie Hansen is a PenCraft Award Winning Author. Her novella series, Altered Helix, released 2020. Her short story, Break Time, and poetry has been featured in Mind's Eye literary magazine. The Kansas Writers Association published her short story, Existing Forces, appointing her as a noted author. She has held a deep passion for writing since early childhood, but a brush with death caused her to allow it to grow. She's part of an SCBWI critique group in Lawrence, KS and two local book clubs. She attends many writers' conferences including the Writing Day Workshops, New York Pitch, Penned Con, New Letters, All Write Now, Show Me Writers Master Class, BEA, and Nebraska Writers Guild conference as well as Book Fairs and Comic-Cons.
She is a member of the deaf and hard of hearing community.
