Title: Federation Cowboy
Author: Joyce Reynolds-Ward
Genre: Space Opera western with romantic elements
Book Blurb:
CAROLINE STARSHINE DIDN'T EXPECT TO FIND A JOB WHEN SHE MET JEFF TOPHAND....
Nor did she expect to find drug smugglers, a conspiracy intended to force two major governments into an Empire, unusual allies, a new family...and love.
Can Caroline and Jeff overcome all the obstacles in their path and keep the Federation safe?
Excerpt:
“Geraint, is this for real?” Caroline Starshine frowned at the file projected in front of her before looking over at her crocodilian boss. “We’re recruiting a—a rodeo duelist to run as the Federalist candidate for Planetary Representative on Cartain?”
She sniffed. The antiseptic scent permeating their private cabin in the runabout hauling passengers to the planetary surface of Cartain from the interstellar transport No Skies, No Limits irritated her nostrils. This one carried a faint floral scent that Caroline recognized as proprietary to Hart Mercantile Services.
Lilac Number Nine. Lilac Nine could be cloying if too much was used. The light hint of scent was just about perfect—a testimony to the skill of the housekeeping staff on No Skies, No Limits. At least in the VIP cabins. Too bad she had developed a minor reaction to Lilac Nine—too many useless years spent in her childhood training to discern the application levels. And now such knowledge was just a sideline to Caroline’s real work.
“S-s-s.” Her boss, Geraint Ssprin, raised his long head from his secured heating pad and platform set at about Caroline’s waist level. Crocodilians needed more heat than mammals. “Mr. Tophand is a very good candidate for Cartain, Caroline.”
As always, Geraint managed to manipulate his translator implant so that it almost sounded like it was a real voice, and not full of hisses and static. By now, Caroline was used to it.
“Well, yes, I can see that he would appeal to a certain group of Cartainians. But what about his policy positions?”
Caroline studied the portrait. Jeff Tophand was a lanky, dark-skinned man. He wore a tan broad-brimmed hat, long-sleeved dark blue shirt with sponsor decals woven into the fabric, a tan vest with fringes, and dark blue pants—jeans, Caroline had heard them called—with some sort of fringed tan leggings over the jeans in a shade that matched hat and vest.
Exotic clothing that she had never seen before, even on Earth. Just like the whole concept of rodeo duelists. Caroline had thought that rodeo was a dead sport. It certainly was no longer popular on Earth—but other species adopted the concept, expanding it to sentient mounts battling non-sentient riders, sentient mounts and riders herding non-sentient species in particular patterns, and the ultimate rodeo duelist competition—sentient riders versus sentient mounts.
It still didn’t seem right.
Geraint smacked his jaws together before answering, pushing himself up on all four legs.
“His policies are close enough to the Federalist platform to make recruiting him worthwhile. Cartain’s agriculturalists—the largest segment of the voting population on the planet—look favorably on duelists, whether they’re human, bovine, avian, reptilian or equine. That is why Rifanel of the Councilists has brought Hrwhinir’s new Planetary Representative, Fenarmin, to recruit a candidate amongst Cartain’s Converted population. Fenarmin is a tertiary leader in Hrwhinir’s Court of Stallions, but is already rising as a voice in the Congress’s Converted caucus. And he’s another former duelist.”
“Fenarmin’s a horse, correct?” Caroline twisted a strand of curly brown hair around her forefinger. That cast a different light on the situation. The Councilists were the other dominant party in the Galactic Congress. If they were recruiting amongst Converted species using a rodeo duelist, then it made sense for the Federalists to do so as well.
Need to look at the species dominating Cartain’s agriculture production to be sure. Though Geraint had probably already done so.
Geraint took his time before responding, his tongue flicking along his great teeth as he clacked his jaws further. “Yes, Fenarmin is a horse, like Rifanel. And the species they are recruiting amongst for the Councilists on Cartain are not the usual rodeo dueling partners, though they will respect Fenarmin for his success. Fenarmin and Rifanel are focusing on finding a candidate amongst Converted species.” He showed more teeth. “My reports suggest that they are struggling, because Cartain biases toward human representatives. So far they’ve yet to find an appealing candidate. If we can recruit Tophand….”
Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1143986821
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1441739
Joyce’s Ko-fi Shop: https://ko-fi.com/s/55f5cf475d
What makes your featured book a must-read?
Federation Cowboy is a space opera that incorporates modern rodeo—with a twist. Multiple sentient species duel with non-sentient species, all aiming for the highest goal—a no-holds-barred battle between equally sentient partners to disability or death. When two duelists who were disqualified from competing in a sentient duel end up on opposite sides of the Federation Congress, sparks fly. Throw in drug smuggling and a secret battle for control of the Galaxy, as well as a growing love between Jeff Tophand and Caroline Starshine…and the mix entices the reader along.
Giveaway –
Enter to win a $20 Amazon gift card:
Open Internationally.
Runs April 23 – April 30, 2024.
Winner will be drawn on May 1, 2024.
Author Biography:
Joyce Reynolds-Ward’s work includes themes of high-stakes family and political conflict, digital sentience, personal agency and control, realistic strong women, and (whenever possible) horses, frequently in Pacific Northwest settings.
She is the author of five speculative fiction series: The Netwalk Sequence, Goddess's Honor, The Martiniere Legacy, The People of the Martiniere Legacy, and The Martiniere Multiverse as well as standalones Federation Cowboy, Beating the Apocalypse, Klone's Stronghold and Alien Savvy. Her new trilogy, The Cost of Power, will be released in September, 2024.
Joyce is a Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off Semifinalist, a Writers of the Future SemiFinalist, and an Anthology Builder Finalist. She is a board member of the Northwest Independent Writers Association, a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association, and a member of Soroptimists International.
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