I want to start this update like I want to start every other post: by thanking my readers for their interest in my writing, and for the kind words you leave for me by way of reviews or messages. I receive and read every one. They make my day, and I always end up feeling uplifted and humbled. It’s such a great way to feel. I do write for myself. But I also write for you. Stories can’t exist by themselves; stories are meant to be told, and I am grateful that you listen, that you share willingly whatever journey my imagination takes.

Yesterday, I finished the Planet Zero manuscript. Admittedly, I had thought I’d finish sooner, but life has a way of interfering with the best-laid plans. Nevertheless, I got my poorly-organized ass in gear and clocked at 125K words. Whoo. Hoo. But the work isn’t done – they don’t call the first draft a “vomit draft” for nothing. This Frankenstein creation needs a lot of polishing before it resembles a book that’s reader-ready.

Much as I love Planet Zero and its characters that struggle so mightily to find happiness in each other’s arms, now that their story is over with (for me), my mind is hopping ahead in a non-linear pattern. I do have another story to tell. I do! I had said before that I was done with Homebound, but now I feel like I’m ready to revisit that world. To add closure.

No, it will not be a Gemma/Simon story – they’ve had their moment to shine. But we’ll get a small glimpse of their ever-after. They (Simon, specifically) may even play an important background role in setting in motion the events of this new book – who knows? Well, I do. The storyline is so clear in my head!

It’s going to be Cricket’s story, and it takes place several years after she left Earth for Meeus thanks to the passage chip that Simon got for Gemma, and that Gemma gave to Ruby, Cricket’s mother. Cricket lives on Meeus and works at a medical lab processing blood tests and other bodily samples. She is saving every penny to have her mother join her on Meeus. After years of scrimping, not much longer now.

Meeus is a great place to live. Humans did a good job. They’ve learned their lessons from their millennia of experience on Earth and applied it properly. Meeus is clean, and life there is organized just like humans always wanted. People have everything. Every need is anticipated and fulfilled. Cricket should be happy, but deep down, she struggles. Everything is too perfect.

The hospital where she works hosts an intergalactic medical symposium where every planet sends a delegate. To everyone’s surprise, the Rix nation sends one too. None of it matters to Cricket who has nothing to do with medical research, except one day she is called upon to share with the alien guests her experiences of life on Earth. Cricket meets the Rix delegate, and she’s underwhelmed. She’s heard about Simon from Ruby, and this one looks nothing like she imagined a great Rix defender would. A little heavy, slightly awkward, with sleek feminine hair and a puckered scarred upper lip, he has merry, twinkling eyes. A fierce warrior? A hulking brute? Hmm. She must’ve misunderstood.

Cricket, fluent in Universal, is relied upon to act as a tour guide for the delegates. She likes the opportunity to interact with them. The Rix alien is cute in a non-threatening, teddy-bear, favorite-uncle kind of way. He smiles endearingly and looks at her earnestly. He talks to her, asks questions. And he listens. The more she gets to know him, the more she becomes convinced that his probing interest has a point. His twinkling eyes bely a laser-sharp focus. His lazy manner conceals shark’s instincts. His chubby body bears serious battle scars. This klutzy, slow-moving man has a quicksilver past… and a mission.