Silver Dagger Book Tours
  • Welcome!
  • Current Tours
    • Book Tours
  • Book a Tour
  • Open Sign Ups
  • Contact
  • About
  • Welcome!
  • Current Tours
    • Book Tours
  • Book a Tour
  • Open Sign Ups
  • Contact
  • About
Silver Dagger Book Tours

 

Off World - Book Tour and Giveaway

3/7/2018

13 Comments

 
Picture
Picture

Off World
by Kimberly Adkins
Genre: SciFi
73 pages

Picture
Does space make you paranoid? 
Was The Corporation harboring a dark secret on the off world mining colony to protect their bottom line?

Christopher Carter loved to explore. He was a specialist in his field back home on earth, and travel to a moon that orbited a gas giant 120 times the size of his home planet was the opportunity of a lifetime. 
This would be his first deep space assignment, and he'd wanted this contract more than anything else in the world; except for his family, of course. And he didn't have to choose one or the other. 

It was amazing how things worked out --Until they didn't. 

Everyone was hiding something at the facility, and it didn't take long to figure out they were hiding it from him. Unfortunately for Christopher, the truth would prove to be far more horrifying than anything he could ever have imagined.



**Only .99 cents!**
Goodreads * Amazon

​

Picture
​CHAPTER ONE


Stasis Sickness.
Bile burned the back of his throat. It gagged him. He'd trained for this, and somewhere in the back of his foggy mind, Christopher knew that. Breathing was the key. Utilize short inhalations through the nose, expelling from the mouth. The respiration exercises happened automatically. His brain knew what needed to be done to keep him alive.
He couldn’t stop his body from shaking. The metal table beneath his back was cold. No creature comforts on the transport ship, not for deep space travel. Only the basic necessities would be allowed on board to keep the load light. Some of the crew on this mission elected to stay awake for the eight months of travel required to reach the crucial mining facility. He remembered opting for stasis now, knowing the bare living conditions they'd be subjected to for the long haul.
They.
Oh man, how could he have forgotten? His family made the trip. Sudden images of them seared across his brain like postcards on a slide show. His stomach clenched painfully. Are they suffering the same symptoms? How could he have considered doing this to them to begin with?
Loved them...didn't want to be apart from them. Am I really that selfish?\
His vision was dark, but he could hear others in the room. Their whispers hung in the air, negative with discord. “He shouldn’t be here; not with his condition. I was against this from the beginning.”
“The corporation decides who will be required at the facility. Now get over it and do your job quietly, like everyone else here.” A deeper voice snapped back quickly. We’re they referencing him? He couldn’t be sure of anything coming out of stasis. But that wasn’t his priority.
"Where is my family?" He choked out the words, gripping the sides of the table. He still couldn't see anything, just the outline of vague shapes, but he was getting up anyway. His distorted vision could have been the sickness or anxiety - he wasn't a medical expert, but it didn't really matter. His wife and two daughters were the only concern.
"Corporal Carter, please remember your conditioning. You must remain still until all of your senses adjust. You know that." A stern female voice instructed him. Firm hands held him down. He didn't appreciate it.
"I asked you a question." His voice was clearer, now. For all he knew, they hadn't understood him the first time. The attendant had addressed him by his military title, but he recalled this was a private operation. Well, as private as any company could get. The military had their hands in everything that was worth anything, back home on earth and as far as they'd gone in the galaxy.
"Cindy and the girls are fine, Christopher. They've already been out of stasis for 24 hours, and they fared a lot better than you, actually. None of them came out with side effects. I'm sure the children are tearing up the recovery room as we speak." Her lips pursed together when she spoke. The way she'd said children was off, like it was distasteful to her. So, she didn't like kids. He didn't feel like he was high up on her list, either.
"Let him sit up if he wants to, Doctor Larson. He's a tough guy. That's how they make 'em in the Marines." Things were coming into focus and he could make out a second figure beside the table when the man spoke. It was the same guy who laid the hammer down on the doc a few minutes ago, by the sound of it. He looked military. The way he carried himself, the hair cut, all said he'd been in the service. Hell, maybe still was.
Finally, someone who might understand.
He struggled to rise, and wasn't sure he could do it after all. Forget that thought. He asked for it, they gave it to him - like hell he was gonna give up now. He pulled himself up into a sitting position, and his vision dimmed again. His muscles were weaker than anticipated. The suspension nanites had kept him on ice, so to speak, but he hadn't come through it as well as he'd hoped. The cryo bots in his system were deactivated now, but it still gave him the creeps, knowing they were floating around in his body. He should've stayed awake.
"I want to see them, now." He didn't mean to bark at the woman, but it came out nasty. He was going to need to try harder. "Please."
"Obviously it’s your call, Captain Reynolds." Christopher almost smiled when the doctor turned to the Military man with a frown. Glad he had someone besides Nurse Ratchet making the calls. She was just doing her job, but he needed to get moving.
"Readings look good. He's stable. As far as I can tell, there's only going to be one problem."
"Just one?" Sarcasm dripped off her tongue. She was already beginning to remove the wires and pads stuck to his body. As far as he was concerned, nothing was going to stand in the way of his family reunion.
"Because of his reaction to the stasis, he'll have to get in the chair. No way he can walk." He followed the Captain's glance to a wheelchair parked in the corner. Did they seriously expect him to get in that thing? He had his pride.
He was gonna have to show them what he could do. His legs felt like logs, which didn't stop him from using his arms to propel them over the edge of the table. They went, alright. And the rest of him followed right after, spilling to the floor with a smack. It didn't hurt. He didn't know if that was a good thing or a bad thing.
Wow, pride literally does go before a fall. He felt like a jackass. From the look on Doctor Larson's face, he guessed that's what he was. Captain Reynolds was different, though. He had respect and understanding in his eyes. He could get along with this guy.
"I can take him to the recovery room." The Captain walked beside him once he was in the chair, a remote in his right hand that propelled the equipment. It didn't make him feel less like a cripple.
"You know, I have to admit it's nice to have you on my team." He talked to him without looking down. Normal. Equal. "We get the scientists in by the dozen, but rarely a military man. I hear you are a field specialist with the mining equipment we're using at this camp."
"Yes, Sir." It was a natural response. He didn't even know if it was appropriate.
"You don't have to do that, here. This is a private sector contract."
Captain Reynolds was right, of course, but it easily could have been a different story. He'd been a lifer, for sure. A Career Marine in every sense of the word. He didn't know he was lonely, he didn't even understand what he was missing until Cindy came along. He'd never realized the kind of love he felt for his wife existed, couldn't have imagined it in a million years until he saw her face for the first time. Whoever would have thought a guy like him would have something like that in his lifetime? Not him. Not ever.
"Here we are." The door swept open automatically and the chair took him through the entryway first. God, had it been eight months since he'd seen Cindy and the girls? It felt like hours to his brain, but somehow his body knew.
The room was empty. It felt empty. Was this some kind of joke? His hands began to shake, chest tightening to a stranglehold around his lungs. No, this couldn’t be happening. He couldn’t recall the last time he’d had an episode. All the years his family helped him with his struggle, and he was regressing now? Christopher suddenly felt unsafe, trapped. He buried his face in his hands, breath shallow and jagged, and couldn’t remember a time when he wasn’t cold and alone.
"Daddy!" Their cries hit his ears first. Something clicked in his head and he looked up. Tears streamed down his face. He didn't know how to turn them off. He didn't know how they got there to begin with. His arms wrapped around the two young girls as they planted kisses on his wet cheeks. His heart pounded painfully in his chest. He'd never been on an op that came close to impacting him like this. He didn't know if he could take it. And then Cindy appeared. There was no angel in Heaven that could have been more beautiful than she was at that moment, with her long, blonde hair spilling over her white robe. The smile on her face told him everything he needed to know.
Christopher knew then why he agreed to take his family into deep space, exposing them to the myriad of deadly complications that came from suspension travel and off world habitation. He needed them, and he would do everything in his power to protect them while they were here. He'd been trained to assess any situation and his eyes took them in, one by one. God, they were perfect. Not a dark circle under a single eye, not a moment of flagging energy as his daughters held hands, circling around the chair while they sang a song.
Was this normal? Was he lucky?
"Babe, come here." He held out his hand to Cindy and she slipped onto his lap. His legs were still numb, but he felt her. He felt her all over and he found he desperately needed her all of a sudden. His cheeks flamed - did anyone else see? Could they tell how badly he wanted his wife? He buried his face in her hair, inhaling deeply. How much time had passed since they'd been together?
The doctor reappeared and her face was stony with lack of expression."Let's get you to your quarters on base. Normally you'd be required to stay on the ship to monitor your recovery a while longer, but for some military intelligence reason that defies explanation, you've been cleared to disembark."
It almost seemed as if she were trying too hard not to register a reaction to his family, ignoring their presence altogether. It wouldn't hurt her to have a heart - even a little one. He resented her, but maybe she was just jealous. Maybe she'd wanted to bring her loved ones and was denied.
Well, let her be that way. It shouldn't bother him in any case, and he didn't know why her behavior set his senses on alert, but it did. He was uncharacteristically emotional at the moment, but he still knew it wasn't a good idea to piss off one of his co-workers on day one. The feeling will pass, surely, once the debilitating effects of stasis were gone. And his hands were steady again.


​

Picture
Picture
Kimberly Adkins is an author and artist who spends her spare time working on worm hole theories so she can go back in time and enter Star Gate’s ‘Get in the Gate’ sweepstakes as many times as it takes to win.

Q: Tell us something interesting about you that most people wouldn’t know?

A: I have a Cylon toaster in my kitchen. So far, it hasn’t convinced any of my other appliances to revolt against me and assume control over the destiny of mankind. I guess I’m lucky there. It does burn ‘Frak Off’ onto my toast every morning, though.



Website * Facebook *Twitter * Amazon * Goodreads

​

Picture
Picture
It’s been quite a while since I’ve felt a spine tingling, awe-inspiring thrill. When you write fiction, your brain goes to so many places, and you wear several hats in the process. What we can imagine is amazing, and the world doesn’t often toss out something from our dreams.
Then February 6, 2018 came along, and SpaceX launched the Falcon Heavy rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. I held my breath while we watched the live feed. I said the word awesome more times than anyone ever should. But it was when those two rocket boosters flew back to Earth, landing with beautiful and perfect synchronicity on the designated pad, I knew I’d witnessed Science Fiction for real.
And as fast as Elon Musk garnered my undying admiration, he captured my heart as well, with the deployment of Starman, hands on the wheel of a cherry red Tesla Roadster, with David Bowie’s ‘Starman’ playing from the car radio.
He has a long journey ahead, our Starman headed for Mars and beyond, but he’s got some fantastic traveling music on the way. If you could, would you hitch a ride to the stars in his shiny space Roaster? I know I would in a heartbeat, even if it was the last thing I ever did.
In fact, somebody better look in the trunk. I might be there already.

​
Picture
Follow the tour HERE for exclusive excerpts, guest posts and a giveaway!

Mar 7
kickoff at Silver Dagger Book Tours
Millsy Loves Books

Mar 8
Spunky N Sassy
2 Girls & A Book

Mar 9
Laurie's Thoughts and Reviews
Readeropolis – GUEST POST

Mar 10
Always Love Me Some Books

Mar 11
Aconite Cafe

Mar 12
A Mama's Corner of the World
Bound 2 Escape

Mar 13
3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, &, Sissy, Too!
a small girl, her man and her books

Mar 14
JB's Bookworms with Brandy Mulder
Book Review Virignia Lee

Mar 15
Book Reviews and Giveaways
books are love

Mar 16
Books all things paranormal and romance
BookwormBridgette's World

Mar 17
Brianna Remus Books

Mar 18

Fantasticando sui libri

Mar 19
eBook Addicts
Girl with Pen

Mar 20
Inside the Insanity
Jazzy Book Reviews

Mar 21
Book-Lover
Just a Little R&R

Mar 22
Laurisa White Reyes, Author
Lisa-Queen of Random

Mar 23
Anna del C. Dye official page
Blog of Author Jacey Holbrand

Mar 24
Little Ray Of Sunshine

Mar 25
Mello & June
Ms. Cat's Honest World

Mar 26
nanasbookreviews
Queen of All She Reads

Mar 27
Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer
Romance That's 'Out Of This world'

Mar 28
Rambling Reviews
Stormy Nights Reviewing & Bloggin'

Mar 29
Sylv.net
T's Stuff

Mar 30
Tales of A Wanna-Be SuperHero Mom
Teatime and Books

Mar 31
The Authors Blog

Apr 1
The Bookworm Chronicles

Apr 2
The Book Town
The lives and loves of a book nerd

Apr 3
Unabridged Andra's
Cali Book Reviews

Apr 4
411 on Books, Authors, and Publishing News – GUEST POST
Yearwood La Novela

Apr 5
WS Momma Readers Nook
Home for Book Lovers

Apr 6
YA Book Divas
Loves Great Reads Blog

Apr 7
Rachel Reads – REVIEW, GUEST POST
XoXo Book Blog


a Rafflecopter giveaway
Picture
13 Comments
James Robert
3/7/2018 03:41:18 am

Congrats on the tour and thank you for the excerpt and giveaway. I appreciate the opportunity to win.

Reply
Calvin
3/7/2018 10:34:54 am

A short book, I like the lonely guy standing on the cliff in the cover.

Reply
Rita Wray
3/7/2018 11:20:07 am

Sounds like a good book.

Reply
heather
3/7/2018 01:47:36 pm

Awesome cover makes me want to read it even more.

Reply
Dale Wilken
3/7/2018 08:39:18 pm

Sounds great.

Reply
Victoria
3/7/2018 09:54:01 pm

Great cover and I'm intrigued by the blurb - thanks for sharing :)

Reply
Lisa Brown
3/8/2018 03:08:14 am

I enjoyed getting to know your book; congrats on the tour and I hope it is a fun one for you :)

Reply
Susan Smith
3/14/2018 04:49:40 pm

Sounds like a great read. I love Science Fiction

Reply
Zoey
4/2/2018 12:48:48 am

I really like the cover. It's really mysterious.

Reply
Sairaika
4/5/2018 02:47:15 am

Great cover!

Reply
Daniel M
4/5/2018 06:08:34 pm

really like the cover

Reply
Denise Higgins
4/7/2018 10:11:16 pm

Awesome cover

Reply
Jerry Marquardt
4/7/2018 11:14:56 pm

I would like to give thanks for all your really great writings, including Off World. I wish the best in keeping up the good work in the future.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Categories

    All
    Action
    Activity Book
    Adventure
    African American
    Alt History
    Anthology
    Apocalyptic
    Audiobook
    Australian
    Bdsm
    Billionaire Romance
    Biography
    Chick Lit
    Childrens
    Christian
    Coloring Book
    Comedy
    Coming Of Age
    Contemporary Fiction
    Contemporaryromance
    Contemporary Romance
    Cookbook
    Cozymystery
    Cozy Mystery
    Crime
    Cyberpunk
    Dark
    Dark Romance
    Drama
    Dystopian
    Educational
    Eroticromance
    Erotic Romance
    Fairytale
    Fantasy
    Financial
    Giveaway-hop
    Gothic
    Health-and-wellness
    Historical
    Historicalromance
    Historical-romance
    Holiday
    Horror
    Humorous
    Inspirational
    Legal-thriller
    Lgbtq
    Literaryfiction
    Mafiaromance
    Mafia-romance
    Magicrealism
    Magic-realism
    Mcromance
    Mc-romance
    Memoir
    Menage
    Middlegrade
    Middle-grade
    Military
    Mystery
    Newadult
    New Adult
    Nonfiction
    Paranormal
    Paranormalromance
    Paranormal-romance
    Parenting
    Pets
    Poetry
    Postapocalyptic
    Pulp-fiction
    Reverseharemromance
    Reverse-harem-romance
    Rockstarromance
    Rockstar-romance
    Romance
    Romanticcomedy
    Romantic-comedy
    Romanticsuspense
    Romantic-suspense
    Satirical
    Sciencefiction
    Science Fiction
    Scifi
    Scifiromance
    Scifi-romance
    Selfhelp
    Shortstories
    Short-stories
    Speculativefiction
    Speculative Fiction
    Sportsromance
    Steampunk
    Supernatural
    Suspense
    Sweetromance
    Thriller
    Timetravel
    Time-travel
    Urban
    Urbanfantasy
    Urban Fantasy
    Western
    Womensfiction
    Womens Fiction
    Ya
    Youngadult
    Young-adult
    Youngadultya
    Young Adult Ya

    Picture

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016

© 2021 Silver Dagger Book Tours