Welcome to Realm Explorers! In this weekly series, we visit a variety of unique worlds created by talented science fiction and fantasy authors. Enjoy your travels! And don't forget to read to the bottom of the post to find out more about each author and see how to purchase the featured book.
Author’s name: Dana Bell
Title of book and/or series: God’s Gift
Brief summary of the story: Three siblings, Larry, Susanna, and Jeanie are allowed to board the last colony ship that leaves Earth before Yellowstone explodes. During the voyage they bond with others and are caught by surprise when survey reports do not match with the world they landed on. Susanna and Kal get separated by a lion like being and get lost during a heavy rain storm. Larry, Susanna and Jack, a young officer, search for them. They meet one of the Charon tribes and are taken to the Rover ship where they are reunited with Susanna and her companion. The colony is removed to another planet by the governing body of the Five Systems and in the end, a small group must decide which Rover family they will go with and be the long awaited messengers.
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story: The story starts in Colorado Springs and moves to Mountain Home, Idaho. Part of it takes place on the ship and then on Charon, a world inhabited by intelligent felines, with odd colored plants and lots of rain.
What dangers should we avoid in Charon? Don’t go unless invited.
Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served in Charon? Odd mixtures of vegetables or nuts and spicy drinks.
What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common in Charon? The Charon hunt with claw and fang.
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel in or to Charon? The Charon walk on two legs but the visiting traders called Rovers travel by spaceship.
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter that we don’t see on Earth? Different color vegetation, caves, rough weather and large intelligent felines who don’t wear clothes. Introduced as well are Felcat. They keep the history of many worlds and most think they are just domestic pets. The Rovers are introduced, as are the Aarkon’s military.
Is there any advanced or unusual technology? If you haven’t described it already, please give some examples. The Rovers carry a round globe for light and some of the women are healers.
Is there a particular religion practiced? Please describe what it involves. The Charon believe in God and have been waiting for the promised messengers to arrive. The Rovers believe in the All Knowing One and some of the healers the Great Mother.
What is the political or government structure? Tribal with female leaders for each group. Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she? No consolidated leadership.
Has anything in your actual life inspired the locations, cultures, etc. in your book? All the cats I've been owned by and behaviors observed while visiting various zoos and wildlife refuges like tigers, lions, leopards, snow leopards, servals and many more. Since I’ve visited Colorado Springs and grew up in Idaho I used those as locations. The description of the eruption was as accurate as possible since I remember the dark cloud and total silence after Mt. St. Helens went off. We had ash all summer long, cooler temps and lots of rain. Charon came out of my imagination of how I thought an alien world might look and be so a feline race could thrive.
What, if any, “hot-button” or controversial topics do you touch on in your book? When the colonist discover there is a native species, there is some concern their effect on them might be like what happened with the American Indians. It has a direct bearing on the decision made by the colonists at the end of the book.
Author Autobiography: Owned by two cats, Adara and Taj, Dana Bell writes stories staring her fur babies often. She loves to tell tales set in places she has lived or visited, has a fascination for lighthouses, Yellowstone National Park, super volcanoes, and doll houses which have taken over her basement. Her published books include Winter Awakening and God’s Gift. Her short fiction can be found in various anthologies for SFFH and she writes romance as well. She lives in Colorado and works a day job so her cats have a warm house, food and lots of toys.
Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your book(s)? Please include links.
Kindle and Print on Amazon
Nook Book & Print from Barnes and Noble
Where can readers connect with you online?
Note: Next book in the series called Homefall Search is in progress. It happens just before and concurrently with God’s Gift.
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to Charon. Questions about the world or the book? Ask them in the comments and the author will get back to you!
Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.
Please join us again next Monday for a trip to another world in next week's edition of Realm Explorers!
Are you an author of a sci-fi or fantasy novel that takes place in another world? Click here to find out about having it featured on Realm Explorers!
Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.
Please join us again next Monday for a trip to another world in next week's edition of Realm Explorers!
Are you an author of a sci-fi or fantasy novel that takes place in another world? Click here to find out about having it featured on Realm Explorers!
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