Welcome to another episode of Weekend Writing Warriors (click on the logo above) and Snippet Sunday (click on the logo below.)
I’m continuing from last week with Roi, who has just regained control of his sabotaged hang glider – but his problems aren’t over yet. This snippet is from Tourist Trap, published in 2011 and winner of the Reader Views award for best fiction book of the year in 2012.
He looked down at the ground to his left, searching for his own shadow to help him estimate distance. Two shadows?
He turned his head and saw a large power flier pacing his glider, above and behind him, where most of the craft was hidden by the wing above him. Rage flooded through his body, and he gathered and channeled it toward the enemy craft, banking his own wing enough to see the markings on the craft that must have been responsible for his plight. He reached toward the flyer, with every intention of blasting it out of the sky, and abruptly saw the mammoth device, and picked up a hint of concern over his own plight from the vessel that had become his target. Horrified, he wrenched at the building rage, somehow transmuting it and changing direction toward where Central and his father should be, ten light years away.
Get this goddam baby-sitter off my back! he snarled into his father’s mind, and felt Lai’s shocked response.
Blurb for Tourist Trap: A vacation with his three best friends from slavery and a manhood challenge: Roi is given the graduation present he has dreamed of. Dogsledding, hang gliding, a chance to see Pleistocene animals transplanted to a Terraformed vacation world, horseback riding, sailing … all the sports he has returned to with his recovery from paralysis, and a few new ones to learn.
They’re prepared for danger from weather, wild animals and extreme sports. But none of them realize that Roi’s half brother Zhaim, determined to recover his old position as Lai’s heir, intends to kill them if he can—and he’s decided that the dangers of the trip will make a perfect cover for his schemes.
How long will it take them to realize that the “accidents” they keep running into are more than just accidents?
Tourist Trap, the second novel of the Jarnian Confederation, won first place in science fiction and fiction book of the year in the 2011 Reader Views contest.
Reviewers say:
“Fans of Sue Ann Bowling’s novel Homecoming will not be disappointed with its sequel. Tourist Trap returns the reader to the world of the Jarnian Confederation—to Roi, Lai, Marna, and all of their friends and relations. The author does a stellar job of bringing these characters to life, allowing the reader to not only see their actions but to understand the culture and politics that motivate them. (ForeWord Clarion review)
“Tourist Trap” is a great read for anyone that wants motivation and feeling to accompany the action in their sci-fi adventure. Alien beings and super powers are an integral part of Roi’s story but what makes this novel really shine is the heart. Nobody is good or evil just because that’s their assigned role. Just like in real life, everyone has their own motivations and desires, and Bowling does a great job of letting the reader see what it would be like to walk in the shoes of Roi, Xazhar, and even madman Zhaim. (ReaderViews review)
Tourist Trap (iUniverse, 2011) is available from: Barnes and Noble, iUniverse, and Amazon in dust jacket, trade paper, and e-book formats.
Also, I’m asking for help in identifying book or writer on this. Our local librarian is stumped.
The main character is a dragon shifter. She is with the police but some are afraid she will go to the dark side since she had one parent that was good and one that was bad.
There is a witch in a wheel chair who is around 600 years old. There is a prophecy that if she dies 3 times a curse will be broken.
There is a character named Princess Bri or Brianna
They all live on an island.
The Island has Protectors and only the characters can go on and of the island.
The previous stated witch and a warlock dies and in the process of coming back, the daughter of the witch dies.
There is also a character that is a “normal” human Special Ops guy that kills off demon-like beings.
Anyone have any clue as to what this book/ or series is?
Buy Homecoming from iUniverse
'Homecoming' Blog 
Interesting snippet – suprised that a mental message would travel that for so quickly – certainly ignites my curiosity. Nicely done description. Intriguing snippet.
Part of my world -building rules. Thought is instantaneous, but thought communication takes energy.
Sueann, week after week you give us these astonishing snippets. Breathtaking with fear and wonder coming from your fertile imagination. Yum!
Try the whole book.
I love this snippet. I love Roi’s anger at having a babysitter, but how is it that neither he nor the others with him saw it before? The others are higher than he is, aren’t they?
Higher than he is but not necessarily higher than the “babysitter” craft. And Penny, at least, would know the craft is “friendly” and never think to mention it. And you can’t see much above you in a hang glider
Intriguing snippet. Fascinating world.
Afraid I can’t help with your question. Don’t read much sci-fi. Good luck.
Try mine–lots of horses.
Wow–did Lai really send a babysitter? Or is it someone to protect him? Or… is there a traitor among the group. Great job, Sue Ann. I have so many questions at this point, along with concern for Roi.
Thanks for the comment you left on my blog today. Good catch. I’d become incapable of reading anything other than what my brain wanted me to read. 🙂
You’ll get Lai’s reply next week. Glad my comment was helpful.
Oh goodness, he’s a bit surly at the moment. I am always intrigued by your writing.
Aftereffects of shock and confusion about the shadowing craft. He’s built up so much tension he has to get rid of it some way.
Hang gliding has always sounded scary to me — you’re so vulnerable — and you’ve made it even more dangerous by sabotaging the glider! I’d like to know more about this world that offers hang gliding, horseback riding, sailing, etc., for tourists. What fun!
Tourist Trap is currently for sale. It took fiction book of the year in one contest.
Wonderful world building as always.
Thanks–these worlds are very real in my head.
That was a close one! If Roi hadn’t reigned it in, I’m sure the guilt would have destroyed him. Wonderful selection as usual, Sue Ann!
Poor guy–I can feel all the tension, and how he’s trying to get through to his father.
Actually, this is the first time he’s openly defied his father. And it’s going to his head.
You are so right! But I think you mean reined, as in reining in a horse, rather than reign, as in rule.
Uh oh
You are wright, Sue Ann. I don’t no hough that g got in their . . . 😉
LOL! Sarah, your comment is priceless.
Amazing how dependent we’ve become on spell checkers which of course don’t catch homonyms.
Wow, very tense the way he had to deflect his original intention to destroy the other hang glider. I never thought about him having a “babysitter” so that was a nice twist. Great snippet!
The other craft is powered, not a hang glider. and “babysitter” is his interpretation.
I like it! A nicely crafted snippet.
Thanks, I’m glad you like it.
Action and world building in this intriguing snippet. Nice.
More to come.
Fantastic word building! Love your snippets. Can’t wait for more.
You have me hooked! Well done.
In some ways thing are quieting down. Not for long, though.
Great snippet! Also, I read in your comments that using mind-communication takes energy. Love that!
Right. The energy can be “borrowed” from other sources, known as linking to an energy source, also called “boosting.” Roi has learned to do it almost automatically, but he and Lai both are shocked that he is able to reach that far without a dedicated computer boost. Anger and adrenaline.