We
humans have to be stronger than we ever imagine, love ourselves in the process,
and dig in when the ground seems to sink. We not only relish adventures, we
create them. That’s the basis of Saylor’s story in my young adult
science fiction trilogy, Insurrection.
Scintillating gadgetry,
crackling romance, and endless riddles fill the pages of this trilogy, in a
fresh adventure for the restless reader.
Saylor
started out on one adventure and ended up on another. After finding herself on a Caribbean island filled with strange noises, dazzling beaches, and a secret military base, Saylor must clutch the missing pieces of her fate. While harnessing her ability to communicate with deadly weapons of mass destruction, attending the annual gala, and fighting her growing feelings for the hunky Australian soldier, Saylor's instincts become increasingly distressed. Tempted by greed and independence, she must determine what she stands for and on whose side she belongs. Power within her. War without.
They wanted a warrior. They got one.
Excerpt of book #1...
“I have to stay with my sisters.
Protect them. Are you serious, is this a lifelong contract? How about we settle
for a two year?” I leaned back in the chair.
A
half smile crossed the Commander’s face. He looked amused. He was pleased?
“Private, any moment on the field could be your last. Do you understand that?”
“I
do, sir.”
“You
choose to join the ranks of the elite?”
“I
refuse to be toast.” Sitting up and throwing back my shoulders, I let my own
smirk play on my lips, recalling my first harried day of training.
His
jaw set in place, in a familiar habit. Those navy eyes searched mine.
My
lungs filled with vigor and valor, as well as a smidgen of oxygen and a hint of
audacity.
“Very
well, then.” The Commander sighed, as if he were content from a large meal. He
reached down to the side of his desk and pulled open a large drawer, taking out
a manila envelope. Withdrawing a long sheet of paper, he placed it on the desk
in front of me. “Here are your papers. I am advancing your rank to Private
First Class. You are assigned to Echo Company Bravo, effective today.
Lieutenant McConnell will remain your supervising officer and provide further
instructions at Front Deck.”
I
bobbed my head up and down, glancing at the piece of paper. The blanks had
already been filled out. He knew what I would choose.
“Sign
at the bottom on the back page,” the Commander said, placing a pen parallel to
the top of the paper.
I
read through the legal jargon, picking up the pen, and scanning the lengthy
words. Henceforth. Litigate. Propagate. Disseminate. Prohibited. Deceased.
He
leaned forward. “Once we accomplish our goal, we will move on to the next
assignment, and then the next, regardless of how long it takes. You do not get
to leave this island unless you opt out right now.”
With a flourish, I signed my name.
“Then I suppose I need to go suit up.”
Excerpt of book #2...
Silent, smooth, and undefined, he
slipped beside me, the two of us watching the horizon and the navy sky, dotted
with starlight and swaying under the breeze. In the same way that chocolate
nestles down slowly and sweetly on the taste buds, or like a crisp spring
morning drifts dew over the dawn, he slid his right arm around me, pulling me
close. Satin brushed against cotton and hope dashed against the rough
breakwater of changing tides.
“Against
my own rules, the other day I allowed in the thought about what losing you
would feel like,” Tucker said. “Those monsters hovering over you were a greater
risk than the Commander’s orders. Holding you in my arms after you fell,
motionless,” he shook his head. “That was the flip of the switch.”
Several
clouds meandered overhead, blocking out starlight and passing by, finally
clearing out again, and I could once again accept oxygen into my lungs. Letting
a smile tease my lips, a rosy glow burned across my cheeks.
“I'm
terribly challenged in the area of accepting someone loving me,” I admitted. “I
have buckets of love. But they’ve been boxed up, packed away, and I don't know
how to carry them."
He
turned to me, his eyes glinting in the light, probably imagining my struggle
with big gray metal sand castle buckets.
"Well,
that's convenient," he answered, somehow moving closer, arms circling,
tightening around my waist, until we faced each other. "I have pretty
strong arms. I'd be pleased to help you carry them."
Somewhere,
innocent lips blew the wispy seeds from a dandelion bud, somewhere passionate
lips sputtered rhetoric and jargon, and somewhere else, lips dripped with lies
and temptation. But his smoldered.
Excerpt of book #3...
“Look.”
I squared off, planting my boots, shoving my fists in the pockets of my pink
jacket. “Many of you were sent to Isla Barina, or joined Alliance, thinking
your last stop would be the Caribbean. Now you’ve gotten a taste of home. I
know the risks ahead outweigh common sense. Breame equipped me to take on this
project on my own. I am stable, but to a certain extent, I’m extremely
dangerous. I can’t promise—”
“What
are you saying, Mack?” Annoyed, Logan scuffed one boot in the dirt.
“You can all jump ship if you
want. No judging. It’s not even jumping ship. It’s getting out of the sinking
ship and reclaiming dry land. This is the last stop before it’s too late. I’ll
be fine on my own. I’ll get a plane and make it overseas and take this on. If I
fail, I fail, and nobody’s worse the wiser.”
“Are
you kidding?”
“Not
at all. I don’t want to take anybody else down with me.”
“That’s
not your call,” Logan argued.
“I
feel a little insulted right now,” Micah said, whipping her head toward me. “Who
says you get all the fun?”
“What?”
I asked.
“And
the glory,” Logan added.
“No,
I’m trying to give you an out here.”
“No,
thanks. I love swimming.” Logan leaned back on his heels. “And besides, it’s
not up to you.”
“Fine!”
I rolled my eyes. “You each get to decide. Your contracts with Alliance are
being reviewed, I’m guessing?”
Logan
exhaled, before a slight nod. “Possibly. The chips are still settling.
Contracts have yet to be renegotiated.”
“Well,
then.”
“As
far as I’m concerned,” O’Leary jumped in, “I made ECB because I wanted to. And
I’ve stuck around this far, so I might as well finish this war.”
Chisholm
nodded. “Too many hours of training to give up right when we get the upper
hand.”
“But
guys,” I tried to wave them off.
“You
have no argument.” Canaan radiated enthusiasm.
“We’re
the team. You’re stuck with us. Plus, you need someone to run the coms. So, I’m
in.”
“There’s
no guarantee about this,” I reminded. “We don’t have — we may not—”
“Never
had a guarantee,” O’Leary stated. “Except that we’d face dangerous
circumstances. That’s why I signed up. You don’t get to kick me out the second
it gets rough. Rough is my playground.”
“Yeah!”
Other voices agreed, rallying.
Eight
faces shifted, eyes shining, reflecting those immense stories.
“Alright,
then.” I accepted, my team lining up to face the field and our Commander. “Play
ball.”
About Kadee...
Deep in the heart of Texas, Kadee
Carder resides with her husband and daughters. Carder earned a BA in Public
Relations at Howard Payne University and an MFA in Creative Writing from
National University. She teaches English courses on the university level and
plans her schedule around coffee availability. When she’s not dancing around
the living room with her daughters, she helps at church activities, creates
encouraging blogs, and orders pizza like a boss.
Where to find Kadee online...
Instagram: kadeecarderink
Twitter: @kadeecarderink
And please feel free to subscribe for encouraging
blogs! Kadeecarder.com
I’m
giving away a free, empowering e-book
to those who subscribe to my email list
at kadeecarder.com. The book is called Ignite
and offers a serving of inspiration, a dash of hope, and a cup of grace to help
you get kickin’ on those challenging tasks you’ve got to do!
