Why Veronica Scott Wrote Lady of the Star Wind

As usual with me, there were multiple things that caused me to write this novel.

First and foremost, I’ve always loved Andre Norton’s Witch World stories. I was captivated by the first one in the series, where the hero steps from our modern day world into Witch World on a one way trip, and then has to cope with everything fantastical there. I loved the way she left the reader feeling there was a huge backstory to Witch World itself and she would drops crumbs and hints in the books that often raised new questions.  I wanted to write my own novel that would accomplish a similar goal. So my couple from the futuristic Sectors have to flee through a portal of sorts, to the low tech world where they end up. I’m not saying my novel is on a par with Witch World! But there are mysteries and magical powers my characters have to get used to. And the hero and heroine seem to be the embodiment of an old legend in their new home, which brings its own challenges.

That’s the big picture answer. But one extremely important magic item in the novel is a mirror that belonged to a powerful goddess in ancient times. The inspiration was an ancient Egyptian mirror I saw in a museum in 1995. I never forgot it, graceful and beautifully made – the handle has three Egyptian gods holding up the fan-shaped mirror frame, and of course the reflective surface is long gone. I loved the imagery of this mirror, but when I thought about using it in a book, I saw different figures on the handle. And a lot of cool things it could do, if the person holding it only knew how to tap into the power.

Next I was pondering who would take a one way trip to an unknown destination like this and not be upset or dismayed by being permanently cut off from everything familiar. Andre Norton’s Simon Tregarth was a ‘burned’ spy fleeing from certain death, no way out. Who in my world would be desperate enough to travel? My characters in other Sectors novels mention the Outlier Empire from time to time. So I thought, what if the heroine is fleeing the Empire? This insight triggered a cascade of insights about who should be the hero and why he’d go with her.

My heroine’s name is Alessandra and Mark, the hero, is the only person who has ever called her Sandy. (She’s an Imperial Princess of Outlier and no one would dare to be so familiar. Well, no one but Mark.) That’s a nod from me to the movie version of “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court,” where at the very end Bing Crosby’s character and the heroine (is she reincarnated? Is she the actual girl from the past?) know each other by the nickname he had for her –  ‘Sandy’. I always thought that was such a cool touch! And maybe there’s a smidge of a hint of time travel in the novel…no spoilers, so you’ll have to read it to see.

Although this novel is a complete, standalone story with a Happily Ever After, I built a lot of mysteries and things yet to be discovered into Lady of the Star Wind. I’ve already been asked by several early readers of the novel to write more about the character of Lajollae, who sends Mark and Sandy through her version of a portal to their new world! So there’s plenty left to tell in future books, much as Ms. Norton (I fangirl her, can you tell?) went back to her Witch World again and again.

The story:

Are they merely luckless lovers … or a legend come back to life?

Mark Denaltieri, ex-Sector Special Forces, has been hired by the Outlier Empress to rescue her granddaughter, Princess Alessandra, from kidnappers. Since the Empress once had him tortured and banished, she’s the last person Mark wants to work for. But he takes the job. He’ll save Alessandra, his first love, and discover why she didn’t speak for him when he desperately needed her. Then he’ll be on his way, finally free of his past.

Alessandra would rather her rescuer was anyone but Mark–after all, he let her believe he was dead all this time. But when the couple are forced to flee her captors by Traveling via a strange crystal globe, they find themselves in a lovely Oasis on a desert planet, the old attraction sizzling between them again.

They soon discover they are far from alone. The Oasis holds the entrance to another world, one in which the inhabitants are convinced Sandy and Mark are the Lady of the Star Wind and her Warrior, come to free them from an evil Queen.

Mark and Sandy must work together to unearth an ancient mirror, and crown the true king of this land.  Can they fulfill the prophecy of the Lady and her Warrior … and this time, will their love survive the test?

Buy Lady of the Star Wind here: Amazon    KOBO     Barnes & Noble   iBooks–>coming soon!

Best Selling Science Fiction & Paranormal Romance author and “SciFi Encounters” columnist for the USA Today Happily Ever After blog, Veronica Scott grew up in a house with a library as its heart. Dad loved science fiction, Mom loved ancient history and Veronica thought there needed to be more romance in everything. When she ran out of books to read, she started writing her own stories.

Three time winner of the SFR Galaxy Award, as well as a National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award, Veronica is also the proud recipient of a NASA Exceptional Service Medal relating to her former day job, not her romances! She recently was honored to read the part of Star Trek Crew Member in the audiobook production of Harlan Ellison’s “City On the Edge of Forever.”

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I’d like to thank Veronica for visiting to share her story. I’m currently reading her Lady and it’s awesome. So what do you think, readers? Would you step into the unknown to escape certain death?

I love comments so much that I pick a favorite to receive my monthly AnaBanana gift basket ($25 value).  (And don’t forget that once a quarter I’ll be tossing in something fun from the Perilously Fun Shop!) Recipient is announced the first blog post of the new month.

Perilously yours,

Pauline