I finished a new book in October. I was very happy about that.
It’s called ScytheQ and it is the sixth book in my Cyborg Chronicles, a spin-off of my popular Project Enterprise series. The robots-turned-cyborgs first turned up in Lost Valyr: Project Enterprise 7. I had this idea of tapping into readers interest in cyborgs.
Of course, my idea went skidding off the usual tropes right off the bat. I’m not even surprised when I do that anymore.
So there we have it. Seven books, though one of my cyborgs strayed into the main Project Enterprise series in Maestra Rising.
I also write in two pretty different genres, which makes my author life a little harder. All the publishing pundits say to focus (my now-gone agent said it to me several times), but when I poll my readers, it runs about 50-50. If I look at the money, same story. And a lot of my readers like my books regardless of genre (thank you!).
Some one on YouTube said I was “nonsensical” when I shared a little of my publishing journey. I told him, “You are right.” I don’t use a script because if I took time to write one, I’d either run out of time and not do it, or go off script right off the bat.
I kind of do that with my writing, too.
So when I say I wanted to write a certain book, I pretty much mean it.
I try to remember to do a “why I wrote this book” post when I release a new book, but I don’t always know why I write the book I did, other than I wanted to write it. With ScytheQ, I did have other reasons.
For one, it was the cyborgs “turn” to get a book. I released Soc ‘au Lait Stiff in March, and Telling Time in January. So yeah, it was time for some cyborg action and adventure.
And the other reason I was excited about writing this book was the cover. When my amazing cover artist, Melody Simmons, sent the cover for ScytheQ to me? I would have done a dance of joy if I were about fifteen years younger. But I danced inside!
I love, love, love this cover. I really love it. A lot.
And while ScytheQ isn’t the only female cyborg in my Project Enterprise world, she is the first one to be on a cover. (No, I never planned that. It just happened.) Ale from Cyborg’s Revenge is also a female, but I matched her with another cyborg and he horned in and got the cover spot.
Obviously, Scy needed a guy for her story who wouldn’t intimidated by her cybernetics. So I poked around my series and found a guy who was supporting cast in Cosmic Boom. He was like, “Hey, I nearly got killed and I think I deserve the top spot for surviving what you put me through.”
He wasn’t wrong. I put everyone through a lot in that book.
And I kind of did it again in ScytheQ. But he does get to kiss the girl this time around. Anyway, when I left him, he seemed pretty happy.
So that’s pretty much it. I wrote ScytheQ because I wanted to, because it was time, and because of the cover.
So ScytheQ is now up for preorder in stores, but you can get it now in MY store. It releases wide and in print on November 21, 2024!
What is the book actually about?
Here’s a blurb and you can learn more about ScytheQ by clicking here: https://paulinebairdjones.com/books/scytheq/
Sparks fly between a half-cybernetic warrior and the no-nonsense pilot…
ScytheQ, once a fierce warrior now living in a sleek half-cybernetic body, has spent years battling her own emotions. She was forced to lock away her humanity behind the circuits and steel that she had become. When she is downloaded into a cloned body, her return to a human form leaves her yearning for connection.
Major ‘Tiger’ Teeger, a no-nonsense pilot still dealing with the aftereffects of a previous mission, has no time to deal with the mysterious woman on his ship, especially when sparks fly—both literally and figuratively—between them. All thoughts of ignoring Scy are shot to the outer limits of the galaxy when they encounter enemies lurking in the shadows and betrayal seems to wait around every corner. Trust becomes as deadly a weapon as any blaster in the remote regions of the star system.
As Scy grapples with her growing humanity and her blossoming feelings for Tiger, her feelings put them both in danger. The only way to survive is to face the truth about who she has become and the human she needs to be for herself and for Tiger, but will it be enough to save them?
Travel to the far reaches of the universe and discover the power of love and the human spirit as Scy and Tiger search for a safe harbor for their hearts.
You can learn more about ScytheQ by clicking here: https://paulinebairdjones.com/books/scytheq/
I hope you’ll check it out!!