Guest Author: Veronica Scott

Please welcome Veronica Scott and Nick, the hero of her new book, Wreck of the Nebula Dream.

Character Interview

Author’s Name: Veronica Scott

Book Title: WRECK of the NEBULA DREAM

Character Name: Nick Jameson, Captain Sectors Special Forces

Short Book Blurb:

Traveling unexpectedly aboard the luxury liner Nebula Dream on its maiden voyage across the galaxy, Sectors Special Forces Captain Nick Jameson is ready for ten relaxing days, and hoping to forget his last disastrous mission behind enemy lines. He figures he’ll gamble at the casino, take in the shows, maybe even have a shipboard fling with Mara Lyrae, the beautiful but reserved businesswoman he meets.

All his plans vaporize when the ship suffers a wreck of Titanic proportions. Captain and crew abandon ship, leaving the 8000 passengers stranded without enough lifeboats and drifting unarmed in enemy territory. Aided by Mara, Nick must find a way off the doomed ship for himself and several other innocent people before deadly enemy forces reach them or the ship’s malfunctioning engines finish ticking down to self destruction.

But can Nick conquer the demons from his past that tell him he’ll fail these innocent people just as he failed to save his Special Forces team? Will he outpace his own doubts to win this vital race against time?

What was your life like growing up, Nick?

I don’t discuss my childhood much to tell you the truth. My Dad was in the military so we moved around a lot, from planet to planet. The enemy destroyed the colony where we were living when I was about eight and my family was killed. I was one of the few survivors of the massacre so I ended up at the Sectors military orphanage for a few years before entering the Star Guard Academy. Qualified for Special Forces teams after that. The rest is history.

Before the action in the book, what were your plans for the future?

I was coming off a really bad mission behind enemy lines. My whole Special Forces team – other than me - was killed in action. It’s classified so I can’t give you any more detail than that but there was a lot of controversy about what happened. (Nick shrugs.) Two sides to every story. I was on my way to Sector Hub to testify in an inquiry, tell my side, but I figured my career in the Teams was pretty much over.

What changed that?

When the Nebula Dream crashed into the asteroids, I was the only non civilian on board, besides the crew. (Makes a dismissive gesture.) Most of them either got off the ship early or were strictly out for themselves, looting and such. I stepped in to do what I could to help, get lifeboats loaded. I also had a private priority, make sure Mara got safely off the ship.

That would be Mara Lyrae? (Nick nods and appears to blush a little.) I’d met her a couple of times on board ship, before the disaster. She’s really something special – smart, beautiful, a tough businesswoman. The lady is no nonsense. (He grins.) And she’s got gorgeous legs. Well, after the crash, turned out there were some children trapped in a cabin close to hers, so we went to see about getting them out and then events spiraled from there. I think Veronica Scott described it pretty well in the book.

What one thing would you take to a desert island?

Mara! Other than my lady, I’d take my combat knife. Pretty much all I’d need to take care of her, keep us safe, fed and sheltered.

Not your Mark 27 service blaster? (Nick grins.) Blaster would be nice but it runs out of charges eventually and then it’s only good as a blunt instrument. Now the knife, I can use to create a whole lot of other surprises for anyone or anything that might be hunting us on an island. I’m a pretty handy guy.

Where would you go on vacation?

The planet Tahumaroa Two has the most beautiful white sand beaches, gorgeous clear water, great for diving and fishing. I’d like to show the place to Mara, take her snorkeling. She’s really good at maneuvering in anti grav, so I’m sure she’d take to swimming right away.

What’s your favorite color? Favorite food?

Definitely blue. Mara wears a lot of blue to match her eyes. We both like sea food.

What’s are your future plans?

I never really thought about it before the Nebula Dream episode, but now I want to have a family, at least four kids, with Mara. We’re still discussing what next, as far as her career and mine, how to make it all work. We might even start our own business. Between us we have a lot of contacts. But one thing I can tell you with no question, she and I will always be together.

Quick Fire:

Cats or Dogs? I like both but we sometimes work with military dogs outside the fence, on missions, so I have a lot of respect for what a good dog can do!

Favorite Flower: Don’t have one myself, whatever makes Mara happiest. Knowing her, it would be something blue, with an exotic perfume.

Tea or coffee: Coffee, strong and hot

Boxers or Briefs: Briefs

Sweet or spicy: Spicy, the hotter the better.

WRECK OF THE NEB ULA DREAM is available from Amazon for the kindle and Barnes & Noble for the Nook now at a Special 99 cent price.

You can find Veronica Scott on her blog at http://veronicascott.wordpress.com/ or on twitter @vscotttheauthor