S.C. Mitchell's Blog

I’ve got a new free story for you

Arrows and Laser Beams is set in my Hearts in Orbit universe and mixes action, romance, and a little chaos.

Arrows and Laser Beams

When Galactic Liaison Genta Signis signed on to escort a backteched prince and a telepathic alien judge across wild space, she expected diplomatic challenges—not pirates, betrayal, and a cargo pod hurtling into the void.

Now stranded with Prince Ryan Loxly—the royal who refused a crown in favor of democracy—and the empathic Blarmling, Flant, Genta must navigate more than just survival. With pirates closing in and no habitable planet in sight, her training as a galactic archaeologist and ambassador may not be enough. She’s packed a couple of blasters for protection. But a blaster isn’t very useful to a man who only knows how to use a bow and arrow.

A thrilling blend of sci-fi adventure, political intrigue, and slow-burn romance.

If you’ve read The Blarmling Dilemma, then you might remember Prince Loxly from there. This is a continuation of his adventures.

This story is part of the Big Book of Romance, which is also available free almost everywhere in ebook format, but Amazon is giving us some trouble with price matching the Kindle, and I wanted my newsletter subscribers to have access to this story to read in their favorite ebook format.

My plan is to share something new with my subscribers every couple of months, and then rotate some of the older exclusives to the Free Reads page on my website.

If you’re not a subscriber, there’s never been a better time to sign up. I don’t spam, and will never sell your information. I only email when I have news and great deals.

And if you’re hungry for even more sci‑fi, paranormal, and romantic adventure while you wait for the next exclusive… I’ve got something fun for you.

Shifters, witches, alien lovers, dark magic, and pulse‑pounding adventure — all for 99¢ or less. Click the button below…you won’t regret it:

Until next time…

​Find your adventure,

Steve

When I first published the Blarmling Dilemma, I selected the series title: Hearts in Orbit. I felt it had a good romance feel, and I still do. And when I published Destiny: Cloud Fist, it was planned to be a one shot.

Then, when I got the rights back to Between Venus and Mars, I wanted to expand the novella into a full novel and I also needed a mechanism to replace the Soul Mate Tree, which no longer worked without the rest of that series from my old publisher. Thus. I wrote Destiny: Morning Star, inventing a machine to replace the tree and linking the two series. (Yes, if you didn’t know, Destiny: Morning Star completely explains the machine that transports Kyle to Zana in Between Venus and Mars.)

Anyway, with the two series suddenly linked, I decided to change Hearts in Orbit to Destiny’s Legacy, and setting the series one hundred years after the events in the Destiny series. Still, Destiny’s Legacy lost that romance feel, and it didn’t seem to help sell the Destiny series anyway, so I’m going back.

Yes, the two series are still linked, but it’s not just as obvious.

So Hearts in Orbit is back. They’re the same books inside – no need to buy anything new – just a change in covers and cataloguing.

And If you haven’t picked up the Hearts in Orbit books books yet, today’s a great time to start. Book 1: The Blarmling Dilemma is free (in ebook format) and available wide in all the popular ebook formats at all the popular ebook stores.

And a great place to pick it up is from the Epic Cosmic Romantasy Book Bazaar going on right now:

You’ll find a great selection of epic sci-fi and fantasy romance books on sale right now, so check them out.

Take me to those bargains!

And if you’re interested in the Destiny Series:

You’ll find them here.

In other news, I’m currently working on book 5 of Hearts in Orbit entitled The Zeta Crystal. It’s going great and I hope to have it out this summer if I don’t get distracted by some shiny, new book idea.

Until next time…

Find your adventure,

Steve

…this is mine:

I’m a romance writer. My first published books were romances. And of the 24 books I currently have available, only four wouldn’t be considered romances.

My Destiny series, while romantic at times, is really pure science fiction/space opera—written to give a foundation to my Destiny’s Legacy romance series. I wrote those books mostly for myself, to build a fully fleshed‑out background for the Destiny universe. They’re fun, but ultimately optional reading. You don’t need them to enjoy Destiny’s Legacy.

But I digress…

It’s my last two non‑romance books I want to talk about today: The Heroes of Harth.

My passion project.

I didn’t start out to write romance. Forty‑six years ago, I was inspired by playing Dungeons & Dragons and reading J.R.R. Tolkien, Robert E. Howard, and other fantasy writers of that era. Through D&D, I’d already developed a large fantasy world of my own. So I decided to write a book about it…on a typewriter. (No computers back then.)

It took me over ten years—and it was horribly written. I didn’t know that at the time, of course. I loved the story, even if the words were clumsy. And hey, isn’t that what editors are for? So I started sending it out to publishers, where it languished on their slush piles until it was inevitably rejected. I’m quite proud to say I’ve been rejected by some of the best publishers in the world from that era.

I still have that original manuscript, and I still love the story, but I’ve never found the time to fix it. Maybe someday. Still, that story became the basis of my Heroes of Harth series. Amulet of the Fallen God takes place in the same world, but 500 years after the events of that original tale. It gave me history to draw on—characters, events, legends. Again, it was a story I had to tell. A story I wrote for me.

If you’ve read it…thank you.

If you haven’t, I’ve put it on sale. Just $2.99 for an epic fantasy of over 100,000 words in ebook format. It’s also available in paperback and hardcover editions.

And a great place to pick it up is at the Dragons, Mages, and Warriors Fantasy Reads event happening right now.

Yes, I’ve partnered with some outstanding fantasy writers to bring you great bargains on epic fantasy adventures. You’ll find Amulet of the Fallen God—along with lots of fantastic reads at outstanding prices—right here:

I’ve had a number of my readers asking for more about Blarmlings.

Welcome to Blarm, the homeworld of the Blarmlings in my Destiny’s Legacy Sci-Fi Romance series. Here’s a few things you may or may not know about these adorable aliens.

My earliest inspiration for Blarmlings was, of course, the Ewoks from Star Wars, at least as far as what they looked like. But that evolved over time. Still, Blarmlings live on a planet of lush forests, and are content with a peaceful existence as long as outside forces leave them alone.

If you haven’t read The Blarmling Dilemma, Blarmlings are silver-furred, purple-eyed bipeds resembling baby bears with hand-like paws and opposable thumbs. They’re peaceful, communal, and possess a strong sense of empathy and telepathy, allowing them to read the minds of others around them. This makes the creatures incredibly honest, as no one can hide a lie from them. The Galactic Federation has chosen Blarmlings to be judges on its most important judicial cases. No one can hide their crimes from a Blarmling judge.

This aspect also leads to some rather awkward interactions throughout the Destiny’s Legacy Series.

Blarmling society is highly communal, with child-rearing and nurturing being a village-wide responsibility. The concept of “first nurture” is important, where newborns are given to respected members of the community for their first feeding and care.

The Blarmlings’ reproductive process is unique: the female carries the young for part of the gestation, then transfers them to the male, who gives birth.

Infant Blarmlings require being fed from leaves of the Verril tree, a flora unique to Blarm that has yet to be cultivated on other planets.

But Blarmlings can be fierce when attacked. Through scanning human minds, they’ve picked up useful knowledge of science, technology, and weapon usage, which spreads through Blarm’s powerful “hive mind” whenever a wandering Blarmling returns home. They can fight tenaciously, use blasters, and they know what their assailant is thinking, which gives them a decided edge in combat.

Of course, you can find out more about Blarmlings by reading my Destiny’s Legacy series, and a great place to start is book 1: The Blarmling Dilemma. The ebook is free to read and available in all ebook formats from all popular ebook stores and library systems.

A great place to pick it up right now is from the Galaxy of Science Fiction Romances sale event, where you’ll also find a great selection of Sci-Fi Romances at bargain prices:

Click here to visit the site.

And find your next adventure,

Steve

Arrows and Laser Beams

When Galactic Liaison Genta Signis signed on to escort a backteched prince and a telepathic alien judge across wild space, she expected diplomatic challenges—not pirates, betrayal, and a cargo pod hurtling into the void.

Now stranded with Prince Ryan Loxly—the royal who refused a crown in favor of democracy—and the empathic Blarmling, Flant, Genta must navigate more than just survival. With pirates closing in and no habitable planet in sight, her training as a galactic archaeologist and ambassador may not be enough. She’s packed a couple of blasters for protection. But a blaster isn’t very useful to a man who only knows how to use a bow and arrow.

A thrilling blend of sci-fi adventure, political intrigue, and slow-burn romance, Arrows and Laser Beams is a bold new adventure.

***

Arrows and Laser Beams is my contribution to The Big Book of Romance that just came out featuring stories from 13 amazing romance authors writing across genres.

The ebook version is available wide, in all popular ebook formats from all the most popular ebook sellers. It’s also available in paperback. The ebook version is FREE! And the paperback is just $14.99.

Get your copy here: https://books2read.com/TheBigBookOfRomance

And after you read it, don’t forget to review it on your favorite site. (We really need some reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. (Please!)

And for those of you that have enjoyed my Destiny’s Legacy series, you’ll be happy to discover that Arrows and Laser Beams, concerns Prince Ryan Loxly from The Blarmling Dilemma. Oh, and yeah, there’s also a Blarmling involved.

So go pick up that Free ebook now!

Find your adventure,

Steve

I’m proud to announce that I’m part of an amazing, multi-author, romance anthology:

The Big Book Of Romance

Love across genres: A Romance Anthology

Thirteen established romance authors give us a tantalising glimpse into their book worlds with these compelling and enchanting short stories. A teaser – a quickie if you will – that will whet your appetite for more!

Contemporary Romance: explore the challenges of modern-day love with Kate Flora, Viola Russell, Meredith Kazer, and Joanne Guidoccio.

Small Town Romance: cosy up with cherished friends with Maggie Rose.

Suspense Romance: Thrills and love are a perilous combination, as told by J.E.Prim.

Paranormal Romance: delight to tales of love amidst things that go bump in the night with Raven Hudgins, Carole Ann Moleti, and Janina Grey.

Fantasy Romance: take a wild trip into the imagination of Claire Davon.

Time Travel Romance: travel back in time for some olde worlde action and adventure with Cindy Tomamichel.

Science Fiction Romance: leave today behind and explore what love looks like in the future with S.C. Mitchell and G.S. Kenney.

Ever read a story and wished the author wrote more? This anthology is for you.

***

And the ebook version is absolutely free to read in all popular ebook formats, and available at all the popular ebooks stores. Also available in paperback.

Get your copy here: https://books2read.com/TheBigBookOfRomance

This book is a great place to find your next adventure,

Steve

Welcome to a new, semi-regular series here on my blog where you can meet some of my book characters and get a little more information about their backgrounds.

Today I’m featuring:

Z-Bot

Real Name: Christopher Johnson

Height/weight: 5’11”/205 lbs (257 after conversion)

Hobbies: Computer Gaming, Comic Book Collecting.

Chris was orphaned at an early age and grew up in foster care. Introverted, he spent much of his formative years reading comics and science fiction novels, and playing computer games. He was working as a computer programmer at the time he was murdered and then became Z-Bot.

He is currently married to Dr. Heather Logan, the head scientist of the Xi Force team.

Chris is one of the main characters in the first book of my award-winning Xi Force series:

And just a reminder, Z-Bot is free to read in ebook format. (Also available in paperback and audio) and a great place to pick it up is at the Romantic Fantasy, Sci-fi, and Paranormal book promotion going on right now.

This huge promotion has a bunch of great books at amazing prices, and it’s the best place right now to get your free ebook copy of Z-Bot plus other great book buys.

Get your great deals here: https://books.bookfunnel.com/romantic-sci-fi-fantasy-paranormal-nov-dec/hpab416zl4

Find your adventure,

Steve

Welcome to a (hopefully monthly) series where I delve deeper into Xi Force heroes and villains. Today I’m starting with my man, Z-Bot:

Real Name: Christopher Johnson

Height/weight: 5’11”/205 lbs (257 after conversion)

Hobbies: Computer Gaming, Comic Book Collecting.

Chris was orphaned at an early age and grew up in foster care. Introverted, he spent much of his formative years reading comics and science fiction novels, and playing computer games. He was working as a computer programmer at the time he was murdered and then became Z-Bot.

Z-Bot is currently married to Dr. Heather Logan. And while he tends to be identified as the leader of Xi Force, due to his flashy appearance, that’s mostly for the press, as we all know that Xi Force is led by Shade and FBI agent Aaron Braddock.

***

Of course you can get to know more about Chris in the first book of my Xi Force Series, Z-Bot. The ebook is currently distributed wide, and available at all popular ebook stores in all popular ebook formats…and it’s absolutely FREE everywhere.

And a great place to pick it up is at the Romantic Fantasy, Sci-fi, & Paranormal book sale going on right now.

To get your free copy and check out a great collection of other book deals head to: https://books.bookfunnel.com/romantic-sci-fi-fantasy-paranormal-nov-dec/hpab416zl4

Find your adventure,

Steve

I am happy to announce the release of Chill today.

It’s a gay superhero Christmas romance with action, adventure, and a lot of heart. If you believe that Love Is Love and in the Magic of Christmas, you will enjoy this story. (And if you don’t, you’re probably following the wrong author.)

The book is available wide, in all ebook formats, and at all popular ebook stores. Also available in a paperback edition from Amazon.

Get your copy today by clicking here.

***

Also available right now, to members of my newsletter group:

Precog.

A fun prequel story about what Aaron was doing just before the events of Z-Bot and how he first met Monica (Precog). If you’re a fan of My Xi Force series, you won’t want to miss this one.

Current members of my newsletter group will be receiving a special email today with their exclusive link to this story. I hope you all enjoy it.

If you’re not a member, click here to join.

I won’t spam you, and I’ll never sell you information. I only send out newsletters when I have news and special promotions.

On Tuesday, Nov. 4th, Chill, the Xi Force Christmas Special will be releasing.

Chill

By S. C. Mitchell

Snow may blanket the mountain, but inside Xi Force headquarters, chaos—and maybe love—is on the rise.

Luke Sheffield’s life is in pieces. Still recovering from an alien parasite and reeling from a painful breakup, he doesn’t expect comfort to come from baby Emily Wylde—the teleporting daughter of two Xi Force heroes—who has suddenly adopted him as her favorite uncle.

Nurse Charlie Vang suspects Emily’s powers—and maybe his own secret—are behind her attachment. As snow falls over Xi Force headquarters, Emily’s unpredictable teleporting turns the holidays into chaos.

But in the middle of the mayhem, Luke and Charlie discover something unexpected: the spark of a Christmas romance strong enough to melt even the iciest fears.

A heartfelt holiday tale of super-powered mischief, second chances, and the magic of love.

***

No, your eyes are not deceiving you. Chill is a M/M romance story. But if you believe that Love is Love, and also believe that there’s magic in Christmas, then you will love this story.

Luke Sheffield demanded I write this book and I couldn’t say no to him. If you’re familiar with the Xi Force books, you might remember Luke as the Pike’s Ranger that was injured on the alien space craft in Triptych, and I consider this story very special. The book is a novella, and not in the regular series line. You should consider it Book 5.5 for reading order, after El Brujo.

Anyway, it will be available wide, in all ebook formats and in all the popular ebook stores. A paperback edition will also be available on release day.

You can preorder your ebook copy now at: https://books2read.com/u/3nz1a8

Find your adventure,

Steve