Destiny Trilogy – Eileen Troemel

I’ve had a couple of lovely email exchanges with Hywela. It was wonderful to connect with her and learn more about her.

Author Bio:

Originally from rural Wales, Hywela Lyn moved to England when she married. Her first novel, a Science Fiction romantic adventure, ‘Starquest’ published by ‘The Wild Rose Press’, was followed by two more novels ‘Children of the Mist and ‘Beloved Enemy’ to complete what has now become the Destiny Trilogy, each book being complete in itself. In 2017 Beloved Enemy won the Mid-Michigan Romance Writers of America ‘Best Banter’ Contest in the SF/Fantasy category, was nominated for the Romantic Novelists Association Awards (RoNA) in the Paranormal category, and was also Runner Up in the RONE Awards.

Her fantasy novella, incorporating Greek Myths and Welsh and Arthurian legends, entitled ‘Dancing With Fate’ was originally published by TWRP as part of a commissioned anthology but is now available as a ‘stand-alone’ novella. The first two books in the Destiny Trilogy are available in audio format and Beloved Enemy will be available in audio soon.

When not writing or reading and eating chocolate, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her horse and dog.

Tell us about yourself

I’ve always been a hopeless romantic and made up love stories in my head from an early age. I became enthralled by TV westerns and wrote several short stories about the Old West, before realizing there was no market for them in the UK. Then I discovered Science Fiction and decided there was a great similarity between science fiction and Westerns – a hero and heroine fighting the odds in a hostile environment and facing unknown dangers – but with starships instead of horses. I never thought of myself as a romance writer, until I realized that everything I wrote turned into a love story, and the penny dropped! I love action and adventure, and do tend to put my characters through the mill until the end, but my intention is always for them to end up in each other’s arms and get their ‘happy ever after.’

I’m also an ardent animal lover and usually manage to work an animal of some kind into every story I write. I have a much loved rescued terrier and Quarterhorse x Welsh mare. I’m also interested in wildlife and the environment.

My pen-name is composed of my first two Christian names, which are Welsh. I’ve always been known by my second name, Lyn, so when I started writing I thought it would be a nice idea to use my first name combined with my second one, as it seemed a shame that Hywela was never used.

I’m a member of the Romantic Novelists Association, and our local writers group ‘Chiltern Writers’.

When did you know you wanted to be an author?

I think I knew I wanted to write from the time I realized what a joy reading was. I used to write short stories when we were set writing assignments in school. I won a couple of newspaper short stories and wrote a pretty bad Western historical romance, but although I had short stories published over the years I didn’t try seriously to have a novel published, until I wrote Starquest.

What genres do you like to read? Are these the same genres you write in?

Although my favourite genre is the one I write – Fantasy and Science Fiction romance, I have a fairly broad taste in books, and enjoy anything that is well written and exciting, from historical westerns to romantic suspense.

Is your book for adults, young adults or children?

I think they’re suitable for both young adults and adults of all ages, actually.

What is your current release or project?

I’m currently working on a romantic ghost story set on a pony stud in Wales, but it’s still fairly rough, so if I may I’d like to tell you a bit more about the characters in my latest release, Beloved Enemy.

Although this is the third story in the Destiny Trilogy, Beloved Enemy can be read as a ‘stand alone’, although hopefully it will answer some questions readers may have after reading Starquest. The main male character is Kerry Marchant, who played an important part in the first book, and some of the supporting characters are the crew of the Destiny who also featured in that book. The female lead is Cat Kincaid, a woman with a mission – to kill him. The main theme of the story is that wounded souls have a way of finding each other, and when forced to work together toward a common goal there may be more at stake than just their survival.

Tell us about the key characters

KERRY MARCHANT

Dark haired, blue eyed and good looking, Kerry Marchant is a man haunted by his past. Taciturn and quiet, he is quick witted, with a dry sense of humour that can sometimes be misinterpreted as sarcasm. Raised as an orphan by a cruel and overbearing aunt, he was later sent away to be educated at a Government learning centre where he met and formed a lasting friendship with Jon Quinlan. Possessed of a brilliant mind, he soon displayed an aptitude for computer programming and AI. In his mid-twenties, he designed the Destiny, the beautiful and powerful exploratory starship which he part owns with Jon, who financed the construction of the ship and who is also her commander.

Something of a loner, Kerry’s only really close friend is Jon, although he has respect and a certain amount of affection for the rest of the crew. He is single-minded in his determination to ensure the Destiny’s safety after foiling a plot to hijack her by an alien race, the Graaks. He has an inherent mistrust of women, while mourning the loss of the only woman he ever allowed himself to love. Although he does not show it, his emotions run deep and he cares more for his friends on board the Destiny than he will admit.

CAT KINCAID

Tall, curvaceous and attractive, with auburn hair and grey eyes, Cat is also independent and single minded. She has learnt to trust no one and to rely on her wits to survive. Raised on Earth with her only sister, her comfortable life was turned upside down when her father deserted them. She can handle a starship or a laser-gun and is well able to look after herself whether in hand to hand combat or with a weapon.

After several years in space, she has things in her past, secrets, which it would be dangerous to reveal, and one in particular which she has made a promise to keep safe, and to protect with her life, rather than allow it to fall into the wrong hands.

Past experience has led her to mistrust men and to be determined never to let another one betray her trust. However, there is one man whom she has sworn to track down and confront before killing him – the man she believes to be responsible for her sister’s death. When she finally meets him, however, she is confused by conflicting emotions which have nothing to do with revenge.

What is your blurb or synopsis of the book?

Cat Kincaid is obsessed with killing the man she believes is responsible for the torture and death of her sister, but when she eventually catches up with him, survival becomes a greater priority than revenge.

Kerry Marchant, haunted by memories, regret, and self-blame, shields himself from the pain of the past by committing himself totally to the starship, Destiny, of which he is part owner. However, the beautiful, red-haired woman who reminds him of his lost love, and who he suspects is working for a corrupt regime, represents a possible threat not only to the ship, but to his heart.

Marooned on an inhospitable planet, they need to work together to stay alive, fighting not only unknown assailants, but their growing attraction. But how can they learn to trust each other when he has vowed never to get close to a woman again, and she made a solemn pledge to destroy him?

Share an excerpt

He made as if to stand, and in an instant, she drew her pistol.

“Like I said before, no sudden moves. Get up—slowly.”

“So you are making me a prisoner?”

“Not exactly, but I’m not stupid enough to take any risks.”

He rose to his feet, his gaze not leaving her gunhand. Several inches taller than her, broad shouldered and slim, he presented a commanding figure. His expression froze as his gaze homed in on the insignia on her breast pocket, his eyes like chips of blue ice.

“You work for the Union.”

“I work for myself.”

“Then why are you wearing the insignia of the Global Union of Earth and Allied Planets?”

“I have a license to requisition any enemy ship trespassing in the sectors of space over which they hold dominion.”

“A licensed pirate in the pay of the Global Union,” Kerry’s eyes showed outright contempt. She almost preferred the icy coolness.

“I prefer to think of myself as a freelancer—doing a service.”

His expression did not change, although he did change tack. “You could have left me to die—or just shot me. Why didn’t you?”

“Call it a personality flaw. I don’t like abandoning someone who’s wounded even to save my own skin. And I don’t kill in cold blood. If I have to shoot someone, I’d rather they were facing me with their eyes open.” Even if I did swear to leave their dead body for the Union to use in their hideous experiments. Keep it casual. Don’t let him guess what’s really in your mind.

To her amazement, he smiled the most devastating smile she’d ever seen, made even more remarkable because he didn’t look as if he did it very often.

“My own philosophy as it happens. It seems almost a pity we are on opposite sides.”

“Opposite sides?”

“I have no love for the Union. That puts us on opposite sides, even if you are just a pirate, doing their dirty work for them.”

She gave him her best withering look. “Fine. And just because I decided to save your hide, don’t get any ideas. We don’t have to like each other.”

Do you have a favorite scene?

Well, apart from the climax, which obviously I can’t reveal *grin* but which I really enjoyed writing, I do rather like the part where Cat has saved him from a monstrous alien river creature, but it wraps a tentacle around her leg and pulls her towards the river. For a moment, she thinks she’s been attacked by a snake – the only thing she’s afraid of. When they final kill the creature, the smouldering attraction they’ve both been trying to ignore, rises to the surface – but will they be able to put aside their mutual suspicion long enough to act on it? Here’s a snippet.

“It seems I was mistaken about the creature being dead.” Kerry prodded the smouldering mass with his boot and looked across over the water. “It is now.” He leaned down and grasped her wrist to haul her to her feet. “Are you hurt?”

“No, I don’t think so.” Her shoulder was sore and probably bruised but she’d live.

She tried to control her shivering. The incident affected her more than she wanted to admit. Kerry’s proximity—naked to the waist, his lithe body shining from the water droplets that still clung to his skin, and his legs swathed in tight black leather—did nothing to help. The last thing she wanted was for him to realize how scared she’d been when she thought a snake attacked her.

“Thanks. That was close. It would have been a bit ironic if I’d been killed by the same creature I saved you from.”

She realized he still grasped her wrist. She tried to move away, but he pulled her back, obliging her to turn to him.

“You’re trembling.”

“I’m fine.”

“No,” he said. “You’re not.” He pulled her closer and his eyes softened, his gaze holding her mesmerized.

She opened her mouth to try to speak, but in the same instant, he put his hand under her chin and his lips closed over hers.

What advice would you give a beginner?

Keep writing! Never give up and write what you enjoy writing about – and find a few beta readers or crit partners whom you can trust to give you an honest opinion of your final draft, after you’ve revised and rewritten it enough to make it the best you can get it. Then be prepared to revise some more – but only if you agree with what they’re telling you – you don’t have to accept everything but often they will spot something you’re too close to yourself, to be able to see.

PURCHASE LINKS

Beloved Enemy Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Beloved-Enemy-Destiny-Trilogy-Book-ebook/dp/B01BBCBYCS

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01BBCBYCS

Publisher Purchase Link:

http://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/all-titles/3770-beloved-enemy.html

Paperback: http://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/paperback-books/1231-beloved-enemy-paperback.html

Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/beloved-enemy-21

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/reviews/beloved-enemy-hywela-lyn/1123368339

Author Page: http://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/138_hywela-lyn

Universal link: books2read.com/u/3nY8Ex

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

Website: http://www.hywelalyn.co.uk