Slaves of an Alien Game by Nina Schluntz

Posted: February 8, 2023/By: achristay@aol.com

Please welcome Nina Schluntz author of Slaves of an Alien Game

Slaves of an Alien Game

by Nina Schluntz

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GENRE: Science Fiction Romance

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INTERVIEW:

What group did you hang out with in high school?

I was with the outliers. We didn’t fit in with any one group. We were that oddball assemblage that could have joined any other clique we wanted, but instead we opted to just remain weird and do our own thing. I think a lot of creative people would say they fell into this group, we writers and artists aren’t good at conforming.

What are you passionate about these days?

Hydrangeas. Yup, the flowering bush. I moved around a lot of my adult life and when I realized I was going to stay put for a while I decided to start growing plants. I got a hydrangea. I always thought they were pretty. Two years later, I have over forty of them and spend more time than I want to admit watering them.

If you had to do your journey to getting published all over again, what would you do differently?

I would have stayed away from vanity publishers. Back before Createspace and KDP, those vanity publishers were the best way to get your book published if Traditional Publishers wouldn’t take you. I wish I’d been more patient, and worked on writing drafts and going to college to hone my skills, rather than rushing and wanting to see my books in print. I think a lot of people can relate to that. We writers always look back at our drafts and books from ten or twenty years ago and flinch at how poorly written they are. I try to tell myself that it’s a good thing my writing is better now than it was twenty years ago, but I still regret those first few years of publishing with a vanity press. I used AuthorHouse, for anyone curious.

Ebook or print? And why?

I believe in making my book available in as many formats as possible. Every single one of my books is available in print and ebook, except those old books that I unpublished. You can get an abridged version of them, but that’s it. A few of my books are also available in Hardback and in 2023 I’ll be releasing Audio Books.

What is your favorite scene in this book?

Out of the entire series, my favorite scene is when Caden attends the banquet for the first time and meets Game Warden Vicr. It was supposed to be a party where Caden is antagonized to make drama on the reality show, but when when I saw Vicr and Caden interacting and I realized they had chemistry and I knew I had to take their relationship farther.

Series BLURB:

Game Wardens rule most of the galaxy by a fierce empire built on enslavement and brokered deals. The only means to earn one’s freedom is by playing in the Alien Games. Two slaves go in the arena, the survivor, if there is one, is given their freedom and crowned a king, earning them a small country to rule and slaves of their own.

To make the battle more fun for spectators, genetically enhanced monsters, sahalias, are given to the combatants, but they must found in a scavenger hunt. Five orbs, each hatching into a lizard that will bond with their keeper, are hidden on a random planet. If the competitor finds all five, they have a great imbalance of power over the other, who will have none. The sahalias are created with one purpose, to battle to the death and destroy the other competitor.

EXCERPT:

Excerpt One – Book 1:

I reached what looked like the bar and surveyed the drinks. I needed alcohol.

“You do not disappoint.” The voice was male and silky. I pried my eyes from the beverages I couldn’t identify and aimed my angry glare at the speaker.

He was tall and lanky, sporting a sharp graying goatee and a braided ponytail that trailed down past his waist. Both matched his gray suit and sparkling blue eyes. He was handsome but in an unnatural way, as though it was a quality designed to lure in prey. Instinctively, I knew who this man was.

“You’re one of the Game Wardens,” I said. He smiled like a tiger soothing a mouse.

“And you are the man making me rich. The fans love you. And that rant back there…” His eyes fluttered, and he groaned softly as if what I’d just done turned him on, or maybe the thought of how his TV ratings would spike was the reason. “You can’t buy that kind of drama.”

“You’re welcome,” I said because what the hell else was I supposed to say?

“I can’t decide if I want you to die or win in the battle.” He stepped closer, and I felt fear for no reason other than an instinctive fear you get when you know you are around something more powerful than you. He had this hungry look in his eyes, and I couldn’t help the words that came out.

“Is that because you can’t decide if you want to eat me or fuck me?”

His eyes widened. Perhaps no one had ever spoken to him like that before.

“You think I eat the people who die in the arena?”

“Why not? You’re already a sicko for making money off watching people battle to the death.”

“And you also think I have sex with the victors? Or are you implying it’s what you want, should you survive?” His eyes went down my body, appraising me.

“What? Don’t be weird,” I said. I pointed to the bottles on the counter. “Are any of these similar to alcohol on Earth? I want to get drunk.”

“You are the one who suggested it. And now you want me to get you drunk?”

“It’s the least you could do since I’m getting you such great ratings.”

“Oh, I do like you.”

“How flattering,” I said. “Buy me a drink then?”

Raghib finally appeared next to me. Where the fuck had he gone? Had he been apologizing to the pervert? I glanced at him to say as much, but mister slick put a finger on my cheek and turned my head back to him.

“If I am buying you a drink, you should keep your attention on me,” he said.

“Really? You think the viewers want to watch you schmooze me?”

His jaw fell open, and he gaped speechlessly at me. I wasn’t entirely sure what kind of fire I was playing with, but I didn’t want this guy to request me to personally entertain him or some shit either. And that look on his face was really starting to come across as sexual predatory-ish.

“Never mind,” I said. “I’ll just take some glamour. Nice talking.” I pushed on Raghib’s arm and moved away from creeper number three of the night.

“I leave you for two minutes, and I find you with a Game Warden?” Raghib hissed in my ear.

“He was thanking me for all the great ratings we are getting for his show,” I said. “What happened to you anyway? We’re tethered. How did you lose me?”

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Nina Schluntz is a native to rural Nebraska. In her youth, she often wrote short stories to entertain her friends. Those ideas evolved into the novels she creates today.

Her husband continues to ensure her stories maintain a touch of realism as she delves into the science fiction and fantasy realm. Their three cats are always willing to stay up late to provide inspiration, whether it is a howl from the stray born in the backyard or an encouraging bite from the so called “calming kitten.”

About

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Series link:

Book 1

Book 2

Book 3

Kindle Vella (serialized version of the series, available in USA only)

Book Video Links

Book 1: https://youtu.be/uN3P7D3oY4c