I’m finally going over what I wrote of the next Firmament book, Eleftheria, and wanted to share an excerpt with you!

It takes place in the first chapter of the book, after Olive (the nurse, and wife to the Surveyor‘s first engineer) has teased Andi about a boy that she thinks Andi might like. Andi is not amused, and the following conversation ensues…

~~~~~

I sighed, letting my chest deflate. “It’s just… you weren’t around when the Captain was on his matchmaking streak. He’s mostly given it up now, but the minute I turned sixteen he started trying to set me up with every single young man that joined the crew. It was just—annoying. I don’t want him to find me someone. I don’t want anyone to find me someone.”

“But you want to find someone yourself, yes?” She linked her arm through mine and started leading me out of the room and down the hall.

“Yes, someday. But I haven’t ever… really felt that way. There are guys I like, but just as friends. I don’t want to worry about it until I feel… you know, that way.”

She laughed, the sound echoing slightly off the white, metal walls. “Fair enough.”

A moment of silence, then I asked her, “How did McMillan catch your attention?”

A slight flush peeked from behind her olive skin. She’d been married less than a year, so she was still essentially a new bride. “Well, you’ll think it’s silly.”

“Try me.”

She laughed as we walked through the doors of the mess hall. “Fine.” She pulled me towards a table near the doorway and all but pushed me into a seat. “It really is silly, though.”

I rested my elbows on the table and rested my chin in my hands, keeping my gaze on her.

“You don’t care for classic television, do you?”

“Or any television,” I confirmed. I would rather read or tinker than watch images on a screen or projected into the air any day.

“Right, well, I like it. I like the stories, and just—being able to see into a different life. I don’t know how to explain it, but anyway. So, there’s a show from ages ago, where there are people on a ship—kindof like this, but bigger. Exploring the stars. It’s what made me want to come to space, honestly.” She smiled, a full smile that spread all the way to her eyes. “Anyway, in this show, there was a Scottish engineer. He was always my favorite of all the characters. So when I met Mac at an ISA convention, and heard his name and where he worked, well…”

I laughed incredulously. “But Mr. McMillan isn’t Scottish.”

She waved a hand dismissively. “Trifles. Besides, I didn’t say it was rational.” She winked.

“I hope you found something else to like about him after that.”

“Maybe a few things.” She laughed again. “But that’s not what you asked. You asked how he caught my attention. That’s how it starts. The rest comes later.”

~~~~~~

I am so looking forward to working on this book and sharing more of it with you! Do you think Andi will find love at some point in the series? We’ll have to wait and see…