Apple AI Audiobook Narrators by L.A. Kelley

Audiobooks are nerve-wracking to produce by yourself. Sure, you can offer a shared royalty route with the narrator and hope to find a good one. But a narrator search can be difficult, frustrating, and time-consuming. Not to mention, the entire production process is  daunting and expensive. Where to begin?

According to Apple, not with a human. Apple started production of digital audiobooks using artificial intelligence, specifically two AI narrators named Madison, a female soprano, and Jackson, a baritone. The platform uses advanced speech synthesis technology combined with input from linguists, quality control specialists, and audio engineers. Currently Madison and Jackson are used for fiction and romance only. In the near future, Apple will have two additional digital voices, Helena and Mitchell, for nonfiction and self-development audiobooks.

 If you’d like to hear a sample of Madison click here.

 According to Apple, these are the benefits:

·        The audiobooks will be easy to produce and delivered via preferred partners. The original ebook must be created in either Draft2Digital or Ingram CoreSource.

·        Audiobooks have wholesale price limits. (The website isn’t clear on what they’ll be.)

·        Distribution will be solely via Apple Books and to public/academic libraries.

·        Publisher/author retains audiobook rights, and there are no restrictions on producing and distributing other versions of the audiobook.

How do you make an Apple audiobook?

The ebook must be created with either Draft2Digital or Ingram CoreSouce. Then the author selects the title. Apple has a review process and acceptance isn’t guaranteed. The general requirements are as follows:

·        Ebook must be available on Apple Books.

·        Author must own the audio production rights.

·        Primary category must be romance or fiction. The only subcategories currently accepted are literary, historical, or women’s fiction.

·        Book must be in English.

How good are AI narrators?

Frankly, Madison is fine. A lousy narrator can ruin a good audiobook and I stop listening when any set my teeth on edge. Madison has a pleasant voice with good tone, if a trifle unemotional. If you listen to her, you understand why Apple limits the AI to audiobooks without an exciting chase scene or hilarious denouement. An AI can’t make handle extreme ranges of emotion. Other things AIs can’t do:

·        A multitude of characters in the same book. Their voice is typical of a national newscaster; nothing to determine a regional accents. Nor can an AI handle a stutter, quirky word pronunciations, foreign words and phrases, or fictional words. (Sorry, Samuel Clemens, J. R. R. Tolkien, or me. Our work doesn't qualify.)

·        Difference in ages. All the characters sound roughly the same age.

·        Difference in genders. Male and female characters speak with a similar tone.

 So what’s the big problem with AI?

Even if an AI sounds okay, I have issues. A top-drawer narrator makes an audiobook memorable, and AI has a long way to go to reach that level. Audiobooks are also an art, and frankly, I’m not crazy about the idea of a soulless digital character taking a job from a human who spent years honing a craft. Not to mention, a human narrator adds emotional nuance to every page, something an AI can’t do. AI narrators are still few and far between and until I have no choice, I’ll opt for a human every time.

L. A. Kelley writes sci-fy adventures with humor, romance and a touch of sass. Her intelligence isn't artificial.

 

 

 

Been There – Done That! Keeping it New! by Nancy Gideon

A writer’s best friend is their backlist! Backlist (for those who might not know) is the collection of already been released titles associated with a particular author. Mine, of over 70 titles, could keep a new reader busy for a good long while. But a backlist isn’t doing its job if it’s not available for sale by publisher/author. That’s why it’s so important for new authors to get a good reversion of rights clause in their contracts. What’s a “good” clause? One that preserves and protects the author’s ability to continue to earn whether it’s through the publisher or if the author self-pubs the titles after the books’ initial run.

Man oh man, if I knew then what I know now! I was so thrilled with the idea of a multi-book contract, I wasn’t looking to those future returns decades down the line. I had no idea what I was doing when I sold my first books on my own. Even after I got an agent, I should have done the homework to make sure MY future earnings were protected. But that was before author associations, online go-to groups, and an endless Internet goldmine of info to search. Live and learn is a sometimes bitter lesson.

I just got the rights back to a ton of old titles. Some were complete reversions – mine to do with as I please. Woo Hoo! Others came with unexpected loopholes to protect the publishers interest . . . forever, or as they say, until the grosses go down and they’re willing to return them. This really hurts if you have a lengthy series you’d like to reissue . . . but can’t offer the first few books in it. I can’t blame my publisher for that Catch 22. I can only blame myself. So, I’m stuck with a 15-book series in which the first three books may never see the light of day again (except as hugely expensive e-books and scalped paperbacks). Fortunately, Book 4, BOUND BY MOONLIGHT, is a great place for the reader to jump in and not be totally lost. Here’s a taste . . .

Bound by Moonlight (By Moonlight - Book 4)

Amazon

Length: 370 Pages

Add to Goodreads TBR→

POLICE DETECTIVE CHARLOTTE CAISSIE AND HER SHAPE-SHIFTING PARAMOUR MAX SAVOIE THOUGHT THE PAST WAS BEHIND THEM. BUT IN NANCY GIDEON’S IRRESISTIBLE NEW ROMANCE, THEY DISCOVER IT MAY NEVER LET THEM GO. . . .

THEY SWORE THEY’D BE TOGETHER FOREVER.

Detective Charlotte Caissie is suddenly sharing drawer space and making local news with her shape-shifter lover, Max Savoie. He’s determined to be accepted by her peers—so how can she ask him to return to his criminal roots to help her solve a complex case?

BUT THOSE THEY TRUST THE MOST . . .

Working undercover with her partner to find the serial killer who’s kidnapped a colleague’s daughter, Cee Cee is caught between her job and her fiercely possessive lover. And when she calls on Max’s preternatural talents to aid his hated enemy, she crosses a line that strains their relationship to its limit.

. . . WILL DO ANYTHING TO TEAR THEM APART.

With his secret spreading, Max is forced to protect his family and his clan. The only certainty is his love for his human mate . . . unless the loyalties that define them divide them forever.

 The Excerpt 

Would you break your laws for me?

When she’d said yes, she’d given up any control she might have had over their relationship, and with CeeCee, it was all about control: Of her situations, of her choices, of her emotions.  All that changed the moment she’d let Max into her heart.  There was no black and white, right or wrong, and the loss of those rigid certainties upset the sturdy building blocks her life was built upon. 

He knew she loved him.  He knew she would surrender her honor, her very life to protect him. He had her living out of his house, out of his pocket, parading before the media at his side. Though her chain was lighter and woven in a more attractive pattern, she feared she was becoming the attack dog on his porch, just as he had been for Jimmy Legere . . . and that pearl collar was chafing. 

( . . . and a bit more . . .)

She rubbed at the scars on her shoulder. Proof that there was nothing natural about what was between them. She’d let something alien invade her body. That union was even now altering her, physically, mentally, making her into something not quite human. Because of his bite, because of his claim. She, who had never allowed a man within her personal space, was now bonded for life to something she didn’t understand.

He was swallowing her whole, consuming her heart, her thoughts, her physiology. She’d just wanted to be his lover, not the Bride of freaking Frankenstein.

And yet, here she was, bound heart and soul, and considering something both promising and terrifying—that huge step from sharing drawer space to sharing an eternity.  She was losing her identity to him, and she was scared to death.  All because she just couldn’t help herself.  She couldn’t not fall in love with him.

Thank goodness I kept all my book files so I have text to work from when reissuing (unlike my Dana Ransom westerns that were typewritten!). The fun part, is being able to include extra content when I make them available again, i.e. deleted/expanded scenes. And then the thrill of creating all new covers!! (even though I adored my originals!). Lots of work ahead but I hope to be able to provide “By Moonlight” reissues this summer.

I’m on a writers’ weekend (squeeeee!) with several of my critique partners so fingers crossed that new ideas abound!

♚♚♚♚♚

Nancy Gideon on the Web

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Follow @Gideon2Nancy

Computers Are Great Except When They Aren’t by Tena Stetler

As I was sitting in my writing cave wondering what to write about this month, my eight-year-old desktop computer started getting glitchy, and refused commands, then refused to update files.  Until that time, I was very fond of my old, slow computer.  Final straw.  A while back, I purchased a new computer. But I never got around to transferring data from old to new, due to COVID, then COVID recovery, then I came down with a respiratory virus, as if that wasn’t enough, my left hip total replacement could not be put off any longer (surgery was October 5, 2022).  I wrote and managed promos through all the health problems, but after that couldn’t keep enough brain cells gathered to transfer data from one to the other and make sure I got everything I needed on the new computer. <sigh> Insufficient memory.

Now, I have no choice. Although, after a good talking to and shut down, the older computer is being more cooperative (the one with the little multi-colord heart).  I’ve just finished transferring a large amount of graphics and files, to the new one (the one with the purple & blue lights) only to discover I’m missing several documents. So, I’ll have to transition back to my old computer, copy the files and transfer them. Provided the new computer accepts the transfer.  Already ran into that problem once. I deleted the One Drive program and everything seems fine now. Only time will tell. One person asked why I didn’t just clone my old computer and transfer data to my new one.  Old computer is too old, I’m told.  However, I am writing this article on my new computer, hopefully, everything will be fine.  Any errors you find, I’ll blame on the new computer’s learning curve.  LOL

Back in my comfort zone, a more exciting note, March 20^th, the first day of Spring, SECURITY FORCE OF TWO releases. I can’t wait! It’s a bit different than I usually write, more cozy mystery than romance though there is some romance, still paranormal of course!

I’ll give you a little taste of what SECURITY FORCE OF TWO is all about. 

Miacoh Zane, a Special Forces veteran, returns to Aspen Ridge, Colorado a small town nestled in the Rocky Mountains, to settle his beloved grandmother’s estate. But the town holds painful memories and family secrets he wants to leave behind for good.

 

Candle Bearclaw, a gifted computer analyst/programmer with talents she’s buried when recruited out of college by the CIA. After fifteen years, she abruptly resigns her position with the agency. She returns to her sleepy hometown only to discover her childhood crush has also returned and a violent crime has been committed.

 Due to their covert operations experience, Candle and Miacoh are thrown together to assist Homeland Security, the FBI, and her father, former chief of police, with a murder investigation. As they search for the perpetrators, will their secrets be revealed as the investigation takes an unusual twist that could blow the case wide open?

 I hope you’ll consider reserving a copy of Security Force of Two.   

Until next month, stay safe and enjoy life. Remember, computers may not be our friends. so don’t let 'em take over the world.  LOL

 

 Holey Moley! The 20^th of the month comes around very quickly. I’m coming to you from my winter lair in Northern Florida, specifically The Great Bend. Change of location often sparks my creative muse. Sometimes changing the way I do things also lights that spark.

Being an author is often a solitary path. I head to wherever I’m working for the day, shut out the world, and get to it. This past year has been a little different. My next book is a cooperative effort with six other writers. We started out as a Zoom support group. Other creatives who struggle with the same things. The publishing process is pretty complicated. We began chatting about books, marketing, social media, and all the frustrating things. Each person took a turn, either being a shoulder to cry on or crying on the other shoulders.

There’s a saying, “If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?” And boy, did I often fall down.

Writing with others in a co-op can be difficult, and it’s not for everyone. One of our group was quite hesitant about it. She’d been burned doing it before. But let me tell you, this was such a pleasure.

Even though we all, for the most part, write different genres and heat levels, we were able to come together. Sometimes it was so easy I began to doubt. You know. Wait for the shoe to fall. But nope. For instance, covers. (btw aren’t they gorgeous!). Our own Sydney Winward took all of our ideas and came up with them. Working with her, we tweaked mine, and I’m so happy with it that I could dance.

Here’s a list of questions we started with. We went through them one by one and discussed them. Open communication was and is key.

1.     What is the theme?

2.     What is the timeline?

3.     Who can participate?

4.     What is the goal? (just selling or bestseller tag or…)

5.     Issue of heat level

6.     Length of stories

7.     Anthology or separate books?

8.     If anthology, who is in charge?

1.     How does money work

2.     Timeline

3.     How publish?

9.     If separate stories

1.     Timeline

2.     How pub?

3.     How long? Word count

4.     How many stories from each?

5.     Heat level

10.  Marketing

11.  List of rules and formal commitment to the project

1.     Content

2.     Heat level

3.     word count

4.     Marketing each other

12.  Covers and cost

13.  Formatting

14.  Who is in charge?

 

I hope this helps anyone who is interested in writing this way. Go into it with your eyes open and be prepared to compromise.

 

Here’s a little about the series

 

 

Go on the adventure of The Mortar & Pestle series with international authors of different genres and vast backgrounds who came together and offer this exciting, often humorous series. From world travelers, teachers, bloggers, magazine editors, and award winners, there’s something for everyone in this series.

 

Link to series https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BS42PKHZ

And here's a link to free sample of series https://dl.bookfunnel.com/b1ytv2r7nq

CardinalDesires

 I couldn’t think of a topic this month. Thought about some examples of the reason I have no writing time, but that was too private. I can delve into my character’s private life but not my own. Then I feel guilty for complaining when other writers have so many more and vital reasons.

This week I began working on a vampire book, and I feel back in my element. When I started writing—in the last days of the nineteenth century—I wrote vampire stories. Monsters were just being admitted as heroes. My vampire stories collected rejection after rejection. I had SO much to learn. Today, I face an important decision, to me that is…whether or not to continue writing.  I have some 10  books published, but my sales have been disappointing and just life in general has become a challenge to writing. I seem to have no time. And then we have the dread promotion.

Last year, I signed a 4-book contract with Magnolia Blossom Publishing. There were two westerns, and I was to divide one of my longer vampire books (Cardinal Desires had been previously published) into two shorter books to complete the contract.  I must admit that the westerns weren’t exactly easy to write. Fun but not easy.  I have now begun working on this book, but again finding time to write is one of the reasons I think of quitting.

Cardinal Desires won the Maggie. It is my current WIP, polishing and dividing. Sigh.  Here is a short excerpt from the beginning of the book.

Two steps outside the mausoleum doors, he stood motionless, trembling at the beauty and the horror of what he saw.  In a place where only darkness should have reigned, light glared, stinging his sensitive eyes. A surreal gabble of voices and discordant music clawed at his ears. The squawk of a horn startled him, but he didn’t move. He was drowning in strange sensations and images. When his vision cleared, he was too weak and shaken to leave his sanctuary.  It was night. That was somehow important. Yet it wasn’t really dark.  Pink wisps of cloud drifted across the indigo sky. He knew where he was supposed to be, but this wilderness couldn't be the home he remembered.

Wild roses choked the once immaculate formal gardens.  The flagstone path was a crumpled ribbon flung in the chaos of grass and vines.  He was a sleepwalker, who’d awakened in the wrong time and place.  His heart wept, but his eyes only burned, unable to cry.

~~~

I’d be very interested in whether you think I should continue in this vein, or maybe trim this down or off completely.

Thanks! and have a happy Friday eve,

Linda

Dushevnayasvyaz, Fated Mates, & Other Life Sentences by Marilyn Barr

Valentine’s Day never fails to bring advertisements for diamonds, fancy candies, and over-priced flowers all in the name of love. Every year my soulmate gripes that he wishes romance were cheaper. Why not simply deliver the head of a nemesis or clamp onto a shoulder for a mating bite? Now every kiss begins with “cha-ching” and ends with “sign here, sir.” Even though we are forever Valentines, my spouse and I disappear into our books for the first half of February to avoid the commercial hubbub. Wouldn’t life be easier if we instantly knew our fated mates and didn’t have to jump through the financial hoops of wooing?

This is why I write “insta-lust” or the “fated mates” trope. Whether he falls first, or they experience love at first sight, I prefer to skip the wooing and go straight to facing adversity as a team. This is easier said than done—especially when writing a snow monster romance. I had to create dushevnayasvyaz…

What is a dushevnayasvyaz? The approximate translation from Russian is soul-bond-bond, so it is the magical mating bond between a Chuchunya (Siberian yeti) and their chosen mate (another monster or human.) They are born with a perfect match—no heart-shaped box of chocolates is required. The dushevnayasvyaz also provided a means to rectify some giant plot holes when writing about getting freaky in Siberia.

The first glaring problem I found was the cold. Taking off your clothes in negative eighty-degree Fahrenheit temperatures (-62 Celsius) is stupid at best, and fatal at worst. What if this dushevnayasvyaz changed the Chuchunya biology to heat the cave? He would be uncomfortably warm and would know his soulmate on a biological level. They would have all the fun and none of the frostbite.

The second problem is predators. From wolves to tigers, Siberia has an abundance of hungry animals hunting endangered herbivores. They would love a Chuchunya or a human meal and follow their scents for miles. More important to romance readers, how would a heated, furry individual smell after a few months of hibernation? Yikes! The dushevnayasvyaz causes the Chuchunya to emit pheromones in conjunction with his mate’s cycle to not only entice her but also to confuse predators. What’s the scent? Find out with Dr. Vera when she travels to Siberia and is Cuddling My Chuchunya (now available on kindle unlimited here.)

But why stop at monsters? Pirates, always interested in acquiring wealth, need fated mates without the expensive three-course chef-inspired meal, too. My next release, Quartermaster, is part of a multi-author series called “The Mortar & Pestle.” This magical stone bowl and grinding implement show the user their heart’s desire with sensory clues such as a whispered message of true love, a scent, or colored smoke. Grab your copy of the sneak peek book of the series here for my favorite Valentine’s Day price—free.

Since Chub is the Quartermaster of a 1725 pirate ship, the Mortar & Pestle grabs his attention with golden smoke pointing to his destined lady love. Who am I kidding? This is a Marilyn Barr book—of course, she’s no lady. She’s hiding a monstrous side. And he’s a man of action, so the Mortar & Pestle doesn’t deliver the message in the quiet confines of a kitchen. 

Chub is struck with inspiration—literally—in the middle of a bar fight. Here’s an exclusive look at Chub’s epiphany in Quartermaster.

I bend below the soldier’s cross-slash and twist to look for Cookie under the table, where I left her. Our hiding place is empty. She couldn’t have gotten past me, right? Folded in my crouch, I pivot on my toes to check Teeth’s path for the girl’s feet. Nothing. I pivot to the other side to check for her under Flash’s feet. When I can’t see her shoes, I stand to full height…

Only to get clocked over the head with a stone bowl.

I stumble until my hands plant on the table beside me. A buzzing fills my ears to drown out the battle sounds. I think I’ve split my tongue because the coppery taste of blood coats my mouth. Tingles race up and down my limbs like mice scurrying within a larder, and black spots wink in my vision as the room is lost in a haze of golden smoke.

An ethereal voice says, “true love.”

I swing around to backhand my assailant with the hilt of my sword, but my arm wobbles. A soft, slender hand grips my forearm. I alternate squinting and forcing my eyes wide to take in who has my limb. Cookie’s feminine features blur into clarity, only to be lost again to the haze in my head. I miss her sandy brown eyes. Her pupils have blown with hysteria, so they block out the color.

Did the disguised wench smash me dome with a bowl?

“Chub, are you okay? Can you see me?” Cookie yells with increasing pitch. “What have I done? Chub, we’ve got to go!”

Quartermaster is on preorder for 99c here until 3/14/2023 as part of the Mortar & Pestle books series. One-click the entire 7-book series from 900 AD to modern-day romances for $6.93 here and get lost in true love that never dies…unlike the fresh roses at 10X the price.

Excerpt From Alien Legacy: The Mage by Keri Kruspe

 

In the Ancient Alien Descendants series, the five main heroines were identical quintuplets separated at a very young age. In fact, in the first three stories, these ladies had no idea they were anything but human. It was a shock when they discovered they were alien/human hybrids, test-tube babies. An alien race called the Akurn's created them as a weapon against their enemies.

Unknown to the aliens, a resistance group known as the WOTA (Warriors of the Abandoned) kidnapped all five girls when they were toddlers and separated them to be raised apart on Earth, far out of reach of the Akurns.

In the final story of this series, I gave a glimpse of how that happened as seen by the female protagonist, Jazmi, the heroine in Alien Legacy: The Mage. Here is an excerpt (with minor editing) from that novel due to be release on Valentine's Day!

♥♥♥

Eighteen-month-old Test Subject One sucked her thumb and watched the strange grown-ups running around the room like dodo heads. She glanced at her sister, Test Subject Five, curled next to her, whimpering in her sleep. Popping her thumb out of her mouth, she placed a comforting hand on her sister’s forehead and sent her a wave of calm. Her sister’s thick dark hair was soft, but slick with sweat. Lines of tears creased her chubby cheeks as she sniffled before her face smoothed in sleep.

Test Subject One glanced at her other three sisters in the enclosed pen across from her. Test Subject Two was awake. Her dual-colored eyes of orange and brown were wide as she watched the group of scurrying adults.

Test Subject One tilted her head, trying to hear what the big ones whispered as they hobbled around her sisters’ cage. She squinted, trying to read their minds. But all she got was stupid static.

“Are you sure these are the ones Thoth made to attract Princess Inanna's sons?” This came from a really big man. His booming voice didn’t whisper very well.

She wrinkled her nose. His hair was weird. Instead of the bright white of the mean scientists, his hair was dark like her sisters’.

“Keep your voice down, Damuzi!” A woman's harsh response was low and made Test Subject One giggle. “Your whisper makes more noise than the rest of us put together.” The pretty lady grabbed the giant’s arm and shook it as she glanced around. “Of course, they are. You brought the blasium, didn't you?” She let go of his tight sleeve and held out her hand with the glare.

“Ah, Edinni, you know I did.” His full cheeks reddened above his close-cropped beard as he plopped a thin silver wand in her outstretched hand.

Test Subject One wanted to run her hands over the soft-looking hair around the strange man’s face. She clapped with a silent giggle. Maybe if he got close enough, she could grab the prickly-looking hair and squeeze.

“Oh, those poor babies!” A high-pitched squeal came from another white-haired lady. Her gown was so pretty. The sparkly dress was a rainbow of colors. Test Subject One stuck her tongue out at the ugly one-piece suit she wore. She hated the icky tan color. She wanted something nice and bright. When she got big, she'd wear nothing but pretty dresses every day.

“Amata, stand back!” Another man grabbed Amata's elbow and pulled her away. This one had white hair and pale skin like the pretty ladies, but there was something about his unfriendly face that made Test Subject One frown. “Let Damuzi open the cage. Then you can grab one.” The man's head tilted to the side. His icy-blue eyes glanced back and forth.

“Get out of the way, Amata! I get first pick.” Another white-haired lady pushed her way in front of Amata.

The pretty Amata in her cute dress frowned and backed away. “Eulli, you're going to scare these girls by rushing to them like that.”

“Look at that one!” Eulli, with wild eyes, turned to Test Subject One's cage and gripped the bars with a shake. She stared.

When the cage rattled, it woke Test Subject Five, making her cry.

Test Subject One sent a wave of calm to her sister and held her hand. It's okay. I won't let the bad people hurt you. Her sister's dark eyes filled with tears as her lower lip quivered. But she stayed quiet.

“She looks like us.” The woman gushed.

Test Subject One's stomach dropped. Why was the crazy lady pointing at her?

“I want that one.”

Test Subject One stuck her thumb back in her mouth to stop from blurting out a loud no. She didn’t want to go anywhere with that freaky lady. She had to stay here and take care of her sisters. Who else would protect them from the nasty things the scientists had in mind for them?

She glanced at the others in the cage across from her. The only reason they let Test Subject Five stay with her was to keep her from constantly crying and wailing. Her other two sisters were awake now.

Test Subject Two narrowed her dual-colored orange-brown eyes at the man in front of her.

The other two stared with their single-colored brown eyes at the group of strangers around them.

“It’s about time you used the blasium to open it up, Damuzi.” The crazy lady’s ice-blue eyes gleamed at Test Subject One.

When the big guy pointed the slender device at the cage door, it dissolved open.

At the cage opening, Test Subject One stood on wobbly legs. She grabbed a cage bar for support and put herself in front of her sister to protect her any way she could.

The woman grabbed Test Subject One under the arms and lifted her out of the cage.

Test Subject Five screamed when the bony woman whisked her away.

“I'm going to call you Jazmi-Tiamat.” The woman pulled Jazmi’s face to hers and kissed her enthusiastically on both cheeks. The lady sighed. “You are so pretty, just like a little princess.” The woman swung her around and shoved her at the creepy man next to her.

He raised his hands in protest and stepped back. “Hey, get that away from me. I’m not touching one of those... things.” He crossed his arms over his thin chest. “I still don't see why we’re doing this.” His bleached-blue eyes darted from side-to-side. “Don't we have enough problems since you made us leave Eengurra, Eulli?”

“Oh, stop your whining, Lepit-Enlil.” She pulled Test Subject One close and leaned in to whisper to the guy. “Think of the thousands of credits we’ll have when we go to Earth. We can leave this goddess-forsaken place and live in the lap of luxury like we’re entitled to.”

Her sour breath made Test Subject One sneeze. She pinched her lips together and puffed her cheeks holding her breath. It didn’t take long to blow the air out with a huff. Squeezing her nose, she breathed through her mouth.

“If you hadn't made that unscrupulous deal with Warlord Mattaki-Bunu, we’d still be on Akurn,” the bad lady hissed.

Her flying spit hit Test Subject One in the eye. Lips quivering, she rubbed it out with a fist.

“Now keep quiet.” The woman snarled at Lepit-Enlil. “And look like you're excited about taking this on.”

Test Subject One blinked and turned in the man's direction.

He stood with a frown and his thin arms crossed.

“Besides,” Eulli continued. “With her coloring, she's got to be like us, and won't have any of the special talents they reputed the Adamou to have.”

Screams and shouts in the background made baby Jazmi push on the woman's shoulders to watch her sisters.

Both cage doors were gone.

People grabbed her sisters who fought and cried.

Test Subject Two struggled with the older woman holding her while Test Subject Three gripped the lady named Amata as if her life depended on it.

Two men grabbed Test Subject Five out of the cage.

Her piercing wails were so loud they drowned out the words the big people yelled at each other.

Jazmi struggled in the woman's bony hold, trying to get loose so she could go to her sister and calm her down. She stretched out her arms to her sisters. Don't cry! Don't cry! She sent a mental picture of them hugging. But the terror her sisters suffered were too great. The image didn't get through. The more her sisters struggled, the harder Test Subject One fought to get loose.

Eulli grabbed her tighter and headed for the door. “Let's get out of here, Lepit-Enlil, before we get caught.”

Test Subject One screamed and pulled the woman’s tightly woven hair, desperately trying to get her to turn back.

No... no! She couldn’t leave her sisters. Who would protect them? Who would take care of them, so the bad men didn't hurt them?

“You're right, Eulli. We gotta go while the Transkip is running.” The man grabbed the woman’s sleeve and pulled her out of the room.

Baby Jazmi didn’t watch where they were going. All she saw were her sisters crying, reaching out and screaming for her not to leave them. “No! Stop! Take me back! Take me back now!” For the first time in her life, Test Subject One spoke to the big people.

The woman stumbled but didn't stop.

No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't squirm out of the woman's unyielding hold as they raced down a deserted hallway. The last thing Jazmi heard were the heartbreaking wails of her terrified sisters.