Sunday, January 10, 2016

"Posh Bytes" by C. Rose

EXCERPT
Posh Bytes:
BeautyWorld Tales of Whimsey and Woe
by C. Rose


Posh Bytes is a collection of seven loosely connected tales set some 150 years into our future, in a universe where anyone can choose to be beautiful. Author C. Rose stops by today to share an excerpt from the book. 

Description
FALL INTO POSH BYTES, WHERE EVERYONE IS BEAUTIFUL...
In a universe where anyone can choose to be beautiful, who really is? Appearances can be deceiving, and usually are. When reality is shaped by illusion, anything can happen.
"Eye of the Beholder" - Lavender is a woman who hasn’t been able to get over the death of her spouse until the day she meets an unusual man who captures her heart. Will the secrets the two keep from one another jeopardize their budding relationship?
"The Hawk" - Sparrow is an astronaut whose world is turned upside down after an accident that claims his neural implant and almost costs him his life. Surprisingly, his limitations provide him with a unique opportunity beyond his wildest imaginings.
"Supernova" - Mink is a rising, young supermodel who craves perfection and immortality, and will go to any lengths to achieve her goals.
"Shark Bait" - Shark is a professional thief, unable to complete a heist to steal celebrity sex pheromones for the black market. Is he being set up for failure?
"The Death Mask" - Beetle is an elderly mortician who crosses paths with a young woman unable to deal with the death of her mother.
"Clover Fields Forever" - Clover is a beauty and fashion program junkie who can’t stop spending money, despite the consequences.
"Moth to Flame" - Moth is an unassuming fashion programmer who gets drawn into the dark world of corporate espionage and human slavery.
These Posh Bytes: Tales of Whimsey and Woe explore the human element in the BeautyWorld Universe, where nothing is quite as it seems.


Excerpt from "Shark Bait"
Shark’s legs were numb. If he stayed crouched in Silver’s closet much longer, he wouldn’t be able to make a quick exit. He briefly considered ditching his gains, but the pay on this particular job was too tempting. 50,000 marks per garment was worth the risk of getting caught.
The sound of sultry, feminine singing brought him back to the present moment. Silver had a fantastic voice; there was no denying her talent. Shark was intrigued despite his current predicament. When he heard her turn on the shower, he was overwhelmed by a sudden desire to look upon her wavy, starlight tresses set against lustrous ebony skin. If that was her real appearance. With the wide array of beauty programming, there was no way to know what the real Silver looked like. A doctor would have to completely disable his neural implant link before he could find out. He certainly couldn’t undergo that procedure just now. I’ve got to get out of here.
Shark tightened the strap on his body pack containing the few select items from Silver’s dirty clothes hamper. Standing up was difficult. Hundreds of pins-and-needles signaled the objection raised by his muscles. He cracked the closet door, taking a tentative step into her bedroom.
Steam billowed from an open bathroom. Shark caught a glimpse of a gorgeous nude black figure through the glass shower stall. He gasped aloud, despite his seasoned years of thieving. Silver did not disappoint. Even without her sensory bodysuit and beauty programming, she was a curvaceous, lithe, moonlight goddess. Shark couldn’t help but be captivated by her natural loveliness.
“Is someone there?”
Shark froze. He wasn’t sure if his heart would stop beating or explode, but some unidentifiable cardiovascular phenomenon was taking place. If it hadn’t been for the voluminous plumes of steam, Silver certainly would’ve spotted him. Shark prized his reputation for never having been caught…yet. He wasn’t about to break that winning streak today. Not even if all I want to do is climb in that shower with her.

Praise for the Book
" ... C. Rose has managed to create a collection of stories that, although depicted some 150 years or so into our future, shows that people are people - good, bad, conniving, loving, insecure, misunderstood - people. And she does it quite delightfully. I picked the book up thinking I could read a story, then set it down until I had time to read more, but nope - the writing and the world she created drew me in so I kept reading and reading - way past my bed time. [...] Buy it. Read it. Just don't expect to be able to put it down until you've read every last word." ~ Fran Veal

About the Author

C. Rose works by day as an archivist an records manager. Alternately, she enjoys daydreaming and scribbling by night. She lives with her loving husband and a very demanding cat named Danny. He runs the real show. No, really, he does. And don’t you forget it...

Links