Time Can be a Trap

Merriam-Webster defines paranormal as “not scientifically explainable,” with its first known use in print occurring in 1905. If you click on their time travel option, well, I got a lot of words, but the one that jumped out at me was “moondust.” 

I’m not sure exactly how, but the connection of both these words appearing in print for the first time in 1905 feels important. And not scientifically explainable. 

When my first “not scientifically explainable” book was published and slotted into paranormal, I might have been a little surprised. I’ve since made my peace with the idea that what I write can’t be explained by currently known science. (Something my high school chemistry teacher knew about my first test in his class.)

For me, that’s the fun of reading and writing paranormal and science fiction romance. Some of my early reads, the ones that delighted my heart and my mind, were not explainable by any means. Because they couldn’t be explained, they set my imagination free. 

Inside my head, I could go anywhere and be anyone. 

But paranormal romance, in my humble opinion, is the ultimate in not scientifically explainable fun. Turn on your reader or open a book and you can be mystified, scared half out of your wits, or intrigued without ever leaving home (a plus for this hermit), and if it gets too intense, you step away until its light. 

My personal favorite is time travel and I’ve taken mine well past scientifically explainable. Lol It is certainly a “power” that you wouldn’t want just anyone to have access to, because we all know power tends to corrupt. So what happens if a group starts a benevolent project to “fix” time and of course, goes off road? Who do you call to fight back? 

I’m sure you’re first answer wouldn’t be a sentient parrot named Sir Rupert. But it should be. Here’s a snippet from my short story, Time Trap: A Project Enterprise Story:

According to their intel source, the mole had been, or was here on this outpost right now, only in another time. Dwelling on him being here, but not here, made her head hurt. She worked better without a headache. The science said that because all of time was aligned somehow—blah, blah, complicated equation—there were echoes, that these echoes could bleed through both time and space. There were certain species that could perceive these echoes. Wasn’t it a nice coincidence that Sir Rupert was one of those species? 

All they had to do was get in, let him look around, and leave without getting captured or wiped out of existence by the Time Service. 

Easy peasy. 

In other words, just another day—or millennium—in the Rebellion.

About Time Trap: 

Hiding in time is not as easy as you’d think…

USAF Engineer Master Sergeant Briggs—only his mother called him by his first name—is not enjoying his birthday. A year older and ordered to recuperate on a quiet bay away from the Garradian outpost, he’s ready to mutiny and go back to his beloved engines. When his friends send him a gift from Area 51, he figures it will relieve his boredom for an hour or so.

Until he turns it on and he gets his second present of the day. 

Madison, and her parrot partner, Sir Rupert, are on the track of a traitor to the Rebellion when they time travel into a trap. Their only way out is via an old transport pad, but instead of sending them somewhere, it sends them back in time. Straight into the arms of the one man who could kick her tires and light her fires. 

She would like to get to know the handsome engineer, but the trouble following her can get people erased from existence. The fact he’s a hero, like her lost brother, just makes her want to protect him more. 

Briggs doesn’t trust time travelers—with good reason—but now he has to work with the unlikely pair because trouble is coming. Trouble that puts an outpost filled with geeks and ancient technology at risk. It’s not the first time he’s worked with a woman to save the universe, but it’s the first time he’s wanted to keep her for himself. 

If only she were a little older…

With a Time Service Interdiction Force on their heels, can the three craft a plan that will save a base full of geniuses and technology and get them the happy ending they deserve?

Time Trap can be found on its own (for free!), or in Claws & Effect: The Otherworldly Pets of Project Enterprise (which includes all five stories I wrote for the Pets in Space anthologies).

Do you like to read time travel? What is your favorite time travel novel?

Perilously yours,

Pauline