Warren Cougar has always been passionate about outer space and the beings that supposedly live far beyond the realm of his knowledge. He works for an organization that deals with the possibility of the otherworldly, after all.
And then an alien by the name of Orthrive’poliea crashes into the lake near Warren’s cabin. Everything he’s dreamed about has become real, and now faces the likelihood of becoming a lab experiment at the grotesque hands of ETHOS.
Driven by his virtues and an instant powerful, enigmatic affinity for Thrive, Warren puts his life at risk to separate himself from ETHOS—to keep Thrive from falling into their clutches. It’s the right thing to do.
But when the journey toward Thrive’s freedom is further endangered by a looming threat far out of either of their control, the fight for survival doubles, and the chances of success fall sharply away. Whatever the right thing happens to be, it begins to look like the one thing that would break Warren’s heart the most.
Within the Thriving series, you’ll find
LBTQ+ representation a diverse cast of characters disabled characters and neurodivergence an action-packed love letter to both classic and contemporary sci-fi a slow-burn between the two main characters
A quick summary of the first five books (the M31Arc)—
The dramatic collision of Orthrive’poliea’s vehicle with a nearby lake upends Warren Cougar’s life more than he ever expected. Along with conspiracies, intergalactic war, and waking up two centuries in the future, he has to survive a hostile alien army and a semi-omnipotent sentient darkness doing everything in their power to destroy Earth and the rest of the Milky Way—and Thrive’s native galaxy, Andromeda. Navigating their way through seemingly endless battle after seemingly endless battle, Warren and Thrive also find they must navigate themselves as well as their growing relationship with each other.
Book two, Thriving: Destiny, will be out on June 1st, 2022*!
*subject to minor delay due to self-publishing
Information for writeblrs below the cut (which may not work for some)!
“You know seeing you, [hero], tied up like this is a change of pace I’d love to get used to”
Villain purred, running a finger gently underneath hero’s chin, making them turn their head aggressively away as much as they wanted to get more of it.
“In your fucking dreams, asshole”
Hero barked, turning their head to glare hatefully at villain. Villain only continued to smile, their eyes going up and down on the sight of hero on their knees, panting with a glare that looks more hooded, a need rather than the intended masked hatred.
“I’d watch your tone around me [hero], as lovely as you are - your words and actions do have consequences”
1. “You’d hurt yourself just to make them smile and then they want to see you bleed”
2. “One who holds the blade doesn’t claim his innocence”
3. “You killed them all in-front of me, and you expect me to blind it from my conscious ?”
4. “You won’t get what you’re looking for here, you’re nothing but a liar. I thought I knew you back then - but I guess I was wrong”
5. “Why spare me when I would kill you in an instant”
- “Because I know you, I may not trust you, but I know you”
6. “No amount of pain could ever amount to when you left me, no amount of tears that fall from your face will ever make up for the agony I’ve endured in your hand”
7. “No matter what you will never be a saint, you will always be a husk of who you were - if you ever were something to begin with”
8. “I loved you at some point, but the person I loved isn’t the person I see in-front of me”
- “Then fake it”
- “I don’t think I can fake it anymore”
9. “You’re more of a monster than any of your past has ever been”
- “Don’t act like you know what I’ve been through !”
10. “You’re a condescending, compulsive liar - who can’t be trusted as far as they can be thrown and even at that is a stretch”
11. “It’s all been a ruse, hasn’t it ?”
12. “You aren’t the hero you claim to be, I see that now”
13. “You’re cocky for someone whose been outed as a manipulative liar”
- “Because there’ll always be fools who’ll believe me”
14. “Why must you torment me with more promises that you’ll break as soon as you make them”
15. “I have a job to do, trust me or not I’m sure you understand”
- “Trust you ? You’re a fucking murderer ! You — you killed my friend ! And — and you were going to kill me - !”
- “I want to keep one person alive each time to tell my story”
16. “You’re quite cowardly than when we first met”
17. “I might’ve did all that horrible stuff but I’m still your spouse/friend/best friend !”
- “You’re not them, you never were - you’ve made that perfectly clear”
18. “The terrors only just beginning ? What the fuck does that mean you vague cynical bastard ?!”
19. “You fucking traitor ! You traitor I hate you I HATE YOU !”
20. “You bring dishonor to your family”
- “Not like there was any there to begin with”
21. “You were able to make these decisions, you were knowingly hurting people and I can’t stand by and do nothing anymore, not again”
22. “You..I trusted you - I treated your word as gospel !”
Disclaimer: Moodboards appearing here are only for fun. The models and actors depicted therein have no connection with Barner, Sanders, or the novel; no endorsement is implied.
Theatre has changed my life in so many ways, including making me an author. My Hearts of Broadway series is all about the thrill of performing and, of course, romance, on and off stage.
My current inspiration for the next book. I can’t wait for you to watch Paige shine. And if you’re missing theatre, check out my debut novel LOVE ME A LITTLE at the links in my bio!
Hey authors! Your assignment this weekend is pretty easy. Check in with the Press page on your website. Be sure it’s up to date and that you’re putting your best foot forward.
ALT
