Ciao, amici! I feel like I’ve been waiting more than a year to write this post… because I have! Though I’m sure you feel like I’ve been doing nothing but releasing Astral Conspiracy Series books lately.
Also because I have.
I wrote this series over the course of many months, but my publisher saved them all to release within a short time frame so we wouldn’t keep readers waiting for long between books. Today, it’s my profound honor and pleasure to announce the fifth and final book of the series, The Lab, is now live.
This series is a spinoff of the Invasion Universe saga by Sean Platt and Johnny B. Truant. I had to work within a world and timeframe they’d already created. I’ve written in pre-established worlds before and didn’t think I’d do it again. Doing so comes with unique challenges. But this world was fascinating to me, and I was happy to have been invited to play in that universe.
The Astral Conspiracy Series is my little slice of that story world. And book five, The Lab, is the culmination of the character journeys I started in The Gate. If you haven’t read the series but are interested in ancient alien theories, nefarious organizations bent on world domination, men-in-black type agents, government machinations, resistance factions, religious zealots, and near-future technologies, all wrapped up in one massive saga, I urge you to check it out. Here are links (in order) to all my books, as well as a related short story prequel.
About The Lab
One last mission. One last stand. One last hope.
Time is running out for the planet, and Reverie Sterling — one of the leaders of the Resistance — feels each tick of the clock. Her twins insist on traveling to Illinois to find Jovian, their paternal grandfather, who’s been communicating with them telepathically. He swears he has all the answers they’ve been searching for.
He does, but they come at a cost. A steep cost.
Now Reverie and the Resistance must make their last stand. The Astrals have judged humanity and found it lacking. Annihilation is imminent unless Jovian can deliver on his promise.
Earth’s best chance is deep in his laboratory under Monks Mound.
And the old man has one last surprise that no one is expecting.
If you’ve got any questions about the series, I’m happy to answer them. Otherwise, I hope you’ll join me in celebrating the saga’s end. Grazie!
congratulations on such a wonderful accomplishment!
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Thanks so much! A five-book series is my longest series to date, so I am quite pleased.
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and you should be!
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You’re making it hard to be humble. {blushing}
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it ain’t bragging if you can do it, and you did it!
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Congratulations, Staci. You are the hardest working writer I know. Best wishes on all the books.
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That is quite a compliment, John. Thank you.
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😊
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Congratulations, Staci! What a year this has been for you!
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That’s almost a prophetic comment, Jan. It has been quite a year for me.
Thank you.
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Sounds like an interesting series! I haven’t even heard of the original series…. I’ll have to check them out! It must be tough to write within a universe that someone else created. What kind of research did you do ahead of time to keep the same feel and continuity?
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I was actually probably better suited than most people to participate in this world. When the guys opened their world to our studio, they gave us copies of their books to read, which (of course) we all did. Other authors started writing their books before I decided to participate, and, as luck would have it, I was expanded-world editor. (I did NOT edit the original series.) So I read all the books in the Invasion Universe. When I finally decided to throw my hat in the ring, I really didn’t have to do anything to get up to speed in the existing story world. The only research I had to do was the research for my own body of work. And I’m a bit of a research fanatic, anyway, so that wasn’t a problem. I don’t think it’s a stretch to say my series unites the universe more than any of the others, but you can read any series as a standalone and never need to read the others. However, if you read one of the sagas and want more, most have little Easter eggs in them that point to others so when you do hop to another, you’ll read a name or a place or an item and think, “Oh, I remember that from another book!” It’s kind of like the MCU but with no super heroes. And if you do choose to try any of them out, I hope you find these Easter eggs and enjoy them.
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Sounds like a lot of fun!! I love a good Easter egg hunt. 😜 I’ll have to get started!
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That’s awesome. And a lot of reading! Thanks! If/when you find them, let me know. I’d love to talk about them with you.
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I’ve loved all four books so far. I’m reading a long book that’s going to take me a minute right now, but The Lab is next on my list. The “steep price” sounds ominous. I really, really like the core characters. I hope they all survive, including Draven, but now you have me worried.
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I can’t tell! You’ll have to let me know what you think when you’re done. Enjoy the book you’re currently reading. And I hope you like my book when you get around to it.
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Congratulations, Staci, what a great accomplishment.
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Thank you, Robbie.
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Congratulations! What an accomplishment to have the entire series now available. My copy has already arrived on my Kindle and I hope to begin reading it tomorrow (finishing up my current read tonight). I can’t wait to see what happens in The Lab. This is such an amazing series that has thoroughly sucked me in. Wishing you all the best and a ton of sales!
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Your enthusiasm warms my heart. I hope the ending lives up to your expectations. Thanks, Mae.
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Congratulations, Staci. I’m so happy to know a bit about the backstory and a glimpse of the book itself. What an achievement! 😊
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Many thanks, Gwen. 🙂
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Reblogged this on Entertaining Stories and commented:
Staci has released the final volume of her science fiction saga. I’m part way through them and love them. Visit her place and check them out.
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Much appreciated!
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Wonderful news. I think it might be smart to release them the way they have. Mine are spaced a year apart and it might have been advantageous to do it this way.
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Thanks, Craig.
We’ll see. Some people saved up to binge them all at once. Others couldn’t keep up, so reviews are coming too slowly. And still others kept pace and went book to book. As long as readers enjoy them, I’m happy.
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That would be the best part, I agree.
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I feel a Binge Read coming on! Woohoo, and big congratulations, Staci! They’re all here. (No, I mean it. They’re HERE, at my house, on my Kindle! 😀 ) I will soon begin my re-read of The Gate and plow right through them. Can’t wait!
And here’s wishing you a kajillion sales, at the very least! Way to go!! 🙂
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Aw. Thanks, Marcia. I do hope you enjoy the binge. This is the healthiest kind, I’m told. lol
Can’t wait to hear what you think.
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I’m trying to get caught up on some reviews, and my plan for this series is to review each book as I finish. I already know I loved the first one, and thought I’d left a review, but I don’t see one. 😦 However, I will be re-reading and will leave one as soon as I’m done. By golly, I’m going to get better at finding time to write them, and the Astral Conspiracy is a good place to start. 😀
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I try to review as I go, too, or I’d never get to them. There are so many things to do in the course of a day, and so little time to get it all done. Thanks, Marcia.
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Congratulations, Staci!!! Amazing. I didn’t realize this series is within a story world. Writing in someone else’s world does have it’s challenges, doesn’t it? I doubt I’d do it again, either, but it’s a fun challenge.
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It has its pros and cons, for sure. I don’t think I will do it again, but every time I say “never” it bites me in the @$$. If the right opportunity comes along, I would. And my company is really easy to work with, so if that opportunity exists, it would be with them. But I think I have three years of work mapped out ahead of me, and it’s all original projects. We’ll see. Anyway, thanks!
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Hey… what work of yours is someone else’s playground?
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Fractured Lives is in Elle James’ story world. HACKED is in Susan Stoker’s.
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Right. I forgot about those. You blended seamlessly.
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You are too kind! #ThankYou ❤
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Congratulations!!! What an exciting day ✨🎉✨ Wishing you much success ❤️
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Thanks so much, Tessa!
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Congrats, Staci! I’m excited to be with these characters again – coming up soon on my TBR. I’ve said it before, but I LOVE these covers!
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The covers are a big hit. I hope you like the content as much! Thanks, Teri.
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My copy has already been delivered to my Kindle. Can’t wait to start reading. Congratulations!
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Thanks, Joan. I hope you find the end to your liking.
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I’m confident I will.
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Reblogged this on Legends of Windemere.
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Thank you, Charles.
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You’re welcome.
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Congratulations! I like the image of all the books lined up next to each other. They’re so cool looking!
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Thanks, Priscilla. The company’s cover artist. did a great job on the series. I’m very happy with them. And I agree with you; the whole series does look great together.
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Huge congrats, Staci. I bought all the books last week and am now on book 3. Book 5 landed on my ereader this morning! Can’t tell you how freakin’ much I’m enjoying this series! I’ve only stopped reading because, like, I have to do something other than reading sometimes! Best of luck with everything 🙂
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You’re on three already? That’s incredible! I’m over the moon to hear you say you’re enjoying them. Thank you so much!
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Congrats, Staci!
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Much appreciated, Felicia. 🙂
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Congrats Staci! I can’t wait to read the last two back to back:)
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Many thanks, Denise. I hope you enjoy them.
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