Interview with the GEP Back to Blog
Update: The winner of CLOSE ENCOUNTERS and CLOSE CONTACT is…Ina! Congrats, Ina!
***
I wait patiently while Echo Adams pours a glass of my most expensive white wine, a Sirius ’45, and then strolls over to the most comfortable chair in the room. A purple-feathered dragon bird decked out in gaudy jewelry settles onto the chair arm beside her and peers at me in curiosity.
“Okay, I’m ready,” Echo says, and then sips from her glass.
“So,” I begin. “You’re a vampire.”
She snorts. “Of course I’m not a vampire. Vampires don’t exist. I’m a GEP.”
“I’ll bite. (no pun intended.) What’s a GEP?”
She smoothes a hand over her amethyst silk suit and leans back. “A GEP is a genetically engineered person. Naturals began creating us when there was a shortage of manpower to fill the jobs on Centaurius, the primary planet in the Alpha Centauri solar system. Normal GEPs are spliced and diced together from the best traits of regular humans, or Naturals as we GEPs call them. Basically, anything a Natural can do, GEPs can do better and faster.”
Gripping my vid corder tightly, I nod. “What job were you created to do?”
“I was created for the department of protocol.” A look of yearning fills her eyes. “Those were the days. Parties every night, a designer wardrobe, getting buffed and groomed at the most expensive spas on Centaurius, rubbing elbows with all the Federation bigwigs. I loved my life.” She leaned forward dramatically. “But then…”
“Then?” I edged closer, reluctant to miss a word.
“Then my bosses found out I was created by a rogue geneticist who illegally used GEP DNA to create me. Not only did he give me super powers, the Zorfa’s ass gave me psi abilities. Before I knew it, they’d shipped me off to the Bureau of Alien Affairs to become an agent. I mean, come on, me? An agent? What if I break a nail? And there’s no way I’m going to some backwater planet where I’ll have to deal with raw nature. The only bright spot was that they taught me fifty six ways to kill with one finger.”
“Uh, sure.” I nod vigorously. “What are your psi abilities?”
She gives me a rather feral smile. “I could tell you, but then I’d have to demonstrate one of those fifty six ways I mentioned before.”
Grabbing my gear, I bolt for the door, praying I make it out alive.
“Hey,” she yells. “Where are you going? Don’t you want to know about the stolen crystal containing a powerful alien life form, or how I met the man of my dreams?” She glances at the dragon bird as I sprint down the hall. “Guess she’ll just have to read the book. Come on, Peri, let’s go find Reynard.”
Humor is definitely on tap in the second book of Allred’s fun and fiesty Alien Affairs series. Allred’s genetically created heroine is a most reluctant operative, one who is more comfortable throwing a diplomatic party than kicking butt. This wonderful book is chock-full of excitement, danger and the heroine’s first person offbeat sense of humor. A real gem of a book! A Romatic Times Top Pick for June.
To celebrate the release of Close Contact, Katherine will be giving away a copy of both Close Encounters and Close Contact, books one and two of the Alien Affairs series to one person. Just leave a comment to enter.
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Great interview!! 🙂 Thanks so much for guest posting with me, Katherine. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.
lol great interview. I have the first one in this series in my tbr stack and I believe it just moved up a few books.
Loved the interview 🙂 I’m not usually into the whole alien romance, but I am really intrigued 🙂 I see you already have one book out in the series and now CLOSE CONTACT, how many more do you plan for the series?
So glad you stopped by Katherine, I have a new author’s books to read 🙂
I have been waiting for what seems like forever for this book! I loved CLOSE ENCOUNTERS and can’t wait to see where Katherine takes us next. I absolutely love SFR!!!
That was a fabulous interview. Love the humor, definitely books that would be fun to read.
Great interview! I have not read any of this series but it sounds good!
Ok, you got me!! Great interview, love the humor and this is now a ‘must have’ book!!!
Valerie
in Germany
This sounds wonderful. I love the GEP concept.
Hello everyone,
Sorry I’m late to the party. Had some errands this morning I couldn’t get out of.
Cynthia, thanks so much for having.
Michelle, it’s really not an alien romance. Well, okay, the hero is from another planet so, yeah, he’s an alien. But he’s descended from Earthlings so he’s human.
Hi Cybercliper! I’m always fond of anyone who loves my books. Thanks for taking a chance on them.
Thanks Jean and Quilt Lady.
Valerie, I used to live in Germany. Loved it. I’d go back in a heartbeat.
Viki, thanks. The GEP concept came to me because I was wishing I could have designed *my* kids so they were better behaved. Unfortunately, I didn’t and they aren’t.
Great fun! This sounds like a book I have to read. I just read Cybercliper’s comments, and now I’m going to look up your previous books.
Hi, Katherine!
omg, I loved your books at Cerridwen Press and didn’t realize you had this new series out!
The whole GEP idea sounds great… okay, I’m gushing here because I’m so excited that I get to read more books of yours *bg* I still reread all the other books like The Sweet Gum Tree and What Price Paradise *sigh*
This new series sounds totally different, but I’m sure it’s still awesome 🙂
Hi Katherine!
I saw your book on another blog and can’t wait to read your series – it sounds fantastic 🙂
wish you all the best, Ina
Hi Edie! Thanks for stopping by.
Ali, the biggest difference between the Alien Affairs series and The Sweet Gum Tree is the setting. I wrote them in the same style, they’re just set on different planets.
Hi Ina! Yes, I remember you. Romcon, right?
Thanks for letting me know 🙂 Even better 🙂
Huh, that sounds very different I have to admit
LOL That was a great interview!! I love sci-fi twist with a sacastic if not slightly spoiled heroine. Going to find an excerpt NOW!!
DragonStar1974@aol.com
Hi Raonain. Hope it’s different in a GOOD way!
Stephanie, there’s an excerpt on my website: http://www.katherineallred.com/ccexcerpt.html
Okay, I’m going to put on the meat for stew and then I’ll be right back. (We writers lead *such* exciting lives.)
The interview was fun! I have been waiting for Close Contact to release for months! I became an instant fan when I read Close Encounters. *G*
Hi Katherine! Fantastic interview. Series sounds really good. I can’t wait to read it. I’m always looking for something new.
Ooooh, Brandy, I love you! LOL
Barb, you sound like me. I’m so easy. Amazon will offer the first book in a series for free and then I’m hooked and have to buy the next ten to see what happens.
That was fantastic! It’s now on my Must-Read-Soon list!
Character interviews are always fun 🙂
Your book sounds great!
Thanks Casey and Chelsea!
Must go stir stew. Be right back.
Congrats on the new release, Katherine. Your Alien Affairs books look really interesting.
Oh, I loved this post; it made me laugh. I need to check out Katherine’s works.
Great interview. These books sound awesome. I love science fiction romance and humor.
Thanks, Jane, Tracey and Marlene! I don’t think I could write a book without at least *some* humor in it.
Humor works for me!!! Great interview… had fun reading it! 😀
Looks good. Sounds like a lot of fun! I am quite intrigued by the “GEP” : ) Verrry interrresting!
I’m just hearing about this series and it sounds fabulous. Echo sounds like an entertaining heroine. I love stories with humor included, even if they’re exciting and action filled. Winning books 1 and 2 would be wonderful – but they’re both on my wish list now as well.
Thanks, Colleen, Virginia, and Barbara!
This sounds like a terrific series, Katherine! You’re a new-to-me author, and I’m curious to read more! As for humor, that’s something I LOVE–can’t wait to pick your books up!
Certainly a funny excerpt: they taught me fifty six ways to kill with one finger. Are there fifty six ways to kill with one finger? I haven’t heard of this book yet, so something to look for.
Thanks, Fedora!
Diane, Echo is a drama queen with a tendency to exaggerate. (Although I’m pretty sure if there *were* fifty six ways to kill with one finger, she’d be your girl.)
I loved the interview. They both sound like great books.
I really loved the interview-it was just what I needed after the day at work. I put these on my TBB mountain.
Thanks, Andrea and Nancy!
Hi Katherine! You are a new to me author, love finding them. Your books look great. I loved the excerpt, i love humor in my books. Please count me in for this.
great interview.Funny.Looks like a good book.I love finding new to me authors.
sasluvbooks(at)yahoo.com
Hi Katherine, love the humor in this excerpt. I have your first, need to move it up the pile and get to .
Wonderful interview. Lots of humour too, always a good thing.
Now I want me a dragon bird please *Wonders where on earth one could buy one from*