An accomplished  older woman leads a tight-knit team to protect the Local Neighborhood. Together, they must find a way to stop the invading Olmeri. 

SYNOPSIS:

The Ambassador establishes a new sci-fi universe that combines the humanity of the original Star Trek with the expert teamwork of the original Mission: Impossible, magical swords and jewels from Tolkien and Stargate, mystical lore from Chinese martial arts, and characters who would at home in Mayberry.

THE AMBASSADOR is low-concept, realistic and grounded. It’s pot roast, mashed potatoes, and green beans on Sunday with cherry pie if you like. It’s a comfortable adventure in a world where excellence is expected, integrity and honor matter, trust is earned, wits matter more than firepower, friends are the best, everybody gets a seat at the table, and the good guys win most of the time. It crosses generations and cultures, East and West. It’s new and fresh and old and full of all sorts of hooks and turns. It’s not the same and it is exactly the same. It will make you smile, cry a little, and smile again. Good friends, good food, good times, and some bad guys in our Local Neighborhood.

The story is part mystic seeker martial arts adventure, part space opera, and part family sit-com. It’s not about ‘the one.’ It’s about five plus five plus five and more.

SUMMARY

Ambassador Micha Lawrence can’t retire just yet. The High Council is quietly sending her to the distant Ka’len system to get a treaty and stop the invading Olmeri. The night before she leaves, her friend Council President Aliel Smbarak calls to let her know about a new report of Olmeri activity. It’s bad. The next morning, N’amani calls to tell her he succeeded in getting all the supplies she wanted. She remembers President Smbarak assigning him to her delegation and how happy she was he could fight. She is surprised when Commander Sara Brandon tells her that Captain Alexander Logan is going to command of the Magellan. The Ambassador uses the Ancient Arts to evaluate him. She is pleased. She introduces N’amani, Doctor Marcus Gray, Beth Michaels, and Kell. As they board, Maja gives command control to the Captain. They get underway. The Ambassador calls a briefing where she finally explains the mission to her team, the Captain, Commander Brandon and a new flight officer, Lt. Meredith Katy.

The mission and the ongoing task of finding a way to stop the destructive Olmeri is a vehicle. The heart of the story is how we bring up the next generation and how the previous generation passes on. It’s about setting a bigger table and coming together. Throughout the story (350k words 5 books, including her origin story AT RAS’ALHAGUE), I sought to create a sense of optimism that even with different languages and cultures we can figure it out; that we can have a good time even while doing some difficult things. My characters don’t save the universe. They try to do good. Sometimes they succeed. Sometimes they fail. They are brilliant and humble, honest and kind. They are excellent at what they do. They are mostly regular, normal, outwardly average, incredibly interesting, quietly extraordinary people. I’d be so very pleased to introduce them to you.

Come along. Let’s go for a ride. It’ll be fun. Promise.

“Yes, indeed, we’re ready to go. Where are we going again?” the Doctor asked.

“We are going for a ride on the Magellan, Doctor,” the Ambassador replied impatiently.

(Hopepunk. Friendships Found Family Special Skills and Objects Martial Arts Coming of Age Apprentice/Mentor Secrets Ecology Ancient Wisdom Journey Adventure Task)

THE AMBASSADOR