Today I am so excited to be able to welcome author Jamie Grey to the blog for THE STAR THIEF Blog Tour. Jamie has an awesome guest post for us ( Kick Ass Characters – Why we Love Them ) and an exciting excerpt from her new Science Fiction novel THE STAR THIEF! For more Blog Tour goodness, please check out the rest of our awesome group on this tour and our lovely host at The Fantastic Flying Book club. And don't forget to enter the Giveaway below!

The Star Thief
(Star Thief Chronicles #1)
by Jamie Grey
Paperback, 400 pages
Published February 1st 2014
by Createspace

Summary:
Stealing another galactic secret will get her arrested, but playing by the rules might just get her killed.

At twenty-three, Renna Carrizal is the most notorious thief in the galaxy. There's just one problem - all she wants is to get out of the business.

But after Renna rescues an injured boy on her final job, she finds herself on the run from the mob instead of enjoying retirement. She unwittingly becomes ensnared by MYTH, a top-secret galactic protection agency who offer her a choice - either help them on their latest mission, or spend the rest of her life on a prison ship.

Forced to work under the watchful eye of handsome but arrogant Captain Finn, Renna learns the former mercenary-turned-hero has a few dirty secrets himself. As Renna works to discover the truth about Finn's past and keep the tantalizing man at arm's length, she unearths a plot to create an unstoppable army. The target? The human star fleet.

Now Renna must pull off the biggest job of her career - saving the galaxy. And maybe even herself.
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Recommended for 17+ due to mature themes and sexual content.

Guest Post with Jamie Grey

Kick Ass Characters – Why we Love Them

When you think of a thief, what comes to mind? Someone who dresses in black and gets paid to steal things? Thieves are usually portrayed as shady characters who hide in the shadows and live outside the law. They can break through the most impenetrable locks, strike from behind, and never get caught.

Basically they’re kick ass.

My main character, Renna, is a thief, but not your usual stick-to-the shadows variety. In fact, my girl is all about the press. I mean she got the nickname The Star Thief for a reason. When I started writing her, I knew I wanted her to be tough, but I also wanted her to be more than that. I like my strong women with a few quirks, so not only does Renna kick ass and take names, she has a softer side she uses just as often to get what she wants.

When I thought about the characters I love from other books, they all have quirks that make them special, that seem almost at odds with what they let others see. So as I was writing, I realized that Renna loves beautiful things. From the lacy underwear she prefers, to the careful attention she pays to the clothes she wears, she’s all about appearances. Because she knows how you look can be as important as what you do in her business. If you look the part, you can slip into a building unnoticed, or fit in with a group of high rollers and pick their pockets.

She can be kickass with only the lift of her eyebrow.

Renna also keeps her hair long because she can’t bear to cut it. She’s a mercenary, but a girl’s got to have her priorities, and good hair is one of them! She’s also not afraid to use her womanly charms to get what she wants. A seductive smile can be more effective than a blaster pistol in learning secrets.

But what’s a kickass character without the ability to actually, you know, kick some ass? Which is why she’s also tough, and not afraid to jump into a fight. Sometimes taking down the bad guys hard and fast is the only way to go. She’s quick with a blaster, quicker with her tongue, and has a mean right hook.

So why do we love tough, take charge heroines? I’ll admit, I’m a good girl in real life, so living vicariously through someone who doesn’t live by the rules is refreshing. It’s a chance to read about (and write) someone who’s completely different from myself. I’ll never punch someone in a bar fight (hopefully) but that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy reading about a clever character showing the villain who’s boss without even breaking a sweat.

And when she uses her kickass skills to get the hero in the end? Well, sign me up!

Excerpt from The Star Thief by Jamie Grey

     "Are you ready, Miss Carrizal?” the lieutenant asked in her slightly lilting voice.
     Renna snapped her attention back to the sparring ring. The Delfine might look willowy and vulnerable, but Renna knew better. She’d fought with a Delfine on her first job. The woman had had balls of steel and had killed a man with her bare hands when he’d caught her stealing. She’d never stopped smiling.
     Renna took her spot in the ring and rolled her shoulders a few times, working out the kinks. The other members of the crew circled the space, and she tried to ignore the heavy silence. She much preferred the shouting and chaos of a bar fight, but if this is what it took to prove herself…
     Keva launched herself at Renna without warning. The alien’s fist connected with Renna’s jaw, and her head snapped back. Stars exploded across her vision. One of the bystanders sucked in a breath, shockingly loud in the silent room.
     Renna glared at the woman as her jaw throbbed. So that’s how it was going to be?
     Ears still ringing, Renna attacked.
     Her fists flew, and her body bent and flowed around Keva’s punches. The woman had been trained well, and she moved lithely, almost like a bird. But Renna had learned her skills in the tenements, and the last thing she was worried about was form or looking pretty.
     She was in it to win.
     Renna ducked beneath a punch and swung her leg, catching Keva in the gut. The woman grunted and doubled over. Renna followed with an uppercut to the woman’s jaw. Before she could strike, the alien grabbed her wrist and flipped Renna around, pinning her arm behind her back.
     Her shoulder muscles screamed as Keva pulled harder. Sweat streaked down Renna’s face and stung her eyes. Across the ring, Finn smirked.
     Screw this.
     Renna went slack. The unexpected shift of weight pushed Keva off-balance. Renna twisted out of the woman’s grip and launched herself at Keva’s midsection. They tumbled to the mat, twisting and punching and grunting. Sweat streaked down Renna’s back until her shirt was soaked, but she didn’t let up.
     Keva’s silver eyes glowed with rage as she tried to buck away from Renna’s grip. But with one more flip, Renna had the woman on her back and her forearm pressed against Keva’s throat. The thrill of victory started to build deep in her core.
     The women stared at each other for a long moment, both panting. Both furious.
     And then the Delfine scissored her legs around Renna’s waist, twisting just enough to throw Renna off. They sprang apart, both back to defensive stances as they circled each other. They flew at each other twice more, hitting and striking out, both times breaking away before one or the other could get the upper hand. Renna’s lunch churned heavily in her stomach. There was no way she was going to beat this woman.
     The thought sobered her racing heart. But that also meant there was no way Keva would beat her. They were at a draw.
     Dallas seemed to realize it at the same moment. He stepped into the ring with a wide smile. “That’s enough. Thank you both for that display. You are worthy competitors.”
     Renna sucked in a lungful of air and smiled at Keva, holding out a hand to the woman. But Keva turned her back on Renna to grab the towel Finn held out for her.
     Nice to see the crew was going to give her a fair chance after all.
     “Quite a show,” Dallas said, clapping Renna on the back. “I didn’t know you’d been trained in Bumai.”
     “There’s a lot you don’t know about me.” She used her sleeve to wipe the sweat from her face, shuddering as her clammy shirt clung to her back. “If you’re going to blackmail me into helping, are you at least going to let me go home and grab some clothes?” She nodded toward the silky black garb most of them were dressed in. “Or even better, do I get a fancy ninja suit, too?”
   ~The Star Thief, Jamie Grey

About Jamie Grey

Jamie Grey spent most of her childhood writing stories about princesses who saved the day and pretending to be a daring explorer. It wasn’t until much later that she realized she should combine the two. Now, as a tech-obsessed gamer geek, her novels mix amazing scientific developments, future worlds, and the remarkable characters that live in them.

Jamie lives in Michigan with her boyfriend and their pets, who luckily tolerate her overspending on tea, books, and video games. You can learn more about her at www.jamiegreybooks.com, or follow her on twitter via @jamie_grey.
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