New Patreon Serial: Love On The Korlyan Moon
Long time no blog—but for those of you that are already patreon members already know that I’m much more active there. We’ve been chugging away at a new patreon serial as well! Love on The Korlyan Moon features a new bubble babe and an MMC that’s from the Andjin race we briefly meet in bubble babes #3.
Tentacle lovers, you’re going to want to check this one out!
As a fun preview of what’s to come, I’ve decided to upload the first chapter here. If it peaks your interest maybe you’ll join us over on patreon for weekly updates [not to mention all the other fun NSFW art and rewards!].
XOXO,
Petra Palerno
LOTKM Chapter One: A Higher Power, Or Whatever
🐚LENA
If I had to choose someplace to die, this would be it.
Maybe I wouldn’t have chosen the journey it took to get here—I’d happily skip the alien abduction and trafficking bit. The rest, all things considered, drifting into a brightly colored unknown ocean is pretty damn peaceful.
I learned long ago that worrying about things out of my control was useless. I could rage, scream, and slam my fist into my plastic security bubble, but it won’t make a difference.
I am going to die, and I’m going to wonder at the beauty of this place before I go. I doubt another human has seen these bright-colored creatures swimming by. They’re fish-like but more torpedo-shaped. A set of googly eyes dangle from long stalks below their bodies. Their scales glint in the sunlight as the schools float around me, almost reminding me of camera flashes back on Earth.
I take a deep breath and try to enjoy their unearthly elegance, leaning my back against the gently curving wall of my security pod.
This plastic bubble I’ve danced in for the past year has become familiar. I know every scratch and ding. Despite how much you claw at its wall, I know it can’t open from the inside.
Whatever space-age plastic the Deenz aliens use is robust. I don’t know how much of the growing pressure it can handle as we descend further into the depths of this seemingly bottomless ocean.
The sunlight from the surface is ever waning, and the waters around me get darker and murkier the further I fall.
Another breath fills my chest as I try to quell the anxiety creeping in from the peripherals of my psyche.
The school of creatures follows me like companions ushering me to the afterlife.
I put a hand against the plastic enclosure to thank them for not leaving me alone. I’ve always loved the ocean. Many of my tattoos are of underwater scenes: the coral reef on my calf, the stingray guarding my bicep, and my favorite tattoo—Aphrodite reclined on the half shell on my shoulder.
My soul has always been called to the water, so I guess this demise is fitting.
Thanks, to the universe or whatever higher power controls this kind of thing, I find myself thinking.
As I try to project my gratitude to these little aquatic creatures and some higher power, I catch a flash of yellow from the corner of my eye.
It moves too fast for me to get a good look at it. Spinning around in my bubble, I search for whatever it was.
As the school of alien fish shift suddenly to the left, I see him.
A muscular canary yellow alien, his head full of pulsating tentacles, gapes at me. The tentacles shift as if moved by the underwater currents. They splay around his head like a lion’s mane. His strong arms and legs pump as he descends with my bubble.
I say “he” because his cock is something you really can’t miss. It isn’t hard, but still floats proudly on display. His dick’s impressive length is nestled in tentacles similar to the ones that surround his head but they’re much shorter. Almost like if you traded out pubes for a sea anemone. I guess that makes sense since his head “hair” is also comprised of tentacles.
I wonder what that would feel like? I think, before quickly scrubbing the thought from my mind.
I’m more than likely going to die, and I don’t want my last thoughts to be about alien dick.
I break my gaze from his crotch, not wanting to be a complete and total pervert. His smooth yellow skin is covered in a pattern of squiggly teal rings. He’s got the physique of an Olympic swimmer, with a broad set of shoulders tapering into powerful legs.
His eyes are blue and bore into me as if questioning my very existence.
“Hi.” I huff, taken back by this strange alien adonis that’s found me.
When I speak, he springs out two of his head tentacles that appear longer than the rest to grip the outside of my bubble. My descent stops so rapidly that I drop to my knees like a stone.
Tentacle Man pulls me closer to him. The strength in those two thick appendages sends a strange thrill through me.
He puts his face up against the plastic and appraises me with his full lips agape.
“What are you?” He cocks his head, his deep voice muffled through the water.
“I’m Lena. I’m human,” I whisper, shocked he can speak.
He screws up his mouth and furrows his brows, “I don’t understand you,” he says, tapping a spot in front of his ear. “I don’t have a translator chip, and I don’t think you speak Andjin. There’s no tech allowed during the great proving—we are only as the Greath Mother created us.”
What in the flying fuck is the great proving?
But even in my confusion, I realize he stopped my bubble from dropping further into the ocean…does this mean I won’t die?
“Are you going to help me?” I say slowly as if that might help him understand me.
“I’m sorry, I don’t know your language. I don’t even know what species you are…but it seems like you’re in danger.” His face softens, and he places his slightly webbed fingers against the plastic.
“Can you understand me? If you can, nod,” He tells me softly.
I nod, and he smiles.
“Well, at least one of us can get our point across….” He trails off as if catching sight of my body for the first time.
I’m wearing the thin, near-pornographic costume that all the trafficked human women wear. Its light blue stretchy material is strapped tightly across my neck, belly button, and nipples. All connected to a vertical strap covering my crotch.
“I like your skin’s patterns,” he says, letting his eyes drag down my body. “But I think there’s something wrong with your camouflage, as beautiful as they might be.”
“Those are tattoos. I don’t have camouflage,” I say practically to myself, knowing he doesn’t understand me.
“Do you need help?” He questions me, his eyes full of sincerity.
I nod aggressively.
I don’t have to die today.
Do I trust the bizarrely handsome alien man in front of me? I’m not sure. He seems kind, but my trust disappeared not long after I was abducted. I don’t know if it’ll ever come back.
I’m not sure how long I’ve been dancing at this point, maybe months? Everything tends to blur together. The Deenz, the hive-minded purple alien fucks who captured me from Earth, give us all kinds of shots.
Downers to sleep, then uppers and aphrodisiacs to “work.” It doesn’t make it easy to keep track of time, and sometimes it’s better to forget any of the memories you make.
“I’ll try my best to help you…” He pauses, “My name is Kitaico. What’s yours?” He asks, pointing to me.
“Leeenuh,” I tell him slowly.
“Leeenuh,” he repeats. He smiles at me, a grin full of sharp teeth slightly more tapered than mine. I scramble backward, taken off guard by his predatory mouth.
I start to second guess myself–that maybe this wasn’t the best idea, but I’m out of options and apparently willing to gamble on a total stranger for help.
A shadow floats below my bubble as we try to figure each other out. I crane my neck down to see what it is, wondering if they’ll be more beings like Kitaico.
It’s not. An immense creature, about the size of a blue whale, approaches us. But there’s nothing gentle looking about the giant rising quickly in the distance.
While its head is whale shaped, that’s where the similarities end.
The creature’s sides pulse with bioluminescence as it cuts quickly through the water. Its tail is some nightmarish combo of a stingray and a scorpion. A barb at its end flashes with blue light. As it spots us, it lets out a terrifying roar and opens its mouth, filled with jagged rows of fangs.
I gasp, turning back to Kitaico; his skin has changed to the deep blues of the waters surrounding him. He sets his jaw and turns away from me, and for a moment, I fear he will leave me to be devoured by the creature.
As he swims, I realize his two longest head tentacles are still wrapped around my bubble, and he’s dragging me towards the surface.
His powerful legs kick wildly as we climb. I can tell he’s struggling to keep up his pace. Looking down, I see the monster gaining on us. It snaps its mouth, gnashing its fangs.
“Hurry, Kitaico!” I yell in vain, hoping he’ll understand me. He doesn’t respond, but I can see his camouflage shifting wildly between colors. I wonder if the effort of our escape is pushing his body to its limits.
I push myself against the bubble’s far side as the monster’s mouth closes around the bottom. With a violent crunch, it rips away a chunk of my former prison. It thrashes it’s head like a shark attempting to subdue its prey but putting some distance between us once more.
I barely have time to hold my breath before I’m sucked out of the bottom. The water crashing in makes the air rush out like a vacuum. My muscles clench painfully from the blast of water as I tumble into the warm ocean spinning head over foot. I snap my eyes shut. Soon enough, I’ll be nothing but fish food.
Something snakes around my ankle, tugging the skin so hard I can nearly feel my skin rip. Then there’s something around my waist, drawing me up again.
“Leeenuh, hold on!” Kitaico yells as he hoists me into his arms, “We only need to get a bit higher, the scripiat won’t be able to follow much longer. He can’t survive in the shallows!”
He strokes one hand behind my head and tucks my body into his chest.
I don’t have enough air. My lungs burn as I involuntarily cough, and what little breath I have left escapes bubbling upward.
Kitaico slows and his heart is still pounding against my ear.
“The scripiat returns to the depths. We are safe,” he whispers.
I kick my legs weakly, pointing my finger to the surface. I can’t stop myself from gulping in a deep breath of salt water, choking on its mineral taste.
“Leeenuh, we are safe now. Stay calm.”
My vision blurs and I lose control of my head as it slumps into my alien hero—it’s not his fault he doesn’t know I breathe oxygen.
Darkness creeps into the edges of my vision.
I point up one more time before I lose consciousness.
We were so close.
Release Day for Bubble Babes #2!
Happy release day to Bubble Babes #2!
All I Wanted Was To Become A Scientist But Now I've Got An Alien Boyfriend by Petra Palerno
I hope you love Jessy & Gra'eth's story as much as I loved writing it!
Available at amazon and most other major book retailers! (If it's not in stock at your local bookstore, ask them to carry it!)
Art by the uber talented @listening_stars_
I’m a BESTSELLER?
Wait. What?
I hit number one in two of my genres, science fiction erotica and erotic science fiction, on amazon this Friday. I also broke top ten in the science fiction romance category.
I honestly never thought I’d sell more than a few books, I just wanted to write the weird smut I wanted to read. It’s a bizarre feeling and it’s taken a village to get me here. Between my amazing group of author friends, my editor who has the patience of a saint, the artists who took a chance to help bring my weird little world to life, and my friends who took a chance to read something a little out of this world I don’t think I could of done it without you.
Now I just need to battle this small case of imposter syndrome and get my rear in gear to finish book two of the bubble babes series.
The post where I admit I might have goofed.
Howdy! So this is a post where I admit I might have f*cked up a bit.
Let me start by saying that I love The Dropped Stitch Series—it’s the first book I ever published, and it was quite the learning journey. There are so many of you that love that story as is, but I realized in the process of writing and editing Bubble Babes that I could do better.
There’s always been a few more editing errors in TDS than I liked, it was a combination of not really understanding the editing process well and just general newbie author nonsense.
I also think that having my debut novel be a novella mini series instead of waiting to complete the three part series and a novel wasn’t my best idea. I jumped the gun and just wanted to get something out ASAP—but people didn’t love having to wait for the next installment and the two cliffhangers part one and two left them on.
So, on the heels of All I Wanted Was Sushi But I Got Abducted By Aliens Instead release I’ve decided to pull them.
I’ll be releasing all three parts as a full length novel in 2023.
How will the omnibus (a fancy word for a compilation of works in a series) be different than the novellas that are currently out? Let me tell you!
Better editing all around. I’ve found an editor and system that works great for me (and what I did for Bubble Babes) and I can’t wait to polish the works so many of you already love.
A switch from past tense to present tense. I find that I write so much more easily in present tense and find it so much more engaging to read.
Enhanced details and story telling. Although the story will remain the same, on rereads for my there are things that I really want to go more in detail with. Things about Cordelia’s hometown, relationships between the Summer court siblings, ect. You won’t be losing anything, but only gaining enriching details.
MORE ART! I have full blown character portraits coming for all our POV characters. They are beautiful and done by an amazing artist, I can’t wait!
Hardback, paperback, and book boxes. Since TDS will be a full length novel, a hardback will make sense. Also I’ve got some great plans for book boxes once the omnibus is released!
Also, for those of you who have physical copies of the novella, don’t worry, I’ll still do a novella sized option for part three so you can complete your collections.
I know that pulling a work after publication is never ideal, but I truly believe the work produced will be worth it!
If you’re looking for a Petra fix make sure to preorder All I Wanted Was Sushi But I Got Abducted By Aliens Instead at Barnes And Nobles and Amazon.
XOXO
PETRA
As a writer, I sure am averse to blogging.
Hey there internet strangers! Guess whose back, back again? It’s me, Petra Palerno.
As a writer, I sure am averse to blogging. Maybe it’s because I’ve been writing like a mad woman on The Dropped Stitch, and my newest adventure, All I Wanted Was Sushi But I Got Abducted By Aliens Instead on Kindle Vella and Patreon!
In case you missed it, The Dropped Stitch Part Two: Transportation was published!
Writing part two of Cordelia’s story was a really intense process. The takes a darker turn and while I love what I’ve created and can’t wait to start book 3, I needed a palette cleanser.
I’m slated to start book three next month—but decided to start a Vella story called All I Wanted Was Sushi But I Got Abducted By Aliens Instead. I know, it’s a departure from my first work, but it’s been so so fun to write!
AIWASBIGABAI is full-stop alien erotica. It’s somehow funny, action packed, heartwarming, and smutty all rolled into one. Once this first story is complete on Vella, it will be published as a novella as well. This story builds a world that begs for more, so it will be the first in a series called Bubble Babes.
I think once y’all meet our FMC Opal, and our Alien MMC Ke’ain you’ll understand the hype. There are so many readers who are calling Ke’ain their main book boyfriend—not to hype him up too much, but our sweet alien golden retriever of a man will hold your book for you to read in your decontamination unit.
If alien erotica is your thing, you should really check it out! It’s on Kindle Vella for our US readers and on Patreon for my international readers!
That’s my little overdue update! I might be posting some behind the scenes for the process of writing The Dropped Stitch Part Three over on the patreon as well. I promise to try to keep y’all updated more, but really to keep the most up to date with me you should be following me on tiktok!
XOXO,
Petra
The Dropped Stitch Part One- Now Available in Paperback!
It is completely surreal to hold your first published paperback in your hands, but here we are.
Interested in a signed copy directly from me instead of amazon?
XOXO,
PETRA
Now on Kindle Unlimited—The Dropped Stitch Part One!
I’ll be honest, I’m in the “throw everything at the wall and see what sticks” part of my journey in self-publishing. I tried Vella and wasn’t happy with the reads I was getting there, as the platform just isn’t as great as it could be, so I pulled my story and was posting for free elsewhere. The grass, dear reader, isn’t always greener on the other side, and now I’m back on Vella. There is one small difference, I’ve also posted the first part of The Dropped Stitch on Kindle Unlimited. It’s even got a fancy-schmancy new cover!
I think this will scratch my itch as an option to actually be able to read this story on your kindle. I’ll be honest I think is incredibly dumb you can’t read on your kindle with Kindle Vella—It’s literally in the name! I made it available on KU and hope that helps make this super accessible to those that have enjoyed reading for free in the past.
xoxo, Petra
Art For The Dropped Stitch
One of the cool things about posting outside of traditional publishing is that I can add all kinds of interesting extras. I commissioned some frames for some of my already posted chapters by the super talent Ana Kajaia. I can’t wait to get a frame for every chapter- just another reason to come back and take another look if you’ve read them already over on Wattpad!
I’m obsessed. It’s just another way this world is really coming to life for me.
xoxo,
Petra
A playlist for The Dropped Stitch
Hello friends and enemies.
As most writers are, I am amazing at procrastination. In fact, I spent a few hours this morning curating a playlist for The Dropped Stitch. These songs have all been on repeat for me during the writing process, so maybe you’d enjoy hearing them.
The Cinematic Orchestra is my absolute go-to for writing. This song and it’s meaning totally align with so many parts of my writing. It’s really beautiful.
Bjork, my queen. Unravel not only is hauntingly beautiful, but plays into the magical weaving aspect of The Dropped Stitch well.
What fantasy writer doesn’t Stan Aurora? Honestly, we’re not worthy of her music. Runaway played in the background the entire time I was writing the intro as Cordelia flees the beast.
This song was repeated for hours as I wrote a very spicy upcoming scene… If you’re into spice, you’re gonna want to catch some of the newer episodes on vella.
I wish I could tell you what scene I correlate this too—But I can’t just yet. It’ll feel like a knife straight to the chest.
For when we hit the lower point of The Dropped Stitch—Sad jams are what I use to set the vibe for my writing.
When isn’t love tearing my characters apart?
A bit different than the rest of the music on my list, but something about Halsey’s work with NIN just kind of speaks to badass, take no prisoner, female antagonists doesn’t it? This whole album feels like a power move.
Do you listen to music while you read or write? Have any songs you think would fit The Dropped Stitch or any of its characters well? Let me know in the comments below!
XOXO
Petra Palerno
Who is Petra Palerno?
Find out more about this dark romantic fantasy author.
Hello friends and enemies.
First things first, Petra Palerno is most decidedly my pen name. I won’t lie and say that I don’t enjoy the mystery and freedom that comes with anonymity. Most people in my day-to-day life don’t know I write—they don’t know about Petra. They certainly don’t know about my penchant for dark and romantic fantasy stories.
I, secretly, have always been a writer. I would scribble romance stories about faes and sirens in little composition notebooks and knew I would never let anyone read them ever. Fantasy wasn’t cool, romance wasn’t cool, and I was a cool girl. But the secret stories have reached their limit, I really can’t hold them back any longer. I can’t wait to put my current work in progress out into the world soon.
As far as what kind of writer I am? That’s hard to pin down. I like secrets, I like mystery, and most of all I love slow burns and star-crossed lovers. Something I don’t need for every story? A happy ending. I’ll be upfront for my readers there. I don’t need everything to be neatly tied up, I don’t need every wrong to be righted. I’m more Bronte than Austen. What I want instead of when you read my work is to feel something strongly, those feelings don’t always have to be good. Remember that you can’t know true happiness unless you acknowledge that you can feel its opposite.
I know I won’t be for everyone, but I can promise you I’ll try my best to make sure my stories are engaging, heart-wrenching, with moments of pure joy, and moments of utter desperation. Lean into the darkness a little bit with me, won’t you?