Alien Proliferation

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
     
    I’m running out of creative ways to thank Sheila Gilbert and Cherry Weiner, my editor and agent, or Lisa Dovichi and Mary Fiore, my crit partner and main beta reader. So this time around, the simple “you’re the best in the world” will have to suffice.
    Thanks again to everyone I thanked the last times, anyone I might have missed at any time, and everyone else added onto my own Alpha Team along the way, for all you do and keep on doing—you know who you are and why I love and appreciate you.
    Love and thanks again and always to Team Gini, all those on Hook Me Up!, and all Alien Collective Members in Very Good Standing around the globe—you remain the best fans in the world and each and every one of you continue to totally rock my world. Extra love again and always to the legion of book review bloggers who continue to support books in general and my books in particular. *Smootchies* to all my Twitter peeps and Facebook folks, just ’cause.
    Extra shout outs to: Nicole Snyder for being my consistent entourage and cheering section at what seems like every con; Terese Simpson for always being ready to meet me at Brent’s (and stay for hours) whenever I’m in L.A.; Adrian and Lisa Payne for always showing up at my signings, with smiling faces and books in hand; everyone who came out to see me when I was in NYC, both at Posman Books (waves madly to Stacey Agdern) and other less exciting locations, particularly those who came from far, far away and through all kinds of wet and windy weather (love you ALL), just to see me; authors Marsheila Rockwell, Seanan McGuire, Amber Scott, Erin Kellison, and Erin Quinn for writing awesome books I love as well as making me laugh and feel like a much bigger author than I probably am every time I talk to or see them; everyone at DAW Books, but most especially Joshua Starr, Marsha Jones, and Debra Euler who manage to handle every frantic email or call from me with aplomb, speed, and efficiency; and my Sanity Buddies—Helen King, Colette Vernon, Linda Artac, Tina Barker, and Dixie McMullan—the gals who drag me off and out of the house for the occasional reminder that there’s life away from my computer.
    Last, but in no way least, the biggest thanks and all my love to the two people who make this all worthwhile, my husband, Steve, and daughter, Veronica. I continue to be the luckiest wife, mother, and author because you’re in my life.

 
    Y OU’D THINK AFTER FIGHTING parasitic jellyfish things from space that turn humans into fugly monsters, fending off some killer alligators while dodging mystery explosives, and warding off an alien invasion, I’d be able to handle anything, right?
    Right!
    Um, well, let’s define “handle.”
    From what I’ve read and every single freaking person on the planet I’ve talked to has told me, pregnancy is a wonderful time in a woman’s life. None of them mentioned the nausea, hypersensitivity, headaches, blurry vision, or exhaustion. Nope, it’s all ducks and bunnies and blue bears and purple dinosaurs.
    Of course, the few people whose information actually counts don’t quite agree. There are only a few of them, because there are only a few of us, so far—those who’ve gone where no other women have gone before—interspecies procreation. What can I say? I like to be cutting edge.
    When you’re married to an alien from Alpha Four of the Alpha Centauri system, there are benefits. Jeff’s smart, funny, and drop dead gorgeous. He also has two hearts, which gives him hyperspeed, superhuman strength, and amazing regenerative powers that are particularly pleasant in the bedroom. He’s also the strongest empath on Earth and, most likely, the galaxy. Which means I never have to whine for the tummy and foot rubs, and he knows my odd food cravings before I do.
    The downside is that human-alien hybrid babies have human genetics dominant for the outside and A-C genetics dominant for the inside. You try being kicked by a hyperspeeding supermule for five months straight and then tell me it’s the most wonderful time of the year.
    But no worries! Plenty of women continue in their careers while they’re preggers. Oh, sure, I’m dealing with end of the world as we know it stuff, but hey, I take on megalomaniacs and psychopaths for breakfast! Got an entire extended team who’re all at the top of their respective games. What could they possibly throw at us that we haven’t seen before?
     
    I mean, you know, besides