The Abandoned Lands: Meet Xan and Booger

Welcome to the Abandoned Lands!

Here, you are pretty much on your own, because, well, it’s mostly abandoned.

You know, except for the dinosaurs and the outlaws.

If  you are coming here to learn a little more about the Abandoned Lands because you read my story Junkyard Rex in Instinct: An Animal Rescuers Anthology, thank you! I hope you enjoyed the story.

If you haven’t read it, or haven’t heard about the anthology, boy are you missing out! You can remedy that here: https://amzn.to/3mJOyNf (that’s an affiliate link, so I may get a few pennies if you use it.) Also, approximately 70% of the profit from the sales of that anthology go to Lifeline Puppy Rescue. As of this writing, over 11,000 copies have been sold, which roughly translates into funding to rescue over a thousand puppies. We are very proud of that. Thank you if you supported it!

Though a stand-alone story, Junkyard Rex is a prequel of sorts to the novel I am almost finished writing: A Girl and Her Velociraptor.

Meet Xan and Booger. (Xan is the tall one.)

Best friends forever.

Here is a quick scene from the book:

Booger kept trying to sniff at the bandage on Xan’s arm as they headed toward the barn, so Xan finally stopped walking, sat down the egg bucket, and held her arm out for the velociraptor to inspect. Booger took a deep whiff and then snorted at the bandage. Stepping closer, she leaned her feathered head against Xan’s side.
“It’s no big deal,” Xan said, stroking Booger’s neck. “Only two stitches.”
Booger thrummed under Xan’s touch, and they stood like that for a moment, watching the setting sun turn the western sky orange.
“Are all of the chickens in the roost?” Xan finally asked.
Tipping her head upwards in a nodding motion, Booger barked a quiet yep.
“Let’s go count and make sure so Dad doesn’t get mad if you missed one.”
Booger snorted.
“I know you’ve never missed one, but it’s my butt if you do, and I don’t want to feed one to the nippers.”
Xan picked up the egg bucket and continued on.
“Speaking of which, did you find any nippers today?”
Booger snorted again.
“I know they’ve learned not to come here because you live here, but even if it’s an easy job, it’s still your job.”
They walked to the side of the barn where the three-foot wide chicken ramp had been extended down from the second story of the two-story barn. Booger eagerly bounded up the sloping ramp, using the tips of her claws to catch purchase in the holes of the metal mesh. Xan followed with big, loping steps, using the raised metal ribs between plates for footing, swinging the bucket as she went.
The chickens squawked at the velociraptor’s appearance in their roost. Booger sat down at the top of the ramp, watching them, apparently enjoying the commotion.
“Thank you for not riling them all up this time,” Xan said as she reached Booger’s side.
Booger lifted her head and made a soft cooing sound.

I hope you come back to read about the adventures these two have together when the book comes out!

(If you are an agent and interested, I’m still looking!)