Flight of the Kestrel Collection

By Ann Marie Thomas

Stowaway
This story is background information about Joseph Darrow, the captain of the spaceship the Kestrel. Doing a favour for a friend turns out to have disastrous consequences, and cause Darrow to resolve never to break the rules again.
See how Darrow’s resolve to stick to the rules is tested in Intruders, Flight of the Kestrel book 1.

Escape
This story is background information about the trainee on the spaceship the Kestrel. Tabitha Enns is desperate to go into space, but her parents won’t allow it.
See how Enns is tested when she is plucked from the training school for work experience on board the Kestrel in Intruders, Flight of the Kestrel book 1.

Hope Deferred (makes the heart sick)
This story is background information about Nathaniel Parks, the First Officer of the spaceship the Kestrel. A serious injury puts an end to his career in space.
Parks gets called up to the Kestrel in Intruders, Flight of the Kestrel book 1, chapter 14.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ann Marie Thomas
• Release date: Aug 11, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215315668

Ann Marie Thomas

Writing poetry and making up stories since I was a child, I only started to write seriously when my children were grown. My main ambition is to write science fiction, but along the way I got fascinated by local history and distracted by a major stroke. I wrote poetry about my stroke and spent my recovery writing a local history book. Taking early retirement gave me the chance to concentrate on my writing. I have been married for over 45 years, with 4 grown children and 8 grandchildren.I had already written up my research into the de Braose family before my stroke, but the long hours in hospital gave me time to think about it in detail. Once I came home, rather than sitting doing nothing, I rewrote the book, and taught myself to format and publish in both ebook and print. My husband contacted the art department of the local university, who helped me find a wonderful artist to illustrate my books.Alina, The White Lady of Oystermouth came out as an ebook and in print for the locals and the tourist market at Easter 2012 and it's success gave me the impetus to write another, Broken Reed: The Lords of Gower and King John, which came out in September 2013.The 800th anniversary of Magna Carta in 2015 led me to adapt and enlarge my Broken Reed book and produce The Magna Carta Story: The Layman's Guide to the Great Charter. This came out in May 2015.During my research I found other fascinating stories which are not long enough for a book, so I collected them together into Medieval Gower Stories, published in October 2017.I am now working on another great story from Gower medieval history: Swansea Miracle.When I was in hospital I wrote a flood of poetry, about my stroke, my therapy, my faith, and random things like the rain outside my window. I have now published them as an ebook and print, My Stroke of Inspiration. 22 poems in all: verse, doggerel, and blank verse. The poems talk about suffering and patience, therapy and faith, and are surprisingly cheerful. If you are a stroke survivor or know someone who is, or just enjoy poetry, these poems will comfort, encourage and inspire you.There is also a Christian non fiction book, Blinded by the Light, warning of the traps Christians can fall into, published in February 2020.I continue to work on my recovery from the stroke, and although I am disabled I lead a very busy life. I am involved in my church and active on social media. I am still writing science fiction, a series called Flight of the Kestrel, about the adventures of the crew of the Fast-Response spaceship the Kestrel. The first book in the series - Intruders - was published in April 2016, and the second - Alien Secrets - was published in October 2017. The third - Crisis of Conscience - was published in June 2021. Watch out for book 4 Planet Fall.

Book preview

Flight of the Kestrel Collection

(three short stories)

A M Thomas

Kestrel artwork by Brett Buckle

Published by Alina Publishing

Copyright © Ann Marie Thomas 2023

Ann Marie Thomas has asserted her right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988

to be identified as the author of this work

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

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Flight of the Kestrel is a series of space adventures:

Intruders: Flight of the Kestrel book 1

Tabitha Enns is given work experience on board the Kestrel, on the adventure of her life, that will push her to the limit. When a hostile alien species are discovered, the Kestrel is sent to make contact, leading the crew – and Tabitha – into danger, and the crew have problems with their friends as well as their enemies.

Alien Secrets: Flight of the Kestrel book 2

On a failed mission to look for a secret weapon, Shom Reuel of the Kestrel saves a man – twice. It seems everyone wants him, but is he a friend or a deadly enemy? And will the shock of his