The Pet Project Read online

  (You know--in theory. We’re not keeping people in our basement laboratory for my book research or anything. That would never work. Our dogs would insist we make those captive people play with them, and frankly, if I had to clean up after captives, I’d feel like they owed some tennis time to the dogs for us providing all the food and board... Hold the phone. If we had a captive or two to play with the dogs (is this why couples have children?) perhaps I’d get more writing done. Especially if the captives could be motivated to care for themselves. Hmm, I’m suddenly warming to this idea. What? Why are you looking at me like that?)

  Anyway, the drive-by tidbit: pet rats (called fancy rats) and laboratory rats originated from wild-caught stock--but with selective breeding, they’ve undergone psychological and physiological changes that have altered them into becoming a different sort of animal. No longer Rattus norvegicus, they earned the scientific classification of Rattus norvegicus domestica. The difference between a wild brown rat and a fancy rat is pretty astounding when you see them (or attempt to handle or interact with them) side by side. In this story, humans are in the somewhat early stage of being captively bred for the purpose of companion curiosities/pets. It was a fun concept to play with. If it turns out that you like this story, I’ve expanded on this premise! =D (If you did not enjoy this story, then forget I said anything!)

  NEXT UP FOR THE TRIVIA BITE: Ohmystars, you gotta see the inspiry for Beastly and Prime. RAWR. Irish model Gwilym Pugh’s rough-hewn alpha male headshot taken by photographer Edo Brugué (it’s the pic way down on the bottom, the ‘scarred’ face shown in this article: https://bit.ly/2YNCsSZ) was the inspiry for Beastly.

  Model Kevin Kreider was the inspiry for Prime. Specifically, this image of him wearing nothing but his underwear: https://bit.ly/34n0NA8 (Recently, I did see him in a shirt, and it turns out he looks fiiiine in that too. You know. If you approve of that kind of thing, men wearing clothing. Harder to objectify them sometimes but not impossible if one is determined. Fight the good fight!)

  The inspiry behind Ux-47 is probably *the nicest guy in real life,* so I’d feel bad waving his name/picture around. Feel free to insert your most heinous ex-boyfriend/lover/husband/boss or handy evil-creeper-neighbor while imagining this character.

  The inspiry for Aiko (Prime and Pet’s daughter): search Baby Chanko and just LOOK AT THAT HAIR! She has a MANE. Such a sweet face too. What a little cutie!!! https://bit.ly/34oa3nE and https://bit.ly/38BtVXO. The name Aiko means beloved one.

  Caoimhe is Gaelic for beautiful. It is pronounced Kee-va (Aiko’s twin half-sister).

  READER QUESTION FOR PET PROJECT:

  Question: Why did the babies from artificial wombs die?

  Answer: This concept was borrowed from the infamous Harlow monkey studies and a couple purported orphanage experiments. You may have already learned about these, but if not, if you’re curious, read on. (WARNING: If you do NOT want to read something that could potentially sadden you, just walk away knowing that the intrinsic thing the babies were missing in this book’s scene was simply love.)

  Onto the inspiry: there are a myriad of sources claiming that touch deprivation and isolation experiments were carried out on human children in an orphanage in 1944 and the babies died. Is it true? Save for one Psychology Today article that referenced it (and claimed the babies died, but referenced no specific study data), I didn’t find a trusted source with detailed information, so let’s set that aside. There is most definitely documented research that was done on monkeys by Doctor Harry Harlow that, if your junior high, high school, college Science/Psychology classes didn’t show you the videos of sad, sad baby monkeys and the ‘rape rack’ used to get them, well—your daycycle will not get sunnier if you delve into them today.

  [FOREST GUMP QUOTE: “And that’s all I have to say about that…”]

  There was also affection deprivation research done on rats, and in those cases, if the infants didn’t receive touch, they didn’t grow. Homosapiens’ biology is a little different (infant rodents must be stimulated in order to eliminate) but it’s safe to say human babies need more hands-on interaction than diaper changes. For this story, touch deprivation caused complete failure to thrive in the study’s infants, with ‘affection as a crucial need’ being a concept that the cerebral Cryptop aliens didn’t have the frame of reference to factor into their equations.

  Some Cures for A Book Hangover

  If you’re looking for a sweet read, I enjoyed Royally Yours, by Emma Chase. Ebook: https://amzn.to/34k9TxQ (I listened to the audiobook narrated by the amazing Shane East and Andi Arndt: https://amzn.to/2Eu2cL3)

  In the Unlikely Event by L.J. Shen. Ebook: https://amzn.to/2qT5t3h. This is not a romantic comedy, but L.J. Shen can craft a sentence with enough sharp humor that you laugh out loud. If you’re looking for angst and fate and destined enemy-to-lovers, this’ll be your thing. The Audiobook was narrated by a slew of great voices, but I’ll tell you right now, I’m all for Joe Arden and Shane East: https://amzn.to/2PPH5rw

  Another sweet read if you’re in the mood. A Negotiated Marriage by Noelle Adams: https://amzn.to/2LPCULl

  A BDSM genre novella--sweet. Simon Says: Mine by Cherise Sinclair: https://amzn.to/36GATct

  I haven’t read this one, but it’s on my ereader, waiting: Prisoner of Night (The Black Dagger Brotherhood World) by J.R. Ward Ebook: https://amzn.to/36B5O9T Audiobook: https://amzn.to/2PIAKOE

  I ONE-CLICKED THIS PUPPY THE MOMENT IT WENT ON PRE-ORDER: Best Friends (New Species Book 15) by Laurann Dohner: https://amzn.to/2Eeqb0z. We’re doing the family rounds this month so slipping off to read could prove tricky--but you bet that I’m going to try. If this is you too, GOOD LUCK! :D

  Books & Audiobooks by Amanda…

  Want to check out what else I’ve written? YOU ARE AWESOMENESS PERSONIFIED ♥. *Heart Eyes*

  Arokh and Angie’s story ebook: https://amzn.to/2A6sH9T

  This book is also available in Audio, narrated by the talented Nick Cracknell: https://adbl.co/2N7WXHF

  Zadeon and Callie’s story ebook: http://amzn.to/2EZEitg

  Audiobook voiced by Nick Cracknell: https://adbl.co/2Nx8WxR

  (WARNING: This one has some Dark times. This couple’s love is beautiful though, and they get their Happily Ever After.)

  Brax, Tara, and Tac’Mot’s story is here: http://amzn.to/2FeuFGl

  Audiobook narrated by Teddy Hamilton and Callie Dalton: https://amzn.to/2zUkHWu

  (If you had to classify this one, it’s almost Reverse Harem. This is an MFM book, which means there are two (alien) guys and one woman but it’s not *quite* menage, because Brax is a Rakhii, and you know this means he doesn’t share his female. Slight problem: his female is bonded to Tac’Mot.)

  Dohrein and Gracie’s story: https://amzn.to/2Qn4lwo

  Audiobook voiced by Nick Cracknell: https://adbl.co/2s6gN96

  Blind Fall, the standalone story that answers the question you’ve all been asking me: “Is the guide dog okay?”

  Spoiler: She’s MORE than okay. ♥ This is Breslin and Sanna’s story. If you read this one, I hope you have fun.

  https://amzn.to/2PvoaAm

  Audiobook narrated by Teddy Hamilton and Callie Dalton: https://amzn.to/2WImX17

  Beth’s Stable, a reverse harem romance for movie-lovers. Just trust me. ;)

  https://amzn.to/2ZFxyLx

  A fun side project *Not* related to the Stolen series:

  Valos of Sonhadra Series

  Alluvial, Book 1: https://amzn.to/2OhfX33

  Tempest, Book 2, written by Poppy Rhys: https://amzn.to/2uPfihv

  Galvanizing Sol, Book 3, by Amanda Milo & Poppy Rhys: https://amzn.to/2AgxDZE

  Another side project:

  Contaminated, a Cosmic Fairy Tale https://amzn.to/36RFbhS

  (Erreck and Nancy’s story, which features Simmi as a lovably gruff secondary character.)

  Contagion: Simmi’s standalone, germphobic HEA story https://amzn.to/2ElEVuk

  And a random coloring book tha
t I drew for fun: https://amzn.to/2MSk3Pu

  About the Author

  Amanda Milo is a collector of the randomest trivia. Did you know that Kiwi fruit plants have separate genders? You need both in order to make Kiwi fruits happen. Isn’t that cool??

  She’s concerned about river otter bite pressure—she hasn’t had a chance to test this out, but frankly, this is the part that’s holding her back from appropriating and testing the relocation (aka wildlife theft) of a small family of adorable river otters.

  ...To the bathtub. (They’re basically like slick-furred rubber duckies, but with lots of teeth, right? Right.)

  Extended contemplation of this plan has led to the permission to adopt more ferrets, which makes her very happy. So does her extensive, wacky-patterned, thigh-high sock collection—though ferrets, it must be noted, do not play well with pretty socks. The crazy, clawed thieves!

  She invites you to hang out with her in the Amanda Milo’s Minions Facebook group. (She didn’t name the group! XD Readers have great senses of humor!)

  Thank you for picking up this book. Amanda hopes that you had a lovely time. ♥