title: The Beauty in Sinking Ships
author:  Jeri Sylvia 
description: Jeri Sylvia grew up as a Navy brat in San Pedro, California where she mastered the art of the slip-n-slide, pillow fighting, and sliding down hills on pieces of cardboard. Luckily, she only managed to break a few bones in the process, but from there stems a determination to overcome any challenge; a motto that has propelled her through life. She now resides in Lakewood, California with her loving family, 5 cats (Azrael, Atari, Atticus Finch, Boo Radley & Hurley) and several strays (Scout, Tiramisu, Cheesecake, Snowy, Ash, Black Beard, Whitey, Bulger & Ford, Pumpkin, Spice, Freckles, Priest, Nintendo and Commodore). When Jeri is not writing or cleaning fur off of her clothes, she can be found working on her new business, Creatish, in which she sells decorative wine glasses within her etsy shop and www.etsy.com/shop/socreatish.
zlib_text: Dedication
  
  
  To friends present and absent. The journey would not have been the same
  without you. Thank you.
  
  
  Chapter One
  
  
  “What the fuck?”
  
  
  Nerys yelped in surprise as a smaller craft appeared out of the mist ahead,
  cutting her off just as she emerged onto the main current of the Icarian solar
  road. As she flicked the bow lights on, she whispered a prayer they were still
  operational. Or if they weren’t, then at least traffic control didn’t see they
  were out. To her relief they worked, highlighting the small craft in front of
  her in their beam.
  
  
  “I hope they fucking blind you! It’s people like you who cause accidents!
  Fricking idiot.”
  
  
  She carried on cursing—even though she knew there was no way the other pilot
  could hear her—and trimmed her sails to avoid a collision. The swell rose and
  slapped against the side of the ship, bringing with it the burnt-copper smell
  of the solar road. Drawing a deep breath, she pitted her weight against the
  wheel to haul the helm around.
  
  
  He’d cut 