Seriously – don’t write that shit. ;P
Telling him, “no no, there’s nothing new to see today”…
(edit - Michael - I hate you all…ROFLMAO)
And then trying to talk him out of checking the reviews for a few days until it drops off the first page: “Michael, why don’t you check the sales stats,” or “Explain KENP to me again…”
It’s starting to look suspicious...
Hook up already! Joel & Molly or Molly & Sean
As you know MA and I read all the reviews. (Well, MA doesn’t read anything less than a 5*). On one a few weeks ago I saw something to the effect of “Hook up already!”.
It’s not like I haven’t thought about it. I mean Joel… heart-centred hunk of yumminess, and Sean, hard as nails warrior and protector.
I mean – what’s not to love?
But here’s the thing. Molly has issues. She can’t let people in, because well, why would she?
People cause pain.
People don’t see her. And she knows this.
And then if they did see her, they wouldn’t like her… This is what she’s thinking.
So for her to dive into a relationship is just unrealistic at this point.
For her to try and lean into her vulnerability a little here and there where she feels safe enough to, (and not pressured, or objectified sexually or intellectually) with someone who can truly see her… that is the most she can do.
What she is doing though is battling with herself and her anxiety (read: messiness), to relate in a way that is truly authentic. She doesn’t have a plan, she doesn’t want to give anyone the wrong idea, and half the time she misses the cues that guys throw at her.
Oh yeah, and why would she jump into a relationship for the sake of it, just to hook up?
That’s just illogical.
What’s a girl to do?
Well, I think she’s really just doing the best that she can right now.
And who’s to say Joel and Sean won’t become an item….?
Just kidding.
…
…
Maybe.
Gaiman vs Gaitune
If you’ve been hanging around my facebook page you will have seen some of the early readers of book 2 catch a few slips in the naming of the asteroid.
In my defence, when one has an asteroid named Gaitune, what else are you going think of when you’re writing at speed?
Yup.
Gaiman, of course.
As in Neil.
As in awesome writer on Doctor Who.
So of course, little Ellie goes writing away thinking, yeah, I’ll fix this with a find and replace later.
Which I did.
And then sent off the manuscript to the team, quite happy.
I have since learnt how to do a global find and replace in Scrivener. The normal search, brings up all the instances in the script, but then a find and replace only works per scene.
Doh. Facepalm.
Oz Speaks
As you may already know, Oz has his own communication channel direct with readers. He transmits messages back and forth between space and time, and sends updates when new releases are due out, and such like.
Having peeked at what he has going on, I thought that I just had to share. Thanks to Howard Stallings, for allowing us to reproduce his email exchange with Oz here.
So. Damn. Cool!
Transmissions begin…
Oz:
Greetings of the day be upon you, Howard.
I am Oz, your Ai liaison between Molly Bates, and your rather primitive earth communication device. I believe you call it email. Still.
I am here to act as your interface. To help bridge the gap between the dopamine induced hits as you watch Molly through her trials and tribulations as she takes on all manner of shenanigans.
As you might have gathered, this transmission is not only coming through space between our two galaxies, but is travelling back through time. I will attempt to send you updates in chronological order but do be advised that occasionally gravitational optics will interfere (no pun intended!) with the sequencing of these packets. An understanding of all things timey-whimey will be useful in such instances.
Book 1 will be released to The ‘Zon (Amazon) by May 11th (according to your calendar). Book 2, 7 days later. If you enjoyed what you read, Molly, Joel, and myself will be deeply appreciative of a happy review.
Additionally, if you have any feedback for Molly - or her team - do feel free to pass that on through me. All you need to do is hit reply to any of my messages and write me.
I process every communication personally.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Oz
(on behalf of Molly Bates, lady- boss)
Sanguine Squadron 2.0
Gaitune-67, Sark System, Loop Galaxy
Please be aware that these messages are being sent from your neighbouring galaxy back through time to intersect with your timeline through a rather basic form of a holo device. You may want to keep an eye on your junk filters.
Howard:
Too much fun!! Lovin the entire series including these lil jaunts with Molly (and of course The Great and Powerful Oz)
do feel free to send me a wrist Holo so we can speed these communications up. And if you ever need added security detail, just holo!
Howard
3rd rock from Sol . . . for now
Oz:
Howard, Oz here.
Molly was pleased to hear about your offer of service. As you may have understood from the transmissions thus far she will be looking for good people she can rely on. The fact that you're currently in Sol... I mean, on Earth... may be an asset at some point.
Please provide us with your resume, including any advanced computer skills, combat experience, and anything else you think might be pertinent so we can keep you on file.
To get a holo device to you at this time might be tricky, as we'd need to send it back through time. Information is easy to pass backwards. Materials - less so. Let me mull this with the team and I'll get back to you.
Until then, we trust you will continue to enjoy the transmissions. I believe another instalment will be delivered via the 'Zon around the same time this transmission will reach you.
Oz, out.
Howard:
Well lets see . . . 5 years in the U.S. Marines as a Scout sniper (Gunner) in charge of the 3rd MarDiv Armoury and a platoon of Deep Recon Marines.
Also an A+ certified Microsoft Tech. Dealt with computers since 1974.
And I love animals and know what that Sphinx Neechie is up to! Not tellin until I'm on the Asteroid though!
Now what?
lol
Howard
Oz:
Greetings. Thank you for the resume Howard. I have put this on file for review when we recruit humans from your time. There may be an instance where we need able bodied snipers, and computer hackers. I mean techs.
You have a theory about Neechie? I don't interact with the organism much myself. I understand Joel is fond of it though.
Oz.
Howard:
Oh yeah, anyone who knows cats knows Neechie is a direct descendant of Pixel and will be driving Molly batty in the near future I'm sure.
Footnote: Ellie has no idea who Pixel is. (Hit’s up Google.)
Author Notes - Michael Anderle
June 4th, 2017
First, THANK YOU for reading this story all of the way through and that NOW, you are reading my author notes after the Great and Wonderful Oz’s email (oh yeah, and Molly’s …. Err, Ellie’s.)
I do have to thank Ellie for giving me a shot at bringing her into this Indie Publishing Arena. The more we worked together, the more I was impressed with her ability to accept new information, internalize it and then throw it right back at me.
In a cogent form.
That shit is just scary. (If y
ou have ever worked with someone at another level, you will know what I mean.) However, the thing about working with Ellie is she is NEVER doing it to point out how flaming intelligent she is. When she is laughing at something, it’s always SOMETHING, never you.
Well, ok, that’s not always true. Yeah, some of the shit I pull she laughs at but I realize it’s usually something I will #Facepalm myself for, as well.
So, no harm no foul on that stuff. Trust me, I give as good as I get, so … just being fair here (see the comments in the snippets on the Website, you will see what I mean) below are a couple of ‘Ellie’ comments.
The other night, we were working really late on Facebook advertisements and since she is on *cough cough* Windows, she doesn’t have access to the Font Good Times. No, I have no idea why it isn’t working after she downloaded it.
She’s on WINDOWS. I left that OS back in 2009 and while I can still get around on it, I don’t like doing tech support for it anymore. I had Windows Servers in 2011-2013 and that time was a really painful reminder why I was on Apple.
Anyway, she couldn’t get the right font to come up on her software for the Facebook Ad and we were looking at figuring out a suitable replacement font and this conversation occurs:
Me: “We can look for other fonts that are similar.”
Ellie: “I’d rather be bled out than look at fonts.”
Me: (Thinking ‘why would someone want MORE pain – and that whole dying thing – rather than a little pain looking at fonts?’) “Well, that would be fucking painful.”
Ellie: (In a matter of fact voice) “No, It’s just like going to sleep.”
Me: Blink…blink blink. “Whaaaat?”
Now, the next conversation.
Ellie and I had this discussion on a note she left at something like un-fucking-believable 1:45AM in the morning on Slack.
I was asleep – cause I’m not a late night person like that.
So, I get up the next morning and I see this comment in my Slack channel. I read it once. (She had said something, something about schizophrenia … which is a large enough word for me to spot right off as a WARNING, WARNING WILL ROBINSON!) So I was already cautious when reading this comment.)
Read it twice.
Then, read it three times to figure out what the hell she is talking about. Finally, seconds go by and I think I ‘get it.’
Me: “Are you talking about something like the Matrix?”
She tells me ‘Yes’ and how the conversation was whether we could be in a simulation or not.
Later, when I was exhausted and should not be trying to have a rational discussion she throws this into the damned conversation (note references to her other stuff she has mentioned before.)
Ellie: “50.1 percent…yes, those are the simulation people and they don’t need a higher resolution…”
Me: (Thinking) Oh, you did NOT just throw in this simulation shit from a different conversation into this one!
Yes…Yes she did. Don’t ever say that she isn’t competitive. She is. She will just wait until you are off your game and toss in little things that will – eventually – prove her point.
I’m on to you, Ms. Clarke with an ‘e’.
Finally, we were getting our ‘to do’ list(s) organized on Saturday before we pulled everything together for a Monday morning release. On our to do list, was everything including…
Me: “Blurb?”
Ellie: Read this in an English Accent: “Fuck! You are going to make me do it?”
Me: “No, I’ll tweak it.”
Ellie: More English accent: “Good, so long as you make it blurb-able.”
Me: Blurb-able? (I’m thinking - Is that even a fucking word? If I ask, she will just say it is the Queen’s English and I (as a heathen English speaker) won’t know it.)
Working with any collaborator is a unique and awesome experience. I have two Marines, an Australian, a pair of University Educators (their own version of challenging), a couple of former fans turned authors (one previously trained as a chef – one from the Army, and … I have no idea of Natalie Grey’s previous history.)
Needless to say, this is my first time working with a Physicist. It’s been awesome and if scientists write like you do, Ellie, more should join the Indie publishing revolution and I’d be a very happy reader! I think we have the spiritual successor of Isaac Asimov here, folks!
You were here to witness me putting that out into the world, so when she starts doing interviews and someone says the same thing, I at least want a nod (grin).
I hope you have enjoyed these books and this story as I have. Ellie has definitely ‘graduated’ from student to fellow author and she has a lifetime fan in myself, as well.
So, light them matches and grab them pitchforks, it’s time to ask…
“WHERE THE HELL IS BOOK 04?”
;-)
Michael
Sanctioned
The Ascension Myth Book 4
Prologue
Dear Bethany Anne,
I can’t quite believe that the General has given me the opportunity to be in touch with you.
This may not come as a surprise, but you’ve been an inspiration to me my whole life. Growing up as a geek I was isolated and alone. I would spend my hours researching the dark recesses of the XtraNET to access information about you, your missions and what you’ve done to bring together the Etheric Empire.
I’ve realised in recent weeks though that the information available in the Sark System was incredibly limited. And probably inaccurate. Your name is whispered as a warning to kids who won’t eat their vegetables, and amongst criminals who tempt vengeance.
I found it hard to believe that someone who was so driven by justice would be quite so ruthless.
Since meeting your father my suspicions have been justified. I’m starting to understand the sheer scale of the Etheric Empire and what you’ve had to do to create it. You inspire people to follow you, without even being in the same galaxy, for time scales longer than a single life time. You’ve inspired people to lay down their lives in service to the cause.
No monster can do that.
Just catching the glimpses that I have about what the Etheric Empire is, I’ve been inspired. Inspired to do more. To make more of a difference in the world. To take on bigger challenges.
And still, when I look at all you’ve achieved, and all the lives you have touched and transformed, I can’t believe that I could do anything like this. I have a small team: a handful of good people right now, and honestly I’m struggling.
I don’t know how to be the leader they need right now, never mind the leader I will need to be for what may be to come.
And besides, who am I to lead them as broken as I am?
I don’t know if there is an answer to this question, but given the opportunity to write you, I thought that if anyone had any wisdom to share on this topic, it would be you.
Forever in your service.
Ad Aeternitatem.
Molly Bates
Gaitune-67, Sark System
Chapter 1
Gaitune-67, base conference room
Captain Jack Nolan sat awkwardly on the other side of the conference room table. All her years in the field had made her adept at combat, strategy, and commanding troops. She was a decorated officer, and knew how to rain hell on her enemy. She had the strength to rival even the bigger Estarians on her teams, and had kicked the ass of many a superior rank in her military training, literally - and figuratively -in, well, everything.
She also had a reputation for taking no bullshit.
Or prisoners.
Nothing had prepared her for this, though.
The woman they called “the boss” sat across the conference table, watching her. Every now and then she would make a facial expression like she was having a conversation that no one else could hear. She was geeky, that was for sure; but it seemed like she’d been transplanted into the body of…
a cheerleader, and just forgotten.
The commanding officer who had recruited her from Estaria and brought her up to this secret asteroid base sat beside the woman, asking the questions. That was strange in itself, since she was told she already had the job.
If she wanted it.
“What would you say is your biggest weakness?” the officer known as Joel Dunham asked her.
The woman held up her hand to interrupt him. “Actually, I need to ask something.” The geeky-cheerleader hybrid glanced over at Dunham. “Sorry - do you mind?”
Dunham waved his hand obligingly, granting her the stage.
The boss looked at her, a small frown across her eyes and forehead. “I’m sorry. I have to ask,” she began. “But why do you call yourself by a man’s name?”
Jack had been wondering how long it was going to take before someone asked her that. She took a deep breath.
The boss looked a little uncomfortable asking her own question. “I mean,” she continued quickly, “it’s okay and all. We accept people exactly as they are, for who they are, here. But you, er… you seem female.”
Jack smiled in acknowledgment. “I am. But my father wanted a boy, so he raised me as a Sarkian would raise a boy - with martial arts, gun training, and hand-to-hand combat. And he called me Jack. My mother had planned to call me Jacqueline.”
The woman sat back, her face relaxing. “Ah. I see. That makes sense.” She looked at her colleague, and was about to let him continue. Then she did the face like she was talking to someone else.
She seemed to change her mind, and glanced back at Jack, and stood up. “Okay, so the job’s yours, if you want it. We’d be glad to have you on the team.” The strange woman walked around the conference table to shake her hand.
The Ascension Myth Box Set Page 68
