Boom Town

by Craig Martelle

  The Outcast (Through the Never Anthology, nominated for consideration for a Nebula Award)

  Defense of the Deep Space Denali (in The Expanding Universe Vol 2)

  A Language Barrier (in The Expanding Universe Vol 3)

  The Misadventures of Jacob Wild McKilljoy (with Michael-Scott Earle) (Always FREE)

  Box Sets & Anthologies

  Trader, Cygnus, & People Raged – Martelle Starter Library

  Close to the Bones, a Thriller Anthology (edited by Martha Carr)

  The Expanding Universe, Volume 1 (edited by Craig Martelle)

  The Expanding Universe, Volume 2 (edited by Craig Martelle)

  The Expanding Universe, Volume 3 (edited by Craig Martelle) (Dec 2017)

  Earth Prime Anthology, Volume 1 (Stephen Lee & James M. Ward)

  Apocalyptic Space Short Story Collection (Stephen Lee & James M. Ward)

  Lunar Resorts Anthology, Volume 2 (Stephen Lee & James M. Ward)

  Metamorphosis Alpha – Chronicles from the Warden Vol 1 (with James M. Ward, edited by Craig Martelle)

  Metamorphosis Alpha – Chronicles from the Warden Vol 2 (with James M. Ward, edited by Craig Martelle) (Dec 2017)

  Author Notes: Scott Moon

  Thanks for reading the eighth installment of Assignment Darklanding! We've really covered some distance in this story, haven't we? The people of Darklanding have finally tasted prosperity. Sadly, it can't last, can it? (Yep, Craig and I are working on episodes nine and ten… which means trouble right here in Darklanding (and maybe in other places you’ve been wondering about.)

  I hope you enjoyed Boom Town. I was about halfway through this one when that old movie Roadhouse with Patrick Swayze began creeping around in my head. Seemed like a natural fit, similar setting with larger than life characters and lots of martial arts action (I love a good karate flick).

  What I'd started out with was the idea that prosperity doesn't always mean peace and quiet. Then, as usual, my carefully crafted outline took on a life of its own and changed a little bit each time I sat down at the keyboard.

  I'm good with that. That's what makes writing fun. Always a surprise.

  I love all the positive feedback and reviews Craig and I get. It seems, big surprise, that Mast Jotham and Maximus are reader favorites. Who's your favorite character? (I'm trying to make sure I don't kill off the wrong characters… Kidding! Not kidding, no one is safe in these stories. LOL.)

  If you've stayed with us this long, you're a true fan! You deserve for your favorite character to make it to the end of season one, or at least go out in a blaze of glory.

  All joking aside, I am really thankful for your continued interest and friendship.

  Be safe,

  Scott

  Author Notes: Craig Martelle

  Written on 4/18/18

  Look at you (if you’re reading this, I’m looking at you) and I’m thanking you for still reading! Not only did you read this episode of Darklanding, you are still reading! That makes you my all-time favorite human being.

  We continue the series, full speed ahead through to Episode 12, as promised. We’ll call that season one. After the season is completed, we’ll step back and take a stab at a variety of marketing efforts in order to increase the core readership. That’s what it’s going to take for us to commit to a second season. We both have so many projects. Darklanding is fun, make no mistake about that.

  Our next effort is to shop it to Hollywood. Or Bollywood. Maybe Netflix. I’m indifferent as long as they treat the story right. You want a season two? That’s how you get a season two, come on Netflix! That is a one in a million chance, maybe one in a hundred thousand because we do know some people, maybe not the right people, but some people.

  The weather has changed and spring is coming. That means melting snow and lots of ice. The snow melts during the day when temperatures rocket to near 50F, but then everything freezes when overnight temps go below freezing. It makes for a really tough walk for poor Phyllis the Arctic Dog. In the afternoons, she becomes Phyllis Mc MuddyPaws. It’s not the best time of year, but at least I can wear shorts now. We went to the grocery store on Sunday. I wore shorts and a sweatshirt. It was 37F. I wasn’t the only one dressed like that. Welcome to the Sub-Arctic.

  Scott lives in Kansas. My son grew up there. It’s really flat. And windy. I’ve driven through it quite a few times. I’d rather fly in and then fly out. Nothing against Kansas, but it’s really flat.

  Alaska has mountains. Lots and lots of mountains, multiple mountain ranges, and big mountains.

  The aurora was out this morning, but we’re at the time of year where it never gets darker than twilight. That aurora was something to show through the dawn (it was 3:50 am, but the dawn’s light shone across the horizon). I watched for a while before going back inside. It’s what I do. I go outside and get some fresh air. Some days are colder than others. It was above freezing this morning which means we could have a righteous melty day. We need the sun to power through that last two feet of snow on the ground. Give it a couple more weeks and I’ll be able to take Phyllis into the ten acre wood behind our house.

  And there we are. I need to get back to the next story, Darklanding 9, A Warrior’s Home.

  Peace fellow humans.

  Copyright © 2018 Craig Martelle & Scott Moon

  All rights reserved.

  ASIN:

  Cover art by Kevin McLaughlin

  Editing services provided by Mia Darien – miadarien.com

  Based on a concept by Diane Velasquez, Dorene Johnson, and Kat Lind who also provide developmental editing for the series

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  ***

  We’d like to thank the following beta readers who make sure that this story goes to you as error free as humanly possible. They also keep us on track with the stories. What a great group of people we have helping us to tell better stories.

  Micky Cocker

  Kelly O’Donnell

  James Caplan

  Diane Velasquez

  Dorene Johnson

  Scott and I would both like to thank our families for putting up with us as we share the stories in our heads. We type slowly and it takes time to capture the words. Thank you for taking care of us while we’re doing our thing.