by Martha Carr
“Aren’t you here to arrest us?”
“Arrest you? We’ve been assigned to help you, dearie. The network has been keeping track of you, just in case you needed our assistance. Didn’t you get the memo? We lost you in the bowling alley but picked up on you again once you got to Chicago.”
“You were the ones tracking us,” said Leira.
“We were one group. Someone else was keeping an eye on your whereabouts but we were never able to determine who. Come on, there’s no time to stand around and chat. Help me with this big fellow.”
Leira helped the witch get a heavyset man back into a chair, and moved on to pose two waiters nearby, scooping up the spilled cheese puffs back onto his tray.
“Check the restroom,” said one of the witches. “Go on,” she said to the wizard. “I had to do it last time. It’s your turn.”
“Fuck me,” he said, but ran for the men’s room.
“Messy piece of business. Never know what you’ll find and have to get it all straight in a hurry,” she said, wrinkling her nose.
Another wizard used a portable vacuum cleaner and sucked up what remained of Bill Somers and Dean Muston.
“That’s going to confound the police for some time,” the witch observed, pushing up her glasses again. “Nothing to be done about that,” she told Leira. “There are a few of our kind on the Chicago police force. We gravitate to this line of work. That should help.”
“Okay, that just about does it. We all need to get out of here. They won’t remember the last thirty minutes of their lives and that should erase every memory of the two of you. That way when the police question everyone here about the mens’ disappearance, no one will describe you two.”
“We think Somers had an accomplice,” said Leira.
“It won’t matter. All he can do is talk about magic and portals. If he’s not careful, whoever he is, he’ll find himself in a padded room. Don’t worry,” she said, smiling at Leira. “We’ll keep watch. This kind of thing happens more than you realize. Not usually on this grand a scale,” she admitted, “but close.”
“Time to go,” said one of the wizards, breathing hard. He was posing a large man, making him look like he was laughing at someone’s joke.
“You can make their faces do that,” asked Leira, pushing the sides of someone’s mouth into a smile to test it out.
“Sure can,” said the witch. “We find it helps them ignore the momentary disorientation if they think they’re having a good time.
“This is not your first time,” she said to Correk, watching him deftly pose a woman. She looked like she was whispering something into another woman’s ear.
Leira looked out over the room and saw that everyone was smiling or laughing. One man was even bent over in laughter.
“I had a hard time getting him to stand up straight,” said a wizard, sheepishly. “Had to go with this.”
“Only about ten seconds left. We need to be gone like the wind,” said a witch.
The witch took one last look around the room and then ushered everyone quickly out the way they came in, piling into the minivan, shoving Leira and Correk into the middle seat.
“What just happened back there?” Leira asked jerking a thumb over her shoulder.
“The prince’s death was avenged, granted, in an unexpected and unconventional manner and the necklace is still lost,” responded Correk, concern written on his face. “Someone beat us to it.”
“That will have to be for another day,” said the witch from the front seat.
“Agreed,” said Correk. “The necklace has lost most of its power.”
“Still, even with only half it’s a powerful artifact,” said a wizard.
“We’ll send out a description through the magical world here on Earth,” said the witch. “If it turns up we’ll hear about it. The Order thanks you for your service. We’ll file a report and for the time being, this matter is closed.”
“We’ve done all we can for now and there are other matters for us to get to.” said Corrik, looking around.
“Like my mother.” She nodded her head. “You’re right. She’s waited long enough and so have I.”
FINIS
The Troll Owns Us
So, when Martha and I were kicking around how to explain the world’s history, I told here we HAD to add in a sidekick…Something fun…something cute … a troll.
(Her idea of cute is WAY off normal… but I digress.)
However, the Troll didn’t have a name (ok, a name that was cute), until a fateful plane trip between New York, USA and Barcelona, Spain when I was reading Martha’s beta of the story.
I read “Yum fuck” and LOST it. It was making me laugh too much and I knew we had to change the name from her original name, to …
Yumfuck… then we played with different versions etc. until we both loved Yumfuck Tiberius Troll… YTT for those who need a “G” rating ;-)
Because, the power is in the name, right?
We talked about merchandise and everything, but there just wasn’t time. Until Monday. On Monday, you readers made Martha’s dream become a reality and I wanted to give her something that would mean something special. So, I grabbed the artwork we had, and worked on it to place it up on Society 6 (where we have Kurtherian swag as well) just so I could order her a mug.
Well, the instructions say “make an image at least 6500 pixels on the shortest side” but they don’t tell you what that means, or exactly how many products that image can be put on.
So, when I uploaded the image, it created a TON of products. Now, I was secretly wondering if my wife would notice if we had this troll show up everywhere in the house, or not? I mean, she wouldn’t notice if I switched out the shower curtain, right?
Or the bath mat?
How about the cups and mugs, notebooks or iphone cover?
I decided maybe I would send Martha her mug (I did) and get myself a couple of things that wouldn’t cause my wife to think I’d lost my damned mind.
“But,” the Author says, pleading to his wife when she points to the new pillows on the bed, “He’s so damned CUTE!”
If you want to see just how many places Yumfuck can show up, check out the Society6 page now. From time to time, they will have huge sales (either free shipping, or % off or upon rare occasions, they will do both!)
Yumfuck’s store is here: http://oriceran.com/cool-troll-stuff
Author Notes - Martha Carr
Written August 2, 2017
What do I say about all the readers who made a life-long dream that was over thirty years old come true in less than a few hours?
I’m not sure, I am struggling with it right now.
It was even one of you who had to point that rare thing out to me because I never expected to see it.
It was my first time – I didn’t know to look!
But there it was. A little orange flag that reads, ‘BEST SELLER’! And if that wasn’t enough, then all of you wrote in, left reviews, sent messages that said how much you love Leira Berens, you love the characters, you love the story – you love the ENTIRE UNIVERSE!
You were even asking, where’s the next one? How much longer?
Boy, is this a lot of fun, and well worth the wait. Everything happens in its own time.
Monday was an all-around amazing day!
Then the grown offspring, Louie called right after I noticed and I had to take a few breaths so I wouldn’t cry on the phone. He said “great” and then wanted to tell me about his day.
Ha! This is why offspring are very useful. Back to reality, get back to work. Be a fellow among fellows.
And he’s right. There are stories to weave and magic spells to create and some adventures to go on…
Plus, there are FOUR MORE AUTHORS coming along behind me. (SM Boyce, Abby-Lynn Knorr, Flint Maxwell, Sarah Noffke).
Lots to do to build this universe, as well as get to know all of you better too. So much fun…
But this result for me was thirty years in
the making – just one more look back… back to what I was saying in those first author notes about dreams back in Quest for Magic, Book 0.
I made a wish as a kid the first time I walked into the Philadelphia library and my dad said, “If you can carry the books, you can check them out.”
I was stunned.
We were pretty poor and I was a preacher’s kid - #4 in a line of 5 kids. The idea of unlimited anything really didn’t happen for us.
And books… wonderful, magical, take-you-anywhere books. I devoured the stories and kept going back for more. I made that wish that someday I could do the same thing and write a magical story that would take someone else on a ride and let them know, the world is a lot bigger place than they ever imagined.
Tell them, Go for it – I believe in your dreams!
Well, yesterday, all of you helped me get to that place.
I will never forget and I will be forever grateful to each and every one of you.
I’m telling you, it was a magical day all the way around. Dreams do come true – and sometimes they take just a little collaboration and a lot of other wonderful readers – exactly like you. So, thank you from the bottom of my heart.
One last thing… If you’ve read this far, you know the troll’s real name – and we read how much you LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the troll too. So… if you want a little somethin, somethin for yourself go to: https://society6.com/product/yt-troll-revelations-of-oriceran-c_mug#s6-7392665p30a27v200. I already got some for myself (coffee mug) and more creatures are coming!
Make it so… (Yeah, I had to go there. ;) )
Author Notes - Michael Anderle
08/02/2017
I’m sitting on the same couch, just about 50 hours or so after Quest for Magic, Book 0 of The Revelations of Oriceran went live.
And I’m so damned surprised and happy.
Each time another one of my collaborations comes out, I fear I have failed my collaborator some how, some way. Did we dream up the right story to explain the Universe? Are the fans going to like this weird set of characters we put together this time?
How about the fact that we took on a whole new universe?
One of our reviewers said it best and I’ll do them the fair shake of clipping the first part of the review, before I comment (from Amazon.co.uk)
A great introduction to a new universe that leaves you wanting more
By Mr P McLean on 1 Aug. 2017
Format: Kindle Edition
I have read all of the Kurtherian Gambit and all of the expanded Universe books so was highly expectant of this new venture into the Oriceran Universe. You must have been really nervous to open up this whole new world to an established voracious fan base. Well done! Totally worth it. I immediately felt myself being drawn into the worlds and characters without wondering about what would BA do in this situation? … (more follows.)
Mr. P. McLean is absolutely right. I was INCREDIBLY nervous to start a second Universe with a very successful first universe in play. First, the two universes are dissimilar to some degree, but not so far apart that fans of one, won’t like the other.
However, the bigger fear was born of the comments about how music artists or bands usually have an incredibly tough time with their sophomore album and THAT is where my desire to chew my nails down to the bone came from.
While we only have the first book (the introduction) out, and this book (Waking Magic) is the next test, it seems we have some amazing fans who have clapped us on the back and said ‘Well done, well done indeed…Now, hurry up with the next book!’ and to you and those who bought and read, I say THANK YOU.
I have about as much success in Indie Publishing as I should ever hope to wish for, and then some more after that. In my early days in Nov-Dec of 2015, my goal was to be a one percenter. You know, top 1% of Amazon’s 200,000+ authors meant I was hoping to jump into the top 2,000 authors on Amazon.
Now, through you amazing fans, a lady by the name of Bethany Anne and some amazing collaborations, I’m a top 100 Amazon Author.
It still feel’s SO damned cool to type that…Just saying ;-)
I set out in early 2016 to help other Indie Authors just because I could, and I didn’t care about how it was ‘done before me.’
That effort became 20Booksto50k.
Then, the people in that group kept saying ‘why don’t we have a conference?’ and Craig Martelle (yes, THAT Craig Martelle of Terry Henry Walton Chronicles fame) said ‘I’ll do it’ and by God, he has! (One Indie authors conference in Vegas in November 2017, one in London in February, 2018.)
Next, I wanted to see if I could help teach a new way of story telling (basically, was I a special Unicorn (that isn’t a compliment, by the way), or could other’s learn a new way of writing … could I share my style?) so in late 2017, we started the Age’s in Kurtherian Gambit and I’m super happy to say “HELL YEAH” they are very successful and the fans have (by and large, not everyone) loved the different authors and their stories…
Then, as I mentioned last book… I wanted to play with another idea and Oriceran was born.
But, could I do it? Could I create a new Universe and take what I thought I learned from the readers and the fans and deliver another cool experience?
Or, once again, was I just fortunate with The Kurtherian Gambit.
It seems, so far, the response has been… “Shut up about your worries already, when is the next book coming out?”
And that is the BEST response you fans can give us.
So, thank you!
Michael
Want more?
Join the email list here:
http://oriceran.com/email/
Find the Oriceran Universe on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/OriceranUniverse/
Find the Oriceran Universe on Pinterest:
https://www.pinterest.com/lmbpn/pins/
The email list will be a way to share upcoming news and let you know about giveaways and other fun stuff. The Facebook group is a way for us to connect faster – in other words, a chat, plus a way to share new spy tools, ways to keep your information safe, and other cool information and stories. Plus, from time to time I’ll share other great indie authors’ upcoming worlds of magic and adventure. Signing up for the email list is an easy way to ensure you receive all of the big news and make sure you don’t miss any major releases or updates.
Enjoy the new adventure!
Martha Carr and Michael Anderle 2017
Martha Carr Social
Website: http://oriceran.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChroniclesofLeira/
Michael Anderle Social
Website: http://kurtherianbooks.com/
Email List: http://kurtherianbooks.com/email-list/
Facebook Here: https://www.facebook.com/TheKurtherianGambitBooks/
Michael Anderle
Kurtherian Gambit Series Titles Include:
First Arc
Death Becomes Her (01) - Queen Bitch (02) - Love Lost (03) - Bite This (04)
Never Forsaken (05) - Under My Heel (06) - Kneel Or Die (07)
Second Arc
We Will Build (08) - It’s Hell To Choose (09) - Release The Dogs of War (10)
Sued For Peace (11) - We Have Contact (12) - My Ride is a Bitch (13)
Don’t Cross This Line (14)
Third Arc (2017)
Never Submit (15) - Never Surrender (16) - Forever Defend (17)
Might Makes Right (18) - Ahead Full (19) - Capture Death (20)
Life Goes On (21)
**New Series**
The Second Dark Ages
The Dark Messiah (01)
The Darkest Night (02)
The Boris Chronicles
* With Paul C. Middleton *
Evacuation
Retaliation
Revelation
Restitution 2017
Reclaiming Honor
* With JUSTIN SLOAN *
Justice Is Calling (01)
Claimed By Honor (02)
Judgement Has Fallen (03)
Angel of Reckoning (04)
Born Into Flames (05)
Defending The Lost (06)
The Etheric Academy
* With TS PAUL *
ALPHA CLASS (01)
ALPHA CLASS - Engineering (02)
ALPHA CLASS (03) Coming soon
Terry Henry “TH” Walton Chronicles
* With CRAIG MARTELLE *
Nomad Found (01)
Nomad Redeemed (02)
Nomad Unleashed (03)
Nomad Supreme (04)
Nomad’s Fury (05)
Nomad’s Justice (06)
Nomad Avenged (07)
Nomad Mortis (08)
Nomad’s Force (09)
Trials and Tribulations
* With Natalie Grey *
