by Ramy Vance
The monitors showed different realms. There were dozens of them, teams of scientists poring over what they were watching.
In addition to the monitors displaying the realms, there were also scrying stations. At least ten dedicated wizards stood over large bowls of water. Alex assumed they were trying to figure out what was in store for Middang3ard.
Myrddin started walking through the room, and Alex and the rest of the newly appointed dragonriders followed. “You all know we are at war,” Myrddin stated. “And you four are moving to the forefront of it.”
“You are the Dragonriders Boundless, second only to our first and foremost squad, which you will be backing up. Roy is in charge of that squad, the mech dragons—his idea, not mine. You will be accompanying him and his squad on their next mission.”
Alex was still trying to take in everything that was happening around her. She almost didn’t hear Myrddin’s words. She and Gill and Brath and Jollies were part of a squad now? She had just arrived at the Wasp’s Nest a few days ago.
Myrddin continued walking, and the Boundless followed him.
A staircase appeared in front of Myrddin, and he ascended it and stepped onto a platform. Manny was there, floating in front of a dozen monitors. One of his tentacled eyes flipped over and looked at the Boundless team. “We’ve come full circle, haven’t we?” he joked.
Alex looked at the monitors. Each of them showed a different realm.
Myrddin stood next to Manny and straightened his tie. “Your mission is to accompany Roy and his Mech riders as they transport minerals and other resources to Middang3ard. These minerals will be used for weapons. It is of the utmost importance that this delivery arrives on time. I am trusting you all with this task.”
The Boundless squad looked at each other. Alex was the one to speak. “You want us to do this?” she asked.
Myrddin smiled. “Yes, I do. I trust you all,” he said as he turned his back to her. “And I believe I have a worthwhile addition for you.”
Myrddin waved his hand, and the monitors disappeared. In their place was a floating platform.
It was Jim, her former partner in Middang3ard VR, waving and smiling like a dork. He was outfitted in the armor of the dragonriders. “Hey, guys,” he exclaimed before turning to Alex and saying, “Long time no see!”
Alex and her team of Boundless get their first mission. A routine escort job. Thing about Middang3ard - nothing is routine. Join them on their adventure in First Mission.
Author Notes Ramy Vance
January 30, 2020
I started writing rather late in life, and in that time and I had failed a lot. Failed businesses, relationships … but failing at failing?
Seriously, what kind of loser am I?
You see, before I started taking my writing seriously, I thought it would be cool to do a blog about failing. I figured that that only way to really learn is to fail. And not just fail – fail fast and often.
I learned a lot about myself in all the things I tried and did not succeed at. More than I care to share. So I started this website/blog called: Who Fails Wins. Check it out here. The video is pretty cool.
The goal was to get 100 stories about failure. If I got it, I’d start the blog.
I got 34. And most of the stories weren’t really fail stories, but rather stories about sort of failing. Things like: I failed my French test, studied real hard, tried again and passed.
Not really a fail story.
But a few people took it seriously, and since this failed endeavour deserves to be shared, I thought I’d share the top three stories. The first one is from me.
I held back the name of the other two, but know that all three stories are real – and from people who felt real pain for something that they carried/will carry with them for their whole lives.
Sorry to be such a downer on this one, but as someone who knows that stories heal, maybe stories about failure will have their strange, healing benefits, too.
My Story – Never Said It Out Loud:
I quit my job to take care of my dying father. It took nine months for the cancer to take him and in all that time, in all those hospital visits, all the hanging out we did watching old movies or chatting, I never once told him that I loved him. I thought about it, but for reasons I don’t quite understand, I just never did. He probably knew, but I still wish had said it out loud. Even if only once.
Fail Story 2 – Never Letting Go:
I am 89 years old and have two children who are almost senior citizens themselves. My failure is never letting go of the pain of the loss of what would have been my second child. He was a still born that I named Michael and he is buried in my Church cemetery. When I go, I have asked my daughter to spread my ashes on the grave of a child that I never heard cry.
Fail Story 3 – Nagging Dreams:
Since I was 12 I’ve wanted to be an artist. I studied art and got my degree. I had to decide if I had the courage to be a full-time artist depending on sales. I opted for the path of least resistance, teaching. I never gave up my art or my dream of being a renowned artist which I never achieved. Failure? I now have an adequate pension for retirement. I had a family life and raised a son. I still do my art and I participate in group and solo shows. BUT my elusive dream still nags me.
Author Notes Michael Anderle
February 1, 2020
Seriously Ramy? Failure? Damn you man…
Thank you for reading our words, but I JUST read Ramy’s author notes - which I usually go along with the theme of my collaborator’s author notes to keep us whole. But then he went and chose to write about failing.
Which was my business life to a degree before I failed to fail.
They say that a person who succeeds is often enough not the best, but the one stubborn asshat who just never understood the concept of quitting. When the dust settled, he or she was the one there picking up their pick and slamming it into the mountain going after the dream.
That is me.
I’m not a storyteller from a young age, crafting stories on notebooks through my teen years and dozens of rejections (hundreds or thousands.) Nope. I quit. I failed.
I ran with my torn heart, ripped to pieces by well considered opinions not willing to see the gems of encouragement on my … well, actually on me.
I tried ONE time to send in a story to my high school literary magazine and was rejected. I enjoyed that so much I stole my manuscript out of the slush pile, hid it in my backpack and never submitting anything again until thirty-two years later.
And that submission was to Amazon.
Ad Aeternitatem, baby!
Diary – Sunday Jan 26th – Saturday Feb 1st
First the fun part… WOOT Goth Drow! It’s a new series I’m happy about and will be coming to you in early March as one of our LMBPN Large Releases of about 180k words.
Like Witch of the Federation or The Steel Dragon size.
This week, I spoke with ALLi (Alliance of Independent Authors) on a recorded video call for their symposium on selling foreign rights (with others, including Judith Anderle our CMO for the company who honestly spoke the most for LMBPN – it’s her area of expertise.)
I finished a book titled In Cold Type by Leonard Shatzkin written in 1983. The book helped open my eyes to the issues in the book selling business. I hope to figure out a way and implement a solution on selling paperbacks (which is about .02% of our income, if that much.)
I greenlit (well, maybe only in my mind) Cryptid Assassin 05… but don’t have a clue on where I want the story to go, yet.
(I might want to get on that.)
Before I do that, I have two story beats I have to review and approve and Opus 5 editing to finish.
I’ve been ill the last 48 hours and learned to respect my body once again. It has probably been twelve months or longer that I have gone without any serious sick downtime. There is nothing like experience to foster sympathy through empathy. At least for me.
There is going to be a big autho
r signing/fan get together or something going on the Friday after the 20Booksto50k Event here in Las Vegas in November (the show runs Tuesday to Thursday 10th-12th). Yes, yes I know that is Friday the 13th ;-). I didn’t set the date, ask Martelle about that one! The event will be held at Sam’s Town Casino and Hotel (about 20 minutes east of the strip driving straight over.)
For those who know, I’m doing a weight loss ‘thing’ with my older brother. My goal was to be under 220 by Feb 1st. I weighed in at 218.8.
Go Team! (I imagine being sick and unable to eat much helped, but what the hell. I’m keeping that ‘W’ on my side.) Now, I need to finish June 30th at UNDER 202.0 lbs. If it looks like I might miss it, you may see Anderle doing all sorts of crazy stuff to drop weight.
I’m going to wrap up this diary post, as I’m about two days past due on a lot of work. Take care of yourselves and I’ll chat with you in the next … OH OH!
New Universe coming 2020! (Well… uh… that’s not even a big deal anymore, it’s LMBPN. OF COURSE THERE IS A NEW UNIVERSE COMING!)
Enjoy.
Michael Anderle
Other Books by the Authors
Other Middang3ard Books
Never Split The Party (01)
Late To the Party (02)
It’s My Party (03)
Blue Hell And Alien Fire (04)
Death Of An Author: A Middang3ard Novella
Other Books by Ramy Vance
Mortality Bites Series
Keep Evolving Series
Fatebound Series
Other Books by Michael Anderle
For a complete list of books by Michael Anderle, please visit:
www.lmbpn.com/ma-books/
All LMBPN Audiobooks are Available at Audible.com and iTunes. To see all LMBPN audiobooks, including those written by Michael Anderle please visit:
www.lmbpn.com/audible
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