The first time I remember reading fuck in a book (at least, my decade’s old memory remembers this) was in the story Spellsinger by Alan Dean Foster when the wizard turtle Clothahump brings the sanitation engineer instead of a real engineer over to his world and stupidity ensues.
This was EXACTLY the type of story my 19-year-old mind would find amusing. Anyway, I’m laying down on the couch in my first apartment (a two bedroom split-roommate plan I shared with my older brother) when I run across this fuck the old wizard spouts out.
I died.
I mean, I was gasping for air I was laughing so hard! I remember going back one time, years later JUST to find that passage and read it again.
Sigh…good times.
I’ve been blessed to have many of you mention that even though you don’t like cursing, you either skip it (story makes up for it) or you find it funny and give me a pass. I guess Homer Simpson was right when he told Marge, “I made you laugh, I’m off the hook!”
I’ve also been humored many times when you admit you found yourself cursing more after you shot-gunned the stories for a few days. Or, funnier yet, your SPOUSES are catching you cursing more often.
Now THAT must be some good times!
Talking about good times, I now get to share a personal good time with you speaking (or writing as the case may be) as a happy dad!
This good time has to do with my youngest son, Joseph (Joey).
He and his brother live at home, and both will be heading to college or perhaps the military (Marines) in a few months.
So, Joey - who was 16 years old at the time - was talking a little smack last August (8 months ago). It ws during the time I was having a lot of success with The Kurtherian Gambit that he makes a flippant statement, “I can do this writing thing, easy peasy.” (Or something similar).
(Ok, parents of teenagers, sing along with me now…)
“Anything Dad can do… I can do BETTER!”
Hahahahahaha…
Apparently, he took my “Oh yeah?” reply as a challenge. This was a bit of a surprise for me to learn months later when he fessed up as to how he got the writing bug.
I won’t belabor the story because I’ve mentioned it in other places, but he spent September, October, and November working on story ideas with me, writing, trashing whatever he wrote, and just about getting nowhere on his book…Write 3,000 words…Delete 2,500…
However, in December of 2016 over the Christmas Holidays, Joey released the first book (Book 00) of The Courier Chronicles series, and it shocked both of us to see him move up the ranks and break the top 3,000 ranking before he dropped down.
It was pretty damned fun to watch him have some success; I have to admit!
Now, it was a CHALLENGE to get that boy to finish the first book, Her Royal Runner. So, I told him I would provide some support for Book 00, but I wouldn’t talk about his stories in my author notes in the back of a Bethany Anne story until he could write and publish book 01 in his series… I wanted to make sure this wasn’t just a ‘I can do this too’ response. I wanted to see some real results that he cared to keep going and not leave those of us who had read book 00 hanging.
And it was a good thing I didn’t. While he started for a day or two, life and new girlfriend and school…and new girlfriend (did I mention that already?) was much more interesting to his 17 year old head.
Finally, something (or some one) encouraged him to get that next story going. In February, over a long weekend, he sat down and in the space of four days, he wrote something like 15,000 words to get to words complete on his second book, The Messengers Menagerie.
Sonofabitch, he did it!
I’m proud of all of my sons, and no matter what they choose to do in life, I want them to be happy doing it. There is a saying that if you want to learn about the author, check out their main character because an author will place a lot of themselves in the character. Well, I hope that my fans know a lot of Bethany Anne’s personality is NOT my personality or likes.
I’m not into woman’s shoes, that’s my wife (#TotalTruth).
However, in Joey’s book, the main character Sterling “Booker” Wells IS Joey. When you read these stories, you won’t have to know what my son is like, because he is telling the world what he is like with the mannerisms of his protagonist.
I vividly remember Joey acting out, working on writing a scene where Booker is looking at himself in a closet mirror. He is checking out the clothes he is wearing to go on a trip and Joey comements out load, “how would Booker act, ‘if he was looking in the mirror and someone started opening the door.’”
Mind you - Joseph is grabbing his cheeks and acting this just two bar stools down from me as I’m working on editing a book myself.
Now, I’ve stopped editing and I’m staring at my son, who is playing out this scene just 48 inches away. That’s too damned close for sanity, trust me.
Sometimes, 17-year-olds shouldn’t be allowed to write. (He and his twin have a birthday in late August, so he is 17 now for those whipsawed by the comment about being 16 earlier.)
Well, Joey did write and write and write and due to the help of the Double D’s (who spent HOURS working with him (patience of saints here)) and Jeff Brown’s help for another cover he produced his second book.
I’ve read both books, I’ve laughed my ass off at both books. As someone familiar with the author, I can tell you Joey IS this funny in real life and it can be a challenge to parent him. However, I will admit in front of ten’s of thousands of readers…
HE SHOWED ME UP! Joey Anderle is now the proud author of two books and few teenagers can say that.
And I pay my debts ;-)
Well done, son. Well done!
Below are both of his books (Links take you to Amazon to check them out.)
(P.S. – I’m not saying that the precocious teen wrote the opposite of what his dad suggested to him during story discussions just so he could be rebellious…but he totally did.)
HER ROYAL RUNNER
http://kurtherianbooks.com/CourierChronicles00
A simple weekend job goes awry when Runner Sterling Booker Wells is placed in charge of a Princess. He is selected to act as her bodyguard during a political crisis in her land.
Which isn't part of our Earth.
Although tasked with keeping her out of trouble for forty-eight hours, Booker is finding Her Royal Princess Auralee to be a little more adventurous than he had expected.
Join Runner Sterling Booker Wells as he attempts to keep the Elven Princess out of harm's way.
THE MESSENGERS MENAGERIE
http://kurtherianbooks.com/CourierChronicles01
It was supposed to be a simple weekend job...
Just protect Her Royal Princess Auralee from harm.
Now, Sterling Booker Wells hasn't been in charge of her for 24 hours and they have already busted up one effort on her life, and even worse, there is a crossbow bolt hole in Alphonse's prized, painstakingly accurate, exquisitely restored, vintage replica of Steve McQueen's 1968 Mustang from the hit movie Bullitt.
However, Booker argues in his defense, the Princess hasn't suffered a scratch.
The Messengers Menagerie continues the first weekend when Sterling Booker Wells meets the Royal Elven Princess Auralee, what (else) could possibly go wrong?
How about a new crew sent to do him in?
And the Princess who will be by his side.
Join Runner Sterling Booker Wells as he attempts to keep the Elven Princess out of harm's way...
Again.
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 (Due 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)
The Etheric Academy
* With TS PAUL *
ALPHA CLASS (01)
ALPHA CLASS (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)
Trials and Tribulations
* With Natalie Grey *
Risk Be Damned (01)
Damned to Hell (02) coming soon
Hell’s Worst Nightmare (03) coming soon
SHORT STORIES
Frank Kurns Stories of the Unknownworld 01 (7.5)
You Don’t Mess with John’s Cousin
Frank Kurns Stories of the Unknownworld 02 (9.5)
Bitch’s Night Out
Frank Kurns Stories of the Unknownworld 02 (13.25)
With Natalie Grey
Bellatrix
Rise of Magic
* With CM Raymond and LE Barbant *
Restriction (01)
Reawakening (02)
AudioBooks
Available at Audible.com and iTunes
The Kurtherian Gambit
Death Becomes Her - Available Now
Queen Bitch – Available Now
Love Lost – Available Now
Reclaiming Honor Series
Justice Is Calling – Available Now
Claimed By Honor – Available Now
Terry Henry “TH” Walton Chronicles
Nomad Found
Nomad Redeemed - Coming Soon
The Etheric Academy
Alpha Class
Alpha Class 2 - Coming soon
Anthologies
Glimpse
Honor in Death
(Michael’s First Few Days)
Beyond the Stars: At Galaxy's Edge
Tabitha’s Vacation
Never Surrender Page 28