by Natalie Grey
Chowder climbed over the couch and got the tequila out, grabbing shot glasses and lining them up on the table.
Gracie snagged the first one but didn’t drink. Instead, with everyone focused on Chowder, she brought the glass over to Jamie.
“Liquid courage?” she asked.
He smiled at her. “I, uh…I think I’m going to try to talk about this sober.”
“Probably wiser.” Gracie took the shot before he thought better of it. “I’d do it now if you want both of you to be sober…unless you want to wait. But you look like you’re about to jump right out of your skin, man.”
Jamie looked like he wanted to cry. “Yeah.”
“Talk to him,” Gracie advised. She circled back around to where Jay was standing and met his curious gaze blandly. “So, we might be coworkers.”
“Yeah, yeah.” He looked at Jamie. “You figured out what was up with him?”
Gracie purposely didn’t look at him, but she knew where Jamie was looking—and she knew, because she had paid attention, that Kevin was studiously trying not to look back. She had observed that he always seemed to know exactly where Jamie was in the room.
“I think you’ll know soon,” she said with a smile, “but it’s about the cutest thing ever.” She sighed and leaned her head on his shoulder.
“Proposal,” Jay said.
“Hmm?”
“How about we have a proper date?” He looked down at her. “I know everyone’s talking and hanging out and so on, but we’ll be seeing them a lot for the next few days. How about we go have a real date?”
Gracie smiled up at him, then sobered. “I don’t know. My last date was a shitshow.”
Jay gave a laugh. “Wait ’til you hear about mine.”
“Okay.” Gracie grinned. “Let’s go.”
Author Notes - Natalie Grey
May 7, 2019
Thank you so much for reading Metamorphosis Online!
When Michael and I first began speaking about this series, we didn’t know how long it would go. We batted around several ideas, and so it was a big surprise to us to sit down after this last book and say, “I think this was meant to be a trilogy.” Neither of us are people who like to leave our characters, and we definitely don’t want to leave the world of Metamorphosis Online - but this trilogy really does stand alone, and we wanted to let it do that.
There is a lot coming up with some other characters, and fairly soon you’ll be hearing about some other authors joining this world, which will be awesome. Stay tuned!
With that said, I do have a fairly big announcement: I will be stepping back into the realm of having a day job for a while. I have enjoyed the heck out of writing full time, but when an organization nearby reached out about a role they’d been having trouble filling, I realized how much I had missed using some of my other skills.
I am not going to stop writing—frankly, I can’t imagine a world where I’m not writing! However, I won’t be able to get books to you all as fast, and I thought you should know why. I am excited for this change, and excited to keep being a part of the LMBPN team. There is a lot coming up that I’ll be working on: a side project related to Metamorphosis, more Dragon Corps, and an epic fantasy series that’s been in the works for a while!
Until next time,
Nat
Author Notes - Michael Anderle
May 8, 2019
THANK YOU for not only reading this story but these Author Notes as well.
(I think I’ve been good with always opening with “thank you.” If not, I need to edit the other Author Notes!)
RANDOM (sometimes) THOUGHTS?
I’ve collaborated with Nat since 2016.
We have worked off and on during that time as she worked with others, on her own books, and with me and LMBPN. This series (in my opinion) has been the one where we both dug deep to really figure out what it was like to work on something we BOTH had strong feelings about.
And I’m seriously proud that I have my name on this book.
Natalie is a gamer, she has the cred - she has done the time and has the marks to prove it. Many of them emotional.
When I collaborate, I have a blast pulling interesting facts from my collaborators and placing those aspects into our characters. However, there was an aspect of being emotionally mistreated while playing tabletop D&D that neither of us wanted to ignore. We struggled to find a point where we were both happy with how we presented the hurt and joy that online multiplayer games can bring to individuals.
I’m pleased with the result and the way we portrayed the BETTER side of gaming. The part(s) that don’t make headlines, and where people don’t give a flying @#%@#% if you are male or female. All they want to know is if they like playing with you.
And the funny stuff!
For example, I was telling her a story about how new guys will find a girl (‘chick’) avatar on games like World of Warcraft and chase them, not realizing it’s just another guy playing a female character.
So, with the maturity of MMORPG’s, most male players start to assume that females are just guys playing female characters.
So, wouldn’t it be funny if the guys all assumed she was male?
And then, the size of the sword jokes?
Ok, I admit that was ribald humor, but I still smile about it.
I will still get to work with Natalie, but DAMN I’m going to miss the next few books as she has to slow down with her writing production.
THANK YOU NAT for sticking with us through this wonderful change in your life.
(See you next week… somewhere.)
AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS
One of the interesting (at least to me) aspects of my life is the ability to work from anywhere and at any time. In the future, I hope to re-read my own Author Notes and remember my life as a diary entry.
Cave in the Sky (™) Las Vegas, NV USA
It’s just about midnight as I type these notes. I feared it would take a while but mentioning just a little about Natalie was easy-peasy. I decided not to keep chatting, because I could type another 2,000 words on our professional career.
During the time I’ve known her, she and her husband have moved, had a child, lived through the early childhood stages, and I’ve just shaken my head at their nickname for their son.
Sprog.
I saw him a few days ago as Natalie shared the good news as he walked around getting into all sorts of stuff.
I bet the next time I see him on video, he will be telling her how to write and that she should use his crayon.
I hope I remember to record that.
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HOW TO MARKET FOR BOOKS YOU LOVE
Review them so others have your thoughts, tell friends and the dogs of your enemies (because who wants to talk with enemies?)… Enough said ;-)
Ad Aeternitatem,
Michael Anderle
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