“A queen does not have to sit idly on her throne,” Frank told her.
“A queen can do much more than that,” Michein agreed.
“A queen must rule,” Sage allowed.
“But she can also save,” Kira smiled.
“Yes, my dear Maria. You can go from world to world whenever you please. You can still do good,” Gramps swept his hand out to the throne, grimacing in the pain of his still-healing injuries.
Maria reluctantly took a step forward, examining the intricately designed seat. She sat down.
It felt…right.
“Do you accept?” Frank asked.
Maria grinned as she looked out at her family. “I do.”
The hall erupted in cheers, the sound echoing loudly off the vast walls.
Sherlock bounded across the carpet and jumped into her lap.
I guess that makes me your king, huh, Maria? the Bloodhound asked with his new grin.
“Yeah, I guess so, but don’t tell Joe,” Maria whispered.
With one arm around her now-howling dog, and the other resting on the hilt of her sword, Maria looked out at the table, at all the faces of those she loved and cared about, those that she’d give her life for.
And on that day, in the resurrected kingdom of Dominion, Maria Apple sat on the throne—not just as a witch or a human but as a queen.
FINIS
The Kacy Chronicles Boxed Set
If you like Boxed Sets, you may also enjoy another Oriceran series, The Kacy Chronicles, written by A.L. Knorr and Martha Carr. Get the entire series as a single boxed set at Amazon and through Kindle Unlimited.
AVAILABLE AT AMAZON RETAILERS
Author Notes - Flint Maxwell
December 18, 2017
Well, there it is.
This has been a rollercoaster of a story, both plot and creation-wise. I still can't believe I've written four books in the series. It seems like just yesterday Martha Carr was knocking at my virtual door and asking me if I wanted to be apart of something special, something kick-ass.
Who could say no to that?
I've grown to love each and every one of the characters in the series. Yes, even the villains. I mean, how could you not like a giant spider with glowing green eyes who sacrifices her own people just for the hell of it? Or the Dragon Tongue, who literally have their names because of the way their tongues look.
Anyway, I'll say my favorite is Sherlock, just because he's such a smartass and because he'll eat pretty much anything put in front of him…much like me. Followed closely by Maria, our hero of the tale, and Ignatius, her wizened old guide. But really, answering who my favorite character is is like answering who my favorite cat is—and I have three and they're all jerks and I love them all with my entire heart. Same goes for my pups, who are now just two in number—Lola and Louis.
Okay, here's where I'll insert my heartfelt story about how I came to be where I am now. I know some people don't care for that type of thing. So if that's you, you've been warned.
In high school, I didn't know what the hell I wanted to do. All my friends were scheduling college visits, taking postsecondary classes, applying for student loans, and I'm all like, "Relax, guys. There's still time to figure this crazy thing called life out." And I kept repeating this mantra (mostly to myself) all the way until the principal shook my hand and gave me my diploma and I threw my cap up into the air with all the rest of the graduates. I took some time off to "find myself" after high school, which, in truth, was just about a year to a year and a half of me sleeping at weird hours, playing tons of Halo on Xbox, and working a minimum wage job.
Then I decided, what the fuck, I'll try this college thing out. And let me tell you, 7:00 A.M. classes suck. But I kept going, sometimes full-time (mostly part-time) until it was time for me to get another diploma, another handshake, and another cap to throw into the air—no, I didn't use the same one from high school, though that would've probably saved me about sixty bucks.
Still, though, that mantra. "Relax, guys. There's still time to figure this crazy thing called life out."
I said it so much that it had become a prayer.
Wait, let me backtrack to college. In my freshman English class, we had an assignment that required us to interview someone and write a four page paper about it. I did it. I actually like writing papers—go figure. And the professor called me up to the front of the class along with another student the day she had given the graded papers back. I remember being scared like I was in trouble or something. The professor asked us if we wanted to submit our papers to the campus magazine to see if they'd publish them. For free, of course. I was like "Hell YEAH!" and the professor asked me to please not swear in her classroom. No, just kidding. I didn't curse, but politely said, "Yes, I'd be honored."
Then the semester was over and I was back in my routine of sleeping at weird hours, playing Xbox, reading and re-reading the Harry Potter series, and working my minimum wage job. I'd totally forgotten about submitting my paper to the campus magazine, along with just about everything else I'd learned my entire freshman year. Now, I'd been writing since the third grade, when I wrote and read aloud this weird story about a leprechaun hiding in my shower (that had been well-received by my fellow classmates), but I'd never written seriously until after my professor asked me to submit my paper. I'd finally found something I was good at!
I got the email from the campus magazine sometime before the following fall semester. They wanted to publish it (for free, of course) with my permission and I might've actually replied with a HELL YEAH…I can't say for sure. I had to sign a contract and everything. It was very cool. Then a new journey had begun. I decided to kick the Xbox (mostly), keep the weird hours, and work at the minimum wage job until I could afford not to. I read a ton, wrote a ton, submitted a ton, got rejected a ton, but through it all, I learned a ton more. (Seriously, I wrote like four books that will never see the light of day just to "find my voice.") This was like a five-year process of sucking really hard before I even got decent. And that's okay because I enjoyed every second of writing and reading and learning. And I still do.
In 2016, I decided to learn the indie author game, sucking pretty hard at that at first, then not sucking so much. In 2017, I wrote a zombie apocalypse series and it took me to a point where I no longer needed that minimum wage job or the degree I got from the University of Akron.
Then came Martha and Michael with Oriceran, and the Midwest Magic Chronicles were born out of our talks and discussions. I'm so grateful for them and for all of you who read my work and talk to me and root me on.
Whew, okay. Sorry for rambling…again. But I guess what I'm trying to say is that it's never to late to "find yourself" and do what you want to do. Just as long as you're willing to work hard and suck at it for long enough until you get good.
Eh, I guess what I'm really trying to say is, Relax, guys. There's still time to figure this crazy thing called life out.
Author Notes - Martha Carr
December 19, 2017
I asked the offspring what he wanted for Christmas and at first, he did his usual joke of saying, “Farts.” Something about the male population that finds that funny. He kept it up long enough that when I was in the grocery store and saw they were selling a baking mold in the shape of the poop emoji I got it for him. Anyway, he finally said, “I don’t really need anything. My life is great. I want for nothing.”
That’s my long way of saying this is shaping up to be one of the best Christmases ever for me. Not because of all the great things that happened this year like starting a new Universe with Magic Mike that will have put out 20 books in under six months by the end of the year. By the way, Flint Maxwell is my favorite millennial and resident night owl and wiseacre. Wueeeee! He brings that same sensibility to his series, along with a dark edge (check out his Jack Zombie series for some more… you won’t regret it) and can really tell a good tale. All of you Leira Chronicles fans keep a keen eye for a little crossover action in Midwest War… That’
s all I’m sayin…
This is a great year because despite the harder times (like Hurricane Harvey) and even the good times like a rockin’ potluck celebration here at the house with a lot of people including Magic Mike and Mrs. Magic Mike, we all know what really matters. Each other. And, even as Authors and Fans we are there for each other to listen, tell a joke, show some compassion and cheer when something wonderful happens. That’s what makes us all the richer every single day. Thank you everyone for making this such a great year. I can hardly wait to see what 2018 brings and all the conversations and good books to come. More adventures to follow! Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and a very Happy New Year!
Publisher Notes - Michael Anderle
December 19, 2017
First, thank you for reading through this fantastic tale (yes, Sherlock is my favorite… I particularly liked the line in book two about “ice cream not going with lemon floor cleaner”) and now you are reading my notes, as well.
Anytime an author can make me root for an animal; I’m all in!
I think I took a little longer than 20 something-something years (I think Flint’s in his mid 20’s?) to figure out this thing called life.
Oh, I had jobs, even good jobs by the end of my 20’s. By my thirties, I was working at a Microsoft Development Company (a software company that developed using Microsoft products) and making a nice salary.
Well, as much ‘real money’ as one can do without a degree. What I liked about the computer software and programming field is they don’t give a @#%@# what your background is, if you can program like a monster.
And while I wasn’t a monster programmer, I was pretty good, and that got me going for at least fifteen years. Then, I went through a downturn in life and found myself in California up in the mountains (Lake Arrowhead) and not sure what I should do. I had three boys and a strong desire to not ever work for someone again.
Eventually, all of my ‘get money overnight!’ Internet options faded into the dust, and I went back to work. Not for anyone specifically, but I had my own company and became a technology website and sales consultant to pay the bills.
Which sucks.
Because this was 2010. If I had started writing, then I’d be ON TOP OF THE WORLD!!!
Or, maybe not. It’s funny how life will never tell you the truth.
Maybe it took until 2015 for me to write that first book so that the perfect storm of people and practices were existing at just the right time to allow me to grow and flourish and help other authors like myself.
And meet people like Flint and Martha.
And you!
Either way, I’m not going to ever request a change in reality. The fact you are reading these books is the most magnificent future we authors could ask for.
So thank you, from all of us.
Ad Aeternitatem,
Michael Anderle
Other series in the Oriceran Universe:
SCHOOL OF NECESSARY MAGIC
SCHOOL OF NECESSARY MAGIC: RAINE CAMPBELL
ALISON BROWNSTONE
THE DANIEL CODEX SERIES
THE LEIRA CHRONICLES
I FEAR NO EVIL
THE UNBELIEVABLE MR. BROWNSTONE
REWRITING JUSTICE
THE KACY CHRONICLES
MIDWEST MAGIC CHRONICLES
SOUL STONE MAGE
THE FAIRHAVEN CHRONICLES
OTHER BOOKS BY JUDITH BERENS
OTHER BOOKS BY MARTHA CARR
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Connect with the Authors
Flint Maxwell
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/flintmaxwellbooks/
Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Flint-Maxwell/e/B01N6O11C9/
Email list:
http://flintmaxwell.us14.list-manage.com/subscribe
Martha Carr
Website: http://www.marthacarr.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/MarthaCarrFans/
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
Midwest Magic Chronicles Box Set Page 80