by Jake Kerr
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When young Ralan Miller is named the Guildmaster Thief, everything changes in the isolated city of Ness.
A new epic fantasy series by Jake Kerr
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This series started out as a writing exercise at the Writers Garret critique group in Dallas. Many thanks to the Stone Soup crew there, who were instrumental in my development as a writer. The first two chapters of the series were workshopped at the Viable Paradise Workshop. My undying thanks to the instructors and students there who not only made it better, but inspired me to do more.
A number of people helped along the way, including beta readers and editors Sean Patrick Kelly, Aiden Doyle, Eric Jackson, Laurel Amberdine, and Lea Zukas. Ken Liu provided not just moral support, but also the blurb on book one. Rachel Swirsky and Christie Yant sent the right emails at the right time to keep me going. The support of the Codex and Authors Corner writing groups was invaluable. Mike Corley, my fantastic cover artist, continues to help in ways that aren’t always seen on the cover.
I will always and forever be grateful to my alma mater, Kenyon College, and the wonderful professors that taught me the love of literature and writing, and my classmates and alumni, who continue to provide friendship and guidance to this day.
Thank you to the people who helped when they didn’t need to: John Scalzi, Charlie Jane Anders, John DeNardo, Margaret Brown, Laurisa White Reyes, Matt Mikalatos. Hugh Howey cheered me on and recommended I self-publish. Annie Bellet was a friend and inspiration when I did.
My use of Persian mythology was directly due to the inspiration of Jonathan Stroud and his delightful Bartimaeaus series. The detonation spell is a small nod to him.
Finally, my crazy, wonderful family is the greatest inspiration of all. Thank you, Lea, Zoe, Willow, and Mia.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
After fifteen years as a music industry journalist Jake Kerr's first published story, "The Old Equations," was nominated for the Nebula Award from the Science Fiction Writers of America and was shortlisted for the Theodore Sturgeon and StorySouth Million Writers awards. His stories have subsequently been published in magazines across the world, broadcast in multiple podcasts, and been published in multiple anthologies and year's best collections. He is also the author of the Guildmaster Thief novella series and the Tommy Black action/adventure series.
A graduate of Kenyon College, Kerr studied fiction under Ursula K. Le Guin and Peruvian playwright Alonso Alegria. He lives in Dallas, Texas, with his wife and three daughters.
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Table of Contents
Copyright
Dedication
England
1. Visiting an Old Friend
2. Tea in the Library
3. "Chin Up, Black."
4. A Change in Plan
5. The Retired Gardener
6. A Reunion in the Library
7. The Castle That Was a Cabin
8. An Angry Naomi
9. Discussions by Firelight
10. The Last Bastion
11. Naomi and I Make Our Own Plan
12. Bait & Hook
St. Petersburg
13. We Arrive in St. Petersburg
14. Hunting an Angel
15. Tears in the Morning Shadows
16. Illusions in the Bar
17. Answers
18. Following the Lead
19. The Angel
20. The Princess
21. Implosions & Bombs
22. The Parting of the Archmages
23. The Way Station
24. On the Train
25. The Secret of the Staff
26. The Great Dragon Zahhak
Paris
27. Arrival
28. A Telegram From Cain
29. Iggy
30. The Regent's Garden
31. The Plan
32. Parc Monceau
33. Rest & Healing
34. Artifacts Out of Balance
35. The Demolished House
36. Staff & Coat
Learn More About Tommy Black
Free Books From Jake
The Guildmaster Thief series
Acknowledgments
About the Author