by Carysa Locke
So that is my first acknowledgement – thank you for letting me play in your world. For sharing it with me, for running the best games, and for always rolling with a natural 20 or a 1 that leads us down unexpected roads. Thank you, above all, for trusting me with your characters and your creations. I will never abuse that trust.
We just hope that all of you, the readers, will love them as much as we do. We have many worlds, and many stories to tell. We are starting with this universe, the one you’ve just finished reading about. Telepathic space pirates. Who doesn’t want to read about that?? We have a lot of stories to tell, and we can’t wait to introduce you to Mercy and Reaper in Pirate Nemesis, the first full-length book set in this universe. Mercy’s initial story will take three books to tell. But she and other characters from that trilogy will appear in other books in the series, just like Dem and Sanah. We have a long plan – one that could potentially go on for quite awhile if people want to read more. But that’s all I’m going to say about that for now.
To get here, many, many people have helped it happen. One, our spouses. Thank you to our husbands, who have been very patient with the amount of time needed to get us here, and the amount of time we continue to devote to it. Our families as well, have been outstanding cheerleaders, never flagging in their faith in us. Our sisters, our mothers, have all been supportive, given feedback, provided cheering up when we’ve been down. Thank you for everything you have done.
I want to give a special shout-out to my parents right now. When I was that bright-eyed middle school student, fresh off my first book about dragons (Anne McCaffrey), knowing I wanted to be a writer, they never once told me I couldn’t do this. They never said “Oh, honey, you need a real plan.” They have supported me endlessly over the years, and I am only sad that my father did not live long enough to hold my first book in his hands. Mom, I will never forget how much you have supported me and shown me that I can be whatever I want. I love you, and thank you so much for believing in me.
A lot of other people have played roles in this specific series coming to fruition. The old Livejournal gang provided endless encouragement and beta feedback when I was writing the first version of Mercy’s story many years ago. You were the original Beta Readers, and I will never forget your support and friendship, every bit as real as any friends I had “in real life”.
Diana Fox, the NY agent who first requested a full manuscript from me, read the whole thing, and spent two hours on the phone telling me how to make it better. After that, there were emails, more phone conversations, and nothing but absolute honesty and support. You are amazing, and any writer would be fortunate to work with you.
My writing critique group, Scott Hungerford and Elisabeth Knottingham. You were both instrumental in helping me whip this novella into shape. I can’t imagine writing without your feedback. Thank you.
My current Beta Readers: Heather, Janice, Tamatha, and Chaz. My past Beta Readers: Rebecca, Paula, Lea, Veronica, Jade, Eliza, Brooke and Amy – and many others from the old Livejournal group. I may have not known all of your real names, but your input and support was invaluable.
Also, this would not be complete without thanking the editor who gave me the best rejection letter I have ever received – Sasha Knight, who told me she was rejecting this novella only because she wanted to see it expanded into a full length novel. Except I was already writing a trilogy of novels in this same universe at the time, so this has remained a novella (albeit longer than the original version.)
Also, thank you to my friend Jason. He has provided all of the Japanese translations for the things Doc says.
I’m sure there is someone I am forgetting, and for that I am incredibly sorry. This series has been taking shape for eight years. That’s a long time, and a lot of people helped make it happen. Thank you to every single one of them.
About the Author
Carysa Locke is the pseudonym for writing team Carysa Locke and MaLea Holt, two best friends who have been creating imaginary worlds together for more than twenty years. Carysa is a high school English teacher, and MaLea helps support families with special needs children. You might say, they work as super heroes in their day jobs!
Their obsession with pirates and adventure goes back many years, when they started another hobby together - costuming. They regularly attend Ren-faires and Pirate Festivals. They currently reside in the Pacific Northwest with their families, where they still routinely roleplay and costume together, when they aren't too busy working on the next novel.