by Sarah Noffke
The Race Is On
The Lucidite Institute's main mission is to save the world from injustices. Their best agent, Adelaide Lewis, needs to find these mutated men and protect them and society, and fast. Adelaide realizes that she has to find the Alpha Wolf. Only once she's located him can she stop whoever is behind this experiment to create wild beasts out of human beings.
Alpha Wolf has a taut storyline combined with action-packed scenes. This spellbinding YA supernatural fantasy is a must read for the young and not so young alike.
Author Notes - J.N. Chaney
Written January 19, 2018
It’s been a wild ride to see our first story arc come to an end. Felix has been dealt with and a new, ominous threat is rising. I have to say, I’m excited to find out more about these snake people, aren’t you?
When I started this journey with Sarah and Michael, I never could have predicted that we’d be planning a fifth, sixth, or seventh book. That was a decision that came much later, after a lengthy discussion between Sarah and me. But that’s how it goes sometimes. You can’t really predict where a new opportunity is going to take you.
Take Harley, for example. A lot of people seem to really love that dog, which was a nice surprise. Sarah originally created Harley (who is named after my sister’s dog) in order to humanize Marilla, but the pup eventually became a kind of mirror for Julianna’s humanity, giving us the chance to see her grow into the person she was too afraid to be—someone who could connect with other people. It was a fun way to ease Julianna back into her lost humanity, which ultimately paid off in this book, during the rescue scene.
That’s the great thing about this universe. There are so many opportunities to develop interesting characters. In one section of the galaxy, you might see a hacker working alongside an A.I., but in another part you may read about a telepath investigating a string of murders. There’s no end to the possibilities, whether they include vampires, werewolves, spaceships, or aliens. It’s all about the characters, and that’s what keeps us reading.
I’m sure you can already tell that Eddie and Julianna’s work has only just begun. They have a new ship, a new A.I., and they still need to grow their team. With so much left to do, I think it’s safe to say that this story has only just begun.
Thanks for reading,
JN Chaney
P.S. Be sure to sign up for the Ghost Squadron newsletter to stay up to date on all future releases. You can also chat directly with us in the Kurtherian Gambit Facebook Group.
Check out J.N. Chaney’s Space Opera series:
Renegade Star
Jace Hughes is a Renegade.
That means taking almost any job that comes his way, no matter the situation. So long as he can keep his ship floating, he's free to live the life he wants.
But that all changes when he meets Abigail Pryar, a nun looking for safe passage out of the system.
Too bad there's something off about the cargo she's carrying.
Jace knows he shouldn't ask too many questions, but when strange sounds start coming from inside the large, metal box, he can't help but check it out.
Big mistake.
To make matters worse, he's being pursued by unknown ships--people who want that cargo. Does Jace give up the goods and hand over the nun...or does he risk it all for an even bigger payout?
Experience the beginning of a sprawling galactic tale in this first entry to The Renegade Starseries. If you're a fan of Firefly, Battlestar Galactica, or Leviathan Wakes, you'll love this epic, space opera thriller.
Author Notes - Michael Anderle
Written January 22, 2018
First, let me say THANK YOU for not only reading this story, but all the way past Noff’s and Red’s author notes, as well.
Since Sarah threw down the gauntlet, I won’t comment on her author notes except to say the term ‘catonese’ (which I originally misread to be ‘cantonese’ and did a double take) is priceless!
And ‘And’ has to go, may it be but a blip in the history of Author Notes. Maybe one of those game show host scenarios where we have our fan on stage, the announcer speaking to a hush audience, “And for EXTRA Points, can YOU name the nickname Sarah Noffke gave Michael that lasted all of one book? For Extra EXTRA points, can you NAME the book?”
Tick tock…tick tock…tick tock… “And and Degeneration?” the contestant replies.
WOOHOOO!
So, in order for this fabrication to ever have a chance to come true, Sarah can’t do that to me again.
Just saying.
THANK YOU BOTH (Sarah and Jeff) for playing in the Kurtherian Universe. We the fans are the richer in our lives for your characters, for your fun, and for your stories ;-)
Sarah has a huge set of wonderful stories herself, as does Jeff. You should check them out when you are ready for something a bit different, and yet with author’s you already know.
For Sarah – check out her website here: http://www.sarahnoffke.com
For Jeff – check out his website here: http://jnchaney.com
And thank you Sarah. I’m usually not good with accepting compliments (not that I didn’t crave them like a kid wants sugar when younger, a teenage boy wants that girl to say ‘hi’ and a man wants that car he can’t afford) but when it happens?
I’m secretly happy, but stutter over the acceptance.
Kind of like now.
Damn!
;-)
True Fact: If you EVER want to discuss amazing concepts around marketing as in Indie Publisher, Jeff (JN) Chaney is one of the guys to chat with. I hesitate to call him sometimes because I have another 30,000 words to write.
If I call him?
Half my day might disappear as the two of us dig into the details of this amazing job of publishing, and how to get more of YOU to learn about more of US.
Ad Aeternitatem,
Michael
Acknowledgements
Sarah Noffke and J.N. Chaney
Thank you to Michael Anderle for taking our calls and allowing us to play in this universe. It’s been a blast since the beginning.
Thank you to Craig Martelle for cheering for us. We’ve learned so much working with you. This wild ride just keeps going and going.
From Sarah: Thank you to my coauthor and friend, Jeff Chaney. You push me as a writer in ways I never dream about. I try to keep you grounded, but I honestly think you’re the one who keeps me from floating off the Earth.
Thank you to Jen, Tim, Steve, Andrew and Jeff for all the work on the books, covers and championing so much of the publishing.
Thank you to our beta team. We can’t believe how fast you all can turn around books. The JIT team sometimes scares me, but usually just with how impressively knowledgeable they are.
Thank you to our amazing readers. We asked ourselves a question the other day and it had a strange answer. We asked if we would still write if trapped on a desert island and no one would ever read the books. The answer was yes, but the feeling connected to it was different. It wouldn’t be as much fun to write if there wasn’t awesome readers to share it with. Thank you.
Thank you to our friends and family for all the support and love.
About Sarah Noffke
Sarah Noffke, an Amazon Best Seller, writes YA and NA sci-fi fantasy, paranormal and urban fantasy. She is the author of the Lucidites, Reverians, Ren, Vagabond Circus, Olento Research and Soul Stone Mage series. Noffke holds a Masters of Management and teaches college business courses. Most of her students have no idea that she toils away her hours crafting fictional characters. Noffke's books are top rated and best-sellers on Kindle. Currently, she has eighteen novels published. Her books are available in paperback, audio and in Spanish, Portuguese and Italian. http://www.sarahnoffke.com
Check
out other work by this author here.
The Soul Stone Mage Series:
House of Enchanted #1:
The Kingdom of Virgo has lived in peace for thousands of years…until now.
The humans from Terran have always been real assholes to the witches of Virgo. Now a silent war is brewing, and the timing couldn’t be worse. Princess Azure will soon be crowned queen of the Kingdom of Virgo.
In the Dark Forest a powerful potion-maker has been murdered.
Charmsgood was the only wizard who could stop a deadly virus plaguing Virgo. He also knew about the devastation the people from Terran had done to the forest.
Azure must protect her people. Mend the Dark Forest. Create alliances with savage beasts. No biggie, right?
But on coronation day everything changes. Princess Azure isn’t who she thought she was and that’s a big freaking problem.
Welcome to The Revelations of Oriceran. Check out the entire series here.
The Lucidites Series:
Awoken, #1:
Around the world humans are hallucinating after sleepless nights.
In a sterile, underground institute the forecasters keep reporting the same events.
And in the backwoods of Texas, a sixteen-year-old girl is about to be caught up in a fierce, ethereal battle.
Meet Roya Stark. She drowns every night in her dreams, spends her hours reading classic literature to avoid her family’s ridicule, and is prone to premonitions—which are becoming more frequent. And now her dreams are filled with strangers offering to reveal what she has always wanted to know: Who is she? That’s the question that haunts her, and she’s about to find out. But will Roya live to regret learning the truth?
Stunned, #2
Revived, #3
The Reverians Series:
Defects, #1:
In the happy, clean community of Austin Valley, everything appears to be perfect. Seventeen-year-old Em Fuller, however, fears something is askew. Em is one of the new generation of Dream Travelers. For some reason, the gods have not seen fit to gift all of them with their expected special abilities. Em is a Defect—one of the unfortunate Dream Travelers not gifted with a psychic power. Desperate to do whatever it takes to earn her gift, she endures painful daily injections along with commands from her overbearing, loveless father. One of the few bright spots in her life is the return of a friend she had thought dead—but with his return comes the knowledge of a shocking, unforgivable truth. The society Em thought was protecting her has actually been betraying her, but she has no idea how to break away from its authority without hurting everyone she loves.
Rebels, #2
Warriors, #3
Vagabond Circus Series:
Suspended, #1:
When a stranger joins the cast of Vagabond Circus—a circus that is run by Dream Travelers and features real magic—mysterious events start happening. The once orderly grounds of the circus become riddled with hidden threats. And the ringmaster realizes not only are his circus and its magic at risk, but also his very life.
Vagabond Circus caters to the skeptics. Without skeptics, it would close its doors. This is because Vagabond Circus runs for two reasons and only two reasons: first and foremost to provide the lost and lonely Dream Travelers a place to be illustrious. And secondly, to show the nonbelievers that there’s still magic in the world. If they believe, then they care, and if they care, then they don’t destroy. They stop the small abuse that day-by-day breaks down humanity’s spirit. If Vagabond Circus makes one skeptic believe in magic, then they halt the cycle, just a little bit. They allow a little more love into this world. That’s Dr. Dave Raydon’s mission. And that’s why this ringmaster recruits. That’s why he directs. That’s why he puts on a show that makes people question their beliefs. He wants the world to believe in magic once again.
Paralyzed, #2
Released, #3
Ren Series:
Ren: The Man Behind the Monster, #1:
Born with the power to control minds, hypnotize others, and read thoughts, Ren Lewis, is certain of one thing: God made a mistake. No one should be born with so much power. A monster awoke in him the same year he received his gifts. At ten years old. A prepubescent boy with the ability to control others might merely abuse his powers, but Ren allowed it to corrupt him. And since he can have and do anything he wants, Ren should be happy. However, his journey teaches him that harboring so much power doesn’t bring happiness, it steals it. Once this realization sets in, Ren makes up his mind to do the one thing that can bring his tortured soul some peace. He must kill the monster.
*Note* This book is NA and has strong language, violence and sexual references.
Ren: God’s Little Monster, #2
Ren: The Monster Inside the Monster, #3
Ren: The Monster’s Adventure, #3.5
Ren: The Monster’s Death
Olento Research Series:
Alpha Wolf, #1:
Twelve men went missing.
Six months later they awake from drug-induced stupors to find themselves locked in a lab.
And on the night of a new moon, eleven of those men, possessed by new—and inhuman—powers, break out of their prison and race through the streets of Los Angeles until they disappear one by one into the night.
Olento Research wants its experiments back. Its CEO, Mika Lenna, will tear every city apart until he has his werewolves imprisoned once again. He didn’t undertake a huge risk just to lose his would-be assassins.
However, the Lucidite Institute’s main mission is to save the world from injustices. Now, it’s Adelaide’s job to find these mutated men and protect them and society, and fast. Already around the nation, wolflike men are being spotted. Attacks on innocent women are happening. And then, Adelaide realizes what her next step must be: She has to find the alpha wolf first. Only once she’s located him can she stop whoever is behind this experiment to create wild beasts out of human beings.
Lone Wolf, #2
Rabid Wolf, #3
Bad Wolf, #4
About J.N. Chaney
J. N. Chaney has a Master's of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and fancies himself quite the Super Mario Bros. fan. He is the author of The Renegade Star series as well as The Variant Saga. When he isn't writing or gaming, you can find him online at www.jnchaney.com
He migrates often, but was last seen in Avon Park, FL. Any sightings should be reported, as they are rare.
Check out other work by this author here.
Renegade Star Series:
Jace Hughes is a Renegade.
That means taking almost any job that comes his way, no matter the situation. So long as he can keep his ship floating, he's free to live the life he wants.
But that all changes when he meets Abigail Pryar, a nun looking for safe passage out of the system.
Too bad there's something off about the cargo she's carrying.
Jace knows he shouldn't ask too many questions, but when strange sounds start coming from inside the large, metal box, he can't help but check it out.
Big mistake.
To make matters worse, he's being pursued by unknown ships--people who want that cargo. Does Jace give up the goods and hand over the nun...or does he risk it all for an even bigger payout?
Experience the beginning of a sprawling galactic tale in this first entry to The Renegade Starseries. If you're a fan of Firefly, Battlestar Galactica, or Leviathan Wakes, you'll love this epic, space opera thriller.
Variant Saga:
In 2157, a mysterious gas known as Variant spreads across the globe, killing or mutating most organic life. The surviving humans take refuge in an underground city, determined to return home. But after generations of failures and botched attempts, hope is beginning to dwindle. That is, until a young scientist makes a unique discovery—and everything changes. Suddenly, there’s reason to hope again, and it rests within a group of genetically engineered soldiers that are both human and Variant.
Terry is one of these individu
als, modified and trained to endure the harsh conditions of a planet he cannot begin to understand. After years of preparation, Terry thinks he knows what to expect. But the reality is far stranger than anything he can imagine—and what he will become is far more dangerous.
Books by Michael Anderle
For a complete list of Kurtherian Gambit Universe
books please click this link.
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 (2017)
Never Submit (15) - Never Surrender (16) - Forever Defend (17)