The Russian government tried once, and failed spectacularly, to gain custody of the site which Boris defended. There were still over fifty wrecked tanks on the edge of the area known now as the New Romanovka Autonomous Zone. That battle had actually stripped a large chunk of the Archangelsk Oblast into the Autonomous Zone Boris controlled. The Puck defense shield worked well against armored vehicles, and the railgun turrets had decimated the infantry involved in the attack. With the new algorithms Lilith had provided, the railguns automatically shot down any incoming projectiles as well, neutralizing all attempts to attack the town with missiles or artillery. Boris was still worried about a possible nuclear strike against the town, but it seemed unlikely.
The town’s population was slowly growing, both through vetted people joining the community and through new additions to families. But things were starting to fall apart. Boris had seen this before, and they were preparing. He was stockpiling as many preserved foods and raw materials as he could.
Lilith had designed and helped fabricate a tunneling device so they could create some caverns for secure farm space using similar concepts to the early space borne farming containers. They had also started a school system for children and another for people to learn how to maintain and care for equipment and weapons systems. Those who showed potential for invention and innovation were given tutelage by Lilith. They knew it could be a very long time before any outside help would be coming.
Whatever happened, Boris wanted a firm base to support Michael on his return.
Lilith had also developed what they were now calling ‘Black Wheat,’ a grain that provided all the non-protein based energy and nutrients a human needed. It was also a more efficient crop since it used more of the light spectrum. It had two forms of chlorophyll which combined to make a more effective use of available light.
Since Weres needed more protein than a standard human, hunting provided the community with some of its meat, farming on the surface provided the rest. The group was also experimenting with other sources of meat protein using some of the information already learned from the scientists on the Meredith Reynolds. Developing new methods of producing protein, along with growing different modified plants underground had Lilith content, at least for the time being.
Janna walked up to Boris and looked around, “Things are going well aren’t they, love? “He only looked up and grunted. His plans were somewhat nebulous for what to do when the war finally hit, the one he felt in his bones was coming. New Romanovka was too tempting of a target. He kept pushing forward with supply and defense plans, recycling and the like. Whatever happened, he would try to be prepared.
Janna got closer to him and tightly embraced his bulky form. “Take the day off, love. We have something to celebrate, after all.”
Boris brought his head around and looked at her more closely. She had a soft glow to her complexion that he hadn’t seen before. Breathing in deeply, he noticed subtle changes in how she smelled, also. His eyes widened as a thought occurred to him “You mean…”
She smiled, “Yes, love, we’ll be parents soon. “A multitude of worries flashed through his mind, but he pushed them firmly aside. Joy blossomed across his face, and he gently picked Janna up and swung her around him in a circle.
Janna smiled as he did. Her smile grew when she heard his whisper of, “Finally, a full family of my own. “Suddenly, all his worries seemed petty, compared to the happiness and completion he felt.
Author’s Notes – Paul C. Middleton
January 3rd, 2016
Well, this was an interesting book to write. I hope you found it just as interesting to read.
The major premise is based on an actual myth relating to Archangelsk and is partly responsible for the city’s name. It’s easy to find on the Interweb.
As I sit here writing this, the book has finally been reviewed by Michael, Re-reviewed by me, and is in the hands of our tender Editor Kat, who is taking time off from her duties as an avatar of Loviatar. Apparently, she wasn’t causing enough pain and torment there. So she took up an editing side gig. The Goddess of Pain and Torture is considering becoming the patron of editors as we speak. She hadn’t realized how much suffering they can cause.
In all seriousness, I enjoyed basing an entire Kurtherian Gambit book on a myth. It made me feel right at home — Twisting legends is what I do.
Seriously. It’s at the core of all my other works, and I love doing it.
But I also love the characters I’ve been able to create in the Kurtherian Universe. I think they’re a fun, if sometimes confusing, group. Kinda like most people I know.
You, the fans, should thank my long suffering Idea Wall… I mean partner. She motivates me immensely. She’ll also blush bright red when she reads this. She also suffers through patiently as I throw plot ideas at her. I know which ones are good, because they cause a change in her expression from pained patience to… well anything else, I guess. If readers have to suffer a wait, an author’s significant other often has to suffer through ridiculous plot ideas.
Trust me, readers have the better end of that deal.
Again, a repeated thanks to my Alpha team, who suffers from the poor quality of some of the stuff I drop on them (the Double D’s, Bree and Tom)
Also a big thanks to Michael for being brave enough to open his universe to not just me, but so many other talented authors.
I hope to release 3–5 books by the end of March, but the next Boris Chronicle is marked down for April… I’m studying creative writing in a pressure cooker pilot project… Designed by the indomitable Kat Lind in that time. I want to learn as much as possible from it and hope to put it all to good use in the next book. I also need to get some of my own works out, as I lost November somewhere and can’t find it.
You all know what lost months are like. Once you find them the time is all gone from them anyways.
Now for those social media links.
This is for my Blog
This is for the Betrayed by Faith Mailing list
This is my Author Facebook
This is the Series Facebook
This is my Amazon Author Page ( I’ll get around to my bio one day, I swear!) I try and check it every day. It’s a bit quiet though.
Author’s Notes – Michael Anderle
January 3rd, 2016
As always, can I say with a HUGE amount of appreciation how much it means to me that you not only read this book, but you are reading these notes as well?
So, I TOTALLY flubbed counting on my fingers in the Author Notes for Alpha Class w/ TS Paul. I said I would have done six (6) author notes in December.
It was five…I mean, who screws up counting to FIVE FREAKING FINGERS? Yeah, I did. I suck at math apparently.
Good thing I’m a writer.
So, THIS is the sixth Author Note I’ve done in 30 days (since about 12/6 or so). I could ask ‘what is there to say?’ but one thing I do know, there is ALWAYS something to talk about.
For example, did you know that Urban Fantasy can kick Paranormals ASS in sales? Yeah, I didn’t when I started this or Bethany Anne might be a different character. Why do I know this? Because my own son is killing my original sales numbers so far in his first month. Sure, he has a lot of support from my fan’s and help from the Double D’s and Jeff Brown, so it is very much an apples and oranges thing.
But, you know, I had three books out my first month and the turkey might beat my first month’s income. He’s kinda SCREWED if he doesn’t get book 01 out by the end of January for beating my second month, though.