Author’s Note:
Almost nine years ago in the summer of 2017, John Ringo asked me for a private word out on the smoking patio at the Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel on Sunday afternoon near the end of LibertyCon, that year celebrating its 30th anniversary.
I was immediately nervous.
I’d been reading John Ringo books since I was a teen, and had therefore been working hard all weekend to not be obnoxiously excited to meet him. On top of that, I knew he was a veteran, and since I went through Marine Corps ROTC during college I still tended to rack my brain for what I’d screwed up anytime someone asked me for a “private word.”
Praise in public, rip ’em a new one in private. You know how it goes.
So it was with no small amount of trepidation that I sat down on the low wall around the patio as he lit up a cigar and situated his kilt (it was hot as hell, so I didn’t blame him, but I will also forever have an image burned in my memory of John Ringo standing and fanning his manly bits with his kilt).
Imagine how confused I was as I sat, braced for a dressing down because of some imagined unprofessional slip-up I’d made as a brand-new pro at LibertyCon, when instead John started talking about a book he wanted to write with his daughter.
Now, anyone who has met John knows how much he loves to tell a good story (the best ones are usually to be heard at late night “No Shit, There I Was” panels). So I was perfectly content to listen to him talk, even though I was extremely confused and still had no idea why he was talking to me.
I swear it took me a good fifteen minutes listening to him chat about his book idea and how his daughter wasn’t really the writing type before it dawned on me where he was going with his long, rambling explanation.
At that point I nearly had a heart attack. But I managed to keep my mouth closed as he finally found his way to the point (another fifteen minutes later), which was: Do you want to write a book with me?
*Cue internal fan-girl screaming*
Somehow I managed to say, without sounding too terribly stunned, “Um, yes. Yes, I do.”
He warned me he didn’t know if he could get his publisher on board or not, but that we could give it a shot, and he’d send me what he had of his story idea so far.
The work in progress title at the time was “Whispers in the Night.”
After we spoke I wandered dazedly back into the Choo Choo, and was immediately set upon by excited John Ringo fans who had spotted us talking on the patio. Unbeknownst to me, stalking John as he recruited co-authors was a time-honored tradition, and to the well-meaning fans I was the next fresh meat that meant they’d get to read more John Ringo books (yay!).
Someone had even snapped a picture of us through the Choo Choo’s condensation-stained window, proof of the moment a brand-new series was born. Maybe I’ll frame the picture someday.
As excited as I was, leaving LibertyCon that year, I did try to moderate my enthusiasm. The gears of the traditional publishing industry are slow to turn. Indeed, it took two more years to get Baen Books to sign off on the series. John and I even briefly discussed self-publishing the books ourselves, considering I was already a successful independent author making good money selling my Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus urban fantasy books.
But in the fall of 2019, John finally sold Toni, our editor, on the idea and we got a three-book contract (how every well-meaning Baen Trilogy starts out, right?).
Thus began a six-year journey of collaboration that has changed both of us—hopefully for the better.
Based on my conversations with John, his thoughts on collaborations could likely best be summed up by a wise saying that’s been passed around from author to author over the years: be cautious about collaborating with anyone who lives closer than four hours away, because that’s how long it will take you to calm down after you storm out of your house intent on showing up on your collaborator’s doorstep to vent your frustrations in person.
During our last meeting to finalize the outline for this book, John shared a picture with me of three greats, Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle, and Steven Barnes, posed humorously with Larry swinging an ax overhead, Steven executing a flawless sidekick, and poor Jerry in the middle trying to hold the feuding authors apart. From what I can gather the mock fight was photographed and used as humorous promotion for the trio’s 1987 release of The Legacy of Heorot.
The picture gave me a good laugh, and also struck too close for comfort.
As for me, I am extremely grateful for the chance John Ringo took on me and the opportunity I was given to write this amazing series with him. I have come to love Baen Books not just as a reader who devoured the books they published, but as a business partner and friend who has worked alongside the incredible team that makes the magic happen behind the scenes.
Our collaboration has not been without its moments of pitched battle (though fortunately there was no ax involved, otherwise John might not still have his head). But since John and I live a whole five hours apart, we’ve been safe from falling into authorcide, and are now pleased and honored to present our dear readers with Lynn’s completed adventures.
So, thank you, John, for taking a chance on me, and for all the many useful things you have taught me about writing and publishing—some of it even on purpose!
Thank you, Toni, for giving this series a chance, and for guiding and supporting us along the way.
Thank you Leah, Joy, Marla, Jason, Rabbit, Griffin, Dave, Jim, David, and any other of the Baen team who helped make sure these books were beautifully polished and delivered into readers’ hands.
Thank you Dave Seeley and Kurt Miller for the amazing cover art. You brought the energy, tension, and epic struggles of the series to visual form so that readers’ imaginations could be inspired to a whole new level.
There were many wonderful people over the years with whom I consulted for details about various topics. I can’t remember you all because I was foolish enough not to keep a running list, my apologies for that lack of foresight (likely I do remember you, I just can’t find our however-many-years-old text/email/messenger conversation to recall your name).
For those I do remember: Thank you Mike Muller for your invaluable military expertise, Speaker for your scientific insight, Ted Thomas for your vision on future technology, and Chuck Gannon for your career advice.
Thank you to the many people whose names I commandeered to outfit the troops of Taskforce Sanctus. You were all chosen with love, care, and a desire to honor the way you’ve enriched my life.
Thank you to the many friends and family members who supported me during this collaboration, who lent a listening ear and prayed for its success. You know what I’m talking about.
Thank you to the many bookstores and fans who promoted these books (and will continue to do so!) and shared them with others out of love and enthusiasm.
Thank you to all my fellow authors and business professionals who cheered me on, shared their knowledge, and gave me opportunities to give back. A rising tide lifts all boats!
I always save the best for last, so thank you to my alpha reader and the most supportive husband ever, David Sherrer. Without your love of gaming and expert knowledge on the gaming industry, game mechanics, and game lore, there’s no way I could have made this book series as fun and full of joy for gaming as I did. You’re the best.
And now, dear reader, the only thing remaining is for you to go enjoy the final installment of Lynn’s thrilling adventure. Thank you for reading, thank you for enjoying, and thank you for sharing this story with other people whose lives will be made richer by it.