If you’re a reader, you may or may not be familiar with Michael Anderle’s Kurtherian Gambit Universe. If you haven’t heard of it, then you might want to check it out. Seriously. Just be prepared to spend hours/days/months devouring all the books currently available, with more coming out faster than you ever thought books could be published. To say that he and the rest of the Kurtherian and Oriceran authors over at LMBPN Publishing are on an aggressive rapid-release schedule is putting it very mildly.
Back to being familiar with the Kurtherian Gambit Universe. One of the very special things that Micheal created was an opportunity for fans to write stories within his universe and have them published under LMBPN’s banner. You read that right: fanfic that is sanctioned and published by the universe’s creator. Obviously, there are rules to follow and only select stories as voted in by readers make the cut, but it’s yet another thing that sets this universe apart. The best-selling first anthology, Tales from the Kurtherian Universe: Fans Write For The Fans: Book 1 was such a hit with readers, fans, authors and admins alike, that he was asked if another anthology could happen.
Enter Tales from the Kurtherian Universe: Fans Write For The Fans: Book 2.
The process of getting a new anthology into the works started back in February. Several people decided to try their hand at writing a short story (or three, or five) for consideration. Many of them had never written a story of any kind before. Others had done some writing but were shy about sharing. A few were already dedicated to pursuing a lifelong dream and leaped on the chance to share the stories living in their heads that had been inspired by the books they so eagerly devoured.
Throughout all the weeks of writing, sharing, fixing of canon issues, initial editing, and the myriad other things that happen when a bunch of individuals exercises their creativity with the full support and encouragement of their fellow fans and readers, a lot of magic happened.
When the formal submission link opened in April, twenty-six short stories and poems were submitted for review before the submission close deadline was reached. One of them was mine.
Fast-forward through the reading period, the tallying of votes, the announcement that not one, but TWO new anthologies would be happening because so many stories met the criteria for inclusion (Book 3 is due to release later this year; September, I believe), the contract signing, and the formal editing and JIT processes to publishing.
Yesterday was a nerve-wracking day. LMBPN hit “Publish” early in the morning. Amazon was apparently backlogged, so the book didn’t release until early evening. I and six other newly-minted authors were all but coming out of our skin waiting for the book to launch. I can’t speak for the other two authors whose works are also in Book 2; one of them is an established author in the KGU and with his independent works, the other was published in Book 1. Our fellow fans and readers were equally impatient for the launch. I truly don’t know who cheered loudest when the link was finally available: all I know is that it was resounding, as evidenced by the coveted orange “Bestseller” tag that appeared on the book less than twelve hours after launch.
As I write this, Book 2 is currently ranked:
Thank you. Thank you to all the fans and readers around the world who not only encouraged my fellow authors and me to write and share our creations but who support us and LMBPN Publishing in every way that matters. You all rock.
