Another small snippet of Family Law 4

Unedited and rough as always. It’s a bit past 40k words.
………..
“Lee’s learning to speak so pretty and tactfully,” Gordon said, amused. “I’m sure the message was more like, “If you think you can cross me on this I’ll have Gordon skin you out and make a hand puppet out of you.”

Lee didn’t dignify that with a response, but there was no embarrassing silence to cover, because the Mothers were all laughing.

“Don’t look so serious and offended, Dear,” the first Mum said. “We have Garrett easing into his role as Champion, and I think he’s going to be a fine one, but if I wanted to scare the Fargoers spitless I’d threaten them with Gordon myself. You shouldn’t need to, if only they knew you better, but it’s not a kindness to threaten people with something they might ignore to their peril.

“Know me better?” Lee asked.

“Yes, the Badgers didn’t see you sit there and tell the First Mother she was flat out wrong, and offer shoot it out with her with hypervelocity pistols,” she said making a menacing gun with her true hand. “As much as I’m glad you are both alive and well, there’s still the occasional thought that creeps in when I remember it, that we missed a major spectacle. You were ready to DO it. Little thing you were,” the Mother said, acknowledging her growth spurt, “you scared the snot out of half the clan that day.”

“I can get carried away when I’m indignant,” Lee admitted. “I’ll be sixteen in a few days. I’m aware I have to work on some maturity and dignity.”

“That’s good. You can keep working on those qualities when you go represent us to the Lunar governments,” the first Mother said. The other two nodded like this was already expected, though they hadn’t had any privacy to discuss it among themselves.

“I what?” Lee protested, mouth hanging open.

“Well, it was your idea. You said we need to go there or send an emissary. Didn’t you?”

“Yes, but I wasn’t volunteering,” Lee said, looking stricken.

“No need. That’s how we Mothers are. If a fellow comes up to us and says, “We really need a new drainage ditch running out of the east pasture.” We hand him a shovel. Who better than the guy with mud on his boots? He knows where to dig, and has an interest in doing it right. Your clan can call on your services. Consider yourself called.”

56 Responses to Another small snippet of Family Law 4

  1. Chris May 2, 2017 at 8:10 pm #

    Okay, I’m sold. Where’s the purchase now button?

  2. Joyce May 2, 2017 at 9:05 pm #

    Yep, me too. Ready to buy, right now!
    If I remember correctly, there’s a stand-alone book coming out first, before FL4. Any thoughts on when that might be?

    • Mac May 2, 2017 at 11:20 pm #

      Not sure. I go back and forth between them according to which muse is poking me.

  3. Joyce May 3, 2017 at 8:22 am #

    I’m eager to see either or both! Thanks for all your hard work; I know I speak for many.

  4. Cheryl May 3, 2017 at 2:52 pm #

    Just waiting and checking your website frequently ?

  5. Mike Morrow May 3, 2017 at 4:22 pm #

    Take my money!

  6. Anonymous May 3, 2017 at 8:19 pm #

    Please! Take my money!

  7. Ann May 4, 2017 at 1:10 am #

    Mac when is the expected publication month? Rough guess acceptable and subject to unanticipated changes

    • Mac May 4, 2017 at 4:40 am #

      Still several months is as close as I can say. Probably going to have two or three pretty close together.

  8. Mike May 5, 2017 at 5:25 pm #

    Whether it’s this one or the standalone, I’ll buy anything Mac publishes. Since I’ve picked up April, and subsequently everything else, he hasn’t written a bad book yet. Take your time and get it right like you always do. I can wait patiently.

  9. Silke May 7, 2017 at 3:40 pm #

    Ah, I’m normally not one giving out animal sounds – but I’m certain there was some purring to hear from me just now 🙂
    Thanks for the teaser!

  10. DitN May 8, 2017 at 12:58 am #

    Very nice! Looking forward to whatever the next book is.

  11. Katie F May 8, 2017 at 6:04 am #

    Looking forward to the finished product.

  12. Eric May 11, 2017 at 3:40 pm #

    I’m glad I put my drink down before I laughed. It would have hurt to blow it out my nose. +1 for looking forward to your new books.

  13. DitN May 13, 2017 at 11:06 am #

    I am glad to see Mothers have a sense of humor to go with their assertiveness.

    From their behavior so far, they seem more managers than leaders; people do what Mothers say, but they want to follow people (Derf) like Gordon. Or Lee.

  14. ChuckC June 1, 2017 at 10:04 pm #

    Any hope for another snippet soon?

    • Mac June 7, 2017 at 7:39 am #

      Yes. : )

      • John June 17, 2017 at 6:39 pm #

        So there was a chance but not much of one?

        • Mac June 25, 2017 at 9:29 pm #

          not soon

  15. Lee Thornton June 3, 2017 at 8:20 pm #

    Only one small comment – Louisiana doesn’t use front license plates.
    Great little story. Thanks.

    • Mac June 3, 2017 at 9:10 pm #

      The things that trip you up . . . . .

  16. stew June 3, 2017 at 9:21 pm #

    Does this one have a name yet?
    Loving it so far

    • Mac June 7, 2017 at 7:38 am #

      I’m thinking of – “A Hop Skip and a Jump”

  17. Mal June 7, 2017 at 3:57 am #

    Will the April series make it to audiobook sometime soon?

    • Mac June 7, 2017 at 7:38 am #

      I have a fellow interested. He does regular editing and has been busy getting that established. He asked for a couple months before we talk about that, and it’s been a couple months. I need to message him.

      • Mike Morrow June 7, 2017 at 2:13 pm #

        That would be outstanding! I currently re-listen to the April books as I fall asleep using TTS software!

      • Silke June 8, 2017 at 3:30 pm #

        Huh, Mal just read my thoughts.
        I was pondering of asking the same just this week.
        Would love to hear&buy your books as audio edition too.

        And if there is somewhere a suggestion button, I would really love it with different voices (until now I just own books of M.K.Eidem implementing that) ^^

      • Eric July 13, 2017 at 5:42 pm #

        If there’s a money issue here – I’m sure a kickstarter would get your bills paid pretty quickly. I know I’d donate for an audiobook.

        • Eric July 13, 2017 at 5:46 pm #

          I love this series enough I’d put some SERIOUS money down for all of the April and FL books in audio book format with a decent narrator.

  18. Joyce June 12, 2017 at 10:11 pm #

    A recommendation to my fellow fans who are looking for something to read while we’re waiting for the next April installment to come out: Tanager’s Fledglings by Cedar Sanderson. I found it enjoyable and will certainly read book 2 when it comes out.

    • Mac June 16, 2017 at 6:21 pm #

      Cedar is a friend.

  19. Cheryl June 18, 2017 at 10:58 pm #

    Thanks Joyce, I tried Tanager’s Fledglings and it’s prequel. I enjoyed them both and look forward to her next book. Still waiting for next Family Law and next April, when Mac says we are close I will reread all the books leading up to the new one

  20. Bill F June 19, 2017 at 7:55 pm #

    We are all being very quiet so as not to disturb you while typing …. click click … howz ya doin?

    • Mac June 25, 2017 at 9:27 pm #

      Iz doin’ fine.

  21. stew June 23, 2017 at 1:53 pm #

    Mac I really like your balance of Hard Sci build explanation and plot pace. Its not so far in the weeds that you need to get out a physics text book. You do a great job of showing development that then contributes to a rising action in plot pace. Most Sci fi fails here, its either in the weeds (overly detailed) or might as well be magic for its connection to reality. Thanks for the good work. I look forward to your next book.

    • Anonymous June 23, 2017 at 9:36 pm #

      ^ what he said.

    • Mac June 25, 2017 at 9:26 pm #

      Thank you.

  22. Aimee June 26, 2017 at 12:25 am #

    Snippet please

    • Mac June 26, 2017 at 5:08 am #

      soon

  23. Igors July 2, 2017 at 5:11 am #

    How soon is soon?

  24. MG July 2, 2017 at 4:34 pm #

    It is probably relative … depends how close to light speed your generational sub-light ship is.

    • Mac July 2, 2017 at 5:38 pm #

      I’m so massive time is warped around me….

      • Mike M July 2, 2017 at 9:25 pm #

        Can I use that line on my wonderful spouse when she gently encourages me to lose weight?

        • Mac July 2, 2017 at 11:41 pm #

          No copyright.

  25. Igors July 7, 2017 at 3:39 pm #

    quoting the donkey: are we there yet?

  26. Ann July 7, 2017 at 11:30 pm #

    Is it now soon? Or still too soon?
    Snippets please

  27. hocine July 8, 2017 at 10:10 am #

    1 thousand years is soon when you know that the solar system is only some billions years young.

  28. Jim Davis July 8, 2017 at 12:56 pm #

    Mac, its been 67 days since the last snippet and your MTBS (mean time between snippets) this year is 31 days… I’m getting a bit snippy. :-))

    • aze July 8, 2017 at 1:40 pm #

      Please calm down, don’t do it. Mac needs his fingers to write, you mustn’t snip them off :O

    • Mac July 8, 2017 at 7:58 pm #

      The little section I’m doing right now can be a snippet without giving away spoilers. Will post some of it when it’s done.

  29. Joyce July 8, 2017 at 3:48 pm #

    Dear friends, let’s remember that Mac is a writer of BOOKS and he is working hard to produce the books we enjoy so much as quickly as possible. He doesn’t actually owe us any snippets! Whining at him like kids in the back seat may distract him from the books—-as my mom said to us kids more than once, long years ago: “Don’t make me stop this car!”

    • Mike M July 9, 2017 at 12:06 pm #

      Joyce you are spot on.

  30. Kushal July 8, 2017 at 5:50 pm #

    Hey Mac,

    Any time frame on when the next book is coming out?

    • Mac July 8, 2017 at 8:00 pm #

      2/3 done so looking at 2 months I’d guess. Never any promises. I don’t pre-sell and set deadlines. I don’t do this to eat. Although I am enjoying the truck it bought.

      • Mike M July 9, 2017 at 12:06 pm #

        Thank you for the update it is appreciated.

      • Kushal July 10, 2017 at 2:40 pm #

        Thanks you Mac. Looking forward to it.

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