An unedited quick snippet of April 14

The Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs, Taikan, considered the fold over invitation on his desk carefully. The paper was thick and had a faintly shiny surface without feeling slick. It was slightly translucent and had a sprig of rose leaves and a few pink petals embedded. The use of inclusions in the hand-made paper wasn’t overdone. The entire effect was subtle. The English text was in a light green ink that complimented the leaves and the Japanese text was in a color he immediately labeled as Flamingo to compliment the petals. Both were done by hand and the translation was so correct that he couldn’t tell which was the original message and which was the translation. It invited him or his chosen representative to join the Sovereign of Central at a state ball and dinner buffet to celebrate life, friends, and allies. The event would start at 1800 Zulu time on May the sixteenth.

The note left unsaid if he and thus Japan were foremost friends or allies. It wasn’t even tied to any political event or anniversary. That was carefully neutral but wouldn’t deflect certain other nations from condemning anyone attending. Taikan didn’t care to demonstrate cowardice for his nation by turning down such an eloquent invitation. His personal politics were such that he’d enjoy sending a message to the sorts of joyless uzeee naysayers who could be offended by a party.

Unfortunately, there was no way he could alter his obligations to be away as many days as travel to the Moon would require. His deputy, Kawase Toyo, was younger and would travel easier. He called him.

“Kawase, how would you like an all-paid exotic vacation for your nation?”

“Greenland again? Or have you found somewhere as hot as that was cold?”

“How suspicious you are,” Taikan reproved him. “That wasn’t even in the depth of their winter and you were warned to have adequately warm clothing. This is a wonderful assignment, literally a party! Your wife will find it makes up for your previous task.”

“Is her presence requested or is it required?” Kawase asked. “She is as suspicious as me.”

“She wouldn’t want to miss it,” Taikan assured him. “You will attend a ball that is a state function. Come to my office and I’ll show you the invitation.”

Kawase took a long time examining the invitation.

“This isn’t the work of a barbarian,” He reluctantly admitted.

“I’m sure the whole experience will be tasteful and disagreeable to all the parties we wish to irritate by treating the Moon queen with honor and legitimacy.”

Kawase actually smiled at that. “That will make up for any minor hardship,” he agreed.

21 Responses to An unedited quick snippet of April 14

  1. Stephanie May 11, 2023 at 8:00 pm #

    Looking forward to the book immensely!

    • Ricardo May 14, 2023 at 10:48 am #

      Looking forward to it.
      I love the series!

  2. Michael May 11, 2023 at 8:08 pm #

    Oooo… A sharp diplomatic poke in the eye to various parties… sweet! Cannot wait to see who else shows.

  3. Teresa May 12, 2023 at 7:35 am #

    I can’t wait to read the full book! Thanks very much for the snippet.

  4. Benny Floyd May 12, 2023 at 12:58 pm #

    Excellent. Always happy when I see anything you write. Happiest that you are feeling well enough to write. You are the only author who’s books I will preorder after being burned a few times.

  5. Zebulon Dakota May 12, 2023 at 1:43 pm #

    It just gets better with every reveal! Dammit! 🙂

  6. Cheryl May 13, 2023 at 6:47 am #

    Looking forward to it. Reads as one of your really good ones.
    Correction offered — in the sixth line you have the word PEDALS it should be PETALS.

    • Mac May 13, 2023 at 7:40 am #

      Thanks

  7. Pcj70 May 14, 2023 at 3:36 am #

    : ) looking forward to it!

  8. Melvyn Barker May 14, 2023 at 3:43 am #

    Excellent – eagerly awaiting the new book

  9. TimC May 15, 2023 at 3:44 am #

    Mac. delighted to see you are feeling well enough for more writing.
    I don’t need it since I have already bought all your books! But, I wonder if there is a way to get your Amazon purchase link to check the origin of a request and go to Amazon in the correct country, mine is .uk.

    • Mac May 15, 2023 at 7:23 am #

      I’m sorry – I’d need to have a link or a pull down menu for each sales region. All I’d suggest is to go directly to your local Amazon home page and search by my name since it is unusual.

  10. Kat WIlton May 15, 2023 at 9:19 pm #

    Very delighted to see this! And, of course, breathlessly awaiting publication 😉 (I am a very, very greedy reader, but I do try to keep it under control LOL)

    I finally got prodded to do the right thing and BUY your books on Kindle instead of constantly re-reading them on KU. When this new one comes out, I’ll just go straight to purchase, because you have MORE than proven yourself to me as an author, and I need to remember to do all I can to support and appreciate the relatively few authors these days who tell a great story without preaching the latest, ah, political correctness 😉 I don’t mind politics in a story, but I like them to be a natural part of the plot (which you do very well) rather than some sort of polemic to beat me over the head.

    • Mac May 16, 2023 at 6:21 am #

      Glad you don’t feel I’m preaching. Thanks for buying. I do get paid either way, or both. Whatever works for you.

  11. Peter Taylor May 17, 2023 at 2:52 am #

    Hi Mac,

    First I wanted to tell you, I have really enjoyed reading your books, and hope that you continue to write many more.

    Also I have noticed a small typo in the current snippet, that I am sure others have noticed, and you just haven’t had time to revise it. “ Flamingo to compliment the pedals” instead of petals.

    I am looking forward to buying April 14 when it is released.

    Pete.

    • Mac May 17, 2023 at 6:45 am #

      Yes was noted, but thanks.I actually changed several whole sentences. That often happens while a book is in progress.

  12. harry May 19, 2023 at 12:16 pm #

    Great stuff, Mac. I am looking forward to vicariously attending the Moon Queen’s Ball as soon as the new book come out.

  13. Bob Joatmon May 23, 2023 at 3:10 am #

    Bought both April And Family series in mid 2022 and thoroughly enjoyed them. I put a note on my calendar to check if there was an April 14 for last week and after checking it prompted me to reread the series which I usely would only do after 5 or 6 years for the better ones. But your writing and the universe you created were so good that hire I am, finished all the books in one week and searching for more. Stay healthy and safe and keep writing so I can get my reading fix please (haha)

    • Mac May 23, 2023 at 7:49 am #

      I’m doing much better. Being so sick at 75 years old one doesn’t recover like in your 20s. April 14 is just shy of 60k words right now. Hopefully the pace of writing will pick up.

  14. Mike Weatherford May 28, 2023 at 10:52 pm #

    Mac,
    I have all of your books, but love their April books most. My only. complaint (actually a whine) is you don’t have a new book every two weeks! Neither does. anyone else so I just have to wait….
    grumble, grumble. 😎

  15. Lisa Diggs June 10, 2023 at 12:54 am #

    Take care of yourself. Looking forward to your next book!

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