Some of my reviews are over the top. I’m no genius. Some of the people I know are much smarter than me. I’m an old blue collar worker and mid-wit who likes to spin stories. I thank everyone for reading them. I’m amazed this last book has sold very well in non-English speaking countries. Mexico and India where before I might have zero sales any one month. Japan is paying me over $500 this month.
On the 20th of this month (Sept.) I’ll have my second shoulder replacement. It will be nice to be able to do things like replace a smoke alarm battery or a shower curtain. The pain level will go down too.
Family Law #8 is past 17k words and other stories advanced a little.
Thanks guys. – Mac’
Praying your surgery goes well. Had rotator cuff surgery a few years ago, so know the pain you’re going through. Hope your recovery is speedy so you can write more stories. I read them all (several times).
It may be sound a little bit egoistical, but I wish you a speedy AND FULL recovery.
Some of us a literally addicted to Lee shenanigans.
Get well soon!!!
Here’s hoping you have a quick recovery and spring back to action soon!
From one blue collar worker to another, I very much appreciate your stories, they bring much needed escape during my tarnished golden years!
Mac believe me you have a loyal following. You are a wonderful storyteller. I own all your books and have read and reread them all many times.
Take care of yourself. Surgery is a pain literally and figuratively but once you heal it is so much better.
Hope all goes well.
This gettin’ old thing ain’t for sissies, as my Grandma (who lived to 98) always said. The older I get, the more I realize she wasn’t complaining so much as stating a simple truth. Now I find myself muttering that to the youth in the family and I just know they’re politely refraining from rolling their eyes, just as I did when I was their age. 😄
I just finished “A Reluctant Sovereign” and I just can´t wait for the next book. May your surgery go very well and your recovery speedy and complete. I do read in english although my first language is german, and I can only compliment you on your way with words and storytelling. Your characters are well thought out and likeable. The interactions are great, the synergies wonderful. I can easily imagine enough material in the April/Lee Universe to tell at least 10 more books worth of stories ( well I DO hope for that *grin*)
All the best wishes from Germany
Hi, Mack. Don’t sell yourself short, being able to write a good story is a gift that not many people can claim. I attempted novels that have been critically but were really good stories that I enjoyed as much I do your stories and I’m a prolific reader. I’m retired and that’s how I spend my time and your stories I find engaging and immensely enjoyable. So much so that I read each series when new books are published and can’t really say that about many of the authors whose books I read. Anyway, that said, good luck with the surgery and take care of yourself and your wife. I’ll purchase any books you gift us with, anytime you get around to finish them.
I don’t think that what someone did as a job or career have anything to do with how good a writer they might be. Imagination and the empathy to put themselves into the minds of real or imaginary people. The kind of persistence needed to take an idea or set of ideas from the mind to the paper of a finished story is also something that is not tied to a job career or even an age bracket. Your writing is engaging, I have re-read your series many times, so I salute your craft. Thank you.
Absolutely delightful stories! One of the very few authors whose stories I can read and then immediately re-read!
Are we missing one at the end of the April series?
Maybe. Am doing another Family Law next.
Mac, I stumbled across your recent post to learn you have surgery scheduled tomorrow on 20 September, just in time to send all my best wishes for you.
Thanks, again, for all the enjoyable hours I’ve spent in the stories you’ve created!
Best of luck with your surgery. We are rooting for your speedy recovery.
Hope the surgery goes well and your recovery is speedy and complete!
survived – just really really tired
Yep, surgery really takes a toll at our age. Hope you have a speedy recovery. Take your time and don’t overdo things until you’re all recovered. Take care!
Aw shucks and spread some more butter on that corn pone. 🙂 I knew you before I even suspected you were going to become a published author. I enjoyed the conversations we had then and still do. I have enjoyed all but one story you’ve written and that was a short.
You have predicted current events with some commentary or situations in your stories with fair accuracy. Some could be considered predicting black swan events.
You have consistently held my interest.
You write science fiction, not confabulated faux fantasy laughingly called scifi which is concocted to push some sleaze bag political or pseudo-religious narrative.
I’ve not seen you make the numerous egregious mistakes others new unfiltered authors make. Not spelling or grammar but how a story is woven and presented to the reader.
You write good solid stories where it all fits together without the glaring flaws allowed in current scifi.
You write adorable, hideous, abominable characters and I want more. You write excellent situations between people both non-violent and violent and couple those into a fulfilling story.
Mac, Hope y’all are weathering the storm and avoiding flooding as Helene hits the mountains. Also hope you’re recovering well from your surgery. Thoughts and prayers for all my favorite authors, acquaintances, and old friends in America’s SouthEast.
As for reviews of your books on the ‘zon, get used to it! Compelling stories, intriguing universe(s), superbe characters whom I REALLY wish were here in real life, exciting situations unfolding, with drama, great banter amongst even the supporting cast, and imagination galore! Yeah, buddy, GET USED TO GLOWING REVIEWS!
Well, OK if you insist.
While you don’t have to be a genius to spin good stories, it certainly doesn’t hurt.
I came of age in SF during the Apollo Era, starting (as most do) with Verne and Wells, progressing through the hidden gems in the Scholastic Book Service (“The Forgotten Door”, “The Runaway Robot”, “Revolt on Alpha C”, “The Shark in Charlie’s Window”), then discovering Heinlein, Clarke, and Asimov in the mid-1970s and Niven, Pournelle, and McCaffrey in the 1980s. I won’t say I was “ruined” by these stories and authors, but they set the bar very high, and few have come close to meeting the expectations I developed during my formative years.
As I said in my Amazon review, I had initially ignored the “push” recommendation for the “April” stories, since I was obviously not the apparently intended demographic (i.e., “I haven’t been a 13-year-old fangirl since the first Star Wars movie was in theaters”). However, these books are as close to the Heinlein Young Adult novels as I have ever read. I’ve re-read each series once already , and both are likely to join Heinlein’s Future History, McCaffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern, and Bujold’s Vorkosigan saga in my regular re-read cycle.
Echoing some of the other comments here, I wish you luck with your shoulder. As an unfortunate veteran of rotator cuff reconstruction, my prayer is that your recovery is uneventful. My hopes and prayers are likewise tinged with selfishness – I eagerly await the next book you release, regardless of content.
I did PT this morning. Therapist said I have unrealistic expectations for nine weeks post surgery even without the blood clot and soft tissue injury from the ultrasound. One more session and I’m on my own. Still having trouble with any motion reaching behind me.