Yeah... I'm not really sure why I hate that side character, but he really is getting the worst of it.

Yeah, Davis really pulled a short straw in a lot of ways. His whole family was killed when the Scourge ate like a quarter of the people on his homeworld, Eteb. He was deployed on the warfront, hundreds of lightyears away at the time. Meanwhile, Kim got married, started a family, got promoted.

There's a bunch of side characters having whole families and such. Captain Davis becomes Admiral Davis, same with Captain Kim. Davis is living an almost grimdark sci-fi horror life, while Kim is in star trek. Meanwhile the main characters are hitchhiking across a space opera with a hyperspace cat.

I agree with you on that change.

I would change the amount of time it takes to get a response from a query, or a short story submission to a magazine. Rather than 6+ months, it should really be a couple weeks.

It won't ruin it for my readers if I wait to briefcase full of bees until AFTER the climax of the story will it?

Okay then, you asked for it.

www.royalroad.com/fiction/1355...

How about published while being written? Read for free on Royal Road.

When I'm done writing it, I'll make it a paperback.

For a guy involved in politics, he's a pretty decent fellow. (Honestly, that's more unbelievable than a wizard that makes space ships, and food golems)

Just marked as D. in the ledgers. Could be anyone. You're sitting there when the day comes and it's the guy who was the damn Merlin for the first 9 years of your life. You help him load up all the sugar and other items into a single pouch on his hip. Then he invites you to a party, "can you vote?"

"Oh goodness, is it election season again already? I had hardly noticed... Anyway, excuse me I have to go purchase ninety thousand pounds of sugar for unrelated reasons."

I've been writing the unhinged thing, and posting on Royal Road, because there's no fucking publisher in their right mind that would publish this madness.

SO glad I did. I'm actually making money on it now, there is a dedicated audience. I have fans of my writing now.

Write, POST IT, LOVE IT!!

Thanks! Darsun throws one hell of a ball once every ten years. He shows up large other people's shindigs. (These wizards don't age much past 35)

And it's not *just* because the vote for which Archmage becomes the next Merlin (Wizard president) happens once every ten years. Mere coincidence, surely.

And cinnamon roll butlers! And servants made of taffy that get shorter through the evening as they offer up their fingers to delighted guests. Don't worry, no one eats the feet.

He's the Archmage of Golems, and would be the Archmage of food magic, if there was such a station or title to be held. He's got a reputation for spectacular nonsense, and likes to live up to it.

Darsun would do something absurd, like bringing a humongous flying chocolate swan that melts itself with fire breath into a fondue fountain. Then he we struggle to restrain himself from improving everyone else's food items with a touch of surreptitious magic. Sneaky ol' codger.

You're welcome! Usually it takes me a few more words than that to wring the tears out of my readers.

May you die of old age: withered, ancient, and happy.

Thanks Mark, appreciate it.