Witchmarked (World's First Wizard Book 1) by Aaron Schneider (my reading book .txt) 📕

Sorcery Bound

Milo's world has grown darker than ever as he heads another frontier of the War to End all Wars. Alongside trusted allies and against harrowing odds he will face the worst that man and myth can throw at him all while grappling with the powers he struggles to understand. He walks the edge of a burning knife but such is the trail blazing path of the World's First Wizard. Prepare for danger, action, and dread as Milo faces his next trial in Sorcery Bound.

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Author Notes - Aaron Schneider

September 25, 2020

Dear Reader,

Thank you.

Thank you for taking the time to read this book and I hope that you feel the time was not wasted. I know that nowadays your options for entertainment and distraction are immense, and I’m humbled and appreciative that you thought what I had to offer was worth your time. If you didn’t find it worthwhile then I appreciate you at least giving it a shot.

However, if you did enjoy it I’ve got good news for you because the next book is going to be right around the corner. Book 02 is coming out shortly. You’ll get to ride right along with Milo, Ambrose, and Rihyani as they head to Georgia, the beautiful country not the lovely state, and face new challenges, dangers, and wonders.

I hope you’ll keep reading not just to state my fragile feelings, but also because Milo’s story has so much further to go. The monstrous and marvelous world of the First Wizard is a deep and wide place I’d love to explore with you, if you’ll have me of course.

Now before I leave you for a little while I’d like to say something to all of us facing the weird world of 2020 and all its different shades of madness. With all the tragedies, problems, and terrors some would say that there are more important things to do than read some silly story, much less write one.

Clearly, I think those people are wrong.

For writers like me and readers like you it comes down to one word: escapism.

This word is often treated like a dirty word, a word suggesting dereliction or even cowardice and weakness, of not facing up to the “real world” and trying to hide from it. I’m afraid people touting that sort of nonsense have quite missed the point and not just of novels but of art in general.

We read, we write, we sing, we dance, we paint, we become art all so that we can escape and to escape means to strive to be free. Free to dream, to hope, and to be, and that is the opposite of cowardice and hiding. I would say in a time like 2020 that is exactly the sort of business we need to be about.

So keep escaping dear hearts, and remember that most poignant of conversations between Tolkien and Lewis:

“What sort of men would be most opposed to escape, Jack?”

“Jailers, obviously.”

Regards,

Aaron D. Schneider

Acknowledgments

This book, as with anything worthwhile I’ve ever done, is the product of not just one man but a combination of fantastic people. First, to my children who had to bear through Daddy locking himself inside his cave to growl and type, thank you for your patience and your love. To my family, who only rarely complained over me finding excuses for missing events to write and generally have been kind enough to put up with my surliness while writing. To Mr. Anderle for being willing to take a chance on me, and being the easiest writing partner I’ve ever had (How about zeppelins?). To Mrs. Abby, who has, ever since we first crossed paths, been nothing but a dear friend and a staunch ally, honest, brave, and true.

Finally and most importantly, to my wife, who has, without exception, irrevocably changed my life for the better and without whom nothing would ever get done. My love has believed in me when I couldn’t and rebuked me when I lost my way. My dueling partner to the death, she is without a doubt the peg o’ my heart, and I owe her so very much.

Author Notes - Michael Anderle

September 26, 2020

First, THANK YOU for not only reading this story but these Author Notes in the back.

Working with Aaron has been a massive pleasure for me. When he and I were introduced, the first thing I noticed was I felt like he was a kindred spirit, a person who would prefer to just help those out in the world and not hurt a soul.

But you don’t push him. He is a kind guy, but he has a backbone of rigid steel if pushed. He just doesn’t like being in that position.

Now, this is just my opinion. Aaron lives pretty far from me, and we only ever speak over Zoom (video) or the phone.

The second thing I noticed was his writing.

It’s beautiful.

He prose takes me away, even in situations I would NOT wish to read about. Somehow, his spirit is entwined within the words he shares. I can’t explain how it makes me feel, except to say I this isn’t normally a story I would enjoy.

But somehow, here we are.

I hope you join us for books two and three. They are already being wrapped up to present to you as a gift. This wild alternate history where World War I never stopped.

All so we could explain how in a dark time, we reach down into the Earth to uncover a power that perhaps we shouldn’t touch.

But extreme times require extreme actions. Milo is our hope, and we trust that he has a heart that has every right to be as black as those reared in the orphanage and streets where he comes from.

But the heart, once uncovered, starts to show its real color: a bright one.

At least, we hope it is since Milo must choose to accomplish great things while wielding energies that might better be used by those