The God Wheel Read online

  Lorna and I had submitted a list of names to the ministry. We had no desire to have our son wind up running around saving the cosmos from who knows what.

  “And it’s definitely not going to be Antonio Martin,” I said. That poor schlub was destined to stop some sort of twilight of the gods alongside a giant plant changeling. The less said about that, the better.

  “So what is the name?” the goddess said.

  Lorna said, “Theo.”

  Theo Martin chose that moment to wail.

  The nurse handed him to Lorna, and he immediately calmed.

  I kissed Theo and Lorna each on the head and flew out the door. I had a whole waiting room of our former pantheons along with family to break the news to.

  I fidgeted with my wedding band, briefly thinking of the portal ring and the associated adventure that had led us to this point. I had so many to thank for making our life this rich and full. Good fortune, wisdom, happenstance, war, and contracts to name a few.

  In the waiting room, I was greeted with cheers and congratulations, equal parts mortal, magical, and celestial.

  Author’s Note

  I hope you found The God Wheel a wild ride. It’s a book that was so much fun to write. If you enjoyed this novel, then you might like to try Bring On the Magic, The Powers That Flee, and Burnt Jesus next. They are quite similar in their execution, mixing wit and snark with cosmic doomsdays.

  This story was originally titled The God Well and was completely different. In that early rendition, a troubled boy ventured down a well and found a world of deities. The project evolved greatly going forward. I wanted the lead to be a grown-up and then came up with the idea of the god wheel after watching an episode of Wheel of Fortune. Creating the pantheons for Felix and Lorna was challenging but so rewarding. Not all got the same face time, and I fretted over that initially but then decided I’d struck the right balance of screen time for the gods in the end.

  If you liked this book, please spread the word. Leave a review and encourage a friend to snatch up a copy. As an indy writer, I truly appreciate any and all help in unleashing my creations on those who would really enjoy the nuance and imagination I bring to each project.

  Something tells me this won’t be the last book I write that examines the divine. I like the idea of penning a third novel that delves into the godly. Burnt Jesus looked at Christianity through an alternate-dimension perspective. The God Wheel considered the ramifications of having a personal pantheon at one’s disposal. I suspect the next will examine the bad side of being divine. Perhaps a dark journey into the Underworld is in order one of these days.

  I get the feeling I’m onto something. I’d better go get my idea journal and put to paper the infernal notions already creeping into my noggin as I type the end of this Author’s Note.

  Godspeed, everyone!

  Building a Brian Bookshelf

  novels by Brian

  Irving Wishbutton and the Questing Academy

  Irving Wishbutton and the Revision Ravine

  Irving Wishbutton and the Tomb of Tomes

  Irving Wishbutton and the Domain of Sagas

  Graham the Gargoyle 1: Graham’s Grief

  Graham the Gargoyle 2: Flenn’s Folly

  Graham the Gargoyle 3: Ot’s Ordeal

  Here Is Where I . . . Wield a Really Big Sword

  The Powers That Flee

  Ghost Coast

  Bring On the Magic

  Tagalong

  Flame and Fortune

  Ned Firebreak

  The God Wheel

  Turncoats Book One: Overrun

  Turncoats Book Two: Overwhelmed

  We Kill Humans Book One: Offshoots

  Angus Farseek Book One: Untimely Agents

  Monsters in Boxers 1: Chaos At the Door

  with Keith Robinson

  Fractured

  Unearthed

  as D. Spangler

  We Three Meet

  Decisive Magic

  as Landon Alspiret

  Burnt Jesus

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