Dear Colored Letter Recipient

Hello Thunderheads,

The mandate of the Praecuro of the Thunderseat, reigning and past, is first and foremost the defense of the lands. This sacred responsibility requires a kraken’s reach that snakes and stretches through townships and burgs, interior and coastal communities, and mountains and valleys, East to West and North to South. In short, a vast living and breathing organism is involved in executing the admissions process

to the Seven Thunders.

The logistics are enormous with ensuring these great academies are equally equipped with the best and brightest young cadets the Queen’s realms have to offer. It is an egregiously complex and non-trivial undertaking involving a massive orchestration of hundreds of volunteers and careerists across four continents and federation of isles. From the postman taking applications from across the counter from the hands of nervous wide-eyed hopefuls, to the rejection and acceptance notices that the same postman (though significantly more well dressed) eventually delivers several months later to their post boxes, there are dock men unloading and loading the cargo from the decks of sea galleons and air balloons onto the backs of horse-drawn flatbeds under the watchful eyes of Selectery soldiers dressed in gray. From there the procession leads to the Selectery itself for processing, where an army of military attaches and more soldiers dressed in gray take responsibility for the crates. The crates are opened by the soldiers. The attaches then don white military gloves and carefully remove the sealed applications from their crates and place them into distribution baskets marked with the royal lion of the Queen. This takes hours - 220,000 applications  (the average yearly intake) is a lot to go through. When full and all crates are empty, the baskets are speedily convoyed inside the Selectery building known as the Needle, because of its tall needle-like shape.  From there, it's on to Processing, then Blue Team for first review, then Pink Team for critical analysis, then Red Team for official separation of applications that did not meet basic requirements and those meriting to move forward, and then to Purple Team for dissemination to Scheduling for in-person interviews and examinations. The weeding process is rigorous and thorough. Those applications stamped “Passed” are then transported to the Department of Admissions Adjudication for final determination on placement. The whole earth it seems holds its breath during this window of critical weeks. 

Perhaps more important to the public, certainly for the thousands upon thousands of eleven to twelve-year-old boys and girls who submit their applications every year, are the colors of the envelopes that leave the Selectery’s Department of Admissions Adjudication in care of the Royal Postmaster Service (RPS). It’s said an army of postmen arrive at the captiol by balloon boat and buggy dressed in starched and pressed fine blue uniforms to receive their bags from the Department of Admissions Adjudication upon signature, with delivery instructions that come with firm reminders of garnishment of up to 1-year’s wages and 3 years in Hardhurt prison per envelope lost. The penalties have changed through time, ranging from more lenient to more severe depending on the reigning Praecuro. The 1-year’s wages and/or 3 years in prison are Queen Erellia’s dictates on the matter. As of this writing, only three postmen in 1500 years of Thunderland history have suffered both fates. 

The Thunder envelopes are unique in every way: in their exclusive monarch 6.25 x 9.25 size, in their woven satin vellum texture to denote their importance and prevent against tears, and in their colors. One look and - good news or bad - you have your long-awaited answer. 

1. Leonissian Granite Black: acceptance letter to the First Thunder Hammerfeld.

2. Midonean Desert Rose Yellow: acceptance letter to the Second Thunder Quiverhold.

3. Umbrian Subavi Brown: acceptance letter to Third Thunder Aguila Nest.

4. Weyean Healerwood Leaf Red: acceptance letter to the Fourth Thunder Glimmeroc.

5. Sarassii Volcanic Orange: acceptance letter to the Fifth Thunder Flicker Rims.

6. Olyrian Huntress Green: acceptance letter to the Sixth Thunder Vale of Bishops.

7. Winter Range Artic Blue: acceptance letter to the Seventh Thunder Bitterberg.

Eighth and lastly, Queen’s Government White for the rejections.

Inkling #3:

What is The Seven Thunders? It is the colors of coveted acceptance.

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The Seven Thunders is a debut middle-grade fantasy series. Whimsical, imbued with a vibrant voice, wry humor, and unshakable charm that will transport readers to a rich, and exciting world and leave them eagerly anticipating the sequels to come.

“A clever coming-of-age tale with a steampunk edge. . . .

Readers will be enthralled by the author’s meticulous and

detailed world-building.” - Kirkus Reviews

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