Acknowledgements

You are wise to have chosen this page, for it offers gratitude to all those who were instrumental in bringing this work to light, thus fulfilling its own prophecy.

First, to you, the reader… Thank you for taking on this enormous quest. You battled your way bravely through many opportunities, sometimes ending in disaster and other times in triumph. Your perseverance gave Garinor his inner strength to press on despite the odds. Thank you for guiding him on his journey.

To my students who read this when I first wrote it in 2008, thank you so much for all your feedback and excitement. It has encouraged me to keep it alive!

Thank you to my friends and familyMom, you were my first editor and your advice always stays true to my heart. Dad, you’ve always been our protector, watching over us all our lives. for all being with me on my own journey and with all the decisions I’ve made. Kim, you were my first reader and I’m grateful to all the support you’ve shown me through the years. Lisa, yours is a spirit of compassion and hope, an important theme in this book and in our lives. John, your inner strength and ability to trust yourself above all else is a key factor in Garinor’s survival.

Of all my choices, Kevin, you’re my best one. Thank you for all the help and support, of listening to all the side-quests in this adventure and for always encouraging me to follow my dreams and to seek my destiny.

Lois, you have always been a beacon of adventure. From kickboxing to scuba diving, when you see something you want to do, you dive in and do it. This book is inspired by how you choose to live life and it makes me feel more alive than ever. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Joseph, you are also an inspiration to me, chasing your own dreams and fulfilling them. You’ve seen many triumphs and Garinor could not have found his had you not found yours. You’re a dear friend and certainly deserve to be the king.

To my editor, Rochelle Deans, thank you for taking the exorbitant amount of time needed to fully process this story. You’re an absolute marvel and I can’t imagine what I’d do without you.