I first came up with the idea for many of these characters sometime between high school and college. I know that somewhere floating around my house is my original red spiral-bound notebook containing lists of names, plot points, and the first map of Termain. Over the years, however, this world and its still unformed characters often got lost among other projects as I struggled internally to write something that I thought would have more potential for critical acclaim or objective appeal.
Fast-forward about ten years. By this time, I was a high school English teacher, teaching courses on science fiction and classics, focusing particularly on medieval literature and Campbell’s Hero’s Journey. For years, I had also been running an extracurricular RPG Club (we’d have called it the D&D Club, but you never know when the remnants of the old “Satanic Panic” of the ’80s will emerge to rear their ugly heads). In any case, the year that the RPG club seniors were graduating, we held a final session to serve as a send-off. We’d already finished our epic three-year campaign, and this was merely a fun, final one-shot with plenty of overpowered magic items and an epic final showdown with an ancient red dragon.
Afterward, reminiscing like old adventurers in the stereotypical D&D tavern, the kids asked me if I’d ever thought about writing a fantasy novel. “Well, I’ve always had this idea…” I remember saying. “Do it,” they told me. “You need to do it.”
A week later, sitting at my computer, struggling to work my way through the vague, pretentious draft I had been playing around with, I remembered the kids in the club, and I decided to take their advice. By the following June, the first draft was complete.
So with the origin story out of the way, I want to acknowledge and thank a number of people who are important in my life.
First and foremost, always and forever, is my wife and fellow writer, Dominique. When we ran into each other in the coffee shop all those years ago, I was sitting there editing this, and when you mentioned trading and discussing our writing, it was this that I wanted to send you. In spite of the 212,000 words in this manuscript, none of them could ever adequately capture how much I love you.
For my children, George, Heidi, and Sebastian, I hope that one day you read this and you find something in it that speaks to you. I love you all so, so much, and I hope that the adventure I wrote makes you even a fraction of how proud I am to watch the three of you on your great adventures.
To Mike and Cassie Frank, Shayne and Rachel Evans, and your families, I can’t express how much your friendship and support mean to me. There are no other people I’d rather roll with and no better party members for life’s great campaign.
To Craig Mysliwczyk, my colleague, guitarist, fellow writer, and, most importantly, friend, your thorough review of my first draft is something for which I will always be grateful.
To Ray French, for your constant support and encouragement and for your mentorship and friendship when I was just beginning my adventures.
To my parents, aunts and uncles, and the rest of my extended family and friends, thank you all for the support.
Finally, to my late hound dog, Percy, you sat at my feet for uncounted hours as I wrote, forced me to take breaks to eat or go for a run (albeit selfishly), and served as the most patient (if judgmental) sounding board as I worked through the plot and characters. I miss you, Buddy.
Justin D. Bello 