I think it’s important to thank God for my talents, for His patience and forgiveness, and for every other blessing in my life. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father.” - James 1:17

I’d also like to acknowledge my wife, my rock, who has supported me even when I, or other things, seem to be the most difficult. I am also grateful for my children, who are my greatest joy. I wish with all my heart for them to be a blessing to others, and have a fulfilled life worth meaning. My life is truly better than I deserve.

Simply put, I’m not an English major. I don’t have a degree in writing or journalism. I didn’t go to an ivy-league school. I don’t have a huge publishing portfolio or social media following. I’m just a guy who discovered writing later in life and now just can’t seem to stop. Is my writing perfect? No. Are there mistakes? Probably. Should I have written things differently? Maybe. Do I love it? Absolutely!

I grew up on science fiction. I remember seeing Star Wars as a 5-year-old boy in the movie theater at its original release. After that, I just couldn’t get enough, and I devoured movies like The Black Hole, Dune, The Last Starfighter, and Star Trek II - The Wrath of Khan, way back before CGI, when only practical effects were possible. The Empire Strikes Back still remains one of my all time favorites.

My love for movies became a love for all science fiction, fantasy, and comic books. I think the first serious science fiction novel I ever read was The Martian Chronicles, by Ray Bradbury. I was enthralled by the Foundation series by Isaac Asimov, and then Dune by Frank Herbert (probably my favorite book). My grandfather introduced me to The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan, and my college roommate put me on to The Sword of Shannara series. Don’t even get me started on The Hobbit or The Lord Of The Rings. They were so phenomenal I couldn’t put them down. And you can imagine my excitement when Timothy Zahn wrote the first written sequels to the original Star Wars trilogy back in the early ‘90s. All the while, my imagination as a kid ran wild as I devoured issue after issue of Marvel and DC comics. The action…the excitement…the illustrations…the X-men. Just terrific.

I’ll admit that I was a late bloomer to writing, but after years of watching and reading some of the best stories out there, I think the Harry Potter series really changed the game for me. I learned that a regular person can write a really, really great book - a series that captures the reader. You root for the hero, pray for the victims, and loathe the enemy. More importantly, it showed me that you didn’t have to be a Harvard grad or creative writing major to be taken seriously as a writer. That was the beginning of my own literary journey.

My first attempt at writing a novel length story was a still unpublished work I titled The Herald Returns. I originally started it with my own kids in mind as the protagonists. They were younger then, and, like the Nelson Sheffler series it was a universe spanning saga. After trying unsuccessfully to find an agent for that manuscript, even hiring a consultant, I decided to move on and begin again on a new title. Perhaps I’ll return to it someday.

Nelson Sheffler Saves The World led to Nelson Sheffler Saves The Galaxy and then Nelson Sheffler Saves The Universe, books one and two. I have other manuscripts in the works as well. Besides The Herald Returns, I have completed a dystopian fantasy book called The Forgotten Sorceress, which may have some series potential. I’ve also written a children’s fantasy tale called The Last Dragon Girl and I’m currently working on an adult science fiction epic - The Fractured Earth. It may be a while before those titles are released and I’ll let you know when they get closer.

For now, I hope you enjoy Nelson’s story and many of the other stories I have published or plan to publish. I welcome any positive feedback and would really, really love your 5-star reviews on Amazon or my Writing.com account for my work. Your reviews help drive my work to be successful. Thanks so much!

Fidelity. Veracity. Victory.

Chris Nance