by T. K. Lukas
“A warrior is worthless unless he rises above others and stands strong in the midst of a storm.”
The quote is from Hagakure: The Book of the Samurai, by Yamamoto Tsunetomo. The classic 300-year-old book is full of wisdom, teaching the honor code of bushido, which is the Samurai’s “way of the warrior.”
“On Sheep, Wolves, and Sheepdogs” is a notion explained in the book, On Combat, The Psychology and Physiology of Deadly Conflict in War and in Peace, by Lieutenant Colonel David Grossman, published in 2004 by Warrior Science Publications.
I would like to thank The Texas Wolfdog Project for graciously allowing me to use a photograph of their gorgeous wolf/dog hybrid, Domino, as the cover model for my book. Take a look at their website to learn about this wonderful organization and how they rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome these amazing creatures.
http://texaswolfdogproject.org/
https://www.facebook.com/TXwolfdogproject/
I would also like to thank graphic artist Carla Chadwick for designing this great cover and the one for my historical fiction, Orphan Moon.
http://carlachadwick.com/
https://www.facebook.com/carla.chadwick2?pnref=story
A Note From the Author
This is the “Thank You” page—the most important page of the book. Then why is it at the back, you might ask? I see it not at the back, but at the bottom of a stack of pages, supporting everything on top. Because, without all the people who’ve helped me and encouraged me along the way, the stack of pages that make up this book would surely topple.
First and foremost, I must thank my husband, Baron, for giving me his love, support, and encouragement. On top of that, he wrote for me a fictionalized, in-depth character study on which I based the male protagonist, Markus Yeager. Because of Baron’s extensive military background, the value of his input on this book cannot be measured. And, when I would hit the proverbial brick wall of writer’s block, he and I would saddle up the horses and go for a ride in the woods. We’d talk through difficult plot issues, and we’d brainstorm ideas with one another until I had a clear view of where to take the characters or a scene.
Okay, this is where I could get a little teary-eyed about my editor. And not just an editor, Ines Eishen is also a writing coach, encourager, cheerleader, taskmaster, and friend. From late-night email sessions, to afternoon Face Time sessions, to three-day wine-fueled weekend sessions, her editing advice took the manuscript to another level, polishing the rough spots and cutting the unnecessary parts. I’m grateful to her for many things, but above all, for our friendship.
To my advance team, my early readers, Claire Summers, Suzanne Tinsley, Helena Etwas, Gary Haley, Susan Bertram, Mildred Corbett, Beth Maybee, and Sherry Miles, I owe all of you more gratitude than I can put into words. Your keen input, comprehensive observations, and spot-on suggestions were priceless. Seeing the story and characters through your eyes was essential for me to understand what worked and what didn’t. I learned something from each of you.
To my advance team, my early readers, Claire Summers, Suzanne Tinsley, Helena Etwas, Gary Haley, Susan Bertram, Mildred Corbett, Beth Maybee, and Sherry Miles, I owe all of you more gratitude than I can put into words. Your keen input, comprehensive observations, and spot-on suggestions were priceless. Seeing the story and characters through your eyes was essential for me to understand what worked and what didn’t. I learned something from each of you.
And, to you my dear readers, I offer my sincere gratitude for taking the time to read my book. I hope you enjoyed the story and characters. Please leave a review on IF THE DEVIL HAD A DOG’S Amazon.com page and on Goodreads at www.goodreads.com. Search for the book by title or my name. Whether a glowing report or a kindly critique, your review is invaluable. Reviews drive new readers to a book and help new authors gain recognition and a higher ranking on Amazon. You can also leave feedback on my website at www.TKLukas.com and at the T.K.Lukas.AuthorPage on Facebook. If you would like to receive periodic updates about my projects and excerpts of works in progress, please leave your name and email address at the following link: http://www.tklukas.com/contact-me-newsletter.
Last but not least, Ryan, Erik, and Krista, I love you all. Now, someone please pop the Almondage!
About the Author
T.K. Lukas, an accomplished equestrian and author of the international best selling novel ORPHAN MOON, lives with her husband on a small ranch in rural Palo Pinto County in North Central Texas. Their three grown children are scattered across the globe. Along with international travel, she and her husband enjoy spending as much time as possible riding their horses through the woods, taking their dogs for walks, and watching their Belted Galloway cattle get fat. Visit her website, www.TKLukas.com and the T.K. Lukas Facebook page to keep up with her current projects and future releases.
(Baron on Blue and T.K. on Mocha)
Works by T.K. Lukas
Orphan Moon
Published April 3, 2015 – Chevalier Publishing
* To answer many of your questions, IF THE DEVIL HAD A DOG is not the end for Markus Yeager and Sidney McQueen. A prequel as well as a sequel is on the drawing board. Sign up for my newsletter to keep abreast of the latest news and special offers.
