War of Wings
Page 25
Leah McElroy has been my emotional and spiritual rock in life. She has loved me unconditionally, even though I have put her through more trouble than most mothers should ever experience. My entire base of religion that drove this book is thanks to her and her kindness, forgiveness, support, and love, unparalleled by any other.
Thomas McElroy made me the fan I am today of epic stories and forced me to see the importance of hard work, dedication, determination, family values, and honesty—all by his example. He is a devoted husband, a kind father, and a humble master. Although he has experienced many struggles in life, they haven’t gone unnoticed by his children, and I am forever grateful to have learned from him.
Tarran McElroy is the coolest person I know and has grown to be a strong woman that I am truly proud to call my younger sister. Her interest in my life helped fuel my passion to keep going through the tough times of this process.
Kellie Foster has been the most positive influence on my adult life and has helped me grow from an immature boy to a flawed but confident man. She has made me a better person and challenges me daily with sincerity and honest communication. When I look in her eyes, I see a future full of happiness, love, loyalty, respect, and passion.
Stephanie McElroy has put up with me for over a decade now, constantly pulling at her husband for help. Her confidence during this process has been key to maintaining a positive relationship, and I thank her for her patience with me.
Tim Boswell has been the single most influential person in my growth as a writer, and that is far more than I ever expected from an editor. He is a phenomenal writer in his own right, and with his help, guidance, criticism, and motivation, I can sit here truly proud to send this manuscript out to the world and call myself a writer. Enough cannot be said for what he brought to the guts of this novel.
Brian McCauley, Ryan Strawn, Todd Newsom, and Curtis Hale have provided friendship and support. Brian has been a close friend for years, and I never expected the dedication he has given me, but I will forever be in his debt. Ryan Strawn has been a loyal friend and supporter who never asked for anything in return. I look up to him and thank him for his strength, intelligence, and loyalty. Todd Newsom started as my brother’s best friend but became part of our family, and not only do we share the same birthday but also the same humor. He has always been there for me as a second brother. Curtis Hale has been an integral part in web design, conceptual art, and implementation. As a fellow fan of fictitious worlds, he shares a passion for the greats, so without him this novel wouldn’t have been what it is today.
A childhood friend of mine, H. Kirk Childress, passed this year after fighting cancer. He was a great writer and an even better friend. He was excited for this book, and he asked about it many times over the last couple years. In 2011, he wrote:
It is very strange adjusting to this recovery and diagnosis I have had. . . . It is a very lonely feeling to be fully aware with the knowledge that we all pass. Youth itself is somewhat eternal, but people never own it. I want to look at them with that bravado and ego, but I am now more defined by my scars. Very strange.
Little things . . . are joys of existing. I also think little stresses like work and relationship, money, etc., are joys. But I love listening to my friends and thinking about their lives.
I’ll leave you with some things I read every day lately.
“Look at the swift approach of complete forgetfulness and the void of infinite time on this side of us and on that, and the empty echo of acclamation…All this visible world changes in a moment and will be no more; and continually bethink thee to the changes of how many things thou has been a witness.”
—Marcus Aurelius
I have been blessed with lifelong friends that have been with me through thick and thin, and I would like to thank them now for all of their support through this process: Chris Knox, James Holacka, Rob Lowe, Taylor Russell, Drew Childress, Ben Waters, Will Walters, Tyler Sorenson, Josh Henderson, Josh Chapman, Mark Schultz, Clayton Carter, Peter Cavazos, and Kristen “Bear” Foster.
Throughout this journey I have met incredible artists, business leaders, coaches, and colleagues who have inspired my writing, influenced my actions, and served as people I aspire to emulate and think of as personal friends: Howard Fine, Mark Hamilton, Janet Harris, Chris Fisher, Bret Roberts, Genevieve Van de Merghel, Natalie Shaw Revell, Randy Wilcox, Jim Fitzgibbons, Gene Sollows, Tony Miros, Reidland Tucker, Bastien Grivet, Nancy Chartier, Carl David Cedar, David Mauer, Alex Robles, Doug Adams, Nancy Campbell, Sharon Howell, Susan Karr, Darren Hayes, Travis Walden, Mike Rainier, Tommy Hernandez, and Eric Jayk.
I want to send a special thanks to the following for their support of War of Wings in its early stages: Susan J. Anderson, Victoria B. Anderson, Dennis Hale, Joseph Harvey, Joyce Goss, Quintan Cockerell, Matthew D. Ketterman, Nick Mourton, Mike Mourton, Manuel M. Machado Jr., Junior Desinor, Georgia A. McLain, Leslie Kilgore Jones, Jay Randol Jones, Cathey Davis, Katelyn Elisabeth Jones, Jillian Grace Jones, and John Patton.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
In War of Wings, Tanner McElroy draws on his legacy of Christianity from his mother and a love of epic stories from his father. His novel is the culmination of a writing adventure that began early, bloomed as he played minor league baseball for the Texas Rangers, and flourished when he moved to California to study acting and writing. His passion for writing led him to create short stories, treatments, and screenplays in addition to War of Wings, his first novel.
Tanner excelled as a student and athlete. He attended Texas Tech University on an academic scholarship and graduated with a double major. In 2005, he was named Male Student-Athlete of the Year and selected in the draft by the Texas Rangers. He is now a member of The Texas Writer’s League and Romance Writers of America.