5. A Gift For Mom

I wrote this book all for my mom.

Growing up, I never really got a real gift for her. Sure my dad would get me and my three brothers together to do something nice for her. Or I'd get something cheap or token and kinda just say "Here you go" and that would be the end of it.

But I wanted to do something special for her.

I wanted this book to be something that wasn't just a passion project for myself, but something that she could have that would make her proud of me. Not for my sake, but for her. Something to tell her, "hey, I did this amazing thing because you taught me the importance of doing amazing things."

I wanted it to be something that she could look at and read and she'd find pride and joy that her lil boy turned out all right in the end. Now don't get me wrong, I'm just as messed up as anybody else, but at least with this book, I felt like I accomplished something. Something beyond work or school. Something that I chose to do and finish to the end.

So a book was a great choice. Yes, on the one hand I did just want to write a book cause I love to write, but on the other hand, it was something I could dedicate to her to show her how far I'd come from the annoying, know-it-all kid I was.

Because now I'm the annoying, know-it-all adult - who at least wrote a book!

So Aether Guardian is dedicated to her. Always has been. Always will be.

Mama, I love you very much, and I hope you know how hard I worked to bring this world to life so you can see it all. I hope you've enjoyed, found it exciting and intense, and could find pieces of your little boy in each and every character, scene, and theme.