I've broadened my horizons and opened myself up to the world of indie publishing. My dream will be a reality. No longer do I have to worry about word count, agents, manuscript format or other trivial matters, but I can focus on what really... matters: Writing a "ripping yarn". A story that readers want to read not because it's a duplicate of the current trend, but because it's the kind of story they've always loved. The story that makes you care about the characters and the fate of the world.

I won't be tied down to dates, but for those I make myself. I won't be tied down to deals, but for what my readers want.

To the teacher who told me when I was eight years old, "You won't make much." I'm not in it for the money; I want readers to know where they can go to expect a great epic fantasy.

An epic fantasy for the new age, which isn't sagging with Tom Bombadils, scourings of the Shire, aimless voyages on the Dawn Treader or two hundred pages at a camp where the Varden mingle with Urgals and Elves.

They'll have an epic fantasy with scenes that make their hearts race; an epic fantasy that will let them care about the characters.

My dream will be a reality.