<p>What's shakin', bacon? I'm Chris and when I was a kid I hated to read.</p><p>No, seriously, wasn't a big fan.</p><p>One day at the wise age of 10, I made a huge mess in the back yard. Packing peanuts + kiddy pool + brother with a lawn mower = OMFG! I promptly got grounded until I cleaned it up which, of course, I didn't do. So instead of keeping me in my room for the rest of eternity, mom made me do a book report on <em>Animal Farm</em>.</p><p>Did I mention I was 10 at the time? Yeah, "four legs good, two legs better" and all that.</p><p>Long story bearable, in addition to making me damn certain I would always eat meat (before it eats me!) there was something in the book that opened up the floodgates.</p><p>For Christmas, I asked for books.</p><p>For my birthday, more books.</p><p>For random trips to the mall, give me books, damn you! </p><p>I read every SciFi/Fantasy title I could get my hands on. Eventually, I wasn't happy reading everything ever; I also wanted to write my own stories!</p><p>Actually, <em>wanted</em> is the wrong word. It's too soft and willowy. Hmm, got it!</p><p>Eventually, I developed <em>the all-encompassing need to write a freakin' book</em>.</p><p>So, that's why you've got whatever you've got in front of you. I hope you have / had a good read and it brought you some happiness / nostalgia / stomach cramps (or something).</p>
