What's shakin', bacon? I'm Chris and when I was a kid I hated to read.

No, seriously, wasn't a big fan.

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 Animal Farm.

Did I mention I was 10 at the time? Yeah, "four legs good, two legs better" and all that.

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.

For Christmas, I asked for books.

For my birthday, more books.

For random trips to the mall, give me books, damn you! 

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!

Actually, wanted is the wrong word. It's too soft and willowy. Hmm, got it!

Eventually, I developed the all-encompassing need to write a freakin' book.

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).